1847 - Friedrich Johann Carl Lochner refers to a Lutheran parish served by himself in the village of Staunton. He was an itinerant pastor meeting in peoples homes.

1850 - A frame house purchased to serve as both church and parsonage

1851 - Congregation adopts the name "Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church". Pastor John F. Reisner becomes first resident pastor.

1854 - First church building built ....cost $125.00

Zion recorded its first marriage and first confirmation class.

1856 - Zion joins the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

1858 - Lutheran school established - classes met in the church

1861 - Congregation's first organization established, a Bible society

Congregation resolved to hold a general wartime prayer for duration of Civil War

1863 - Second church building constructed.

Second parsonage constructed

President Lincoln assassinated - congregation holds special day of prayer

1866 - School closed - community plagued by fever

1872 - New school erected

1881 - Second school erected (called the small school)

1882 - teacherage large enough for 2 families built on Mill Street

1883 - English taught for the first time in the Lutheran School

1884 - School choir donates school bell

1893 - Scarlet fever and diptheria epidemic causes all schools closed from Palm Sunday until Pentecost

1896 - Addition added to back of school on Elm Street

1900 - 500 communicant members & 115 men on the voters roster

Ladies Aid Society established

1904 - Present church building erected

1905 - English services held for first time (once a month on Sunday evenings)

Ushers are introduced.

1908 - Lydia Circle founded

Church choir, the Euphonia, founded

Contract drafted to purchase new organ in the amount of $2350.00

1919 - Members granted permission to speak English during meetings

1921 - Church interior redecorated

1923 - Congregation celebrates Diamond Jubilee - services held in both English & German

1924 - Resolution forbids boys to play football on school grounds

1926 - Present parsonage erected

Ladies Aid pays $200 to have school auditorium stage redecorated

Voted to reserve last row of seats in church for mothers with small children

1928 - Zion begins to hold church services for Slovak families in area

1929 - Great depression begins. Many church members out of work, contributions to church dwindle. Decreased enrollment & financial burdens force congregation to close one classroom.

1933 - Sunday School organized with 217 students

1934 - Men's Club is established

Debt Reduction Fund begun

1935 - Day school children no longer required to sit in church balcony during worship

25 year confirmation reunion service held

1936 - Ladies Aid granted permission to install a kitchen in school basement.

1937 - Ladies Aid contributes $721.58 to have bathrooms installed in school basement. As a show of faith, trustees are instructed to rid the school grounds of the old "outer" buildings

WPA Band given permission to hold performances for school children.

1938 - New school desks are purchased and duck-pin bowling alley is removed

1939 - Confirmands begin wearing robes

1940 - Ladies Aid celebrates 40th anniversary

1942 - Pastor Kleinhans passes away. Served Zion congregation for 33 years.

Congregation resolves to have church constitution translated into English and Lenten services are conducted only in English

Ladies Aid donates loudspeaker and microphone system to church. Ladies Aid also contributes $659.35 for redecorating school auditorium and stage.

1943 - Church redecorated. Loudspeaker and microphone system are removed because it was felt they were "too modern".

1944 - First eighth grade graduation service held

Debt Reduction envelopes were eliminated and Building Fund established

1946 - School kitchen was modernized. School became a participant in the Hot Lunch Program

Lighted cross on outside of church donated in memory of Carl B. Guenther

Welcome Home Service observed for boys returning home from World War II

1947 - Chimes installed on church organ as a memorial to boys who had given their lives in service to their country

Outdoor church bulletin board donated by Ladies Aid

1948 - Church organ rededicated after extensive repairs

Piano purchased for church

The third school classroom reopened

Kindergarten operated from March to May

1950 - Modern age officially dawned at Zion - church purchased its first power lawnmower

Present church redecorating begun - steel beams were installed to prevent church walls from spreading due to weight of roof, radiators were relocated and covered, lighting was updated,

The pulpit was removed from its high stand and moved to the north side of church. The interior was then repainted. Outside the church was tuckpointed and repainted. New steps and railings were added and the outside grounds were landscaped. The total cost of the project was $17,000.00. In addition, 700 hours of labor were donated by members.

1952 - Kindergarten operation closed

1953 - Church rededication held

Young men of the congregation began serving as ushers

Lutheran Women's Missionary League organized

German worship services discontinued

1954 - Altar Guild begun

1955 - School kitchen upgraded

1957 - School adds fourth classroom

Parent-Teacher League holds first meeting

1958 - A portion of school auditorium converted into a classroom and four teachers are employed

1960 - First sausage supper held

School has new west entrance installed and lavatory facilities are renovated

1962 - Major church remodeling undertaken. Altar statue repainted and Mr. Max Autenrieb painted two murals which flank the chancel.

Extensive repairs are made to church steeple

1964 - New teacherage built on corner of Mill and Elm

Old parsonage on Henry Street is torn down

Slovak church services are discontinued

1969 - Teacherage on West Spring street is purchased

1972 - Church celebrates 125th anniversary

Church receives major remodeling inside and out.

1979 - Church greeter program is implemented

1980 - Congregation votes to hold Saturday evening worship services in addition to two Sunday morning services

Immanuel, South Staunton closes - many members join Zion

Office space in school is remodeled to make room for a pastor's office

1981 - Organ rebuilt and rededicated. Chancel remodeled, adding communion railing

1982 - Lutheran Worship introduced. New Constitution adopted.

Handbell choir is organized

1983 - School addition dedicated. Enlarged facilities includes a gym, classrooms, a concession stand, etc.

Computers are donated to school

1984 - New Creations LWML organized; Helping Hands organized

1986 - Assistant pastor is called

Shipmates organization is formed

1987 - Church interior is remodeled. Windows in nave doors serve to illustrate the name of Zion. Windows are the work of Herschel Wilson of Worden. The windows are meant to state clearly: "We are the Lord's Zion whom the Lord is leading to Zion."

Autenrieb Art Studios of Edwardsville are engaged to repaint the church interior

Voters accept proposal to build an addition to the west end of the church building, connected by a bridge-type ramp.

1989 - Parish Center dedicated

1993 - First dinner auction held

1995 - New chalice is donated

1996 - Electric altar candles and Advent wreath candles are replaced with oil candles. Students in sixth thru eighth grade participate as Acolytes during worship.

Portions of church's exterior are tuckpointed.

New exterior doors are donated and installed.

In commemoration of 150 years of Zion, original cross from steeple of church is housed in brick display at east entrance.

Church organ is rebuilt

School undergoes updating. Bathroom facilities are upgraded and new wiring is installed in older sections to accomodate computers.

1998 - All classrooms in school are air-conditioned

1999 - School sidewalks are replaced

2000 - After school extended care program is implemented

2002 - New computer lab is dedicated

Summer day care is organized