What is Zion doing because of the Coronavirus Pandemic? Click here to find out.

Below are resources for worship using YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzOujCunfQFrEqUvZBNOGqA. You can use these resources by simply clicking on them and reading them off of your screen, download them to your computer (right-click and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As"), or print them on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Zion church is located at 612 Locust Street in historic Cambridge, on Maryland's Eastern Shore. For specific directions, click on the Directions button to the left.

Every Sunday morning, we have a Praise and Prayer Time at 9:30 AM. Our Traditional Worship Service begins at 11:00 AM. For other events, click on the Upcoming Events button to the left.

The building is completely handicapped accessible. The elevator entrance on Glasgow Street gives full access to each level in the building. Click on the Directions tab to see an aerial photo of the church with the elevator entrance delineated. We have a wireless hearing system in the sanctuary. Simply ask any usher for a receiver. Bulletins are printed in 14 point type to make them readable by many more people.

Please continue to PRAY & PLAN, DON’T PANIC. REMEMBER: GOD IS IN CHARGE!

Zion UMC continues to take every reasonable precaution during the “Stop the Spread” of the Coronavirus. Effectively immediately, we will not be gathering at the Church for Sunday services, meetings or events. A core group of ZUMC’s Leadership Team met and determined how we will proceed for the foreseeable future.

SUNDAY SERVICES: On Sun., March 22 and Sun., March 29, at 11:00 a.m., please tune in to WCEM 1240AM for our Worship Service. With the help of a very small group from our Worship Team, we will be able to air these Sunday services on the radio. Links to an Order of Worship, Hymns, and the Communion Liturgy are posted below. The information will also be available on our Facebook page. We will be celebrating a traditional communion service each week; communion is another way to help us stay connected. Please use whatever elements are available to you whether it’s coffee and toast; PopTarts© and juice; eggs and bacon; tea, milk or water. We are planning for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services and information will be shared in the coming weeks.

PRAISE & PRAYER LISTS: If you would like Praise or Prayer requests announced during this Sunday’s service, please email or call the Church Office no later than noon on Thurs., March 19. We have a list from March 15 services so if you announced someone’s name then, we should have it. Simply provide the name; God knows the rest. After this week, requests will need to be in by noon on Wednesdays.

COMMUNICATION: Communication is key during this very fluid situation. Please share information from emails with friends, relatives or neighbors who do not have access to email. A letter, similar to this email, will be mailed out to the entire congregation this week. We will continue to publish and mail The Beacon each month, but other mailings to share information may not be practical or timely. If you would like to help share information via the telephone with those who do not have email access, please contact the Church Office.

MEETINGS & EVENTS: The Church is unavailable for outside group meetings (e.g. AA) until further notice. The Clergy Bible Study is “meeting” via Zoom, an online meeting format.

ZUMC’s Church Council, Trustees and Finance Committees will meet as scheduled via video and/or teleconferencing; thus, allowing individuals to access the meetings from home. These Committees are crucial to the operation of Zion, particularly as we deal with COVID-19. We are in the process of setting up these technologies and the information will be relayed as needed.

The Worship Team meeting scheduled for Thurs., March 26 is cancelled. Other Committees as well as the Hattie B. Skinner and Eunice Sluyter Circle meetings are cancelled until further notice. The HBS Circle is still accepting donations toward its Lenten Mission project for Heifer International. See the April issue of The Beacon for more information.

Our 240th Anniversary Celebration is postponed. Please continue to send your memories and stories for The Beacon to Craig Duerling (Craig@Duerling.org). The deadline for a given month is the 15th of the month prior (April 15 for the May issue).

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY: Our Lenten Bible Study will move to video/teleconferencing via Zoom. We will share the information as soon as everything is in place. Pastor Dave is planning an additional “virtual” Bible Study after Lent; more details forthcoming. Consider participating as a way to connect with your Church family!

GOOD SAM FOOD PANTRY: With the help of Diane McCarthy and Jim Snell, our Food Pantry will continue on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., as long as we have supplies. The Food Pantry meets critical needs in our community and thus a necessary mission during this time.

PRAISE TEAM & CHOIR: Both groups will continue to practice at the Church. The groups are small enough in number and able to maintain reasonable distance between participants. Participation is strictly voluntary; anyone uncomfortable coming to practice, will not be judged by God or your Church family. Both musical groups are integral to our Worship Service as we navigate this unprecedented time.

EVENTS OUTSIDE OF ZUMC: The Lenten Lunches held on Tuesdays at Grace UMC are cancelled. The Dorchester County Ladies Prayer Breakfast scheduled for Sat., March 21 is cancelled. The Faith Filled Women Conference on Sat., March 28 is postponed. Information will be shared when it is rescheduled.

ALTAR FLOWERS & LILY CROSS: Altar flowers are suspended while we are unable to gather at the Church for services. If you wish to donate to the Church in lieu of flowers, you are welcome to do so. Our traditional Easter Lily Cross will still happen. Watch the April issue of The Beacon and email for information on supporting this beautiful display.

OFFERINGS: Zion is blessed with a very generous and consistent congregation. As you can imagine, without traditional services, we anticipate our offerings to decrease. Unfortunately, even though we aren’t gathering, the bills still have to be paid. We recognize that this pandemic will put some of our members in a financial hardship, but if you are able, we ask that you continue to send your contributions. You can send your contributions via several methods:

• Send a check to the Church Office. Please include your envelope number.
• Click on the “Electronic Giving” tab to the left. This allows you to set-up a one time or recurring contribution. The recurring contribution allows you to specify a start date, stop date, period (weekly, monthly, etc.) and amount.
• Use your bank’s “Bill Pay” option.
  We appreciate your support and generosity.

As you well know, everyone is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As your church, we are trying very hard to keep you informed and find avenues for prayer, praise, worship and keeping everyone connected to ZUMC. Even though we can’t all physically be together, it is vital that we do what we can to reach as many people in our congregation and community. We’re learning that other churches in the area are not having any types of services, if you know someone from one of these churches, invite to participate with us!

Please feel free to contact Pastor Dave or Janel in the church office with any questions.

Thank you for patience and cooperation!

Blessings to you and yours.

This site was last update April 10, 2020.