Common Questions
and Answers

Q: What denomination are you?

A: We are a congregation in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LC-MS). We are a conservative denomination that holds to God’s Word, teaches and practices historic Christianity, and seeks to reach out to our community with the love of Christ.

You can learn more about the LC-MS at our synod’s website: www.lcms.org.

Q: Why is your name “ Zion ”?

A: “ Zion ” is a word taken from the Bible. In the Old Testament it originally referred to Jerusalem , the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7). Later on when the Jewish Temple was built in Jerusalem , Zion referred to the Temple , and to the hill upon which it was built (Psalm 2:6). Zion also referred to the people of Israel , who were sometimes called, “the people of Zion .” (Psalm 149:2).

In the New Testament, Zion is used to describe heaven (Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 14:1.) So when our congregation was formed, the Christians who first gathered here called the congregation “Zion” because: A: The Bible described Zion as a place where God met His people and here God still meets his people in the Word. B: Believers were called, “the people of Zion ” and we wanted to emphasize that this is a place where believers in Christ gather. C: Heaven is called, “ Zion ”. Our name serves as a reminder that we long to go to heaven, and we want to live as citizens of heaven while we are on this earth. It is also a reminder that Jesus will take us to Heaven when He comes back again.

Q: Visitors are asked to talk with Pastor Horn before coming to Communion. How do I do that
and what is it like?

A: If you know that you are going to be visiting Zion on an upcoming Sunday, you can contact Pastor Horn by calling the church office at (260)357-4545. You can also speak to him before the service starts. A greeter or an elder can help you find Pastor Horn before the service.

In the conversation, Pastor Horn will ask where you go to church, what you confess about Jesus, and what you believe you receive in Holy Communion. Part of what makes Holy Communion so special is that it is a time when all who commune state that they all believe together the same things about God. To encourage and maintain this unity of faith we commune those who have already confessed that unity of faith by joining another LC-MS congregation.

We lovingly desire everyone who wants to commune to be able to go. If you would like to commune, but cannot do so at first, Pastor Horn will meet with you to help you understand and join us in confessing what the Bible teaches about Christ and what He gives us in Communion. The process is not hard, but it is very rewarding and important.

Please understand that if you cannot come to Communion it is not an insult to you. It is actually meant as a sign of respect. We honor our visitors enough to let them know that the blessings offered in Communion are powerful and should be taken in the right way. We owe it to you to make sure that you understand and confess the truth about Christ before you meet Him in Communion, so that His gifts will be a blessing to you. While it would be easier to just let everyone go to Communion without asking any questions, it would not be loving to our visitors, nor would it be respectful to them. In doing this we carry on a practice that was common in the early days of the church.

Thank you for respecting our practice and tradition, and for communicating with us. We look forward to joining with you at Holy Communion.

Q: What do you have available for children at Zion ?

A: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me…” We want to help your children and grandchildren grow in their relationship with Jesus. We offer Sunday School for children and adults before our worship service, starting at 8:45 a.m. We also have a well known and loved preschool that has been helping educate the children in Garrett for over 25 years.

Children are welcome and encouraged to worship with their families at Zion . The best way for a child to appreciate what happens in worship and to grow in the Lord is to go to worship with their families. Bags of quiet toys are provided for small children to use during the service. Parents may bring neat snacks in for young children to help them during the service. If a child needs to go out during the service, that is no problem. Parents will find comfortable places to care for their children where they can still hear the service and observe what is happening.