41 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 584-5980

About Us

Welcome to new comers from the Rector:

Welcome to the life of Bethesda Church in Saratoga Springs. I invite you to participate in as many of the activities and events of the parish as you may wish.

Of course, the most important part of our life as Christians is worshipping together. We have services at 6:30, 8:00, and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, with the 10:00 a.m. being our family Eucharist and principal celebration of the day. On the first floor of the Parish House we have a nursery, as well as a three and four year old program. This takes place during the 10 o'clock service through the end of the Coffee Hour.

During the school year, children from five years of age attend the 10:00 a.m. services, leaving for their classes in the Parish House at the conclusion of the communions. Our Church School program for children is a large, active and vital element of our mission. A Coffee Hour follows the 10 o'clock service in the Parish House and runs concurrently with the children's classes. All of these programs end at noon.

There is a choir for adult voices and a treble choir for children from grades 2 and up. This is an energetic program and can always use more adults and children.

We have a progressive liturgical and worship structure at Bethesda which tries to look ahead while not discarding the riches of the past, nor losing a sensitivity to our parishoners and their spiritual expectations. You may find us doing unfamiliar things for a while, but I am sure in time you will feel comfortable with the worship at Bethesda.

People relate to their church in a great variety of ways. Some look for a place to pray while others seek an opportunity for their family to fully participate in the life of the parish. Wherever you fit on this scale, I hope you will feel free to consider Bethesda your Christian family.

Bethesda is an historic parish dating back to 1814 with a beautiful church building. With these roots we strive to serve and meet the needs of our times according to the mission we understand God to have given us.

The Reverend Thomas T. Parke, Rector

Tour and Guide of Historic Bethesda