What We Believe
Zion is a congregation that believes that the Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God which
forms and informs what we believe and how we worship.
The Bible tells us of the sorry condition of sinful humanity and the depths of the love of our Heavenly Father. This love finds its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who being the Son of God, became human in His birth of the Virgin Mary and offered up His life to win the salvation of all humanity. This AMAZING GRACE is what makes us His children and leads us to reach out to those around us. This underserved love is proclaimed from our pulpit in every worship service and taught in our Sunday School and Bible Classes.
Pastor Faulkner
Rev. David A Faulkner was installed at Zion in January 2005. He was born in Texas, grew up in Oklahoma, served congregations in Indiana, Illinois, and as an Admissions Counselor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
He enjoys playing the violin in worship, preaching, visiting members and non members, picking up hobbies of the members like hunting, shooting bow and arrow, and singing in the choirs. He serves as the Circuit Counselor for the Wausau area LCMS churches and is President of the Executive Board of Faith in Action of Marathon County which provides free assistance and transportation to those in need.
He graduated from Edmond (a suburb of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Memorial High School in 1988, the University of Central Oklahoma in 1991, B.A. History, M.A. 1994, Concordia Seminary 1996 M.Div. and 2004 S.T.M. He hopes to complete the requirements for his doctorate in 2008. Pastor and his wife Julie have three children who attend Lutheran Schools in Wausau.
History
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is a 111 year old congregation which is a member of the North Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Zion is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Wausau, WI on Star Road just south of Wisconsin Highway 52.
In January of 2008 Zion's Stewardship Board will present to its members a new program called "Maturing as Stewards- Through Faith, Love, and Hope." It is a 3 week stewardship program based upon 1 Thessalonians 1:3, "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Worship Services
Sunday Morning Worship
9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Evening Worship
7:30 p.m.
Two regular worship services are held on Sunday at 10am and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Holy Communion is celebrated the 2nd and 4th Sundays and almost every Wednesday evening. Special services during the church seasons of Advent and Lent are observed on Wednesdays at 11:30am and 7:30pm.
We use the newest hymnal produced by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, LSB or Lutheran Service Book. On many non-communion Sundays we follow simple worship services in All God's People Sing which contains some more contemporary hymns.
For special services such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Years we often use services from Creative Worship.
Education
Sunday School for children ages 3-15 is taught on Sunday mornings from 8:30am - 9:30am
Confirmation Classes for 6th-8th graders meets on Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 8pm during the school year.
Adult confirmation instruction is offered to those interested in church membership and includes learning our faith from the Holy Bible and Martin Luther's Small Catechism.
Music
During Advent and Christmas the Zion Vocal Choir joins with our sister congregation in a Joint Vocal Choir to sing special anthems. By February Zion members are practicing the music for our Easter drama Bow the Knee in which characters tell the story of Jesus' miracles, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of people's sin.
The Tone Chime choir plays throughout the year and mostly includes younger members, but all are welcome to ring praises to God.
Zion is blessed with members skilled at playing the violin, viola, organ, piano, guitar, and trumpet. For several past services we have welcomed a local harpist to add to the beauty of worship.
Bible Study
Adults meet on Sunday mornings at 8:00 am and study books of the Bible or topics of timely interest.
A Men's Bible Study meets the last Thursday of each month at 7pm at Zion. The current topic is "What does it mean to be a Christian Father and Husband?"
A women's Bible study group meets on Sunday evenings at Zion and in member's homes.
Youth
Zion is blessed to have a devoted Youth leader in Mr. Randy Homolka. His two daughters and about 10-15 other youth meet for service projects, mission trips, fellowship, fund raising events, devotion, lock ins, and to hear speakers on various religious topics. In the summer of 2007 the Youth spent a week leading a Vacation Bible School at Unity Lutheran School in East St. Louis, IL.
