Bethlehem Lutheran Church sits on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg, Virginia, where the congregation has gathered each Sunday morning for as long as many of its members can remember. The church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran body in the United States, and its welcome begins before a visitor ever opens the door: "This is Christ's Church... There's a Place Here for You!" Its mission statement, "Called to INVITE the community to KNOW and GROW in the LOVE of Christ," spells out the rhythm of welcome, nurture, and outward service that shapes every ministry of the church.
Inside, the sanctuary is plain enough to focus attention on the liturgy yet warm enough to be called beautiful by those who attend. Worship at Bethlehem is intentionally designed to meet people where they are, whether they are looking for the structure of historic Lutheran liturgy or for the looser feel of a contemporary service with guitars and drums.
Two Styles of Sunday Worship
Every Sunday at 9:00 am, Bethlehem gathers for worship that alternates between two distinct styles. On traditional weeks, the service follows the full Lutheran liturgy with organ music and choral anthems led by the choir. On "New Song" weeks, the same Sunday morning shifts into a contemporary setting with keyboard, guitars, and drums played by the New Song Praise Band. The alternation gives regular members two ways to worship in the same familiar place and lets first-time visitors choose, by the week, the style that suits them best.
Holy Communion is served every Sunday, a practice rooted in the Lutheran understanding of the sacrament as a weekly gift. A Children's Sermon is part of each gathering, giving younger worshipers a few minutes tailored to them before the rest of the sermon. Worship videos are posted online, so any Sunday that someone has to miss can be watched from a screen at home.
From the Pulpit: Pastor Tim Feaser and the Music Ministry
The congregation is shared by Pastor Tim Feaser, who also serves Bedford Lutheran Church in nearby Bedford. His role on both sides of ministry reflects the smaller-town reality of Lutheran ministry in central Virginia, and Bethlehem speaks of him as a shared blessing rather than a half-time pastor.
Janice Monroe, the Minister of Music, plans the worship services, leads special services, and directs the Traditional Choir. She also plays keyboard and sings with the New Song Praise Band, so the same musician bridges both Sunday styles. The choir and the praise band give Bethlehem its distinctive sound on alternating weeks and keep the music ministry at the center of congregational life.
Outreach Hands at Work
Bethlehem's outreach is gathered under the heading "God's Work... Our Hands," and members have shaped it into several concrete ministries that touch neighbors and strangers alike.
- Knitters and Prayers. Volunteers knit prayer shawls and scarves given to people facing illness, grief, baptism, graduation, the birth of a child, or a first communion, at Bethlehem, in member families, and to others in need. Each year the group joins the Chase the Chill campaign and hangs hats, scarves, and gloves on fences for anyone to take.
- Scrappers. The quilting group makes and distributes quilts for adults and children at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, early learning centers, the Salvation Army, and other non-profit organizations around Lynchburg.
- Blessing Bags. Several times a year members assemble blessing bags that are given to agencies serving the homeless in Lynchburg, and separate sets of bags have been packed for foster care agencies.
- Operation Christmas Child. Each season volunteers fill shoeboxes with school supplies, food, clothing, and toys that go to children in many different countries.
- Prayer Bears. Colorful stuffed bears, sewn by members and children of the church, are given to children and adults who need a tangible reminder that someone is praying for them.
Education for Every Age
Sunday School at Bethlehem has traditionally reached across three generations. The adult class currently meets through a devotional shared on the church's Facebook page, the youth group is not active at this time, and children gather as the Young Team in the kitchen after worship for crafts and a few hands-on activities. The Children's Sermon each Sunday keeps the youngest members part of the gathering as well.
Parents who stay for the entire service know that the morning is not over when the benediction is spoken; the Young Team invites children into the kitchen for crafts and a chance to play with friends. Together with the Children's Sermon, it gives families with small children a routine that stretches from the sanctuary to the social hour.
A Place for Visitors
Bethlehem invites newcomers to come as they are. The Sunday morning service begins at 9:00 am in the sanctuary, with Holy Communion served at every service. Visitors who want to stop by in person or ask a question can find Bethlehem at 7336 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, Virginia 24501, or reach the church office at (434) 239-2102 or office@blcva.org. A newsletter is shared online, and an archive of worship videos lets anyone keep up between visits.
With its paired worship styles, a small but carefully tended music ministry, and a web of outreach projects that reach from Lynchburg to nursing homes, shelters, foster families, and shoeboxes around the world, Bethlehem Lutheran continues to live out the simple cycle of its mission: invite the community, grow in the love of Christ, and be a blessing to others.