Welcome to Bethany!

Bethany Lutheran is located at 110 West Austin Street, Fredericksburg, Texas. We're one block from Main Street, across from Marktplatz (Market Square) near the intersection of Adams and Austin Streets.

A Map to Bethany (click here)

What to expect when you walk in the doors...

Parking (click here for pictures)

Our main parking lot is located in back of the main buildings. The main access is from Adams Street with secondary access from Austin Street. There is usually parking available in front of the church on Austin Street unless there are large events taking place at Markplatz.

Handicap Access

For those needing the use of our elevator, please use the entrance near the covered drive in the rear of the church. We have handicap accessible restrooms in the new fellowship and Sunday school wing on the first and second floor.

Entering the Campus

We have four entrances to the facility:

A handicap accessible entrance under the covered drive off the rear parking lot. From this location you have elevator access to both levels. The second level contains the main sanctuary and adult classrooms as well as the fellowship hall in the new section of the campus. The first level leads to the children's classrooms, the nursery and Bethany Preschool.

A second entrance off the rear parking lot is on the northeast side of the building. The entrance leads into the new section of the building. Stairs up lead to the fellowship hall (where we hold our contemporary worship service), adult classrooms, and main sanctuary. Stairs down to the first level lead to our children's classrooms and the Bethany Preschool.

A third entrance is located off Austin Street and leads directly into our fellowship hall. There are several steps to climb to get to this entrance.

The fourth and main entrance is located at the front of the church off Austin Street at the end of the front sidewalk and through two large, wooden doors. This entrance leads directly into the second floor foyer outside the main sanctuary. There are no steps at this entry.

What to expect at the

Traditional Worship Services (8:00 & 10:30 A.M.)

The Physical Space

The traditional worship services at Bethany begin with a greeter at the door welcoming you to worship and an usher providing a bulletin. As you enter the sanctuary you'll see a large worship space with traditional wooden pews complete with hymnals and bibles. You are welcome to sit in any of the pews - up front, in the back or anywhere in between. There is also an overflow area in the rear of the sancturary where you are welcome to sit (though it may be a bit more difficult to see). Children are welcome and encouraged to attend worship. We do have a "cry room" near the back for parents who need a place to retreat with squirming youngsters.

There is a restroom (off the cry room area) and close by in the main hallway of the church. We have handicap accessible restrooms in the new section of our building (on the same level as the sanctuary).

Worship

Bethany uses the new ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) Hymnal published by Augsburg Fortress Press. We often have special music provided by one of our choirs or other musicians. The format for the service is what we call "liturgical." Our liturgy is interactive and gives congregation members an opportunity to sing and respond in a corporate fashion within the service. For a typical bulletin, please follow this link.

Bethany celebrates Holy Communion during the traditional service normally on the first and third Sundays of each month. Holy Communion is open to all baptized Christians who believe that Christ is truly present with us in this meal. For those who wish to have grape juice instead of wine, it is available at the center of the communion tray. Children who have reached at least the fourth grade may commune after attending a 1^st Communion class led by the pastor. If your child has received instruction in another church he or she is welcome to commune. All children who aren’t communing are invited to come and receive a blessing at the altar rail. (If you have any questions, please speak with one of the pastors.)

What to expect at the

Praise & Worship (Contemporary) Service (10:25 A.M.)

The Physical Space & the Music

Our Praise & Worship service meets in our fellowship hall. Dress is fairly casual with many folks wearing jeans and short sleeve shirts. The Praise Team leads us in worship with acoustic and electric & bass guitars, keyboard, drums, and vocals. Matt White is our team leader and is also on staff as director of our youth and children's ministries. You can enter the fellowship hall (on the second level) via the front porch off of Austin street or the parking lot in the rear of the building. Normally you'll be greeted a the door and you'll receive a bulletin. As you enter the hall you'll see approximately 190 padded chairs set up for worship. You are welcome to sit anywhere!

There are handicap accessible restrooms in the foyer just outside the fellowship hall.

Worship

The Bethany Praise Team and lay leaders lead most of the worship service using a basic liturgy and lots of praise and worship music. For a typical bulletin, please follow this link.

Bethany celebrates Holy Communion during the Praise & Worship service normally on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Holy Communion is open to all baptized Christians who believe that Christ is truly present with us in this meal. For those who wish to have grape juice instead of wine, it is available at the center of the communion tray. Children who have reached at least the fourth grade may commune after attending a 1^st Communion class led by the pastor. If your child has received instruction in another church he or she is welcome to commune. All children who aren’t communing are invited to come and receive a blessing at the altar rail. (If you have any questions, please speak with one of the pastors.)