Our 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 at York Hospital. 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.
Bobby Staples
Director of Traditional Music Ministry, Organist
Bobby studied organ at Hood College with Dr. Wayne Wold. He also majored in Computer Science in addition to Organ Performance. He has been a lifelong member at Zion, and directs the Worship Choir
Matt Puziss
Contemporary Worship Leader
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.
Emily Hopson
Children's Choir Director
Emily Hopson is a music teacher with Washington County Public Schools. She has been an orchestra teacher with them for 6 years. Emily has experience teaching choral and instrumental music from ages 2 to 18. 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. She conducts the handbell choir and orchestra, and has previously been a member of the worship team, as well as other prior volunteer roles. Emily has been a lifelong musician, participating in band, orchestra, and chorus throughout her life. In her freetime, she enjoys gardening, crafting, reading, and spending time with her husband, Matt, 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.