Come Visit bethlehem

All are invited to worship at Bethlehem on Sundays at 9:30 AM. 


About us

Our mission is to be Strong in Faith. Boundless in Love. Bold in Service. 


Bethlehem is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, rooted in the Beverly -Morgan Park neighborhood on Chicago's far southwest side. Born through the consolidation of two congregations in 1997, we have a history that extends back to the foundation of our predecessor congregations in 1977 and 1875.


Today we thrive as a flexible, mission-spirited congregation that seeks to put our faith into practice in daily life. Bethlehem values hospitality and genuine care for others. Our worship is at once reverent and comfortable. We value strong preaching that connects the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our lives and world. We read the Bible as God's good news for all. 


We value the gifts of people of all ages -- children, elders, young adults, and every stage in between. We strive to be a community that knows how to talk together about important topics in ways that are respectful of all. Bethlehem is a Reconciling in Christ congregation. We welcome into full participation in our life and ministry

  • People of all races and ethnic groups
  • Families of every kind
  • People with differing abilities
  • People of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

The best way to get to know us is to come and see!


Coming Events


Color Code

Do you sometimes wonder about your individual strengths and the motivations for your behavior? Do you find yourself in cycles of misunderstandings and arguments with those closest to you? (If you don't, you are the exception!). You are invited to two informative and useful workshops on Color Code, a personality inventory that will help you to discover your strengths by looking not only at what you do, but why you do it. This tool is helpful for self-knowledge and invaluable for helping us to work with others. The workshops, hosted by the Peace Team and led by Bethlehem member Dr. Crystal Lewis and Tena Raglin, will be held at Bethlehem on Sundays, February 23 and March 1, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.


SW Chicago Homeless Services Dinner

Volunteers are needed to help provide the side dishes and desserts for the next dinner that we will serve at the Southwest Chicago Homeless Services shelter on Thursday, February 20. Our main dish will be Taco's and all the sides that go with them. Volunteers will also be needed to help serve. Please look for the sign-up sheet located in the narthex. Please contact Susan Evans in the church office with any questions.


The Bethlehem Book Club is back! 

We will meet at Starbucks at 103rd and Longwood on Thursday, March 5, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. to discuss the book Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God by Sarah Bessey. “In the brief instant Sarah Bessey realized that her minivan was, inevitably, going to hit the car on the highway, she knew intuitively that it would have life-changing consequences. But as she navigated the winding path from her life before the accident—as a popular author, preacher, and loving wife and mother—to her new life after, inhabiting a body that no longer felt like her own, she found that the most unexpected result wasn’t the way this shook her body, but how it shook her deeply rooted faith, upending everything she thought she knew and held so dearly.” All are welcome to be part of the discussion. This isn’t so much as a “club” as an open table. Invite a friend!


Lenten Soup Suppers

Lenten Soup Suppers will be served starting at 6:00 p.m. before the Wednesday evening worship service beginning March 4. Volunteers are needed to prepare a pot of soup, stew, or any one pot dish you would like to share. Don’t have time to cook? Consider being a host to set the serving table and clean up at the end of the meal. Families, friends, individuals or committees are welcome to sign-up. Look for the sign-up sheet in the narthex. For more information or questions, please contact Barb Bojarski or June Brown.


Lenten Small Groups

Lenten Small Groups will start meeting on Wednesday, March 4th. The small group studies are a wonderful way to grow in faith, build connections, and explore our Lenten theme of “Turning Points.” Groups will meet Wednesday nights after worship, Thursday mornings, and Sunday evenings. This year Vicar Frantisek will be leading an online group (see below). Sign-up sheets are in the narthex. 


Lenten Small Group - Online

You are invited to join an online Lenten Small Group. The online small group will offer a few more options to partake in the fellowship during Lent - you may join in on a weekly group video session led by Vicar Frantisek and/or watch the recording later and then provide written contributions via an online discussion forum. These sessions will contain the same content as the traditional small group meetings and no commitment to all sessions is required. Join us in this experiment to bring fellowship and God's Word wherever you are! Please be in touch with Vicar Frantisek should you be interested.


Bethlehem Scholarships

Bethlehem has scholarship funds available to members who will be full time undergraduate college/university students in the 2020-2021 academic years. The guidelines and application form can be found at https://form.jotform.com/90841428249. The deadline for application is April 19. 



Men's Discussion Group

Join the Men’s Discussion Group every Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Markland Hubbard located at 1739 W. 99th Street. Join them for fellowship, conversation, coffee and sweet treats.


Click here for this month's calendar.




STAFF AND LEADERSHIP


  • Jennie English-dumont

    PASTOR

    Pastor Jennie began her ministry at Bethlehem in 2008. She is a passionate preacher, a committed teacher, and loves watching people use their God-given gifts at Bethlehem and in the world. A native of the northwest side of Chicago, she enjoys living in Beverly with her husband and their young daughter. She served her first call in Grand Forks, North Dakota, for almost 7 years. She is a graduate of Luther Seminary (M.Div.) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (Th.M. in Old Testament), as well as Gustavus Adolphus College. She enjoys gardening, reading, running, live music, and spending time with family and friends. 


    Contact Pastor Jennie at Pastor@bethlehem-chicago.org


  • David ritter

    DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

    David has served as Bethlehem's organist since 2011. In 2013 he became the Director of Music. David seeks to enhance the congregation's worship experience each week through music. Working with the Pastor and the worship committee, he selects hymns and songs from a variety of different traditions and cultures. He directs the choir, which not only provides a musical offering most weeks, but also helps to lead the assembly’s singing and worship. He enjoys working with other musicians in the congregation whenever possible. 


    David is a lifelong Lutheran with 45 years of experience as a church musician. He has served congregations of various denominations in the Midwest and southeast and is a graduate of Indiana University (MMus) and Valparaiso University. He is also a full time CPA and enjoys singing in the Apollo Chorus of Chicago.

     



  • SUSAN EVANS

    OFFICE MANAGER

    Susan Evans has worked as Bethlehem's faithful office manager nearly since the start of the consolidated congregation. Hers is the friendly voice you hear when you call the church office. She manages the congregation's communication via the weekly worship bulletin, monthly newsletter, regular email blasts and more. She keeps everything at Bethlehem running smoothly. 


    Contact Susan at se9401@ameritech.net

I'M NEW

We're glad you found us! Below are some questions we often get from visitors and newcomers, along with our responses. If you have other questions or need information you cannot find on our site, please call or send us an email. We'd love to hear from you and hope to see you soon!


Do I have to be a Lutheran to attend services?

 

Nope. We welcome visitors from all faith backgrounds, as well as visitors who don't currently subscribe to any particular religious faith and just want to hear and know more about the Christian faith. Even our members come from very diverse religious (and non-religious) backgrounds.


How should I dress for Sunday services?

 

Be yourself – be comfortable. You will see worshipers in anything from jeans to their "Sunday Best".

 

Should visitors or newcomers participate in communion?

 

It is up to each individual worshiper. We practice open communion every Sunday, welcoming all who believe in Jesus to join in communion at the Lord's table. This includes welcoming children of all ages at the table.

 

Am I expected to put something in the offering plate?

 

We do not expect visitors to contribute an offering. Offerings are given of free will and are not considered payment for attending services.

 

Can I bring small children to Sunday services?

 

Please do! Many families with small children regularly worship together in the sanctuary during Sunday services. If you prefer, children 4 and under may spend service time comfortable and well-supervised in the nursery. Little ones typically return for the Children's Sermon and join their parents for communion. The nursery is attended during the service and is available to you and your child at any time.

 

I have many questions about religion and what spiritual path is right for me. How do I find answers to these questions?

 

Questions and the discourse they provoke are important parts of helping each of us define who we are and what choices to make. Our Pastor would welcome your call or email to discuss your questions and offer spiritual guidance. Click on the "Contact Us" section of this site for Pastor Jennie's contact information. You may also find that attending services and joining one of our small discussion/study groups will bring the clarity you seek. Whether it's one-on-one with our Pastor, within a small group, or just between you and God...keep asking those questions!

HOW TO FIND US


Driving Directions


Click here for Mapquest Driving Directions to help you find your way from home to our neighborhood. Please use our driving directions below and refer to the dashed red lines on the map to the right for the most direct route to the church once you are in the neighborhood. Our directions (and map) consider one way streets, dead ends and traffic barriers which mapquest does not.


Most Direct Route

From Western Avenue: East on 91st St., then right (south) on Oakley Ave. 3 blocks to the church which is on the south east corner of 94th and Oakley.

Street parking is permitted without restriction in our neighborhood.

Our building is handicap accessible. A wheelchair ramp is located at the Oakley worship entrance.