Who we are
Message from Pastor Rod
We are a church that gathers in Christ’s marvelous light, so that we can be a beacon in and for the world! Being a Christian means that we are called to be different, so we embrace our “Lutheran-ness.” That distinct identity gives us a unique confidence that our sins are our forgiven, a certainty in Biblical truth, and a boldness to share our faith in the world. Our Pastors and our Director of Christian Education love to engage with tough questions and caring conversations, so don’t be afraid to talk to them!
When we gather together, it looks like a family – kids, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and great grandparents! We love living life together around God’s Word and his gifts, and passing God’s wisdom from generation to generation. We see ourselves as life-long learners of God’s word, so we provide spiritual educational opportunities for everyone, young to old. We gather together for worship, for Bible studies, for Sunday School, for service, and for fellowship!
We’d love to hear where you’re at in the faith and connect you to God through his Word. We invite you to follow Christ with us! We can’t wait to welcome you to Bethlehem Lutheran Church!
Our Beliefs
The Trinity
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Scripture
Salvation
Atonement
Christian Life
The Church
Baptism
Marriage
1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
Our History
On November 8th, 1964, 56 people gathered underneath Roob’s Plumbing, a former NAPA Auto Supply shop, to worship God and hear his Word. It was a real fixer-upper, but with a little bit of elbow grease, the space was transformed into a makeshift sanctuary. From the very beginning, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, as it came to be called, was a congregation that was centered around Christ and his Word and Sacraments. They loved to gather for food and fellowship, hosting potlucks, cribbage nights, and various other social activities as they shared life together.
In March of 1966, they had moved into a new building on Broadway Dr. A tall metal cross out front served as a beacon to the community proclaiming, “Christ is here!” Over the next 33 years, Bethlehem grew in membership and vibrancy, as a new Sunday School wing was added and a Director of Christian Education, David Sauer, was installed. As Bethlehem grew into a new sanctuary, they started to look outside of their walls to the mission field of Madison. In 2013, Bethlehem opened a satellite congregation in Waunakee that eventually became an independent congregation named “Cross Lutheran Church.” Now, in 2024, Bethlehem has become a generationally diverse community of faithful believers whose Christian hospitality is a hallmark of their identity.
Through her history, Bethlehem Lutheran Church has been served by eight pastors: Donald Hansen, Fred Weber, James Pingel, Stephen Mueller, Charles Brandt, and Steve Vera, Rodney Serbus, and Benjamin Leeper. Bethlehem’s current pastors, Pastor Rod and Pastor Ben, emphasize the centrality of Christ, the authority of the Word of God, the role of the Church in the life of faith, and the task of all Christians to proclaim the good news of salvation. They are joined by Jan Steinbrueck, Bethlehem’s current Director of Christian education, who focuses on forming faith that lasts for a lifetime.