Reconciled in Christ
By a unanimous vote, the Church Council approved Bethlehem joining the national Reconciled in Christ program.   Bethlehem Lutheran Church is now one of two ELCA churches in Brooklyn participating in this inclusive and welcoming program for gay and lesbian believers.  Our Affirmation of Welcome states:  "Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a Reconciled in Christ congregation. People of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome within the membership of this congregation and are encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this Christian family."  Truly, all are welcome here.

Lenten Schedule
Join us for all of our Lenten services, including: "In His Footsteps" - a very special Choir program (3/21 @10:30am); Palm Sunday (3/28 @10:30am); Passover Seder (4/1 @6:00pm) Maundy Thursday Service & Youth presentation (4/1 @7:30pm); Good Friday Service (4/2 @7:30pm) and Easter Sunday Service & Breakfast (4/4 - breakfast @9:00).   

Youth Group Growth
With our congregation growing and Sunday attendance way up it makes sense that membership in our Youth Group would follow suit --- and it has!  As a result, we now have three separate sections to better serve our younger members:  Pre-High School, High School and Post-High School age.  Each has regular monthly (if not more frequent) get togethers, field trips and fun in our Parsonage's Joy Room.  If you or your son/daughter want to learn more, just talk to Pastor next Sunday.  

New Member Classes Every June
Interested in joining Bethlehem?  Call us at 718-748-9502 or talk to Pastor about our New Member Classes.  Classes are held every June and culminate on New Member Sunday.   

A Pretty Popular Web Site
Alexa.com, which tracks information on more than 16 million websites, ranked Bethlehem's (www.bethlehembayridge.org) as the fifth most visited website of all Lutheran churches in the nation.

Looking for LES Alumni
Attention Lutheran Elementary School Alumni: Send us your name, address, and email so we don't lose touch. Lutheran Elementary School, 440 Ovington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209, Attn: Alumni Office or LESAlumni@hotmail.com for news and information about your former classmates and teachers.  

Even More Growth
Bethlehem's attendance is up -- dramatically.  The average Sunday service saw a 20% increase from 2004 to 2005 and another 12% increase from 2005 to 2006.   

Unfortunately, many churches are shrinking.  According to the January 2007 issue of The Lutheran magazine, "Nationally, only three in 10 ELCA congregations gained worshipers between 2000 and 2005, said Kenneth Inskeep, director of ELCA Research and Evaluation. What's more, among churches with 150 people or fewer in worship -- a segment that represents about 70 percent of the denomination's 10,500 congregations -- three out of four dipped or held steady."

But, Bethlehem is growing in Bay Ridge.  Why?  If you haven't been to see us in a while, or have never been -- come see what everyone is talking about.  You are always welcome here.

History Needed
Bethlehem is steeped in history, but we are putting out a call for more.  Please take a moment to read our History page and the Archives page attached to it. 

- Do you notice anything missing?
- Know some fact about our church or pastors that we left out? 
- Where did a particular pastor come from or go to?
- Do you have any old photos of the people and events at Bethlehem?  Or any old copies of our newsletters? 

Let us know. We would greatly appreciate hearing from you.  Please contact our webmaster.

 ELCA Daily News

The Heart of Bay Ridge

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Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Sunday Service: 10:30 am
Fourth & Ovington Avenues - 718-748-9502

- A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -
Copyright © 2004-2010 Bethlehem Lutheran Church