Our beliefs are simple, Our welcome is wide.

We are Followers of Christ Who Come From Many Faith Streams and Find Zion UCC to Be Our Sanctuary of Hope

Our Congregational Vision Statement

Zion United Church of Christ in Stroudsburg envisions a community where God’s inclusive love transforms lives, heals wounds, and inspires justice. Rooted in the prophetic call to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8), we seek to be a beacon of welcome and hope in the Poconos—growing a world that is compassionate, courageous, and rooted in peace.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to follow the way of Jesus by welcoming all people, nurturing spiritual growth, and serving our neighbors with humility and joy. Guided by the Spirit who proclaims release to the captives and good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18), we commit ourselves to justice, compassion, and community—loving all and serving all as an expression of God’s grace.

Our Core Values

Extravagant Welcome: We embrace every person as a beloved child of God, practicing the hospitality of Abraham and Sarah who welcomed strangers and discovered angels in their midst (Genesis 18:1–8).
Justice & Compassion: We work for a world where all can flourish, echoing the prophets who cried out for righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).
Spiritual Growth: We deepen faith through worship, learning, and prayer, trusting the psalmist’s promise that God is “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:105).
Community Presence: We serve our neighbors with generosity and humility, following Ruth’s steadfast love and commitment to walk alongside those who grieve, rebuild, and rise again (Ruth 1:16–17).
Courageous Love: We follow Jesus’ call to healing, liberation, and peace, embodying the commandment to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34).

We are WISE certified.

WISE means Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged.

This designation means that we have committed to welcoming those living with mental health challenges, expanding our inclusion of those who are living with mental health challenges, being supportive of all who are affected by mental health conditions, and engaging in ways to live our commitment to being WISE about mental health. Zion UCC is certified as the 74th UCC organization to embrace this initiative.

The Journey Blog Archive

Accessible to All

Our church building has received approval from the UCC Disabilities Ministries to bear the designation of

Accessible 2 All!

This means that we have made accommodations throughout the building to ensure that differently abled people can fully participate in the church's life! We have wheelchair access throughout the main building, handicap-accessible restrooms, large print bulletins, and folks prepared to assist with any needs. If you have any specific questions about accessibility, please contact our office by phone or email.

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Open and Affirming

We are overjoyed to announce that Zion UCC Stroudsburg has unanimously approved the Open and Affirming Covenant—

a declaration of our commitment to welcoming and embracing ALL people with love, respect, and inclusion.

No matter who you are, where you’ve been, or how you identify, you are fully welcomed here.

We stand together in faith, affirming the dignity and worth of every individual as created by God.

Join us in celebrating this milestone as we continue to build a community rooted in love and acceptance.

You are loved. You belong. You are welcome.

Read the covenant here.

Interested in learning more about membership?

Explore Zion UCC and the United Church of Christ
Grateful that we have first-time and regular visitors on Sunday mornings, we provide an Inquirers Session a few times each year for people who want to know more about Zion UCC and our denomination, the United Church of Christ (www.ucc.org). Inquirers is a 75-minute weekday evening opportunity where a couple of members and the pastor gather with visitors to learn more about one another and the church’s mission, vision, values, goals, and people. These sessions help us feel connected and give the church space to express gratitude for visitors who enrich, enliven, and encourage us.

Become a Member

Membership at Zion UCC could be the next step in your ongoing relationship with God and with other people of faith. Membership is not expected and certainly isn’t necessary to participate in worship, baptism, communion, weddings, funerals, or other aspects of church life.

As a church member, you have the opportunity to grow more intentionally personally, find a sense of belonging, form lifelong friendships, experience the joy of Christ, discover your spiritual gifts, become more intimate with God, develop your personal prayer style, expand your boundaries, become more Christ-like and more. With our congregational democratic polity, as a church member, you have a voice and vote within our church to weigh in on topics such as the annual budget, church vision, building decisions and more.

New Member Sundays – a few times each year
Our church family is constantly changing. People come and go. Babies are born. Children grow up. People commit themselves to one another. Loved ones and friends among us come to the end of their lives. Individuals move into our community and church life. Others leave us, moving away to new places, new experiences, new opportunities. It is with joy and gratitude that we welcome new members into our worship, work and witness at Zion UCC two or three Sundays each year during worship.