CONTACTING ZION: PASTOR'S PAGE -  WINTER 2004
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Pastor’s Message

Words: Martin Luther, 1531 (Verse 6 of Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her); translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica, 1855 / Music: “Von Himmel Hoch,” from Geistliche Lieder, by Valentin Schumann (Leipzig, Germany: 1539); harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach,1731.

Dear members and dear friends of ZION,

Where are we headed to? As much as we can research our past and with more or less success navigate our present, as little are we human beings able to predict the future. Some people have tried to circumvent this by relying on the good old Almanac or on horoscopes, clairvoyants, and other means. But these are unreliable at best and dangerous at worst.

With the beginning of this church year on Advent I, Nov. 28, 2004, we enter into our anniversary year. 250 years! For 250 years people here have joined their hearts to hear the word of God, have joined voices to sing His praise, and have joined hands to receive, to share and to build their vision of Zion. Thanks be to God!
And now, where are we, the people of God called Zion Church of the City of Baltimore, headed to? Humanly speaking: We don’t know. We can read indicators, numbers, demographics, and contributing environmental factors. We can study church wide studies (from Evangelism to Sexuality), we can get acquainted with marketing tools and investment reports, and canvas our members. With all this, we can get frightened or develop a “Dennoch” (However, in spite of…) attitude. But we will not be able to figure out exactly what God’s plan is. The future will still be in God’s hands – we have to trust and do our work.
However, once in a year, we know pretty well where we are headed to – and that is in Advent, towards Christmas. For once we know that we want to go with the shepherds, draw near to the manger and see the precious gift of God in Jesus, the Christ child.

It is more than ever important that we are heading this way – to Bethlehem, not to the North Pole. For this is so much more than the reason for the season. It is here, that we see God’s plan, not just for us, but for the whole world. It is here, that we can come with our fears and hopes, and bring them to the one who gave us life, and all the gifts we have. It is here, that we are given what we cannot give ourselves.

And from here, we will go back, go out as changed people, like the shepherds “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen”. Those whose hearts have been filled with the story of Christmas, will go into the New Year with more hope, more faith, more love.

Come and draw near to the manger – on Christmas Eve at Zion
- at 7 p.m. for the Christvesper bilingual Family Service (with brass).
                                                            (this year starting half an hour earlier due to popular request!)
- and at 11pm for the quieter, festive MIDNIGHT MASS (with choir).

This year, we will also have a 2. Weihnachtstag / 2^nd day of Christmas service with lessons and carols on Sunday, December 26, at 9.15 a.m. (German) and 11:15 a.m. (English).

Have a blessed season of Advent and Christmas, and a happy New Year!

Eine besinnliche Adventszeit, ein frohes Weihnachstfest und ein gutes Neues Jahr wünscht Ihnen allen

Pastor Dr Holger Roggelin

Look for an archive of Pastor’s messages on our website: http://www.zionbaltimore.org

Christmas Message 2004 to the People of the Delaware-Maryland Synod

We come to the manger this year with our share of fears:

That the war on terror has yet more targets in the United States;

That the cost of gasoline and heating oil is just the first sign that we will be paying more dearly for what we consider the necessities of life;

That the church we love will splinter in an effort to decide its position on homosexuality;

That our teenagers' promiscuity might end with their contracting AIDS;

That the war in Iraq will never be over.

We bring to the Christ child our hopes as well:

That a new reign of peace will come.

That the longings of our hearts for a loving God might be fulfilled;

That the Lord of the church will keep it whole;

That we can start anew in relationships and in living towards a goal;

That those we love who have died on battlefields will not have died in vain.

May the Christ child wrap your fears in hopes fulfilled this Christmas.

The Delaware-Maryland Synod staff and I extend to you our very best wishes for a blessed Christmas.

H. Gerard Knoche, Bishop

Deck the Halls with gladness …

Again this year you are invited to join many merry volunteers  for a joyous intergenerational event: THE GREENING OF THE CHURCH, Saturday, December 18, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Come and help transform Zion into that unique Christmas atmosphere

Bob Lichtfuss, chair, Christmas Tree ad hoc Committee

Pastor Roggelin's Archive of Past Messages From Zion