Advent / Christmas Season 2025
Sunday, November 30, 2025 10:00 AM
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. 25, 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. 4, starting at noon, the Women’s Fellowship Christmas Luncheon.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 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.
Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7:00 p.m., the musical “Sounds of our Village – Christmas Concert.”
Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 11:45 a.m., at Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante in Columbia, IL, the Zion Staff Christmas Party.
Thursday, Dec. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Millstadt VFW, the Z-Team Christmas Party.
Wednesday, 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.
Nov. 30 Phil & Heather Kish – Caleb, Drew
Dec. 7 Darren & Jessica Doerr – Jacob, Caleb, Micah, Josie
Dec. 14 Michael & Jodi Notter - Sadie, Wyatt
Dec. 21 Eric & Beth Wolfmeier – Isabelle, George, Olivia
Dec. 24 Michael & Charlene Stewart - Connor, Jamie Murphy, Camile Murphy
Christmas Preaching Series
Advent is a season to prepare for the appearing of JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD. At Christmas, we usually focus on JESUS’ 1st Coming, as a child born to Mary in a manger. But we live in the age of waiting for JESUS’ 2nd Coming. Therefore our Advent Sermon series will look at various aspects of the 2nd Coming.
Nov. 30 Matt 24:03-14 Portents of the 2nd Coming
Dec. 7 Matt 24:36-44 Prepare for the 2nd Coming
Dec. 14 Matt.25:14-30 Praise of the 2nd Coming
Dec. 21 Matt 25:31-46 Promise of the 2nd Coming
Come and join us each Sunday of Advent, and prepare yourself for Christ’s return - not as a babe in a manger who would become “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), but who comes as “the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords” (Rev. 19:16), as “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5) who establishes God’s eternal kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
Christmas Eve Service
Join us for our Christ-centered family Christmas Eve service at 6:00 p.m. This will be a service of Scriptures and Songs celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus. And a brief message will be given on “The Savior”
We are asking Zion’s children and youth to share their musical talents on Christmas Eve with Prelude music, starting before 6:00 p.m., based on the number of pieces to be played. Please contact Pastor Darrell (618-972-6010) to sign up to do this.
May you and yours come to Worship Christ Jesus this Christmas Season and beyond;
Pastor Darrell