Long before the advent of global positioning systems, the tall white steeple of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Old Zionsville served as a landmark for travelers journeying to and from Philadelphia on the old stage coach route now known as King's Highway.

When the spire came into view, they knew they were approaching the southern border of Lehigh County.

The picturesque silhouette has graced the landscape since 1876 when the church that still stands replaced the Union church constructed before the Civil War.

The roots of the congregation date back even further. On May 20, 1757, almost 20 years before the start of the Revolutionary War, a German immigrant named Peter Hittel donated an acre of land at the crest of a rural hillside to a group of his fellow Lutherans, who built a log church and a cemetery there. For many years parishioners worshipped entirely in German. It wasn't until 1895 that English was heard during Sunday services, and then only once a month. Some services continued to be conducted in German until 1945.

This year members of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church are celebrating 250 years of continuous worship on the site with special activities almost every month. All are open to the public.

The festivities begin on February 3, when the Reverend David R. Strobel, the bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, will lead the regular worship service at 10:30 a.m.

In the months that follow that service, the congregation will have such special activities as the flute choir from Millersville University, the Singing Boys of Pennsylvania, Zion's own vocal and bell choirs in a program of sacred and contemporary music, a concert by The Teen Challenge Choir at 4 p.m., and a Pennsylvania German program by the 5 Miller Brothers from the Blandon area.

During the summer, weather permitting, several worship services will be held outside. The site of outdoor services overlooks the church cemetery where the oldest known grave is that of Johann Jacob Agster, born on August 13, 1768.

For more information about the anniversary celebration, including dates of special activities, church history and/or Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church's ministries, visit the congregation's Web site at http://oldzions.com/anniversay.aspx, or contact the church office at 610-966-3834 or zions@ptd.net.