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

January 7, 2026

We're Growing in God's Grace in 2026

Beloved in Christ,

Happy New Year! As we look ahead in 2026, our ministry theme — “Growing in God’s Grace” — invites us to reflect on how God forms faith over time, through patience, trust, and shared work. Growth in the Christian life is rarely instant or flashy. More often, it is steady, rooted, and sustained by God’s faithfulness to us.

Paul reminds us of this truth when he writes, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Ministry is always a shared endeavor. Some plant seeds through welcome, teaching, and care. Others water through encouragement, service, and prayer. None of us control the outcome—but all of us are called to participate faithfully, trusting God to bring increase in God’s time.

This trust shapes the way we will approach ministry at Zion, Evergreen Academy, Nina's Place, and beyond in 2026. Rather than measuring success only by numbers or quick results, we are compelled to cultivate a growth mindset—one that values formation, resilience, learning, and openness to where the Spirit is leading. We plant and water with hope, knowing that God is at work even when growth is slow or hidden.

Our theme verse from Colossians grounds this vision: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7). To grow in God’s grace is to stay rooted in Christ, strengthened by community, and equipped for the path God has set before us.

In the year ahead, may we grow together—patiently, faithfully, and joyfully—trusting God to bring the increase.

Yours in Christ,

Kurt

Kurt R. Schmidt, Minister

3 Days Left to Contribute!

The Reverse Advent Calendar concludes at the end of this week. Thank you to everyone who has brought items or made contributions toward the success of this year's service project. Stay tuned for totals on how much food we collected. Any additional items can be brought to the Evergreen Academy Office or individual classrooms through Friday afternoon or worship on Sunday morning. You can also give using the online giving platform and we will do the shopping.

Bless Your House for 2026

Sunday's in-person bulletin included the Blessing for a Home that has been part of Epiphany celebrations in Christian households for centuries.

By clicking on the graphic, you can view, download, and/or print the house blessing that you (and your family) can use in your own homes.

As the blessing shares: In the home, Christ is met in family and friends, in visitors and strangers. In the home, faith is shared, nurtured, and put into action. In the home, Christ is welcome.

Nina's Place Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

On Saturday, we celebrated 3 years of serving the community at Nina's Place: A Free Community Market & Pantry. While this picture includes a number of Deerfield Beach Community Cares staff and key Zion volunteers, we continue to be successful because of the myriad of individuals who devote their time, talent, and treasure to this ministry.

As we begin our 4th year at Nina's Place, we reaffirm our commitment that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met and no one should ever go hungry.

Gratitude in 2026

Late in 2025 and early in 2026, we have received expressions of thanks and gratitude from several partner organizations:

• Our friends at New Directions Chamber Winds sent us $250 since we opted out of hosting their fall concert due to our AC issues.
• Our friends at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton sent us $360 in tzedakah (charitable giving) for ongoing work at Nina’s Place.
• An anonymous donor sent us $5,000 to cover lawn maintenance in the Memorial Garden for 2026 and a new commercial entry/exit door for Nina’s Place.
• Our friends from the Brazilian Chapel (who share our space on Saturdays, pictured above) expressed their gratitude for opening our space to them in 2025.

We are grateful to share part of what God has entrusted to us in a variety of ways across our community!

Save the Dates for Our 2026 Preschool Family Chapels!

As we look ahead to the Lent & Easter seasons in the church year, our Evergreen Academy classes will be worshipping together in two upcoming family chapels: one for Ash Wednesday and the other for Holy Week & Easter. The latter, our "Resurrection Chapel," is the Easter equivalent to our Christmas Program. You won't want to miss these occasions to be together!

Upcoming Vigil for Immigration Justice

Kurt will be speaking at the Vigil for Dignity, Freedom, and Justice at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach on Sunday, January 25th. We have been invited to attend and participate as a community. For more information, contact Kurt.

Seniors Traveling Again

The next opportunity for a "senior trip" with the Seniors Traveling Again Group will be March 17-19, 2026, traveling to the Tampa-St. Pete area.

For more information, please contact Sally at (954) 427-2175 or Gloria at (954) 681-8521.

This Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Baptism of Our Lord

In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany, Jesus fulfills all righteousness and becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice and be a light to the nations. In the waters of baptism we too are washed by the Word, anointed by the Spirit, and named God’s beloved children. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who are oppressed or in need of God’s healing.

Sunday's bulletin can be found here.

Kurt R. Schmidt

Synodically-Authorized Minister

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.