November 25, 2025 – Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie Fest
(MPLS & Livestream) Wednesday, Nov 26, 7:00 pm
This Thanksgiving Eve, we invite you to gather at the Minneapolis campus to give thanks to God in worship and community.
This special service is a time to pause, reflect, and remember the many ways God’s goodness is made known in our lives and in our world.
After worship, stay for warm fellowship and a delicious assortment of pies—always a beloved Bethlehem tradition! Bring a pie to share with the congregation and consider bringing an extra to donate. All donated pies will go to the Marie Sandvik Center, which provides meals and care for more than 500 neighbors each Thanksgiving.
Your generosity and presence help extend Bethlehem’s hospitality far beyond our walls. Sign up here to volunteer. Pie and helpers still needed.
November 18, 2025 – Join Us For Commitment Sunday!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve reflected on how God renews and restores our lives through the ministry we share at Bethlehem. This Sunday, we’re invited to respond—with gratitude, courage, and faith—as we bring our commitments forward to sustain and strengthen the mission we share.
Your financial commitment for 2026 helps bring Bethlehem’s vision to life—fueling the ministry that renews lives, strengthens faith, and builds community across our campuses and beyond. It supports worship that lifts hearts, relationships that nurture belonging, and service that brings hope to our neighbors. Together, these commitments form the foundation for all we do: growing in faith, deepening discipleship, cultivating leadership, and caring for the people, partners, and property entrusted to us.
As we look ahead to 2026, our goal is to grow our weekly giving by $5,000. This is a faithful stretch, and one we can reach together. Every gift truly matters—whether it’s a first-time pledge or gift, a renewed commitment, or an increase of any amount.
When we make our pledges, we’re offering our hearts to God’s transforming work. Your giving becomes an invitation for God to work through you—an act of worship that says, “Here I am, Lord; let me be part of your renewing work.” Through our commitments, we join together in sustaining the ministry God has entrusted to us.
Consider growing your giving in one of these ways:
- Make your first gift in any amount.
- Increase by $1 per day or $10 per week.
- Increase by $24 per week (about a weekly coffee run).
- Add a 13th monthly gift or double your current offering.
Commitment Sunday is November 23. Bring your pledge form to worship as we dedicate our gifts together. If you can’t be present in person, you can make your pledge online anytime this week.
Together, we’ll continue to live into our calling as a community Alive Together: A New Creation In Christ.
Thank you for being part of the story God is writing through Bethlehem.
November 11, 2025 – Growing In Faith, Strength and Generosity
For our second week of Stewardship, this Sunday’s scripture reading comes from Isaiah 58. It’s a reminder that God’s renewal is never just for us—it’s for the world. The prophet Isaiah calls us to be “repairers of the breach,” people who mend what is broken and restore what has been lost. Renewal and restoration come alive when we serve others with compassion and justice.
At Bethlehem, that call takes shape in our daily ministries. Your giving fuels the ministry that brings renewal to Bethlehem every day. It helps us:
- Embody radical hospitality and inclusion through the Reconciling In Christ process.
- Walk alongside neighbors in housing and food justice.
- Invest in the next generation through intergenerational faith formation.
- Sustain vibrant worship, music and digital ministry.
- Nurture a culture of belonging and care.
Your financial support, prayer and presence are vital to helping Bethlehem live into these goals. Together, we’re working toward a $250,000 increase in annual giving—about $5,000 more per week—to strengthen Bethlehem’s mission and ministry. Every gift matters. Every act of generosity helps Bethlehem boldly step into the future God is calling us toward.
As you prayerfully consider your 2026 pledge, take a moment to reflect on how Bethlehem has shaped your life and where God might be inviting you to take your next faithful step.
November 4, 2025 – Renew & Restore: God Is Making All Things New
At Bethlehem, we believe God is calling us into a future that is Alive Together—a new creation in Christ. This year’s annual appeal, Renew & Restore, reminds us that God is always at work—breathing new life into us and restoring us for the journey ahead.
We see this renewal all around us: in worship that lifts hearts, in meals shared across generations, in youth and adults learning side by side, and in service that restores hope to neighbors near and far.
As we begin this stewardship season, take a moment to reflect on where you’ve seen God at work—renewing and restoring life in and through Bethlehem.
Watch for your stewardship packet to arrive at your home in the coming week. Inside, you’ll find your pledge materials and information to help guide your giving for the coming year.
Over the next three Sundays, visit the Stewardship Table at either campus following worship. Members of the Stewardship Committee and Church Council will be there to answer questions and share extra materials—including a FAQ sheet and a daily devotional to accompany you through this season of reflection leading up to Commitment Sunday on November 23.
Click here to learn more about this year’s appeal and how your generosity makes ministry possible.
October 28, 2025 – All Saints Sunday
This Sunday’s liturgical festival, known as All Saints, aligns with cultural traditions that honor the dead in a variety of ways across time and space. The ancient Celts call it Samhain (SAA-wn), these days from Oct 31–Nov 2, but also the subseason of late autumn. Plants and vines and trees are done growing leaves or bearing fruit. These are days and weeks for nourishing their root systems, for tending to what lives beneath the soil. Bare branches that appear to be dead are tangled up with an unseen promise: more life, already and not yet.
Join us for worship on Sunday. We will remember the saints who have gone before us by speaking their names and ringing bells. We will light candles for the newly baptized. We will give thanks for the mystery of things still to come. And we will share the sacrament of Holy Communion, the meal that remembers us to our spiritual ancestors and descendants, those near and far, the whole church on earth and in the throne room of heaven where the feast never ends.
In a space not far from our sanctuaries, we will create a “gallery of saints” with photos of loved ones who now rest in God. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like to include a photo, please bring a framed photo with you on Sunday, Nov 2.
If you’re not able to participate in person, we encourage you to gather photos and light candles at home during Livestream worship. Questions? Contact (MPLS) Director of Health & Wellness Diane Waarvik, 612-312-3375; (MTKA) Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson, 612-312-3403.
October 21, 2025 – Affirmation of Baptism
Reformation Sunday, observed on the last Sunday in October, holds a special place in many Christian denominations, particularly within the Lutheran traditions. It commemorates the historic events of Oct 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, sparking the Protestant Reformation. This pivotal moment challenged the Catholic Church’s practices and teachings, leading to the establishment of various Protestant denominations and reshaping the course of Christian history.
For 29 Bethlehem students, Reformation Sunday offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the core principles of the Reformation: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), and the priesthood of all believers. These principles emphasize the individual’s direct relationship with God, the importance of Scripture in guiding faith, and the role of each person, including you, in their faith journey. Reformation Sunday serves as a reminder to students of the transformative power of faith and the ongoing need for reform in the church and society.
Affirmation of Baptism services will be held Sunday, Oct 26 at (MTKA) 9:30 am and (MPLS) 1:00 pm. The whole congregation is invited!
This time together marks a student’s conscious decision to publicly affirm their baptismal vows. It is a rite of passage where students affirm the faith into which they were baptized, making a personal commitment to live out their faith. We hope you can come join in this special moment in the lives of these students, and rejoice and support them in this wild move that they are about to make.
October 14, 2025 – Help Make Lefse for the Lutefisk Dinner!
Before we can serve up the lutefisk, we need lefse—and lots of it! We’re looking for volunteers to help make over 300 rounds of homemade lefse on Sunday, Oct 19 in preparation for Bethlehem Twin Cities’ annual Lutefisk Dinner.
No experience required—just a willing spirit and a little flour on your hands. Volunteers from middle school age and up are encouraged to sign up for one of two shifts:
Lefse-Making Shifts – Sunday, Oct 19
9:00–11:00 am
10:30 am–1:00 pm
Please register in advance to reserve your spot, and join in on this time-honored (and joyfully messy) tradition!
Once the lefse is rolled, flipped and stacked, be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov 22 for the annual Lutefisk Dinner—a festive community event that’s part cultural celebration, part youth fundraiser, and 100% Scandinavian fun. Whether you sign up to volunteer, donate dessert or simply come hungry, your participation keeps this beloved Bethlehem tradition going strong.
Join us—and take a small bite in whatever way you can!
October 7, 2025 – Gather, Eat, Sing, Grow—Second Wednesdays at Minnetonka
This Wednesday is the return of evening programming at the Minnetonka campus. We meet monthly on 2nd Wednesdays, with dinner served at 5:30 pm. The menu for October 8 is pasta with meat, garden salad and garlic bread. Everyone is welcome! You don’t need to be on site for programming or rehearsals. Just bring your appetite or make plans to meet up with a friend.
Many thanks to the volunteers who have already signed up to cook or serve this year; and if you’d like to pitch in, reach out to a member of the staff so we can get you scheduled.
The Chancel Choir and the Handbell Ensemble have already welcomed new and occasional members this season. I’m grateful for their welcome and flexibility. These groups have so much fun together! Last season the choir was thrilled when a teenager joined their ranks—and when they were all invited to her 18th birthday/graduation party. They gathered her in and sent her off in ways that make you glad to be the church.
This year, Wednesday night programming includes two new offerings:
Parents, bring your kiddos for dinner and stay for Storytime with Cindy at 6:00 pm. Cindy Beltz has the aura of a fairy godmother and your favorite elementary school teacher. With props, crafts and storybooks, Cindy makes faith formation come alive for our littlest ones (birth–age 5). It’s a low stakes, casual way to try showing up midweek so you can get to know other adults, too.
Emmaus Pairs has connected 12 students with 12 trusted adults for faithful conversations all year long. It’s an opportunity for kids and teens to notice that adults are still asking questions and growing in faith, too. Using Manna and Mercy as a resource, the pairs meet monthly for dinner and conversation so a new intergenerational connection is formed thanks to Jesus, who’s been there the whole time.
September 30, 2025 – Reconciling In Christ Update and Invitation
The Reconciling In Christ (RIC) process, and any process of communal self-reflection, is not easy. The RIC Team would like to thank you for your involvement thus far. We are continuing one-on-one conversations with congregants and staff members and are enjoying hearing from many of you.
Along with the RIC Team’s continued one-on-one conversations, we are excited to begin to share opportunities for group conversations, learning and questions. We invite you to gather with us for Bethlehem’s Reconciling In Christ Journey on Sunday, Oct 5, 6:00 pm (MPLS, following the Evensong worship service) for an informal, educational session with the RIC Team and Deacon David Behling, program coordinator at ReconcilingWorks.
We will share a simple dinner and casual conversation around tables, focusing on the RIC process and questions from the congregation. Please come with any questions you may have! We will have time to write questions anonymously and present them to the RIC team and to Deacon David to be addressed. Together we’ll explore the importance of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive culture for all people. Please register online so we can prepare for you.
Join us in reaching our goal of 100 one-on-one conversations and participating in educational opportunities. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one conversation, please email the RIC Team ([email protected]).
September 23, 2025 – Catechism for Adults with Pastor Chris Enstad
Begins this week!
(MPLS) Wednesdays, Sep 24–Oct 15, 6:30–7:30 pm
What is it that Lutherans believe anyway? What are the promises made in baptism, and how does God come to us in word and sacrament? Why did Luther emphasize grace, and what’s the big deal about vocation?
On Wednesdays this fall, Pastor Chris Enstad will meet with adults to explore some of the same questions confirmation students encounter as they prepare for Affirmation of Baptism. Whether you once participated in confirmation or not, you are welcome to join the conversation that coincides with this fall’s sermon series, “Grace Made Visible.”
Register
September 16, 2025 – Thank you, from Pastor Kris TM
Dear Bethlehem,
Thank you for the wonderful send-off this past week-and-a-half. Your kind words and hugs, the open house on Thursday, a new choral anthem commissioned by the Bethlehem Foundation and composed by Aaron McDermid, worship (at both campuses over two Sundays) that praised God and nurtured us in body, mind and spirit, art for my home, and a monetary gift—it all leaves me brimming with gratitude and warm thoughts. I never imagined I would serve Bethlehem for 27+ years, but it’s been a blessing to lead children’s ministries and serve as one of your pastors.
We have gathered around Word and sacrament, striving to grow in faith and fellowship, accompanied outreach partners in town and around the world, welcomed new people, and created positive church experience for kids, hoping they would one day return to church and find they’re home. It’s been a special privilege to walk alongside you at times of transition, mourning loss and celebrating new life. We have experienced a lot of change together, both as a community and as individuals or families.
Shout-out to my family, Dave, Anna and Matt. They have been ‘all in’, and I couldn’t have done it without them. Same thing for our parents, Janice, Luther and Val. Thanks to all who have helped nurture them and me in faith and service.
Bethlehem is “Alive Together: A New Creation in Christ.” I can’t wait to see what comes next for this beloved congregation. You will continue to be in my prayers and in my heart.
—Pastor Kris TM
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” —1 Thessalonians 2:8
September 9, 2025 – Mark your calendars for a joyful day of worship and fellowship on Celebration Sunday!
Sunday, Sep 14
(All Services) Worship, 9:30 am*
Food & Activities, 10:30 am
Step into a season of renewal and alignment this Celebration Sunday, as we begin the six-week sermon series, “Grace Made Visible: Foundations of Faith, the Lutheran Way.” Over the weeks ahead, we’ll explore five core affirmations of the Lutheran tradition, each rooted in Scripture and alive in our shared calling as Bethlehem:
Grace Alone – God’s grace is a gift that finds us first.
Faith Alone – Trusting God more than ourselves.
Scripture Alone – Hearing the living Word for today.
Christ Alone – At the center of it all.
Freed to Serve – Set free for love.
We’re beginning an exciting new program year, with Children Youth and Family, Adult Education, Music and Choirs, and more kicking off this week. Details and registration on the Bethlehem website.
Worship at either campus or online at 9:30 am, featuring wonderful music and an inspired message. (*This Sunday, we’re adjusting our worship schedule for one week only to create more space for connection and fellowship.) Then join us after worship for food and fun for all ages!
In Minneapolis, we’ll give thanks for the remarkable ministry of Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel on her final Sunday before retirement. We’ll have mammoth muffins inside and free hot dogs outside from the Hot Box food truck (which will also be selling fresh mini donuts!). We’ll have a petting zoo and yard games for the children outside.
In Minnetonka, we’ll have Pancake Church, with delicious homemade pancakes and sausages in the Fellowship Hall. Then, step outside with the kids for a fun bouncy house and the Amazin’ Balloons.
September 2, 2025 – Celebrating Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel
For 27 years, Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel has faithfully served Bethlehem in many roles, offering her gifts, wisdom and care to our congregation. Now, as she transitions from parish pastor to new callings and retirement, we give thanks for her remarkable ministry among us.
We invite you to share some of your favorite memories and stories of Pastor Kris here.
Join us during on Sundays, Sep 7 (MTKA) at 9:30 am and Sep 14 (MPLS) at 9:30 am* for a farewell and godspeed during Pastor Kris’ final worship services at Bethlehem. Stay after worship for fellowship and to share your gratitude, memories and well-wishes.
And, for an Open House on Thursday, Sep 11 (MPLS) at 5:00–7:00 pm. Belvidere Oasis will provide music from 5:00–6:00 pm, followed by a brief program at 6:00 pm. Light meal and dessert provided. Pictures and memories displayed throughout the evening. Details online.
*We’re adjusting our Minneapolis worship schedule for one week only
August 26, 2025 – Fall Youth Retreat
Grades 6–12
(Offsite) Friday, Sep 19, 5:00 pm through Saturday, Sep 20, 4:00 pm
Join Pastor Heather and Melissa (Director of Youth & Family Ministry) at Mount Olivet Retreat Center in Farmington. Together with Lutheran hip-hop artist, Dave Sherer, we will dig into God’s word, play giant games, swim, and do camp stuff.
Drop off and pick-up at the Minneapolis campus. Cost $100.00 per student, covers transportation, facilities and meals. Participants will need a sleeping bag, swimsuit and shoes appropriate for hiking. Details online. Registration required.
Read More and Register
August 19, 2025 – Sing and Ring with Us this Fall!
As we enter a new program year, we would like to invite you to come and sing, and/or ring, with us this year.
Bethlehem is blessed to have so many incredible music ensembles at each campus, and now is a wonderful time to join as we look towards all of the possibilities a new year has to offer. Whether it’s our children and youth choral ensembles, the youth handbell ensemble, or our adult choral and handbell ensembles, there is an ensemble for everyone in the family. There are a variety of ways of getting connected to the music ministry here at Bethlehem. We have a great time making music together to share in worship. All are welcome!
Rehearsals begin the week of September 7.
Learn more about Music & Choirs at BethlehemAugust 12, 2025 – New Sunday Evening Worship Service, Evensong
Experimental. Newly-composed sacred music alongside traditional Lutheran hymnody; contemplative spiritual practices; poetry and art used to illuminate scripture.
Embodied. Opportunities for active participation, like candle lighting and prayer stations.
Experiential. Cozy, contemplative atmosphere; a deep, restorative breath before the work week; seasonal liturgies allow music and words to sink in deeply.
These three words sum up the vision for our NEW worship service, Evensong, which will be held in-person on Sundays at 5:00 pm at the Minneapolis campus beginning August 17.
Curated and led by Spirit Garage’s Andy Pokel in collaboration, with Bethlehem pastors and volunteer musicians, this in-person worship service will use a consistent liturgy, led primarily by guitar and piano, in which only a few elements will change.
From August to November—the last portion of “ordinary time” in the church calendar—Evensong will feature music and liturgies from the Prairie Liturgies, a gorgeous collection of worship services by Carol Meier (composer) and Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson (liturgist).
August 5, 2025 – Pray Without Ceasing
As people who follow Jesus, we pray. Alone and together, we pray. And, in times of great change, we pray. And so, in this time of significant and rapid change, we will take the bishop up on her invitation to gather in prayer for the world each week. Gather to Pray Without Ceasing before worship on Sunday mornings (MTKA Narthex 9:00 am & MPLS Chapel 10:15 am) for a brief litany of prayers for the world. We’ll gather around a global map and have tea lights available. We’ll continue this tradition each week, trusting that where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name, our Savior is with us. Learn more here.
July 29, 2025 – Seniors Together School Supply Drive
Bethlehem’s Seniors Together ministry will be collecting school supplies to help kids from financially struggling families start the school year strong.
Minneapolis will be collecting school supplies for Stonebridge World School, a Pre K–Grade 6 public charter school, tuition free and open to all students located at 4530 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minnetonka will be collecting school supplies for Resource West, a non-profit community agency that serves families and individuals living in the West Metro community.
Volunteers and collection tables will be available at both campuses before and after services on Sundays, Aug 3 and 10.
Donations can be dropped off during the week and throughout the month of August. Look for the School Supplies Collection box at both campuses.
Click here for a list of needed supplies.
July 22, 2025 – Annual Budget Meeting
Come, gather as a community rooted in faith and guided by grace to discern how God is calling us forward (MPLS & Livestream) Saturday, July 26, 10:00 am.
Our staff and lay leaders have been prayerfully imagining our future in light of our renewed vision, mission and values. Together, we’ll share exciting plans for the coming year, review and approve our 2025–2026 fiscal year budget, and celebrate the many ways God is moving in and through Bethlehem.
July 15, 2025 – Worship at the Lake Harriet Bandshell this Sunday
BETHLEHEM WORSHIP
10:00 am – Lake Harriet Bandshell
Join us for our yearly trek to the Lake Harriet Bandshell to worship as one church in one place together outside with bluegrass ensemble, Monroe Crossing.
Bring some chairs and blankets. Feel free to do some shuffle clog dancing! Stay after worship for light refreshments and fellowship.
This will be our only worship service this Sunday. This service will not be livestreamed or recorded. Please check the Bethlehem website in case of inclement weather.
July 8, 2025 – Celebrate Emerson Village’s Grand Opening
Bethlehem’s most recent Capital Campaign prayerfully and financially invested in making this project a reality. Together with the whole Beacon collaborative on Monday, July 21, 3:30–5:30 pm, let’s celebrate the Grand Opening with the village that made it possible and the residents that call this place home. Featured speakers include: Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis; Irene Fernando, Hennepin County Commissioner; Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Council Member; Chris LaTondresse, Beacon President & CEO.
July 1, 2025 – Wander with Us In the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul
On July 1st, a group of 31 people from Bethlehem embark on an adventure to Greece and Turkiye to wander in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, reading the letters he wrote to early Christian churches while learning about the ancient context we might overlook as Americans in 2025.
Keep an eye on Bethlehem’s Facebook and Instagram for glimpses of this adventure. We’ll remember our baptism at the Gangites River in Philippi where Lydia was baptized, share the Lord’s Supper in Corinth, and consider the ways an ancient goddess in Ephesus helped the locals embrace Mary, the Mother of God, as their own. We’ll also visit the island of Patmos where John had a revelation and sing hymns inspired by that text.
Wherever you are, you can follow along by downloading the group’s daily devotional booklet (available here) and by praying for this group on the move—that we would return home on July 12 alive, together and transformed by the journey.
