Come Visit bethlehem

Worship Service is held at 9:30 am every Sunday.




Strong in Faith. Boundless in Love. Bold in Service.



Coming Events




Join Bethlehem at the 95th Street Farmer's Market

On Sunday, July 21, Bethlehem will be at the community tent at the 95th Street Farmer's Market. We will be helping children make friendship bracelets, inviting people to join us for five minute "peace conversations" and giving out information about the pop-up dinner church. If you'd like to volunteer an hour or more that day, please let Pastor Jennie know. 


Pop-Up Dinner Church

Invite a friend and join us for a Pop-Up Dinner Church experience at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, at Joplin Marley Studio located at 9911 S. Walden Pkwy. Dinner churches have been popping up around the country as faith communities seek to offer a comfortable and warm welcome to those who might be uncomfortable visiting a church on a Sunday morning. Early Christian worship began with a full meal shared by the community and we want to return to that sense of sharing the abundance of God in fellowship with one another. Guests at dinner church will be invited to sit with others and enjoy a meal including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The “sermon” for the evening will be a short personal reflection intended to spark conversation among guests and Holy Communion will be shared.   


Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation Presentation

You are invited to a presentation about the ministry of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation on Sunday, July 28, during the fellowship hour after worship. Precious Blood's mission is to "work as agents of reconciliation and healing with those in our community and our Church who have been impacted by violence and conflict." Participants in Precious Blood's screen printing program, as well as their volunteer coordinator, will be here to tell us a bit more about the organization's ministry, answer questions, and inform us about ways to be involved. 


Bethlehem Summer Book Club

The Bethlehem Summer Book Club selection for our August 19, 7:00 – 8:30 PM gathering at Starbucks is A Column of Fire by Ken Follett. The best-selling author of Pillars of the Earth brings his skills to yet another epic novel set in a rich, historical context. A Column of Fire takes place in Reformation Era England and tells the story of a couple in love who find themselves on opposite sides of the religious conflict dividing the country. “The real enemies, then as now, are not the rival religions. The true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance and compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else – no matter what the cost.” All are welcome to join our book club, be part of the discussion!  


Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile – Donating to Bethlehem through the Amazon Smile Foundation is very easy. Every time you want to purchase something at Amazon.com, go to Smile.Amazon.com instead! Designate Bethlehem as your charity of choice. A percentage of each purchase price will be donated to us every quarter.  


Summer Fellowship

Sign-up to host fellowship one Sunday this summer! Look for the clip board on the kitchen counter. Consider these ideas or be creative with one of your own – coffee cakes/cookies, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, ice cream sundaes, pancakes, breakfast burritos, etc. For more information or any questions, please contact June Brown.  


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


Centering Prayer

Centering prayer is a practice that is designed to build mindfulness to the presence of God. Our bodies and minds are often busy and distracted to the point that we can miss what is right in front of us. Centering prayer helps us learn how to quiet our bodies and minds to become centered in the reality of God’s presence in our lives. You are invited to practice centering prayer each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.  Weather permitting we will meet in the baptismal garden. Pastor Jennie will offer guidance for those who are new to the practice. Centering prayer is finished at 9:15.


Summer Sale Table

As you are de-cluttering, organizing, and wrestling with a lifetime of wonderful-not so wonderful-stuff, think about sharing. Your treasure may be just the thing someone else is looking for. Stop by to drop off those items that no longer bring you joy. Look for the table in the fellowship hall. All items left over will be donated. 


Click here for this month's calendar.

Welcome Statement

We invite you to explore the faith community of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago. We are a Christian community committed to welcoming all, worshiping God, growing in faith, and loving and serving others with the love of Christ. We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.


Bethlehem is a Reconciling in Christ congregation. We welcome into full participation in our life and ministry

  • People of all races and ethnic groups
  • People of all ages and economic levels
  • Single parent and double parent families; people without children; single individuals
  • People with differing abilities (Bethlehem is handicapped accessible)
  • People of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

We seek to be a community that is boundless in love. You are welcome here and invited to grow in faith, love, and service within this community of faith.

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






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 10:45 am service during the school year and at the single 9:30 am service during the summer, though it 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.