What to Expect

We are an imperfect community of Christian believers that gather weekly to worship God and receive His gifts to us in Word and Sacrament.

What is the service like?

At Bethel, we have what is lovingly referred to as an "indigenous" style of worship. This means that we don't always look exactly like a typical Lutheran worship service that you may have attended.

Our first Sunday of the month at both worship services - 8:00am & 10:30am - we do follow the pattern of Divine Service with Holy Communion. This service is typically straight from the Lutheran Service Book, the official hymnal of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. 

Our third Sunday of the month, at both worship services, we have a contemporary service with Holy Communion. The flow of worship is patterned after the Divine Service, but we do not use the liturgy from the hymnal and instead strive for a more informal feel.

Our second, fourth, and fifth Sundays are non-Communion worship services and are blended with traditional and contemporary music at both services.

How do people dress?

There is no set dress code. People that worship with us wear anything from shorts and a tee-shirt to their Sunday best shirt-and-tie. 

How many people are there?

Our 8:00am worship service averages around 80-100 per week and our 10:30am worship services averages from 100-120. Special services, such as Christmas and Easter, typically see 300+ worshippers. 

What about my kids?

We welcome children of all ages to worship, in fact - we love kids! We have a Sunday School program for all ages between our two services, beginning at 9:15am. 

What educational opportunities are there for adults?

We have a dedicated women's Bible class led by our Lay Deacon, Kim, in one of our new multi-purpose rooms. There is also an adult Bible study lead by one of the pastors each Sunday in the Sanctuary. Our college and young adults class meets also meets in the multi-purpose building.

Can I take communion (the Lord's Supper)?

We encourage all first time visitors to Bethel to first speak with a pastor before receiving the Sacrament. This gives us an opportunity to teach what we, as Lutherans, believe about communion and to ensure that you understand the benefits of recieving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our congregation, like many others (Catholic, Orthodox, etc.) practices close(d) Communion. If you are uncomfortable receiving the Sacrament during worship and haven't yet spoken to one of the pastors, you are welcome to come up to the altar to receive a blessing. All members and regular visitors have received some sort of communion instruction before participating in the Sacrament. Our confirmation program begins in 7th grade and students who are confirmed following their 8th grade year are admitted to the altar. We also have adult instruction classes that occur many times throughout the year. Please speak to one of the pastors to learn more information or if you would like to become a member of Bethel.