WACA Community Christmas Party Held

Zilss Hall was the venue for the annual community Christmas Party sponsored by the Winchester Area Civic Association last Friday. A wonderful evening was held with participants enjoying a baked potato bar. A hot dog bar was set up for the children. Santa and his helpers were in attendance to provide a special time for everyone present. A record number of neighbors were in attendance.

Fire Fighter of the Year The Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department held their annual Christmas Party this past week. John Vick was recognized for five years of service and Nick Brooks presented Gary Hromadka the Outstanding Fireman Award for 2023. A dinner of chili and chicken noodle soup was served, and a canned goods collection was held for AMEN.

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. 22 and 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Santa will be present between 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Food Donation Drive

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.

Round Table Book Club The Round Table book club will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. The book to be discussed is “Walking Across Egypt” by Clyde Edgerton, a story of a spunky woman, a stray dog, a teenage delinquent, and the best home cooking in Listre, North Carolina. Rhoda Gersch will be leading the discussion.

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. Reminder: these bins are not for household garbage. Please recycle items only.

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. The hall will be unavailable for rental in January 2024, due to 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 Ainsley Murphy-Dec. 19; Judy Latham-20; Diana Roeber- 21; Samantha Zoch-22; and Lee Latham-24.

Anniversaries

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

First United Methodist Church

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. A Christmas Eve service will be held at 5 p.m. at the Church on Dec. 24. The church members have been collecting food for AMEN and it will be blessed following the service.

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 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 p.m. You are welcome to visit.

Advent mid-week services are being held on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

At this year’s Christmas Eve Service, the children of the congregation will perform the program. place during the Sunday School Hour each week. A final rehearsal will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Please contact Amanda Hart at (979) 540-0600 or another member of the Board of Education for more information.

In Our Prayers

Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Colton Montgomery, Marceil Prestridge, Layne Schramm, Pastor Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer, 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, Jordon; USArmy: Caleb Burton, Ft. Carson, Colo.; Warren Evans, Fort Bragg, N.C.; 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

Dec. 19-Round Table Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

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.