A Church for the Past, Present and Future
Zion Lutheran is celebrating 225 years of being a vital part of the community.
I
In the late 1700s, some German immigrants came to our area because of the fertile land for farming. They settled in a part of Surgeon Hall that is present-day Whitehall. There was no local Lutheran church, so the settlers traveled 17 miles to Washington, PA in order to attend services— a serious distance in horse and buggy days.
Eventually they built their own church, which was a simple log structure measuring 28 x 32 ft., organized under the first pastor Johannes Stauch in 1800. It was called the West Salem Congregation and all services were conducted in German. In 1852, those who wanted to worship in English split away from the congregation and established their own church.
In 1872 the West Salem Congregation officially became Zion Lutheran Church. Finally in 1900, Zion held its first services in
BY PAMELA PALONGUE
English. The original log structure had been followed by a wooden frame building, and later a brick structure. The beautiful stone church we recognize today was built in 1955 and cost a whopping $ 450,000— an amazing figure when compared to today’ s prices where a private home may easily cost that much and more.
In 1966, the church began an innovative program called“ Listening Ear,” which offered a 24-hour telephone counseling service that remained active for almost 10 years. During its time, more than 50,000 calls were answered!
Zion was always willing to try new things to serve the community, and in 1974, a colorful pastor named Paul F. Gysan became involved in a clown ministry and went by the name V. I. P.( Vulnerable, Imaginative, Playful). It was a unique
Zion’ s second church, the“ frame church”( 1836-1906).
8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ icmags. com
The third church, the“ red brick church”( 1906-1954).
Demolition of the red brick church in order to construct the current church building( 1954).
The congregation’ s first pastor, Johannes Stauch, serving from 1800-1809.