On a quiet block of McClintock Avenue in Belleville, Illinois, the same brick walls of Zion Lutheran Church have welcomed worshipers since 1861, the year Abraham Lincoln took office and the Civil War began. The charter for the congregation was signed on March 17 of that year by German immigrants who, in their own words through the church's history, believed Christian education went hand in hand with Christian worship, and so founded the school at nearly the same time. Today the church still describes itself with the language of family: "Zion is a Christ-centered family, serving the community by sharing God's gifts and His eternal love." Multiple generations sit in the same pews each Sunday, the school has produced multiple family dynasties (one current member, Ron Schield, counts himself as fifth-generation and traces his great-great-grandfather to those original 1861 signers), and a continuous rhythm of Bible classes, choir rehearsals, and service projects fills the week between Sundays.
Two Sunday Services, Two Musical Traditions
Zion offers two Sunday worship services that share a Lutheran liturgy but differ sharply in musical style. At 8:00 am, the sanctuary fills with a traditional service grounded in hymnody, liturgical confession and absolution, the readings and sermon of the day, and the regular sound of organ, adult choir, orchestra, and handbells. Communion is celebrated on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month at this hour.
At 10:45 am, the same Lutheran content is set to contemporary music led by the church's praise band. The liturgy is the same, but the instruments change: acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums carry songs that sound more recent than the hymns sung at the earlier hour. Communion at this service is served on the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays.
Between the two services, from 9:30 to 10:30 am, the building hums with Sunday School for children ages PreK 2 through sixth grade and confirmation class for seventh graders, both held in the school gym near the entrance with the flag pole. A full education hour is also offered for adults, with several Bible classes meeting simultaneously; the lobby monitors list the current topics and rooms. Newcomers who arrive during this hour can drop children off at Sunday School while parents attend class.
Children are welcome in worship at either service. The church's stated practice is to keep families together in the pews rather than providing a separate children's church, on the principle that it is important for children to learn how to worship by being in worship. Those who would like a change of pace can use the nursery, which is offered for children under three. Those who stay enjoy hearing "kids and everything that comes with them" treated as a welcomed part of the experience rather than a disruption.
First-time guests are greeted with a Connection Card found in the pew and a free devotional booklet waiting at the Welcome Desk. Visitors who complete an online connection card before their first visit can simply show the confirmation email at the desk to pick up the booklet. Dress is come-as-you-are, dressed up or dressed down, on your best day or your worst, you are welcome as a guest.
The Sanctuary Renewal and the Temporary Move to the School Gym
In mid-2026, Zion closed its sanctuary for an extensive renovation project and shifted all on-campus activities into the school building. Worshippers now meet at 8:00 and 10:45 am in the school gym, located inside the entrance with the flag pole, while renovations proceed. The same two services run on the same Sunday schedule; the gym simply substitutes for the sanctuary during the work. The renovation team invited members to participate in a "Building a Legacy" fundraising event in March 2026 and is working to "ensure it continues to bless others for generations to come." Until the sanctuary reopens, the music ministry, Sunday worship, and most ministry programming continue from the school side of the campus.
Children's Ministry and Zion Lutheran School
Children's ministry at Zion is built around a partnership with parents and is led by Lindsey Greenfield, the Children's Ministry Associate. Programs reach from infancy through sixth grade, with a particular focus on supporting the home as the primary place where faith is taught. Key offerings include:
- A nursery for children under three, available so parents can attend Sunday morning Bible study, with space for nursing babies and diaper changes.
- Sunday School that runs throughout the school year for ages PreK 3 through sixth grade.
- Vacation Bible School, held the third week of June for children ages PreK 3 (potty trained) through sixth grade.
- A Baptism Ministry for parents seeking to have an infant baptized.
- Faith Stepping Stones, which marks important spiritual moments in a child's development.
- Praying While We Wait, a prayer ministry for expectant families.
- Love and Logic Parent Ministry, classes offered regularly to equip parents of children at different ages.
- Family activities throughout the year.
Alongside the church stands Zion Lutheran School, a PreK through 8th grade day school focused on what its mission statement calls "Growing minds. Building character. Connecting hearts in Christ." Ananda Baron has served as principal since 2015, after several years teaching seventh grade and directing upper-grade choral music. Zion Lutheran School participates in worship occasionally at the late service and holds regular school chapels. Students can join Advanced Choir (grades 5 through 8, by tryout), Won by One (grades 5 through 8, by tryout), Advanced Band, or Beginning Band (grade 4). Several current Zion members describe three and four generations of family attendance at the school, calling the experience of Christian education "woven into every aspect of our lives."
Confirmation, Youth Ministry, and the High School Years
The youth ministry is led by Caleb Beasley, the Director of Christian Education for Youth Ministry, who joined the staff in 2025. Its goal, in his words, is for each young person to know they are loved by God, called to learn his Word, and equipped to share the Gospel with those around them.
For junior high (seventh and eighth grades), the centerpiece is Confirmation Ministry, which prepares students to publicly affirm their faith and receive Holy Communion. Annual retreats for both grades build community during the confirmation years, and the ministry adds activities and service projects throughout the year. Confirmation class itself meets during the Sunday School hour in the school gym.
For high school (ninth through twelfth grades), the program centers on Sunday Night Small Groups that meet from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Other elements include Camp Lonestar, an annual faith-building camp in Texas; the Faith Stepping Stone celebration marking the end of high school (including the "blanket blessing"); LCMS National Youth Gatherings, held every three summers; service projects and activities throughout the year; and a strong invitation for high school students to participate in the music ministry, joining choirs, orchestra, bells, or praise teams as their gifts allow.
Family Ministry, led by KerriAnn Schmid, ties children's, youth, and adult ministries together. It is described as "not a program but an approach to ministry in which we strive to partner with and equip people to make their homes places of faith growth." The team offers weekly Bible studies, Bible-based parenting classes, Love and Logic parenting classes, Faith Stepping Stone Ministry, family-friendly events for all ages, small group Bible studies, at-home study resources, parent resources, and workshops.
Adults: Bible Study, Discovery, and Sunday Morning Classes
The adults ministry at Zion functions as a kind of umbrella over several smaller groups. A Discovery Class is offered for those exploring what it means to become part of the Zion faith community. Sunday morning Bible studies run during the 9:30 to 10:30 am education hour and begin new topics at intervals; the current offerings are listed on the lobby monitors. A separate Thursday Morning Bible Study meets at 8:30 am in the youth room, is open to all, and changes topics throughout the year (it runs September through mid-May).
The music ministry welcomes adult musicians at every level, whether seasoned or new, and helps each find a place to use their talents. Love and Logic parenting classes are offered year-round for parents of children at any age.
For those who want to learn at home or supplement a study, the adults page lists resources including Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries, short topical videos from The Spiritual Howcast, video-based Bible studies of varying lengths from Lutheran Hour Ministries, and a RightNow Media library accessed through Zion's account.
Men's Ministry: Three Weekly Bible Studies and a Softball Team
Men at Zion have multiple weekly touchpoints. A Sunday Evening Men's Bible Study meets from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Alongside Commons. A Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study meets at 7:00 am in the church library and runs year-round. A Wednesday Morning Men's Bible Study meets at 6:15 am in the Alongside Commons. The Thursday Morning Bible Study (8:30 am in the youth room) is also open to men.
Beyond Bible study, the men's ministry organizes seasonal men's activities, a softball team, a men's retreat, and service days at Camp Wartburg, a Lutheran camp. The men of Zion have built a culture of multiple touchpoints a week, some of them surprisingly early in the morning, that help the men of the church stay connected with each other and with God's Word.
Women's Ministry: LWML, Bible Studies, and Blanket-Making
The women's ministry gathers around Bible study, mission work, and fellowship. Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML), the LCMS women's mission arm, meets the second Tuesday of each month from September through May at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall and hosts seasonal mission events. A Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study meets weekly at 9:00 to 10:30 am in the fellowship hall. A Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study meets at 7:00 am on the second and fourth Wednesdays in the church lower level. A Thursday Morning Bible Study at 8:30 am is also open to women.
The Linus Blanket Inc. group meets every Thursday from 9:00 to 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall, creating quilted and crocheted blankets for children in area health facilities; the group meets year-round. Seasonal women's activities and health support groups round out the ministry. Online, women can connect to Lutheran Hour Ministries daily devotions, the LWML Mustard Seed Devotion, Bible studies of different lengths, short topical videos, and in-depth video-based Bible studies.
Seniors: Luncheons, Homebound Visits, and a School in Uganda
Becky Schnitzius, a registered nurse and lifetime member of Zion, serves as the Seniors Ministry Associate. She leads a monthly Seniors in Ministry luncheon that typically meets on the fourth Friday of each month for friendship, a program, and a meal. The seniors also support a school for girls and boys in Uganda through Christ Community International. For older members who can no longer attend in person, the church's homebound and pastoral care ministry visits them at home and in nursing homes. Caregiver resources are listed on the seniors page, including information on in-home care, assisted-living, and memory care facilities, along with video-based Bible studies that seniors can do alone or with friends.
Music Ministry: Choir, Handbells, Orchestra, and Praise Band
Ryan Meyer joined Zion in 2025 as Minister of Music after twenty-one years at his previous congregation and oversees all of the church's music. His role encompasses organist, praise band, choir, handbells, and orchestra, and his favorite Bible passage, Psalm 34, sums up a ministry oriented toward giving praise in many forms.
The music ministry includes several ensembles, each with its own personality:
- Adult Choir meets Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm in the balcony. Open to ages twelve and up, it sings primarily at the 8:00 am service and at special music events. The only stated requirement is to enjoy singing praises to the Savior.
- Handbell Choir meets Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm (just before choir). Open to ages twelve and up, it plays at Sunday services and special events. Reading music is helpful but not required.
- Intergenerational Ringers meet Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am. Open to any age, this ensemble is built for anyone available during daytime hours.
- Men's Vocal Ensemble meets the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 am, open to men and women with low voices who want a short-term commitment. They sing the following Sunday at one or both services.
- Orchestra and Instrumentals meets Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Open to all instrumentalists ages twelve and up, the orchestra generally plays at the 8:00 am service and at special events, sometimes as a full group, sometimes as small ensembles or solos.
- Zion Christmas Choir meets Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in November and December for a Christmas Concert on the third Sunday in December. Open to ages twelve and up, including members of the community.
- Praise Band / Team provides music for the 10:45 am contemporary service. Instruments include acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, keyboards, and drums, with both male and female vocals. Membership is by tryout with the Minister of Music.
The Music Ministry Christmas Concert, held each December, brings together the adult choir, praise band, handbells, and orchestra for an afternoon of seasonal music.
Serve: Care Ministry, Food 4 Kids, and Saturday of Service
Zion organizes its serving opportunities around two main events each year, the spring and fall Saturday of Service days, and a portfolio of year-round partnerships. The Care Ministry sends volunteers to help members with practical needs like gutter cleaning, home or car repair, and moving. Outside the church, Zion partners with:
- The Community Interfaith Food Pantry.
- Unity Lutheran School in East St. Louis, where volunteers work in the library.
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which ministers to people in north St. Louis, helping sort and organize clothing and food.
- St. Clair County Animal Services, helping with cleaning, laundry, organizing donations, and playing with animals.
- The Violence Prevention Center Shelter Shop, counting puzzle and game pieces for the resale shop or volunteering at the shop itself.
- Safe Families for Children, assembling freezer meals for foster families.
- The Angel Tree program at Christmas, providing gifts for the children of incarcerated parents.
- Food 4 Kids, a backpack ministry that fills backpacks with nonperishable food for children facing food insecurity over weekends and holidays.
- Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan's Purse project providing Christmas boxes for children around the world.
- Leaf Raking, a fall service day where families sign up to help older or disabled members handle autumn leaves.
- Christ Community International, a school for girls and boys in Uganda supported through the Seniors in Ministry group.
Within the church, service roles include greeters, hospitality team, ushers, altar guild, emergency response team, gardening and grounds, senior care, Sunday School teachers and helpers, the Sunday Morning Technology Team, Vacation Bible School teachers and helpers, and many others. Zion Lutheran School also welcomes volunteers in the lunch room, library, and at special events.
Online Worship and the Connection Card
Both Sunday services are livestreamed on YouTube so that members who are sick, traveling, working on Sunday, or otherwise unable to attend in person can still worship with the congregation. Online worshippers are encouraged to participate actively by singing along, speaking the creed and prayers, and taking notes, as well as to gather with others when possible and to give online. The church office asks online attendees to complete an online connection card so the pastors and staff know who joined the service from a distance. Past sermons remain available on the church's YouTube channel.
What Zion Believes
Zion summarizes its core beliefs in plain terms on its About page. First, the church teaches that all humans have sinned and are in need of forgiveness. That forgiveness, the church says, was accomplished by Jesus' life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. As Lutherans, Zion's members place a strong focus on salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as revealed in the Bible. Pastors are glad to talk further about these convictions and offer a Discovery Class that walks through the essentials of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective. Communion is open to all baptized and confirmed Christians who share Zion's Lutheran confession of faith; those of a different confession are invited to speak with a pastor before communing. Gluten-free wafers and grape juice are available for those who need them.
Staff and Leadership
Pastor Chris Spelbring has served as Zion's Senior Pastor since November 2022, having joined the congregation in 2015 as Associate Pastor after being ordained in 2011 at First Lutheran Church in Venice, California. He and his wife Faith have four children.
KerriAnn Schmid has been on staff since 2001, when she came to Zion right out of college to lead Youth Ministry. She now leads Family Ministry, expanding the Bible study and serving opportunities available to families. Her husband, JP, is a teacher at Zion Lutheran School.
Caleb Beasley joined the staff in 2025 to lead the Youth Ministry program. He and his wife live in the Belleville area, and in his free time he can be found watching sports, cooking, at the gym, or enjoying the outdoors.
Ryan Meyer came to Zion in 2025 after twenty-one years at his previous congregation. As Minister of Music, he oversees organ, praise band, choir, handbells, and orchestra. He and his wife Anne have four children, and his favorite Bible passage is Psalm 34.
Ananda Baron has served as Principal of Zion Lutheran School since 2015, after several years as the seventh-grade homeroom teacher and upper-grade choral music director. She and her husband Chris often play and sing in the praise band, and she recently completed a Master of Arts in School Administration.
Becky Schnitzius, a registered nurse and lifetime member of Zion, joined the staff in 2021 as the Seniors Ministry Associate. Lindsey Greenfield, also a lifetime member and a graduate of Zion Lutheran School, joined the staff in 2022 as the Children's Ministry Associate and also works full-time as a flight RN. Tim Reeb serves as Director of Finance and Administration, and Carol Kalkwarf serves as the Church Office Administrator, having joined the team in 2020.
Giving and the New Member Class
Offerings at Zion can be made in person during worship, by mail, dropped off at the church office, given via electronic banking, or made online through Pushpay, the church's online giving partner. The giving page quotes 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 on cheerful generosity and reminds members that everything they have comes from God and is to be used faithfully as a steward.
Those who want to formally join the church can sign up for the New Member Class, which meets on Monday evenings over several weeks in the Alongside Commons. The class covers the essentials of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective as well as practical details about membership at Zion.
A Family Church That Has Been Through Generations Together
Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville is, in its own words, "a Christ-centered family" that has been welcoming worshipers for more than a century and a half. From the German founders who chartered the congregation in 1861 to the families today who describe their great-great-grandfathers as original signers, the church has built a rhythm that joins traditional Lutheran worship with a contemporary second service, a deep investment in Christian education, a robust music ministry that fills balconies and gymnasiums with song, and a steady cadence of Bible studies, choir rehearsals, and service days that fill the rest of the week. Whether visitors come from across town, from Scott Air Force Base, or from another state via the livestream on YouTube, they are likely to find multiple members' stories that begin with the same line: they walked in, were welcomed, and stayed.