No summertime blues at Bethel
Published Friday, May 30, 2008
Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls is taking an innovative approach to summertime service.
It’s not uncommon for residents to head to the lake on the weekends, and rather than convincing them not to, Bethel Lutheran is working to provide alternative times and places for worship services.
“We’re not going to fight the lake,” Rev. David Foss said. “We’re taking it out to the community.”
In addition to their regularly scheduled Sunday services, Bethel Lutheran is providing members of the community with an opportunity to attend service on Thursday nights at 7 p.m.
They will also set up a Sunday morning service at 10 a.m. at Ten Mile Lake Resort in Dalton.
This is the third summer the church has provided alternative services. Ten Mile Lake Steakhouse manager, Vicki Lee, said the summer church service is an event enjoyed by nearly everyone at the campground.
“It’s done really well,” she said. “The campers love it.”
The service takes place at, what Lee calls, the resort’s sanctuary, on the lawn in front of the lake. Campers bring their own chairs and take it all in amongst the beautiful scenery.
Lee said there are usually around 60 to 80 people present on Sunday mornings, and that includes nearby residents as well.
The idea is to provide services for common, everyday people.
“It’s kind of like putting things on the bottom shelf…making things accessible,” Foss said.
The church is promoting a “come as you are” theme for the services. Foss said they’d like to make the service experience enjoyable for all, especially those who may be a bit intimidated by the traditional Sunday morning event.
“So often we in the church complicate and make difficult what Jesus intended to be received by everyday folks like us,” he said.
For more information, contact the church directory at 218-736-5654.
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