New pastor settles at St. John Lutheran
MARS — A longtime resident has taken his seat in the office at St. John Lutheran Church, 420 Beaver St.
The Rev. Robert Zimmerman began serving as pastor at the church July 1.
“On my first day, I rode on the parade float with the vacation Bible school kids in the Mars 4th of July parade,” Zimmerman said.
A Jackson Township resident for 30 years, Zimmerman accepted the job at St. John Lutheran after serving at St. Luke Lutheran Church in West View, Allegheny County, since 2007.
Zimmerman enjoyed his time at St. Luke but said he wants to serve the Mars congregation for the future.
“The difference is that there’s a geographic community,” Zimmerman said of Mars. “In West View there was a town, but it was really still that Pittsburgh sprawl.
“The church is part of the community here. I’m hoping to stay here as long as God calls me,” said Zimmerman.
He said St. John also has more young families and children than did his previous church.
In addition to leading worship services, Zimmerman teaches Sunday school, Bible study and confirmation classes.
He said the congregation members have been “wonderful” as he settles into his new routine.
“The people have been really helpful,” he said. “They make you feel right at home.”
Zimmerman has a wife, Carol, and a grown son, Geoff, and daughter, Christie, plus two granddaughters.
After being a stay-at-home father for 18 years and then working in retail sales, Zimmerman began taking classes at age 40 at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He graduated with a master’s degree in divinity in 2007 from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg and was called to pastor at St. Luke in West View.
His hobbies include swimming, sailing and reading. Zimmerman also enjoys playing clarinet and piano in several groups and substituting for organists at a few churches.
