Zion Church

When Zion Church was founded in downtown Baltimore, the music of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Corelli would have been considered hot new stuff. It still sounded remarkably fresh Thursday night when played by acclaimed violinist Hilary Hahn and some of the city's finest musicians in a benefit concert at the church, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary. The beneficiary of the event (the musicians donated their services) was the organ restoration fund, which earned $30,000 from ticket sales and another $5,000 from Hahn, who also helped generate a few thousand dollars more from concertgoers during intermission.

A three-alarm fire tore through a church in the 4300 block of North Point Blvd. in Sparrows Point on Tuesday night, causing parts of the roof to collapse, according to a Baltimore County fire official. Responding to a 7:38 p.m. call reporting a fire at Pleasant Zion Baptist Church, fire crews found a shed and wooden pallets at the rear of the church engulfed in flames, said Lt. Jay Ringgold. The fire quickly spread to the roof of the church, and the crew requested a second alarm, Ringgold said.

Martin Luther was a marked man. Excommunicated by the pope in 1521 and afraid for his life, the father of the Protestant Reformation hid in a German castle, where he let his hair grow, shed his monk's robes and assumed an alias, "Knight George." Isolated in his hideout, he put quill to paper and began translating the New Testament from Greek into German. The result was an instant best-seller that propelled the Reformation and transformed the audience for the New Testament. Once jealously guarded by the clergy, the book suddenly became a popular read.

Bertha Sander, a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church at City Hall Plaza where for years she helped prepare and serve at the church's famous sour beef dinners, died of a cardiac arrest Oct. 19 at Oak Crest Village. She was 101. Bertha Prag, the daughter of farmers, was born and raised in Jagstheim in the Swabia region of southwest Germany. In 1928, she immigrated to Baltimore, where she worked as a governess and during the 1930s in quality control at the old Calvert Distillery in Relay.

At Unity African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Severn, the visiting choir arrives on cassette tape, the pews are brown folding chairs and the sanctuary bears a striking resemblance to a school cafeteria.But with few of the trappings of an established church, the Rev. Myrtle Bowen and her small flock are determined to make a go of it.Bowen and a congregation of one brought Unity from its Crofton home of one year to Van Bokkelen Elementary School on Reece Road in September.Nearly three months and two church-sponsored block parties later, the membership stands at 22, including seven who joined Sunday.

On November 20, 2004, at her residence, DR. HILTGUNT MARGRET ZASSENHAUS , beloved daughter of the late Julius H. and Margret Ziegler Zassenhaus, dear sister of the late Wilfried, Kurt Gunther, and Hans Zassenhaus and his wife Lieselotte Lohman Zassenhaus, loving aunt of Michael Zassenhaus and his wife Reta Shipek; Angela Zassenhaus-Krickeberg and her husband, Klaus Krickeberg and their son Memphis; Peter Hans Zassenhaus and his wife Nythili and their children,...

On March 29, 2005, THOMAS W. NIXON survived by his children Lindsey Margaret and Sean Thomas Nixon and their mother Judy Ruscoe; brother of Robert E. Nixon, Margaret Myslinski and Carolyn Nixon. Friends may call at the family owned Slack Funeral Home, P.A., 3871 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City on Friday 7-9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Saturday 2 p.m. at Mt. Zion Church, 12367 Rt. 216, Highland, MD. Interment Mt. Zion Church Cemetery.

On July 7, 2003, ERVIN E. DEAL, beloved fiance of Brenda Overick, devoted father of Gary Deal and fiance, Edith Tweedy, Linda O'Neal and husband, Howard and Lorraine Cairns and husband, Jeff, brother of Marlene Glass, Eilene Beckman, Janice Georg and Karen Friend, also survived by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Visiting at the Lassahn Funeral Home, Inc., 7401 Belair Road (Overlea) on Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 am. Interment Zion Church Cemetery.

On January 6, 2005, MARTHA C. (nee Fischer); beloved wife of the late Frederick H. Ritzel, Sr.; devoted mother of Frederick H. Ritzel, Jr. and Kathleen J. Shull; sister of the late Florence Miller, Lydia Campbell, Gertrude Parks, Adolph Fischer and Ruth Brinck. Also survived by nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Martha will be deeply missed by many loving friends and family. Visiting at the E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home, P.A., 11750 Belair Road (Kingsville), on Monday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral Services will be held at Zion Church (Golden Ring)

On October 1, 2004, ELEANOR E.(nee Bartenfelder); beloved wife of the late Edward L. Wienecke; devoted mother of Wayne J. Wienecke and his wife Dorothy L. and Elaine E. Baker and her husband John H. Also survived by four grandchildren, Laura Wienecke, Linda Cook, Wayne Wienecke, Jr., and Stacey Koehler and four great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at the Lassahn Funeral Home, Inc, 7401 Belair Road, on Tuesday at 11 A.M. Interment Zion Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday and Monday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Contributions may be made to Zion Church General Fund.

On July 30, 2009, MAGGIE MOORE. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Tuesday after 8:30 a.m., where the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The family will also receive friends on Wednesday at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Avenue at 11 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:30 a.m.

The John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has served the East Baltimore community for 82 years, the last 58 of them in a cozy, pitched-roof meeting-house on Ashland Avenue, in the shadow of the Johns Hopkins medical campus. Across the street, a sign on an empty block of land welcomes visitors to the "Science and Technology Park at Johns Hopkins." Next to that, another post tells church members to park there. But the Rev. Frances "Toni" Draper, who's led this congregation for seven years, knows that soon there will be few places for them to park at all. The burgeoning science complex and its accompanying redevelopment project, set on land once overrun by drug dealers, addicts and rats, have swallowed dozens of acres.

On October 21, 2008, FREDERICK L.; beloved brother of Milton Shelton and Jean Wheeler. He is also survived by two step daughters, numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may visit the JAMES A. MORTON & SONS FUNERAL HOMES, INC., 1701 Laurens Street, Monday, 2 to 7 PM. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Avenue. The family will receive friends 10 to 11 AM. Funeral service 11 AM.

On October 5, 2008, ROBERT COWAN. Friends may visit at the FAMILY OWNED MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 E. North Avenue, on Monday after 8:30 a.m. The family will receive friends at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Funeral Services will follow at 11:30 a.m.

On June 19, 2008, CHARLES BENNETT, JR.; survived by a host of family and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 27, from 3-7 P.M. at the family owned and operated Howell Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Avenue. The Wake will be held on Saturday, June 28, 10 A.M. at the Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Ave., with funeral service to follow at 10:30. Interment Monday June 30, at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery. Inquiries 410-664-6800.

On March 18, 2008, EMERY; beloved father of two sons, Emery Jr. and Deoleous; four daughters, Veronica Greene, Pamela Purdie, Manzella and Geneva Parker. He is also survived by three brothers, Thomas, Aubrey and James Parker and other family members and friends. Friends may call WYLIE FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 638 N. Gilmor St. Family will receive friends on Tuesday. 10 A.M. Wake and 10:30 A.M. Funeral Service, Pennsylvania Ave. A.M,.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Avenue. Inquiries at www.wyliefuneralhome.

On July 7, 2006 MR. BOWMAN. Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Avenue on Wednesday, 3-8 P.M. The family will receive friends at Contee A.M.E. Zion Church, 903 Division Ave. N.E, Washington, D.C. on Thursday at 10 A.M. Funeral at 10:30 A.M.

On October 5, 2008, ROBERT COWAN. Friends may visit at the FAMILY OWNED MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 E. North Avenue, on Monday after 8:30 a.m. The family will receive friends at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Funeral Services will follow at 11:30 a.m.

On February 22,2008, EDWARD KEITH CLOUDE; beloved husband of Linda D. Cloude (nee Gear); devoted father of Kenneth B. Cloude and his wife Tracy and the late Douglas K. and William T. Cloude; loving grandfather of Riley Elisabeth and Logan Keith Cloude; dear brother of Dale, Craig, and David Cloude. Funeral service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue, on Wednesday at 10 A.M. Interment Mt. Zion Church of the Brethern Cemetery, Luray, Va. Friends may call on Monday and Tuesday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Family request contributions be made to the American Lung Association of Maryland,11350 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.