Zion Holden Lutheran Parish

04/01/2024

03/03/2023

Dear members and friends,
Both Zion and Holden are offering Wednesday Lenten services (weather permitting!!!) and all are welcome! Holden is meeting for worship at 5:30 with coffee for those who might want to stay a while after the service. Check with Zion directly for their times... I think it is meal at 6 and worship at 7. We'll be posting our Holy Week schedule as we get closer to that time. Maundy Thursday service will be at Holden and Good Friday service at Zion. On Good Friday evening, all are encouraged to attend the Easter Cantata at Faith Lutheran in Isle! Peace to you all, Minister Sue

02/25/2023

I am sharing with you this messsge from our own churchwide bishop (Bishop Elizabeth Eaton) regarding a very current concern. Please read and pass forward. In Christian love and compassion, Minister Sue

Dear Church,

For many months we have seen an alarming spike in anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim and white supremacist hate. It has been reported that extremist groups are planning a national “Day of Hate” tomorrow, targeting Jews. This evening, as the sun sets and Shabbat begins, our Jewish neighbors are living in fear.

As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and to be peacemakers. We stand firm in our commitment to love and respect our Jewish neighbors in our local communities and across the nation and globe. We reject as sin and as an affront to the gospel all calls for hatred of the Jewish people and all forms of white supremacy. We are ready to protect and defend Jews, people of other faiths and people of color.

I invite you to consider tonight how you can live out our common calling and commitments. Here are some suggestions:

· Speak out against this “Day of Hate” as evil and counter to the love and peace we are called to embody.
· Reach out to your local rabbi or synagogue, as well as your Jewish friends, colleagues and family and offer your support in whatever way they might most appreciate.
· Post signs in the windows of your home expressing support for the Jewish people.
· Pray for all people, including those who proclaim hate, that God’s love will prevail.

God, our refuge and strength, you have bound us together in a common life. In the face of hate, help us to accompany one another in love. In this time of danger, be to our Jewish neighbors a guardian and rock of defense. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In peace,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Resource documents:

“A Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community” (adopted 1994, revised 2021)
ELCA social policy resolution “Condemnation of White Supremacy and Racist Rhetoric” (2019)

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For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
[email protected]

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | 8765 West Higgins Road | Chicago, IL 60631

01/26/2023

A beautiful song by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, featuring Lauren Daigle.

A Place Called Earth official lyric video by Jon Foreman ft. Lauren Daigle.From the new album, Departures, available now!Listen to the song on the album here...

01/24/2023

Good morning dear followers of this Zion-Holden page. I am Minister Sue serving Holden. Minister Marty serves Zion. We are both “Synod Authorized Ministers” and have been in our respective roles since early 2021. As you can see, neither of us have been able to utilize this page much. I’m hoping for that to change. I’m not a big social media user and I’m sure I won’t post too often, but I do invite you all to check in from time to time as we grow into using this communication tool. In the meantime, blessings and peace to you all!