Who We Are

As a church, we strive to be “ordinary people praising God, caring for others and learning to be the family of God.” This message deeply influences the daily activities of the lay leaders and volunteers that make up our ministry.

History and Heritage

A unique aspect of our church is its history. In 2008, Zion United Church celebrated its 170th anniversary. Although much has changed since Zion was built in 1838, we are continually reminded of its heritage through our members, some of whom have been here for 40 or more years, or whose parents and grandparents were members of Zion as well. Our ministry, which includes many volunteers and lay leaders, also reflect this, as many of the people who participate in the various programs and on committees have been part of the church body for years, while others have made Zion their church home very recently. This also diversifies our congregation in that we have members as young as infants and as old as 90+ who regularly attend our Sunday morning services.

Diversity

This diversity is supported through the use of a nursery for infants and small children, Sunday school for children 4 and up as well as a youth group. The elderly members of our church community are supported through seniors’ luncheons, where shut-ins and attending members can meet at the church for a meal and worship, and through services done at Nithview, an important retirement and nursing home complex in New Hamburg. The U.C.W. and the Men’s Breakfast group are also important in catering to the different sections in our church.

Music

Another important aspect of our church is our music ministry. Music is an important feature of our services and life at the church. For Sunday morning services, there is a choir which participates regularly through the ministry of music, as well as smaller women's and men's choruses. Our music ministry extends to the Sunday school, teaching the children songs which they often sing for the congregation during the service. We also have two new handbell choirs - one for adults and the other for children.

Community Support

We support the community through luncheons and dinners, the “mitten tree” collection, and foodbank donations. Anniversaries, weddings, retirements, etc. are celebrated at our church. Not only do these events strengthen relationships amongst members, but also strengthen ties between the Zion family and the larger community. At Zion, there is a strong community of people willing to volunteer their time and abilities to have these very successful events.

International Outreach

Another important church initiative is our outreach in Kenya. Many fundraising events and donations go towards helping to maintain two orphanages/schools in Kenya that Zion has been united with. Regular reports are given to Zion by the director of the orphanage, and trips to Kenya by members of the church have helped greatly in setting goals and continuing outreach.