WHO WE ARE

OUR HISTORY

The history of Zion Lutheran Church is the story of Everett, Washington. During the later part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth-century scores of immigrants came, searching for useful work and opportunities for a better life. The Swedish people who made Everett their home needed to worship and learn in their native language.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church of Seattle held services, performed weddings, confirmations and baptisms as well as burial services for the Swedish people of Everett until the arrival of Zion’s first pastor-missionary, John A. Levin, at the end of the nineteenth century. Meeting in halls, homes, and rented quarters, this small beginning saw the formation of Zion on September 10, 1901.

An important part of our early history were the many meals, meetings, and bake sales and dinners that raised the funds for the construction of our first church building in 1903 on Oakes Avenue near Pacific Avenue, followed in 1908 by our second building at 24th and Wetmore. Everett High School needed room for expansion and bought our property after the congregation had secured the present site at 47th and Alger Avenue in the south part of the city. The current building was started in 1961 and completed in 1963.

Pastors who have served Zion Lutheran Church:

  1. Stud. Pastor J. A. Levin

  2. Pastor A. G. Sandell

  3. Stud. Pastor Eph. Cedar

  4. Pastor John Gullans

  5. Pastor A. V. Anderson

  6. Pastor G. W. Henry

  7. Pastor M. L. Swanson

  8. Pastor C. G. H. Ahnquist

  9. Stud. Pastor Harry Lundblad

  10. Pastor John Billdt

  11. Pastor Joseph Anderson

  12. Pastor Caryl Benson

  13. Pastor Merton L. Lundquist

  14. Pastor Alden Thompson

  15. Pastor Eugene Strinden

  16. Pastor Everett Jensen

  17. Pastor Leslie J. Larson

  18. Pastor J. B. Brandt

  19. Pastor Jeannine Daggett

  20. Pastor Joe Kutzke

  21. Deacon Jan Cherry.

OUR MISSIONS:

We at Zion believe very strongly in the power of serving the community. Serving isn’t some trick to create growth, or some way to tie God’s hands and force Him to grow your church, serving is a way to treat people the way God wants to see them treated, and it’s the very essence of God’s personality. That’s why it’s so powerful.

Of course, the hardest part of serving is figuring out how to help which is why we’ve chosen these nine non-profits to financially support in our community:

  1. Northwest Washington Synod ElCA Region 1B

  2. ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response

  3. World Vision

  4. Housing Hope

  5. Compass Health

  6.  Bethany NW

  7. Cocoon House

  8. Everett Gospel Mission

  9. United Way of Snohomish County

OUR AFFILIATION:

The ELCA is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a strong belief in God as made known to us in Jesus Christ. Through worship, service, and education, we practice our faith, grow our relationship with God and experience God’s grace in our lives.

Follow this link to learn more about what we believe.