We’re glad that you are here!

Thanks for considering Zion Lutheran as your Church home. We want to make your visit a good one. We believe that extending hospitality is at the core of what it means to be Christians in the world. We, as a people, are imperfect and strange and we don’t always get everything right. But we continue to be inspired and challenged by the words of Christ that even offering a cup of cold water to the least of these is a worthwhile pursuit! So welcome. We hope you will hear from us words of grace, love, and witness to God’s Word. And we hope you will forgive us where we are broken, in the same way that Christ forgives the sins of all. For while we might fail, God’s steadfast love and forgiveness endures and pursues us every day of our lives. We strive to we extend that same word of forgiveness to any that come within our doors. God’s peace watch over your going out, and your coming in.

A Virtual Walk Through Our Doors

Our Worship Services

We meet for worship twice every week. Services are typically about an hour long.

Our Saturday evening service is at 5:00pm and traditionally follows the Chicago Folk Service setting. The service has a bulletin and a folk service booklet for you to follow along. The atmosphere is a bit more laid back and intimate than a Sunday morning, and music is primarily piano led. You will hear the same scripture and sermon as you would if you showed up on Sunday morning, so you won’t miss anything if you sleep in the next day. Holy Communion is served at all services.

Our Sunday morning service is at 10:30am, and is liturgically rich, following the cranberry colored Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) Hymnal. Worship settings will change as is appropriate for the time of year. The service has a bulletin and the pews have hymnals for you to follow along. The atmosphere is a bit more formal than a Saturday evening, and music is primarily pipe-organ led. This service also typically includes musical leadership from our choir during the school year. Our scripture readings follow the Revised Common Lectionary, which means we hear the same texts every week as thousands of other churches.  Holy Communion is served at all services.

What to Wear

Come as you are to worship. We have some people that dress in fine and fancy garments. We have some people that wear jeans and a t-shirt. You can be as formal or as informal as you feel is appropriate. One reason some of us might dress fine-and-fancy is to practice the same kind of respect and outpouring of love that Mary expressed when she poured costly nard on Jesus’ feet. One reason some of us might dress down-and-comfortable is to practice the peace and holy rest that God gives us in Sabbath and in the fulfillment of God’s promises. Both of these are acceptable things to practice during worship.

Children

Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Therefore we welcome children of all ages in worship and we do not stop them! Let us all make a holy squirming and ruckus. Because it is there that God meets us, as the squirming ruckus makers that we all are.

Who can take communion?

Long have people had troubled consciences surrounding worthiness and teachings and right understandings concerning the Eucharist. Too long! In studying scripture however, you will find Jesus does not give prerequisites to his disciples when he institutes the Lord’s supper. The Lord does not say “do this only if you are worthy” nor does he say “do this only if you’ve had the proper instruction and understandings in Christian faith.” Instead, he says simply “Do this in remembrance of me.” So, come celebrate with us this meal of grace. This is not Zion Lutheran Church’s table, and we do not guard it. This is the Lord’s table, and Jesus invites us all.