Zion Lutheran Church stands at the corner of 9th Avenue and Anza Street in San Francisco's Inner Richmond district, one block south of Geary Boulevard and three blocks north of Golden Gate Park. The congregation gathers each Sunday morning in what Pastor Lenny Szeto calls a "beautiful and historic sanctuary," and its reach extends well beyond the neighborhood through a YouTube channel, a K-8 school, a summer program, and a music ministry that has launched its own record label.
A Sunday Morning in the Historic Sanctuary
Worship at Zion takes place at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday. The service follows a Lutheran order with readings, confession and absolution, a sermon, and music led by Director of Music Kyle Hovatter alongside volunteers from the congregation. Visitors are invited to stay afterward to meet Pastor Lenny.
Children begin the service in the sanctuary with their families and are invited forward shortly after the opening song to walk with Director of Children's Church Julie Szeto to the Parish Hall, returning at about 10:45 a.m. to join their families for Holy Communion.
Worshiping Online from Anywhere
Zion publishes its services weekly on a YouTube channel called Zion SF Sermons. A companion channel, Zion SF Music, hosts select music from worship services, concerts, and online church. The congregation has been recording and sharing videos since 2014, and the library now exceeds 300 videos, including lyric videos and instrumental recordings captured during live services and concert series.
What Zion Believes
Zion's mission is to proclaim the love of God in Jesus Christ, to touch others in need with that love, and to express it in life together. The congregation's motto is "Know Christ. Make a difference."
The church teaches that the Bible is the holy, inspired, and historically accurate Word of God and the only source for Christian doctrine. It confesses faith in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, received as a free gift won through his life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Through the waters of Baptism, God adopts people of any age as his forgiven children. In Holy Communion, Jesus Christ is truly present in the bread and the wine, sealing the forgiveness of sins, strength for faith, and the promise of eternal life. Zion looks for the return of Christ and shares the Gospel with urgency in the meantime.
Bible Study, In Person and on Zoom
Two weekly Bible studies anchor the church's teaching life. On Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., Pastor Lenny leads an in-person study on the readings and sermon of the day. On Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Pacific, the study moves to Zoom and uses "Bible Backroads" from Drive Thru History, a video series hosted by Dave Stotts that explores the people, places, and events of the New Testament through on-location footage from Israel and the Mediterranean region.
Zion Lutheran School Since 1947
The church grounds also house Zion Lutheran School, a K-8 program established in 1947 in the heart of the Richmond neighborhood. The school's motto, "Live. Lead. Love. Learn.," is lived out as students are encouraged to live for Christ, lead a life of godliness and integrity, love and serve one another, and learn for a lifetime. The school is described as a faith-based, rich, and rigorous environment where teachers and students work together as a community of learners, balancing freedom with responsibility and service. The school admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. The school office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Edge Camp: A Summer Bridge
During the summer, the church runs The Edge Camp, a six-week academic and social program for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade. The camp is built around the idea of "bridging" students from the end of one school year to the start of the next, reviewing skills already learned and previewing those ahead. Information is available at theedgecamp.com.
A Lifelong Music Program
Music has long been a hallmark of Zion's worship. The church's Bosch organ was installed in 1976 by then Music Director Rob Kerman and a team of volunteers. The two-manual instrument with pedal board accompanies weekly services and is often joined by additional instrumentalists and vocalists for special musical presentations.
Kyle Hovatter, the current Director of Music, began presenting music at Zion in 2010 while studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has led the program since fall 2011. He is equally at home at the organ and with the contemporary band, rehearsing teams of professional musicians, volunteers, and students.
In spring 2025, Zion launched its own music label. Each featured musician donates their performances so that 100 percent of track purchases support the church and school. The catalog, available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, and Spotify, includes work by Rob Hansen, Ari Micich, Danny Clay, Winnie Nieh, and Hovatter. A separate recording of Hovatter playing violin to the tune "Greensleeves" is also available.
Meetup Feasts in the Parish Hall
Once a month, the congregation gathers in the Parish Hall immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service for a themed meal. Past gatherings have included spaghetti suppers, a Lunar New Year potluck, a St. Patrick's Day corned beef meal, a talent show with pizza, a back-to-school barbecue, German celebrations, a pumpkin feast, and Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations to close out the year.
Visiting Zion SF
Zion sits at 495 9th Avenue (at Anza) in the Inner Richmond. The church's parking lot is off 9th Avenue. San Francisco Muni lines 38 Geary, 31 Balboa, 2 Clement, and 44 O'Shaughnessy all stop within walking distance. Worship is offered in person each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online through the Zion SF Sermons YouTube channel. Giving is available online, by mail, or through a bank's bill-pay service. Visitors with questions are warmly invited to email Pastor Lenny at lszeto@zionsf.org.