Come Visit bethlehem

Worship Service is held at 9:30 am every Sunday in the summer months (from Memorial Day to Labor Day), and at 8:15 am and 10:45 am the rest of the year.




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



Coming Events

  

Peace Camp 2019

The re-scheduled Bethlehem Peace Camp 2019 Brainstorming Session will be held this Saturday, January 26, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. You will not be asked to “sign-up” or for a commitment to help. The committee is just looking for your ideas and thoughts about how to make this year’s Peace Camp the best one yet. Please contact Pastor Jennie or Linda Bond (lindab5131@aol.com) if you have questions or ideas you’d like to share. 


Leadership Community Event

Council members, committee chairs, ministry leads, and others who are interested are invited to a Leadership Community Event on Monday, January 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for leaders to collaborate, to share successes and troubleshoot obstacles, as well as set goals for the rest of the program year. There will be a report from the Council on their work toward the goals of deepening discipleship and being intentional about outreach. Please let Pastor Jennie know if you plan to attend so she knows how many materials to have available.


Peace Circles

Beginning February 3, Bethlehem will hold congregational peace circles on the first Sunday of each month. The circles will take place between services in Good Samaritan hall, in lieu of Adult Forum on those particular Sundays. For those of you who aren't familiar with peace circles, they're holistic group discussions designed to facilitate open and honest communication. They're often used in the Restorative Justice Movement to address conflict with an emphasis on healing and repairing of harm. Conflict is not a requirement, however. They can also be a wonderful tool for building community, and that will be our focus as we begin this practice together on the 3rd. These circles will be hosted by Bethlehem's Peace Team.


Save the Date for Trivia Night! 

Next month Bethlehem member, Paul Williams, will once again participate in the Full Climb at the former John Hancock Center in the Hustle Chicago event to help raise money for lung disease research and education. There will be a Hustle Chicago Trivia Night Fundraiser on Friday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. here at Bethlehem to help support in this effort. All are welcome to come and play - this event was tons of fun the last time it was held – don’t miss it. Bring your own team or come on your own and play with a team of new friends! The cost to play is $5 per person. The top two teams will win cash prizes. Fat Tommy’s Restaurant will be selling delicious dinner items, and there will be raffle prizes with the proceeds going to the Respiratory Health Association. 


Do you need…?

Are you or someone you know in need of any medical aids such as crutches and walkers or a wheel chair? We have several of these items available that have been donated to Bethlehem over the years and we would welcome a new home for them. These items can be very expensive if one was to buy them outright, in addition to insurance deductibles, etc., but we are happy to place them into a good home for someone who may need them. Delivery is available. Please contact Susan in the church office or Bill Evans @ 312-315-6289 for more information. 


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 bethlehemevangelical@bethlehem-chicago.org

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.