Bethlehem Lutheran church


Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Biographies

Pastor Eugene BaadePastor Baade relaxing

Pastor Eugene ("Gene") W. Baade has been serving Bethlehem for over fourteen years.  He was ordained into the ministry of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in 1971 and previously served parishes in Northern Wisconsin & Portland, Oregon.  Pastor Baade holds the Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University, the Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Divinity degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, and the Master of Arts degree from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. Before entering the seminary he taught U. S. History at John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Pastor Baade has been married 40 years to Joyce (nee Mueller) and they have two children.

Pastor Baade’s vocational understanding of the Holy Ministry is motivated by and filtered through the wonderful grace of God. The fact that we are all sinners loved deeply by our heavenly Father and redeemed by the blood of Christ allows us to genuinely confess our sins knowing that they are completely washed away by Jesus, who died on the cross for all of us. 

This, and the gift of everlasting life through Christ’s resurrection on Easter, leads us to encourage the challenging practice of unconditional love toward others.  With God’s Grace in mind, religious legalism, judgmental attitudes, and hypocrisy have no legitimate place in the church.  In their place, we seek to foster the gifts of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22).

Pastor Baade greatly respects and enjoys the historic calling of the pastoral ministry in his preaching, pastoral care, and teaching.  His desire is that Bethlehem congregation will welcome with warmth and sincerity all who pass through its doors, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached and practiced in our congregation with the goal of introducing Christ as a redemptive presence in the lives of all.

Pastor’s personal interests revolve around fine music and books, hiking, landscape photography, and the beauty of all of God's creation from sea to shining sea.

James Hing

It all began in 1982 at Sacred Heart Church Tribeshill, New York where at age 14, Hing became an organist!

 This is his 25th year as an organist and church musician.  His leadership in music & choral conducting has spanned a number of church music ministries, community chorus’ & civic groups in New York, the Midwest, Texas, and his home state here in Washington.

 In addition to his church music ministry Hing’s major music accomplishments include performing Miss Behavin’ alongside Tony Award-winner Nell Carter at the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas.  His international debut was in 2002 at the renowned Opera House in Sydney, Australia as part of the 600-voice International Cultural Arts Festival Choir, followed by a 2003 debut at Carnegie Hall in New York as part of the Dallas based 225-voice men’s chorus, the Turtle Creek Chorale. 

Hing has recorded nine choral CD’s and his theatre credits include Oliver Twist, Music Man, Sound of Music, Showboat, and Harvey.  He performs each year for numerous audiences’ and volunteers more than 500 hours annually to service projects and benefit performances.  Hing is the former Artistic Director of Seattle Lesbian & Gay Chorus and member of the Seattle Men’s Chorus.  Currently Hing is Artistic Director of Choral Sounds Northwest, Burien Washington and member of    the American Chorale Directors Association, American Guild of Organists and Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.