On Golden Ring Road in Essex, just east of Baltimore, Zion Evangelical Lutheran United Church of Christ has been gathering the people of greater Baltimore for worship, fellowship, and service since 1865. More than a century and a half in, the congregation still gathers at ten o'clock on Sunday mornings for a traditional service of hymns, scripture, and sermon, and it still opens its doors with the same welcome it has carried for generations: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here."
The Mission Stated Plainly
The church has named its calling in six lines that have shaped a generation of congregational life: to worship and glorify God; to preach, teach, and bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ; to celebrate the Sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within the congregation and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward humankind; and to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace. Through the dedication of its pastors, leadership, and volunteers, the congregation works to spread the message of Jesus Christ and to lead all who worship with it toward a deeper love for God.
Sunday Worship at Ten
The traditional Sunday worship service takes place in the main sanctuary at 7200 Golden Ring Road, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Services last approximately one hour and feature hymns, responses, scripture readings, and a weekly sermon. Worship is also livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person, with past services available to watch online. A favorite verse from 2 Corinthians guides the work of stewardship: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Online giving is offered for those wishing to support the congregation's ministry from home.
Sunday School for All Ages
Immediately following the Young People's Moment in the Sunday worship service, children are dismissed to the Gathering Place for a one-room Sunday school lesson suitable for all ages. The arrangement lets families begin Sunday morning together in the pew before moving into a shared classroom, with the wisdom of older members and the energy of younger ones meeting in a single lesson.
Tuesday Nights in the Gathering Place
A weekly Bible study meets every Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Gathering Place, the same building that hosts Sunday school. Each week focuses on a different scripture, and newcomers are welcome to come when they are able. The study is led by Pastor Craig Sparks; for those unable to attend in person, a Zoom option is offered. Interested participants can email to be added to the Zoom list and receive the weekly link.
A Walk Through the Christian Year
The congregation marks the seasons of the church calendar with services in the main sanctuary, several of which are also broadcast online. Lent opens on Ash Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. worship service that includes prayer, scripture, and the imposition of ashes, marking the solemn beginning of the season. A brief afternoon imposition of ashes has also been offered in past years for those seeking a quieter moment. During the weeks of Lent, the Tuesday-evening rhythm takes on a series shape as Pastor Craig leads a Lenten Bible study.
Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. service of scripture, heartfelt prayers, and the symbolic act of foot washing, commemorating the Last Supper and the humility of Jesus on the night before the crucifixion. Good Friday brings the Tenebrae service at 7:00 p.m., a service of scripture readings, choral music, and the gradual extinguishing of candles that traces the growing darkness of the Passion. Easter Sunday opens with a 6:30 a.m. sunrise service in the main sanctuary, surrounded by stained glass as the first light fills the room. The festival Easter Sunday worship follows at 10:00 a.m., with inspiring music, prayers, and a message of resurrection hope.
Fellowship Through the Year
Long-standing traditions fill out the church calendar with times to gather around the table. An all-you-care-to-eat Pancake Breakfast - fluffy pancakes, sizzling sausage, and all the fixings - is held in the Christian Education Building on Golden Ring Road. The Women's Guild hosts a Used Book Sale of hardback and paperback titles in fiction and nonfiction, and a Turkey Dinner, BINGO nights, and a Red Cross Blood Drive round out the parish's signature fellowship rhythms.
The Zion Thrift Shop
The Zion Thrift Shop operates out of the Christian Education Building on Saturdays, opening alongside the Women's Guild book sale from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The shop welcomes neighbors, friends, and relatives for a morning of bargain hunting and fellowship. Donations are accepted on sale days and on select Sundays at Tim Dalgo's van in the church lot after worship. Accepted items include knickknacks, picture frames, jewelry, flowerpots, dishes, CDs and DVDs, baby items, toys and games with all pieces intact, tools, household items, and baby and children's clothing up to size 14T. Adult clothing, appliances, car seats, shoes, furniture, and electronics are not accepted. A Christmas-in-July edition of the Thrift Shop carries the sale into the summer for early holiday shoppers.
A Craft Show Each Fall
A Fall and Holiday Craft Show fills the Christian Education Building each October with handmade autumnal and holiday decorations, drawing local artisans and visitors from across the community. The Women's Guild Used Book Sale runs alongside the show, and food is available for purchase. The event has become one of the church's principal gatherings with its neighbors in greater Baltimore.
Pastor Craig and the Music Director
The Reverend Craig S. Sparks serves as pastor. He came to Zion from ten years as co-pastor and pastor of Columbia United Christian Church, followed by six years as pastor of Zion UCC in Perry Hall. He grew up in the southwest corner of Virginia and the northeast corner of Tennessee, what he calls "the very heart of Appalachia," and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, before graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 1997. Before ministry he served as an airborne infantry officer in the United States Army - a stretch he remembers fondly, quipping that "the first five airplanes I was ever in, I jumped out of." At Zion he is intent on finding creative ways to make biblical faith real and engaging for people of all ages, connecting families so the wisdom and energy of the generations can grow together. He enjoys children's sermons, time with members, hiking, cooking, family stories, reading, and football. He lives in Dundalk with his wife Cissy, their beagles Lucy and Patti, and Cissy's three grown children and six grandchildren.
Thaddeus Paulhamus serves as Music Director of the congregation. Two support positions - Administrative Assistant and Caretaker - are currently vacant.
The Buildings on Golden Ring Road
The main sanctuary at 7200 Golden Ring Road is the setting for Sunday worship, the services of Holy Week, and the Easter sunrise and festival services. The Gathering Place, also on the church grounds, hosts Sunday school and the Tuesday-evening Bible study. The Christian Education Building at 7146 Golden Ring Road is home to the church office, the Pancake Breakfast, the Women's Guild Used Book Sale, the Thrift Shop, and the Fall and Holiday Craft Show, gathering the parish for fellowship across a busy year.
Office, Contact, and Giving
The church office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Messages can be left at any time at (410) 687-0980 or sent to info@zionuccmd.com. Pastor Craig can be reached at pastor@zionuccmd.com. Online giving is offered through EasyTithe, and a separate Organ Fund supports the upkeep of the church's pipe organ. Memorials may be arranged through the church office.
Zion Evangelical Lutheran United Church of Christ sits at 7200 Golden Ring Road, on the edge of Essex in the greater Baltimore region, a congregation of the United Church of Christ that has gathered on the same stretch of Golden Ring Road since the years just after the Civil War.