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

December 20, 2023

On behalf of Pastors Cathy Lauterhahn and Jonathan Gantt, our Congregation Council, the teachers and staff of Evergreen Academy, and the Nina's Place team, I would like to wish all of you and those you love a very Merry Christmas.

Our theme for Christmas Eve this year focuses on John 1:5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it." In a world that is darker than any of us would like it to be, we pray for Jesus' light to shine through us, illuminating and transforming the world. Thank you all for being a part of the ministry we share. I hope to see all of you at one or more of our Christmas season worship services and into 2024.

Love, Joy, and Peace,

Cantor Kurt R. Schmidt

Thank You, Evergreen Academy!

We are so proud of our three year old and Pre-K students from Evergreen Academy of Zion for putting on such a wonderful Christmas Program this year!

Thank you to the directors and teachers, to Associate Cantor Peter Rizzo for his musical leadership, and to the families who entrust their children to our care.

Opportunities to "Just Show Up"

Wednesdays in Advent Conclude Tonight

Thanks to everyone who has gathered for the last two weeks for food, fellowship, good conversation, and prayer. Tonight, we conclude our Wednesdays in Advent, and you're invited.

Our discussion will focus on next steps: What resources (tools, strategies, books, etc.) do you want and need in order to grow in your practice of prayer, study of scripture, and engaging regularly with worship?

5:30 p.m. Dinner & Fellowship

6:00 p.m. Book Study & Discussion

7:00 p.m. Holden Evening Prayer

Don't have time to bring something to share for dinner? It's okay; just show up. Can't make it for anything but evening prayer? It's okay; just show up.

Casual Christmas has become such a beloved Zion tradition and an opportunity to give our worship leaders a “Sunday off” from their set up and clean up responsibilities.

Wear your favorite Christmas pajamas and come for Christmas carols, cookies, and hot cocoa. (We worship outside under the portico. Last year, it was *really* cold, so check the weather before you come.)

Opportunities to Serve Joyfully & Give Selflessly

Thank you to everyone who has given so generously. We will be collecting through the 12 Days of Christmas and concluding on Sunday, January 7th.

If you would like to donate financially rather than shop, click here. We will do the shopping for you. Food donations can be dropped off at the Evergreen Academy office or at worship on Sunday mornings. Thank you for your generosity!

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

No Sunday Morning Worship on Christmas Eve

Join us for a Christmas Eve candlelight celebration of Jesus’ birth, singing praise with the angels, worshiping with the shepherds, and contemplating with Mary and Joseph what it means to have “God with us.”

You are invited to be a part of it. Come as families. Come as you are. See what God has done for you.

New Ways of Praying

This month, we renewed a practice of praying for people by name on Sunday mornings. All names submitted online (click here) by Saturday at noon will be added to Sunday's prayers of the people. In order to keep our prayer list current, all names must be resubmitted each week if you desire continued prayers.

Cantor Kurt R. Schmidt

954-421-3146, option 2 (Church) • 954-913-2125 (Cell)

kschmidt@zion-lutheran.org

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.