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

Why do we say the Apostles’ Creed during Lent?

The Apostles Creed is an ancient statement of faith with roots in the 2nd century CE. It was not, as sometimes claimed, written by the original apostles, but rather drew on scriptural and ecclesial understandings of the Trinitarian God, and sought to protect doctrine from challenges such as Gnosticism.*

Certainly some churches do not hold with creeds—Baptists would be an example—arguing that faith is a matter of individual belief. At Bethesda and Immanuel, we certainly don’t favor excluding anyone on the basis of what they believe or disbelieve. At the same time, we are a church precisely because we do gather around some form of shared values. While our Affirmation of Faith often strives for unity over doctrinal “correctness,” it’s also helpful to consider the historical and scriptural beliefs of the Church as a whole. In the Lutheran church we hold the Apostles Creed as a summary statement of these beliefs, and as such it is central part of the rite of baptism.

I sometimes hear pushback from faithful Christians who have reservations about some of its tenets (the most frequently cited are that Jesus is “born of the virgin Mary” and belief in “resurrection of the body”). I offer two viewpoints. First, does the claim that God created the world in seven days preclude you from understanding and using the theory of evolution? There is a difference between seeing something as factual and seeing it as true.

Second, I appreciate Nadia Bolz-Weber’s observation that, while individuals might struggle to believe everything held in the Creed, for every line, within a community of faith, someone else holds that belief. This is important because in a significant way we are not here for ourselves, but for the sake of the whole Body of Christ. She goes on to say that faith is not just intellectual assent, but embodied trust, so that we can see the “resurrection of the body,” for example, as a promise that God cares for and heals physical, broken, or abused bodies.

As we immerse ourselves in the spiritual preparation for Easter, what are the cornerstones of your faith? What beliefs do you hold most central? Those would be interesting conversations to have, and I invite you to engage them freely.

Faithfully yours, 

Pastor Connie

*Gnosticism is one of the traditional heresies of the Church, maintaining that the physical world is evil and only the spiritual realm is real and good. It posits that the Creator is a flawed God, while Jesus brought a special, secret knowledge to awaken the spirit. According to this belief system, he didn’t actually die but only appeared to die. My sermons would be a lot different if I were a Gnostic. /g

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.

Daylight saving time starts Sunday, March 8. Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour.

Community Lenten Services Schedule

Wed, Mar 4, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church

Wed, Mar 11, noon - Brown Bag and Devotions - Christ Episcopal Church

Wed, Mar 18, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bayfield Presbyterian Church

Wed, Mar 25, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church

Thu, Apr 2, 6 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Worship - Bayfield Presbyterian Church

Fri, Apr 3, noon - Good Friday Worship - Christ Episcopal Church

For our devotions we are going to be using God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us by the Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail, which you can pick up for free at any of the three churches.

An Update for Bethesda's directory

Kristoffer Pedersen

134 S 10th St

PO Box 282

Bayfield

715-913-0099

Cell 715-292-4583

Stavanger1940@gmail.com

PI DAY PIE SALE — ASHLAND If you would like a wider assortment of pies to choose from and are in Ashland on the afternoon of March 14, check out the PIE SALE in the Community Room at Chequamegon Coop. A group of Ashland bakers is offering sweet or savory pies for a donation. The proceeds will go to Neighbors Union and Ashland Indivisible. 

Campership Deadline March 9

Do you know a school-age kid who would like to go to camp? Immanuel is offering weeklong camper ships for ANY child who would like to go to Luther Park Bible camp in Chetek. But the deadline is coming soon, so don’t delay. Applications are on the bulletin board at both Immanuel and Bethesda, or talk to Pastor Connie about getting one sent to you.

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!

AARP offers free income tax filing. Information packets are available at the Bayfield Library.

Meet for a friendly game of cribbage on Tuesdays, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Bethesda. No experience necessary.

Zoom Bible Study

New Bible study on Faith and Civic Life

What does the church have to say about our participation in culture and politics? Join us Tuesdays at 2 pm as we look at the ELCA’s social statement on Faith and Civic Life, passed at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. We will embark on a six-week study that looks at scriptural and theological considerations about this timely question. Meet in person at Immanuel or join us on Zoom.

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.

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 March, The BRICK is asking for donations of dental hygiene items: toothpaste (including travel size), toothbrushes, toothbrush covers, dental floss, and alcohol-free mouthwash. 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!

Winter Walking at the Bayfield Pavilion

Mondays and Thursdays | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Council Meetings

February 18, 2026

February Draft Immanuel Council Minutes

November Draft Joint Council Minutes

February 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 at the Cornucopia Coffee Club each Thursday at 9:00 am.