At Bethany Lutheran Church, worship is a celebration of what God has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior—His initiative in our life, His saving events throughout history. Worship is a remembrance, a reenactment-if-you-will, of God's redemptive acts for all people throughout history; it is also a joyful reception through faith, by God's people now, who live to proclaim His redeeming grace to all the world. The Lutheran understanding of "Gottesdienst" or "God's service to us" and "our service to God" are foundational to all that we do in worship. God first comes to us, and we respond in confession, joyful praise, prayer and humble faith.     

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We’ve all heard the adage, “Clothes make the man.”  Some say you can trace the notion clear back to Homer.  The concept is fleshed out more fully in a line in Shakespeare’s Hamlet; and given complete familiarity by Mark Twain.  At the core of the concept is the idea that appearance can influence both perception and behavior. 

Long before either Shakespeare or Twain had crafted their works, St. Paul wrote that, “Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross.”  

The eternal Son of God, took on human nature and put on the form of a servant.  This action, His incarnation, certainly directed His behavior and as Isaiah states (chapter 53) is influenced perception of THE suffering servant.

By His grace, through faith, Jesus has covered us in His righteousness, dressed us in His likeness and calls us to be “His masks” in this world.  These Garments of Grace influence our perception of one another and our behavior as His disciples. 

Join us on Wednesdays during Lent (2/18 thru 3/25) ON OUR CYPRESS CAMPUS, 4321 Cerritos Ave. Cypress CA at 6:30PM as we gather to rejoice in the promise that our Lord has clothed us in His Garments of Grace.   

Upcoming Weekly Themes and Texts:  

• Wednesday Lent IV (3/18) “Filthy Rags” I Peter 2:24
• Wednesday Lent V (3/25) “Garments of Grace”  Revelation 3

Lenten Series from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans: 

The Long Arm of the Gospel

The “Long Arm of the Law” is a phrase which has its origins in the 1500’s, when it was common knowledge that the “King has long arms.”  In other words, the influence and power of a king could be exerted over great distances.  In the 1900’s the phrase was altered to highlight the far reaching powers of authorities to catch criminals.  

God, who has written His law on the heart of each individual; also had His law inscribed on tablets of stone.  That same God is also revealed to us as One who bears the “Long Arm of the Gospel.”  He is a God who in divine strength and pure grace, “with a mighty arm and an outstretched hand, has won His people’s freedom and delivered them from the guilt of their law-breaking.  

The Long Arms of the Gospel were extended on the cross for you!  Now they are thrown opened wide in hopes of a Father’s embrace (Lk. 15), seek to provide you with the shelter of a Mothering Hen (Mt. 23) and through our Savior and Brother beckon us home (Jn. 14)  

The Long Arm of the Gospel is our Lenten series this year (February 22 - March 22) based on the texts of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. For a greater reach in your Lenten devotion and preparation consider reading the texts prior to their upcoming Sunday’s exploration: 

• Sunday, 3/22 - Romans 8:1-11

Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 29th

8:00AM & 9:30AM on Long Beach campus

11:10AM on Cypress campus

Wednesday, April 1st

Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 2nd 

6:30PM on the Long Beach campus

Good Friday - Friday, April 3rd

1:00PM and 6:30PM on the Long Beach campus

Easter Festival - Sunday, April 5th

8:00AM & 9:30AM on Long Beach campus

11:10AM on Cypress campus

COMMON TABLE @ CYPRESS CAMPUS:

*Wednesday Evenings at 6:30PM (*starting April 15th)*

Sunday Worship Update:

Now through March 22nd...Worship services will be at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00AM on Bethany's Long Beach campus.  

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WORSHIP UPDATE...While our Cypress campus is still a work in progress, it is able to welcome worshippers again! Our midweek Wednesday Lenten services are being held on the Cypress campus and starting on Palm Sunday, March 29th, we will once again hold Sunday morning worship services on the Cypress campus. Starting on Palm Sunday Bethany Lutheran’s Sunday morning worship schedule will be:  

• On the Long Beach campus at 8:00 and 9:30AM. 
• On the Cypress campus at 11:10AM.

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Communion: Those who believe the following statement to be true are most welcome to receive this sacrament: The Lord's Supper is celebrated at Bethany in the joyful confession that our Lord gives us His very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins in this sacrament. God intends this gift for His children who recognize their sin, trust in Christ as their Savior, desire to live for Him alone and join in this joyful confession. *Contact the church office, (562) 421-4711,  if you are in need of our ministry staff to bring communion to your home. 

• 1st Sunday - All Services
• 2nd Sunday - 9:30AM Only
• 3rd Sunday - All Services
• 4th Sunday - 9:30AM Only

Women’s Bible Studies at Long Beach campus:

• 10:45-12:00PM
• Rooms: #215 & Library
• Lead by: Mary Kay Esswein (#215) and Sheri Esswein (Library)

Men’s Bible Study at Long Beach campus:

• 10:45-12:00PM
• Room: Parish Lounge
• Lead by: Bob Lange & David Akins

Livestream of Worship: We livestream our 9:30AM service. To watch live, please tune in at 9:30AM. As always, you may watch a recording of the Sunday service at any time on our YouTube channel.

Our YouTube

SUNDAY MORNING RESOURCE LINKS:

• Worship Service Resource Page (2026)
• Sermon Podcasts
• Under Grace