Bethlehem Lutheran Church
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  • Home
  • Ministries
    • Learning >
      • Faith Formation >
        • Faith Formation Calendar
        • PJ Time Videos
      • Fruit of the Spirit
      • Dwelling in the Word
    • Serving
    • Worshiping
  • Worship
    • Past Worship Services
  • Connect
  • About
    • Council Meeting Minutes
    • Church Policies
  • Giving
    • Online Giving
    • SCRIP
    • Fundraisers
  • I'm New
  • Contact

ABOUT US

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Bethlehem Lutheran is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is a member of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. Our Mission Statement is that we are "God's family, Serving Christ with Love".  Our goal is to live this mission, to be a caring and connected group  that works together serving Christ and the community with compassion and love. ​
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Bethlehem  Lutheran Church was formally organized on November 27, 1938 after Rev. Dwight Shelhart, a synod missionary arrived in Portage. Charter members included 68 confirmed and  38 baptized. Worship services were held at the local St.  John’s Episcopal Church. In 1939 the congregation purchased  Engle Funeral Home, remodeled and dedicated it. In May, 1949 it was voted to purchase the property at the corner of Franklin and  DeWitt Streets. The corner stone was laid on October 28, 1951 and on November 30, 1952 members dedicated the new church. As  the congregation grew, expansion was necessary. In 1964 a Parsonage  house was built and a  Parish house was completed in 1976. The church then spread out into various structures using them for Christian education,  administration, and community purposes for many years until the multiple  buildings became cumbersome.


​In 1998 the purchase of 20 acres of land was made for the current building at W8267 Highway 33  East, Portage, WI.  Construction began in Spring 2004 and in February 2006 the congregation moved to the new building, holding its first worship service.    
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OUR TEAM

Our Staff

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Pastor Jaime Benson
Email Pastor Benson
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Julie Saalsaa
Parish Secretary
Email Church Office
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Janice Peterson
​Parish Nurse & Financial Assistant
Email Church Office
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Tania Anderson
Parish Associate
Email
Our staff can be reached at 608-742-8502.
Office hours are Monday - Wednesday 9 am to 3 pm, Thursday and Friday 9 am to 12 pm.

Our Church Council

Executive Committee
President, Kerry Melby
Vice President, Geoff Gilbert 
Secretary,  Tina Thomas

Council Members: Chair &/or Committee Liaison 
Brian Conner, Local & Global Ministry   
Jaimie Rudolph, Finance Liaison 
Mark Teslik, Worship & Music
Lisa Cook, Stewardship
Kory Anderson, Property 
The Church Council meets on the third Thursday of the month.
Council Meeting Minutes
Bethlehem's church policies can be found here:
Church policies
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Our Church Committees

Christian Education
Parish Associate
Tania Anderson
Sunday School (preK to Grade 5)
Jeanette Gessner
Confirmation (Grades 6 to 8) 
Tania Anderson
Youth Activities
Megan Jahoda
VBS
Tania Anderson


Personnel
Council Liaison, Pr. Jaime Benson
​Barb Rothwell
Robin Kvalo
Vacant Seat

Worship & Music
Council Liaison, Mark Teslik
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Choir Director
Katie Zirbes
Organists/Pianists 
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Carla Gerhardt
Ronna Pate
Samantha Nickel
Jody Calhoun

Praise Team Leader
Carla Gerhardt
Altar Guild
Vacant position
Finance
Council Liaison, Jaimie Rudolph   
Treasurer, 
Jerry Saalsaa 
Members:
Denise Derey
Janice Petersen
John Denhartigh

Stewardship
Council Liaison, Lisa Cook
Members:
Ruth Price
Property
Chair & Council Liaison  
Kory Anderson
Custodian 

Gerald Schneiter
Lawn Care
Dick Olson
Denny Benson
Gardening
Dick Olson
Property
Del Molden

Covid-19 Task Force

Melissa Bradbury
Janice Peterson
Larry Sween
Kerry Melby
Ann Ciske
Dan Pulsfus
Julie Saalsaa
​Del Molden
Nominating Committee
Brad Cook
Hailey Harms
Ruth Price
Jerry Saalsaa


Audit Committee
Angela Pace
Judy Traut
​Jaimie Rudolph


Local Ministry Coordinators
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Food Pantry Delivery
Vacant Position
Food Pantry Helpers

Julie Saalsaa
Funeral Luncheons
Judy Donahue & Pam Mueller
Quilting

Ginny Paulson
 Bingo

Judy Donahue 
Euchre
Cloe Rehdentz
Women's Group
JoAnne Genrich
Craft Fair
Robin Kvalo & Julie Saalsaa
Our Daily Bread
Tania Anderson
Scrip
Carla Gerhardt
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church - ELCA
W8267 Hwy 33 East, Portage, WI 53901
​608-742-8502
Copyright © 2021 Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Portage WI - All Rights Reserved.
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