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Visitor’s Guide

Zion Lutheran Church

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Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church! We hope that this little booklet gives you an insight into our church family.

We’re a multi-generational church that seeks to support families as they grow together in Christ. We hope that you visit us again and experience God’s blessings in your life.

Grace and Peace to you, The Pastors and People of Zion.

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WorshipingWe believe that in worship, God encounters us in a powerful way as He gives us His Word, His body and blood in Communion, and forgives us of our sins.

Zion is still small enough for people to know each other. This means that as people in our church go through difficult times, both members and pastors alike provide comfort and help.

No matter our age, Christians are always students of God’s Word. By exploring, studying and learning God’s Word our lives are changed.

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). As a church, we want to offer ourselves in service to God’s mission and help out our community when we can.

The forgiveness of Jesus is not for us to keep to ourselves but it motivates us to share that forgiveness and hope of eternal life with everyone we meet.

Caring

Learning

Serving

Reaching Out

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We recognize that Christians didn’t start worshiping yesterday but instead have passed down a legacy of historic prayers, hymns, and orders of worship. Our traditional service is not monotonous but is a vibrant, heart-felt service that connects us with the larger Church as a whole.

WHAT’S SUNDAY MORNING LIKE?

Traditional 8amPsalm 98:1 says “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.” God continues to do marvelous things in each generation and as a result, we write new songs to praise God. At Zion, we worship God in modern ways with songs that reflect what God has done in our lifetime.

Contemporary 10:30am

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Ask any kid around Zion, and VBS will be one of the highlights of the year. This takes place late in the summer right as kids are craving something different in the summer. VBS is filled with songs, crafts, dramas, games as well as meaningful Bible stories each day.

Children’s MinistryKids Praise: Pre-k through 5th Grade

Trunk or Treat / Easter Egg Hunt

Vacation Bible School: Pre-K through 5th Grade

This is our Sunday School Program that meets during the school year at 9:15am. It is guarenteed that your children won’t snooze during this Sunday School time. It’s filled with videos, crafts, story time, as well as both large group and small group time.

Both of these are friendly events for families. Trunk or Treat is right before Halloween, as our church decorates the back of our cars and hands out candy. Likewise, the Easter Egg Hunt is the Saturday before Easter.

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Youth Ministry

Youth Nights: Grades 6-12

Camp Minneboji: Grades 4-9

Confirmation: Grades 8-10

The heart of our youth group is our youth night every Wednesday from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. During this time, our youth band leads us in worship along with games and a devotion. Come a little early to hang out!

Located at Camp Okoboji, this is our annual summer camp where we meet up with campers from other Lutheran churches in South Dakota and Minnesota. Upper classmen in high school can volunteer as counselors.

Our confirmation program at Zion is a 3 year program which studies the “Six Chief Parts” of Luther’s Small Catechism. During this time, students are taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith and make their confession their own. or visit zlcsf.org and click the Youth tab

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MINISTRIESMen’s MinistryWomen’s Ministry

Andrew SocietyFood Pantry

Care Ministry

Young Adult Ministry

Care MinistriesEach one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Loving Hands Love Kitchen Helping Hands Food Pantry

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

Sewers who knit prayer shawls for those in needCooks who prepare meals for those hospitalized or in careCraftsmen who repair housing needsDonations keep our on-campus pantry full

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The LWML is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church Missiouri Synod. At Zion, thiswomen’s group meets regularly to pray, study God’s Word and raise funds for mission work.

This group is made for young adults whether they are single, dating, married or even married with kids.

Once a month they meet up for a fun fellowship event.

MINISTRIES AT ZION

Infants-Toddlers

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Pre-k through 5th grade

Grades 6-12: Youth Group

Grades 8-10: Confirmation

Adults

Wednesday nights - Lifelight Bible Class

At Zion, all ages worship together on Sunday mornings. We also offer a nursery where the audio of the service is streamed.

Our Sunday School program, Kids Praise, offers Bible stories that are taught in engaging ways.

While high school and middle school students experience pressure from all aspects of life, our youth group offers a safe place where they can be themselves.

The Church has valued Christian education, starting at a young age. Our confirmation program goes over the essentials of the faith. More on page 6.

Seniors: Senior Fellowship

Want to grow in your knowledge of the Bible? This class is for you. This intense, indepth, Bible study focuses on only a part of a book of the Bible per class.

A monthly gathering of seniors for the purpose of fellowship, eating together, as well as a short Bible study.

Infant - ToddlerSunday Morning Bible Class

Tuesday/Thursday Bible Class

9:30am in the Atrium - Bible class led by a pastor

Men: 7am on TuesdaysWomen: 9:30am on Thursdays

LEARNING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY

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After a 14 year mechanical engineering career, Pastor Greg attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO starting in 2005. He was called to Zion as Sr. Pastor in 2010. He is married to Renee and they have one daughter, Regan. They have a golden retriever named nugget and two cats, Roxie and Lila.

Relatively new to Sioux Falls, Pastor David loves the town and especially has a place in his heart for Zion. He is married to Jillian, and together have one daughter, Hava. On his days off, he enjoys reading, cycling and spending time with his family.

A Sioux Falls native who has been in the community quite some time. When he’s not at work he enjoys traveling on long road trips with his wife, Rachel, being at youth activities, and hanging out with family.

Pastor David EdgeAssistant Pastordedge@zlcsf.org

Pastor Greg LehrSenior Pastor

glehr@zlcsf.org

Josh HeirigsDirector of Family Ministries

jheirigs@zlcsf.org

OUR MINISTRY STAFF

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FAQ

1) ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH A DENOMINATION?

5) HOW CAN I JOIN?

4) HOW LONG HAS YOUR CHURCH BEEN AROUND?

3) WHAT IF I HAVEN’T BEEN TO CHURCH IN A LONG TIME?

2) WHY IS YOUR CHURCH NAMED ZION?

We are in fellowship with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. For more, see www.lcms.org.

Mount Zion was the name of the hill in Jerusalem where God’s temple sat. This represented God’s presence and forgiveness. At Zion Lutheran, we are reminded that Christ has come into our midst and continues to bless us.

Our church was founded in 1889, with the current sanctuary dedicated in 1954.

Call our office at 338-5226 and ask to speak with a pastor. We do ask that you attend one of our new members’ classes that are offered twice a year. We’d love to have you be a part of our family!

Not a problem! In fact, we don’t care if you have never been to church. The doors of the church are open to all sinners in need of a Savior, and we are all in need of a Savior. Each weekend, many people visit Zion. The order of service is engaging and easy to follow.

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6) WHAT IF I’M NOT LUTHERAN? 9) WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

7) CAN I TAKE COMMUNION?

11) DO YOU HAVE CONFIRMATION?

10) DO YOU BAPTIZE INFANTS?

8) WHAT IF I MISSED THIS WEEK’S SERMON?

The biblical definition of baptism is a washing away of sins (Acts 22:16), in which a person receives the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), is made new (Titus 3:3-5)and is brought into God’s family (John 3:5). Since baptism is God’s act and not ours, we believe that children of any age can receive the benefits of baptism. So yes, absolutely we baptize infants!

Zion is for anyone who wants to be part of a Christ-centered community. Our family is made up of many people from many different religious backgrounds and are united in the body of Christ.

Wear what you feel is comfortable and appropriate. We don’t have a dress code and we certainly wouldn’t want you to worry about this. Some people wear jeans and t-shirt, while others come in “business casual” attire. We are more concerned about your heart and your needs than we are about your clothing.

Yes we do. It’s for students in grades 8-10 and meets during the school year. See page 6 for more details.

Along with the historic Church, our church teaches that not only is bread and wine present in communion, but it is also the true body and blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:29).

We record our sermons and have them available on our website at http://www.zlcsf.org/audio.php

If you have not communed with us before, please speak to a pastor beforehand.

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Sundays 8:00am Traditional Service 10:30am Contemporary

9:15am Education Hour for All Ages

Office: (605) 338-5226Email: zion@zlcsf.orgLocation: 1400 S. Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105www.zlcsf.org

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