As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.

Mission

Our Mission

The mission of Bear Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church is to be a community of Christians living and sharing the story of God’s grace and love.

Our Values

Our values are grounded in faith, in our biblical and Lutheran confessional sources and our love of God and neighbor. They speak to the way this church lives and practices our faith, and they will guide how we journey forward in Christ as church together.

Founding History

Our church was founded by Norwegian settlers who started the Bear Creek settlement in 1854. In 1856, Rev. C.L. Clausen held the first church service and organized the congregation in the home of Ole Simonson. In the earliest years, the congregation met in homes and later at a school house. The church sanctuary was built from 1869-1870. Members donated the lumber and stones used in its construction. The steeple was added in 1873, and the chancel was added in 1886. Finally the church was dedicated on June 12, 1887. The church is a testimony to the love these early members had for their faith.

Annual Mission Project

Each year the Bear Creek congregation supports a mission project. Our 2024 mission is raising monetary support for the Grand Meadow and Racine Food Shelves. In addition the Sunday school children will bring in in food donations.

Pastor Larry presenting our 2021 Mission check to Gus Olson, director of the Grand Meadow food shelf. The food shelf was given $903.30 which is 70% of the mission money contributed through June 30, 2021. The food was collected by our Sunday school children.

Pastor and Kelly Iverson, Sunday School superintendent, presenting Tracey Hoover, Racine Food Shelf director with the Sunday school food collection and a check for $386.70, 30% of the mission money collected through June 30, 2021.

Using our talents to help others

The Bear Creek quilters make quilts each year for those in need. Quilts are made for Lutheran Relief Serves. Locally quilts are given to the Rochester Woman’s Shelter, Austin’s Salvation Army and Rachel’s Hope. Members also contribute towels, wash clothes, tooth paste and brushes to make health kits that are distributed by Lutheran World Relief Services.

Celebrating milestones with our youth

Each year we celebrate the high school graduation of our youth on Senior Recognition Sunday. In addition, each graduate can apply for a scholarship from the church. As part of the application, each student relates a favorite Bear Creek Church memory. This year’s graduates humorously remembered camping out in boxes with Pastor Larry in order to understand the plight of the homeless. They did learn from this experience; however, being typical boys, they spent the night playing cards after the chaperones went to sleep. Each graduate also receives a quilt made by the Bear Creek quilters.

Our 2021 graduates with Pastor Larry; each holding quilts made by the WELA quilters. — Our 2021 graduates with Pastor Larry; each holding quilts made by the WELCA quilters.

The Bear Creek Boys lead us in songs during a service.

Welcoming new members

New members are welcomed at any age. Pastor Larry holds new member classes once a year for adults. This year we have two new adult members. Infants and young children are welcomed through baptism. The women of WELCA give each baby a quilt to wrap up in and remember the loving care the congregation has for them. Young children are given a beginner’s bible.

Woman of WELCA serving the community lunch at Meadow Fest