Hilltop Headlines

8:00am:

Elders: Chad Mathews, Gordon Pittsford

Organist: Brittany Mahn

Golf Cart Driver: Darren Almazan

Cart Assistant: Madison Almazan

Donut Pickup: Jonathan Kern

Communion/Offering Assistants: Brian Foster, Lewis King

Greeters: Linda LaRochelle, Donna Arldt

Ushers: Jakob Knippa, Kirk Kemnitz

Hilltop Cafe: Joanne Vande Werken, Gail Dankis

Audio: Brenda Schroeder

Presentation: Clay Braun

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

10:45am:

Elders: Gary Miller, Rick Andersen

Greeters/: Bradley & Suzan Vangsnes, Tara Alderman, Bonnie McNemar

Hilltop Cafe: Robert & Cynthia Baldwin

Greeter/Usher: Yvonne Miller

Golf Cart Driver: Rick Zinsmeyer

Communion Assistants: Al Barton, Gwen Hohle, Matt Vande Werken, Michael Zinke, Troy Johnson

Camera: Alisha Johnson

Audio: Jim Kelton

Presentation: Kathryn Klein

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

Wednesday, April 9, 6:30pm:

Elder: Chad Mathews, Mark Breckenridge

Greeters: Dianne Buchhorn, Ginger Magers

Organist: Janet Meyer

Audio: Jen Jordan

Presentation: Clay Braun

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Operating Fund $33,212.25; Missions $153.60; School Annual Fund $100.15; Sr High Youth $520.30; Field House $25,698.76; Camp Zion $100.30; Capital Campaign $925.09

Attendance: March 30: 8:00am - 157; 10:45am - 295; Midweek Lent April 2 - 64

Zion donates $6,667 to these approved charities every month: TX District LCMS, CHS Round Rock, Water Mission, Camp Lone Star, Brookwood in Georgetown, Faith in Action, Rev. John H. Kieschnick Endowment, The Songwriter Initiative of the Center for Worship Leadership

Dear Zion family –

We have some really exciting news to share with you. Suzan Winkelman has accepted Zion’s call to be our new principal! Her acceptance letter is below. If you’ve been a part of Zion, then you know Suzan well. She’s been teaching at Zion for 23 years and has impacted generations of students. We’re cheering Suzan on as she begins a new chapter in her ministry here. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, May 4 when we will officially install Suzan as our principal at our 10:45 am service. We’ll also celebrate her with a reception between our morning services.

Easter is only two weeks away! As we prepare to commemorate and celebrate all that Jesus has done for us, here is a schedule of our Holy Week services:

• April 13: Palm Sunday worship at 8 am in the sanctuary and 10:45 am in the worship center

• April 17: Maundy Thursday worship with Communion at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary

• April 18: Good Friday Tenebrae worship at 6:30 pm in the worship center

• April 19: Easter Saturday kids’ service at 10 am in the worship center and Easter Vigil worship at 6:30 pm in the worship center

• April 20: Easter Sunrise worship with Communion at 6:30 am in the Garden of Praise and Easter worship at 8 am in the sanctuary and 10:45 am in the worship center

This Sunday at our 10:45 am service, we’ll confirm 18 eighth graders in their faith! These young people have spent a lot of time studying the Christian faith and are ready and excited to publicly profess their faith in front of all of us. They are truly extraordinary, and we’re looking forward to seeing how God works in and through them for years to come.

In worship, we’ll continue our series called “Versus,” where we are talking about the battles we fight in our lives. This Sunday, we’ll talk about the battle we fight with fear. We’ll look at a story from the life of one of Jesus’ most famous followers, Peter, in Matthew 26:69-75:

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

When the heat was on the pressure was high, Peter denied that he knew or followed Jesus – all out of fear. He was worried that if he admitted to being one of Jesus’ disciples, he would share Jesus’ fate – that of a cross. Have you ever fought a battle against fear – and lost? Find out how to win against the fears you face this Sunday 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

A Letter from Suzan Winkelman

Dear Pastor Zach and members of Zion Lutheran Church and School,

I am honored and humbled to formally accept the position of principal at Zion Lutheran Church and School. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve in a leadership role where faith and education come together to shape young hearts and minds for Christ.

I wholeheartedly embrace the mission, vision, and core values of Zion, and I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff, students, families, and members of the congregation to continue fostering a Christ-centered environment of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community. With God’s guidance, I am eager to support and strengthen the school’s commitment to discipleship, servant leadership, and the pursuit of wisdom.

As I step into this role, I am excited to continue to collaborate with faculty, staff, and families to cultivate a nurturing and faith-filled learning environment. I trust that God will equip us with wisdom, unity, and strength as we work together to inspire and prepare students to fulfill His calling in their lives.

I look forward to serving Zion Lutheran Church and School with prayerful leadership, humility, and joy.

Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity. I am excited to see how God will work through us in the days ahead.

In Christ’s Service,

Suzan Winkelman

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.

Wednesday April 9 – Lenten Midweek Services 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday Worship 6:30pm with Communion in the Sanctuary

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday Worship 6:30pm in the Worship Center

Saturday, April 19 -

10:00am Kid's Easter Service & Egg Hunt

6:30pm Easter Vigil in the Worship Center

Sunday, April 20 - Easter Sunday

6:30am Sunrise Service with Communion in the Garden of Praise

8:00am Easter Worship in the Sanctuary

10:45am Easter Worship in the Worship Center

Eighteen Zion 8th graders will be confirmed in their faith on Sunday, April 6 during the 10:45am service. They will receive their first communion at the service along with their families and the rest of the congregation.

Congratulations!

Kasey Elise Bachman

Lani Madison Birkhead

Bryce Lawrence Boram

Austin Scott Bothof

Kyra Alexandria Cavalier

Avery Jade Heiner

Zakary David Houser

Megan Marie Kennedy

Landon Michael Knabe

Emily Claire Knippa

Case Duane Mayberry

Easton Robert Pate

Gregorio "Greg" Quezada III

Ivy Grace Rochner

Carleigh Faith Roznovak

Vincent Balaji Singh

Adelynne Morgen Tlapak

Annabelle Lucille Winkler

The Nominating Committee is looking for candidates to fill openings for various board positions. If you are interested in serving or know someone who is, please contact the chair of the Nominating Committee, Troy Johnson, or the Church Office at 512-863-3065 or church@zionwalburg.org by Sunday, April 6.

If you are interested in joining the Belize Mission trip 7/26 - 8/3, contact Jennifer Jordan at 512-635-1006. A $150 deposit is due by 4/13 in addition to completing a Zion Mission application. We have a couple of spaces still available.

Ladies, come and join us as we discuss our next book ,“ Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. This is an unusual and interesting read.
The book club will meet Friday, April 11, in the Zion parlor from 11-1. Bring a sack lunch if you want. For any questions text Deborah Albers at 512-527-4858.

Thank you so much to the Zion congregation for your help in raising funds for our Senior High Youth! We are still short around $10,000 because we have over 30 high schoolers going to the Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. If you would like to support us, click the link below to help fund our trip and change the lives of these youth for Christ!

https://zionwalburg.churchcenter.com/giving/to/sr-youth-funds

Easter and confirmation cards are available along with Thinking of You, Graduation and other greeting cards at the Card Ministry area by the Santuary. Single cards are $.50, boxed cards are $6.00. Thank you from Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Evening Circle.

Do you love to sing? Do you enjoy choral music? Please come and give the Zion Adult Choir a try. There’s a place for you. We meet Monday evening , 6-7pm, in the sanctuary . No auditions required. Come have a good time praising God with music under the leadership of Michael Teinert.

If you’d like to help decorate the sanctuary for our 8 am services with some stunning flower arrangements, here’s your chance! To purchase flowers for the altar, you can pick your date by signing up here, or by calling the church office. Then you may:

-Call Laura at White Orchid Floral at 254-350-9240 and tell her what you’d like. She’ll take care of the rest – including the delivery! All you have to do is donate the fee of $92 for the two arrangements. OR

-You may also purchase flowers from anywhere you'd like and place them on the altar for a Sunday.

The flowers can be in honor of or in memory of your favorite person or for any special occassion!

Carlene Schultz would be happy to assist in any way. You may reach her at (713) 542-6216 or cls12363@yahoo.com.

Zion’s fieldhouse project is underway! We are preparing to raze the old garage down the hill so we can break ground and begin building our 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. You can donate, too! If you’d like to support the fieldhouse project, you can write a check to Zion with “Fieldhouse” in the memo portion, or you can give electronically by clicking the button code below.

SAVE the DATE - Tuesday, 04/08/25 @ 11:00 a.m. - Devotions, Food, Fellowship, Dominoes/Games, ETC. in Zion's Lobby. Our speaker for April will be Williamson County Sheriff Matt Lindemann. Roasted Pork Loin & sides will be catered by Chris Kelm. PLEASE NOTE: Since this will be catered, it is very important to RSVP for this gathering. (Note - The number of RSVPs we give Chris is what we have to pay for.) Therefore, Please RSVP to Audrey at the email address noted below by Sunday, 04/06/25. The fee for this meal will be $10.00 per person. For April, we are only asking for desserts from those whose LAST name begins

with A - L to furnish a dessert. Everyone is welcome!

If you or someone you know is interested in traveling to see The Ark, the Creation Museum, etc., BUS seats are still available. The date for the trip is Friday, 04/25 through Saturday, 05/03/25. Deadline to RSVP is Sunday, 04/06/25. Please review the attached information for details about the trip or 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

Mark your calendars. Registration is now open 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 buttons below for more info or to sign up today!

Camp Zion would like to extend the opportunity for business members/members of Zion Lutheran Church to help support us by sponsoring a field trip for CAMP ZION this summer. Field trips are just one of the many memorable things that we do at Camp Zion but also the most expensive. We ask that you prayerfully consider contributing to this special cause. Below is a list of each field trip and the cost based on 40 to 50 campers or a set fee for some events. You may present your gift in a check made out to Zion Church and write Camp Zion in the memo and drop it in the collection basket at church or give online using this link: https://zionwalburg.churchcenter.com/giving/to/camp-zion . We thank you for supporting us in our endeavor to grow and connect with our youth while helping them develop self-confidence and build character in a nurturing Christian environment.

WEEK 1: June 4 / Mel’s Bowling

$360 for 40 campers @ 8.99

WEEK 2: June 13 / On-Campus Foam Cannon

$420 for 1.5 Hours of Entertainment

WEEK 4: July 3 / On Campus Movie & Pizza Party

$200 for 50 campers @ 4.00

WEEK 5: July 9 / Slash Shack

$700 for 45 campers @ 15.00 + $25.00 for Outside Food Fee

WEEK 6: July 17 / On-Campus Obstacle Course & Hot Dog Roast

$450 for 1 Obstacle Course

$100 for Hotdogs, Chips, Drinks & the Fixings

We are looking for kid-friendly individuals who desire to make an impact by volunteering their time this summer. If you love to hang out and inspire young children, we have an exciting opportunity for you! If cooking hot dogs on a grill is your talent, we would love to have you for our Hot Dog Roast on July 17th. Summer camp is a total of six weeks (SESSION ONE is June 2-20 & SESSION TWO is June 30-July 18). All applicants must pass a background check. For more information, please contact Rhonda Schwertner @ Rhonda.schwertner@zionwalburg.org

The Mission Trip to Kenya with For Just 1 was an amazing trip. Sharing God's love was such a blessing and rewarding experience. The Kenyans accepted us with open arms and blessed us with their excitement and welcoming smiles. God is good all the time!

-Pam Miller

"The Voice You Can Trust Speaks to Inmate Desperation, New Hope In Christ"

"Most of the world has no clue. They have no idea what this place feels like. If you've never been in prison, you can't understand the sinking feeling. ...The free world thinks we all belong here, and they hope we stay here... The longer we're stuck in this place, the more we hear voices in our heads telling us to get used to those sinking feelings"

So begins "The Voice You Can Trust: Encouragement for the Incarcerated", a new Project Connect booklet written by Rev. Tim Carter. He is associate pastor and director of Life Care ministry at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Columbus, Indiana.

"The Voice You Can Trust" speaks to the difficult, pressurized environment of prison life. Sadly, scores of inmates never come to trust in Jesus and remain stuck in the deadly pit the hellish voices in their heads have dug. "This booklet written for prisoners urges them to remember that God won't leave them stuck in that pit. It encourages them to spend time with Him daily, diligently seeking Him in His Word and following Him - as hard as that might be - day by day," say Suzie Salee.

Rev. Carter states that inmates distrust most people, including 'church people'. Satan used life inside a prison to break down an inmate's hope of a future and even their will to live. He further states that it is his hope that inmates will realize that coming to faith, believing in, and following Christ is the only pathway out of the predicament they have fallen into. He prays that the hearts of most inmates will be penetrated by God's Word, replacing desperation with hope, rejection with acceptance, darkness with light, and condemnation with redemption.

Ashley Bayless, vice president of global content at LHM says, "We want everyone, including those who are imprisoned, to know that it is by God's grace that we are saved in Jesus. It's an important message for us all."

Sermon Schedule

April 6

"Better Than I Deserve"

Guest Speaker: Rev. Keith Haberstock

Jesus didn't deserve to die on a cross, but He died and rose again in order to give us better than we deserve. (John 12:1-11)

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