Wayne Zion prepares to celebrate sesquicentennial

   On June 1, of this year, 2022, Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in rural Monticello celebrates 150 years of faith life as a congregation.

   Festivities to commemorate the history of Wayne Zion will begin on Sunday, June 26, and continue over the next three months. One Sunday each month, a special service will honor past years of ministry and sharing the Good News of God through Jesus Christ. The culminating service will be on Sept. 25, as we welcome Bishop Amy Current from the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA. Following the service at the church, a dinner and program will be held at the Berndes Center in Monticello.

   The theme for our sesquicentennial is “Celebrating 150 years of Sharing the Good News.” On June 26, Rev. Gary Hatcher of Garnavillo, who served Wayne Zion from 1986-92, will be our guest preacher, as we celebrate the pastors who ministered over the years. All are welcome to attend the 9 a.m. worship service, followed by a potluck meal in our Social Hall.

   On June 1, 1872, 16 families of the Lutheran faith bonded together to organize Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa. The original charter members were John Bodeker, Harm Edzards, Harm Folkers, Henry Frerichs, William Rieken Grumm, Harm Harms, Johann Hinrich Harms, Willm Helgens, Johann Hinrich Pageler, John Dietrich Poppe, Heinrich Rickels, Albert Siemers, Johann Stutt, Bernhard Hinrich Tobiason, Michael Rieken Tobiason, and Arend Zimmermann. Rev. Johann J. Oetjen was the first minister, also serving St. John’s Lutheran Church at the time.

   The first house of worship, a single 28-foot-by-48-foot structure, was built upon land purchased from Willm Helgens and Albert Siemers and dedicated in December 1873. Two thirds of this structure was used as a church and the remainder of the building was used as the pastor’s home.

   Wayne Zion has called 12 ordained pastors since its beginning in 1872. The first eight are Rev. J. Oetjen, 1872 to 1878; Rev. Christoph G. Mardorf, 1878-1918; Rev. J. P. Willms, 1918-38; Rev. Frederick Kehren, 1938-58; Rev. Otto Zwanziger, 1958-62; Rev. Luther Wachholz, 1962-68; Rev. Harvey O. Gilbertson, 1968-86; and Rev. Gary Hatcher, 1986-92.

   Our ninth pastor was Rev. Eugene Schipper, from December 1993 to 2006. Pastor Jonathan Kosec was 10^th, serving from 2007-10. Pastor Ellery Dykeman was called in May 2011 and served to 2014.

   Our current pastor is Rev. Wade E. Reddy, installed here in 2015. Pastor Reddy is a second-career minister, having worked 27 years in health care administration. His ability to relate to people young and old has helped grow the congregation, with over 70 baptisms in his first seven years.

   Wayne Zion continues to thrive.

   Worship information and upcoming events can be found on our website, waynezion.org. All are welcome to attend our anniversary celebration on Sunday, June 26. Call the church office at 319-465-4834 for more information.