Zion Lutheran Church, founded in 1879 by the Rev. Martin Tirmenstein has been an integral part of Dallas’s community of believers. Tracing our roots back to some of the first German settlers in the DFW area, Zion has stood strong for 145 years.
The Rev. Martin Tirmenstein of New Orleans Louisiana, surveyed and conducted the first Lutheran services in the Dallas area. Several area parishes would ultimately be organized.
Zion was organized in the summer and built a new frame church at 111 Live Oak St. dedicating it on October 12th.
The church building was moved to the corner of Crockett St and Cottage Lane.
A new site was purchased on Swiss Avenue between Good and Cantegral Streets. Church was renovated and rededicated March 19th.
Zion’s young people donated an Estey pipe organ at a cost of $1,825.
The school building was replaced by a frame parish hall, containing an auditorium, kitchen, meeting room, and Sunday school facilities.
A frame annex consisting of ten Sunday school rooms was built, dedicated March 15th.
German language worship services were discontinued.
Zion resolved to re-establish her Christian day school. The church’s name was changed from German Evangelical Lutheran Zions Congregation of Dallas, Texas to Zion Lutheran Church of Dallas, Texas.
Construction of the school began. A $50,000 two-classroom brick building on a city block on Skillman Street between Marquita and Monticello streets. The new school building was dedicated on December 12th.
On August 7th, Zion’s voters assembly authorized the trustees to purchase 7.93 acres on the northeast corner of Lovers Lane and Skillman for $80,900 as the new site for Zion Lutheran Church and School.
Congregation made the final move to the current location at Skillman and Lovers Ln.
The Schlicker/Sipe organ, built by Schlicker Organ Company of Buffalo, New York was installed in the spring of 1969. Being apprised of the church’s desire to incorporate the new instrument in a future sanctuary, Mr. Herman Schlicker, then president of the company, developed a design that provided excellent musical results and a pleasing visual appearance during its tenure in the temporary sanctuary.
Through faithful stewardship Zion Lutheran Church expanded into the present sanctuary and church offices. Expanded childhood ministries occasioned the installation of new modular classrooms for extended educational outreach and yet another step in the incremental growth of Zion’s ever-more diverse ministries.
A renovation of 14 school and church spaces began with a net value of $800,000. Over half of the work was accomplished by 185 volunteer parishioners and other workers, saving Zion over $500,000 in labor cost. The project provided renewed classrooms, a music classroom/rehearsal space, a computer lab, a library, and new restrooms. The narthex was refurbished. Trinity Hall was designed and built at an approximate cost of $350,000, with a Dedicatory Liturgy for all facilities prayed on Jan 9, 2011.
Refurbishment of Zion’s sanctuary/nave/choir loft-balcony and renovation of the sacristy and vestry was begun, with all refreshed spaces rededicated on February 10,2013. Designated gifts totaling over $150,000 provided funding from within and beyond the parish.
Magnificent Christian art and artifacts were received and placed in the narthex, including the 17th century Tirmenstein Bible on perpetual loan from Miss Phyllis W Tirmenstein of St. Louis, Missouri. A 16th century Italian oil painting, “Behold the Lamb of God”, was also given by a generous donor from the Dallas Jewish community. The narthex also holds treasured Zion artifacts along with several others from deconsecrated Dallas County LCMS churches.
The BBZM Dedication Eucharist was celebrated on November 8th. Thus, consecrating the Tower of the Cross, three above ground classrooms for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, two additional restroom facilities, school administrative offices, and a dedicated music rehearsal hall. An elevator was installed for access to the lower level housing the braille and quilters room, the youth room, and archival and storage spaces.
Old lower-level classroom spaces remodeled for use as a youth room (aka The Garage) at a cost of $192,000, new sound system for the sanctuary installed, and old modular building removed. New sound and lighting systems installed in Zion’s nave, provided by additional designated gifts received.
Cunningham Architects was retained to design the Recreation Outreach Center (the ROC) and a construction contract was entered into with Birch Construction to construct the ROC and related amenities, including locker rooms, concession area, lobby, covered drop-off, south side parking lot, new playground, outdoor meeting areas – the Disciples’ Court, Disciples Terrace, and Believers’ Way – and refurbished Colonnade between the Sanctuary and south school entrance at a cost of $5,756,696 with total development costs estimated excess of $6,100,000.
Substantial completion of the Realize the Vision project (the ROC) was celebrated on August 1st with a Grand Opening and Dedicatory Eucharist offered on August 20th.
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