First Time Visitors
Going anywhere for the first time can be an intimidating experience. The questions and answers below are designed to help first-time visitors feel more comfortable at Bethlehem Lutheran Church while giving information about what to expect.
What Should I Expect Of The Service?
Our congregation follows the Orders for Divine Service as outlined in our Hymnal, "Lutheran Service Book."The Divine Service contains elements of worship such as Confession and Absolution, the Reading of Scripture, Prayer, confessing the Creed, a Sermon, and hymns which help to teach us the Gospel and give praise to the Glory of God. We offer the Lord's Supper on the First, Third, and Fifth Sundays of the month, along with feast days such as Christmas and Easter. On Sundays when we do not have the Lord's Supper we use the service of Matins and Morning Prayer from our hymnal. Chapel on Wednesday evenings follows the Service of Prayer and Preaching. When you come visit an usher will give you a bulletin with the Order of Service and page numbers and hymns. If this is your first time to a Lutheran service don't be afraid to ask for help, someone will be glad to offer assistance with the liturgy.
Can I receive Communion if I am not a member?
In the Lord’s Supper, the Risen Christ is at once the Giver and the Gift! By His promise His very body and blood are really present; and thereby we come into immediate contact with the exalted Christ to receive forgiveness! As we do so, witness is also given to oneness in doctrine by those who receive the Sacrament together. For this reason, we practice closed Communion which means if you hold to a different confession (that is, another denomination) or do not know what we as Lutherans believe, teach and confess about communion, we kindly ask you to speak with either the pastor or an elder before the service. If you are unable to commune with us today but wish to commune with us in the future, please speak with the pastor after the service about our new member classes.
If you are a member of one of our sister congregations in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or a member of a denomination in Pulpit and Altar fellowship with the LC-MS we welcome you to come receive the Lord's Supper with us.
How Do I Become A Member Of Bethlehem?
1) Adult Instruction: We offer two twelve (12) week Adult Confirmation classes throughout the year, typically in the Fall and in the Spring. Please check our Facebook page for when those are offered, or call the Church Office. New members are given instruction in the Christian faith as taught by the Lutheran Confessions and Holy Scripture.
2) Confirmation Classes: Through a Christian schooling for children starting in the 7th grade and finishing in the 8th grade once a week as they are taught the Christian Faith. Confirmation meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 during the School Year.
3) Transfer from a sister congregation of the same Christian Faith and confessions of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Going anywhere for the first time can be an intimidating experience. The questions and answers below are designed to help first-time visitors feel more comfortable at Bethlehem Lutheran Church while giving information about what to expect.
What Should I Expect Of The Service?
Our congregation follows the Orders for Divine Service as outlined in our Hymnal, "Lutheran Service Book."The Divine Service contains elements of worship such as Confession and Absolution, the Reading of Scripture, Prayer, confessing the Creed, a Sermon, and hymns which help to teach us the Gospel and give praise to the Glory of God. We offer the Lord's Supper on the First, Third, and Fifth Sundays of the month, along with feast days such as Christmas and Easter. On Sundays when we do not have the Lord's Supper we use the service of Matins and Morning Prayer from our hymnal. Chapel on Wednesday evenings follows the Service of Prayer and Preaching. When you come visit an usher will give you a bulletin with the Order of Service and page numbers and hymns. If this is your first time to a Lutheran service don't be afraid to ask for help, someone will be glad to offer assistance with the liturgy.
Can I receive Communion if I am not a member?
In the Lord’s Supper, the Risen Christ is at once the Giver and the Gift! By His promise His very body and blood are really present; and thereby we come into immediate contact with the exalted Christ to receive forgiveness! As we do so, witness is also given to oneness in doctrine by those who receive the Sacrament together. For this reason, we practice closed Communion which means if you hold to a different confession (that is, another denomination) or do not know what we as Lutherans believe, teach and confess about communion, we kindly ask you to speak with either the pastor or an elder before the service. If you are unable to commune with us today but wish to commune with us in the future, please speak with the pastor after the service about our new member classes.
If you are a member of one of our sister congregations in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or a member of a denomination in Pulpit and Altar fellowship with the LC-MS we welcome you to come receive the Lord's Supper with us.
How Do I Become A Member Of Bethlehem?
1) Adult Instruction: We offer two twelve (12) week Adult Confirmation classes throughout the year, typically in the Fall and in the Spring. Please check our Facebook page for when those are offered, or call the Church Office. New members are given instruction in the Christian faith as taught by the Lutheran Confessions and Holy Scripture.
2) Confirmation Classes: Through a Christian schooling for children starting in the 7th grade and finishing in the 8th grade once a week as they are taught the Christian Faith. Confirmation meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 during the School Year.
3) Transfer from a sister congregation of the same Christian Faith and confessions of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.