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. 26, 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. 5, starting at noon, the Women’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 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. 13, at 11:45 a.m., at Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante in Columbia, IL, the Zion Staff Christmas Party.

Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:00 p.m., Christmas Movie Night - “The Shepherd” and “The Star of Bethlehem"

Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7:00 p.m., the musical “Sounds of our Village – Christmas Concert.”

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 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.  1           Ryan & Mallori (Roberts) Kochmann and Brock

Dec.  8           Christopher & Stephanie (Neff) French and Lester

Dec. 15           Alex & Paige (Krausz) Pellmann and Tessa and Oliver

Dec. 22           Cody & Abby (Kern) McCarty and Maren

Dec. 24 evening   Zachary & Mallory (Scharf) Timmermann and Everey

Christmas Preaching Series

This Advent Season we will turn to the first chapter of the Gospel of John to tell the age-old Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. See the schedule below:

  Dec.  1   John 1:01-05   The Word of God

  Dec.  8   John 1:06-08   The Witness of God

  Dec. 15   John 1:09-13   The Will of God

  Dec. 22   John 1:14-18   The Word Became Flesh

  Dec. 24   Gal. 4:04-07   The Christmas Gift

  Dec. 29   John 1:19-34   Who Are You?

So come and join us each Sunday of Advent for an encounter with the “Word” of God, and bring your family members and friends along with you. Remember, “Jesus is the reason for the Season.”

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

Pastor Darrell