November 8,1868: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church came into being when 46 men with their families severed connections with St. John Evangelical Protestant church for doctrinal reasons, and organized the German Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church in Mascoutah.
January 2, 1869: Elders decided to call the Rev. F. Herold.
May 6, 1869: It was decided a church should be built.
June 10, 1869: With the choir singing, congregation laid the cornerstone of the new church, surrounded by a large group of friends.
Pastor Herold journeyed to St. Louis to purchase the bell; and the contract was set for the ball and the rooster which was to adorn the top of the steeple.
October 10, 1869: All was completed and the new church was dedicated. Members sang “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” as they stood at the entrance to the new church building. After entering, the choir opened the service with “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”.
July 6, 1871: Pastor Herold died.
September 1872: Christian day school was opened. Classes were first held in the vestibule and balcony of the church building.
1873: A house was purchased to the north of church, which became a parsonage.
1874: Teacher Fribolin, a member of congregation, was called.
1877: A school building was erected which lay between church and the parsonage.
1880: Teacher Wissbeck was called to take charge of the school.
1881: Rev. Gottfried Jung was installed.
Sptember 23, 1883: Teacher Wissbeck released by the congregation.
July 1885: Because the school building was so low, heavy rains inundated the parsonage. Therefore the school was turned into a parsonage and the parsonage into a school.
July 18, 1886: Pastor Jung, because of health reasons, could not stand the added burden of school teaching and left the congregation.
September 1886: Rev J. Merkel was called.
October 28, 1888: Pastor F.W. Brockman was installed. The school had been closed, but Pastor Brockman reopened it. Pastor Brockman received a call and with his departure the congregation closed the school permanently.
April 1891: Pastor Woltmann from Wisconsin was called. During his pastorate in the year 1900 electric lights were installed.
1911: The first pipe organ was purchased by the Ladies Aid.
1915: The congregation built a permanent parish house for its pastors. A modern brick parsonage was erected at a cost of $3200.
1918: During the residence of Pastor August Herbert, Zion celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
1943: With Pastor Ralph Fessler, Zion celebrated its 75 anniversary. As part of the thanksgiving, new stained glass windows with symbolic medallions were dedicated to the praise of God.
1950: More property was purchased across the street from the church with prospect of building. The Ladies Aid purchased a 13 rank pipe organ from Schlicker Company of Buffalo, N.Y.
1954: Legion Hall building was purchased for educational purposes.
May 25, 1958: Educational Building is dedicated. The building houses two large classrooms, the pastor and secretary offices, a kitchen and gymnasium.
January 29, 1961: Rev. Walter Symank is installed as pastor.
1968: In honor of the celebration of Zion’s Centennial the interior of the church was redecorated. The congregation also purchased another adjoining lot west of its present property.
May 30, 1982: Pastor Glenn Thomas was ordained and installed as pastor of Zion.
1982: Preschool opened as an educational mission to the congregation.
November 8, 1993: Zion celebrated its 125 anniversary. With guidance of Pastor Gregory Jans, a time capsule was buried on the church grounds. The capsule contains many items and will be unearthed after 50 years.
1994: Members decide it’s time to build a new church.
November 30, 1997: Pastor Mark Love was installed as pastor of Zion.
March 1998: Floor plans and design accepted and we decided to use Labors For Christ and Pathway Ministries to raise funds for building of our new church.
April 25, 1999: Ground breaking services were held for the new sanctuary and offices of Zion.
November 25, 2000: Thanksgiving service began in old sanctuary, and moved to the new sanctuary with the ringing of the bell, the service continued.
December 3, 2000: Dedication Service Sunday
August 28, 2005: Pastor Kirk M. Clayton was installed as pastor of Zion.
February 19, 2006: Completion of the building program with the dedication of the finished church basement.
November 9, 2008: Celebration of Zion’ 140th birthday. President Mueller serves as Guest Preacher. Previous pastors and sons of the congregation assist in the service.
A LIST OF ZION’S PASTORS
|
1868-1871 Rev. F. Herold |
1947-1952 Rev. Richard Muehl |
|
1872-1881 Rev. John G. Goehringer |
1953-1956 Rev. William Goerss |
|
1881-1886 Rev. Gottfried Jung |
1956-1960 Rev. Willis Laetsch |
|
1886-1888 Rev. J. Merkel |
1961-1966 Rev. Walter Symank |
|
1888-1890 Rev. F. W. Brockmann |
1967-1976 Rev. James L. Clark |
|
1891-1900 Rev. Woltmann |
1976-1978 Rev. Wayne Schmidt |
|
1900-1901 Rev. Spannuth |
1978-1981 Rev. Robert Nestler |
|
1901-1903 Rev. J. C. Ambacher |
1981-1982 Rev. Dale A. Meyer |
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1903-1906 Rev. G. P. A. Schaaf |
1982-1989 Rev. Glen D. Thomas |
|
1908-1910 Rev. Walter Stoehr |
1989-1997 Rev. Gregory D. Jans |
|
1910-1920 Rev. August W. Herbert |
1997-1997 Rev. Robert Weise |
|
1920-1924 Rev. Adolph Kollmorgen |
1997-2004 Rev. Mark W. Love |
|
1925-1940 Rev. Richard A. Heinke |
2004-2005 Rev. Darwin Schrader |
|
1940-1947 Rev. Ralph C. Fessler |
2005- Rev. Kirk M. Clayton |
