Here, God is Still Speaking!
What To Expect
WE KNOW CHURCH CAN BE INTIMIDATING
We understand that visiting a Church for the first time can be an intimidating thing. We get it. But, Zion UCC is a “Come As You Are” Church. We are diverse in just about every sense of the word–racial and ethnic background, life stage and lifestyle, religious background and personal doubts, addictions and struggles, and sexual identity and orientation. All of our stories are different. Each of us is on a unique journey, learning more about God and His love. Whoever you are and wherever you are coming from, you are welcome here. Be assured that we will do all we can to make you feel at home with us! We want to do everything we can to put you at ease. It’s only fair that we give you a snapshot of what to expect during a Worship Service at Zion Church.
WHAT TIME IS YOUR SERVICE?
Our Worship Services begin every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and run for approximately one hour. Following the service, there is Coffee Hour, a time of fellowship and socializing – a time to catch up with friends and acquaint yourself with new people and/or guests of the congregation. No need to bring a dish; it’s all taken care of. Just come, enjoy, and give us the opportunity to meet and get to know you!
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED & WHERE CAN I PARK?
We are located at 412 North 5th Street, in Burlington, IA. Parking is available on every side of the building however, the main parking lot is located directly across the street from the Church. Handicap parking is available near the entrance of the Church. A valet attendant will be available to assist guests as they enter the building.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHERE TO GO?
As you walk in the front doors of Zion Church, you will be greeted with a warm and welcoming smile by one of our ushers. You will receive a bulletin, outlining our order of worship, along with other updates from ministries of our Church. Our ushers will also be available to answer any questions you may have, as well as assist you with special seating arrangements, such as a wheelchair or an assisted listening device. Feel free to sit anywhere, as there are no reserved seats.
WHAT IS OUR SERVICE LIKE?
Our Sunday Morning Service begins at 10:00 a.m., typically with a musical prelude, and follows with a welcome from the pastor, announcements, joys and concerns, and an opening prayer. A liturgist calls the congregation to worship, where we move into a time of music and prayer. People greet each other with the peace of Christ, and then children come forward for a message. Scripture readings are followed by a sermon. We then offer prayers and resources to God and close by singing a final song with the receipt of a blessing. The messages are always relevant, straight-forward, and applicable to life today. Whether you are a Christ-follower or not, we guarantee that you’ll walk away with helpful information. We believe music plays a significant role in our time of worship and believe it can make a huge impact on our hearts and in our lives! During our service, you ‘ll see that our worship is a good mix of contemporary songs and the traditional hymns the church has always known. Don’t worry, you don’t have to sing, but if you want to, we provide the lyrics on our front screen to follow along. After the service, we gather in the Fellowship Hall for light snacks and refreshments. A normal Sunday service usually lasts for one hour.
WHAT ABOUT COMMUNION?
How do you celebrate communion? Am I allowed to participate? We celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. We take pride that Zion is an “open table” church, which means that everyone is invited to participate in this holy act. No matter what denomination you come from or how old you are, we believe that Jesus calls every one of us to his table – no exceptions.
WILL I BE ASKED TO DO ANYTHING?
Please be at ease! We will not ask you to participate in any of our service functions with which you are uncomfortable. You can choose to sing, pray, talk at your own pace. There’s no pressure to participate. Our greatest desire is that you experience God while here. If you have questions, feel free to pull aside any of our ushers or ministry staff for assistance. As part of our weekly service, we do take up an offering. The offering is intended for our members and regular attenders. As our guest, you are under no obligation to give to the church, so feel free to let the basket pass by. However, we would love to have you fill out one of our Connection Cards located in the seat racks; simply place the completed card in the offering basket.
DO YOU HAVE A DRESS CODE?
Sure…I guess you could say we have one. We’d prefer you wear clothes. If that is sufficient for a “dress code”, then consider it a “code”. Seriously, though – we want you to be absolutely comfortable. Zion is a casual church. You don’t have to wear suits, ties, or dresses (unless, of course, you want to!) We want you to feel comfortable, so come as you are. Your jeans and sneakers will feel right at home here. Zion is about who you are on the inside, not what you look like on the outside. Be focused on the service and what you may get from it and learn…not on what you’ll wear. After all, we can promise you we won’t judge you on what you wear. We have people who wear shorts and flip flops. Some come in jeans and t-shirts. Others still prefer to wear their “Sunday best”. You’ll fit in no matter what you wear.
IS CHILD CARE AVAILABLE?
Children and youth of all ages are welcome at Zion! Children’s Church is offered immediately following the Youth Time during the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service. Children Kindergarten age and up are invited to go to the classrooms downstairs for activities including Bible stories, crafts/art, videos, games, cooking, science experiments and more! Help your child be a part of this important time in their faith journey by participating in Children’s Church! Children younger than Kindergarten age are invited to attend the nursery on the lower level where our nursery attendant will have stories, activities and supervise play!
THAT’S ABOUT IT!
We hope to see you on Sunday!