Zoar UCC

Could a church building hold more stories than its foundation stones? Here at Zoar UCC, the answer is a resounding yes. Zoar UCC isn’t just a charming white church on Highway 212 in Chaska. It’s a testament to the enduring power of faith, family, and a little bit of German heritage. The Lenzen family, three brothers, a sister, parents, and four children, started it all. They migrated from Germany, their courage leading them to a new life. By 1871, they held services led by Reverend Kuhlen in a humble log church right here on this very property. Imagine, the hymns rising through the trees, the whispers of prayers carried on the wind. The current Zoar UCC building, erected in 1941, stands as a more permanent symbol of their devotion. It has seen countless updates and renovations, each a new chapter in Zoar UCC’s story. But the heart of this church remains the same. The spirit of the Lenzen family lives on, echoed in the voices of generations who have called Zoar UCC home. Zoar UCC has been shepherded by a lineage of dedicated pastors: Reverend Opperman, Reverend Franzmeier, Reverend Zenke, Reverend Mark, Reverend Slessor, Reverend Kathy Gibson-Christenson, and now, Reverend Penny Entringer. Each has added their unique verse to Zoar UCC’s ongoing hymn. In 1950, a pivotal vote marked a shift in tradition at Zoar UCC. The congregation decided to embrace English for three services a month, while still honoring their German roots with one German service. A few years later, in 1958, under Reverend Franzmeier, the church officially adopted the name Zoar Evangelical and Reformed United Church of Christ. This little white church on the highway celebrated its centennial in 1971 under Reverend Zenke and, more recently, its 150th anniversary in 2021. While much has changed over the years at Zoar UCC, one thing remains constant: the sense of family and the enduring strength of faith. Zoar UCC welcomes all who enter its doors, offering a blend of contemporary and traditional worship, a space where remnants of the past mingle with the voices of the present. It’s a place where history whispers from the walls and the future unfolds with every hymn.