Christmas at Zion

The following events at Zion are sure to get you into the Christ(mas) Spirit. You can read more about each of these in other articles throughout this newsletter.

Tuesday, Nov. 28, Hanging of the Greens. In the morning, the Z-Team will bring decorations up from storage in the basement. At 10:00 a.m. retirees (both women and men) and anyone else free to help will decorate the sanctuary except for the tree. We can put the tree base (big box) in place, move the piano, hang garland, etc. And in the evening (7:00 p.m.), we will put up the tree.

Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at noon, the Women’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon.

Sunday, Dec. 10, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Sunday School Christmas Party (for, children, youth, teachers and families) at Pastor Darrell & Marjie Weber’s home (137 Benham Dr., Millstadt, IL 62260). Bring a $5 gift to be exchanged, a snack to share, and your friends. We will also go Christmas caroling at 5:20 pm, so bring a coat and gloves.

Friday, Dec. 15, starting at 11:45 a.m., at Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante in Columbia, IL, the Zion Staff Christmas Party.

Sunday, Dec. 17, at 10:15 a.m., the Children’s Christmas program via video recordings.

Sunday, Dec. 17, at 7:00 p.m., the musical “Sounds of our Village – Christmas Concert.”

Wednesday, Dec. 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Millstadt VFW, the Z-Team Christmas Party.

Friday, Dec. 24, at 6:00 p.m., our Christmas Eve & Candlelight Service.

Advent Candles

The Lighting of the Advent Candles is a meaningful part of Zion’s traditional preparation for the coming of Christmas. This year the following families will be lighting our Advent Candles.

Dec.  3           Ryan & Mallory Kochmann and Brock

Dec. 10           Alex & Paige Pellmann and Tessa and Oliver

Dec. 17           Michael & Jodi Notter and Sadie and Wyatt

Dec. 24 morning   Phil & Heather Kish and Caleb and Drew

Dec. 24 evening   Mark & Kelly Riemann and Josephina and Alessandra

Christmas Preaching Series

Advent is a season of preparation, preparing for the coming of the Christ. As we prepare ourselves for the prophesied 2^nd coming of Jesus, proclaimed in the New Testament, we look to His prophesied 1^st coming, as proclaimed in the Old Testament. The faithful fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies gives us confidence that the New Testament prophecies will also be fulfilled.

The Old Testament prophecies proclaim the mystery of who the Christ is and what He will do. As such, this Advent season we will look at the 3 offices that Christ fulfills (the Prophet, the Priest, and the King), and we will finish up with who the Christ really is – the Son. For the mystery of the Bible is that Jesus is the Christ and that He is all of these – the Prophet, the Priest, the King, and the very Son of God.

Dec. 3           Deut. 18:15-19  Christ is the Prophet

Dec. 10          Psalm 110       Christ is the Priest

Dec. 17          Isaiah 9:1-7    Christ is the King

Dec. 24 morning  Isaiah 7:10-17  Christ is the Son

Dec. 24 evening  John 1:9-13     Christ is the Light in the Darkness

Dec. 31          Gal. 4:4-7      Christ is God’s Gift

So come and join us each Sunday of Advent, Christmas, and beyond. Lift your voices in praise to our Triune Lord God the Almighty — The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Praise Him for the prophesied and fulfilled incarnate birth of Jesus the Christ. For indeed, the Word of God has been made flesh and dwelt among us. He is full of Grace and Truth and freely gives this to all everyone who follows Him.

May you and yours come to Worship Christ Jesus this Christmas Season and beyond;

Pastor Darrell