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We hope your visit to our Web page will be a similar experience to a visit with our church. The first Bethlehem, located in the hills south of Jerusalem, was the site where the world first encountered Jesus Christ. Guided by a bright, shining star, magi from far to the east and shepherds from the nearby hills were drawn to this child who would change the world.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, located in the hills north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA is working to be a place and a people where Jesus is able to still be encountered! We are committed to sharing Jesus Christ in a way that is faithful to the caring and yet challenging style Jesus modeled. There is a joy that comes from following Jesus that we hope to exhibit in all of our activities. There is also an opportunity to grow as people through Christ that we seek and that we share.
We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the ELCA). Need our worship times? Scroll up just a bit and see the box on the left. Need directions to our church? Just click on "Directions" in the About Us menu at the top of any page and you will be taken to a map to our church building which includes an elevator and air conditioning. Just click here: ELCA and you will be taken to the ELCA website which has all kinds of information about our denomination. If you just have some life or faith questions, you may find it helpful to click here , which will take you to an ELCA site that seeks to address some of the basic life questions. You will find further resources on our Links page which is available by clicking on Links at the top of any page. Please come and browse the pages available across the heading above and feel free to respond to what you see. We would love to hear from you. |
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FROM THE PASTOR: July 2010 |
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As expected, this year’s assembly provided an opportunity for much debate about the sexuality issue. Pastors and lay people lined up at the microphone to publicly express their feelings, whether they were against or in favor of the ELCA’s policy changes and statements on the subject. Resolutions and memorials were discussed and amended, some passing and others being defeated. In many cases, the spoken votes were too close to call, and voting members were asked to stand, so that an accurate count could be made. There was certainly a different feeling about this year’s assembly, as we were reminded of the issues facing the ELCA, and the strong feelings of many pastors and lay people in our synod. But the annual synod assembly is so much more than a forum for debate about controversial issues. It is also an opportunity to be reminded of other things… good things. I have always said that there are two really great things about our annual synod assembly – 1) the worship. How wonderful it is to be with so many, gathered around Word and Sacrament! 2) the fellowship. How wonderful it is to be connected and re-connected with so many Lutheran brothers and sisters from all over southwestern Pennsylvania. For me, the joy of these two things – worship and fellowship- outweigh any frustration and sadness I have about the issues which seek to divide the Body of Christ. Despite the issues on which we disagree, we stood together in prayer and praise, united in the Lord Jesus. We shared meals with each other in the dining hall, made new friends, and caught up with old ones. There is also great joy in the work we do together to make a difference in the world. After one assembly session which was filled with debate and disagreement, we had the opportunity to see a video about the work that has been done in Haiti. You see, even we, who do not agree on everything, can make a difference when we work together to serve our Lord. Following the command of our Lord Jesus, our Lutheran congregations support these and other efforts to help neighbors in need. We support our social ministry organizations, our camps, our colleges and universities, our seminaries, and so much more. Thus, the assembly is also a reminder that we are stronger when we are united in Christ, and can do so much more when we work together in his name. These, for me, are the real highlights. These, for me, are the things I wish to take from this year’s assembly. Certainly, if you wish to ask questions about the controversial things, I will be happy to talk with you about those as well. Please feel free to see me. But I also hope that you will join me in giving thanks for all of the good things God is doing through us. And I hope you will join me in prayer for the leadership of Bishop Kurt Kusserow and the synod staff. How good it is to be together. How good it is to be the people of God. Yours in Christ, Pastor Tony Schneck |
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