Service

The people of Bethlehem Lutheran Church work to stay aware of the continued need throughout our world. As people of God we strive to share with those in need. The following list of support provided by our congregation is not complete and serves as a reminder that there is much to do. Please join us in this joyful task.

  • Contributing funds and having Work Days at Second Harvest Gleaners
  • MAJIC Concert Series benefiting Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness
  • Paper product drive for residents of Ransom Towers
  • Collection of items for personnel serving in Iraq
  • Working with the women of Our Hope to build their skills and self-esteem
  • Contributing financially to and working on Habitat for Humanity homes
  • Providing tuition assistance for families at Hill Child Development Center
  • Contributing funds to Lutheran World Relief
  • Providing Holiday food baskets
  • Contributing funds to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
  • Contributing funds to God’s Kitchen
  • A Contributing Sponsor to the Partnership for a Racism Free Community Forum
  • Working with and contributing to the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness
  • Donating Hats, Scarves & Mittens to the annual Mitten Tree for Dickinson School
  • Operating site for VITA Free Tax Preparation for low income individuals and families
  • Working with and providing funds to LSSM for refugee resettlement
  • Funding and serving meals to the homeless through NECM at St. Alphonsus Church
  • Collecting school supplies for the disadvantaged through NECM
  • Assisting those in need through ACCESS
  • Participating in the GRACE Hunger Walk
  • Co-sponsorship of Hurricane Katrina Relief Trips to Missippi
  • Collection of Supplies for Families First of Michigan
  • Sales of Equal Exchange Coffees, Teas and Chocolates to benefit worldwide subsistence farmers
  • Contributing funds to Heartside Ministries
  • Contributing funds to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal
  • Contributing funds to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal
  • Participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring and contributing those funds to DeGage Ministries.

Feeding America Of West Michigan (formerly Second Harvest Gleaners)
Help feed our neighbors by volunteering once a month from 9am till noon at 864 West River Center Drive NW, Comstock Park. Join us in January for our next time.

Warm Up America - To comfort abused children being placed in foster homes, we want to give them their own personal afghan of 49 pieces. You can help by donating your left-over skeins of yarn or any yarn that you would like to purchase. If you knit or crochet, make a 7"x9" rectangle in any washable yarn, color, pattern, or stitch of your choosing and drop it off at the church in the box by the office lobby.

NECM Supper House - Join us next year as we serve supper at Plainfield United Methodist Church, corner of Spencer and Plainfield Ave, 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

"JustFaith" is an intensive, small group 30 week course of study which focuses on the biblical basis for "doing" justice in the world. Responding to injustices in the world is without argument one of the most challenging messages of our Gospel tradition. "JustFaith" is a process that recognizes the complexity of the Gospel call to compassion and provides a wide range of compelling resources and experiences to communicate this tradition. The prophetic call to bring justice to a broken world deserves a preparation that honors the difficulty of the task.

Ransom Towers Paper Drive - Every 4th Sunday we collect paper items for Ransom Towers.

LSSM logo

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan - is one arm of the ELCA's social ministry. For more information please click on their logo!

Our Hope update - For seven years BLC has been working with the ladies of Our Hope, teaching them how to sew. Thank you to all the volunteers for their gift of time and talent. Currently there is a need for cotton fabric, notions, patterns, and other sewing supplies. Right now the ladies are working on coin purses and plan to adorn them with decorative buttons - do you have any lying around? Please bring donations to church or call to arrange for a pick-up. Thanks!

Prayer Vigil - On Saturday, March 21, 2009, a vigil in memory of Thomas Pauli was held. Over 100 people met at Degage Ministries where a prayer opened the vigil.  The vigil included a silent candlelight walk to the site of Mr. Pauli’s death in the 600 block of South Division.  A short prayer service was held at that site and then the vigil continued to Bethlehem Lutheran Church where refreshments were served and the opportunity for conversation followed. Please click here to read the words of the service.

Hurricane Katrina Relief Trips: Now that we are nearly two years out since Katrina hit the coast, many who don't live in the affected area have forgotten the devastation and that the pool of volunteers has nearly dried up.

BLC has sponsored 6 trips to Ocean Springs, Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina Relief. Three of the trips have been documented and are available for your viewing: Fall 2005, January 2006, and January 2007.