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Bethel Lutheran Church celebrates 125th anniversary
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
Bethel Lutheran Church members follow the motto “Make Jesus Known” in ministries within the congregation and outreach in the community.
Recently, the Rev. Richard Kidd, pastor; the Rev. Paul Burgeson, retired pastor and director of visitation; Bill Conkey, congregation president; and Lynnae Rassega, chairperson of the 125th anniversary committee, discussed the church and its activities.
Pastor Burgeson said the church motto meshes with the “God’s work. Our hands.” idea promoted by the Northeast Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
“Everyone is a minister where they live and work in the community,” Pastor Kidd said. “We share our spiritual gifts,” Rassega said.
Through the church endowment fund, about $10,000 is distributed annually to charities that feed and clothe people in need, Rassega said.
Conkey said Thanksgiving and Easter baskets, containing full meals, also are distributed regularly at those holidays. He added that the church also makes donations to the “mission of the month,” and some recipients have included Second Harvest Food Bank, Protestant Family Service, Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley and Beatitude House.
The church also supports the Mickey Schuster Scholarship Fund, a project initiated by Honterus Lutheran Church. The congregations merged in 2000. Rassega said this year 15 students each received $900 scholarships; the recipients are church members or affiliated with the church.
The Friendly Visitors ministry is a team effort coordinated by Pastor Burgeson. It reaches out to shut-ins, the ill, those who are hospitalized and in bereavement. “It goes back almost 30 years with training from the Stephen Ministry,” Pastor Burgeson said. The Stephen Ministry focused on caring for people.
A women’s group, Rassega said, “does what is needed in the church.” Members also participate in an overnight retreat. The group also coordinates the annual cookie walk and soup sale, a popular holiday fundraiser, and International Buffet, which will be Oct. 25 featuring foods from German, Italy, Philippines, Slovakia, Sweden and America. Seatings are at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Call the church at 330-758-5745 for reservations.
“This reflects our heritage,” Pastor Burgeson said. The church was founded by Swedish immigrants, but over its history, Lutherans of other ethnic heritages have joined.
“We’re a church that likes to eat,” Rassega said.
Pastor Kidd and his wife, Shelia, are originally from Louisiana and came from San Antonio, Texas, when he accepted the call from Bethel. “We introduced Cajun to the buffet,” he said.
The Piecemakers, a quilting and sewing group, was formed in 1991. Members made items to sell at the church bazaar. In recent years, the group has donated quilts to the Salvation Army and Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. “The brotherhood” also serves the church where there is a need.
Bethel is part of Journey Forward, a cluster of Lutheran churches, which work cooperatively. Bethel members also participate in retreats and youth events at Camp Frederick in Rogers. In an ecumenical effort, Bethel works with Westminster Presbyterian and St. Charles Borromeo chuches to sponsor a vacation Bible school.
The 125th celebration is highlighted at the church’s welcome area, where vintage photos are displayed. That area also features a statue of Jesus, which dates to 1915 and was displayed at the congregation’s former church on Ridge Avenue. It is a treasured piece of history. The church entry is detailed with 15 sand-carved glass windows representing elements of the Christian faith.
Remodeling in 1996 created a courtyard, which the congregation turned into a garden setting with angel statuary from Florence, Italy.
Pastor Kidd, who was installed as senior pastor Sept. 22, 2013, described the congregation as “friendly.”
“You feel like family here,” he said, adding: “No strangers come in the door.”
Pastor Burgeson said the church has a tradition of being “hospitable.”