Pastor-s-Message

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

The Heart of Bay Ridge

Sunday Service 10:30am

4th & Ovington Avenues

Brooklyn NY 11209

718.748.9502

Dear Members and Friends,

I put together the agenda for our Annual Meeting (2/2/25) and something was missing. I checked my Annual Report folder and I had to go all the way back to 2012 to find a similar situation. What is missing this year? There is no “Old Business” or “New Business”. We no longer have organ restoration updates. We no longer have the sale of the 415 apartment building updates. We are no longer voting on organ loans or apartment building sales. We are no longer getting updates on the separation of the heating system between the two apartment building towers. We are not getting updates on our potential 10 year lease renewal with the NYC School Construction Authority. (Knock on wood) No one is even currently suing us for anything.

What is going on at Bethlehem Lutheran Church? Is the lack of Old & New Business bad? Are we no longer doing anything significant? We have no pressing business to take action on or discuss. Is something wrong? What in the world is happening at Bethlehem Lutheran Church?

I will tell you what is going on. We have Spirit-filled worship. Every Sunday and Holy day we worship in a beautiful sanctuary filled with inspirational music. We have an extraordinary instrument played by an extremely talented musician and director. We have a choir and a congregation that loves to sing and most importantly the Good News is communicated in word and song every time we gather. The sacrament is shared and we “Go in Peace and Serve the Lord.”

We have a vibrant Bible-based Sunday School led by a director, teachers and helpers who truly love our children and pour their hearts and souls into making God’s Word come alive for our kids. Every week there is a Bible lesson with activities and crafts to enlighten a future generation of Christian leaders.

We have fellowship time every week. A few key volunteers devote an incredible amount of time and energy to enable our church family to gather after the worship service for Coffee Hour. For some, it is just a nice opportunity to socialize, but for others, this time is a vital source of Christian love and support in their lives. Yes, there is food and coffee, but there is also a listening ear to provide comfort for the troubled family member.

We have three vital ministries that have served our community for 67 years, 48 years and 24 years respectively. The Lutheran Elementary School of Bay Ridge (67 years old) has survived when other private schools in the neighborhood have closed. We experienced a few difficult years, but we are now strong and back on solid ground. We have a wonderful, dedicated principal who is completely devoted to our school’s future and you can be assured that the Good News of Jesus Christ is boldly being taught in our school. Our Christian education classes, our weekly chapel and our music program shine God’s light on our students. LES is a great place to learn, grow and connect with our Lord and Savior.

The Bay Ridge Center (48 years old) has outgrown our Parish Room. We now have a state-of-the-art older adult center at 15 Bay Ridge Avenue. There has been an astronomical increase in programming and membership. Quite possibly, we have the best center in all of New York City. Our humble basement and kitchen is still the focal point for the Meals on Wheels operation and the onsite meal program. Between 600 and 700 meals are prepared daily downstairs in our kitchen.

The Healing Center (24 years old) continues to reside in our 411 Ovington Avenue building. In fact, their allotted space has increased since the Bay Ridge Center staff moved to their new location. This difficult work is accomplished with an incredible staff and the breadth of programming grows every year. Funding is received not only from city discretionary grants, but Federal and State grants as well. Victims of abuse are literally being saved because of this Godly ministry.

We have youth programs, including our Youth Group, Girl Scouts, a Cub Pack and Scout Troop. We have two Alcoholics Anonymous groups using our facility. We have our beloved Bethlehem Women meeting in the Joy Room every month. Our benevolence giving is higher than ever before in the life of our congregation. We have solid leadership that actually works together as a cohesive team. We receive new members every year. As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, we welcome all, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. We trust in God to guide us, but we have knowledgeable financial skills to ensure we use and save our money wisely. I could go on…

But, we have no “Old Business” or “New Business”. Am I worried? Absolutely not. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a blessing. We have a loving Christian family and we continue to be Christ’s loving presence in our community. 2024 was an inspiring impactful year. 2025 will be no different.

In the Lord's service,