MINISTRIES
Expansive Church
Reconciling in Christ
Adult, Youth & Children
Community Care
Missions & Outreach
At Bethlehem…
We believe that everyone has a unique role to play in our vibrant community of faith. We offer a wide range of ministries designed to engage individuals and families of all ages, from dynamic youth programs and enriching adult forum classes to meaningful outreach initiatives and fellowship groups. Whether you’re looking to deepen your spiritual journey, serve others, or connect with fellow members, there are countless opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Join us in growing together as we live out our mission to invite people to become disciples of Christ, nurture each other’s faith, and to go into the world to live for God.
Expansive Church
Expansive Church 2026 applications are now available!
Apply online HERE through November 1.
Print application available HERE.
Mail print applications to:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Attention: Deacon Heather Feltman
PO Box 3850
St. Charles, IL 60174
What is Expansive Church!?
Part of Bethlehem’s mission is to go out into the world and share God’s love! The Expansive Church 2026 grant ministry is one way Bethlehem has chosen to extend God’s love to our surrounding communities!
Expansive Church is an outreach initiative of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL. This program is an incubator or an accelerator for entrepreneurs and nonprofits with innovative ideas to address social issues.
This initiative seeks grant applications from entrepreneurs and nonprofits with business models that address social issues and/or community needs. For more details and FAQs, click here.
For any questions, please get in touch with Deacon Heather.
EXPANSIVE CHURCH IN THE NEWS:
Click on the links below to see past Expansive Church grants featured in local media outlets:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Looks Beyond Its Walls to Enrich the Community—St. Charles Living
St. Charles Church Accepting Grant Applications—Kane County Chronicle
St. Charles Church Creates Grant Opportunity—Kane County Chronicle
Batavia daycare program helped through St. Charles church grant—Kane County Chronicle
EXPANSIVE CHURCH, KIDS!
At BLC, we strive to instill giving hearts in our youth. During the Expansive Church grant cycles, we encourage our children and youth to make Noisy Offerings to contribute to the funds that will be granted to support our local communities later in the year.
During Expansive Church 2025, noisy offerings totaled over $1300 which was awarded to Anderson Humane!
Reconciling in Christ
RECONCILING WORKS
Bethlehem officially became a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) church on January 26, 2025. Being an RIC church ensures the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; to work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work; and to support the national program led by ReconcilingWorks.
The original team that led the congregation through the process of becoming RIC has now expanded to become the RIC Welcome and Inclusion Team. Once the vote by the congregation was taken, the real work of ensuring that the Welcome Statement adopted by the congregation is lived out daily in and through our ministry. We dedicate ourselves to strengthening Bethlehem’s service as a welcoming and inclusive community for all. We remain committed to removing barriers and building bridges as we continually assess the experiences and environment involved in worship, hospitality, and outreach. If you feel called to serve in this way, please contact Sue Gehm.
For a list of resources offered by Reconciling Works, click here.
Adult
Whether you’re looking for larger group activities or more intimate small group discussions, there are many opportunities for learning, friendship, and growth here at Bethlehem! To learn more about our current groups and offerings use our Contact Us form to let us know what your interests are or call our church office at 630-584-2199.
Every Sunday at 10:00 am, we host Faith Forum in Ekstrom Hall. Faith Forum is open to disciples and guests of any age but especially those middle school and up. Click here to see the schedule.
You can also visit our Upcoming Events page to see current Fellowship Group offerings.
Youth
Confirmation is the program for 6th to 8th grade students at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Over the course of the Confirmation program students learn what it means to make their faith their own. We meet on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am with additional opportunities outside of church as well. Confirmation culminates with our 8th grade students making a public declaration alongside the church as they continue their faith journey, leaning into the promises made during Baptism.
If you would like more information, please reach out to Colin Oak.
Children
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES (GRADES K–5)
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
At Bethlehem, we believe our children offer us a glimpse of God’s love on Earth, and we empower them to make a difference in the world around them, serving God in their own lives. Our weekly Sunday School & Preteens’ Connect classes and Vacation Bible School allow children to learn about God’s love while feeling a part of a special community and making lasting friendships. For additional information on the programs below, please contact Colin Oak.
Sunday School & Preteens’ Connect
Bethlehem offers Faith Formation Programming at 10:00 am each Sunday morning from September through May, with classes for children 3 years old through 5th Grade. Quality background-checked volunteers and a Montessori-like model make this an excellent environment for growing in God’s love.
Community Care
Home Communion Ministry consists of a team of disciples who visit and bring Holy Communion monthly to those who are no longer able to attend worship. These visits are a vital connection to our body and Christ’s love. To request the care of the Home Communion Ministry or to learn more about serving, please contact Pastor Jean Duran.
Missions & Outreach
Bethlehem Lutheran Church believes in the importance of serving and loving our neighbors. Our congregants actively and regularly volunteer with local groups that provide food, shelter, and other important support and resources to community members in need. More details and sign up links are below. We hope you’ll join in serving our neighbors!
Hesed House
Bethlehem serves Hesed House on the fourth Friday of even numbered months—February, April, June, August, October & December
Hesed House, at 659 River Street and a newly renovated facility at 680 River Street, near downtown Aurora, is a center for ministries providing services for poor and homeless individuals and families. Housed in a building that was formerly the Aurora incinerator, this facility has now become a beacon of hope and light to hundreds of people who are struggling to rise out of poverty.
Every other month, BLC provides a hearty dinner for those living at Hesed House. The amount of food necessary to serve approximately 150 people costs $3000 per year, so your gift is truly needed and appreciated.
To help support this important mission, please make a donation here.
If you have any questions, please contact John Maisch at 516-236-3184.
Upcoming Service Dates
(click on the date you’d like to serve to sign up!):
October 23, 2026
December 11, 2026
Lazarus House
Bethlehem serves Lazarus House the 2nd Saturday of each month
Lazarus House, at 214 Walnut Street in St. Charles, serves unhoused men, women, and children each month by providing food, safe shelter, and education. BLC supports this important mission on the 2nd Saturday of each month by providing food to the residents of Lazarus House. We provide a main dish, salad or vegetable, dessert, fruit, milk, and juice. Questions? Please contact our BLC Coordinator for Lazarus House, Barb Ourada at brourada@aol.com.
To help support this important mission, please make a donation here.
We are also in need of overnight volunteers. If you are interested and available or have any questions, please contact Megan Lopez at volunteer@lazarushouse.net or call 630-587-2144.
Upcoming Service Dates
(click on the date you’d like to serve to sign up!):
October 10, 2026
November 14, 2026
December 12, 2026
Lutheran Social Services
Bethlehem has a relationship with the Lutheran Social Services of IL (LSSI). Throughout the year, Bethlehem will host educational sessions or volunteer opportunities that help LSSI complete its mission.
LSSI Needs Foster Parents
During the pandemic, it has become increasingly challenging to recruit foster parents, and to place children in need of foster care. LSSI continues to address these circumstances, but you can help! Please share this video from a Rockford TV station, and direct people interested in becoming a foster parent here. The need for foster parents spans statewide.
Therapeutic Foster Parents Needed in Aurora, Rockford, and Chicago
Be a part of a successful pilot program at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) by becoming a therapeutic foster parent through programs in Aurora, Rockford, and Chicago. Therapeutic foster care places children with histories of severe trauma and emotional/behavioral needs in family treatment homes where they receive more one-on-one care and attention. The program is evidence-based and provides short-term, intensive support for these children, so that they can thrive in a family home. Therapeutic foster parents receive intensive training, 24/7 support, and a generous daily stipend, and they are part of an evidence-based treatment team. Learn more here.
To learn more about Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, please visit their website at www.lssi.org
Online Giving
You can support any of the ministries and missions above by giving online.
- Open your Zelle account or app.
- Enter leslie@bethlehemluth.org as the recipient—Leslie is our financial assistant.
- Confirm that “Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church” is listed as the recipient.
- IMPORTANT: On the “Notes” line, please list how the money should be credited. Examples: Annual Giving, Expansive Church, or VBS. If the payment is to be split, please consider doing more than one payment or note how much should be credited to each.
- Leslie will receive the payment and credit it to your account. Please contact her at leslie@bethlehemluth.org if you have any questions.
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