Our Welcome is Wide

Now accepting donations of new or gently used coats - all ages and genders.

our beliefs are simple, our welcome is wide

Followers of Christ

We are a fairly diverse congregation theologically and we are fairly orthodox in our beliefs. Some members are conservative while most are fairly liberal. We welcome and embrace the diversity of our community that we serve. We are humanists understanding that all people are flawed and all can be redeemed. We believe the cornerstone of theology is the bible and that Jesus is the sole head of the church. Bible verses are used consistently throughout our service as the basis for our beliefs. However, we are rationalists and humanists that understand that the literal translations of some passages do not fully explain the true message of Christianity.

Because we are fairly diverse, it is hard to say exactly what theologian would best represent us. Liturgically we are closest to Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli was a humanist, reformer and a scholar with many devoted friends and disciples. He communicated as easily with the ordinary people of his congregation as with the rulers of the land. His reputation as a stern, stolid reformer is counterbalanced by the fact that he had an excellent sense of humor and used satiric fables, spoofing, and puns in his preaching and writings. He was more conscious of social obligations than Martin Luther and he genuinely believed that the masses would accept a government guided by God's word. He tirelessly promoted assistance to the poor, who he believed should be cared for by a truly Christian community.

At Zion UCC, most of us are comfortable sitting down to dinner with the homeless of our community, as well as the leaders in our community. We believe the only way to solve a problem is to truly understand the people involved. We believe that the abundant resources of our world must be shared with all. We believe Zion United Church of Christ in Stroudsburg can play an important role in spreading the message and serving our community. We believe that all are welcome, and all can be served in our place of worship.

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.

Email us

Open and Affirming

To fulfill our mission of being a welcoming community of faith for all we are working to become an Open and Affirming Church by drafting a covenant that represents the beliefs of our members, dedicates our time to continued education and community-building, and inclusion of all in the active life of our congregation.

OUR DRAFT ONA COVENANT

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.