Winchester Family Displaced by Fire Last Week

WINCHESTER News

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, a fire at a residence on FM 153 west of Winchester took the home and belongings of the Clark family. The Clarks are a family of six with four children ranging in age from 10 years to 2 months. The family’s biggest need at this point is financial support. A savings account has been set up for contributions for the family. Individuals can use Zelle to contribute to the Clarks by looking up their account under the email address squirrelz88@yahoo.com. Additionally, Saint Michael’s will hold a door offering for the family on Sunday, Dec. 22. Please consider helping to support this family in their hour of loss.

Dinah 4 Christmas 

The 3rd annual Dinah 4 Christmas will be held on Dec. 20-23. The free community event will feature a lighted walking trail, visits from Santa, children’s activities, and refreshments. Gates will be open from 6-9 p.m. Lights out will be at 9:30 p.m. Santa’s visit will be from 6:308:30 pm.

Winchester Book Club 

The book club will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. The book to be discussed is “Little and Often a Memoir” by Trent Preszler. Please come. All are welcome.

Winchester Quilt Block Trail 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 on the Quilt Block Trail. 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, Zilss Hall, Murphy’s Steakhouse, quilt stores, and other businesses in Giddings, Smithville, and La Grange.

Quilt Block Paint Class 

The first 2025 quilt block paint class will be held on Jan. 11. The class will be held at Zilss Hall and will begin at 10 a.m. Please bring a sack lunch and wear appropriate clothing for painting or bring an apron. The class will end at 4 p.m. and you will leave the class with a completed 2 ft. x 2 ft. painted quilt block suitable for hanging on a fence, barn, garage, etc. You can register for the class at quiltblocktrail. com. The class cost is $90 with all proceeds going to the upkeep of the Zilss Hall.

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.

Zilss Community Hall 

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

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 Grayson Hart and Nancy Stiles-Dec. 17; Eddie Schneider and Pat Karisch-8; Ainsley Murphy-19; Judy Latham-20; Diana Roeber-21; and Samantha Zoch-22.

Anniversary congratulations are sent to Margaret and Tom Atkins-Dec. 23.

First United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church has service on the first and third Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. Richard Johnson is the pastor. The members of the church will be conducting a food drive for AMEN. All food boxes should be left in the church to be blessed at the Christmas Eve service which will be held on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. A list of suggested donations can be found at the back of the church.

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 

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. The Anniversary

Reverend Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.

In Our Prayers 

Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Sherwood Gersch, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Colton Montgomery, Dana Srubar, Layne Schramm, and Sharon Teinert.

Calendar of Coming Events Dec. 20-23-Dinah 4 Christmas Lighted Walking Trail at 1231 FM 153, Smithville.

Dec. 24-Christmas Eve Service at First United Methodist Church, Winchester, at 5 p.m.

Dec. 24-Christmas Eve Service at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Winchester, at 5 p.m.

Have News? 

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