Hilltop Headlines

8:00am:

Elders: David Van Soest, Howard Horton

Organist: Brittany Mahn

Golf Cart Driver: Dayton Simmons

Donut Pickup: Ken Litzler

Greeters: Karen & Emily Hayes, Kathy Greer

Hilltop Cafe: Domenica Lewter

Offering Assistants: Gordon Pittsford, Mark Breckenridge

Presentation: Chad Mathews

Audio: Brenda Schroeder

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

10:45am:

Elders: Clay Knippa, Roy Capdeville

Greeters: Ben Norris

Greeters/Offering Assistants: Bonnie McNemar, Carol Stuewe

Hilltop Cafe: Dan & Elisabeth Osborn, Renee Simmons

Golf Cart Driver: Allen Cook

Camera: Kera Hasten, Sherlicia Patrick

Presentation: Jen Jordan

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

Wednesday, March 19, 6:30pm:

Elders: Chad Mathews, Roy Capdeville

Greeters: Karen Wenzlaff, Linda Pittsford

Organist: Janet Meyer

Audio: Jen Jordan

Presentation: Alisha Johnson

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Operating Fund $48,910.44; Missions $410; Annual Fund $20; Learning Legacy Endowment $200; Pam Hight Scholarship Fund $1,576.80; Cemetery Fund $10.53; Sr High Youth $7; Parish Education $388; Capital Campaign $425.39

Attendance: March 2: 8:00am - 168; 10:45am - 294; Midweek Lent March 12 - 90

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

The Church Office will have adjusted hours the week of March 17-21:

Mon-Fri 9am-3pm

Have a happy Spring Break!

Dear Zion family –

If you’re looking for a fantastic way to make new friends and have the experience of a lifetime, Zion’s Hilltoppers Ark Encounter trip is for you! A group of Zion folks will travel to Kentucky, April 25 through May 3, to visit the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, along with some other fun stops along the way. For more information, grab a flyer in the narthex or lobby, or keep reading in the Hilltop Headlines. More information is below!

Make sure you mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 2 at 9 am. After our morning school chapel, Zion will host a groundbreaking ceremony for our new fieldhouse with a reception to follow. The fieldhouse 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 help complete the fieldhouse project, you can write a check to Zion with “Fieldhouse” in the memo portion, or you can donate electronically by clicking here.

In worship, we continue our series called “Versus.” We all have battles that we fight. Sometimes it’s a battle versus fatigue. Other times it’s a battle versus addiction. Sometimes, it’s even a battle versus God. In this series, we’re looking at some of these battles. This Sunday, we’ll talk about a battle strategy that we use – the strategy of expedience. We’ll look at a story about a king of Israel who thought he was being expedient, but was really only being disobedient to God, in 1 Samuel 15:7-15, 22-23:

Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs – everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from Me and has not carried out My instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.”

Saul just thought he was being shrewd when he spared a king and took sheep and cattle after a battle with the Amalekites. But Saul’s shrewdness defied God’s command for how Saul was to conduct this battle – and because of his defiance, he lost his throne. What we think is simply expedient can often be disobedient to God. Learn more about the value of obedience 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

Please mark your calendars for a special called Voters Meeting Sunday, March 30 at 9:15am in the Sanctuary. The single agenda item will be to vote to extend a call for a new principal.

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.

There will be no Adult Bible Class or Kid's Connect on March 16 due to Spring Break. Two new adult classes will begin on March 23. Flyers with class descriptions and details are available in the Narthex and Lobby.

Wednesdays, March 19, 26, April 2, 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

Ladies' Spring Bible Study: “The Gospel of John” by Melissa Spoelstra. The study will begin on March 18th at 9:30am and run for 7 weeks, led by Liisa Glandorf at Jeanne Smith's home. If you are looking to savor the peace of Jesus in a chaotic world, this ladies' Bible Study might be just for you. Please call or text Liisa Glandorf at (512) 948 2852 by March 12th to register and to order your study book for $21.99.

Our first official book club discussion will be on Friday, March 21, 11-1, in the Zion parlor. Our book to read and discuss is “ the stranger in the lifeboat” by Mitch Albom. You are responsible for getting your own book… buy, borrow, Kindle… whatever is your preference. On Friday, April 11, we will share thoughts on “ Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. Same time and place. Bring a sack lunch if you wish.
If you enjoy reading or just want to give it a try, join us at any month that is convenient for you. For more info 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

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.

Zion is looking for someone who loves kids and would like to help out on Sunday mornings in the nursery. The hours are 9:00-Noon on a rotational schedule (not every Sunday). It is a paid position. Please reach out to Heather Faske at heather.faske@zionwalburg.org

If you’d like to help decorate our beautiful sanctuary for our 8 am services with some stunning flower arrangements, here’s your chance! If you’d like to purchase flowers for the altar, you can pick your date by signing up here, or by calling the church office. Then, just 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. By the way, you can donate flowers in honor of or in memory of your favorite person to make your arrangements extra special!

As we prepare for Easter, you can help decorate our sanctuary and worship center for Jesus’ resurrection by purchasing an Easter lily. Look for the purple order forms in the narthex and lobby (or click the button below). Please return your order form to the church office by April 1.

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

Day Trip to San Antonio - Thursday, 04/10/25 - please review the attached information sheet for details. Checks should be made to Zion Lutheran Church with Hilltoppers - SA Trip noted in the memo section.

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 the drop-down button for 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 3: June 18 / Pump It Up

$585 for 45 campers @ 13.00

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

Thank you to my amazing Zion Lutheran family. From the beautiful flowers; the many touching sympathy cards; the thoughtful words; and the handshakes and hugs, you have made a very difficult season in my life somewhat bearable. Lisa's celebration of life was absolutely beautiful and brought me peace. We are so blessed to be ministered by Pastors Zach, Kevin and Kyle. I can never thank them enough for being there for Lisa and me through every step of this ordeal. Lisa is in the arms of Jesus now and I am here in the arms of my Zion family. I thank you; I love you, and God bless you!

-Al Barton

THRED Digital Platform

As individuals become more present online, Christians are finding new ways to share the Gospel. LHM is once again a pioneering force for good in this space as we proclaim the Name of Jesus to people around the world.

LHM's digital outreach platform, THRED at thred.org, introduced a fresh look and refined vision last year. While its focus on encouraging an open and honest conversation about life, faith, and Jesus has not changed, one of its main objectives is to help you discover how to integrate your faith into your online presence. THRED offers content through its website and social media platforms to take you deeper into the art of spiritual conversations, giving you practical tips and tools to share your story of hope and better connect with others. Visitors to the website can share ideas and learn from others who are creating authentic, relevant, and meaningful digital experiences. They can also sign up to have content delivered straight to their inbox.

Visit thred.org/blog to find relevant articles for engaging in spiritual conversations. Some article topics include:

1. How to Talk About Your Faith

2. It's Okay to Doubt Your Faith

3. How to Help Others Feel Safe in Spiritual Spaces

4. How to Share Your Faith in 30 Seconds

5. Cultivating Faith-Fueled Community online

Sermon Schedule

March 16

"Light of the World"

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler

Jesus is the Light of the world. However, He sometimes keeps that light out of the visible range. We can't see it, but it changes what we see. (John 8:12)

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