Zion Lutheran Church sits on a half-block site at 1015 SW 18th Avenue in Portland, a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod with roots in the German immigrant community of the late nineteenth century. Today the congregation is known for two distinctive things: a building widely regarded as one of the finest examples of mid-century church architecture in the city, and a worship life that retains a strong German-language tradition alongside the English Divine Service.
A Pietro Belluschi Sanctuary on SW 18th Avenue
The building in which Zion worships today was designed by the world-famous architect Pietro Belluschi and dedicated in 1950. It was acclaimed immediately as exemplary contemporary church architecture and has since been designated a Portland Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The original 1890 church, built in the Gothic Revival style, stood for sixty years on the corner lot of the present site before being replaced. What replaced it carries a copper-clad spire that rises above the surrounding streets, with a cross at its pinnacle as the primary symbol of Christianity. A sheltered front courtyard creates a sense of separation from the noise of the city. Worshipers enter through copper doors sculpted in repoussé by the artist Frederic Littman, whose design of ascending angels sets the tone for what is to come. Inside, morning light passes through a window wall of amber and violet glass onto the altar and cross that sit at the center of Lutheran worship. Embossed on the front altar are the symbols of the heavenly Zion, the final home of the redeemed: the crown of life, the palms of victory, and the stars of heaven.
Zion's sanctuary is meant to be a haven for prayer and praise and a place where the spirit is renewed to do God's work in the world for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Worship in the Lutheran Tradition
Zion's mission statement is to "live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Jesus." The vision of the congregation is "to be disciples of Jesus who love and serve all, cultivating mercy and the transformation of our city by the power of the gospel." Five values shape the life of the church: Love, Prayer, God's Word, Generosity, and Joy. Together they describe a congregation that honors liturgical worship and traditional music, centers itself on the Word and Sacraments, and seeks to be visible, accessible, and relevant in its community.
Sunday worship follows the Lutheran liturgy, centered on the saving, forgiving, and reconciling work of God in Christ Jesus. The service is printed in the bulletin in an easy-to-follow format. Holy Communion is served on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of the month, and on festival days. The Divine Service is held at 11:00 AM, with an Adult Bible Class at 9:45 AM. During the summer months, the service shifts to 10:00 AM. On most Sundays after worship, the congregation gathers in the Parish Hall for coffee, treats, and conversation.
Children are welcome and encouraged to join their parents in worship. A Mother's Room is available with an intercom so that parents can take care of a child's needs without missing the service.
The German Gottesdienst
On the third Sunday of each month at 9:00 AM, from September through June, Zion offers a German-language service known as the Gottesdienst. The service is led by Rev. Dr. Norm Metzler, who wears the traditional German vestments. Bulletins are printed in German with accompanying English translation so that even those new to the language can follow along. Fellowship following the service often includes an assortment of German pastries and desserts.
Pastor Metzler was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. He met his wife Mary in Walther League at Trinity Lutheran in Springfield, and he holds a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale and a doctorate in theology from Ludwig Maximilian's University in Munich. He served Grace Lutheran Church, next to the University of Oregon, for twelve years and taught at Concordia Portland for more than twenty years. He has been active throughout his career in the American Academy of Religion, the Northwest District's Asian Pacific Outreach Society, the board of Holden Village, and the German American Society of Portland. A lifelong accordion player and improvisational jazz pianist, Pastor Metzler also enjoys skiing and golf.
Music as a Form of Praise
Zion is known for its music. A dynamic combination of organ and choir, with occasional guest musicians, anchors worship. The music ministry is led by Kurt and Floy Berentsen, who have served together at Zion since 2007. Floy began serving as a church organist in Topeka, Kansas at the age of sixteen and produced a double CD set entitled "Blow the Trumpet in Zion," a collection of organ music based on the church year, produced as part of Zion's 125th anniversary celebration. Kurt directed music ministries in various churches beginning in 1975 and served Concordia University in Portland for twenty-one years as Department Chair of the Performing and Visual Arts. He is an emeritus commissioned minister in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Together the Berentsens conducted and accompanied a July 4th patriotic concert at Lincoln Center in 1991, followed by a concert conducted by John Rutter in Carnegie Hall. Samples of the choir and organ at work are available on SoundCloud.
The church quotes Martin Luther in honoring the role of music in worship: "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through Music."
Vacancy Pastor
Sunday morning preaching is provided by Rev. Jim Pressnell, who is serving as Zion's vacancy pastor. A 1982 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Pressnell first served as a linguist and Bible translator in rural Nigeria, then served two parishes in Ohio, and worked for several years as a management consultant. For the past twenty-five years he has served in executive leadership roles for faith-based organizations, including as Director of Church Relations for Concordia University Portland. He also serves as Executive Director of These Numbers Have Faces, an organization working with university students in Rwanda.
Feeding the City: Lift Urban Portland and the Vera Apartments
Zion's outreach to the city of Portland runs deep. The congregation is a charter member of Lift Urban Portland, a faith-based food bank founded in 1980 that provides food to people dealing with food insecurity in rental units throughout downtown and North Portland. Members of Zion sit on the board of LIFTUP, and the congregation is the primary sponsor of Uptown Tower on West Burnside. Volunteers deliver food boxes and bags to more than forty-five residents in four downtown buildings: Peter Paulson on the third Wednesday of every month, Hotel Alder on the third Wednesday, the Gretchen Kafoury Apartments on the second Tuesday, and Uptown Tower on the fourth Tuesday.
On the second Wednesday of every month, Zion volunteers also serve a community dinner at the Vera Apartments, where residents share food, social time, and a Bible study together.
Walking with the Vulnerable: Rose Haven and Refugee Resettlement
Zion supports Rose Haven, an organization in Portland that serves homeless and abused women and children. The congregation provides yearly grants, collects everyday items, donates food, and offers a yearly luncheon at Zion's campus to the women and children in Rose Haven's care. The Ladies Guild, the women's fellowship of Zion, organizes the Rose Haven luncheon each year. The Ladies Guild meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 11:00 AM, with a guest speaker each month and Bible study on the third Tuesday. The guild is open to women of all ages.
Zion also walks with refugees. The congregation works with Lutheran Community Services Northwest and Global Refugee to help immigrant families resettle in Oregon. Volunteers provide rental assistance, transportation, emotional support, and help navigating schools and health care for the families the church sponsors. With the assistance of SOAR Immigration Legal Services, the church has helped reunite family members through the US Embassy process.
Beyond these partnerships, Zion extends financial support to Pilgrim Lutheran Christian School in Beaverton, to Lutheran Latino Ministries, and to These Numbers Have Faces in Rwanda. The congregation's values frame all of this work as an expression of the generosity God has first shown to the people of Zion.
How to Find Zion
Zion is located at 1015 SW 18th Avenue in Portland. The church office can be reached at 503-221-1343. Free parking is available on Sunday mornings in the church lot on SW Main, reserved for visitors, those with mobility issues, and families with small children, as well as in the Willamette Dental parking lot on Jefferson and SW 20th (entrance via SW Jefferson). Additional parking is available in the Multnomah Athletic Club parking garage directly behind Zion. Those who park there take a ticket on entry, sign it with a pen at church, and leave it in the basket by the bulletins. During worship a volunteer collects the tickets, has them validated at the MAC, and returns them to the basket so that worshipers can exit the garage without charge.
Giving is available online through a secure donation portal, and a sermon archive with recorded worship services and German Gottesdienst services is maintained on SoundCloud. Zion is also active on Facebook and Instagram.