Tidings from BELC, Sept., 2026.

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”

                   -Philippians 1:6 (NRSVue)

The picture that appears above is an interesting one. In it you see the structure that now houses the music room and Schmid Hall. You can see all the way down to the deepest foundational cornerstones. Those blocks were dug out and exposed so that the “new church” could be integrated into the “old church.” Of course, the more recent structure now houses our sanctuary, fellowship hall, and church offices. These kinds of evolutions are ongoing in our life together. The building has not stopped.

As a matter of fact, this Rally Day, September 13^th after the 10:30 worship service (yes, we will be back to 10:30 worship that Sunday), we will dedicate a newly renovated Schmid Hall. There’s a beautifully appointed and remodeled kitchen, a completely renovated restroom, the space has been air-conditioned, the interior of Schmid Hall has been completely repainted, there’s a beautiful new stained glass window installation, and gorgeous new banners bring it all together. If you haven’t seen the Schmid Hall recently, you should really take the time to stop in.

There are many people to thank for the completion of this work; it all began with a dedicated planning committee, helpful contractors blessed us with their expertise, volunteers donated countless hours of labor, and there were generous donations from faithful members along the way. When we take the time to dedicate this space, we will also celebrate what faithful collaboration can accomplish. 96 years ago, some faithful Lutheran Christians, “began a good work” on Mount Royal Boulevard, and we have the privilege of continuing that effort. I trust that in the years to come a new generation of faithful servants will build on the foundation that has been so thoughtfully laid. Wonderful, right? Well, it gets better!

You see, on this Rally Day, right alongside the dedication of this newly renovated space, we’ll also celebrate a different kind of renovation; the spiritual renewal that will surely take place in our hearts, minds, and spirits as we make our way through another jam-packed programmatic year at Bethlehem. Indeed, we will share in meaningful worship, participate in enriching educational experiences, invest in impactful service opportunities, and relish uplifting moments of fellowship. While we might plan and help to facilitate these beautiful expressions of ministry, please understand, as Saint Paul suggests above, it will be God who is accomplishing this “good work.” In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit we believe that God began this critically important work within us, that God will sustain it, and will also “bring it to completion.”

What makes our life together as a congregation so distinctive isn’t our capacity to get some truly amazing things done; what makes us distinctive is what God continues to do with us. I pray we will always have the humility to give credit where credit is due. Thanks be to God!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan