Hilltop Headlines

9:30am:

Elders: Steve Muchow, Gary Miller, Clay Knippa, Mark Breckenridge

Organist: Kyle Borcherding

Greeters: Debbie Teinert, Deborah Albers, Dianne Buchhorn

Hilltop Cafe: Heather Reichert, Janet Ramthun

Golf Cart Driver: Glen Kokel

AV Tech Director: Cody Stephens

Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch

Offerings/Electronic Giving for this week:

Home $16,993.36; General $15,096.87; Annual Fund $100; Pam Hight Scholarship Fund $100; Learning Legacy Endowment $700; Capital Campaign $700.09

Attendance: December 22: 8am - 135; 10:45 - 321

December 24: 3pm - 124; 5pm - 423; 7pm - 168

December 25: 9:30am - 133

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: $1,677.43

Dear Zion family –

We hope you had a great Christmas. We had a marvelous celebration of Jesus’ birth here at Zion. To all of you who served at any of our Christmas services – from giving gifts to the children in our services to serving cookies, cocoa, and coffee to passing out worship guides to leading us in worship musically – THANK YOU! Hundreds of people got to hear and experience the message of God’s love for them in Jesus because of your faithful service.

If you’re looking for something fun and safe to do on New Year’s Eve, Zion will have a New Year’s Eve get-together in the lobby beginning at 4 pm and lasting a couple of hours. We’ll share in a brief devotion, play some games, and eat some delicious food. Bring a dish to share and celebrate with your friends at Zion!

This Sunday, we will have a single, joint worship service in our sanctuary at 9:30 am. We’ll continue our series “Gift Exchange,” where we are exploring the gifts God wants to exchange with us. This weekend, we’ll talk about how God wants to take the darkness we can all struggle with and stumble through in our lives and exchange it for His light, looking at a story from Luke 2:25-33:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You may now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him.

When Simeon sees Jesus, he describes Him as a “light for revelation.” Is there anything in your life where you feel in the dark? Jesus can bring His light even into our darkest problems. Find out how this weekend in worship. We’ll see you this Sunday at 9:30 am in our sanctuary, 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.

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 26-31 pray for:

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

"New Christmas Radio Drama Inspired by Beloved Classic"

ASSIGNMENT: CHRISTMAS is the new Christmas 2024 radio special from The Lutheran Hour.

Andrea Vasilo, LHM's content writer, has written a radio adaptation on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", but with a twist.

The story centers on Edie Saver, a successful journalist who tackles a short deadline assignment to write an article about Christmas nostalgia. As Edie researches Dickens' story by reading the book and consulting Dr. Fan, a Dickens specialist, she gains fresh insight into the past, into who she is, and how the past has shaped her. As she considers Scrooge's ghosts, each with their own dreadful message of a misspent life, Edie sees the story is about much more than nostalgia.

Edie tells her boss that nostalgia is not the theme as Christmas is about so much more. In the story, Scrooge becomes a new man. He doesn't just get a little makeover, or go in another direction, but he is a different - a changed - person. It happens to him, and that transformation leads him to a more generous life. Edie sees Scrooge's shame and regret and begins to reflect on her life, ultimately leading to a Scrooge-like transformation of her own.

Radio dramas like ASSIGNMENT: CHRISTMAS can serve as a springboard to conversations on what Christmas is all about. "I hope listeners will draw parallels between "A Christmas Carol" and the true meaning of Christmas. Just as Scrooge was transformed, so too can we - in our stress and hectic lives - be transformed by the birth of the Christ Child," says Vasilo.

Listen to ASSIGNMENT: CHRISTMAS anytime in December. Go online to lhm.org/guide for local airings as well as The Lutheran Hour website, podcast, and 'Connected by LHM' app in December.

Sermon Schedule

Dec. 29

"No Getting Better Than This"

Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies

The Good Life - what is it? Pastor Chad Lakies says life is truly good when it's life the way God meant it to be. (Colossians 3:12-17)

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