“Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith… a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a person would stake his life on it a thousand times. This confidence in God’s grace and knowledge of it makes us glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and all His creatures.”

- Martin Luther
Lutheran Christianity has always been about the life of faith we live outside the walls of the church. Our Christian vocation bursts forth as we are freed to serve others through action, accompaniment, and advocacy. Our freedom in Christ inspires us to rediscover our shared humanity with all people, and our interdependence with all of God’s creation.
Bethlehem’s outreach is involved in local, national, and international social action and mission support. As the founding congregation for three local charitable organizations, we have an enduring commitment to support them through hands-on volunteering, service as board members, and with our facilities and funding:
  • Self-Help, Inc (http://selfhelpla.org/) assists people in need in Northern New Mexico by providing financial help, crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and seed/education grants.
  • LA Cares (https://lacaresnm.org/) offers supplemental food assistance to people in need in Los Alamos County. Fresh and non-perishable foods are distributed at Bethlehem on the second Thursday and Friday of every month, in a grocery store-like setting.
  • Mesa to Mesa (http://mesatomesa.org/) improves the health, safety, and security of homeowners in Northern New Mexico by bringing together volunteers to complete modest home repairs for people who lack the money and the ability to make the repairs themselves.
Locally we also provide care and prayer through our Stephen Ministry group, intercessory prayer groups, and prayer shawl ministry. We also provide meals to St. Elizabeth’s Shelter in Santa Fe. We support the work of San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, Espanola Pathways Shelter, Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum, Truchas Service Center, and Shared Table. Finally, we tend to God’s creation through our Adopt-a-Highway commitment.

Partnering with Lutheran Family Services and Interfaith Los Alamos, we welcome refugee families who have recently resettled in Albuquerque with school supplies, winter coats, and pen-pal letters. And with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, we advocate for vulnerable and neglected populations in New Mexico by helping to shape the laws and policies that define how we live together in God’s world.

Regionally we support the work of Lutheran Campus Ministry, Cristo Rey, Navajo Lutheran Mission, and Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp.

Globally, we support Bread for the World and combine our gifts with many other ELCA churches to address urgent needs for food, water, hope, healing and renewal, through the programs of ELCA - AMMPARO, ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. We also support ELCA missionaries who work in Senegal and Central Europe. Click here for the latest newsletter. Finally, we encourage and pray for our Lutheran sister congregation in Monor, Hungary.