On a quiet block in downtown Mount Clemens, Zion United Church of Christ has gathered around Word and sacrament since 1854. The brick sanctuary at the corner of New and Market streets has watched the Macomb County seat change around it, while inside, German-speaking immigrants once worshipped in the same space where today's congregation now gathers each Sunday at 9 a.m. The motto that runs beneath the church's name, "Deep in Faith, Rich in Heritage, Building for the Future," is less a slogan than a sentence stitched into the building itself.
The First German Protestant Congregation in Mount Clemens
Zion's story begins in 1854, when a small group of German-speaking immigrants organized what became the first German Protestant congregation in Mount Clemens. Its founding trustees came from three corners of German-speaking Europe: John Rossow and Abraham Devantier from Prussia, John William Miller and Carsten Roecker from Hanover, and John Charles Reimold and John George Murthum from Württemberg. The founding congregation called itself Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and operated as a free congregation, a place that welcomed Lutherans, Calvinists, Huguenots, and other Protestants alike. The ministers who served in those formative years came from Methodist, Lutheran, and Evangelical backgrounds.
In its first years, the congregation worshipped in the Macomb County Courthouse. In 1862, it purchased the site it still occupies, a former Methodist Academy. The nave of the present brick sanctuary was built by Minard Barr in 1880; the tower and transepts followed in 1895. For the better part of a century, German was the language of worship and of the church's records. That shift came during the long pastorate of the Reverend F.A. Roese, who served from 1903 to 1926, when English gradually became the language of the service.
In the early twentieth century, the congregation turned its attention outward, helping to support the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital and the Evangelical Home for Children and Aged in Detroit. In 1961, the church adopted its present name, Zion United Church of Christ.
Sundays at Nine
Worship at Zion centers on a single Sunday morning service that begins at 9 a.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for those gathering in person. The service moves through the rhythms familiar to a United Church of Christ congregation: scripture, sermon, prayer, and the weekly breaking of bread together that Acts 2:42 calls the early church's first devotion. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, as well as on holy days such as Christmas Eve and Easter. All are welcome to receive, regardless of confirmation or membership status.
For those who cannot make the trip to New Street, or who live elsewhere, every Sunday's service goes live at 9 a.m. on the church's YouTube channel. Recordings are uploaded again on Mondays and remain available in the church's online library, so anyone can catch up later in the week.
What to Wear, Where to Park
Business casual is the most common attire among regular worshipers, though the congregation is clear that there is no dress code. Whatever is appropriate and worn in worship of the Lord is welcome.
The only entrance open for Sunday worship is the New Street door. All other doors are locked during business hours. Street parking is available on New Street, and the Mount Clemens parking lot across the street offers additional spaces. The Market Street lot behind the building serves visitors during weekdays but has limited availability.
The Choir Loft and the Bell Table
Music is woven into nearly every Sunday at Zion. The Zion Vocal Choir sings a wide range of repertoire, from contemporary worship pieces like "Days of Elijah" and "I Will Rise" to traditional anthems such as "People of the Good News." The Zion Handbell Choir performs arrangements like Ron Mallory's "Everything to God in Prayer" and Arnold B. Sherman's "Song of Thanksgiving." Soloists round out the program. Alexander Moore has performed "The Lord's Prayer" and "You Raise Me Up," a preserved recording pairs organist Lori Almasy with John Prahl's 1989 performance of Felix Borowski's "Adoration," and Mike Novak has sung "This Is My Father's World" for Father's Day services. A volunteer "Stream Team" handles the recordings.
These performances are gathered on the church's anthems page, so visitors can return to favorite pieces long after the service ends.
The Stained Glass Windows
What many visitors remember most about the sanctuary is the collection of stained glass windows. In 2021, longtime church leader Bill Prahl led a four-part mini-series that walked viewers through the windows from the inside of the building. Part one introduced some of the largest and most striking windows, including a hidden gem that most who sit in the pews cannot easily see. Parts two and three each covered six of the twelve disciples, part two on the left side of the sanctuary and part three on the right. Part four featured the beloved Creation window and another tucked-away corner, with Prahl pointing out a well-camouflaged element within the scene. As he put it, "We have some of the best windows around."
The current windows were dedicated on October 22, 1978. To mark the event, member Florence Rocker contributed a poem titled "A New Beginning." Its lines called the church to be "a church of the Open Door ... A church of courage, that reaches out to all God's people, that welcomes our ever-changing community." The image still guides how the congregation thinks of itself.
Mission and Outreach Across Macomb County
The phrase "church of the Open Door" fits more than the building. The Board of Missions and Outreach has built a steady rhythm of mission projects each year. In recent seasons the congregation has supported Valentine's Day bags for area veterans, a scholarship for an LGBTQ+ camper at Camp Talahi, baby supplies for Compassion Pregnancy in Clinton Township, and ongoing stocking of St. Peter's Little Free Pantry at New and Pine streets in Mount Clemens. The church funded 43 study Bibles for Grace Centers of Hope's men's Bible study in Pontiac, packed and distributed 100 care bags for Macomb County's homeless neighbors, and filled 40 Christmas stockings for children served by Macomb Foster Closet.
School supplies flow regularly to Macomb Foster Closet. Clothing goes to Second Hand Rose in support of Turning Point in Mount Clemens, and self-care products go to McRest, the local homeless shelter. The congregation supports KnowResolve, an organization promoting suicide awareness and prevention, and gathers twice a year for a Valentine's Day party and summer picnic that bring members and friends together around food and conversation. Anyone aware of an organization needing help is invited to be in touch with the office.
Children, Youth, and the Boards that Shape the Year
Children have a regular place in worship at Zion. Pastor Scott Davis leads Children's Sermons that adapt the morning's message for younger ears; recordings are preserved on the church's Children's Sermons page. The Youth and Young Adult Group, led by Heather Lang, keeps the next generation connected between Sundays. A team of board chairs, including Judy Bray (Christian Education), Marjorie Mann (Worship), Janis Alousi (Missions and Outreach), John Fitzgerald (Facilities), and Debbie Johnson (Church Council President), works alongside the Women's Fellowship and other committees to guide the congregation's ministry.
The Memorial Garden
Behind the building lies Zion Memorial Garden, where cremated remains of church members and loved ones are interred and remembered. Names and dates are listed on the Garden Memorials page, which the church plans to expand with photographs. Family members who would like to share pictures can do so by emailing the church office.
Pastoral Care and Office Hours
Pastor Davis keeps office hours at the church on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and remains available by appointment. In cases of emergency or need of pastoral support, he can be reached after hours. The church secretary is in the office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to visit the church during the week should coordinate with the office in advance, as only the New Street entrance is open during business hours.
Giving and Membership
Zion offers several ways to give. Online gifts can be made through PayPal with a major credit or debit card. A downloadable Direct Deposit form is available for those who want to set up recurring gifts, and checks made out to Zion United Church of Christ can be mailed to 68 New St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043. Cash or check may also be dropped off at the office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on Sunday mornings before worship.