History | Zion United Lutheran Church

April 1st, 1856 100 people agreed to build a new church and promised $825 for its construction. A Sunday School had already been organized in the community in 1855 through efforts of a Sunday School Missionary. This encouraged the building of a church for the congregations.
The land was donated by Rudoph Weiss, from his farm, as his share of the expense.
Work began on the church in the spring of 1861.
When completed, the church would house two congregations: German Reformed and Lutheran.
Local craftsman built the church. Masons were paid $1.00 per day, with carpenters earning 90 cents a day and laborers got sixty to seventy-five cents a day. Workers were given 30 cents a day to pay for their board and 10 cents per meal.
Wood for the pews came from the Gouldsboro and Moscow areas and it took two days to be delivered.
Building continued through 1861and 1862 as wood burning stoves were placed in the front and back to warm the building.
The outbreak of the Civil War impacted the building and the monetary pledges, as money was scarce. People often paid their pledge through work or boarding workers.
When the building was completed in 1862, it costs a total of $2,850.69. The dedication was on May 4th, 1862 but a debt remained of $600. To help pay this, over $500 was loaned by Judge Brodhead, without interest, but it would still take twenty years until it was fully repaid.
The original church had two front doors, two wood stoves, and no organ. People traveled by horse and buggy to attend, but there was only a shed for the pastor’s horse and buggy.
At the time of the construction of the church, land was acquired for a cemetery across the street. There is an older left side and newer right side. In the older side of 193 buried, the average age was 39.98 years old with birthdates back as far as 1785. There are 181 in the newer section, although the last burial was in 1948. The average age of those people was 48.4 years old. The Lutherans still maintain this cemetery.
In 1879, gifts to the church enabled it to be re-painted and to install a church bell. The 900 pound bell was made in Cincinnati and traveled by rail for two days to be delivered.
Many improvements took place over the years. The first organ, was a pump organ needing someone to pump air through the billows to make the organ work, as there was no electricity. A pipe organ, was installed in 1905 with the help of a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, who paid half the total cost of $2800.
For the 50th anniversary, stained glass windows were installed in 1912 for a cost of $440. Also, gas lighting was installed, the interior of the church was painted and the altar furniture had been reupholstered. The total of all the improvements came to $1200.
In 1927, the church was renovated and a single entrance was made at the front. In addition, the chancel was changed, the altar moved to the center, new floors were laid and new pews were installed.
In 1950, a new organ was purchased.
In 1954, more room was need for the church school and an addition was added on the rear of the church, nearly doubling its size. Also added was an enlarged basement, classrooms, storage areas, a new well was dug and a new furnace was installed. The parking lot was paved for the first time. When this was completed in June 1955, the total costs came to $27,502.00.
In 1966, a parsonage had been built for the Lutherans at a cost of $22,000. At its dedication, 100 people attended.
During the 1960s, the German Reformed Church became part of the United Church of Christ.
After almost a decade of talks and negotiations between the two congregations, the two congregations decided to both dissolve and a new congregation be formed affiliated with the Lutheran Church of America. In 1971, both congregations voted overwhelmingly to accept this idea. In 1972, a new charter was created and Zion United Church, Lutheran officially began with 267 members. More names were later added to bring the charter membership to 304.
In 1972, the independent Zion Union Sunday School, which operated for over 100 years, also dissolved and Sunday School became part of Zion United Lutheran Church.
In the next 15 years, many improvements were made including the placing of aluminum siding on the entire church in 1978 at a cost of $15,000.00 (as the cost of painting the building was too high).
In 1974, Zion played an important role in providing library services to the citizens of the West End of Monroe County. For one year, Zion housed books in the church narthex for what would become the Western Pocono Community Library.
In 1987, as the 125th anniversary approached, more improvements were made to the church including repair to the stained glass windows, new carpeting and lighting and an enhanced sound system. Also, a pastor’s office and study were built on the side of the parsonage. The total cost of the project grew to $61,000.
At the 125th anniversary, the budget of the church was approaching $80,000 and the total membership was 498.
In 1997, meetings were held with three nearby Lutheran churches to discuss creating a new centrally located church for the West End. By 1998, as that didn’t work out, Zion bought a track of land for expansion.
The plan was to include:
- A new Fellowship Hall with an expanded parking lot
- A new heating/air conditioning system for the church
- Handicapped accessible restrooms in the church
- A new in-ground sanitary disposal system.
- 139 families pledged a total of $309,000 towards this plan.
In 1999, the extra track of land, 1.33 acres, was bought for a cost of $21,038. It was adjacent to Zion but land-locked with no road frontage. Later, the church was offered more land, 4.5 acres that had road frontage, for $170,000 and Zion agreed to the purchase.
The Fellowship Hall (or Parish Center) was completed and dedicated on May 5th, 2002 at a cost of $508,650.
In 2003, the current pastor left to take another call and Pastor E. Ann Melot was named our new pastor in 2004.
In 2009, refurbishment of the interior of the church was done for the first time in 25 years.
In 2006, a grant was received to replace the front doors. In 2011, a similar grant was obtained to replace the protective covering of the stained glass windows with new, clear, ultra-violet tolerate covers so the stained glass would not fade. In 2012, another grant helped repair the parking lot blacktop.
In 2012, Zion United officially became a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which brought a public commitment to welcome and affirm LGBTQIA+ persons, using symbols like the rainbow for God’s inclusive love.
In 2016, a new ministry at Zion was sponsored by the Community Kitchen and Garden Team. Once a month, meals are prepared and served free to anyone in the community who would like to attend. Due to Covid, the meals were packaged and given out in a drive-through method, which continues today. The average amount of meals distributed is 160.
In 2019, during a violent rainstorm, water poured through the narthex ceiling, setting off the discovery of compromised supporting structures for the bell. The 900-pound bell, dated 1876, was later removed as the structure holding it was deemed unsafe. Plans to create a new steeple went into effect and in 2024, the project was finally completed. Related work, including restoring the round window and replacing the ceiling in the narthex, were completed in 2025. Plans are being discussed for the placement of the bell somewhere on Zion’s property. Due to Covid in 2020, Zion began to share its services via Zoom and Facebook and that continues today.
In 2024, a 20th anniversary celebration was held for Pastor Melot.
At the end of 2024, membership totaled 274.
In 2025, a mortgage burning celebration was made as the final payment on the Fellowship Hall was completed and our payment was made in full. The proposed budget for that year was $192,438.
Zion continues to be a growing place for all people to worship and provide support to its members and friends. Zion also greatly supports many community groups through fundraising and service projects. It is indeed the "little church with the can do spirit."

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