Hilltop Headlines
April 14, 2024
Serving this Week
Organist: Brittany Mahn
Elders: Steve Cashio, Mark Breckenridge
Donut Pickup: Alan Neumann
Golf Cart: Sam Kurio
Cafe Workers: Lindsey Rochner, Joanne Vande Werken
Greeters: Jonathan & Brenda Schroeder
Communion Assistants: Arlan Bamsch, Weldon Mersiovsky
Ushers: Roy & Donna Arldt
Audio: Chad Mathews
Tech Director: Cody Stephens
10:45am:
Elders: Bert Holmstrom, Rick Andersen
Greeter/Offering Assistants: Carol Stuewe, Susan Holmstrom, Chris Carpenter, Jean Mersiovsky
Golf Cart: Chris Zoeller
Connections Coordinator: Josh Hobratsch
Audio: Jim Kelton
Communion Assistants: David Kluth, Martin Warnasch, Troy Johnson, Gail Gajewski, Ryan Bridges
Camera: Preston Fischer
Presentation: Jen Jordan
A Return of Our Blessings
Offerings/Electronic Giving:
Home $23,545.67; General $33,444.59; Camp Zion $505; Cemetery Fund $215.53; Annual Fund $20; Braille $5; Jr and Sr High Youth $1,961.68; Major Repairs $250; Landscape Improvement $100; Capital Campaign $425.39.
Attendance: 8am - 134; 10:45am - 310
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: $3,716.07
From Your Pastors
Dear Zion family –
This week, we’ve seen everything from an eclipse to hail. While we are thankful for the rain, we pray for those folks who sustained damage in this week’s storms.
We’re looking forward to being with you in worship this weekend. We’ll continue our series called “Detour.” Just like detours on roadways, life can send us on detours we don’t expect that lead us to places we never expected to end up. Scripture has plenty to say about how to respond when we face something that goes way beyond anything we could have ever planned for. This weekend, we’ll talk about when our job takes a detour, and we’ll look what the apostle Paul says about how we should conduct ourselves in our careers from 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12:
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Our modern-day professional world regularly rewards those who can make the most noise and promote themselves the best. Paul encourages quiet and contented work. Yet, a LinkedIn study from 2022 noted that 85% of people are unhappy at work. So, how do we find contentment when our job feels unfulfilling, our boss is too demanding, and our coworkers leave us increasingly frustrated? Join us this weekend in worship to discover how even our toughest moments in our careers can be callings from God. 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
Holy Land Brochure
INTERESTED IN VISITING THE HOLY LAND? – Pastor Dave and Pastor Kevin have been working for several months to organize an educational tour for Zion members to Israel and Egypt (9 days in Israel / 5 days in Egypt). We now have brochures available in the Lobby and Narthex for the trip taking place in March 2025. We pray you might consider joining us! Thanks! Pastors Dave & Kevin
2024 Bible Reading Challenge
Have you ever closed your Bible and thought “what did I just read?” Starting in mid-February, we will partner with The Bible Recap to read through the New Testament in three months. The Bible Recap is a 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. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a Discussion Group during the Bible Class hour. Click the button below for more info.
A Message From the Principal
Call Committee set for 1st Grade Position
The Board of Christian Education has voted to call a second 1st grade teacher, to work alongside Natasha Harris. This committee will begin interviews the week of the 22nd of April.
1st Grade Position Open for Interviews
If you would like to refer a potential candidate for the first grade position, please have them send a cover letter and a resume to the school, in care of Dr. Wrege, at thomas.wrege@zionwalburg.org
8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip
Our 8th grade class is blessed to travel to Washington each year for a fabulous educational and patriotic trip, together with their teachers and chaperone. They depart Austin Sunday for their destination and will return later in the week. We ask for your prayers especially for their safety and well-being, for incredible experiences while there, and to honor our school and our Lord, as they represent our Zion community.
6th-7th Grade Outdoor Education
These two classes depart for Camp Lone Star in LaGrange for three days of learning in God’s creation. We have all curriculum and classes taught outdoors, with experiences a student can only receive in such an environment and outdoor classroom. Students always come back with wonderful memories and with new learning. As with 8th grade, we ask for your prayers for all students, staff, parents, and guests.
The School Eatery
We appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience as we needed to move to an alternate hot lunch system for a time. We had equipment breakdowns that have caused us to look at other options. With The School Eatery, we have a short-term contract through this school year and then we can re-visit options. We have had valuable feedback from some of you, both positive and some not so much. We hope to get out a survey in early May to truly gather input from all of you so a proper decision can be made as we move forward. We are working with the company to try to provide more healthy food options like fresh fruit and salads. Also, we are looking at the portion sizes. We will be in touch soon to gather your thoughts. Next chance you get, please thank Heather Faske and Steve Cashio for their incredibly hard work and efforts to provide for the needs of our school children.
Principal Wrege Receives his Doctorate
Dr. Wrege will walk the stage at Concordia University in Wisconsin in early May. His degree is called “Doctor of Education in Innovation and Continuous Improvement.” His work will be published within the year, and he will begin to present his research and findings beginning this summer. He is beyond thankful for the support especially from Mrs. Wrege and is excited that all three of their children will be at his graduation!
2024-2025 Calendar Approved
Your Zion Board of Christian Education has approved the new school year calendar. As we get closer to August – additional information will be added, with revision dates posted at the bottom. It is posted on our web site under “Family Resources.”
Baptism Chapel
Congratulations to the following eight students who were baptized April 3 during a special chapel service:
Camryn Espinoza – Kindergarten
Calvin Gaylor- 6th grade
Abigail Gaylor – 8th grade
Jack Jordan - 8th grade
Addilyn Killingsworth – 1st grade
Penelope Wallin – PK
Madison Wallin – 2nd grade
Westley Wallin – 3rd grade
Belize Mission Opportunity
Zion will be participating in a mission again this year to Belize with two other churches July 27 - August 3. Age to participate is 18 and above (16 if accompanied by an adult relative). Cost with airfare will be approximately $1,800-$2,000. Partial church scholarships available. Fundraising opportunities could be available. Mission opportunities include children’s, women’s and men’s adult ministries; grief counseling, medical/dental visits, and construction opportunities in a village where the Belize Mission Society has built a Lutheran Church and Mercy House (for medical and dental). If interested, please complete the Zion mission application by Sunday 4/18 with a $150 deposit. Questions may be directed to Pastor Kevin or Jennifer Jordan. (Mission applications are in the church hallway outside the Parlor.)
Thank You!
The Evening Circle would like to give a special Thank-you to everyone who brought clothes and school supplies for our March Orphan Grain Train collection. Some of us went to OGT on March 19th to help sort and box up clothes and we took what had been collected so far. The group at OGT was thrilled with our donation to date. If anyone missed our March 31 deadline, know that we try to get out to OGT at least once a month so if you ever have any clothes, baby items, towels or linens give a call, text or e-mail to Denise Rowland and she’ll work with you to collect what you have and get it to OGT. Thank you again so much for your contributions.
Denise Rowland: ddrowland01@gmail.com or 737-240-0396.
Men's Bible Study
There is a Bible study for men on Wednesdays at 7:00 AM in the parlor.
There is an informal gathering that starts somewhere between 6:00 & 7:00 before the formal class begins. All men are invited and welcome to come.
Faith and Film Series Returns
“Preparing Zion Members to Combat the Cultural Biases Facing America.”
(from Zion’s Mission Statement)
Zion’s Mission Board again will be sponsoring the third series of Faith and Film at the Palace Theater Sunday nights June 3, 9, 16, and 23. This series will be free to all participants, and will include heavy hors d'oeuvres, popcorn, and drinks. This time, the registration will not include a Wildfire option, but participants may bring in food. A digital copy of the curriculum is also included.
This will be an opportunity for Zion to take the Gospel, literally, to the public square. Hosting the series at the Palace gives members not only a chance to improve their own media literacy in “combating cultural biases,” but it will be an opportunity to bring that unchurched friend, neighbor, or relative to a neutral place where they can experience Gospel messages revealed to them through the movie and discussion. Find FAQs here.
Registration has been simplified, just RSVP each week with this form so we can insure we have enough supplies. You are welcome to email Philip Hohle with questions anytime: philip@parabolicmedia.com
Volunteers are needed. Contact Philip Hohle if you would like to help host the series. Sign up to volunteer here.
As of today, here is the lineup:
- June 2, 2024, a timely movie: Inside Out (with Dr. Dave Helms, LPC)
- June 9, 2024, a popular movie: Barbie (with Robin Knippa)
- June 16, 2024, a heroic movie: Friday Night Lights (with Mike Barnes, former Sports Director at KVUE)
- June 23, a classic movie: The Breakfast Club (with Rev. Dr. David Kluth)
We cannot legally publish the titles publicly outside of Hilltop Headlines, but you can share the list with your friends.
Greeting Cards Available
Graduation cards are on display at the Card Ministry Cabinet. Also available are Birthday, Friendship, Sympathy, Miss You and many other cards located by the Church Nursery. Boxed cards are $6.00, individual cards are $0.50. Thank you for supporting Zion Evening Circle Lutheran Women’s Missionary League-LWML.
SCUBA VBS Registration now open!
Zion Lutheran Church and School 2024 Vacation Bible School- SCUBA! Let's dive deep into an amazing undersea adventure where we will experience the ever-flowing, never-ending love of God. Monday, June 10th - Friday, June 14th from 9:00-11:30 am. Important: If your child is already registered for this week of Camp Zion then they are automatically registered for VBS. If you have any questions please contact Rachel Mayberry at rachel.mayberry@zionwalburg.org
Donation Opportunity for Camp Zion
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 3-7 / Mount Playmore
$318 for 40 campers @ 7.95
· WEEK 2 June 10-14 / On-Campus Mad Science Show
$475 for 1 Hour of Entertainment
· WEEK 3 June 17-21 / Waco Zoo
$440 for 40 campers @ 11.00
· WEEK 4 July 1-5 / On Campus Movie & Pizza Party
$200 for 50 campers @ 4.00
· WEEK 5 July 8-12 / Movie & Popcorn at the Cinemark
$331.00 for Entire Theater
$200 for Snack Pack for 40 campers @ 5.00
· WEEK 6 July 15-19 / On-Campus Luau with Waterslides & Hotdog Roast
$500 for 2 Waterslides
$ 100 for Hotdogs, Chips, Drinks & the Fixings
Volunteer Opportunity at Camp Zion
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 Cook-Out week. Summer camp is a total of six weeks (SESSION 1 is June 3 – 21 & SESSION 2 is July 1 – 19). All applicants must pass a background check. For more information, please contact Rhonda Schwertner @ Rhonda.schwertner@zionwalburg.org
Summer Job Opportunity at Camp ZIon
We are looking for mature, responsible, kid-friendly individuals to work as counselors at camp this summer. If you love to lead and inspire young children, we have an exciting opportunity for you! Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must pass a background check. Summer Camp 2024 is a total of six weeks (SESSION 1 is June 3 – 21 & SESSION 2 is July 1 – 19). To apply please contact Rhonda Schwertner @ Rhonda.schwertner@zionwalburg.org
Thank You
I appreciate all the cards, gifts and prayers I received at my retirement celebration. It has been an honor to serve as the facility manger for these last 12 years. I look forward to continuing to serve at Zion in the future.
Stanley Bielss
Zion Prayer Calendar
For the week of April 14-20 pray for:
April 14 - Audrey Stoneburner, Dawn Mueller & Grade 5 students
April 16 - Faith Circle LWML
April 17 - Evening Circle LWML
April 18 - Iron Sharpens Iron
April 19 - Zion track and soccer teams
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Sermon Schedule
April 14
"Breathe in, Breathe Out"
Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez
The Holy Spirit breathes life into the Church and the Church breathes that life out to the world, with the love of Christ. (Acts 2:42-47)
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
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 78626