Winchester Community Christmas Party Dec. 8

The Annual Community Christmas Party sponsored by the Winchester Area Civic Association will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. A baked potato meal and kid’s meal will begin at 6 p.m. Besides the meal there will be caroling, games, photos and of course a visit from Santa. Please bring your children and/or grandchildren and begin your Christmas season with your neighbors.

Coloring Contest

The first annual child’s coloring contest is being held now. Coloring sheets are located on the patio at Zilss Hall or can be obtained from Michele Weth at sweetcity@aol.com. Contest entries need to be brought to the Christmas Party on Dec. 8 and will be judged by the attendees. Everyone who enters will receive a candy cane and a winner, announced at the party, will receive a special award.

Winchester Area VFD

Mark your calendars for the Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department Community Christmas Party on Dec. 12. A social will begin at 6 p.m., followed by chili and chicken noodle soup made by the Franke and Kleiber families. Desserts would be greatly appreciated. Canned food will be collected for the AMEN Food Pantry.

There is a need for new firemen for the department. Please attend and check out how to become a volunteer. Fire trucks will be at the party for the community to see and explore. Bring the kids and learn about the Fire Department.

Light the Night in Winchester A “Light the Night” outdoor Christmas decorating contest will be held in the Winchester area to celebrate the holiday. Register by Dec. 14 by sending your address to Zilsshallwinchester@gmail. com. All participating entries will receive a one-year membership to WACA for the 2024 year. Judging will be completed on Dec. 15 and 16 with ballots being turned in by 9 p.m., Dec. 16 on the patio at Zilss Hall. A social will be held at the hall on the Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. The winners will be announced with cash prizes being awarded for 1st through 3rd places.

more information contact Barb Schafer at richardbarbschafer@ gmail.com.

Dinah 4 Ranch Christmas

A free community Christmas event will be occurring West of Winchester at 1231 Hwy 153. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and will feature a lighted walking trail, Santa visits, children’s activities, and refreshments. The Dinah 4 Ranch Christmas will be open on Dec. 8-9; 15-17; and 22-23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Santa will be present between 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Food Donation Drive

The Winchester 4-H will be sponsoring a food drive to benefit the AMEN Food Pantry on Dec. 6-20. All donations should be non-perishable items and be dropped in the donation box at the Narthex of the St. Michael’s Lutheran Church.

Recycling Trailer

The Winchester recycling trailer is located on the side of Zilss Hall on Memorial Hall Street. Please place your recycling in the appropriate bins. We would appreciate it if you made sure that you close the bins so that any trash will remain in the bins and not blow out.

Barn Board Quilt Trail

Wanting to take a drive in the country. Then drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall, and enjoy viewing the sixty-five quilt blocks displayed in our area. The trail is self-driven, available at your convenience, and is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon viewing quilt blocks on fences, gates, barns, and houses that can be seen from the road. Winchester Barn Board Quilt Trail maps may be picked up at the Texas Quilt Museum, Casino Hall, the Wendish Museum, quilt stores, and other businesses in Giddings, Smithville, and La Grange.

Zilss Community Hall

Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 434-0292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned and is now available for rentals following renovations.

The Little Free Library

The library is on the covered patio at Hall and is always open and has a variety of authors. Space is limited, so please, if you donate a book(s) look through the current selection and take as many as you leave. Also on the patio, there is a bulletin board available to post event notices.

Birthdays

Wishing happy birthdays to Gina Marek and Stephanie Alvarado-Nov. 29; Robbie Zoch-Dec. 1; Carlton Musgrove- 2; Daniel Gersch, Charlotte Baker, and Jacob Koenning- 4.

Anniversaries

Wishing anniversary congratulations Teresa and David Shed-Nov. 28; and Tara and Sean Murphy-Dec. 2.

New Arrival

CJ and Jake Franke welcomed the arrival of baby Levi Monroe Franke on Nov. 15. Levi weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. Grandparents are Kelly and Tommy Franke of Winchester and Carol Nolen of Giddings.

First United Methodist

The Winchester First United Methodist Church has service on the first and third Sunday of the month at 8:30 a.m. The Rev Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer is the pastor.

Shiloh Baptist Church

The Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, contact Rev. Paul Whitmill at (512) 629-1428.

St. Michael’s Lutheran Church The weekly worship service takes place at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning in the sanctuary. Following the worship service, you may gather in the Education Building for Bible Study and Sunday School beginning at 10:15 a.m. You are welcome to visit.

At this year’s Christmas Eve Service, the children of the congregation will perform the program. If you would like your child or grandchild to participate, please plan to have them attend all rehearsals for the children’s program. Rehearsals will take place during the Sunday School Hour each week and begin Nov. 26. There will also be a final rehearsal at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. To ensure that the children are prepared for their songs and speaking parts, attendance at each of the December rehearsals is mandatory.

Contact Amanda Hart at (979) 540-0600 or another member of the Board of Education for more information.

In Our Prayers

Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Dale Dunk, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Colton Montgomery, Marceil Prestridge, Layne Schramm, and Angie Zoch.

Remembering Our Shut-Ins Charlene Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Mary Lehmann, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, and Audrey Koenning.

In the US Armed Forces US Air Force: Nathan Brothers-Langley, Va.; Ryan Spray, San Antonio; Manuel Comancho, Africa.

US Army: Caleb Burton-Ft. Benning, Ga.; Warren Evans- Ft. Wainwright, Alaska; Jake Hagood-Ft. Hood; Byron Taylor-South Korea; Seth Lopez, Army Reserve National Guard-Egypt; Kaleb Pyle -Ft. Bliss.

US Marines: Damien Hernandez-San Diego, Calif.; Kevin Gonzalez-San Francisco, Calif.; Dylan Robbins-Jacksonville, N.C.

US Navy: Christopher Brand-Great Lakes, Ill.

US Coast Guard: Brett Smith-Corpus Christi.

Texas National Guard: Erik Vallejo-US Border.

Calendar of Events

Nov. 28-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Nov. 28-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department meets at 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.

Dec. 8-WACA Annual Community Christmas Party begins at 5:30 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Dec. 12-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department meets at 6 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Have News?

If you have news or photos to share with readers of the Winchester News column, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512)237-0842 or email rmgersch@yahoo.com.