Winchester Holding Cookie Exchange
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The Winchester Cookie Exchange will be held beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. Please bring a couple of dozen cookies to exchange with others. This year, you are being asked to share a copy of your cookie recipe. When you leave you may take a plate of cookies contributed by each person present.
Light the Night in Winchester WACA is compiling a list of all homes that are being decorated for the Christmas season. It will be available on the patio of Zilss Hall by Dec. 15 for anyone wishing to drive around and view the decorations. There will be no home decorating contest this year. If you would like to be on the list please notify Michele Weth by calling (281) 435-9245.
Dinah 4 Christmas
The 3rd annual Dinah 4 Christmas will be held the weekends of Dec. 13-15 and 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 Quilt Block Trail Drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall, and enjoy viewing the 65 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 Jancember uary 11, 2025. 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.
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 to 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.
Anniversary
Anniversary congratulations are sent to Jenny and Casey Fajkus-Dec. 13 and Michelle and Bobby Smith-14.
Birthdays
Wishing happy birthdays to Deborah Koenning-Deuary 10; Georgianna Fox and LaVerne Schulze-12; James Liebscher and Tish Lehmann-13.
First United Methodist
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 in the back of the church.
Shiloh Baptist Church
The Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, please contact Rev. Paul Whitmill at (512) 6291428. 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 Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.
Christmas Caroling
Please make plans to join in an afternoon of bringing Christmas Joy and Spirit through song to individuals who reside in local care facilities or at their homes. St. Michael’s Lutheran Church annual Christmas Caroling event has been scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 15. They will meet in the Church parking lot at 2 p.m., and a meal will be served in the Fellowship Hall upon return. If you plan to attend, or have any questions, please contact Roland at (979) 966-9397 or Robbie at (979) 639-1220, by Dec. 15.
In Our Prayers
Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Colton Montgomery, Dana Srubar, Layne Schramm, and Sharon Teinert.
Remembering Our Shut-Ins Those on the prayer list include: Charlene Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, Audrey Koenning, Marie, and Raymond Schulz.
Calendar of Events
Dec. 13-15 and 20-23-Dinah 4 Christmas Lighted Walking Trail at 1231 FM 153, Smithville.
Dec. 15-Cookie Exchange at Zilss Hall at 3:30 p.m.
Have News?
If anyone has news to share with readers of the Winchester News column, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512) 2370842 or email rmgersch@yahoo. com.