"What should occur in this house of God is that our dear Lord Himself speaks to us through His Holy Word, and that we, in turn, speak to Him in prayer and songs of praise."  
Martin Luther 

Our worship at Bethlehem Lutheran flows from the rich history of the Christian church. The traditional liturgy we follow frames and sets our theology of God coming to us in Christ Jesus who is revealed in His preached Word and in His Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are visible means of His Word. What comfort and peace is given in God coming to us and serving us with His forgiveness to be received by us through faith.

9:00 A.M. - Sunday School and Adult Bible Class
10:15 A.M. - Divine Service

Lenten Midweek Services

• 7:00 P.M. each Wednesday

Holy Week

• 7:00 P.M. - Maundy Thursday Service with Holy Communion
• 7:30 P.M. - Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Easter Sunrise Service

• 7:00 A.M. - at the outdoor amphitheater * 

* weather permitting

8:00 A.M. - 4th Sunday of the Month*

• September 
• October
• November
• March
• April

* weather permitting

Advent Midweek Services

• 7:00 P.M. each Wednesday

Christmas Eve

• 6:30 P.M. - Children's Service

Christmas Day

• 9:00 A.M. - Christmas Day Service

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.
 
Where is this written?
 The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
 
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
 
Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
 
The Lord's Supper is celebrated at Bethlehem on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of each month and at festival services.

Can I take Communion at Bethlehem?
In Light of 1 Cor. 11:23-26, Bethlehem Lutheran Church maintains the historical practice of “closed” communion in the belief that the Sacrament requires faith in Christ’s words that His body and blood are truly present. Furthermore, participation in the Sacrament is a sign of our unity in the faith with all those who join us at the altar. For that reason, we ask that those visitors desiring to commune be members in good standing of a congregation of the LCMS and speak to the pastor or an elder before the beginning of the service. Our denial of admission to those who are members of another confession is not a judgment upon their faith but a recognition that we hold to different confessions concerning God, salvation, and the Sacrament itself. Such individuals are invited to speak with the pastor following the service.

What is Baptism?
Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.
 
Which is that word of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)
 
What benefits does baptism give?
It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
 
How can water do such great things?
Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8)
 
What does such baptizing with water indicate?
It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
 
Where is this written?
St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4)

What is Confession?
Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.
 
What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.
 
Which are these?
Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?
 
At the beginning of each service at Bethlehem, there is a corporate confession of sins and Holy Absolution is given.

Private confession is available with our pastor by appointment.