Zacchaeus Church Sauerlach | Worship & Community Center

The Zacchaeus Church in Sauerlach is much more than an evangelical house of worship. Located at Kirchstraße 42, it connects church space, community center, and future meeting center in a place that plays a special role for the Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation of Holzkirchen. The community describes the Zacchaeus Church as a second church and the seat of the second parish; at the same time, it has been further developed since the renovation as a barrier-free, inclusive space for worship, culture, and encounters. Those looking for photos of the Zacchaeus Church, directions, worship times, or special architectural details will find a building with a strong signature, a clear liturgical order, and an open understanding of community. This mix makes the church attractive to visitors, community members, families, and culture enthusiasts: it appears calm, independent, and inviting, showing how a classic church building can be reimagined as a contemporary neighborhood center. ([holzkirchen-evangelisch.de](https://holzkirchen-evangelisch.de/kirchen-und-gemeindezentren/))

Photos, Architecture, and the Unique Appearance

Anyone who photographs the Zacchaeus Church quickly realizes that the place thrives on clear lines and strong individual motifs. The slender church tower is noticeable from afar, giving the building a recognizable silhouette and making the small church unmistakable in the local landscape of Sauerlach. The courtyard is particularly defining: there stands a mulberry fig tree, which recalls the biblical story of Zacchaeus and makes the name of the church immediately visible. The community describes this courtyard as one of the hallmarks of the building because it not only has architectural significance but also carries a substantive message: it is about openness, arrival, and a space where people are welcome. Inside the church, the design is deliberately simple. The church has only three windows, yet it does not feel cramped; thanks to the high church ceiling and the white-painted walls, it feels bright and calm. This combination of security and spaciousness makes the interior particularly interesting for photos, as light, wall surfaces, and the clear forms of the furnishings come into their own. The choice of materials is also remarkable: the pulpit or ambo, altar, and baptismal font are made of uniform Nagelfluh and stand side by side at the front of the room. The bronze altar cross and the baptismal font were designed by Manfred Bergmeister; additionally, on the organ loft, there is a Zacchaeus frieze by Hugo Distler, which depicts the encounter of Jesus with Zacchaeus in image form. With the three-dimensional artwork Ecclesia by Claudia Linz from 2003, the church also possesses a modern image of faith that makes brightness, community, and care visible. All these elements explain why the Zacchaeus Church is sought not only as a house of worship but also as an architectural and photographic motif: it combines evangelical simplicity with a strong artistic profile. ([holzkirchen-evangelisch.de](https://holzkirchen-evangelisch.de/kirchen-und-gemeindezentren/))

Worship Services, Communion, and Spiritual Life

The Zacchaeus Church remains a clear liturgical place even in change. According to the current community page, the Sunday service in Sauerlach continues to be celebrated at 11:00 AM, as a fixed part of the church life of the Holzkirchen community. In addition, the community usually celebrates Communion with grape juice and wine on the first Sunday of the month; children are explicitly allowed to participate in Communion. This shows how family-friendly and open the community understands its worship service. Another recurring event is the open prayer meeting on the last Sunday of the month at 6:30 PM. There, believers gather for a devotion to pray for the coming week and for the world. Additionally, there are church coffee offerings on several Sundays of the month, which shape the worship service not only as a liturgical event but also as a social meeting point. The community also mentions ecumenical services and ecumenical youth services as important forms of togetherness; they are part of a church understanding that thinks beyond its own borders. The current pages of the community also show that Sauerlach is not only a Sunday location but a diverse meeting point for further formats. Throughout the year, lectures, encounters, and events take place in the Zacchaeus Church meeting center, which further expands the community character. Thus, the Zacchaeus Church is not just a space for the classic Sunday service but a house for spiritual practice in various forms: Communion, prayer, conversation, singing, ecumenical encounters, and shared responsibility. This is precisely where its strength lies. Therefore, those searching for the Zacchaeus Church Evangelical-Lutheran Church are not looking for a mere church space in Sauerlach but a lively community with recurring rituals, open offerings, and a clear connection to families, children, youth, and older people. ([zachaeuskirche.de](https://www.zachaeuskirche.de/gottesdienst/gottesdienste-zachaeus))

Directions to the Zacchaeus Church in Sauerlach

The accessibility of the Zacchaeus Church is a crucial point for many visitors, and here the community provides very concrete information. The church is located at Kirchstraße 42 in Sauerlach and can be reached from the Sauerlach S-Bahn station in about ten minutes on foot. This is interesting for all those arriving by S-Bahn who prefer a short, manageable route. For drivers, the directions are also uncomplicated: from the A8 Munich-Salzburg, take exit 96 Hofoldinger Forst / Sauerlach towards the town; from the A95 Munich-Garmisch, continue via exit 6 Münsing / Wolfratshausen. The community also mentions the thoroughfare roads Hofoldinger Straße and Wolfratshausener Straße or St 2070 as direct routes to the destination. Thus, the Zacchaeus Church is easily accessible from both the southern Munich area and the surrounding region. For the search intent Zacchaeus Church directions, this is particularly helpful because the location can be clearly positioned: Sauerlach is not a hard-to-reach, hidden location but a place with train connections and good road access. The official representation emphasizes the easy accessibility rather than complicated logistics. This fits the character of the church, which fundamentally presents itself as open and low-threshold. Therefore, those arriving from Holzkirchen, Otterfing, Munich, or the surrounding area will find a site that is well-developed not only for community members but also for guests, speakers, concert visitors, and participants in events. Especially in connection with the new meeting center, this location is important because an open neighborhood place only truly works if it is easily accessible in everyday life. The fact that the community explicitly mentions the routes also shows how strongly it sees itself as an approachable and accessible location. ([holzkirchen-evangelisch.de](https://holzkirchen-evangelisch.de/kirchen-und-gemeindezentren/))

Meeting Center, Accessibility, and Events

The renovation of the Zacchaeus Church is one of the most exciting chapters in its recent development. The Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation of Holzkirchen describes the project as a step towards a barrier-free, inclusive, and open meeting center for all. In the current texts of the community and in the community newsletter, it becomes clear that this approach is not only architecturally conceived but also as a neighborhood idea: people of different backgrounds, religions, cultures, life situations, and with or without disabilities should find spaces for encounters there. The WIR neighborhood pursues exactly this goal and aims to break down barriers that can be architectural, cultural, or linguistic. The new space is therefore not intended as an exclusive community hall but as a place where projects, networking, and exchange can take place. This becomes particularly concrete in the description of the new rooms: there is a large hall with a projector, a group room with a large screen, Wi-Fi in both areas, a lounge with seating and a coffee machine, as well as a kitchen with an accessible, height-adjustable stove and sink. Additionally, there are underfloor heating and terraces that are to be further equipped in spring. Such details show that the meeting center is designed for versatile use: film evenings, concerts, readings, and small arts fit in just as well as parent-child groups, yoga, meditation, and communal cooking. This is exactly where the search interest in terms like Zacchaeus Church meeting center or Zacchaeus Church barrier-free connects. The community also provides real examples from the program: there have been and are formats such as silent disco for youth, inclusion theater, musical events, lectures, and art-related presentations. The Zacchaeus Church thus becomes a place where church and neighborhood intertwine. It is not just a Sunday ship for worship but also a weekly space for everyday life, culture, and inclusion. Those looking for a modern, open, multifunctional church location will find a rare example of how a historic sacred building can be integrated into a contemporary community. ([holzkirchen-evangelisch.de](https://holzkirchen-evangelisch.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GG-Nov-Feb_25-WEB-1.pdf))

History, Inauguration, and Artistic Significance

The history of the Zacchaeus Church begins in the early 1960s. According to historical records, Pastor Herwig Herr laid the foundation stone on November 10, 1962, during an outdoor service; the topping-out ceremony was celebrated on April 25, 1963, and the church was inaugurated on November 10, 1963. The construction history is thus closely tied to the time of church building in a growing community. The architect named is Franz Lichtblau, who is known for several evangelical church buildings in Upper Bavaria; the artistic design was taken over by Hubert Distler. The evangelical church was and is a special marker in Sauerlach because the community is not visible through a multitude of evangelical buildings but through this one clear place. The official community page describes the Zacchaeus Church as the second church of the community and highlights its location, its tower, and the courtyard. The name itself is theologically charged: Zacchaeus represents repentance, invitation, and new community in the biblical narrative. This meaning is reflected in the courtyard with the mulberry fig tree and in the artistic program of the church. The sgraffito by Hugo Distler tells parts of the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus and makes it visible that everyone is invited and welcomed. For this reason, the church still feels like a place where people with different faith experiences can arrive well. The connection of construction history, art, and symbolism is strong enough to make the Zacchaeus Church an identity-forming place for Sauerlach. At the same time, this history fits very well into the present: from a church space of 1963, a meeting center of the 21st century emerges, without losing the spiritual core. The community itself links this change with inclusion, openness, and the common good. Thus, the Zacchaeus Church remains historically a place that not only looks back but also thinks forward. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach%C3%A4uskirche_%28Sauerlach%29?utm_source=openai))

Music, Culture, and Community Events

Another reason why the Zacchaeus Church in Sauerlach is so often sought is its vibrant cultural and musical life. The community refers to the Evangelical Singing Circle, which rehearses on Fridays from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the Zacchaeus Church meeting center. Everyone who enjoys singing is invited; reading music is not a prerequisite. New and traditional spiritual songs are sung, mostly a cappella, along with gospels, motets, cantatas, and also secular choral pieces. This openness fits well with the profile of the house: music is not an accessory here but a form of community. In addition, the community mentions other musical and cultural formats such as the band Road 42, cultural events, evenings in Advent, brass choir, and Voices of the World. The current event pages also show that the Zacchaeus Church or the meeting center is used as a place for lectures, artistic presentations, and inclusive formats. The community calendar already lists dates for 2026 in the Zacchaeus Church meeting center, underscoring the active operation and sending a strong signal to visitors looking for programs or events. The mix of church music, community choir, cultural work, and inclusive events makes the place particularly versatile. Therefore, those searching for Zacchaeus Church photos, programs, events, or a special church space in Sauerlach do not encounter a rigid monument but a lively place in transition. This is precisely what makes it appealing: the architecture remains recognizable, the religious identity is preserved, and yet the space opens up for new forms of culture and encounters. This combination of tradition and contemporary use is important not only for the community but also for all those seeking a characterful location with spiritual depth in the southern Munich area. The Zacchaeus Church is thus a place where music, faith, and neighborhood naturally come together. ([holzkirchen-evangelisch.de](https://holzkirchen-evangelisch.de/musik-und-kultur/?utm_source=openai))

Sources:

• Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation Holzkirchen - Churches and Community Centers
• Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation Holzkirchen - Diaconia and Inclusion
• Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation Holzkirchen - Worship Services and Spirituality
• Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation Holzkirchen - Music and Culture
• Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation Holzkirchen - Home
• Wikipedia - Zacchaeus Church (Sauerlach)