News of the Week

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Your positive thought for the week: “In some Native languages the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’” – Robin Wall Kimmerer

June 14, 2026

  • 10:15 a.m. – Worship with graduate recognition – come discover who our one graduate is!
  • Noon – Sunday Brunchers

June 21, 2026

  • 10:15 a.m. – Worship; all men will receive a gift.
  • Noon – Confirmation Class

June 28, 2026

July 5, 2026

  • Start of summer worship time until the end of August
  • 9:30 a.m. – Worship

Thank you!

  • Thanks for your food pantry items for the 50 days of food challenge. We collected a whopping 327 items for our food pantry in just the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost! Well done good and faithful servants!

Are You Hungry?

  • June sale: Ham & cheese sandwiches (soup sale will resume in the fall). Orders due this Sunday, Jun 7. Pick-up orders on Thu, Jun 18 between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. More details on our website.

GriefCare

  • We are sad to announce that, due to low registration, the GriefCare series originally scheduled to begin next Wednesday has been cancelled. We hope to be able to offer this programming again in the future.

Dillingersville Pilgrimage

  • Join us for the 80th Annual Dillingersville Pilgrimage on Sunday, June 28, 2026,
    for a memorable day of worship, history, and community!
  • Experience an outdoor service under a large tent, surrounded by the beauty of nature at the historic 1841 stone schoolhouse, located at 7226 School House Lane in Zionsville.
  • The combined Lutheran, Mennonite, and U.C.C. congregations will gather for a service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a picnic lunch and delicious homemade baked goods for sale.
  • Rain location is Zions Lutheran Church.
  • More information available on the schoolhouse’s website.
  • Help wanted
    • We are looking for at least 8 people to sign up to be food servers for Dillingersville lunch – June 28 around 11:30 a.m.
    • Please sign up with Pastor Lori.
    • We are serving the food that Social and Aid committee is preparing and serving the gluten-free and onion-free food the caterer is preparing.

Conference News

  • We are part of the UCC Keystone Conference, now 5 months old, having opened on January 1, 2026.
  • There are 507 churches in the Conference.
    • 72% of our churches worship with 50 people or less on a Sunday morning.
    • Only 5% of our churches worship with 100 or more people on a Sunday morning.
    • 2/3 of the settled pastors serving our churches are over 60 years old.
  • The Conference’s 50 days of food collection brought in 39,328 items. OZ UCC contributed 327 of those!
  • 600 people were registered for the Annual meeting held at Millersville University on June 5 and 6, 2026. Pastor Lori, Kathy Latshaw, and Diane Berger went as our delegates.
  • The Dorseyville church, which suffered the effects of a fire a few weeks ago (see the first bullet below), was presented with a check from our Conference for $10,000 to help with restoration. A single donor shared a check for $50,000 to help with restoration. And we are just concluding our campaign to collect donations to send to them with our prayers. Our sister church, which is closing its doors on June 21, presented the Pastor with a set of offering plates for them to use for the future.
  • From the PA Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding
    • PA has more young farmers under the age of 35 than any other state in the USA
    • PA has preserved more farmland than any other state in the USA.
    • For 1 meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides 9 meals.

Other News

  • Recently we were sent information and photos of a fire that destroyed a church in the Pittsburgh area. The church family was celebrating the 150th Anniversary of their historic building and the 175th anniversary of their congregation. More information is available in the church newsletter. June 7’s Joyful Noise offering totaled $494.89. Thanks in advance for BEING The church of Jesus Christ!
  • Please let Pastor Lori know if you are planning to go to the synagogue with the Confirmation class on Friday night, June 19. We will need to leave from the church, or you can drive your family on your own to be there before 5:30 p.m. when we meet with the Rabbi. GPS shows it will take about 30 minutes to get there depending on traffic.
    • Temple Beth El: 1305 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA 18104
    • You can’t get in unless you register your name with me.
    • There is a metal detector you must walk through.
  • We are still collecting printer or ink cartridges as well as pens and markers that have run out of ink to recycle at Staples. To date we have raised over $325 toward Staples purchases. I have small boxes at the front and ramp doors for your “contributions.” Or you can put bags of ink cartridges outside of my office. Thanks! Keep them coming. You are an awesome support of this interesting way to recycle and get credit at Staples for future purchases.
    • NOTE: Please do not bring batteries any more. There is now a charge for battery recycling.
  • We have 2 almost-new car booster seats for children under 7 years old. See Pastor Lori if you can use them. FREE
  • The sermon series for the summer months will be “Women in the Bible.”

As always, we hold in prayer many of our members and friends who are walking through difficult seasons—facing grief, illness, loneliness, changes in living situations, and other challenges that weigh heavily on the heart. We also remember our brothers and sisters around the world who continue to recover from the devastation of war, oppression, and natural disasters.

At the same time, we give thanks for the many joys among us—birthdays and anniversaries, the gift of new life, healing and remission from illness, and countless other blessings that remind us of God’s goodness.

Peace to all,
Lori Esslinger
Part Time Pastor
Old Zionsville UCC
call or text:  610-393-3522