Did the name Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg ever cross your path? Here at Old Zion Lutheran Church, his legacy resonates deeply. Old Zion Lutheran Church traces its origins back to the early 18th century, a time of significant German immigration to Philadelphia. Initially, these German Lutherans relied on the Swedish pastors of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Everything changed with the arrival of Muhlenberg in 1742. Sent from Halle, Germany, Muhlenberg injected new life into the congregation. Old Zion Lutheran Church wasn’t built overnight. Under Muhlenberg’s leadership, two churches arose: St. Michael’s in 1743 and Zion in 1766. A schoolhouse, built in 1761, still stands today. The congregation became known as St. Michael-and-Zion, eventually evolving into “Old Zion” by popular usage, officially adopted in 1984. Muhlenberg’s influence is further evidenced by the numerous daughter congregations that sprung up throughout Philadelphia, fulfilling his motto, “ecclesia plantanda” – “the Church must be planted.” Old Zion Lutheran Church holds a unique distinction. It’s one of the few pre-Revolutionary War churches in American Lutheranism to retain German as an official service language. Even two World Wars couldn’t silence the German sermons. This isn’t merely a historical relic. Old Zion Lutheran Church remains a vibrant testament to its founders’ faith. Today, we worship in a beautiful sanctuary constructed in 1891/92, the fifth church building on this site, yet the same joyful Gospel prevails.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to