Worship

Overview

At Bethany, worship is at the heart of our identity as God’s beloved children. Sunday after Sunday we gather to hear the word of God proclaimed and celebrate in the holy meal instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe God’s free gift of grace is revealed to us as we are joined to God’s love story (the Bible) moving us from bondage to freedom, from confession to absolution, from despair to hope, from cross to resurrection, and from death to new life. Through our worship, we receive again the grace of God in Christ Jesus so that we may be sent into our homes, into our neighborhoods, into our places of work, and into the world in love and service to others. As our mission statement reads, we welcome “all into a life-giving worshiping community.”

Style of Worship

Bethany is committed to Lutheran liturgical worship that empowers the assembly to join in congregational song and prayer. Steeped in ritual, we rely on the ancient practices of the church to shape our faith as we take seriously our context and culture. Leaning into the breadth and depth of the tradition to shape us as a worshiping community, we use a variety of styles to guide us in our worship. We enjoy hymns from the ELCA’s new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, as well as material from African-American traditions, chant-style singing from Taizé and Iona communities, and resources from the global Christian community. We believe the wide-embrace of God’s love ought to be reflected in the wideness of our worship as we learn and grow as a diverse people of faith.

Baptism

The sacrament of holy baptism is a sign of God’s unconditional love poured out through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In the waters of baptism, God’s word unites us with all the baptized into the one body of Christ as we are empowered to work for justice and peace in God’s world. We live out our baptismal identity each and every day as we witness to God’s redeeming love for the world. As Lutherans, we baptize infants and adults and are eager to welcome new believers into the community of faith. We recognize one baptism into the Christian faith; therefore, one does not need to be re-baptized to join the Lutheran church if one has been baptized in another faith tradition.

Holy Communion

Every Sunday we gather around the table to share in Christ’s gifts of bread and wine. In holy communion (also called the eucharist), we believe Christ is truly present coming to us in, with, and under the bread and wine bringing forgiveness and new life. We practice an open table and invite all to share in the gifts of this holy meal offered by Christ.

Worship Schedule

Sunday Mornings
8:45 a.m. – Adult Learning Hour (September – May)
10:00 a.m. – Service of Holy Communion

Christmas Eve Worship
4:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service of Holy Communion

Ash Wednesday Worship
7:00 p.m. – Service of Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes

Wednesdays in Lent
6:00 p.m. – Soup Supper
7:00 p.m. – Evening Prayer

Holy Week Worship
7:00 p.m. – Maundy Thursday
7:00 p.m. – Good Friday

Resurrection of Our Lord/Easter Sunday
8:00 a.m. – Easter Breakfast
10:00 a.m. – Festival Worship with Holy Communion