ABOUT OUR CHURCH
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Zion has a baptized membership of 470, with 357 confirmed members. Our average weekly worship attendance is approximately 95 persons.
OUR HISTORY
The German pioneers of the Middle Lancaster area found it inconvenient to attend area churches and appealed to the Rev. J.G.C. Schweizerbarth, active in the ministry of the area, to organize a church in the community. Zion's German and English Evangelical Lutheran Churches were organized on Sept. 17, 1842. Jacob Swain donated the land for both the church and a cemetery. A frame building 30-by-40 feet was built by Swain and other members and was dedicated by Rev. Schweizerbarth on Sept. 18, 1843.
Zion's German and English Evangelical Lutheran Churches were served by two pastors for the first 20 years. The Rev. Schweizerbarth served the German-speaking congregation and the Rev. Gottlieb Bassler served the English-speaking congregation.
On April 8, 1861, Zion became two separate congregations and for the next 30 years worshipped in the same building, but on alternate Sundays. The English-speaking congregation outgrew the existing building and purchased 2.5 acres just south of the original property and there erected the present sanctuary that we have today. This sanctuary was dedicated by the Rev. G.J. Diener on May 8, 1892. Two years later in 1894, the parsonage was built and was dedicated by the Rev. H. K. Shanor.
During the pastorate of the Rev. I.J. Goehring, a Luther League was organized and the Missionary Society was reorganized. The Good Shepherd window was placed in the altar recess of the chancel, under the leadership of the Luther League.
Three congregations have at various times been yoked with Zion. They are St. John's Lutheran Church (Old Stone Church), St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Lilyville, and Hope Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township. All of these have since been separated from Zion and all except St. Mark's are still existing congregations.
During the pastorates of the Rev. W.H. Mitchell and the Rev. H.F. Obernauf, the entire basement was manually excavated by digging and carting dirt from under the sanctuary by wheelbarrow and horse-drawn scoops.
In 1943, the German-speaking congregation was reunited with the English congregation.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Ronald Harbaugh, the social hall was built and the classrooms in the basement were remodeled. This work was expedited by the many hours of volunteer labor by many members of the congregation. The new addition was dedicated by Bishop Kenneth R. May on Sept. 19, 1982, as a part of Zion's 140th anniversary.
On June 27, 1993, the picnic shelter was dedicated. Seed money for its construction was given by the family of Betty & Chuck Peffer in loving memory of them.
In 1997, an addition was added to the back of the fellowship hall to house our local Southwest Butler County Food Cupboard and for storage space for Zion Lutheran Church.
In 2000, the entire church was re-carpeted by Countryside Carpet & Furniture of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
Two men entered the ministry from Zion. The Rev. John A. Beighey entered the ministry from the German Church and was ordained in 1904. The Rev. Charles E. Reed entered the ministry from the English congregation and was ordained in 1908. Edith Reed, Charles' sister, became a deaconess and nurse. Emma Klimack became a full time parish worker. Both women graduated from The Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse in Baltimore, MD. Edith and Charles Reed's father built the baptismal font, lectern and hymn boards that are still in use in our sanctuary.
We thank God for our rich and deep history at Zion and also thank Him for our present ministry. We look forward to the years to come, the leading of God's Spirit and the opportunity to do God's will and serve in Christ's name.
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Zion has a baptized membership of 470, with 357 confirmed members. Our average weekly worship attendance is approximately 95 persons.
OUR HISTORY
The German pioneers of the Middle Lancaster area found it inconvenient to attend area churches and appealed to the Rev. J.G.C. Schweizerbarth, active in the ministry of the area, to organize a church in the community. Zion's German and English Evangelical Lutheran Churches were organized on Sept. 17, 1842. Jacob Swain donated the land for both the church and a cemetery. A frame building 30-by-40 feet was built by Swain and other members and was dedicated by Rev. Schweizerbarth on Sept. 18, 1843.
Zion's German and English Evangelical Lutheran Churches were served by two pastors for the first 20 years. The Rev. Schweizerbarth served the German-speaking congregation and the Rev. Gottlieb Bassler served the English-speaking congregation.
On April 8, 1861, Zion became two separate congregations and for the next 30 years worshipped in the same building, but on alternate Sundays. The English-speaking congregation outgrew the existing building and purchased 2.5 acres just south of the original property and there erected the present sanctuary that we have today. This sanctuary was dedicated by the Rev. G.J. Diener on May 8, 1892. Two years later in 1894, the parsonage was built and was dedicated by the Rev. H. K. Shanor.
During the pastorate of the Rev. I.J. Goehring, a Luther League was organized and the Missionary Society was reorganized. The Good Shepherd window was placed in the altar recess of the chancel, under the leadership of the Luther League.
Three congregations have at various times been yoked with Zion. They are St. John's Lutheran Church (Old Stone Church), St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Lilyville, and Hope Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township. All of these have since been separated from Zion and all except St. Mark's are still existing congregations.
During the pastorates of the Rev. W.H. Mitchell and the Rev. H.F. Obernauf, the entire basement was manually excavated by digging and carting dirt from under the sanctuary by wheelbarrow and horse-drawn scoops.
In 1943, the German-speaking congregation was reunited with the English congregation.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Ronald Harbaugh, the social hall was built and the classrooms in the basement were remodeled. This work was expedited by the many hours of volunteer labor by many members of the congregation. The new addition was dedicated by Bishop Kenneth R. May on Sept. 19, 1982, as a part of Zion's 140th anniversary.
On June 27, 1993, the picnic shelter was dedicated. Seed money for its construction was given by the family of Betty & Chuck Peffer in loving memory of them.
In 1997, an addition was added to the back of the fellowship hall to house our local Southwest Butler County Food Cupboard and for storage space for Zion Lutheran Church.
In 2000, the entire church was re-carpeted by Countryside Carpet & Furniture of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
Two men entered the ministry from Zion. The Rev. John A. Beighey entered the ministry from the German Church and was ordained in 1904. The Rev. Charles E. Reed entered the ministry from the English congregation and was ordained in 1908. Edith Reed, Charles' sister, became a deaconess and nurse. Emma Klimack became a full time parish worker. Both women graduated from The Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse in Baltimore, MD. Edith and Charles Reed's father built the baptismal font, lectern and hymn boards that are still in use in our sanctuary.
We thank God for our rich and deep history at Zion and also thank Him for our present ministry. We look forward to the years to come, the leading of God's Spirit and the opportunity to do God's will and serve in Christ's name.