Category Archives: Outreach

Our mission statement declares “Gathered by God’s grace, we are empowered to serve and sent to share Christ’s love”. We live this out in a variety of service and outreach opportunities–some of which happen every year, and have happened for a long time, and some of which are one-time responses to specific needs. Checking out the “Good News” publications is a great way to learn more about the work God is doing in and through our congregation, as following us on Facebook “Zion’s Lutheran” or signing up for our weekly eblast.

Outreach, Youth

Youth Service Camp 2025

Zion’s Youth Service Camp 2025

Recognizing that schedules often make it difficult for us to do special projects during the school year, we have set aside the week of June 16-20 (Monday to Friday) to spend time serving in the community and having fun together.

Youth who have completed 6th through 12th grade are invited to participate—and you are welcome to invite friends, too! (Just be sure they register ahead of time, I do need to know how many will participate). We will gather around 9:30 each morning to serve—spending a morning each at JOY Food Pantry, the Northern Lebanon Clothing Closet, and the Wittel Farm in Elizabethtown, plus a morning working on quilts for Lutheran World Relief and one attending to property projects around Zion’s church building. We’ll share Bible study as we enjoy lunch together before heading out for a fun activity of some kind in the afternoon: bowling, laser tag, pottery, ice cream, swimming, and mini golf are on the list of possibilities, plus whatever ideas you share! We’ll wrap up around 3 pm each afternoon.

At the end of the week, as a thank you for your gifts of time, and a way to continue the spirit of serving, you’ll receive $150 to $200 to direct towards a project or charity of your choice. These funds are made possible through Zion’s Touching Tomorrow endowment fund; the total each student receives depends on the number of students who participate.

Parents and grandparents, there are a couple of ways you can help with this event! We will need help with transportation and chaperoning for our afternoon activities, as well as our morning at the Wittel Farm.  We will also need snacks and drinks for the week, and lunches. There may also be students who need to be picked up/dropped off in the morning/afternoon. I will also be asking for help from the congregation, but if you’re able to assist in any way, please indicate that on the registration form.

I can’t wait to share this time of serving, learning, and fun with you. Knowing you plan to attend will be VERY HELPFUL for my preparations. Please sign up HERE as soon as you can. Again, friends are welcome! I do ask that they register and commit to the time so we can make plans.

In hope,

Pastor Caitlin

Outreach

Outreach

The best places to find the most up-to-date information about Zion’s Outreach into the community are our Facebook page, and weekly email.

You can scroll through our Facebook page, even if you’re not a registered member of Facebook. This page is ordinarily updated several times a week, with upcoming events, and photos from past events. You can access our Facebook page here: Facebook

Click HERE to sign up for the weekly email. 

We welcome any and all to be involved in these Outreach programs, regardless of whether you attend Zion’s regularly. The more, the merrier!

Outreach

2024 Year in Review

In January, we meet for an annual Congregational Celebration during which we give God thanks for the work that was done through us in the previous year, and look forward to where God is calling us in the coming year. Here is the highlight video that was shown, looking back at 2024. It’s a great summary of the ways Zion’s is “Gathered by God’s grace, empowered to serve, and sent to share Christ’s love”

You can watch here: Celebrating 2024’s Ministry

Outreach

Endowment Applications 2024

It’s that time of year! Time to apply for monies from our Touching Tomorrow Endowment Fund. Applications are due by December 1 and can be submitted via email, snail mail, or by placing your application in Jim Gill’s “Endowment” mailbox, located outside the Church Office. More information on how to apply and how these monies can be used is in the application below.

CLICK HERE to download –>2024 Endowment Fund info and request form edit 2

Outreach

2024 Back to School Blessings Event

To give financially, click above, or here. Thank you!

Several years ago, Zion’s Lutheran Church learned that many families in the Northern Lebanon School District have limited resources which do not allow them to provide their school-aged children with the necessities to start a new school year.  We originally started Back to School Blessings as a way to meet this need for the students of our local, Jonestown, elementary school, and in 2023 helped create the Northern Lebanon Ministerium in order to expand this outreach.

Since 2023, we have worked with the Northern Lebanon Ministerium and the Northern Lebanon School District to meet the needs of ALL Northern Lebanon School District students and we need your help to do so again this year.

We are looking for financial sponsors for the 251 students identified by our school district as needing clothing and school supply assistance. With your help, each of these students will receive new jeans, new sneakers, a new back-to-school outfit, new underwear and socks, and a new backpack filled with necessary school supplies at a special Back to School Blessings event in August. By equipping students, physically, with what they need for the school year, we help empower them, mentally, to begin a new year with confidence. Your sponsorship is truly an investment in children’s lives and futures!

It costs about $100 to fully equip an elementary student for the start of the new school year, and about $125 to prepare a middle or high school student. However, financial gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated. When every person gives what they can, we, collectively, can move mountains. Thank you for your support. We truly can’t do this important work without the help of generous people like you.

Contributions can be made online or through checks marked for Back to School and made payable to the NL Ministerium, PO Box 658, Jonestown, PA 17038.  We can also use volunteer help, prior to, and on the day of distribution. If you would like to help or have any questions, please call or email Deb:  adreiner74@gmail.com, or 717.304.8826.

Again, thank you. Your generous support empowers the lives of children and families in our community, and we are most grateful for your help.

A note about the used clothing that has previously been provided: In year’s past we have also offered gently used clothing at this event. Now that the NL Clothing Closet exists (also supported by the Ministerium), we invite families to shop at the Clothing Closet for gently used clothing.

It takes many, many pairs of shoes to ensure we have the right size for all attendees.

The school supplies are ready to go…with specific supplies for each grade level.

This event wouldn’t be possible without our donors, sponsors, and volunteers! Thank you all!

Outreach

Lebanon Co Mission Trip

Mission Trip – Lutheran Camping Corporation

We are excited to announce that the Lutheran churches in Lebanon County are planning their first mission trip since COVID.

The Bible tells us that when we serve others, we are also serving Christ. We are to commit to that service for people as if we were serving Christ himself.

In June 2024, we invite YOU to help us do work at Camp Kirchenwald and possibly Wittel Farm. The work has yet to be determined, but we anticipate there being some kind of construction work, clean up, repairs, painting, etc. Our home base for the week will be at Camp Kirchenwald, in the air-conditioned SchreiberHaus, which we like to call “The Hotel on the Hill.”  This facility will provide overnight weeklong accommodations for up to 39 volunteers. Evenings consist of free-time and group activities. All meals will be provided by camp with the exception of our last night which will be made by our personal cooks. There is an option for those who want to volunteer for the week or for only a few days but prefer to return home at the completion of the service day.

We are a Mission TEAM.  There is a place for everyone.  We welcome all skill levels and all levels of experience.  All of us together complete the service circle.  The only requirements are a willingness to learn, giving your best, and looking forward to a rewarding time of enjoyment and goodwill.

Please consider joining our team. You must be at least 14 years old by June 23rd to participate. Confirmands can earn service hours for volunteering. The cost is $425 for volunteers who stay at camp. Commuters will pay $10 per day of work.  The commitment form for each volunteer is due to Pastor Caitlin by April 7th. March 3rd. Volunteers staying at camp will need to include a deposit of $50.00.

If you need more information or have questions, you can talk to myself (Heather Buffington), Denise McDaniels or Judy Cassel.

Martin Luther affirmed “…all human work is a calling from God, if done in faith and for the service of a neighbor.”

Thank you!