We are happy for you to meet
Pastor Ron Baerbock
God is good. One way that the members of Bethel Lutheran in Arcadia and Galesville measure God's goodness is by considering the way the Lord has sent pastors to serve with us. We are especially grateful for the arrival of our newest pastor, Ron Baerbock.
Pastor Baerbock and his wife Karen (pictured here) have been married since 1970 and have served in congregations and mission fields from 1973 to 2015. The Lord directed them from the suburbs of Milwaukee to the Pacific coast of Washington, from islands in the Caribean to villages in both Northern and Southern Mexico. From serving to Coordinate mission field work to helping to produce multi-language outreach material, Pastor Baerbock has enjoyed a wide range of ministry experiences. One great blessing that the Baerbocks bring to us is that they are both fluent in Spanish as well as English.
There is no doubt that Pastor and his wife count their four children and 18 grandchildren among the greatest blessings that the Lord has given to them. Though their children live at some distance from mom and dad - West coast, Milwaukee, and two in Minnesota - the Baerbocks praise God for the faith in Jesus Christ that binds them all together.
Pastor Baerbock, as a previously retired minister, has been called to serve with Bethel in a part-time role for the next two years. This provides Bethel with extra manpower and the Baerbocks with the opportunity to still enjoy some well-earned retirement. Though their time with us is limited, the Lord will not put limits on the message of Christ to bring spiritual blessings to those whom we serve with God's Word.
We are happy for you to meet Pastor and Mrs. Baerbock. We would be happier still for you to know Jesus through our ministry of the Word at Bethel Lutheran.
From Sunday to Sunday, in Arcadia and Galesville, you will find Pastors Cox and Baerbock opening up the Scriptures to all who attend. Come and hear what good news God's Word has for you to know!
Contact Pastor Baerbock by email - rbaerbock2@gmail.com - or phone (715) 299-0786
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"Peace to you!" from
Pastor Jon Cox
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ!
Thank you for visiting the Bethel Lutheran website! We would be especially glad if what you saw here would lead you to visit and worship with us in Galesville or Arcadia.
My wife, Doreen, and I have been married since 1990. We've been at home on the west side of Galesville since 2011. While our five children are growing up and heading out on their own, its nice to live where the neighbors are friendly.
The family at Bethel Lutheran is certainly a friendly group. We love it there and believe that you would too. Our members come from a range of backgrounds and span an age range from little ones on up, but there is a harmony among us that makes being at church there a peaceful experience.
Over the last 27 years of ministry, I've been blessed to serve in a wide variety of settings and situations. From a small mission congregation in central Texas, to a large congregation in central Wisconsin, to Bethel - Galesville and Arcadia. No matter the setting or size, the most valuable feature of life in these congregations is the blessing of being able to share Gods' Word with people who are eager to hear it.
It is so true that people of differing places and cultures face many of the same troubles. We all need the Word of God to counsel and direct our lives. The message of Jesus Christ is the one constant power that both motivates us to reach for success and comforts us when faced with plans that fail. We can always trust the goodness of God to bless and sustain us.
It is always a blessing to meet new people at church. I would be so happy to help you know Jesus Christ. Take a little time, read about what we believe, then come and see for yourself all the good things that God is doing at Bethel!
Contact Pastor Cox by email - jon.nathan.cox@gmail.com - or phone (608) 582-9998
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Faith Related Q and A
| I was raised in the CLC and later, in my thirties, started attending WELS congregations. For many of those years I never fully believed the Lutheran teaching on the real presence. The Bible did not convince me that it was the proper understanding. I left the Lutheran church several years ago, however, I'm not afraid of being wrong and changing my position if the Scriptures show me that I'm wrong. My question: I was told as a Lutheran that the simple words of Christ himself, "This is my body, this is my blood" is sufficient proof to support the teaching of the real presence. However, in John 6 Christ talks about himself and of eating his body and drinking his blood. Yet in "The People's Bible" the author says that this language was to be understood figuratively, not literally. I am in agreement with the author and think that it would be supportive of my understanding of the Lord's Supper if Christ's words in Matt. 26:26 were not taken literally. So the question becomes: Why is Matt. 26:26 taken literally and John 6:53 figuratively?
Recognizing and understanding context is so critical to accurate biblical interpretation. Consider the context of John 6:53. Going back to John 6:25, we see that that John is describing what happened after Jesus miraculously fed thousands with just five loaves of bread and two small fish.
In his conversation with the crowds who were looking for more “miracle food” (John 6:26), Jesus shifted his language from literal to figurative. He spoke of the “bread of God” (John 6:33), and he identified himself as “the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48, 51). Jesus spoke of the importance of believing in him (John 6:35, 40, 47). In John 6:51 Jesus describes faith in him as eating “the living bread that came down from heaven.” In that same verse Jesus shifted the metaphor from bread to “my flesh,” and in verse 53 he describes believing in him as eating “the flesh of the Son of Man and drink[ing] my blood” – “consuming” him in faith. (Also of interest at this point is the fact that Jesus spoke of his “flesh” and not his “body,” as he would in the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The original Greek has two different words for “flesh” and “body.”)
The context of John 6 clearly shows the figurative language Jesus was using to describe the importance of believing in him. In addition, we need to keep in mind the historical context: at the time of John 6 Jesus had not yet instituted the Lord’s Supper.
When we look at the context of Matthew 26:26, we recognize a narrative in which Jesus is not using figurative language; his words were meant to be taken literally. There was nothing symbolic or figurative when Jesus took bread and wine and said, “This is my body. This is my blood.”
In short, we derive accurate and intended meaning of Scripture when we pay attention to the context.
| Is Holy Communion symbolic?
If you are asking if the earthly elements, the bread and wine, symbolize or represent Jesus’ body and blood, the answer is “no.” The Bible teaches that Jesus’ body and blood are in, with and under the bread and wine when people receive the sacrament (Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27).
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| | » | WELS Connection - January 2019
January: 2018 in Review From the growth in WELS World and Home Missions to the excitement of the WELS International Youth Rally to the release of the updated WELS mobile app, 2018 was a truly blessed year for the synod. Cast: WELS
| | » | WELS Connection - December 2018 - WELS Missions in Vietnam
December: WELS Missions in Vietnam
WELS Missions is growing. With the help of the WELS Pastoral Studies Institute, WELS Missions is opening a theological training facility in the capitol of Vietnam. Cast: WELS
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Forward in Christ
| Struggling with healthy cell phone use
 Let’s have a show of hands. How many of you are struggling to determine what healthy cell phone use looks like? Value Struggling can be good because it helps us identify our values. I really love how God tells us in Deuteronomy to love him wholly—to value him above all things. He doesn’t say fleetingly […]
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Bethel Evangelical
Lutheran Church
N29280 Loesel Lane
Arcadia, WI 54612
608.323.2388
In Arcadia, Sunday
worship is at 9:00 a.m.
Bible study and
Sunday school at 10:30 a.m.
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N16303 Church Lane
Galesville, WI 54630
608.582.4329
In Galesville, Sunday
worship is at 9:00 a.m.
Bible study and
Sunday school at 10:30 a.m.
Thursday Evenings
Galesville offers a
midweek service at 6:00 p.m.
Bethel Staff
Pastor Jon N. Cox
608.582.9998
jon.nathan.cox@gmail.com
Pastor Ron Baerbock
715.299.0786
rbaerbock2@gmail.com
Administrative Assistant
The Lord called
Mrs. Julie Haessig
home to heaven on
January 20th.
We thank Him for
her service to us.
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