"Our mission is to live as disciples of Christ who lift up the cross as the way of salvation. We seek to love God and care for one another according to God's word."
Zion Lutheran Church was the first Lutheran Church in the Hill Country and one of the oldest in the state of Texas. The congregation was organized in September of 1852. The construction of its first sanctuary was completed in 1854 with members of the congregation providing both the limestone blocks and labor.
As the congregation grew, expansion became necessary. On June 12, 1908, an enlarged sanctuary was dedicated including the bell tower that now stands prominently over Main Street. Also surrounding two sides of the original church property is a stucco over stone wall that was originally erected in 1878. Tradition has it that it was primarily built to keep the animals that roamed Main Street from trampling the church.
In 1998, the congregation undertook another expansion that included the construction of a large fellowship hall, atrium, additional classrooms, offices, and kitchen facilities. These facilities now serve a wide variety of ministries.
In 2009, Zion embarked on an exciting new journey with St. Paul Lutheran, a rural congregation about 15 miles Northeast of Fredericksburg. In the process of calling a pastor between the churches, both have begun to explore anew what the church is and how it goes beyond all walls and buildings. Throughout the year, both congregations join each other for fellowship, worship services, ministry and outreach opportunities, and the formation of a new Joint Youth and Family Ministry.
In 2010 Zion voted to again renovate its facilities to accommodate a greater youth ministry and the creation of an Early Head Start program, the first of its kind in the Hill Country. This program, connected to the federal Head Start program, serves low-income families with childcare needs from ages newborn to 3 years old. The program will open for registration in the Fall of 2010.
In its history, Zion has planted three additional congregations and has been known for its commitment to the greater mission of the church. As we continue to move into the 21st Century, Zion remains committed to being Christ's welcoming community, to serving God, and to sharing the message of salvation in the Cross of Christ to the world.