Hilltop Headlines

8:00am:

Elders: Roy Capdeville, Steve Muchow

Organist: Kyle Borcherding

Donut Piclup: Ken Litzler

Greeters: Caitlin Fuller, Diane Andersen, Joyce Boriack

Communion/Offering Assistants: David Daniell, Lewis King

Hilltop Cafe: Darlene Zinke

Golf Cart Driver: Darren Almazan

Cart Assistant: Madison Almazan

Ushers: David Van Soest, Jakob Knippa, Gene Buchhorn

Audio: Chad Mathews

Presentation: Brenda Schroeder

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

10:45am:

Elders: Mark Breckenridge, Gary Miller

Greeters/Offering Assistants: Kaleab Merene

Greeters/Ushers: Carmen Domel, Carol Stuewe, Randa Toungate

Communion Assistants: Candy Bleeke, John Buser, Michael Zinke, Thomas Walter, Ryan Bridges

Hilltop Cafe: Brent Blumenthal, Julie Sieh

Golf Cart Driver: Chris Zoeller

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

Presentation: Preston Fischer

Camera: Chad Winkler

Audio: Jim Kelton

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Home $9,886.67; General $28,719.90; Annual Fund $775; Pam Hight Scholarship Fund $7,000; Field House $10,000; Cemetery $10.53; Missions $120; Learning Legacy Endowment $3,650; Capital Campaign $400.09

Attendance: 8am - 135; 10:45 - 321

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: $3,191.10

Dear Zion family –

Merry Christmas! We are grateful to serve at such an incredible family of faith and are looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth with you in worship!

This Sunday, we’ll have a Lessons and Carols service at both 8 am in the sanctuary and 10:45 am in the worship center. Our choir will sing, our handbells will play, and we’ll sing lots of your favorite Christmas carols. As a reminder, we will not have children’s ministry offered at 9:30 am.

Then, on Tuesday, December 24, we’ll celebrate Jesus’ birth with three services. Our 3 pm service in the worship center will be a brief service specifically designed for children where we’ll sing lots of songs, read the story of Christmas in a special children’s message, and perhaps even make some barnyard animal sounds along the way as we remember where Jesus was born. It’ll be tons of fun for your kids or grandkids!

At 5 pm and 7 pm, we’ll have two candlelight services, also in the worship center, where we’ll sing carols with an awesome string section, hear a message of hope, and, of course, light candles and sing Silent Night together. If you’re looking to make a great memory for yourself or with your family, join us for one of these services.

By the way, between each of our Christmas Eve services, we’ll be serving cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee, so make sure you save a little room in all your holiday feasting for a sweet treat at church!

On Christmas Day at 9:30 am, we’ll continue our celebration of Jesus’ birth with a service in the sanctuary that will include more carols and a meaningful message.

Finally, next Sunday, December 29, in place of our regular worship services, we’ll have one combined service in the sanctuary at 9:30 am. It’s always a moving moment when our whole Zion family comes together in worship. Please mark your calendars so you don’t forget about this special service at a special time.

As always, if you can’t be here in person for any of these services, you can join us 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.

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!

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. 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

On Sunday, December 29, Bob and Joanne Allen will celebrate a milestone of love and blessings, 70 years of marriage, their platinum anniversary. Platinum is a rare metal, resistant to wear and tarnish, a symbol of endurance. Bob and Joanne's marriage is a testament to the power of love and the beauty of God's grace and goodness. After the service, please join us in the worship center lobby to celebrate this occasion.

Thank you to everyone that prayed for me when I was sick. Your prayers worked! My doctors were able to cure my Lyme disease and I got my health back. Thanks again for all your prayers! Tina Kennedy

December 22-31 pray for:

December 22 - Zion homebound members

December 23 - School band

December 24 - VBS Summer 2025 planning

December 25 - Camp Zion Summer 2025 planning

December 26 - Safety/Security committee

December 27 - Volunteer money counters

December 28 - Church musicians/organists/vocalists

December 29- Athletic boosters

December 30- Altar Guild

December 31- School principal

"What is Christmas?"

Christmas isn't always the bright and cheery affair found in songs or movies. Can it be merry for a family struggling through unemployment, alienation, and terminal illness? Written by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor Wayne Palmer, "What is Christmas?" conveys how this season can be a complicated and difficult time of the year. For families working through hurt feelings, strained relationships - even the oncoming death of a loved one - Christmas can be a trying time.

Providing Scriptural narrative from the first Christmas, Palmer conveys how God has reconciled man to Himself through His Son and how His love gives us hope when re-establishing connections with family members. The best things about Christmas are often those impossible to put a price on - time spent together, renewed love, and the true joy the birth of our Savior brings.

Concluding the booklet, Palmer asks the reader this: "Where do you find yourself this Christmas?" Wherever that place might be, the reader is reminded that God's gift of love in Jesus Christ can heal every wound and repair every broken relationship.

Pick up a free copy (or 2 to give to someone) of "What is Christmas?" from the Project Connect carousels - one in the Narthex anad one in the Lobby.

Sermon Schedule

Dec. 22

"Does It Matter If Jesus Is God?"

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler

Jesus sets a good example, but good examples can't help dead people. Only God's Son can make us alive again. (Luke 2:10-11)

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