Weekly News from Zion and our Ministries Under the Cross, especially Evergreen Academy

December 7, 2022

Church & Preschool: We Need Your Help!

The donations we are providing (both in-kind and financially) are going to help individuals and families in need right here in our community. Nina's Place, our free community market & pantry opening in January, will serve all residents of our local community (not just Deerfield Beach). We need your help to ensure that our shelves are fully stocked and ready to go. We cannot ensure this ministry is a success without your partnership. Thanking you for your generosity —

In Christ,

Cantor Kurt R. Schmidt

4th Annual

Reverse Advent Calendar

A joint church, preschool, and community project to benefit Nina's Place

To see the full Reverse Advent Calendar, click here.

Collection boxes are available during the week in the Evergreen Academy office and on Sundays in the Church Sanctuary. If you want us to do the shopping for you, click here to give online and choose "Reverse Advent Calendar" as the fund. Thank you for your generosity!

Week 2

December 4-10

Church: Cans of soup and big boxes of cereal

Preschool: Canned vegetables & fruits and cans of soup

Week 3

December 11-17

Church: Granola/cereal bars, Pop Tarts, cans of tuna/chicken, and Vienna sausages

Preschool: Single-serve applesauces and single-serve puddings

Our Church Sanctuary's Transformation Has Begun

Just last week (after waiting on insurance settlements, supply shortages, and city permits), we finally began the active restoration of our church sanctuary following the storm damage from Tropical Storm Eta in 2019. Patience, persistence, and prayer bring results...and God is good!

Thanks to Reliable Windows for restoring the clerestory windows that had been shuttered with plywood since 2005. The pictures show the new windows from the exterior and the interior light coming in (with the lights off in the building). Come and see God's light shining even brighter in this holy place!

Next steps: a new roof, sanding and re-staining the interior woodwork, paint in several places (to match the roof color), cleaning and restoring the pipe organ, and new interior lighting. Stay tuned as we breathe new life into our church building in 2023.

Our Doors Are in the News!

Thanks to the Florida Reconciling Lutherans for celebrating Zion and Living Faith as new RIC congregations (p. 1) and including a special article on our doors (pp. 6 & 7) in their latest newsletter.

As the only active chapter in Florida, the Central Florida Chapter encompasses all RIC congregations in the Florida-Bahamas Synod and is working to become the statewide chapter and work collaboratively across the synod. Read the newsletter here. We are the church together for the sake of the whole world!

Looking Ahead to the 12 Days of Christmas

and into the New Year

Mark your calendars!

Third Tuesday in December

Tuesday, December 20th at Noon 

Sicilian Oven in Lighthouse Point

2486 N Federal Highway

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

(The restaurant is located on Federal Highway in Beacon Light Shoppes, north of Copans Road, on the east side of the street.)

Don't make lunch plans and come as you are! We enjoy delicious food and one another's fellowship. We each pay our own way, but everyone is invited to the table — friends, family members, and neighbors!

Wednesdays in Advent continue tonight!

Join us when you can from wherever you can! A main course will be provided; please bring something to share (a side or dessert), if you can. The direct Zoom link for the book study is here; the complete Zoom information is here; and, the link to our Facebook page is here.

This Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent

A note of joyful expectation marks today’s worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom, and Jesus points to the unexpected and transforming signs of God’s reign. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper, in church and in our homes, in silent reflection and in works of justice and love. We pray that God would open our eyes and ears to the wonders of Christ’s advent among us. 

Second Sunday (of the month) Healing Service

Readings

Isaiah 35:1-10

Matthew 11:2-11

• Two AA Groups meet weekly in Katie Luther Chapel: Women's AA (Mondays at 7:00 p.m.) and Old Timers AA (Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.).
• To claim a special date for altar flowers on a Sunday morning, contact Cantor Kurt Schmidt. The cost of the arrangements is $40 and you may take the flowers home after Sunday morning worship.

Zion is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) community, and extends God's radical welcome to all people, because we're all created in God's image.