Announcements

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “But the Lord in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” -Habakkuk 2:20 I’ve heard folks say that “we,” I am assuming they mean Lutheran Christians, “aren’t good at silence.” I can kind of see how that critique might be legitimate, but I would beg to differ just a bit. I mean seriously, have you ever been on the receiving end of the “silent treatment?” In these particular instances I would say that some folks are very mu

-----Monthly News From In & Around Our Parish----- From the Pastor’s Desk May 2026 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” -Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSV) This is the time of year when many of us begin to spend a little more time outside. As we do, we notice the effects of a long winter; the sheer force of the freeze-thaw cycle i

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “You feel hedged in; you dream of escape; but beware of mirages. Do not run or fly away in order to get free: rather dig in the narrow place which has been given you; you will find God there and everything. God does not float on your horizon, he sleeps in your substance. Vanity runs, love digs.” -Gabriel Marcel As we come to the end of April we are on the very precipice of the summer months; a time of vacations and get aways. Some have had the

The Understanding Church Podcast has reached 16,000 downloads! We hope you will be 16,001! This podcast is offered by Pastor Dan Smail and Pastor Wendy Farone to help us make sense of this thing called 'church' and our place within it. We hope you will join us! Available at belc.org/podcast or anywhere you listen to podcasts. See you there!

Vacation Bible School, July 6-10, 2026

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Even to your old age, I am he; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made and I will bear; I will carry and I will save.” -Isaiah 46:4 There is a distinctive blessing in being young, you often do not need to think through the ravages of time; the way your mind and body are slowing; the way you begin to plan differently for your future. There is a distinctive blessing in growing older… actually there may be several. First, you appreci

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” Proverbs 27:17 A couple of weeks ago, Brenda Frese the head coach of the University of Maryland’s women’s basketball program went viral for “yelling” at one of her players, Oluchi Okananwa. Criticism of the coach was mounting until Okananwa spoke out. In a surprising turn the player informed the media that she had been looking for that kind of intensity in a coach. She was not u

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, On this day we commemorate a poet by the name of John Donne. Donne entered the Church Triumphant in 1631, but his poetry remains an inspiring testament to his profound faith. In one of his poems entitled Resurrection Donne writes, “May then sin’s sleep, and death’s soon from me pass, That waked from both, I again risen may Salute the last, and everlasting day.” This is just glorious. God bless him, John Donne understood that we are living an “

Dear friends in Christ, We get to celebrate the season of Easter all throughout the month of April! Easter extends into May until the celebration of Pentecost. This means weeks of celebration and joy in the resurrected Jesus. You’ll continue to see the color white used in the church paraments to symbolize resurrection and joy. We’ll hear together how Jesus appears to his disciples and discuss the difference resurrection brings to our lives. This celebration kicks off during

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them, bear much fruit…” -John 15:5 I was reminded recently that this little line from the Gospel of John is both a source of meaningful wisdom and a compelling image. Jesus wanted to be sure that we understood where we stood, or at least should be standing. We are not the “vine,” and we certainly are not the “roots”… we are the “branches.” Is this a heap of poetical nonsense,

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the most high.” I grew up on the Kiskiminetas River, I had lots of adventures on that river. Fishing, boating, swimming, and countless hours peering out on to the perpetual flow. That river became a part of my story, I was a kind of 1980’s Huckleberry Finn, every once in a while even sleeping out in a tree house. And yet, as glorious as those memories might be, ye

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 Every once in a while, I’ll slip up and say something like, “Now I have seen it all!” But, you know what? I haven’t, and I never will… there’s always more to see, more to hear, more to learn; and best of all, more to behold (“behold” is a such a spiritually rich word). When I am at my most morose, I am at my least c

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night…” -John 3:1-2 I know there’s a school of thought that suggests that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he wanted to remain under the cover of darkness. Some suggest that Nicodemus was worried about what others would have thought if they discovered that he was chatting with the controversial rabbi from Galilee. That could be the case, or maybe Nicodem

TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM -----Monthly News From In & Around Our Parish----- From the Pastor’s Desk March 2026 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28- (NRSV) Have you ever had one of those moments? You come to worship, eager, but not expecting anything spiritually monum

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, This coming Sunday evening is the “Super Bowl.” Super Bowl Sunday has become something akin to a national holiday. People spend the day in preparation; there’s shared food, festivities, and family traditions. Which I think is just great. Now, as you reach your hand down into the chip bowl this evening, for one more handful of nachos… you might be thinking, why do we call this game the “Super Bowl ?” And as a matter of fact, how about “bowl” ga