Hilltop Headlines
June 19, 2022
Serving this Week
8am:
Elders: Chad Mathews, Dave Rowland
Greeter: Diane Andersen
Audio: Clay Braun
Tech Director: Cody Stephens
10:45am:
Elders: Zach Preston, Michael Zinke
Greeters/Ushers: Chelsea Whittington, Darlene Zinsmeyer
Parking Lot/Golf Cart: Rick Zinsmeyer
Hilltop Cafe': Sona Holmstrom
Connections Coordinator: Jenny Kinard
Presentation: Jennifer Jordan
Camera: Kathawren Mize
A Return of Our Blessings
Offerings/Electronic Giving: Home $6,072; General $15,743.25; Cemetery Fund $15; School General $300; Major Repairs $600; Missions $10; VBS $5; Camp Zion $100; Worship Enhancement $500; Capital Campaign $506; Sunday Attendance: 8am - 105; 10:45am - 246.
10% of General Funds go to the following organizations: TX Dist LCMS, The Caring Place, CHS Round Rock, LINC Austin, The Locker, Upbring, Faith in Action and Concordia University: $1,749.25
From Your Pastors
Greetings Fellow Members of Zion! What a powerful blessing we have and share in praising and serving our Lord Jesus - both on Sundays in worship and throughout the rest of the week in the local community God has placed us! As the summer season rolls onward - please remember that you can stay connected to Zion wherever you may be going in your travels! Even apart from us for a week here or there - your heart can gladly receive the Word and your blessings of generosity can continue to be shared with God's local storehouse! In your conversations with friends, co-workers, neighbors and others - be intentional and open in speaking of the faithfulness God continues to bring into your life - the truth that He God remains on the throne! You never know who God can draw into His kingdom through a conversation with you!
We encourage you to continue keeping us informed on how we can be a blessing for you and your family! Call the church office (512.863.3065) or email the church office (church@zionwalburg.org) with any news to share. We look forward to seeing you in person as often as the Lord brings us together! See you Sunday!
THE LESSONS THIS SUNDAY - Daniel 7-9 (Yes - all three chapters!); 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; John 17:24-26
Pastor Kevin & Pastor Dave
Welcome to our guests
Please welcome Dave Stuckwisch to the Zion campus Friday, June 17-Sunday, June 19. He is one of our candidates for the Director of Youth Ministry position. He and his wife Mak and daughters JoJo and Edie are visiting from Appleton, Wisconsin. They will be able to meet the congregation Sunday, June 19 in the Lobby from 9:15-10:30am. Please give them a warm welcome to the Hilltop.
Senior Pastor Call Committee Update
June 16, 2022
Greetings Zion Congregation,
The Senior Pastor Call Committee continues to move forward seeking the next Senior Pastor for our congregation. At present, the committee is working to finalize a list of pastoral candidates that will be interviewed remotely. In the coming days, initial interviews will be scheduled and conducted. Following this, a small number of final candidates will be selected and invited to visit the Zion campus in person for interviews and various introductory activities.
The committee continues to solicit your prayers,
God’s blessings to you all,
Chad Mathews – Committee Chair
Landscape Improvement Fund
The Board of Trustees are beginning the process to provide new landscaping within the asphalt driveways surrounding the Sanctuary/Worship Center (new building) to the South parking lot. The costs are estimated to be around $180,000. Therefore, the Landscape Improvement Fund will be created as a new church dedicated account to help fund these efforts. Please prayerfully consider donating to the Landscape Improvement Fund to help cover these costs to beautify Zion’s campus.
Wurstbraten Memories
The Wurstbraten leadership would like to create a permanent memory of 50 years of Wurstbraten with a booklet of some kind and have asked Weldon Mersiovsky to spearhead and coordinate this project.
If you have any pictures, newspaper articles, or memorabilia you may want to contribute, a receptacle will be set up in the narthex. If you want them back, please put your name on it. We are especially interested in the first 20 years.
If you have any special memories, please send it to me by email or put it in the box.
If you would like to be part of the process to come up with the design and implementation please contact Weldon at 512-635-6429 or email at 49weldon72@gmail.com.
Strategic Planning Committee for Zion School Growth
The Zion Church Council has begun the process to research the means in which we can accommodate an increasing demand and opportunity to grow our school and spread the Word to the community and beyond. We are searching for members to join a 7-11 member committee who will bring together knowledge and experience in Education, Infrastructure, Architecture and a love for our Church and School. We are facing some initial obstacles to get the ball rolling, but we have some steps outlined to start. We would like to have this committee established by July 1 if possible. If you have recommendations or suggestions for candidates to serve on this committee, please include the following:
Name:
Occupation/Specialty:
Affiliation (Current or Previous) with Church and School:
Please email recommendations to Kyle Johnson (kylej1981@icloud.com). Please put “Strategic Planning Committee” in subject line.
Thank you!
Nancy Horton has provided flags to be distributed on each of the veterans graves in the Zion Cemetery during Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and July 4th each year. Eagle Scout Tyler Meyners has taken on the duties of putting these flags out on each of those holidays now going on 6 plus years! Thank you Nancy and Tyler for your ongoing unselfish acts of kindness that have brought great joy to many others!
Zion Family Camp Weekend 2022
Zion’s Mission Board is once again hosting a family camp weekend this fall. ALL are welcome to join in on the fun from Friday, October 7th through Monday, October 10th (Columbus Day weekend) at Bastrop State Park. The weekend will include fellowship, worship, food as well as ample free time for families to experience some of the wonderful activities Bastrop has to offer. A variety of options have been reserved for our group including cabins, RV and tent sites. In addition - breakfast and dinner each day are provided Saturday morning through Monday morning. The total cost per family is $50 per RV/tent site and $300 per cabin for the weekend. Bastrop State Park is absolutely stunning and we are praying for many families to join us. Click the button below to RSVP by August 28th. Reserve your spot now before they are all gone! Please contact the Church Office, Pastor Kevin at 817-455-1594 or Patty Loutherback at 512-695-6140 for more information.
Communion Assistants Needed
Stretch and Strength Fitness Class
Come check out this class being offered at Zion - bring a mat or towel, a water bottle and a smile. This class will continue during the summer months on Tuesdays 9-9:45am in the Worship Center. All ages and stages of fitness are welcome from beginners to moderate to seasoned athletes. Contact betzi@keltondeck.com if you have any questions.
Camp Zion- Summer 2022 - Sign Up Now!
CAMP ZION 2022 – We are so excited for another Summer on the Hilltop.
If you have a child/children ages 4 to 12, they are eligible to participate.
June 6-10…MISSION POSSIBLE
June 13-17…ANIMAL KINGDOM
June 20 – 24…TREASURE HUNTERS
June 27 – No Camp This Week!
July 5 – 8…STARS & STRIPES FOREVER!
July 11 – 15…CASTAWAY CHRISTMAS
July 18 – 22…SUMMER REWIND
Each week is filled with arts & crafts, teambuilding, Lego challenges,
cooking activities, field trips & Kona Ice. Registration begins March 1st.
HOURS & RATES
7 am – 3 pm ($160/week)
7 am – 6 pm ($210/week)
Drop-Ins ($55.00/day)
Any questions, contact Director Rhonda Schwertner at
rhonda.schwertner@zionwalburg.org
Or… call at 512.639.9449
Elder Encouragement for June
There is no doubt that the world we live in is changing rapidly and by all appearances not necessarily for the better. Things that have historically been taken for granted now appear to be in perilously short supply. Food, fuel, housing, building materials, labor, and basic daily use items have been or continue to be scarcely available. Prices for many of these items, especially housing in our area, have risen to unprecedented heights. Rumored shortages fuel panic buying and situations that do not warrant empty store shelves result in them nonetheless.
Situations like these can be discouraging at the least and fear provoking at their worst. Of course, news travels very quickly today and the smallest of sensational news items are reported endlessly to bolster the ratings of all sorts of media outlets. Unless you live under a rock completely disconnected from the rest of the world it is all but impossible to tune out the negativity that surrounds us all.
The good news is that no matter what situation you may find yourself in help is right there with you all the time. Almost anything you name can fail at any time including the government, relationships, careers, health and so on. One thing that will never be on that list is God. The scriptures make this abundantly clear in many instances:
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When times are difficult and problems seem insurmountable it is important to remember that God is truly right there with His children. He does not desert Christians in the difficult times or expect them to provide for themselves without His help or input. He can provide help in the most difficult circumstances imaginable when men are not capable of seeking, let alone, finding a solution.
While times are changing, there is nothing that is outside the control of God. Consider these examples:
No matter the difficulty man may find himself in, the seasons continue to change as they should and time moves forward. When you feel that the world may be spiraling ever downward consider the natural world and how it moves along almost completely unaffected.
Zion Lutheran School is growing at an unprecedented rate, to the point where additional facilities are going to be required to adequately house and educate those desiring to attend.
Zion is seeking it’s next Senior Pastor following the retirement of Pastor John. Losing a faithful servant after more than a quarter century can certainly bring about some consternation. However, there have been thirteen pastors in the history of this congregation and believe it or not some have served the congregation for well over a quarter century. At some point, each of these men have moved on from Zion and yet the congregation survives, adapts and moves forward. There is no doubt, this will be the case again with the help and direction of God.
This is just an encouragement to look to God during good times and bad, pray for His guidance, be thankful for His provision and remain confident in Him.
Blessings on Your Week,
Chad Mathews - Elder
Nursery Help Needed
Monumental VBS Update
Zion's 2022 Monumental VBS is only two weeks away! As of today, VBS is full with 120 children registered to attend. What an incredible blessing to be able to serve so many children here on our hilltop.
We are still very much in need of adult and youth volunteers. Please pray about serving with us this year. Here are the areas where we still need help to make our VBS a 'monumental' success:
Crew Leader for one of our 2nd Grade Crews
Assistants in Craft, Snack and Bible Rotations
Floaters/Runners who would be willing to work wherever is needed.
Check In Team
Clean Up Team
Please reach out to me if you are interested in serving!
Rachel Mayberry, Director of Children's Ministry (rachel.mayberyy@zionwalburg.org)
The Lutheran Hour
Individuals around the world are reached more than 150 million times each week with the Gospel through Lutheran Hour Ministries' culturally relevant programs and resources. Here are 2 examples to show how God has been using LHM recently to change lives around the world with His Good News.
Maria is a kindergarten teacher and volunteers during her spare time to help educate children in her community. Several years ago, Maria connected with LHM-Nicaragua and has since been using their programs and resources to help encourage children with the Gospel. LHM-Nicaragua staff are thankful for Maria's partnership, and they look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of children in their community.
Joseph is 23 years old and dropped out of college when he was introduced to drugs. He went to church with his parents as a child, but when he went to school he stopped going to church. Joseph saw one of his friends who was addicted to drugs turn his life around after going to church. He decided to go to a recovery home with his friend and ended up talking to a pastor. At the recovery home, Joseph and his friend joined a youth program led by LHM-Liberia. They participated in discussions and seminars to learn more about Jesus. Joseph became a member of the local church and through the power of the Holy Spirit, he became a Christian. He enrolled in classes to finish his education and continues to grow his faith.
Sermon Schedule
June 19
"What's on Your Playlist?"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler
The Book of Ecclesiastes offers perspective on life's alternating seasons of joy and sadness, gain and loss, war and peace. ( Ecclesiastes 3:11)
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.
Caring Place Update
Pastors: Kevin Hintze and David Kluth
Director of Worship and Music: Marc Profant
Principal: Thomas Wrege
Church Office Hours: 8-4:00 Monday-Friday
Church Phone: 512-863-3065
School Phone: 512-863-5345 Fax 512-686-5807
6001 FM 1105, Georgetown, TX 7862