Zion Lutheran Church at 201 1st Avenue in Hiawatha, Iowa, is known for its steady rhythm of Divine Services with Holy Communion, a Sunday School hour, and ministries that run from preschoolers through adults. The congregation belongs to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and carries the theme "Christ Crucified For Our Sins."
Divine Service at Six on Saturday and Nine on Sunday
Zion gathers for Divine Service with Holy Communion at 6:00 PM on Saturdays and at 9:00 AM on Sundays. The 9:00 AM service is livestreamed, while the Saturday service is not. Sunday morning continues at 10:30 AM with Sunday School and Adult Bible Study, and Pastor's Bible Study is also streamed live on Zion's YouTube channel at 10:30 AM CT.
A Mission of Preaching Repentance and Forgiveness
The church frames its work with the words of Luke 24:47: "Jesus gave his church the mission of preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations." Zion calls communication central to church work and sees the internet as a powerful tool for spreading the message of God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The aim is to grow together in that knowledge, apply it in daily life, and carry hope for the future.
Sunday School, Second Grade Class, and Puppets
Children meet for Sunday School during the 10:30 AM Sunday hour. A 2nd Grade Bible Class and a puppet ministry add more ways for children to learn, and Vacation Bible School is part of the yearly rhythm of the children's program.
Youth Events, ZFT Midweek, and Home Study
The youth ministry organizes events and study opportunities, and a ZFT Midweek Program gives families another midweek gathering point. Zion also supports a Home Study ministry for members who want to work through Bible study at home.
Adults: Bible Study, Choir, and Bell Choir
Adult Bible study is a regular part of the Sunday 10:30 AM gathering, and adults also have their own Bible study opportunities. Music ministry includes a choir and a bell choir, and the congregation participates in the LWML, the International Lutheran Women's Missionary League.
Little Lambs Preschool
Zion operates Little Lambs Preschool with classes, a curriculum, staff, and its own location and registration process. The curriculum draws on Creative Curriculum and Gold Assessments and follows Iowa's Early Learning Standards. The preschool also shares information about Iowa's statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children. Registration is handled online, and families can pay tuition through the Pay Now option. The preschool can be reached directly at 319-393-8507 or at littlelambs@zionhiawatha.org.
What Zion Teaches
Zion teaches from the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions, including the Book of Concord. Its study topics range across the Gospel, Holy Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, Fellowship in the Lord's Supper, Confession and Absolution, the Apostles' Creed, the Small Catechism, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. The church also takes up scriptural and confessional principles, the relationship between the ELCA and LCMS, and subjects including the ordination of women, death and dying, creation and evolution, Christian families, and telling the good news about Jesus.
Word and Sermon Weekly
Each week Zion publishes Word and Sermon Weekly, pairing the Sunday readings with the sermon. The same teaching is available as a podcast, and email notifications make it easy to follow along.
Membership, Weddings, and Use of the Building
Zion prepares membership and baptism applications, and the congregation's constitution and by-laws describe how it is organized. The church also handles wedding arrangements and provides guidance for couples planning a ceremony, and it makes parts of its building available through facility use forms, building rules and regulations, equipment use forms, and a liability waiver.
Offering and Donations
Offering and donations can be made through online giving. The church office is reached at 319-393-2013, by fax at 319-393-2012, or at churchoffice@zionhiawatha.org, and a sign-up is available for church activities. Zion keeps Facebook and Twitter accounts for church news and announcements.