Hilltop Headlines

8:00am:

Elders: Arlan Bamsch, Steve Muchow

Organist: Kyle Borcherding

Donut Pickup: Ken Litzler

Greeters: Linda Pittsford, Lori Schultz

Hilltop Cafe: Sona Holmstrom

Golf Cart Driver: Dayton Simmons

Offering Assistants: Brian Foster, Gordon Pittsford

Audio: Clay Braun

Presentation: Brenda Schroder

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

10:45am:

Elders: Robert Glover, Michael Zinke

Greeters/Offering Assistants: Kelly Linebrink, Jane Voight, Gwen Glover

Hilltop Cafe: Renee Simmons

Golf Cart Driver: Marcy Menke

Camera: Alisha Johnson

Presentation: Kathryn Klein

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Operating Fund $58,430.88; Capital Improvements $200; Faith and Film $100; Cemetery Fund $10.53; Learning Legacy Endowment $200; Annual Fund $100.15; Capital Campaign $300.09

Attendance: January 19: 8:00am - 116; 10:45am - 334

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 –

The news from Wednesday evening out of Washington DC’s Reagan Airport was jarring as we learned of a Blackhawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger jet. As the expansive investigation into this accident continues, and families grieve the shocking and sudden losses of their loved ones, please join me in praying for all those who are hurting. The words of Psalm 34:18 come to mind: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” As Christians, may we cling to Jesus’ promise that assures us that not even a deadly crash is someone’s final end, for Jesus has secured eternal life for us by His resurrection and gladly shares it with us out of His grace!

This Sunday at 5:30 pm, we kick off another season of Faith and Film at Film Alley in downtown Georgetown. This weekend’s movie will be “Leap of Faith,” which tells the story of a shady faith healer in Kansas. We’ll enjoy great food, fellowship, and we’ll talk about how what we believe can intersect with and inform what we saw in the movie. You can register to join us by clicking here.

In worship, we have a very special guest preacher – the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer! Dr. Meyer is the speaker emeritus of the Lutheran Hour, a radio program that has been on the air nationwide since 1930. He is also the president emeritus of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, one of the two seminaries of our church body. Dr. Meyer will be continuing our series called “History’s Most Memorable Message,” where we’re studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This weekend, we'll look at what Jesus has to say about retaliation and relating to our enemies in Matthew 5:38-48:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Jesus cuts against every natural human inclination when He invites us to love those who hate us. But how do we do that, especially when those who hate us have also hurt us? Find out how our broken relationships can be restored 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.

Zion’s annual Spring Mission Sausage Sale is happening soon! Sign-up boards to volunteer and assist in a number of ways will be available in the church lobby this Sunday, February 2 or click the button below. We are in need of many helping hands to make this weekend a success. Please sign up to assist where you can. You are encouraged to bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch on Saturday, March 1 after sausage-making.

Remember that we take 5 lb bag pre-orders only for this fundraiser. You may click the button below to place your order by FEBRUARY 23, 2025 (an option to prepay is available). There are also paper order forms that can be completed in the church narthex / lobby. Orders will need to be picked up on Sunday, March 2 from 9am-1pm. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check or credit/debit. Thanks for supporting Zion’s mission efforts in local, national, and global ways!

Beginning Sunday January 26th, the Youth Ministry will be out in the lobby for our Envelope Fundraiser! Take an envelope, match the number with that dollar amount, and help us as we look to our summer mission trip and the Youth Gathering where we will grow and serve the Lord! More information will be out in the Worship Lobby. Our youth will help you out! We will be doing the fundraiser January 26th - February 9th. Thanks so much!

The Caring Place needs toiletries for their Food Pantry. Zion is collected items during the month of February. Collection barrels will be available in the lobby and narthex.

Most needed items are:

deodorant, bath soap, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, shampoo, toilet paper, pull up diapers, laundry soap, dishwashing liquid

If you have questions, contact Bonnie McNemar 512 635 6705

We are partnering with the Isaiah 117 house to get a collection of NEW winter coats, jackets and hoodies to residents in need. They can range in size from infant/toddler to teenagers. The donated garments can be brought up to Zion on January 26th and February 2nd. Any Zion Lutheran school families that wish to support these efforts can drop the winter clothing off at any point during the week in the church office. We give thanks for your generosity in supporting this worthy cause in Williamson county. Zion Mission Board

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!

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Men-Our next event will held on Saturday March 22, 11am-2pm at the BBQ pits!

More information to come as we get closer. Mark the date and start thinking about who you can invite!

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Zion families, mark your calendars for the annual Washington, D.C. fundraiser dinner! Your participation helps our 8th grade class cover part of the cost of their class trip to Washington, D.C. at the end of April. Join us for a catered dinner, live music, games and silent auction. We are looking for event sponsors and auction items. Questions? Please email ticiabachman@me.com. See event details below:

Date: Friday, March 7

Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Location: Zion Worship Center & Lobby

Cost: $75/ticket

Tickets can be purchased through https://givebutter.com/washingtondcgala2025 or via the QR code on the flier. We can't wait to see you there!

SAVE the DATE - Tuesday, 02/11/25 @ 11:00 a.m. - Devotions, Food, Fellowship, Dominoes/Games, ETC. in Zion's Lobby. In addiction,Todd Glandorf will have a training session on how to use Zion's Church App. Please bring your phone for this training. Everyone is welcome! If you didn't make it to the first meeting, then we'll see you at this meeting! NOTE: In order to provide enough food for this gathering, please RSVP to Stanley at his email address noted below by Sunday, 02/09/25. The meal will be catered so it is very important to RSVP. The fee for this meal will be $10.00 per person. Also, if you are able, please bring an appetizer OR a dessert.

NOTE: If you are 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. If you need information about the trip or 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

Calling all Pre-K to grade 3 to join us in music fun!

Grades 1-3 will be playing the children's handbells while the Pre-K/Kindergarten will sing/sign to the song of Jesus Loves Me.

Date is Sunday, March 9 and we will be playing for the traditional and late service prelude.

Please sign up before February 8th as the handbells will practice first.

You can sign up at the following emails: Jonathan Schroeder: pianomanlovespianowoman@gmail.com or Brenda Schroeder: leeschroeder82@aol.com. Also give us a good phone number to contact you with any changes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email anytime to one of us and we will respond accordingly.

God bless and Thank you.

Jonathan and Brenda Schroeder

Responding to a Seismic Global Shift by Kurt Buchholz

It might be easy to look around at the state of our culture and believe that Christianity is on the decline. In fact, we often hear people say things like "We're in a post-Christian era." The encouraging reality is that this point of view is not necessarily true when looking at things from a global perspective. The church is not shrinking, but it is shifting. Within a growing world population, the number of Christians globally is increasing, a testament to God's plan in action! However, while the percentage of Christians within the population is relatively unchanged since 1900, where they are located has drastically changed.

Christianity's geographic center is moving away from the West to the Global South (Asia, Latin America, and Africa), with dramatic growth of Christian populations in places like sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. Whereas more than 80% of Christians lived in North America and Europe in 1900, recent studies show that only around one-third live on these 2 continents today.The geographical center of Christianity is now considered by some to be located in the African nation of Mali, with projections moving it to Nigeria by 2100.

God has called LHM to share the Gospel with these people. Since we employ local staff who have been brought up in the culture, speak the native language, and whose hearts have been transformed by the Gospel so that they might minister in the areas in which they live, we are well positioned for implementing a bold global expansion plan that responds to this shift. Given the movement of the geographical center, it is critical that we lift up leadership in these areas to become the catalyst for reaching more nations where people have yet to hear the Good News - another critical piece of God's Plan in action. In most cases, it is cost effective utilizing local staff instead of sending a foreign missionary family to establish themselves in a different land, set up housing, learn the culture and language, and spend time building relationships with local communities.

The end result of these efforts will lead to countless people experiencing the healing, forgiveness, and joy of a personal relationship with Christ. Thank you for being part of LHM's global family so that collectively we can reach the world with the Gospel.

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