Service and justice are 2 major points of focus at Zion. Go beyond the what, where, and when details to learn more about the heart, purpose and plan of each service project.

How to talk to your kids about current events

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How to talk to your kids about…

Big events in the news can be confusing and upsetting for kids — even when they don’t fully understand what’s happening. Children often pick up on tone, fear, and emotion long before they understand facts.  The goal isn’t to explain everything — it’s to help kids feel safe, heard, and supported.

First: Start with Your Child, Not the Headlines

Before explaining anything, pause and ask:

  • “What have you heard or seen?”
  • “How did that make you feel?”
  • “Do you have any questions?”

This helps you avoid giving too much information — and lets your child guide the conversation.

Click here to download Age-Specific Guidance

Offer Hope and Agency
Especially for older kids, it helps to talk about:

  • Helpers in the community
  • Ways people support families and neighbors
  • Small actions that reflect care and kindness

Hope doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard — it means reminding kids that love and goodness still exist.


Watch for Signs They’re Struggling
Kids don’t always say, “I’m anxious.”

Look for:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Clinginess or regression
  • Irritability or withdrawal
  • More questions than usual

If you notice changes, gently check in and keep the conversation open.

The Bottom Line
You don’t need the perfect words.

What kids need most is:

  • A calm presence
  • Honest, age-appropriate answers
  • Reassurance that they are not alone

Talking about hard things doesn’t create fear — silence does.
 Your steady, loving voice helps kids build resilience for a complicated world.

March MLK Unity Parade

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Come March With Us—the MLK Unity Parade

Join us Monday, January 19, 2026 to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At Zion, participating in the MLK Unity Parade is one way we live out what we believe: that faith is not only spoken in worship, but practiced in public.

Marching is an act of witness. It’s a visible way of saying that God’s love is for all people—and that we are committed to justice, dignity, and racial equity in our community and beyond. As a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, Zion has named this commitment clearly.

We march because love that seeks justice must be visible.

Come walk with us.

Kids Lead Food Drive

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This year, Zion kids, and many other youths in our community, showed what it truly means to give back. Their service came in two powerful efforts.

First, during the St. Mark’s Food Drive organized at Zion by member, Jessica A, some of our kids took ownership in a special way. Working in pairs, they navigated the grocery store with the donation list in hand, budgeting carefully to purchase a full box of food for families in need. It was a hands-on lesson in compassion, stewardship, and understanding what they could afford while still giving generously. (Jessica’s boys also did a lot of boxes for this – unsure what.)

 

Second, some of our youth helped lead and steward the 6th Annual Christmas Meal Food Drive benefiting The HIM Pantry. With a goal of providing 190 holiday meals—including Chicken & Dumplings and a pie—the group exceeded expectations. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation and many in the Heights community, about 200 meals will be shared on December 14 and 16.

Thank you to everyone who donated, supported, or helped facilitate these efforts. Our kids continue to remind us what joyful service looks like.

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Guest Post by Zion member: Kelley B.