New here?
We are a Lutheran congregation and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
We are located at the corner of Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets in the Dutch Hill section of Tamaqua, Pa. 18252. Check here for a map.
Our mailing address (and GPS address) is 101 North Greenwood Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
The parish office is open Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The office located at the upper Mauch Chunk Street door. Ring the doorbell.
Worship
Q. Why come to church?
A. As believers, church attendance is of high importance. It is a place we can all come together to worship, be encouraged, learn from God’s words for spiritual growth, share in fellowship and foster relationships.
Q. When is worship at Zion?
A. We have two weekly services. Our Saturday 5:30 p.m. worship is held in Fellowship Hall (bottom floor). Sunday worship at 9 a.m. is in the upstairs sanctuary.
Q. What should I expect at Saturday worship?
A. Saturday’s service is more informal and features a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. You can expect the sharing of the peace to take several minutes as worshipers greet everyone attending. Communion is offered the fourth Saturday of the month and a food and fellowship time follows that service most months.
Q. What about Sundays?
A. Sunday’s service is a more traditional Lutheran service with Communion offered just about every Sunday. Coffee and Conversation is offered after the service the first and third Sundays of the month.
Q. What should I wear?
A. Come as you are. God wants to see you, not what you are wearing.
Growing faith
Q. What does Zion offer to children before the age of First Communion and Confirmation
A. Zion offers Christian learning opportunities for children ages 3 to 10 Sundays immediately following the worship service.
Q. What opportunities outside the church does Zion offer to help members strengthen their faith?
A. Youth and adults from Zion have participated in mission trips to Kentucky and to the Jersey shore where they helped restore storm-damaged homes. Small groups meet periodically throughout the year to study various aspects of the Bible and discuss faith-related issues. Study groups are announced in the weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters.
Q. What other opportunities does Zion offer for fellowship and faith growth?
A. Special programs are often offered for families during Advent and Lent. Our annual Easter egg hunt and Halloween Trunk or Treat and Family Christmas events are well attended. Daisy, Brownie and Girl Scout groups meet at Zion.
Serving
Q. How is service tied to faith growth?
A. As Christians, we serve our church, community and world not because we have to but because we want to in response to the glorious grace and love we are given by God. Serving God is also an important way of developing a closer relationship with Him and with other people. Zion members are encouraged to share their God-given gifts.
Q. How can I serve?
A. We all have God-given talents and Zion offers many opportunities to use those talents to serve God and our neighbors.
Music ministry: Participate a choir member, soloist, or praise band musician.
Cleaning angels: Clean the sanctuary and Gathering Room on a rotating schedule in teams of three and four people.
Blanket ministry: Sews quilted blankets which are distributed to area shelters and programs.
Culinary Crew: Hosts many church and community events including Saturday evening fellowship time, seasonal socials, annual congregational meeting meal, coffee and conversation, first communion and confirmation receptions
Care Corps: Visits home- and hospital-bound members
Prayer Chain: Shares prayer requests among its members.
Christmas basket ministry: Collects and distributes food to families in need.
Harvest Home: Collects food at harvest time for distribution to community food banks and decorates the church for Harvest Home Sunday.
Diaper ministry: Secures diapers for distribution to Tamaqua area families..
Faith Fellowship Network: Work with other churches to promote cooperation and understanding and offer ecumenical events and programs.
Prayer shawl ministry: Provides prayer shawls for individuals with a need.
World/community mission: Reviews and promotes world and community sevice opportunties.
VBS/Sunday school: Volunteer to teach or assist.
Property team: Maintains the church facility and cemetery.
Finance team: Oversees the finances of the congregation.
Endowment team: A division of the finance team which manages the congregation’s endowment fund.
Outreach team: Oversees program involving service to members and the community.
Worship and music: Oversees worship planning and calendars.
Christian education team: Oversees the spiritual growth opportunities of the congregation.
Social media team: Oversees the development and maintenance of all social media avenues used by the congregation.
Q.How do I get involved with one of these ministries?
A. Tell Pastor White you are interested in working with a particular ministry and she will have someone contact you.
Q. Suppose I see a need in the church or community that is not being met. Could I start a new ministry?
A. Absolutely!
Baptism
Baptism is open to all who believe and wish to be baptized in the name of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whether you are a member of Zion Lutheran Church or not. While congregation membership is not a requirement, we do believe a person is joined to the community of faith through baptism. In baptism, commitments are made to enter a life-long journey of faith within a congregation. We do not perform private baptisms. Baptism is entry into a community of faith where the people of Zion Lutheran promise to love, support and pray for the child. We encourage families to be connected to a faith community. If you don’t have a church home, please consider Zion Lutheran as your church family.
Q. Why baptize?
A. It is the great commission of our Lord Jesus that we would “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) Through water and the Word of God in baptism, we are liberated from sin and death by being joined to the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4) God uses baptism to bring about faith. In baptism, we are “born again of the Spirit” (John 3:5) to begin a new life freed in Christ to love God and serve others. Discover more about baptism on the ELCA website. Why infant baptism?
Q. What are the steps for baptism?
A. (1) Contact the parish office at 570-668-4451 or zionlcof@verizon.net to schedule a baptism. (2) Prior to the baptism, the pastor will meet with you (the parents) to get acquainted and to respond to any questions you might have. This visit can be at your home or the church. (3) A one-hour class is offered before the baptism. You and the sponsors learn more about baptism and your roles in the baptism. (4) The day of the baptism, you, the sponsors and pastor will meet 30 minutes prior to the start of the service.
Q. What is a baptism sponsor?
A. One or more persons of your choosing will stand with you during the baptism. Sponsors have a calling to encourage the child in Christian faith. Sponsors can be any family member or friend who is a baptized Christian. If the you and the sponsors of the baptized are not members of a congregation, we suggest the support of a congregation baptism sponsor. A congregation baptism sponsor stands with you during the baptism and will also pray for your child and provide gentle encouragement and support for growing in faith.
First Communion
Q. At what age is First Communion given?
A. Holy Communion is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran Church. It is taken when a child is in fifth grade.
Q. What does a family do to prepare for First Communion?
A. The child, along with at least one family member, meets three Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn about the meaning of Communion. The family member helps guide the child as he/she learns about the gifts given to us through this meal. On Christ the King Sunday in November, the child receives First Holy Communion.
Confirmation
Q. What is confirmation?
A. Confirmation is another important part of a child’s faith journey. Confirmation is a two-year program where the child learns about Martin Luther and the Small Cathechism as well as the life and ministry of Jesus as seen in the four Gospels. The students are required to complete six service projects, serve as acolytes and be the leaders in a Youth Service. Along with class instruction and attending church services, it is important for confirmands to do God’s work in all aspects of our church and community. On Pentecost Sunday of their second year ther students receive the Rite of Confirmation. At this time, they take on the responsibility of fulfilling the promises made by their parents and godparents at their baptism.
Q. At what age does confirmation begin?
A. Generally, confirmation begins when the young person enters seventh grade.
Q. What happens after a young person is confirmed?
A. It is our hope and prayer that after their confirmation students will continue to give of their time and talents to our church. They are the future of the church.
