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

Dear friends in Christ,

Grace and peace to you this summer’s day!

Last year at this time I was in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watching eaglets stretch their wings. The trip was led by a spiritual director, Becca Langhough, who made sure that, as well as paddling, portaging, and swimming, participants had time and resources to explore the spiritual questions uppermost in their minds. I had planned to go back again this year with the same group on another route, but wildfire had other ideas. As of this writing, the BWCAW will be opening again Monday for day-use only. 

Not to be discouraged, Becca pivoted to Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP, where we will have only slightly less area to canoe and commune with the natural world. I’m grateful for the time both to paddle and to pray (and sometimes both at the same time). 

Throughout this season after Pentecost, we have been talking about how scripture views our responsibility to God’s creation. Is it there for the taking? Or do we need to care for it with the same love that God has shown to us? The World Council of Churches recognizes Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for creation. We’ll continue to think and talk about how we as Christians live out this work. In the meantime, I hope you too enjoy the birds and the lake winds.

Download your own 52-week creation care calendar here.

Peace be yours,

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.

What Do Lutherans Believe About. . . .

RIC invites you to a conversation and study

In 2009, the ELCA adopted a Social Statement on Human Sexuality. In the Lutheran church, a social statement is the church’s official teaching on the subject, but it is not a top-down decision. Rather, clergy and lay people alike gather as a task force to study scripture, pray, and discern God’s still, small voice before drafting a statement, which is then voted upon by the Churchwide Assembly.

Things have changed in our cultural landscape since 2009. Same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. A more nuanced view of gender identities is available. But LGBTQ persons still face significant barriers to participation in some communities of faith. In 2022, the Church was directed to revisit language in the statement that unfairly differentiates between same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.

Immanuel and Bethesda will host two sessions at which we can discuss together. Participants can attend the sessions at either congregation.

The sessions in the study come ready to use with prayers, hymns, Bible readings, and conversation questions. There is a survey link for participants to share feedback with the task force.

Session One--Sunday, Aug. 9 at Bethesda (1 pm) or Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Immanuel (7 pm)

Looks at what unites us as ELCA Lutherans and explores ways Christians have disagreed faithfully while seeking unity in the Spirit.

Activity 1: What Unites Lutherans?

Activity 2: Three Stories on Conscience

Activity 3: Lessons from the Stories

Session Two—Sunday, Aug. 16 at Bethesda (1 pm) or Tuesday, August. 18 at Immanuel (7 pm)

Invites deeper reflection on disagreements and agreements regarding sexuality. The activities invite participants to a transformed understanding of each other and the church through the Holy Spirit.

Activity 4: Points of Agreement about Sexuality

Activity 5: Reconciliation and Transformation

Zoom Bible Study



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.

Many thanks to the awesome volunteers who made our fish fry such a success! We netted $2,416!

Our joint potluck picnic will be held at Little Sand Bay on August 23. Social time at 3:00, potluck dinner (no electricity) at 4:00 and Holden Service at 5:00. Come one, come all!

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 products are essential to so many of our pantry shoppers. In July, The BRICK is asking for donations of baby and toddler diapers and wipes. These are 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 ext. 3 or email at foodshelfmanager@thebrickministries.org. Thank you for your support!

Council Meetings

August 19, 2026

July Draft Immanuel Council Minutes

March Draft Joint Council Minutes

July 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 "Writing In The Sand: Jesus, Spirituality, and the Soul of the Gospels" by Thomas Moore

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 Cornucopia Coffee Shop

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 August 13 at 9:00 at the coffee shop, and on August 27 at 11:30 at Siskiwit Farmhouse.