More on our Identity

What does the community of BLC look like?

We are a multi-generational church. At Bethlehem you will find children and youth, young professionals and growing families, established households who have lived locally for decades, and retired individuals and couples. Of the many unique traits of the congregation, Bethlehem regularly has participants in worship and ministries of the congregation that reside in six different counties (Catawba, Alexander, Iredell, Lincoln, Burke, and Caldwell). 

What does the "experience" on Sunday Morning look like?

Great question! We gather for worship every Sunday at 10:30am. We are a liturgical church, which is a fancy way of saying that we follow a calendar of "seasons" in the church and a 3-year cycle for studying scripture known as the "Revised Common Lectionary." Worship at Bethlehem is aimed at being relaxed, but most importantly authentic. We don't try to be anything we're not. We don't try to act holier during worship than we do any other time of the week. We emphasize that worship and the life of the congregation needs to be "real."

We also have various classes and groups for all ages that meet on Sunday mornings before worship (most that begin at 9:30am). 

Who is welcome at Bethlehem?

Many churches promote that "all are welcome" and then beyond the words are exceptions and contengencies. We live into Jesus' command in John 13:34, "Love your neighbor." No where in scripture does Jesus say love your neighbor (unless or except for...). So, we mean it wholly and sincerely when we say all are welcome; no exceptions. Regardless of age, your interests, or your past experiences; regardless of your ethnicity or race; regardless of who you love of your family dynamics; regardless of your social and economic stability or instability; regardless of your confidence or skepticism in the presence of God; You are welcome here and you are loved here. No exceptions.

 

How can I Conenct to Learn More?

For starters, continue exploring the different tabs on this website! There is a lot of helpful information about the ongoing life and ministry of BLC throughout this site. For one-to-one conversation, we invite you to click on the "Contact Form" button below and we will reach out to you soon to answer any questions or curiosities!

BLC: our Name & our Mission

At Bethlehem Lutheran Church, we believe that we are called to be a Bold, Loving, Community.

We end worship every week, reminding ourselves of that calling. We are called to be:

Bold- in word and in action. All that we say and all that we do ought to be a bold emphasis of the love and grace revealed in Jesus. The love of Jesus is bold: a love that becomes fully human, dies, and rises again so that we and all people would know that there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from God's love (Romans 8). The grace of God is bold. "By grace we are saved (Martin Luther)." Grace isn't something that we can decide to accept or reject. We can't buy grace or earn it by our works. Grace is a gift: abudantly given and never erased. That's bold.

Loving- Jesus gives a command, "Love one another." Further, Jesus instructs the disciples, teaching them that "everyone will know who you are if you love one another." So, to follow in the ways of Jesus, we must be loving. Systems and powers of the world too often operate from places of hatred, division, and exclusion. Which is aIl the more why being loving is important to our mission. Because, even in a world where hate seems to be louder than love, love is always greater and stronger than hate. Love wins.

Community- Humans are relational beings. In our own unique ways, we seek out community and systems of support. We believe that one of the greatest gifts that we are given in life is the gift of each other. In our lives, we have opportunity to learn from and share gifts through presence in community with one another. So, we commit ourselves to showing up for each other in the high and low points of life's journey. We commit to being authentic, vulnerable, honest, and affirming of each other. We commit to seeking and embracing the ways in which God calls us into community with one another and the world. 

We are Bethlehem Lutheran Church; called to be a Bold, Loving, Community.

Pastor Vern Shares About BLC