From January 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
~ Psalm 127:1
Over the last few months, I have heard many thoughts, challenges, reflections, and thanksgiving related to Bethel and our future. In 2014, we celebrated our 125th anniversary, which became a wonderful time to reflect and give thanks for the many people who served to make Bethel what it is today. But we can’t mark such a significant anniversary and not be challenged to look toward the future. Somewhere along the line, it became clear that Bethel’s theme for 2015 should be “Building Bethel: Moving Forward with God’s Mission.”
Of course, there are many questions about this theme: Why “Building Bethel”? How will we Build Bethel? How will we know whether we’ve been successful?
Remember, the church without the people is just a building. So, when we talk about “Building Bethel,” we’re not only talking about building the physical plant of the church or building the institution of the church – we’re talking about building the people who make up the Church. Our call as Christian disciples is to grow deeper in our faith; deeper in our relationship with God; deeper in our trust. For many churches, the goal is “membership”. In other words, people are invited and welcomed into the church and, once they become members, our job as a congregation is done and the new members can just fend for themselves. As we “Build Bethel,” we realize that our responsibility to the people who worship with and are a part of us doesn’t begin or end with membership. Becoming more deeply engaged in the mission of God as we use the gifts God has given us as we minister alongside our neighbors (both those inside and outside the congregation) … that’s how we grow, and that’s how we move forward into an unknown and uncertain future.
Throughout this year, you will see us returning to this theme. You will see it in Lent, in future editions of the Bell Tower, in the Bethel Mission & Ministry Retreat (February 28), and, hopefully, you will hear it often in meetings and other activities. I hope that our decision-making process and even our arguments or conflicts will make use of this simple question: “How does this Build Bethel?” I hope you will ask: “How can I help Build Bethel?” I hope we will ask ourselves: “What values, priorities and decisions will help us Build Bethel?”
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 