We believe God’s message of love, grace, and hope has been made known to us through Jesus Christ. From beginning to end the Bible points to Jesus’ action on the cross as the bridge of healing in our relationship with God and those around us.
Bethel’s Vision Statement
We at Bethel are called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, by showing God’s love, compassion and mercy through our every action as we encounter one another and the community around us.
I don’t feel like I am a good enough person to come to church. Am I welcome?
All are welcome at Bethel. You are God’s child, and He loves you more than you can imagine. We believe that God’s love is for everyone, and we do our best to carry that out in our actions as a congregation. Our church is full of imperfect people who come to church because we know we aren’t perfect. Try us out on a Sunday and find out how powerful God’s grace can be in your life.
What’s this about Grace?
Grace is the gift of God’s love and mercy. As Lutherans, Grace is at the center of everything that we believe as a congregation. Once we believe in Jesus, nothing we can do will separate us from God and God’s love for us. This frees us to live life joyfully and to serve God with our hearts, souls, and minds.
What is necessary to be forgiven by God?
We only need to accept God’s gift of forgiveness, because the work has already been done by Jesus on the cross. During our worship services, there is a time for quiet confession and then the words of forgiveness are spoken over the congregation. This is a reminder of God’s love and forgiveness for each of us.
What is your view on salvation? Is salvation for everyone?
We believe that one only needs to believe in Jesus to be saved. As we read in John 3:16-17, God sent Jesus here to save all of His children. He wants all of His children to be with Him for eternity. Salvation is a free gift for us, we just need to say “yes”.
Do you believe in Jesus as God’s son? Why did Jesus come to Earth?
We believe that God comes to us in three different ways, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to meet us where we are. We believe that Jesus is God’s only son, our Lord. Jesus was fully God and fully man. God sent His Son to live here on Earth so He could experience life with us and experience our pain and anguish. Before Jesus, our sin separated us from God. Jesus’ action on the cross is the bridge that connected us with God again. The debt has been paid. When Jesus rose from the dead, victory over death was provided for all of us. Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate and walk with us through our faith journey.
How do you view the Bible?
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The bible is the Living Word of God that speaks, through the Holy Spirit, to each of us where we are at that moment in time. By reading and studying it, we get to know the heart of God
Do you believe in baptism?
We believe in baptism by the water and the Word, from infants to adults. In baptism, the action is God’s, where God comes down to us and grabs hold of us, never letting us go.
Do you celebrate communion?
We celebrate communion weekly. As we describe in detail on our About Worship page, we have open communion, and all are welcome at the Lord’s table.
Do you serve in the community?
Serving our neighbor is central to our faith. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We serve out of gratitude for the blessings that God has given us and the love we have for those around us. Our Outreach page has details of how we serve and how you can get involved if you are interested.
Where does the name Lutheran come from?
Lutherans are named after Martin Luther, who is credited with spearheading the Reformation in the 16th century, which was the break between the Roman Catholic and Protestant church. Our views on God’s Grace, in addition to other important aspects of our faith, have been shaped by the writings of Martin Luther.
Are you affiliated with a larger church or denomination?
Bethel Lutheran Church is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The ECLA consists of 3.4 million members in over 9,000 congregations. We belong to the Rocky Mountain Synod which brings together congregations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and parts of Texas.
John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
