who we are

Welcome! If you are looking for a church where all people are welcome, you’ve come to the right place. We are a regional church with members living throughout the Ann Arbor area. We have a wide-range of activities for a wide-range of ages and interests. We invite you to join us as we engage together in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

 

Covenant of Welcome

We, at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, declare ourselves an Open and Affirming congregation where we celebrate Christ's extravagant love. We covenant with God and one another to welcome the diverse tapestry of all people, no matter their age, race, nationality, ethnicity, economic circumstance, marital or family status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We invite everyone—believers and questioners, seekers and skeptics—to share their gifts in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of our congregation.

 

Who We Are

Bethlehem United Church of Christ is a vibrant, open and affirming church that has served the community of downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan for nearly 185 years. We are a warm and welcoming church home for people of all ages, races, social convictions and backgrounds. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

 

Bethlehem United Church of Christ is the oldest German heritage church in the state of Michigan, founded in 1833. We are the oldest continuing congregation in Ann Arbor but we are also a new congregation with new approaches to worship and education and music and outreach. We have built on a firm foundation of faith and have leadership that is leading us to a bright and exciting future.

 

Our worship services are a blended mix of more and less traditional styles. Whatever tradition you are from, you will find a connection here.

 

We offer an outstandingly creative children’s education program. We have an active youth ministry, and a variety of adult education opportunities. We have regular fellowship gatherings and offer many opportunities for outreach and service.

 

We are a church with a rich and diverse music program. Our recently upgraded Casavant organ is a pleasure to hear as it leads us in worship. But we also incorporate other instruments into our service including drums and guitar. Our 10:00 service is held in the sanctuary and includes all of our musical ensembles on a rotating basis.

 

Our 10:00 am worship is LiveStreamed on our YouTube Channel and for those without internet access, you are able to listen to our worship service by calling:  1 (855) 669-8965.  You can also contact the church office to be added to the list to be called every Sunday to listen to the worship service.  .

 

So take a tour of our website.  Come and visit us. We’d love to meet you!

 

With hundreds of active members, Bethlehem is an exciting place to learn, love, worship, make friends, and find opportunities to help our community. 

 

Our Mission

Our mission at Bethlehem is to worship God, to learn and live the Word of God, to engage in Christian fellowship and service, and to invite others to join us on our faith journey 

in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

 

Groups

If you'd like to join us in serving others, please fill our our "time and talent" survey online or print one at home.