Bethesda members and their friends in the community share in many rewarding activities:
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ELCA World Hunger Appeal
Gifts to the WHA produce practical results for people in need in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Haitian School (L’Univers Des Petit Christian School)
We have supported this school through various fundraisers for several years.
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio (LOMO)
Bethesda offers scholarships to Lutheran Camps in Ohio. Confirmands are expected to attend Confirmation Week at Camp Mowana and member families often attend Camp Luther.
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
This is a very active mission at Bethesda on the Bay, where several members are on the Board of Directors.
LMM Projects include:
- Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ where a complete delicious meal is prepared and served by friends from Bethesda on the Bay.
- Christmas Shoe Boxes for teen boys and girls are assembled by Bethesda on the Bay members. They are filled with simple, cosmetic needs, snacks and gifts. Also gathered are sweat pants and shirts, basketballs for the boys & gifts for the girls.
New Covenant Lutheran Church
Bethesda has developed a relationship with New Covenant Lutheran Church in East Cleveland. Besides occasional worship times together, (highlighted by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service in January at Bethesda on the Bay), Bethesda gathers and delivers donated items from the collection box in the narthex.
Prayer Group/Prayer Chain
All are welcome to begin their week with prayer. The group meets in the sanctuary at 10:00AM on Mondays. The concerns of church members are lifted to God by this group. The prayer chain prays for all our members and friends, as well as concerns for our world.
Redeemer Crisis Center
Redeemer Crisis Center is located at 2970 W. 30th St. Cleveland (216) 651-0236.
Several Bethesda members gather and deliver donated items to this center. Baked goods from Heinens are delivered twice weekly. Bargain purchases and member donations are offered at no cost to center clients.
Alcoholics Anonymous
There are six AA groups which currently meet at Bethesda on the Bay.
Bay Ministerium
The Bay Ministerium meets monthly. The group is composed of clergy from all Bay Village churches, as well as selected lay persons. Discussions include comparisons of liturgy and theology, group outreach and possible areas of common worship (especially the Good Friday Service at St. Raphaels).
The Boy Scouts
Boy Scout Troop 41 has met in the Fellowship Hall at Bethesda on the Bay at 7:00 PM on Thursdays for many years. Their work with young boys has produced 108 Eagle Scouts since 1967!
The Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts meet at Bethesda throughout the year. Several girls from the parish are Gold Award recipients.
Guatemala Mission
Several Bethesda members travel to Guatemala as part of a Bay Presbyterian Church Mission. In anticipation of the trips, we collect used eyeglasses (which are cleaned and prescriptions determined). These are given to needy people in primitive areas of Guatemala. In addition, basic school supplies are requested for the school in the community.
Habitat For Humanity
Volunteers work on Habitat homes in the Cleveland area. All levels of skilled laborers are welcome to join the team!
The Knickerbocker
Knickerbocker Apartments, established in 1972, provides reasonably priced housing for senior citizens. Four Bay Village churches support the Knickerbocker. Bethesda on the Bay is represented on the Board of Directors with four members.
Massotherapy
We are very fortunate to have a massotherapist on staff. Our massotherapist schedules members for a one-hour session in the church lounge on the 1st Monday of the month from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Parish Nurse
Our church is proud to be part of the Parish Nurse Program which provides a volunteer to check blood pressure, and to evaluate and answer questions about general health conditions.
Recycling
We gather plastic grocery bags in a box across from the Christian Education Office. These
bags are taken to the Redeemer Crisis Center to be reused as packaging for the clients. Recycling bins are located in the kitchen and fellowship hall to gather plastic #1 & #2 and cans. We take paper recyclables to designated bins in the community.
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