Zion Lutheran Church Harrisburg

*TRAVEL ADVISORY*
MARKET STREET BRIDGE:
In the coming weeks and months, there may be days, including Sundays, when the Market Street Bridge is closed for repairs.

2023 Christmas Pointsettia Order Form

Upcoming Events

December 9 & 10 - Christmas at Italian Lake
An ensemble of “Dickens Carolers” from Zion will be singing on Saturday (12/9), 12:00- 12:30pm

Sunday, December 10, 10:15am Worship - Special Christmas Music Sunday – A Celebration of Carols from Dickens’ Time

Sunday, December 24
-
 NO 9:15am Sunday School. 
- NO 10:15am Worship. 
- NO Evening Service.


Sunday, December 24 - Afternoon Christmas Eve Service
1:15pm Cookies & Punch
2:00pm Traditional Christmas Eve Communion Service (In-Person & Online Zoom & YouTube)


Additional details available on the Seasonal Events page.

On-going Serving Opportunities: We are looking for volunteers: to assist in the sound/audio-visual area; to lector and to lead responsive readings in-person or online; to serve as assisting ministers; provide transportation to worship; and, in other areas.  Please contact the pastor if you are interested in serving.  More information and training will be provided.

Worship at Bethesda Mission Men’s Shelter: Pastor Karin and Todd Pejack and volunteers from Zion and St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Camp Hill bring a monthly worship service of Holy Communion and healing prayer to the Men’s Shelter (611 Reily Street, Harrisburg). For more information or to volunteer, please contact Pastor Karin or Todd. Winter Dates: December 10, January 14, February 11

Recent

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Dedication, November 12th
Last year we packed 112 boxes. This year we EXCEEDED our goal of 150 boxes and delivered 166 boxes to the local distribution site! Video of the Dedication of the Shoeboxes is available on our "Missions & Ministries" page along with photos and more information about Operation Christmas Child.

Harvest Home Sunday on October 8th
This year, Zion will be making a $100 donation to the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry; members and friends are encouraged to make contributions (non-perishable food and other items or monetary) to local organizations providing food and basic necessities to those in need. These are some local suggestions:
Harrisburg Area Food Pantry
Downtown Daily Bread
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
 

UPDATES
11/21/2023: The Winter 2023 Newsletter is available on the "Newsletters" page.


Church Office UPDATES:
Office Hours:
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES Wednesday – Friday, November 22-24 (Thanksgiving); December 25-27 (Christmas); Monday, January 1 (New Year’s Day)

We are sending group emails to provide updates. If you are not receiving the emails and would like to add your email address to this communication, please email the church office (zionhbg@comcast.net). The voicemail greeting for the church office (717-234-4064) and this website are frequently updated. The church office voicemail and email are checked regularly. Pastor Karin is available by phone, text, and/or email. She will schedule meetings online via Zoom and/or in-person. We encourage calling ahead to confirm entry to the office and to check on the parking situation when you plan to arrive.

COVID, Cold & Flu Protocol as of November 18, 2023
To care for one another, if you are not feeling well, please attend services online. Masks are available on site, if you would prefer to be masked during worship and when receiving communion. Pr. Karin brings masks with her when doing home visits and will honor requests to mask during visits. 

Assistance with Shopping for Supplies.  There are members on the East and West Shores who have offered to pick up groceries, prescriptions, or other life-sustaining supplies for those in need.  Contact the church office or Pastor Karin.

  
COVID-19 Pandemic Resources:
05/2021 - Information on Utility assistance and Rental Assistance from PPL Electric
12/2020 - Want to help the homeless? Here's how to!

Support for Ukraine
Looking for a reliable and recommended charity supporting the Ukranian people? We recommend Spiritual Orphans Network(SON), formerly East European Missions Network.  They are a registered 501(c)(3).  You can learn more about their efforts in Ukraine on their website linked here.
 
Weekly Worship Service Schedule
NOTICE: If you are missing your Worship Invitation emails or other emails from Zion, please check your SPAM folder and mark any emails from Zion as "Not SPAM".  This will help train your email provider to recognize our emails and send them to your inbox.

Wednesday 12:10pm, Online & In-Person: WOW (Worship On Wednesday) Service (Recurring WOW Invitation
   - No WOW Service on 11/22/2023 (Thanksgiving Week)
   - No WOW Service on 12/27/2023 (Christmastime)


Sunday 10:15am, Online & In-Person: Worship Service (Recurring Sunday Invitation)
   - 9:00am Joint Sunday School (in-person only)
   - 9:45am Fellowship (in-person only)
   - Prelude begins at 10:15am, Communion on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month

Tuesday 12:10pm, Online Bible Study: On hiatus
 
Communion Information: Those wishing to commune during online worship are invited to intentionally prepare for communion prior to the start of the service.  Prayerfully bring the elements of bread and wine or grape juice to your worship area. If you need assistance to obtain proper elements of bread, wine or grape juice, please contact the pastor.  Since the fullness of the sacrament is present in one of the elements, you may commune with bread or wine/grape juice and simply bow in prayer as the other element is raised in worship.  Please consume the elements or return them to the earth following the service.  The bulletin will also include a prayer for spiritual communion for those who are not participating in distance communion.  For more information about distance communion, see “Pastoral Letter on Communion During COVID.”

Church Offering: We thank all who continue to generously support ministry at Zion.  Contributions can be mailed to the church office:
Zion Lutheran Church, 15 S. 4th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Information about Zion's Funds & Giving Envelopes

Parking Information (Updated 11/22/2022): Street parking around Zion’s building is metered and enforced 8am-5pm, Monday through Saturday. Parking on the sidewalks around the church is not permitted, and vehicles parked on the sidewalk will be ticketed. PARKING ON SUNDAYS: There is FREE validated parking in the Chestnut Street Garage. Zion provides a validation ticket. Four congregations hold worship services throughout the morning on Sundays. We kindly request that the open street parking closest to the church be left for those who have difficulty walking.

Staff
K. Pejack, Pastor 
R. Goldsboro, Church Librarian
N. Swain, Minister of Music
A. Pacey, Council President 
W. Haas, Property Chair
T. Pejack, Ourtreach Ministry
C. Germann, Minister of Technology