About Zion Lutheran Church Leola, PA
Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church
At Zion Lutheran Church, we gather around God's Word and the Sacraments, where we encounter the living Christ and are nourished by God's grace. As a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we believe that we are saved by God's grace through faith—a gift freely given by God, not something we earn.
We are a community of people seeking to follow Jesus in our daily lives through worship, prayer, learning, service, and care for one another. Together we hear God's Word, celebrate the Sacraments, and are strengthened for the work God calls us to do in the world.
Whether you have been part of a church your entire life, are returning after many years away, or are simply exploring questions of faith, you are welcome here.
What We Believe
As Lutherans, we believe that God's love and grace are for all people. We trust in the saving love of God revealed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that:
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We are saved by grace through faith.
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Scripture is God's living Word that guides and shapes our lives.
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God comes to us through Word and Sacrament.
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Baptism welcomes us into God's family and marks us as beloved children of God.
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In Holy Communion, Christ is truly present for us. We receive the bread and wine together with the true body and blood of Christ, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins. Following the teachings of Martin Luther, we confess that Christ is truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine of the sacrament.
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We are called to love and serve our neighbors as an expression of God's love for us.
We are not called to be perfect people. We are called to be disciples who continue to grow in faith, trust in God's mercy, and share Christ's love with the world.
Our Life Together
At Zion, faith is lived out not only in worship but also in service. We seek to care for one another and our neighbors through ministries that support those in need both locally and around the world.
We are grateful for opportunities to partner with community organizations, support local outreach efforts, care for our neighbors, and maintain relationships with ministry partners beyond our own community, including our companion congregation in Tanzania.
As a congregation, we strive to be a place where people can worship, learn, serve, and grow together in faith.
Learn More About Lutheran Beliefs
Zion Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
To learn more about Lutheran theology, our beliefs, and frequently asked questions about the ELCA, please visit:
https://www.elca.org/about-the-elca/who-we-are/beliefs
Questions about faith are often best explored in conversation. If you would like to learn more about Zion Lutheran Church, Lutheran beliefs, or our ministries, we invite you to contact the church office or speak with Pastor Sarajean Grainson.
Our Mission Statement: “We Gather to Grow. We Live to Serve”
Meet Our Pastor
The Rev. Sarajean Grainson
The Rev. Sarajean Grainson is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and serves as Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. She is passionate about proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, nurturing spiritual growth, and walking alongside people through every season of life.
Pastor Sarajean earned her Master of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary with a specialization in Spirituality. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and Human Services and has completed additional training in Psychological First Aid (PFA), spiritual formation, mission development, and trauma-informed pastoral care.
Her journey in ministry began many years ago in youth ministry within the Roman Catholic Church and continued through service as a synodical deacon in the ELCA. Before coming to Zion, she served as Vicar and Lead Minister at Community of Love Lutheran Church in Oxford, Pennsylvania, where she also helped establish the Share the Love Family Boutique, a Synodically Authorized Outreach Mission serving individuals and families experiencing clothing insecurity.
Before entering full-time ministry, Pastor Sarajean worked in community human services and case management, advocating for individuals facing mental health challenges and difficult life circumstances. These experiences continue to shape her compassionate approach to pastoral care and her commitment to meeting people where they are.
Pastor Sarajean has a deep love for preaching, teaching, spiritual formation, and creating meaningful worship experiences. She especially cherishes opportunities to accompany people through life's joys, challenges, grief, and celebrations. She believes God is already at work in every person's life and that one of the greatest joys of ministry is helping people recognize God's presence, discover their gifts, and grow together in faith.
When she isn't serving the congregation, Pastor Sarajean enjoys gardening, cooking, sharing good coffee with friends, reading, spending time by the ocean, and making memories with her husband, the Rev. David Grainson, their six children, and four grandchildren.
Above all, Pastor Sarajean believes the Church is called to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ, welcoming all people to experience God's presence and discover how the Holy Spirit is working in their lives.
Kurt is a lifelong musician, starting in school bands as a teenager in Scranton, PA. Now self-employed in marketing, he put music on hold during the family-raising era with his wife Karen and daughters Elyse and Lauren. As a member of Trinity Lutheran in Lancaster, he helped develop their contemporary service in 2003 and went on to team up with bands at The Crossings Church Lititz, Manheim BIC, and St. Paul Lutheran Lititz. During this time he also started performing solo and as part of a duo in local clubs, writing and producing original songs. I am blessed to now be part of worship here at Zion Lutheran Leola, grateful to be included in a caring, loving family of worshippers.
Music Director
Kurt Brown
Office Hours
Monday - 10:30am - 2:30pm
Tuesday - 10:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday - 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday - 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Friday - closed
Saturday - closed
Sunday - closed