Click on a heading to expand more information.
WHAT TIME ARE YOUR SERVICES? . . .
The Divine Service is celebrated on Sunday at 8:30 & 11:00AM
Bible Study is at 10:00AM.
WHERE DO I FIND INFORMATION AS A VISITOR? . . .
The visitor welcome center is straight ahead as you enter the church.
WHERE DO I PARK? . . .
There is plenty of parking all around the church and school at Bethany, and the sanctuary will catch your eye as soon as you pull in off of Modaff Road.
WHAT KIND OF WORSHIP DO YOU OFFER? . . .
At Bethany the most important thing about worship is that it be founded on the Word of God as given to us in the Holy Scriptures. For this reason, preaching the good news about who Jesus is and what he has done for us takes a prominent place in every service. In keeping with what the Bible teaches, the Lord's Supper is also the heart of who we are as a worshiping community. Our services also make use of the reading of Scripture, the joining together of our hearts in prayer, the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with text that helps us to rejoice together in the Gospel of Christ.
IS YOUR WORSHIP CONTEMPORARY OR TRADITIONAL? . . .
Worship at Bethany makes use of a wide variety of instruments, including pipe organ, piano, bells, brass, strings and many others on special occasions, as well as choirs, small vocal ensembles, and soloists. Because our worship is founded on the trustworthiness of Scripture, we believe it is not the instrument that matters nearly so much as that our community dwells together richly in the Word. In this sense, our worship is authentically Lutheran, rejoicing in the liturgy that has been handed down to us over the past two thousand years which point us to that Word, and our worship is also intentionally accessible, inviting all to lift their voices together in song without the music obstructing their chance to make a joyful noise.
IS THERE CHILDCARE DURING SERVICES? . . .
At Bethany we rejoice in family and children as a special gift of God to his people and his Church. For this reason, we encourage parents to keep their children with them during worship, as you help your children grow as members of our worship community. Many of our young families prefer to sit up front where their children can see more fascinating elements of worship, such as the procession, the use of the Baptismal font, and the lighting of candles. When children are encouraged to enjoy the entire experience of authentic Lutheran worship, it's amazing how quickly they begin to grasp the power of worship and learn to participate.
If children need a break, simply walk with them to the back of the sanctuary to the narthex or nursery, where they can continue to participate--but please come back as soon as they calm down.
CAN WE PARTICIPATE IN BIBLE STUDY AND SUNDAY SCHOOL? . . .
Yes! Spirituality at Bethany is all about knowing what you believe and why you believe it. Discipleship in the Word takes precedence every Sunday morning at 10:00AM with adult study classes and Sunday School for children aged three through eighth grade. In addition to Sunday morning Bible Study, High School students are invited to get involved in the youth group. Coffee and goodies are served in the the gym, starting after the 8:30 a.m. service. So come on in, grab some wake up juice, and pull up a seat.
For information on how your children can join Sunday School, call the church office or stop by the Welcome Center (to your right as you enter the church.)
I HEARD THAT THE LCMS BELIEVES OTHER CHRISTIANS AREN'T WORTHY TO COMMUNE WITH THEM. IS THAT TRUE? . . .
No. A person does not need to become worthy to take the Lord's Supper. In fact, it is the Lord's Supper that makes a person worthy to stand in the free gift of righteousness before the judgment seat of Christ.
At Bethany we believe that in the Lord’s Supper we receive the very body and blood of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, eaten and drunk with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of sins unto eternal life. Because this great promise from our Lord is given to us together, as a community, at Bethany we confess that receiving communion at a congregation puts a person in fellowship with that congregation, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:16-21.
For this reason, visitors are encouraged to speak with one of our pastors before participating in the Lord's Supper that we may teach the fullness of what we believe.
Members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod who have already given their public testimony that they agree with our teachings by virtue of their membership in another LCMS congregation are welcome to commune with us, not because they are more worthy, but because they are already members of our commun(ion)ity.
Read more on what we believe about the Lord's Supper here.