Welcome to Zion on Albany Street
Zion Lutheran Church sits at 143 Albany Street in Ferndale, Michigan, just north of the Detroit city line. The congregation calls itself "An Intentionally Inclusive Christian Community," a phrase that runs through everything from its Sunday worship bulletin to the long list of identities it names. Black, brown, or white; cisgender, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer; partnered or single; housed or unhoused; recovering or never having set foot in a pew; Zion's published invitation reads as one long, unfinished "if" sentence designed to leave no one out.
The church is a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a nationally recognized Reconciling in Christ community through ReconcilingWorks. It works with the Southeast Michigan Synod through the synod's Diversity Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression. That grounding shows up in the welcome: open communion, the ordination of women and LGBTQ clergy, baptism offered to non-members, and a stated commitment to racial equity and justice as an expression of faith.
Sunday Morning at 10:30
Worship happens every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The service is offered both in person and online through Zoom and Facebook. Visitors can enter from the parking lot or from the main Albany Street doors; printed bulletins sit at each entrance so newcomers do not have to navigate screens or screens-free hymns cold. Seating is open, and the church encourages visitors to sit wherever they feel comfortable and to ask a neighbor if anything feels unfamiliar. There is no dress code. Worshippers arrive in everything from jeans to suits, and the offering is described as a response to the gospel rather than a price of admission. Non-members are welcome to attend as often as they like without committing to join, and there is no charge to attend.
Music comes from multiple traditions. The Chancel Choir sings most Sundays, and recent anthems have included Marty Haugen's Holden Evening Prayer, African-American spirituals, Reformation Sunday's "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," and contemporary pieces by Mark Hayes and Joseph Martin. A bell choir with three octaves of bells and a set of chimes also contributes. During Advent the sanctuary is decorated with a night sky of stars built by the Liturgical Arts and Altar Guild.
Children and Youth at the Center
Children are woven into the life of the church. The youngest, from newborn through age three, are part of Zion Sprouts, a music-based ministry that meets the third Sunday of the month during the school year at 9:45 a.m. It includes parents and caregivers in stories, songs, and simple motion activities, and the purpose is to give families an opportunity to grow together in faith.
Juniors is the Sunday morning program for ages four (preschool) through fifth grade. Children leave worship partway through with adult and youth leaders for interactive, Christian learning activities and return later in the service. The Juniors Music group, open to children starting in kindergarten, presents a yearly Christmas musical and offers other pieces during worship throughout the school year. The musical keeps the church busy from October through December, with singing, dancing, and instruments. Members are welcome from all over the community, regardless of church affiliation.
Middle and high schoolers are part of ACT! Active Christian Teens (formerly Luther League), a Christ-centered social and educational group that draws teens from the surrounding communities. Activities include laser tag, bowling, and other outings that double as fellowship. When teens are ready, they enter regular catechism classes with Pastor Bode, generally meeting one or two Sunday afternoons a month for three-hour blocks in preparation for confirmation.
The Food Pantry on the Third Wednesday
Zion runs a monthly food pantry that has been part of the congregation's outreach for decades. It opens every third Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. After registration, neighbors can choose between two pre-packed bags of food that include meat, paper products, cleaning supplies, spices, and condiments, or a custom shopping list that volunteers fill in advance and have ready at distribution. Fresh produce and frozen vegetables appear when available in limited quantities.
The pantry is funded strictly by donations from the Zion congregation and outside supporters; it is not a line item in the church budget. Its major supplier is Gleaners Community Food Bank, with additional support from Hollywood Market, Meijer, and the Ferndale CWS/CROP walk. Volunteers are needed on the third Tuesday (9:00 to 10:30 a.m.) to receive the Gleaners order, stock shelves, and pack bags, and on the third Wednesday (8:30 to 10:30 a.m.) to register recipients and carry food to vehicles. Around Thanksgiving, the pantry adds special turkey baskets for families who need them. In a separate but related gesture, the church makes close-to-expiration bread from Costco available to the community each week.
Music Ministries
Music is described as "a huge part of the community at Zion." Four groups carry that work. The Chancel Choir rehearses Thursdays from September through June at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and sings in worship most Sundays. The Bell Choir meets weekly on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and rings on a three-octave set of bells plus chimes; regular attendance at rehearsal is essential since each ringer plays a unique part that fits into the whole.
Children's music begins in kindergarten through Juniors Music, which rehearses after the Sunday service and presents the annual Christmas musical. A full set of African percussion instruments is owned by the church for an African drumming ministry that the congregation is hoping to revitalize in the coming season.
Bible Studies
Two Bible studies meet regularly. On Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Pastor Bode leads a study in the lounge on the sanctuary level; participants can bring a snack, beverage, or lunch. On the first and third Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., a women's online Bible study gathers over Zoom, covering a range of seasonal topics. Both are open to anyone who wants to join, members and visitors alike.
Prayer Shawl and Pastoral Care
The Prayer Shawl Ministry was introduced to Zion in October 2007. Its mission statement is to "thread love and comfort with craft and sharing," knitting and crocheting shawls, lap robes, baby caps, and baby blankets that are gifted to people in hospitals, nursing homes, and elsewhere. The group meets at 10:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month from September through May, though members can also work at home. Jean Pepper and Barbara Leach help coordinate the ministry and welcome new knitters and crocheters. Shawls are intended as "everyday visible and tangible evidence of God's presence and love."
Beyond the shawls, members of the congregation send cards and visit shut-ins and others on the prayer list, a Prayer Ring prays weekly for special needs, and a Secret Pal program pairs members of all ages in a year of small gifts and cards with identities revealed at Easter.
Young Adults and Social Outreach
Power and Love, the young adult ministry for people roughly 20 to 35, meets in the church lounge every first and third Sunday after worship. Friends, family, and significant others from outside the congregation are welcome to bring a plus-one.
Beyond the food pantry, social ministry at Zion is largely volunteer-organized. Contributions to Lutheran World Relief have included blankets, Personal Care Kits, Baby Care Kits, Fabric Kits, and School Kits shipped to the Baltimore warehouse each October. Twelve Christmas stockings have been prepared for teen guests at Sanctuary in Royal Oak who are not with family at Christmas. The annual Mitten Tree has overflowed with scarves, hats, mittens, and warm clothes for HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center in Pontiac. The church honors a budget commitment to Samaritas, the Michigan ELCA social ministry organization, and forwards designated offerings to a Detroit mission partner.
Liturgical Arts and the Elijah Foundation
The Liturgical Arts and Altar Guild meets as projects require: days, evenings, or weekends depending on members' availability. Projects often use a majority of recycled and inexpensive materials in keeping with a stated care for the earth. The night sky of stars that reappears during Advent and Christmas is one of the congregation's recurring favorites; other pieces are brand new each season. The guild welcomes additional hands and ideas for upcoming projects.
The Elijah Foundation is Zion's endowment fund, established to accept, invest, and administer assets for charitable purposes. Its principal remains invested for that future mission, while a portion of the earned interest is available to support new and existing ministries and missions. It is described as a vehicle for anyone who wishes to give a thank-offering to God in response for the blessings received.
Office, Communications, and Giving
The church office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Phone (248-398-5510) and email (fernzionoffice@gmail.com) are the best ways to reach staff outside those hours; the pastor is also available for informal meetings, with drop-ins welcome when possible.
Donations can be made online, by mail to 143 Albany St., Ferndale, MI 48220, through Venmo (@ZionFerndale, code 7498), or via the Vanco Mobile app (code VHLXGH). A weekly email list is the congregation's primary mode of communication, and anyone can subscribe regardless of membership. Those exploring membership can fill out a paper form at the office or an electronic version online; new member orientations are held as needed throughout the year.