Carrie’s Chapel at Bethesda Grand features beautiful stained-glass windows and original artwork.
At Bethesda, spiritual care is an important part of the care we provide, as we strive to enrich all aspects of life for those we serve, including body, mind and spirit. The Mission of Chaplaincy, through Christian faith, is to foster hope and integrity in residents, tenants and staff by attention to Word, sacrament and visitation in partnership with staff, families and parishes.
Bethesda calls three pastoral care chaplains, Pastor Mary Hovland, Pastor Dan Bowman, and Pastor Grant Hoekstra, who are trained, certified, and called by the church for work in a long-term care setting. The chaplains work in partnership with our residents and tenants, and their families and parish.
If you would like to support the spiritual programming at Bethesda, please consider sharing an offering: http://bit.ly/BethesdaOffering
Pastoral ministry at Bethesda
While the chaplains’ ministry work has changed during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they continue to offer spiritual care to residents, tenants, and staff. To read about the role our chaplains serve in the overall healthcare Bethesda provides, click here.
Sunday Worship
Pastor Mary, Pastor Dan, and Pastor Grant record a weekly worship service in Carrie’s Chapel at Bethesda Grand that is shown at 9:00 a.m. Sundays on Bethesda’s Facebook page and shared on Bethesda’s public YouTube channel for the community to view. The worship service and other spiritual care videos are shown on Channel 900 for Bethesda residents to watch on their own TV. The pastoral team rotates sharing God’s Word through scripture readings and song. There is also an in-person worship service on Sundays at Carrie’s Chapel that residents are able to attend on a rotating basis.
Click here to watch worship services.
Mid-Week Lenten Service
Leading up to Easter, our chaplains are recording a series of mid-week Lenten services that take the place of Pastor’s Corner during Lent. The chaplains are creating special bulletins for residents and tenants to follow along. The services, which are about 30 minutes, are shown on Channel 900 for Bethesda residents and tenants to watch on their own TV, and the videos are posted on Bethesda’s YouTube channel and Facebook page for everyone to enjoy.
The theme for this series is, “Shepherd Me, O God.” We are called to live in community with creation, with all the saints, with our neighbor, with those on the margins, and with Christ on the cross.
Click on a date to watch a service in the Lenten series: “Shepherd Me, O God”
- God is a shepherd who provides: Week of March 6, 2022
- God Leads Us: Week of March 13, 2022
- God is with us: Week of March 20, 2022
- God gives up a place of honor: Week of March 27, 2022
- God pursues us with grace:
Pastor’s Corner: Bible study and music
During Pastor’s Corner, our two pastors spend time delving deeper into God’s Word. Each pastor shares a Pastor’s Corner, expanding on the reading and gospel from the Sunday prior. These videos, which include prayer, scripture readings, reflection, and hymn singing, are about 30 minutes. The Pastor’s Corner videos are shown on Channel 900 for Bethesda residents/tenants to watch on their own TV. All Pastor’s Corners are posted publicly on Bethesda’s YouTube channel for everyone to enjoy.
Click here to watch the Pastor’s Corner playlist.
Hymns of Bethesda
Music is an important and integral part of ministry and worship. Many residents, tenants and their family members enjoy singing hymns, whether it’s new ones they haven’t heard or old favorites that they love. Pastor Bill has recorded 20 packets of hymns from Bethesda’s hymnal. In addition, Pastor Bill and Pastor Mary recorded six packets of Christmas hymns* (#21-26). Listen to, watch, and sing along with each collection of hymns by clicking on a link below:
Holy Humor
If you need a pick-me-up for the day or if you haven’t heard a good Ole and Lena joke in a while, Pastor Bill shares funny (clean) jokes and amusing stories titled, Holy Humor. Each video is about 10 minutes. Click on a link below to watch the video on our YouTube channel, and chuckle along with Pastor Bill, who demonstrates that laughter is good for the soul. Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine.”
Pastoral care and office hours
Our chaplains stay in touch with residents and tenants, and they provide spiritual care to all those who seek it.
- Pastor Mary, Pastor Dan, and Pastor Grant continue to visit with residents and tenants, and lead them in prayer and Bible studies in our different neighborhoods and buildings.
- Bethesda distributes “Our Daily Bread” devotional books to each resident who desires one.
- For pastoral information or assistance, please contact our chaplains by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (320) 214-5671.
Bethesda is a social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, affiliated through Lutheran Services in America and encourages individuals from all faiths and denominations to be a part of our center. Bethesda is supported by an ecumenical group of 25 area churches including Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Methodist. To learn more, visit our Member Churches page.
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