Manchester Journal article

In case you missed it, an article concerning Zion Church recently appeared in the Manchester Journal…

“Organized religion” seems to have been getting a bad rap over the past couple of decades.  Of course there is some organization to a church service, but isn’t that just how we run most things in life, -  schools,  stores, meetings, sports, - even families?  It’s just the frame that keeps us all in the “picture” to facilitate participation and sharing.

Let me tell you my story.

I have believed in God from a very young age, but I wasn’t brought up in church and didn’t feel the need to attend services.  God was everywhere.  I sensed His presence in the seed that sprouted to become a beautiful flower, in the song of a bird, in the flight of a butterfly, and in the structure of a snowflake.  I felt Him in the breeze that caressed me on a summer’s day, in the freshness of a drenching rain and in the stillness of a snowfall. 

Nonetheless, one Sunday in the mid-90s I decided to go church-shopping.  That day I landed at Zion Episcopal church on Main Street and I was hooked.  It wasn’t the church building.  It wasn’t the liturgy.  It was the people!  I didn’t realize that I knew so many people who went to church, and they all made me feel so welcome!   I started looking forward to Sundays so that I could see my friends again.  Besides, the minister was great.  He was bright, interesting, and funny, and he often used his own frailties to illustrate the struggles of mankind, a true lesson in honesty and courage. 

Our minister today is equally wonderful, and a whole new crop of friends have been added to the congregation.  I still look forward to Sunday mornings so that I can see them all.  We meet at other times too, for companionship or a task or two.  For the last year and a half we have been offering a free community dinner (“Sunday Diner”) up at the Eagles Club.  It starts at 5pm on the first Sunday of every month.  It’s a lot of work, but we have fun doing it.  You should check it out some time.   We’d love to welcome you!

I hope to see you!

~ Astri Kilburn