About
Welcome To Zion Lutheran – Stratford
LOVING GOD AND LOVING NEIGHBOR WITH ALL OUR HEARTWith a strong foundation of almost 125 years of faith and ministry, Zion is a multi-generational church in a small central Wisconsin community.
The Zion congregation rooted and grounded in its Lutheran faith proclaims Jesus’ love and grace to all people through the boldness of the Holy Spirit.
People of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences are welcomed. Jesus loves all people. Everyone is a valued and a worthy child of God.
Since 1988, Zion has hosted a traditional German dinner each Fall to maintain a crisis fund providing financial gifts to individuals and families experiencing personal crisis within our community. Zion Lutheran supports the Mpenda Christian community in Malawi and missionaries in Tanzania.
Zion Lutheran is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.
Families and Faith
RECITE GOD’S WORD TO YOUR CHILDREN AND TALK ABOUT THEMWHEN YOU ARE AT HOME AND WHEN YOU ARE AWAY
At the heart of Zion’s call to ministry is intergenerational faith. Relationship-building across generational age groups is transformational and helps elders and youth grow in their faith.
Both elders and youth need each other’s support, belonging, grace and love. The church community is one of the few places where elders and youth can interact and have deep and meaningful relationships. At Zion, all age groups are encouraged to worship together, have fellowship together, and learn and serve together.
Zion’s Mission and Ministry
We pray that every person will have a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Our hope is that all people can find their place at Zion and deepen their connections within the body of Christ.
Growing in God’s Word is foundational to who we are as disciples of Jesus. We learn through study, prayer, small groups, and book studies. More information can be found under the “Grow in Faith” section.
The Christian faith is rooted in community. At Zion, everyone is a child of God, who belongs -beloved, worthy, and loved. Community at God’s table is expansive and includes the congregation, larger community, and our world.
Sermons are Biblically-based, relevant, and help us be the followers of Jesus that we are called to be. There is also a time set aside in worship for children to hear the Good News. Sermons are available online.
GermanFest held every Fall provides financial support for a family in crisis in the community. Zion also supports the Stratford Area food pantry and other local organizations. In addition, Zion uses part of its building funds to assist those in the community with utilities.
Zion shares Jesus’ Good News globally through financial support of medical missionaries in Tanzania, the Mpenda Christian community in Malawi, ELCA World Hunger and ELCA Disaster Response.
A welcoming community of faith,
equipped to grow and
reach out with God’s good news
The Staff
Amy Heinz
Hello, I’m Pastor Amy Heinz, and I come to you from a wonderful two-point call in Unity and Medford, WI. Prior to my ordination in 2017, I worked as a manager in both profit and not-for-profit settings. I studied flute performance as an undergraduate at The University of Texas at Austin, and non-profit management as a graduate student at The University of Wisconsin at Madison. I play flute, piano, organ, and hand bells, and am beginning to learn the dulcimer.
Husband Mark is self-employed as an accountant and musician (specializing in clarinet, sax, keyboard, and accordion). Our oldest son, Jonathan, works in management for Dahl automotive in La Crosse. Jonathan and his fiancée Isabel are expecting our first grandchild in early December! Our youngest, Ben, is a scientist for a global pharmaceuticals company, and he lives and works in Madison. In my free time, I like reading, word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, playing with our dog Abigail, watching football (UT Longhorns and MN Vikings-go ahead and throw those rotten tomatoes at the Vikings fan!) and yarn (yes, just… yarn).
Favorite scripture passage right now? Romans 8:31-39. Go look it up and see what you think!
Kathy Busche
I moved to the Stratford area in 1992. I am married to Bruce and we were married at Zion by Pastor Dan Alexander. We are blessed with six children, 6 wonderful in-laws, and 10 grandchildren. My career for 27 years was as a surgical technician/surgical first assistant. I am now semi-retired and enjoying working part-time here at Zion. My favorite hymn is “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.” The Bible verse that gives me strength is “Be still and know that I am God” from Psalm 46:10.
Marge Redetzke
I grew up on a farm about a mile north of Stratford. After high school, I attended Wood County Teacher’s College in Wisconsin Rapids and the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. I taught 4 th grade in Stevens Point for one year and 3 rd grade in Marshfield for 11 years. My husband and I have owned our construction business for 45 years. We have 4 sons and 5 grandchildren.
I have been a member of Zion my entire life. When I was about eight years old, I began taking piano lessons from the sisters at St. Joseph Catholic Church, and later, I continued lessons from our pastor’s wife at the time, Mrs. Schulte, who taught me to play the organ, which I still play today. I have many favorite hymns, so it’s hard to choose just one, but one that we sing during communion is a favorite of mine, “Bread of Life from Heaven,” ELW #474. My favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:13 “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
Judy Polege
Arnold and I have 3 children and 3 granddaughters. Before retiring, in addition to family and farming, I played the piano for the Stratford School District, taught piano privately and did some library work. My favorite scripture is the 23rd Psalm. Sacred music is very meaningful to me and I have many favorite hymns. The current one is “Oh God Beyond All Praising”.