A Lutheran Congregation at the Corner of Fourth and Main
Bethlehem Lutheran Church has stood at 401 West Main Street in West Dundee, Illinois, for more than a century. Founded in 1909 by German-speaking families led by John F. Fierke, owner of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company, the congregation was officially organized as the Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Kirche on December 5 of that year and incorporated in Kane County the following May. What began with 42 voting members and 178 additional members now operates as two buildings facing each other on Main Street and serves as a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod parish committed to Word and Sacrament ministry in the Fox River Valley.
Today, Bethlehem is led by Pastor Joe Glombicki, who was installed on February 23, 2025, in a service that drew pastors, singers, and members from neighboring congregations. The church lives out a simple mission: "To share the Living Water of Jesus Christ with all who thirst." Its work is guided by six core values: Knowing God, Supportive Relationships, Joyful Worship, Committed Discipleship, Christ-like Service, and Living to Make a Difference.
One Church, Two Worship Styles
Each weekend, Bethlehem offers two styles of worship at two locations across Main Street. Both run about an hour, and Holy Communion is celebrated at all services on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month.
- Traditional Worship at BLC (401 W. Main Street): Saturdays at 5 PM and Sundays at 8 AM. These services feature organ-led hymns and liturgical worship drawn from the historic Lutheran tradition.
- Contemporary Worship at BCMC (417 W. Main Street): Sundays at 10:30 AM. The Messengers Praise Band and Singers lead modern Christian music, and audio-visual technology projects lyrics and visuals. A special children's message from Pastor Joe is part of this service.
For traditional services, the church recommends parking along Fourth Street and entering through the side door. For the contemporary service, parking is along Fifth Street, with only those needing special assistance parking on the east side closest to the entrance. A lot with designated handicapped spaces sits behind the church and is accessible from Oregon Avenue. There is no strict dress code; most worshippers choose something in the business casual to smart casual range.
A Building Shaped by a Century of Faith
The first worship space was a one-story wooden building at 111 North Fourth Street, originally built in 1844 and previously used by Congregationalists, Scotch Presbyterians, and Zion German Methodists. Bethlehem purchased it for $1,100. As the German-speaking congregation grew, members bought a lot at Fourth and Main, moved the existing house on the property to the rear to serve as the parsonage, and built the current church, dedicated January 28, 1912. The 5,950-pound bell, its hammer, and a state-of-the-art Estey organ were donated gifts, and weekly collections in those early years ran between $7.76 and roughly $20.
Worship began in German. Sermons, classes, and records were all in German, and worshippers registered before communion, with men and women communing separately in what was later replaced by Mixed Communion. By 1933, books and records had switched to English. A 1958 interior modernization prepared for the Golden Anniversary, and a 1962 gift of a lighted cross earned Bethlehem the nickname "Church of the Lighted Cross." An education building designed to harmonize with the original structure was dedicated in 1965 and features a mural by artist Reinhold Marxhausen at the Fourth Street entrance. Its grainfields reference the meaning of "Bethlehem," and its trees recall both the Garden of Eden and the tree of the cross.
In 2003, Bethlehem acquired the adjacent Congregational Church property, renaming it the Bethlehem Community Ministry Center. Volunteers gutted and rebuilt the interior, and by January 1, 2008, the building became the home of Cherished Place, a Lutheran adult day care center. The contemporary service moved there, the sanctuary was redecorated with comfortable chairs in place of pews, and an elevator made the church fully accessible.
What We Believe
Bethlehem teaches that the Bible is the Word of God, divinely inspired and without error in its teachings about God, life, and salvation. Salvation is described as a gift no one can earn, secured through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The church observes the two Sacraments given by Christ: Holy Baptism, in which God grants the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith, and Holy Communion, in which believers receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the doctrine of Real Presence. As a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Bethlehem upholds these biblical truths and shares God's love through Word and Sacrament.
Children and Students at the Center
Children are welcome throughout worship at Bethlehem. A Kids Corner at the back of each sanctuary gives little ones room to move while still hearing and seeing the service, and a quieter Kids Corner in the North Lobby offers a calmer space for families who prefer it. Every Sunday morning at 9:15, Sunday School gathers children ages 3 through sixth grade for engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and Bible-centered discussion.
Students entering seventh grade are invited into a Confirmation class, also meeting Sundays from 9:15 to 10:15, that walks them through Lutheran doctrine and a personal profession of baptismal promises. The youth group is led by Becky Korosec and Erich Korosec. Each year, Rally Sunday marks the start of the Sunday School year with a children's sermon from the pastor.
Bible Studies and Small Groups
Adults looking to deepen their faith have several weekly options:
- Sunday Morning Group: Sundays at 9:15 AM, an interactive Bible study for those who prefer weekend learning.
- Monday Morning Group: Mondays at 10 AM, exploring how God has moved throughout history with discussion, study, and reflection.
- Lutheran Chicks: A women's group meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 1 PM in the church library, centered on encouragement and Bible discussion.
- Home Huddle: A small group that meets on the last Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in a member's home for Bible reading, conversation, and refreshments.
- Bethlehem Basics: A monthly class led by Pastor Joe on the second Saturday from 9 to 11 AM for newcomers and longtime members who want to explore the Christian faith and what Bethlehem teaches.
Music and Worship Arts
The Messengers Praise Band and Singers lead the contemporary service at the Community Ministry Center. The team grew out of the Daystar Band, the contemporary Christian group formed in the 1990s as part of Bethlehem's outreach with two Chicago churches. Audio-visual technology projects lyrics during singing, supports sermons with images and video, and shares announcements. The traditional services at the Main Street church rely on an organ and historic liturgy. Combined services take place on special Church-year days such as Ascension Day, when Bethlehem joins Immanuel and Vida y Fe Lutheran Churches for a joint worship service and dinner.
Women's Guild and Quilting
The Women's Guild, part of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), organizes fundraisers supporting charitable causes in the community and takes part in zone gatherings. A quilting and sewing group makes quilts for Lutheran World Relief, veterans and their families, and victims of natural disasters. The group hosts the annual Fall Fellowship for LWML Zone 3, with a service project of baby blankets of all sizes. An annual Women's Picnic brings ladies together for pizza and White Elephant BINGO each summer.
Reaching the Community
Bethlehem carries its faith out the door and into the surrounding towns. The H.I.S. "Hearts in Service" Ministry and Missions team chooses a Mission of the Month, with current support going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, which serves more than 2,000 young people a year across ten community schools in Districts 300, 220, and 158 and a high school in Carpentersville. The club offers free lunches, homework help, and tutoring, and opened its doors during remote-learning days for children without a quiet place to set up a computer.
The church also supports mission work abroad, including Deaconess Heidi serving in Guatemala and the Mazariegos family in the same country. Closer to home, the annual Dickens in Dundee celebration fills the building with a bake sale, bazaar, and homemade soup and sandwich luncheon that benefits the Carpentersville FISH Food Pantry. Trunk or Treat fills the parking lot each fall with decorated cars handing out candy to neighborhood children, hosted alongside Vida y Fe Lutheran Church.
Other long-running traditions include the Back to School backpack and supplies drive for area students before each school year, and Let's Get Moving, a Friday morning Pilates-based exercise class in the Fellowship Hall designed for older adults who want to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Senior members gather for an annual Thanksgiving Dinner in November, and Oktoberfest brings a German meal prepared by Chef Steve Stayner to the Fellowship Hall each fall.
A Place for Visitors and New Members
Bethlehem welcomes visitors at every worship service. The "I'm New" guide on the church's resources explains what to expect, where to park, and how children are included. Members who have joined recently describe a quiet sense of belonging, warm greeters, and a willingness of longtime members to walk alongside those exploring the Lutheran tradition. A prayer request form on the resources allows anyone to share a request confidentially with Pastor Joe, with the prayer team, or publicly during the prayers of the church.
How to Connect and Give
Visitors and members can keep up with Bethlehem through several channels. The calendar lists weekly services, Bible studies, and upcoming events such as the annual Christmas Concert and seasonal Life Enrichment Workshops held in partnership with NAMI Kane County North. A monthly Pastor's Message from Pastor Joe Glombicki shares reflections on the Church year, from Pentecost to Easter to Thanksgiving. Online giving is available, and the church keeps in touch through its Facebook page and Instagram feed. The church office can be reached at 847-426-7311 or by email for questions about worship, programs, or how to get involved.