Sunday Worship

8:30 Bethesda

11:00 Immanuel

Contact:

Pastor Connie Monson

678-360-6089

connie.monson@gmail.com

Parish Office:

715-779-5611

bethesdachurchbayfield@gmail.com

Immanuel:

715-742-3440

Links

Bethesda/Immanuel Website



Bethesda FACEBOOK 

Immanuel FACEBOOK 

We pray for those afflicted by war, oppression, or violence of any kind.

 Greetings!

From the Pastor

Many Lutherans are familiar with the Stations (or Way) of the Cross. My internship congregation in Georgia has an outdoor installation that you can visit anytime (because they’re never obscured by snow!). Our neighbors at Christ Episcopal Church have beautifully carved wooden stations in the sanctuary. But if you’ve never visited a Via Crucis, it is meant as a devotional tool for us to contemplate 14 events of Christ’s passion and death. Lutheran stations are a little different from the Roman Catholic stations, since we’re not really familiar, for example, with the story of St. Veronica. If you want more information, the Lutheran hymnal This Far By Faith includes a lovely liturgy, complete with appropriate hymns.

However, I’m guessing that few of us know that there is a complementary Via Lucis, or Way of Light. These also mark 14 events of Christ’s Way, beginning with his resurrection on Easter morning and ending with the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. They are:

1) Jesus Rises from the Dead: He is resurrected.

2) The Women Find the Empty Tomb: Disciples discover the tomb is empty.

3) The Risen Lord Appears to Mary Magdalene: Jesus appears to her.

4) Mary Magdalene Proclaims the Resurrection to the Apostles: She announces the news.

5) The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus: Jesus appears to two disciples.

6) The Risen Lord is Recognized in the Breaking of the Bread: Disciples recognize Jesus.

7) The Risen Lord Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem: Jesus greets his followers.

8) The Risen Lord Gives the Disciples Power to Forgive: He grants them this power.

9) The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas: Jesus appears to doubting Thomas.

10) The Risen Lord Says to Peter, "Feed My Sheep": Jesus entrusts Peter with the church.

11) The Risen Lord Sends the Disciples into the Whole World: He commissions them.

12) The Risen Lord Ascends into Heaven: Jesus returns to the Father.

13) Waiting with the Disciples in the Upper Room: The disciples wait for the Holy Spirit.

14) The Risen Lord Sends the Holy Spirit: The promised Spirit arrives. 

If you need inspiration for your devotions for the Great 50 Days of Easter, why not make yourself Stations of the Light? You could use paints, colored pencils, fabric, clay. Heaven is the limit!

Praying blessings on your Holy Week and beyond,

Pastor Connie

Reconciling in Christ Statement

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

We welcome YOU to Bethesda and Immanuel to participate fully in our congregational life. You who may have experienced exclusion, injustice or racial inequity; You who are young, old, rich, poor; You of all abilities; You from all nations and ethnic backgrounds; You of all sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expression.

We are committed to racial equity, economic equity, gender equity, sexual equity. We are committed to learn, celebrate, advocate and welcome everyone through a series of forums and educational opportunities. May we grow in acceptance and become a voice for inclusion, equity and justice.

No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Immanuel has a new/improved internet service.

Go to settings and Wi-Fi on your smart phone and/or laptop. Search for available networks and you will find Immanuel Lutheran. Ask to join that network.

You will be prompted to enter your name and email address. There is no password.

Thank you to Roger Lindgren for instigating this improvement!

We are in desperate need of helpers to make and serve our April pancake breakfast. Paul and Paula, who have taken the lead on this for many months, will be out of town. Please sign up in the fellowship hall if you are willing to help.

Eco-Faith Summit

Creation care is a hot topic these days, literally. If you have:

An unquenchable fire of love for Creator and Creation

A controlled burn of holy fear, wonder, and joy - across generations and divides

A germinating fire seed of collaborating and creative networks

the Eco-Faith Summit may be for you. All-day presentations, workshops, and worship will be held April 18 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth. For more information or to register, see https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/ecofaith-summit-2026. Car-pooling options are available!

Save the date: Red Cliff 2.0

Our friend Jim Pete is willing to lead a second field trip for us as we endeavor to learn more about our Anishinaabe neighbors. This year, we will visit places of importance in Red Cliff. The trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, with a potential overflow date of June 27. More information will be forthcoming, but please let Pastor Connie or Diane Fizell know if you want to be included.

Also, don’t forget the 48th annual Red Cliff powwow, scheduled for July 3-5.

Zoom Bible Study

RESUMES ON APRIL 21



Topic: Tuesday Bible Study

Time: 2:00 Central Time (US and Canada)

To join Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81000510562?pwd=HdJLF2gxH7m2JZcT2FujgrYOYZKr1O.1

Meeting ID:  810 0051 0562

Password: 615053



If you know of someone who could use some sunshine or a thank you please let Sharon Bestul at bestulshack@gmail.com or 715-828-0455 know.

Other Immanuel Sunshine spreaders are Al Reedy, Yvette Fleming and Charlotte Calhoun.

April 7 is the spring general election. Don't forget to vote!

The BRICK’s Food Shelf Program focuses on providing a wide variety of food options in a range of forms (canned, frozen, fresh) to program participants; yet we want to offer more than food.  Hygiene items are essential to so many of our pantry shoppers. In April, The BRICK is asking for donations of deodorant: household-size, travel-size, please no aerosols. These are all items that our pantry shoppers need to stay healthy. Since many hygiene and cleaning items don't expire, The BRICK isn't able to “rescue” them from local retailers. At the end of the month, please connect with our Food Shelf Manager Amaris Shrider to drop off your donation. Reach her by phone at 715-682-7425 or email at foodshelfmanager@thebrickministries.org. Thank you for your support!

Council Meetings

April 15, 2026

March Draft Immanuel Council Minutes

March Draft Joint Council Minutes

March Draft Bethesda Council Minutes

Monday Book Club

See our website or the link above for the Zoom link

Meeting ID: 851 3905 2851

Passcode: 467574

Dial by your location

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

We are currently reading "These Truths - A History of the United States" by Jill Lepore.

Questions? Call Leanne 715.742.3553

South Shore Quilters

Mondays 9:00 am - Noon at Immanuel

Wednesdays 9:00 am - Noon at Immanuel

The mission-quilt group at Immanuel is always in need of donations of clean usable bed sheets--preferably flat sheets--which we use as backing for the quilts, spools of thread (whether full or not) and fabric.

The Knit Wits

Knitting & Crocheting at Immanuel

Fridays 1:00 - 4:00

Immanuel has a painting group that meets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, 10:00 - 12:00.



The Immanuel Juliet Club will meet on April 9 at 11:30 at the Siskiwit Farmhouse, and on April 23 at 11:30 at the Cranberry Over Superior.