Weekly News from Zion and our Ministries Under the Cross: Evergreen Academy & Nina's Place

November 8, 2023

We Are the Body of Christ at Zion

Important Updates in the Life of Our Community

We rejoice in the recent baptisms of Georgia Layne Hackett (daughter of Ally & Andy Hackett, granddaughter of Beth & Randy Loren) and Angel Francisco Arcos (son of Julia Swanson & Francisco Arcos, brother of Jaden Swanson, and grandson of Beverly Swanson). We welcome them to God's family at Zion!

On Monday, we received word that Irene Zuchowski died suddenly and unexpectedly that morning after a fall and a brief illness.

Irene was a member of Zion for many years and, when she was no longer able to attend in person, became our most faithful online participant. Her engagement and words of encouragement will be missed. Please keep her daughter Debbie and family in prayer.



May Irene rest in peace and rise in glory.

On Sunday, November 19th, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Cantor Kurt Schmidt's music ministry at Zion. Kurt's ministry encompasses all of our life at Zion; and, in the words of our president, Dr. Robin Larson, "Kurt makes everyone around him, as well as the community, such a better place and us better people."

Kurt will be preaching at our morning worship. Join us as we mark this special occasion and thank him for his continuing service to Zion and our community!

Opportunities to "Just Show Up"

Wednesdays in Advent 2023

Book Study & Discussion

What does it mean to follow Jesus together with fellow believers? How can we reflect Jesus in our daily lives? To help answer these questions, we will be reading “I Am a Christian“ by Thom S. Rainer during our Wednesday evenings in Advent.

This is a short read and will spark some great discussions! If you would like us to order a book for you, please reply to this email and let Cantor Kurt Schmidt know by Friday, November 10th.

No Third Tuesday in November

Our Third Tuesday Lunch Bunch will not meet in November. We wish you a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving with those you love!

Stay tuned for December's location and an opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season.

Save the Date!

2nd Annual Santa Pub Crawl

In lieu of our First Friday in December, you are invited to join the Kiwanis Club of Deerfield Beach at their 2nd Annual Santa Pub Crawl on Friday, December 1st, beginning at 4:00 p.m. There will be food and drink specials available at each location, and all proceeds from the wristband sales will go toward the work of Kiwanis in our local community and other areas in need around the country.

The DFB Kiwanis meets at Zion and is a sponsor of Nina's Place and Deerfield Beach Community Cares.

Opportunities to Serve Joyfully & Give Selflessly

Community Thanksgiving Meal

Deerfield Beach Community Cares is hosting a Thanksgiving meal for 200 Deerfield Beach residents on Thursday, November 16th in the evening. We need volunteers to help with setup, serving, and cleanup.

If you are available and willing to volunteer, please call Alyssa Mayer-Saldivar, Zion member and DBCC's Executive Assistant, at (954) 465-4514 or email her.

Help Restock the Pantries

We are restocking our pantries in preparation for the holidays and in order to begin 2024 with plenty of items for our neighbors of all ages. If you would like to donate, click here for the wish list and Amazon will ship the items directly to Zion. Thank you for your generosity!

Sunday at 11:00 a.m. – In Person & Online

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Second Sunday Healing Service

In Sunday's readings, the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.

The Rev's Thoughts & Recs

Last Sunday, we celebrated All Saints and reflected on our loved ones who have gone before us. 

The chorus of the song, "Gathering of Spirits" offers a great word picture of our being reunited with the saints we honored: "There's a gathering of spirits, there's a festival of friends.  And we'll take up where we left off when we all meet again."

Enjoy the lyrics as you live with the hope of seeing your loved ones again.

Chorus: Let it go my love my truest, let it sail on silver wings.

Life's a twinkling that's for certain, but it's such a fine thing.

There's a gathering of spirits, there's a festival of friends

And we'll take up where we left off when we all meet again.

I can't explain it. I couldn't if I tried.

How the only things we carry are the things we hold inside.

Like a day in the open, like the love we won't forget,

Like the laughter that we started and it hasn't died down yet.

Oh yeah, now didn't we and don't we make it shine.

Aren't we standing in the center of something rare and fine.

Some glow like embers like a light through colored glass.

Some give it all in one great flame throwing kisses as they pass.

Just east of Eden, but there's heaven in our midst

And we're never really all that far from those we love and miss.

Wade out in the water there's a glory all around

And the wisest say there's a 1000 ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

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.