Zion's Staff
The Rev. Diane Day
Co-Pastor
The Rev. Diane L. Day is originally from Hazleton, PA. She is the middle of three daughters to her parents. A lifelong Lutheran and daughter of an organist, Diane's call to ministry came through the experience of serving as an Assisting Minister alongside empowering pastors in her high school and college years. Her undergraduate degrees are from Bloomsburg University in Elementary and Special Education. She is a graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Gettysburg. Pastor Diane has served as Part-Time Pastor of Jerusalem, Westminster, MD; Associate Chaplain at Carroll Lutheran Village; Interim Associate Director of Admissions at LTSG; and most recently, Full-Time Pastor of St. Thomas, Charles Town, WV. In her limited spare time, she enjoys reading fiction. More often than not, you will catch her in the midst of taking care of her home and family
The Rev. Matthew Day
Co-Pastor
The Rev. Matthew A. Day grew up in Owings Mills, MD. His father is a retired pastor and his mother is a retired pre-school teacher. He has a younger brother who is a nurse practitioner. Pastor Matt graduated from Towson University in 2007 and from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 2012. Pastor Matt has served as Full-Time Pastor to the Mt. Joy-St. Paul Lutheran Parish, Harney, MD/Gettysburg, PA and St. John's, Martinsburg, WV. Some of Pastor Matt's passions include electronics, website design, the use of technology in the parish, Ham radio, cooking, and trains (both model railroading and railfan). Music is also important and he enjoys playing stringed instruments, but mostly sticks with the guitar. He also likes vegetable gardening, fishing and camping.
Deborah Reichelt
Office Business Manager
Deb has worked in the banking business for 15 years, including Assistant Vice President of Chemical Bank, New York before moving to Middletown. She currently serves as membership chair for Middletown High School PTA. She is active with the Girl Scouts as a Service Unit Manager for 32 troops in the Girl Scouts of America serving over 300 girls.
Matt Puziss
Director of Contemporary Music
Matt has been leading the contemporary praise and worship band since 2011. He has been a semi-professional singer/guitarist since 1982. Matt and his wife, Michelle, live in Hagerstown, MD. They have two sons, Dan and Steve.
Dr. Katelyn McClinton
Director of Traditional Music
From a young age, Katelyn McClinton held a love for music. Growing up as a pastor's kid in the Lutheran Church in York, Pennslyvania, Katelyn was greatly involved in musical activities such as singing in church choirs, playing in handbell choirs, as well as playing violin during services. She received her Bachelor's of Music Performance from Sunderman Conservatory of Gettysburg College, her Master's of Music from Towson University, and her Doctor of Musical Arts from Shenandoah University. She currently teaches violin from ages 8 to 70 (yes, you are never too old to learn music!) in Columbia, MD as well as locally in Middletown and Hagerstown. She also frequently performs with the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, as well as other freelance performances in the area. At Zion, Katelyn directs the senior choir, handbell choir, and orchestra.
W. Kirk Denton
Organist
Kirk was the organist at the Universalist National Memorial Church in Washington, DC, for almost 30 years. He has been playing the organ since an early age and has experience with various churches in Kansas and Rhode Island. Kirk has a degree in Historic Preservation & American Culture studies and owns his own business in historic preservation and interior decorating. He lives in Braddock Heights. He is also the Organist-Choirmaster at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Lappens, MD.
Emily Hopson
Children's Choir Director
Emily Hopson is a music teacher with Washington County Public Schools. Emily has experience teaching choral and instrumental music. She has an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from Frederick Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Messiah University, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Frostburg State University. Emily has been a member of Zion Lutheran Church since 2010. Emily has been a lifelong musician, participating in band, orchestra, and chorus throughout her life. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, crafting, reading, and spending time with her husband, Matt, son, Wesley and her dog, Nellie.
Office Volunteers
Since 2023, we have been blessed by an outpouring of volunteers from the congregation to maintain the day-to-day church office work. From printing bulletins, answering phones, maintaining important avenues of communication, to a friendly smile to greet you throughout the week, these dedicated group of people make sure the important office work of the church is accomplished. To contact the office volunteers, you can either email or call during regular business hours.
