Community Servant since 1881

Zion Lutheran Church to Observe Anniversary

Zion Lutheran Congregation, 
6 miles southeast of I-70 at 
Altamont, will celebrate the 60th 
anniversary of its church building 
in the service Sunday morning, 
August 15 at 9:30 am.

The Rev. Martin H. Rothe of
Springfield, former pastor of St.
John Lutheran Church of Bible
Grove (Louisville), will speak on
"60 Years of Grace at Zion
Building the Kingdom of Christ."
His text will be Ephesians 2:19-22.

Special music will include "I
Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"
by the Adult Bible Class and
"Praise Him!", sung by the
Sunday School Chorus.

Zion congregation will be 90
years old next April 16, but
the present church building was
erected in 1922 and dedicated
August 6 of that year. Prior to
that time, the congregation had
worshipped in a building just east
of the parsonage.

That earlier building served as
both church and Christian School
until the present church was built.

The church at Zion was con-
structed by Schultz and Gruene-
wald of Shumway. Pews 
manufactured by Feuerborn 
Company were hauled from the 
plant at Effingham by horse-
drawn hayracks. The altar was
purchased from a church which
was installing a new altar.

The church's first bell develop- 
ed a crack several months after 
the opening service, subsequent-
ly was replaces by a slightly 
smaller bell which still is in use
every Sunday.
 
The first bell was able to give 
off but a single "clang" that first
Sunday before the ropes became 
tangled and the bell turned over,
effectively halting it's praises to
the Lord.

The Rev. Mr. Rothe, a native of
St. Peter, graduated in June 1932
from Concordia Seminary, 
Springfield. From August of that
Year to April 1933, he was vicar
For several congregations in the
Russellville, Arkansas area.

He married Miss Leona Jasper
Of St. Peter on April 16, 1933,
Which coincidentally was the 40th
anniversary of the congregation
where he will speak Sunday.

Rothe's first congregation as
Pastor was in 1933 at Bible Grove.
In December 1937, He also
Became pastor of St. Matthew at
Eberle (now passed out of exist-
ence and its members assimilated
into the St. John congregation).
Rothe was counselor of the 
Effingham Circuit Missouri
Synod churches from 1943 to
1945.

After 1945, he served the
following Illinois churches: Dual
parish of Immanuel, Staunton and
Holy Cross, Livingston; Holy
Cross, Waterloo; Immanuel,
Charleston; Zion, Mount Pulaski.
He also served the Trinity of
Crown Point, Indiana.

In Retirement since October
1973, Rothe is Visiting pastor for
Trinity congregation of Spring-
field.

He was Student Pastor at
Eastern Illinois University during
his years in Charleston. For many
years he was chairman of the
Central Illinois District Town and
Country Commission, and 
conducted many Rural Church
Leadership Workshops.

The Rev. Vern W. Ellis, pastor
Of Zion since May 1977, invites
the public to the service at 9:30
a.m. Sunday and to the potluck
dinner to be served at noon to all
visitors and members of the 
congregation without charge.