Zion Lutheran Church 8/6

Driving along Highway 25, it's hard not to notice the brick and white steeple set against a backdrop of green trees and blue sky just outside Gordonville.

The steeple, topped with a white cross, has stood on that spot for 90 years.

The history of the church it belongs to goes back five decades further though, to a group of farmers intent on founding a strong German liturgy in Southeast Missouri.

The surnames of many of those founding fathers can still be found in Zion Lutheran's church directory today.

History, tradition and family are very important in the church, its members will tell you.

All three values will be especially meaningful this Sunday, as the congregation celebrates its 140th anniversary.

"We've always been a rather closely knit group of people," said Art Seboldt, whose father was pastor of the church from 1938 to 1973. "We're a group of people who enjoy being together."

Like most who attend Zion Lutheran, both Seboldt and his wife, Mildred, are longtime members.

Over the past seven decades, the couple has seen changes take hold but the overall spirit of the church remains the same.

They sing hymns that date back to Martin Luther. The Ladies' Aid group sews quilts as a fund raiser. They have church suppers.

Still, there are some noticable differences between today's church and that which the Seboldts attended in the 1930s.

"The church is more open now in the sense that when I grew up, women sat on one side and men on the other," said Mildred Seboldt.

Physical contact was rare back then. Now, hugs and handshakes are a common part of the worship experience.

"We've learned through the years that's part of Christianity too, to show concern in a tangible way," she said.

Volunteerism has played an important role in Zion Lutheran's growth over the past 140 years.

George "Butch" Koeppel, chairman of the congregation and a 53-year member of the church, said many people contribute to the upkeep of the grounds and facilities.

The original church was torn down in in 1915 and replaced by the current structure. The building's floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows and tin tiled ceiling have been carefully maintained since then.

In 1904, members of the church raised $4,000 in one afternoon to buy a new Hinners pipe organ. The organ was first played at Mildred Seboldt's grandparents' wedding and still stands at the front of the sanctuary. The congregation recently raised $48,000 to have it refurbished.

"Everybody wants to keep the church looking outstanding," said Koeppel. "They're proud of it and they give graciously."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128