Bethel Lutheran Church, LCMC

02/02/2026

Pastor Todd's February Message
Dear Friends in Christ,
It has often been said that Christians live their lives between Good Friday and Easter. Sometimes we are living closer to Good Friday and sometimes closer to Easter or at least that is how we may be experiencing life at the time. The fact is we are always totally living in Good Friday and Easter at the very same time. We live in Good Friday because we are still sinners and we are people who most likely will die before the Lord comes again. We live in Easter because Christ was raised from the dead having taken our sins and our death upon himself for our sake.

In typical fashion Martin Luther put it well, "Just as Christ won the victory only through struggle, so also must we. If his resurrection is to work in us, we too cannot escape the struggle with death. God has permitted the sinful being to be at hand. The resurrection lays hold and says that whatever is of us is nothing, and I believe that when the resurrection begins to work in me, then sin and the bad conscience are dead with Christ. But from this follows that the body must die. I feel sin and death in me. The body delights in sin and fears death, and this war we must carry on so long as we live. The Lord assails us with many sufferings. Death assaults me, but I have Christ who is risen from the dead, as I also shall rise. I will hold to this. The resurrection consists not in words, but in life and power. The heart should take inward delight in this and be joyful. Outwardly, I must die as Christ died, but the gospel is a jubilant word, which the flesh hears gladly. Yet, it has no effect unless we feel it both inwardly, as well as outwardly."

As we go into Lent, we are looking out toward Easter Sunday though Easter took place almost 2000 years ago. Faith clings to hope and believes in Christ who gave his life and made us his brothers and sisters.
Is it time in your life to turn once again to Jesus and live a life that is free and hopeful and true? He is calling you and knocking at the door of your heart so let him in.

Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed!
Pastor Hylden

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01/25/2026

Third Sunday after Epiphany

01/18/2026

Our worship service and Sunday School are canceled for January 18th because of weather conditions. Stay warm and stay safe.

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01/11/2026

Baptism of Jesus Sunday

01/11/2026

Pastor Todd's January Message

Happy New Year,
A man by the name of St Fransis of Assisi, who lived in the twelve hundreds in southern
Europe, wrote a most beautiful prayer that has made its way into every corner of the
Christian faith throughout the world up to our present day. It is a fitting prayer for so
many different aspects of life. Today it is being shared with you as God leads us into a
new year.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where this is sadness, joy
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console or to
be understood as to understand, or to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Perhaps this prayer could serve as our New Year’s resolution. Could there be a better
way to frame the year to come? I think not.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Todd Hylden

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12/28/2025

The worship service at Bethel Lutheran is canceled for today, Sunday, December 28th because of the blizzard warning and the deteriorating weather conditions predicted.

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12/14/2025

Our Sunday School kids shared the ABC's of Christmas today as part of their annual Christmas program during our worship service. We would like to wish you all a Blessed Holiday Season as we celebrate our Savior's birth. Merry Christmas!

12/07/2025

Our Sunday School Christmas program will be December 14th, during our church service starting at 10:30a.m. we will be serving donuts/muffins, juice, and coffee starting at 10:00a.m.

12/01/2025

Pastor Todd's December Newsletter Message
Dear Friends in Christ,
“In the fullness of time God sent his son, born of a woman, to save those who are under the condemnation of sin.” Galatians 4:4
In the fullness of time. What was God’s time full of that first Christmas day that so moved him that he would send his only begotten son to our planet? Evidently, God’s time was full of his love for you. In the fullness of time God was preoccupied with lifting us up out of our age-old ruts. God’s heart manifested itself in such a way that even a star was so moved that it hovered over the barn where Jesus was born.
God sent. That’s correct. God didn’t just wish for something to happen. God didn’t just contemplate making a universally transformative decision. No, instead God acted. God moved the heavens. God fulfilled the promise he made long before the foundations of the world were cast. God spoke. And when God speaks God does exactly what he proposes to do. God’s speaking is God’s doing. So, God sent.
His son. God sent his only begotten son. God acted. God kept his promise. God so loves the world that he sent his only son, Jesus Christ. God sent his son that first Christmas day. God sent his son smack dab into the middle of the beauty but also the deep brokenness of the world. And the angels sang a mighty chorus beckoning to the universe that God was at his most holy work. And the shepherds ran from the hillside to see the baby Jesus, the Savior of the world.
So, in the fullness time, which is to say, when God’s heart was so full of his love for you, and he just couldn’t take it anymore, he sent his son. What is your time full of today? Again, what is your time full of today? What was it full of yesterday? What will it be full of tomorrow? Do you ever get tired of your old ruts (sins) or have they become more like a comfortable old pair of gloves that you just want to keep around for good measure?
The Day of the Lord is here! It is now. From God’s perspective, you have no right to remain in your rut. Sin is not like a comfortable old glove. Your ruts are robbing you and those around you of the fullness of God’s love for you. It is robbing you of the unspeakable goodness that comes when you walk, not in your old ruts, but walk in the light of God’s wisdom. And so, the wise men traveled a great distance to experience salvation in the form of baby laying in a manger. It is time for you to walk in the fullness of God’s kingdom! The time is full. Be filled with the Christ of Christmas!
Pastor Todd

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11/11/2025

Sunday our kids led the congregation in singing "God Bless America". Thank you to all veterans for their service.

11/08/2025

Noisy Offering this Sunday the 9th and next Sunday the 16th for the food shelf.

11/02/2025

Pastor Todd's November Message
Dear Fellow Harvesters,
Bethel Lutheran and Spirit of Hope Lutheran are getting together once again for The Harvest Festival. We will meet the Sunday before Thanksgiving for worship, fellowship, and potluck at Bethel Lutheran Church.

Thanksgiving and Harvest Festivals are important themes for worship in the Bible.

“I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder His mighty works. Everything God does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember His mighty works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord! He gives food to those who fear Him and He always remembers His promises. He has shown His great power and His justice and His Faithfulness. He has paid the ransom on behalf of His people.” Psalm 111

O Lord, giver of all life, we are thankful today for a day of rest. We are thankful for the opportunity to worship you. We come from a busy week of tending families, teaching children, working productively, juggling roles, assuming responsibilities, and carrying out assigned tasks. We thank you for the gifts of energy and time in the fulfilling of our
callings to daily life.

O Lord, as we are thankful for our tasks, we are equally thankful for the rest of the Sabbath where your truth, love, and providence overflow and our hearts, and minds, and bodies, and souls are renewed in You. Thank you, dear Lord Jesus. Amen
I am looking forward to joining you for the Harvest Festival. It is always a wonderful experience for the edification of our walk with Jesus.
Pastor Todd Hylden

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