WHO WE ARE
At Bethlehem, we are all family. Like any family, we have our own unique traditions and values. Above all else, we're all about Jesus! Bethlehem Church is distinctly Lutheran. Translation - we believe we are saved:
1. By grace alone
2. Through faith alone
3. In Jesus Christ alone
4. As shown to us in Scripture alone
We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper remembering that it is truly the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given for the forgiveness of all our sins. We rejoice in the baptism of people of all ages and gladly welcome them into the family of God.
For more info on what we believe, check out the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Our Vision: Changing Lives Through Christ
Our Mission: Sharing Christ’s Love & Caring for All People
What to Expect
Our mission at Bethlehem is "Sharing Christ's love and caring for all people." We welcome all people to join us for worship. Since God looks at the heart, please feel free to wear whatever you're 'at-home' in. For visitors, we encourage you to swing by our Welcome Center table to receive a free gift and learn more about Bethlehem.
We have several different worship service options at Bethlehem:
Sunday
Contemporary Service 9:00 am - A service in a modern musical style (led by our band), incorporating every-day language, prayers, Scripture reading, Holy Communion, and participatory elements designed to engage all attenders. During the school year, our children's Sunday school meets during our 9 am service. For more info on Sunday school, click here. Due to lack of volunteers, Sunday school is currently suspended.
Traditional Service 10:30 am - A service of high liturgy led by our pipe organ and choir. Together we join in singing hymns ancient and modern, and we participate in the spoken and sung liturgy of the historic church. Our liturgy includes Scripture, prayer, and the service of the sacrament (communion).
Parking & Church Access
We have parking lots off of Hermansau St. and Weiss St; handicap parking and an entrance ramp to our sanctuary are available from the Hermansau St. side.
About Communion
All members of LCMS churches are encouraged to join us for communion. For those of you who'd like to take communion but aren't yet members of the LCMS, one of our pastors or elders would love to discuss with you what communion means to us. All (including children) are invited to receive a blessing; just indicate that you are not communing by crossing your arms over your chest.
We celebrate the Lord's Supper at services on the first and third Sundays of the month.
For detailed information about what the LCMS believes about communion, click here.
meet our staff
Rev. Michael Korte
Senior Pastor
mkorte@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989.755.1144x102
Pastor Korte was called to Bethlehem in 2001. He is married to Cindy, and they have three children: Grace, Matthew, and Faith.
Pastor is a 1986 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana
In his spare time, you can catch him riding his bike for 50-100 miles.
Alex Holcomb
Worship Arts Leader
Alex is a native Michigander, born and raised in Saginaw. Growing up, he enjoyed singing and playing the piano which led to his interest in using music & art in worship.
Alex graduated from Cedarville University with degrees in Worship Arts and Spanish.
Alex is married to Annelise; together they have a cat, Dunson. Alex enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. If he's indoors, you may find him reading, writing, or cooking.
George Frank
Minister of Music
Mr. George Frank was born and baptized in Frankenmuth, MI where he attended St. Lorenz Lutheran Church & School. He attended Concordia Teacher’s College (now Concordia University Chicago) for degrees in Church Music and Education. Upon graduation George and his wife, Leanne, received calls to Aurora, IL where their children Anne, Marlene, and Jon were born.
In 1974 George was issued a call to serve at Bethlehem as Minister of Music and a teacher in the day school. Their daughter, Mary, was born the fall of that year.
After teaching for 40 years (including Leanne teaching for 25 years), they retired from teaching. George has continued serving as the choir director and primary organist for the traditional service music ministry.
One highlight and privilege of George’s many years at Bethlehem has been to serve the Lord as the musical director for the Boar’s Head Christmas Festivals.
Outside of Sunday morning, George enjoys listening to classical music, working in his garden, and spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Trevor Henry
Director of Finance
& Operations
thenry@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989.755.1144x108
Trevor became Business Manager in October 2017. He assists the church and school with facilities management and improvements and with finances.
He enjoys spending time with his wife, April and daughter, Katie. In his spare time he enjoys going for long bike rides with the hope of someday catching up to Pastor Korte.
Delanie Plamondon
Administrative Assistant
office@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989.755.1144x213
Delanie is a native Michigander who has lived all over the mitten, but she loves the Great Lakes Bay Region most of all.
Delanie graduated from Valley Lutheran in 2016. She then went on to study at Northwood University, where she received her BBA with concentrations in management and accounting.
In her free time, Delanie enjoys Crossfit, crocheting, and hanging out with her husband, Daniel, and cat, Fiona.
Paul Wagner
Church Maintenance
A Saginaw native, Paul has lived in the Saginaw area his whole life. He attended school at Bethlehem K-8th grade and graduated from Bethlehem in 1980! He has also been a member of Bethlehem for most of his life.
In his free time, Paul enjoys camping and working on his yard. Paul is married to his wife, Andrea; their daughter, Ashlie, is currently a Bethlehem student.
When not working at Bethlehem, Paul details automobiles and drives for DOW employees.
over 100 years of worship
1865
School on Hermansau begins as an offshoot of Holy Cross School
1889
First worship services are held in the school
1914
Bethlehem Church is officially established under the name “The German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Northern Saginaw, Michigan”
1915
Construction of Bethlehem’s first church is completed
1915
First pastor, Rev. Andrew Zeile accepts the call to pastor Bethlehem
1924
Bethlehem School is built on the corner of Oak St. and Schaefer St
1940
Holy Cross and Bethlehem plant Peace Church
1959
With the sizeable growth of the school, a new building is built
1960
The transition from German language services to English is completed
1965
Bethlehem Church plants Messiah Church of Carrollton
1980
A new church building is built to accommodate our growing church family
1985
First annual performance of the Boar’s Head Festival
1994
Bethlehem calls current associate pastor, Rev. Charles Buckhahn
2001
Bethlehem celebrates being debt-free with mortgage burning
2001
Bethlehem calls current administrative pastor, Rev. Michael Korte
2005
Bethlehem begins contemporary worship service
2014
Bethlehem celebrates its 100 year anniversary
For information on our stained glass windows and our chapel, please see the attached pamphlet.