Jesus is the Word of God made flesh

Jesus has chosen us, which we celebrate in the sacrament of baptism.  Jesus died for all; and all are welcome to receive the sacrament of communion at Bethlehem. Jesus sends us as he was sent, for the love of the world, to share this good news.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus.

The greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves

We offer our love to God through worship and through our interactions with one another; giving of ourselves, our time and our resources.  Because Jesus welcomed the children, the lost and the broken, all are welcome at Bethlehem.  We embrace the Fruits of The Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

God is ever creating and declares creation very good

Every person is created in the image of God and we honor the diversity and complexity of God’s creation.  We recognize brokenness in ourselves and the world and we humbly see ourselves as both saint and sinner.  At Bethlehem we seek to be good stewards of creation and strive for justice and peace in all the world.

We seek to interpret Scripture through the lens of Jesus

Like Jesus and the people in the Bible, we wrestle with interpreting the scriptures in their times and applying them faithfully and lovingly in our time.  Jesus asked more questions than he answered; likewise we honor questions at Bethlehem.   We learn through worship, prayer, discussion, and study, as well as from God’s creation.  We trust the Holy Spirit is at work as we accept mystery and respect curiosity.

We collaborate with one another to share God’s love with others

Jesus called children, men and women to share in God’s work, so we celebrate the varied gifts of young and old, women and men as leaders of this church.  The dreaming, decision-making, and ministries of Bethlehem are accomplished through partnership among pastors, staff and members.  We collaborate locally, regionally and globally by working with families, friends and neighbors, as well as other churches and secular organizations.  We are rooted in the Lutheran tradition and are a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Want more explanation about what any of this means or how it applies to you? We're happy to help. Connect with us at (605) 225.9740 or fill out this form.

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