Mission Statement: Sharing Christ's Love Bethlehem
Lutheran Church |
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God calls us to be in community with one another. Some people say, "I can be a Christian without going to church," but they are missing out on the richness of life that God wants for us! God calls us to a public faith, not a private one; God calls us to be the body of Christ both in spirit and in the physical reality of gathering in his name. To be a community of faith means to care for one another, to provide a connection to others seeking God, and to act in the world in Jesus' name. One of the ways we deepen our relationship with God and with each other is to study and become familiar with God's word. As we explore scripture, we learn more about the depth of God's love for us. The word of God is where we find hope and guidance for daily living. Being centered on God's word means using scripture to form our faith as well as to introduce others to God's love and promises. As Lutherans, we celebrate two sacraments: baptism and communion. A sacrament is perhaps best described as an act of God accompanied by an earthly sign. Baptism is an act of God using water; communion is an act of God using bread and wine. We view baptism as our "entrance rite" into the body of Christ and communion as the "food of the baptized." We don't wait for a child to grow up and choose baptism because we view baptism as something God does, not something we do. God "chose" all of humanity when he sent his Son to die for us, and baptism is how we celebrate God's choosing us, not our choosing God. We call confirmation of our youth an "Affirmation of Baptism" because it is when our youth commit themselves to a Christian life. When we are baptized, we participate in Christ's death and resurrection: we are born to a new life of "walking wet," of living each day knowing that we are redeemed. Our baptism changes how we live! In communion, we are fed and refreshed for this journey of walking wet. And, we are joined to one another and to Christ in a very real sense so that we are truly the body of Christ. Being nourished by the sacraments means being empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the presence of Christ for others. Worshipping together, studying God's word, claiming the redeeming power of our baptism and participating in the spirit-refreshing meal...these are practices that help us grow in faith so that we are more effective witnesses for Christ. We take this seriously and commit ourselves to seeking an ever-deepening relationship with God. Sent to Serve Without Boundaries Jesus said, "Go to all nations, baptize and teach..." He didn't say go to where it's comfortable and he didn't say minister to people like ourselves. Serving without boundaries means serving beyond the doors of our church, beyond the geographic boundaries of our communities and, as our Congregation President said so eloquently, beyond the walls of our hearts. It means welcoming those who venture through our doors, and it also means reaching out to seek and to serve people who need to be touched by God's love. --Marcy Schaefer, Director of Congregational Life |