This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples, Peter.

In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer.

In Peter, we often see ourselves.

By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

Each step of Peter’s journey is combined with a phrase of the familiar hymn “Come Thou Fount” (ELW 807) and as we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

View and Print the Full Lenten Preview

Wednesdays and Sundays in Lent:

Below is an overview of Lenten worship options. To view more details and learn about other ways to fortify your faith with Bethlehem this Lenten Season, click on the “Lenten Preview” button for a complete printable listing!

Ash Wednesday- February 14

“Tune my heart” Psalm 51:1-17

Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion

  • Noon (in-person only)
  • 7 pm (in-person and livestreamed)

Sundays in Lent (in-person and livestreamed)

  • February 18 – “Jesus sought me” Luke 5:1-11 | Psalm 25:1-10
  • February 25 – “Rescue me from danger” Matthew 14:22-33 | Psalm 22:23-31
  • March 3 – “Praise the mount” Matthew 15:13-20 | Psalm 19
  • March 10 – “I’m fixed upon it” Matthew 16:21-23 | Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
  • March 17 – “Teach me” Matthew 18:15-22 | Psalm 119 9-16

Wednesdays in Lent- February 21, 28, March 6, 13, and 20

  • 6 – 6:45 pm – Simple Supper in the Fellowship Hall (sign up to bring a one-pot meal with the button below)
  • 7 pm – Holden Evening Prayer (in-person and livestreamed)

Daily Devotions through the Lenten Season

Extend your Lenten practice with a daily devotion delivered to your inbox. We will combine reflections written by the Bethlehem community with poems, prayers, hymns and reflections created by A Sanctified Art, the creative team behind our Lenten theme. Sign up to receive it in your daily email throughout Lent with the button below or pick up a printed copy in the Narthex beginning Sunday, February 11th.

Sign Up for Daily Lenten Devotions via Email

Simple Suppers

Wednesday evenings during Lent beginning February 21, at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall, we will host a simple supper of one-pot dishes. We have added new options and supporting elements to make it easier to participate in and enjoy this fellowship opportunity.  Please sign-up using the button below or on the kiosk in the Narthex to bring your one-pot wonder or other accompaniments…or just show up to enjoy the meal and fellowship.

Simple Supper Sign Up

Easter Flower Orders and Alternate Giving

Donate Easter flowers to adorn our sanctuary on Easter morning or donate to support ELCA World Hunger and additional shares from Moll Farms for Pines of Perinton Food Distribution– or both! To donate or order Easter flowers, use the button below or find hard copy forms in the Narthex. Flower orders are due by March 10.

Easter Flower Orders and Alternate Giving

Wondering Wandering Hearts

Faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. Wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. As we follow the story of Peter, we see he keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

Each week we’ll spend time wondering together about the life of Peter and how his wandering heart connects to our own. Grab a cup a coffee and share in conversation in-person with the pastors beginning at 10:15 am on Sundays, February 18 through March 17.

Between Sundays

Did you know Between Sundays is both a weekly email and a podcast? A chance to reflect on life and faith between Sundays with Amy and Abby. Each Monday, we send an email with a brief reflection, a resource for pondering, and a link to our weekly podcast where we talk together about the crossroads of faith and daily life. Visit Between Sundays on the BLC website where you can sign up to receive emails or to listen to the latest episode (https://blcfairport.org/between-sundays/). Subscribe to Between Sundays wherever you listen to podcasts (iTunes, Google, Spotify).

Holy Week and Easter at Bethlehem

March 24 – Palm/Passion Sunday “Songs of loudest praise” John 12:12-16

March 28 – Maundy Thursday “Streams of mercy” John 13:1-20

  • 12 noon (in-person and livestreamed) – Individual Absolution
    and Holy Communion in Sanctuary
  • 6 pm (in-person only) – *NEW FORMAT* Remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, we will begin worship with a shared meal around tables in the Fellowship Hall and ends in silence in the sanctuary after the altar is stripped

March 29 – Good Friday “Prone to leave the God I love” John 13:31-28 | John 18:1-11 | John 18:12-18| John 18:19-27 | John 19:1-30

March 31 – Easter Sunday “And I hope” Luke 24:1-12

  • 8:55 am (in-person and livestreamed)
  • 9:45 – 10:45 am – Easter Pancake Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall (suggested donation of $5/ adult to help support our youth going to the National Youth Gathering!)
  • 11 am (in-person only)

Learn more about Easter morning at BLC here!

April 7 – 2nd Sunday of Easter “Here’s my heart” John 21:1-19