Staff

Pastor Dan Purtell graduated from United Lutheran seminary in the summer of 2019.   This was not Pastor Dan’s first stint at seminary. From 2012-2014 Pastor Dan attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, earning his Masters of Arts of Public Leadership. At the time, Pastor Dan thought he wanted to enter into the field of non-profit management - God had other ideas. If there was one song that would describe his faith journey to this point, it is the Beatles The Long and Winding and Road.

Dan’s journey to ordained ministry has been one that has had many twists and turns along the way.  It’s a journey that took Dan to the city of Békéscaba in Hungary. During this year Pastor Dan experienced the true potential of the church,  sharing in deep love and hospitality. It was on Easter Sunday, gathered around the table with fellow siblings in Christ, that Pastor Dan recognized the call to ordained ministry.  Sharing the table and the love of Jesus, even while encountering cultural differences, highlighted how God’s radical love and grace is working through communities across the globe. Pastor Dan is beyond excited to discover and explore how the Holy Spirit will work through us to do “God’s work with our hands.”

Pastor Dan enjoys spending time hiking, listening to “The Boss”, and spending time with his God kids, Zach and Kat.  Pastor Dan is also a passionate sports fan, one when it comes to the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, and UConn Huskies.

  Since July 2025, Kenneth Van Dyk has served Bethlehem as its music minister, where he leads the congregation's music during services and other events. Kenneth is pursuing a master's in music theory at the University of Connecticut (UConn) under Dr. Stefanie Acevedo. At UConn, he previously received a bachelor's of music with a dual emphasis in music composition and music theory under the tutelages of Dr. Kenneth Fuchs and Dr. Daniel Goldberg, alongside a minor in history. 

As a composer, notable works include "When Spring Awakens," one of four winners across the world in the UConn Saxophone Quartet's Composition Competition, and an SATB arrangement of the traditional tune "Wayfaring Stranger", performed by various choirs across Connecticut. 

As a musician, Kenneth is a choral singer in the university's Chamber Choir. He has previously sang in its Concert Choir and Glee Club, and performed in various chamber ensembles as a pianist, singer, and conductor. Some significant performances include a premiere of Kyle Pederson's "Be The Love" at Carnegie Hall in March 2024, a concert series in Strasbourg in June 2024, and a recital of originally composed works in March 2025.