About the Members of Zion

The members of Zion Lutheran Church are a people of the Book, the Bible. We believe that the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God. They are the only source and norm of our life together. We believe that the message of the Bible is divided into two parts, Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our sin and accuses us. The Gospel (Good News) proclaims the forgiveness of sin and salvation from the law's accusation by the free gift of God's love in Jesus Christ.

The members of Zion are a people who gather around Word and Sacrament. We believe that God creates and sustains saving faith in Christ through the hearing of God’s Law and God’s Gospel. Therefore, we gather around the Word as it is taught and preached. By the Holy Spirit's blessings we receive the power to believe in Christ and lead lives pleasing to Him. In the Sacrament of Baptism the Spirit creates saving faith. In the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper He nourishes our faith and sustains it.

Zion Lutheran Church belongs to an organization of like-minded congregations called The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. There are over 6,000 US congregations; we count approximately 2.6 million baptized members in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. By joining with other congregations, we combine our strengths and resources to do things that individual congregations can't do. We send missionaries to other countries, maintain colleges and seminaries to train pastors and teachers, provide loan funds for building churches, and operate a health and retirement system for full-time workers. Together we coordinate missionaries in 55 other countries and connect with nearly two dozen partner churches worldwide. We provide food and medicine where there is famine, and we give support and instruction so other people can become self-sufficient.

Zion Lutheran Church is a teaching church. Because we are a people of the Book, we operate programs of Christian Education for people of all ages. Some of the programs we regularly operate are: Sunday School for all ages, Vacation Bible School one week each summer, and various other groups. Because we believe that the best education is one of both body and soul, we are an associate congregation which assists in the operation of a Christian Day School (Our Shepherd Lutheran School) with students in Kinder to grade 8. Enrollment is around 200, that includes both members and non-members of Zion.

Zion is an open church. Because we believe that Jesus died for all people and that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven, we welcome all to come and see the great things that the Lord is doing among us. Several times each year a ten-week class is held to describe in detail our beliefs (Search Class). Taught by Pastor Matzke or Vicar Riley, the class covers the essential teachings of the Lutheran church. Completion of the class is required for membership. For more information call the church office at (440) 357- 0174 or e-mail us.