Our Mission

Rooted by Christ for our ever-changing community.

Rooted

Being rooted means we are simultaneously planted in a particular place and we have what we need to keep growing.  Deep roots hearken back to our beginning as a German speaking congregation founded in 1910, which has, over the years, grown and changed to meet the needs of the community around us. 

by

We believe that God has called us to do ministry in this particular place in the world.

Christ

We are a Christian community.  The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus guide us in all that we say and do. 

for

An important part of our Lutheran tradition is that we are freed from sin and freed for service.  We are called to love God and love neighbor.  We do what we do, not only for ourselves, but for the sake of the world, which starts with our nearest neighbors.

our

We are part of something bigger.

ever-changing

Bethlehem was founded in 1910 by German immigrants.  By 1918, the congregation was worshipping in English.  As a gathered community, we have weathered pandemics and wars, civil unrest, the building of the interstate, and other big changes in the neighborhood.  We are near St. Paul’s Little Africa and Allianz Field and St. Paul’s proposed Super Block, whatever that means!

community.

We believe that God calls us to be in community in the world. Community is both the community of the congregation and the community in the neighborhood around us.

Our Values

Care

Community

Faith

Relationships

Service

Our History

Bethlehem was founded in 1910. The sanctuary was dedicated in 1930.

“In the Name of Our Savior, whose earthly pilgrimage began in the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem,’ we extend to all a most hearty welcome! ‘Bethlehem’ means ‘House of Bread,’ and the primary purpose for which this church was founded, and for which it exists, is to offer Jesus Christ, the ‘Bread of Life’ to hungry souls.” –Bethlehem’s Welcome in the Dedication Book (1930)

Click here for an interactive look at our history!

Our Pastor

Pastor Kirsten Fryer has been the pastor at Bethlehem since September 2019. Prior to coming to Bethlehem, Pastor Kirsten served as pastor of St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo and pastoral associate at StARS (St. Andrew’s Refugee Services) in Cairo, Egypt from 2013-2019 and associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Waunakee, WI from 2009-2013. She studied at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a proud Badger, avid reader, spouse to Justin, and mom to Joanna.

Bethlehem is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA.