Winter Solstice: Making a Home in Darkness, Waiting for the Light

Susan Gilbert Zencka is a PCUSA minister who served congregations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin before retiring in 2021 and moving to Allentown, PA.  While in active ministry, she was active in interfaith environmental organizations, and had a passion for creation-honoring worship.  While she particularly enjoyed celebrating the Season of Creation each autumn, creation-honoring worship is always in season.  

In retirement,  she has been exploring micro bio regionalism: creating a conservation sanctuary in her yard by planting over 400 native perennials, along with many native shrubs and trees. Food issues are also an interest—in general, she is committed to learning and sharing about the small issues through which ordinary people can engage and effect change, people who don’t think of themselves as wealthy: our yards, our worship, the household dinner table.

Susan and her husband, Carl, have been married 41 years.  They have 3 adult sons, 3 daughters-in-law, four grandsons, and a granddaughter on the way…and two lively dogs.  She also spends time caring for her 96yo Dad.