News

Update: Christmas Services and Lessons and Carols

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,

Our plans for Christmas Eve 2021 have changed. 

Pastors Anke and Eric have had a potential Covid exposure. In addition, the Covid infection rate for Maryland is now above 11% and climbing, due to a spike in infections from the Omicron variant.  The Covid Taskforce feels it is necessary to suspend all indoor worship until further notice. 

Due to the suspension for indoor service, we will be revising the Christmas Eve services. Please see below.

Christmas Eve at Zion, Friday December 24th 

All in-person worship is canceled. There are two online services available, which you may view at your convenience: 

Christmas Eve German Service 

            Service:  https://youtu.be/Ppz49E5YcCY

            Bulletin: Christmas Eve German Service Bulletin

Christmas Eve English Service

            Service:https://youtu.be/4HSC3D2LsUU

            Bulletin: Christmas Eve English Service Bulletin

Sunday, December 26th 

10:00 AM – Live-streamed Service of Lessons and Carols from the Zion Sanctuary. This will give you the opportunity to hear our wonderful organ and to see the Sanctuary of Zion in all its Christmas splendor! You can view the service here: https://youtu.be/2Xpuu5kXsVY

Festival of Lessons and Carols- presented online by the Delaware- Maryland Synod. Below are the links for that. The links will be sent out in the weekly email Saturday, December 25th, and will also be posted on Zion’s Facebook page and website. 

Information for our Synod Lessons and Carols Worship
Our synod has prepared a Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas for the use of our Delaware-Maryland Synod Congregations and Ministries on Sunday, December 26. The liturgy was celebrated at Jerusalem (Baltimore) with brass, percussion, choir, organ and piano; Bishop Gohl preaches a short Christmas message, as well.

The service will premiere on our Synod Facebook page and YouTube Channel this Sunday, December 26 at 10am. The Facebook video premiere can be accessed here, and the YouTube premiere appears here. You are welcome to use these resources however it best makes sense in your context, including at different times or on different days.

You can view the Bulletin here, and a link to the PDF transcript of Bp. Gohl’s sermon can be accessed here. You can also access these resources, along with a downloadable video of Bp. Gohl’s sermon, by using this link to a Google Drive folder that contains these files.

Like you, we were all looking forward to worshiping together in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve, and this decision was made with heavy hearts. Even so, we know that no matter the circumstances, Jesus Christ is born, Emmanuel- God is with us!

Yours in Christ,

The Covid Task Force