Rolling Meadows' Bethel Lutheran closing, merging with Palatine ministry
A merging of two faith congregations will take place Sunday, when members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Rolling Meadows attend service at All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine.
The combined worship service will take place on the same day that Bethel Lutheran, 3839W Frontage Road, closes after serving people in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Rolling Meadows for 59 years.
Pastors with both communities say this is the story not just of a church closing, but also of merging a ministry and a commitment to serving the spiritual needs of Northwest suburban residents.
The Rev. David Heim, pastor of Bethel Lutheran, said the decision was a difficult one for his congregation after so many families had worked to sustain it since its opening in 1957.
The church has about a quarter of the membership of All Saints.
They took comfort, however, in selling the building and property to St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, located just to the west on Frontage Road.
"There are many sacred memories attached to the building - of baptisms, confirmations, marriages," Heim said.
"But we were heartened by the fact that by selling to our neighbor, the building will continue to be used for Christian ministry."
One ministry that will continue at the former church is the food pantry, started by Bethel members in 2011. The newly combined membership at All Saints will continue to run the food pantry - open from 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday - in partnership with St. Mary.
Bethel Lutheran has had a long history of social justice. As far back as 1971, its members launched an apartment and racetrack ministry at Arlington Park.
In 1976, members sponsored a refugee family from Laos, and in 1983 they began hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner. Around 2003, Bethel became an emergency shelter site in the PADS system.
The Rev. Seth Moland-Kovash, pastor of All Saints, 630 S. Quentin Road, expects the transition to be smooth.
"Worship, education, care for one another, and all the ministries we care about will continue and only be strengthened by our increased numbers," Moland-Kovash said.
He will have the aid of his co-pastor and wife, Jenn Moland-Kovash, and Heim will stay on in a supporting role for about five months.
Heim said the timing is significant in the church year.
"We take leave of our building on the last day of the church year and start a new chapter with All Saints as the church year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, on Nov. 27," Heim said.
"As Christians, we believe that endings lead to new beginnings; behind the cross is resurrection. Now, we get to live out that faith in a very practical way."
One tradition Bethel is known for is its outdoor living Nativity.
"We are planning to hold the living Nativity this year at All Saints - it is a tradition at Bethel that will be fun to share," Heim said.
The event at 4 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 "will be a joint endeavor of the two congregations and a great way to launch our life together," he said.