Bethlehem Lutheran Church

I love this time of year! We celebrate the last "official" weekend of the summer and take a deep breath in preparation for all the excitement that follows. The school year begins for our children (and parents!), and here at Bethlehem, we are prepared for a wonderful fall for all those who come through our doors, some for the very first time! It's a time of new beginnings, of fresh starts for each and every one of us.

Our focus this fall will be a challenge to Take the Next  Step in growing our faith, whatever step that might be. For some, it may be committing to membership in our church family. For others, it may be committing to spiritual growth, or identifying and putting your gifts to use in service here at Bethlehem. For others, it may be reaching out into our community to share the Good News of our loving Savior in word and deed. Wherever you are in your life of faith, you will find an opportunity to grow, to take the next step in becoming the disciple that God created you to be. Make time to find what your next step should be.

Taking the Next Step is something that we will be doing as a congregation, as well as individuals! We have been blessed with both the desire to answer God's call to reach out to our community as well as the resources to do so. Jacob's Well, the church we are launching, will begin weekly worship after holding monthly "preview" services for the summer. Pastor Greg Meyer, Heidi Esposito, Gina Kellogg-Gardner and the entire launch team from Bethlehem have been working very hard, both to understand those in our community who do not have the relationship with God in Christ that we cherish, and how to reach them in new, creative ways. We will miss their presence and ministry with us, no question; but I can't wait to see how God will use them. They will worship at the Field Middle School, 4645 4th Avenue South, at 10:30 am on Sunday mornings initially, and our hope and prayer is that they swiftly fill the space and start another service!

If you know someone who has told you that "church is not for them," tell them about Jacob's Well! If you know someone looking for a church home like ours, bring them to Bethlehem! Help them start their own journey of faith-step by step!

A wise person once said that a long journey begins with one step, followed by another and another. You and I are on a life long journey of faith. I cannot imagine that God would have you stop wherever you might be and just sit. Just as we are not wired for a year-round summer vacation (I think fall comes exactly at the right time!), we are not made to sit on our accomplishments and go no further. Walk with me, a step at a time, and let's grow together in God's grace and God's presence. Take that "next step," and know that we're not only walking together, we're walking hand in hand with God!

Thanks for your partnership in the Good News!

Pastor Christopher Nelson