Hilltop Headlines

8:00am:

Elders: Mark Breckenridge, Wayne Cavalier

Organist: Brittany Mahn

Communion/Offering Assistant: Brian Foster, Howard Horton

Donut Pickup: Alan Neumann

Greeters: Kathy Greer, Joyce Boriack

Ushers: Stanley & Audrey Bielss

Hilltop Cafe: Dawn Efaw-Muchow

Golf Cart Driver: Griffin Fuller

Audio: Chad Mathews

Presentation: Clay Braun

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

10:45am:

Elders: Bert Holmstrom, Mark Tlapak

Greeters/Ushers: Brandon & Abby Roznovak, Susan Holmstrom

Hilltop Cafe: Kelly & Nate Smith

Communion Assistants: David Kluth, Karen & Tom Rogers, Steve Muchow, Brad Schaefer

Golf Cart Driver: Darrell Heald

Presentation: Alisha Johnson

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Home $23,734.62; General $9,381.15; Operating Fund $44,626.86; Annual Fund $15,402.65; Pam Hight Scholarship Fund $975.30; Capital Improvements $750.39; Handbells $100; Missions $410; Field House $357.84; School Annual Fund $195; Capital Campaign $2,200

Attendance: January 5: 8:00am - 168; 10:45am - 306

10% of General Funds go to the following organizations: TX Dist LCMS, CHS Round Rock, Water Mission, Camp Lone Star, Brookwood in Georgetown, Faith in Action, Rev. John H. Kieschnick Endowment: $1,034.58

Dear Zion family –

2025 is off to a great start! You may have noticed a Connex box down the hill by the field. This is in preparation to begin work on a new fieldhouse that will help expand our athletics program and offer a place for concessions when we host games. This project is thanks to some generous donors who love our school. If you’d like to donate to the fieldhouse project, you can write a check to Zion with “Fieldhouse” in the memo portion, or you can donate electronically by clicking here.

We’re looking for volunteers to serve in children’s ministry at 9:30 am on Sundays. Our awesome children’s ministry leaders will make sure you have everything you need to share a Bible story, enjoy a snack, and, most importantly, touch children’s hearts with Jesus’ love. All the prep is done for you. All you have to do is show up and serve! If you’d like to make a big difference in a little life, reach out to Rachel Mayberry at rachel.mayberry@zionwalburg.org.

One of the things your pastors encourage you to do all the time is to be in God’s Word. Reading the Bible is a perfect way to grow your faith, encourage you in your day, and deepen your walk with Jesus. Beginning this Sunday, we’ll be reading through the Old Testament together as a congregation. All it takes is 10 to 15 minutes a day to read through the Old Testament in nine months. Pick up a Bible reading plan in the narthex or lobby. The plan has additional resources that can help you understand the Bible better. Make 2025 the year you commit to reading the Bible!

This Sunday in worship, we kick off a new series called “History’s Most Memorable Message,” where we’ll be studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Countless sermons have been preached over the history of the Church, but none as memorable, foundational, and formational as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This weekend, we’ll look at a series of beatitudes, or blessings, that Jesus uses to open His sermon in Matthew 5:1-12:

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Many of Jesus’ blessings sound almost oxymoronic. We generally do not think of people who are mourning, meek, and persecuted as blessed. It is almost as if Jesus is saying, “Blessed are people who don’t look blessed at all!” So, what is Jesus getting at here? And what can we learn from these statements as we look for God’s blessings in our own lives? Find out this weekend in worship. We worship at 8 am in our beautiful historic sanctuary, at 10:45 am in our wonderful worship center, or online at zionwalburg.org.

Your pastors love you!

– Pastor Zach, Pastor Kevin & Pastor Kyle

Have you ever closed your Bible and thought “what did I just read?” Starting January 12, we will partner with The Bible Recap to read through the Old Testament. The Bible Recap is a chronological reading plan with a daily podcast that highlights and summarizes the Bible in an easy-to-understand way. It will not only help you read scripture but help you love reading it. Click the button below for the reading plan or paper copies are available in the Lobby and Narthex.

New Class... Jesus in the Old Testament . This 10-week course will summarize the 39 books of the Old Testament. The course connects with the Old Testament Bible reading challenge at Zion this year. Each week we will look at 4-5 books of the Old Testament providing an overview of each book and looking at how Jesus fits into the story. This is a basic Old Testament survey course designed to assist in reading through the Old Testament in 2025. Led by Pastor Dave Kluth in the Sanctuary.

The Apostles Creed continues in the Parlor.

“Celebrating Life as the Handiwork of God” by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb is the Bible study that will begin the Evening Circle Lutheran Women’s Missionary League gathering Monday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Zion’s Parlor. Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring an old or new handcrafted item or handiwork to display. In addition to the Bible Study, our handiwork will be performed by decorating Valentine bags which will be delivered to Zion’s homebound the week of Valentine's in February. If you have any Valentine decor such as stickers, Valentine ink stamps, etc, please bring them to the gathering as well. Contact is Rosanne Capdeville at 512-943-9357.

2025 offering envelopes are on the tables in the entryway of the narthex. If you no longer use/need paper envelopes, please drop your box in the bin below the table so we don't reorder for next year. OR if you don't see a box and you'd like one assigned, please let the Church Office know 512-863-3065. Thank you!

Mark your calendars. Registration will open in mid January for the 2025 Spring Faith and Film series at Film Alley Theater on the first Sundays of the month. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Click the button below for more info!

Zion Lutheran Children's Ministry is in need of substitute teachers for our Kids Connect classes. Please prayerfully consider joining us as we build strong foundations of faith in our children and youth. If you would be interested in joining our sub list please contact Rachel Mayberry, Director of Children's Ministry at rachel.mayberry@zionwalburg.org.

Evening Circle LWML collected 89 pillowcases and donated them to Faith Lutheran Church where the women will make dresses for children in need. Thanks to all who made this a successful project!

On behalf of the Lutheran Braille Workers Mission Center at Zion, we would like to thank everyone for once again supporting our recent Fruitcake & Cinnamon Pecan Fund-raiser. With the assistance of a $250.00 Thrivent Financials grant, we were able to raise $2,212.00. These funds will be used to support Lutheran Braille Workers and our LBW Mission Center. We also express a special thank you to our volunteers at Faith, Georgetown; Trinity, Taylor; and St. Paul, Thorndale, who assisted with this sale.

Choir benches from the old Sanctuary Choir Loft are available on a first come basis until they are gone. The suggested price is $100.00 each and the benches can be viewed outside near the music room steps and smoke house (see photo below). Please contact Dave Rowland at 737-240-0444 or email: old149er@gmail.com if you are interested.

SAVE the DATE - Tuesday, 01/14/25 - The Zion Hilltoppers is a NEWLY created group of Friends that will begin meeting monthly at 11:00 a.m. for Devotions, Food, Fellowship, Dominoes/Games, ETC. in Zion's Lobby. If you are interested in joining this group, please come to the initial informational meeting on Tuesday, 01/14/25. NOTE: In order to provide enough food for those attending this meeting, please RSVP to Stanley at his email below by Sunday, 01/12/25. Also, if you are able, please bring an appetizer OR dessert to share.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Danny Ihrig - JohnDIhrig@gmail.com

LaJuan Ihrig - AnnaLaJuanIhrig@gmail.com

Kathy Pitts - KklmP@aol.com

Stanley Bielss - SBielss@hotmail.com

Audrey Bielss - Audrey.Bielss@hotmail.com

"New Anxiety PDF Adds to Thred's Many Resources"

LHM's digital outreach platform, THRED at thred.org, continues to build meaningful connections through its menu of FREE content; included are in-depth courses, downloadable resources, topical blogs, a sermon series, and topic-specific PDFs. Thred resources are developed to foster outcomes that empower, equip, and inspire users to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations online and with their peers in real life.

"When you look at Thred content, it will all point to one of these outcomes that we hope the Thred audience will experience. And each of these will hopefully (and prayerfully!) lead Thred followers to be more EAGER Conversationalists (lhm.org/eager) in their everyday lives.

Thred is always trying to embrace the challenges young people face with integrating faith into their whole lives. Thred's new anxiety PDF, "5 Practices to Help You Manage the Anxious Moments," offers practical tools for managing life's daily stress and anxiety. "5 Practices" gives users five methods to examine their anxieties and suggests ways to understand and work through them. In anxious or settled moments, Jesus offers peace against the chaos and noise of this world. "At Thred, we know God has a story to tell and we want to be equipping young people to confidently live their faith."

"A Growing Gospel Impact"

From Kurt Buchholz "Your ongoing prayers and generous support have put us (LHM) in a position to embark on an ambitious plan that exponentially increases our Gospel impact. As you explore this ministry impact report, you will find that the International internship Program is just one way God has worked through LHM. I hope you are humbled knowing that your involvement in this life-changing ministry offers people the opportunity to find answers and relief through the Gospel."

Pick up a copy of "A Growing Gospel Impact" at the table in the narthex or at the worship center.

Sermon Schedule

Jan 12

"What's This Neighborhood Coming To?"

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler

When you're not limited by the size of your table, you can invite everyone. (John 1:14)

You can listen to The Lutheran Hour on KLBJ on Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. or online at lutheranhour.org, through a mobile app, and on new media platforms like Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Sirius XM satellite radio.

Pastors: Zach McIntosh, Kevin Hintze and Kyle Borcherding

Interim Principal: Suzan Winkelman

Church Office Hours: 8am-4pm Monday-Friday

Church Phone: 512-863-3065

School Phone: 512-863-5345 Fax 512-686-5807

www.zionwalburg.org

6001 FM 1105, Georgetown, TX 78626