January 20, 2023
This Sunday, and every day, we are made holy in Christ Jesus. Come join us!
THIS SUNDAY
WORSHIP
8:15 | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Our Epiphany Message Series I Saw the Light! continues this Sunday. How blessed we are to be called saints and drawn to the light of God!
Wondering what you missed last Sunday? Watch this short video. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration every day!
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Food for Fellowship offers up breakfast on Sundays until 10:15 a.m. Support this ministry and give online anytime by selecting the Fellowship Events/Breakfast Fund.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:45 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
SUNDAY’sCOOL
9:45 a.m. | Family Ministry Area
Calling all toddlers thru 4 grade to be the hands and feet of Jesus and participate in a service project together upstairs. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
NEXTGEN
*6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
*Note the new time! Bible study and games for grades 5-12. Contact Joel Timmons, Student Ministry Coordinator.
THIS WEEK
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events including Pickleball, Prayer Shawl, PALS, Yoga, and more!
BREAD FOR ALL
Every Monday
Noon-3:00 p.m. | Preparation Shift
3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. | Preparation Shift
4:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. | Distribution Shift
Choose a time and come help Austin City Lutherans’ Bread for All Food Pantry, serving the community of Montopolis. No need to sign up ahead of time! This is a perfect activity for families, retirees, or anyone with spare time and a servant heart. The pantry operates out of Faith Presbyterian Church, 1314 E. Oltorf. Please contact Weldon Allison with any questions!
Q+A MEETINGS FOR PASTORAL TRANSITION
This Tuesday, January 24 @ 7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary + Zoom Webinar
Next Sunday, January 29 @ 9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary + Zoom Webinar
Do you have questions about Pr. Tom’s planned transition into retirement at the end of 2023 and Church Council Leadership’s proposal to move forward with a plan of succession to call Pr. Lauren as Senior Pastor? Then please join us at a Q+A session to discuss goals, processes, and timelines. Bring your questions, your participation is important!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDIES
Wednesday, January 25
7:30 a.m. | Early Riser’s Study on Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Late Riser’s Study in the Library + Zoom
Gather with others to dive into Scripture! Both are Pastor-led. Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom
POINT IN TIME-COUNTING THE HOMELESS
Friday Evening, January 27
Pastor Tim Anderson, Director of Austin City Lutherans, invites you to participate in the “Point in Time” count on Friday evening, January 27. The PIT event tabulates a count of unhoused persons in Austin and Travis County, an important marker as agencies and non-profits work together to reduce homelessness in our community. Contact Pastor Tim at tca.blueocotillo@gmail.com for more info or to sign up to volunteer. Thanks!
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
Next Sunday, January 29
Join us next Sunday at both services for our monthly Contemporary Worship with music by Josh Norem, Laura, Charlie, and Rachel Hills!
UPCOMING
FEED MY PEOPLE
Tuesday, January 31
5:15 a.m. | FUMC Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca St.
Calling all early risers! Shepherd of the Hills continues to volunteer at Feed My People on the fifth Tuesday of the month, join us! Here’s a link to the sign-up with all the information. Feel free to contact Weldon Allison if you have any questions.
HOLY LAND TRIP
Registration Deadline
Wednesday, February 1
Make sure and register for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk where Jesus walked and experience the great adventure of faith. Contact Pr. Tom.
TELLING OUR SACRED STORIES
Sunday, February 5
9:30 a.m. | Butterfly Center Fellowship Hall
Whitney Myers, founder of Sacred Stories, personal historian, and member at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church will share the importance of telling our sacred stories, for the sake of healing and hope. Together we will explore different narrative practices that promote personal growth and the strengthening of relationships. Old, young, in between-we all have stories worth sharing. Join us for this special time. Learn more about Whitney and her work on her website.
SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Sunday, February 5
Noon | Sanctuary + Zoom Webinar
Please attend this Special Congregational Meeting following the late service. Your participation and vote in affirming the Pastoral Transition Plan are important as we move through the Pastoral Transition Process as a community. Childcare is provided, and those unable to attend in person may join the webinar to participate and vote. If you have questions, please contact Nicholas Dertien, Council Chair, or Megan Hansen, Council Vice Chair.
WELCOME NEW COUNCIL AND ENDOWMENT MEMBERS
COUNCIL
Please welcome new council members Tamara Allen, John Robertson, Denise Seidel, and Michael Watt who join current Council members Audrey Cullinane, Nicholas Dertien (Chair), Megan Hansen (Vice Chair), Ted Powell, and June Spann (Secretary). Go to the Leadership and Staff page on our website to put their names and faces together!
ENDOWMENT BOARD
Please welcome Bobby McQuiston to the Endowment Board, joining Larry Anderson (President), Carole Morgan, Ronny Pinckard (Vice President), and John Watkins (Secretary). Visit the Endowment Fund page for their pictures and to learn more about the Fund.
GIVING
Giving is an expression of joy and gratitude for the bounty of God’s goodness! There are so many ways to give-both financially and through serving.
PLEDGES, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS
Keeping current with your pledged or regular giving has never been easier because you can do it all online!
DEAR GOD, THANK YOU! 2023 STEWARDSHIP
It’s not too late! Begin your new year by responding in gratefulness. Please prayerfully consider giving in support of our Mission and Ministry Fund and/or Facilities and Campus Care Fund for 2023 if you have not yet done so. It’s easy to make a pledge online or ask the front office for a pledge card. Thank you for helping us do God’s work in the world!
BEYOND CAPITAL FUND APPEAL
Please consider a gift to the Beyond Capital Fund Appeal. We currently have 148 households participating. The more we collect early, the less we pay later! Learn more about Beyond here.
SERVING
Serving is a great way to give back and get to know others in our community. Whether you are interested in serving locally, being part of a global mission, or volunteering to help in a variety of ways on Sundays, we have a place for you!
BREAD FOR ALL
Come volunteer or donate food for Austin City Lutherans’ Bread for All Food Pantry, serving the community of Montopolis. Learn more about volunteering here, and donate non-perishable food by bringing items to the collection bins located in the Gathering Space on Sundays and in the courtyard on Saturdays from 9-11:00 a.m.
THANK YOU FROM UPBRING
It is always a joy to share the notes we receive. This one is from the young women at Upbring’s New Life Center in Canyon Lake. If you would like to know more about this ministry, contact Developing Missions liaison Karen Stern!
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
Would you like someone to pray alongside you during troubling times? Contact a Stephen Minister who can travel with you on life’s sometimes bumpy road.
We pray for Rodney Varner, Callie Ray Bell, and Jane Tackett.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Adryana Aldeen, Director of Advancement at Mariposa. Jim Enochs, father of Charlie Enochs. Marie Lindstrom, sister of Linda Fiandaca. Laura Ashford, friend of Dabney Gomes. Sophie Ahumada, granddaughter of Debra and Nadar Ayoub. Linda and Tom Ferris, sister and brother-in-law of Jennifer Arndt
We pray for Laura Hills on the death of her aunt, Millie Strand Kramer. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.
We pray for those attending the Mother-Daughter Retreat at Camp Lutherhill this weekend: Kristina and Lila Bishop and Joyce Flachmeier; Katie and Sophie Eckermann and Meg Butler; Christine Stern Calvo and Alicia Calvo; Tara Grove and Christina Davies; Kristen, Lillian, and Evelyn Murray; Melissa, Keaton, and Natalie Robertson; Pastor Lauren and Caroline Wegner; Sonya, Ellie, and Adalie Wilson. May their relationships be strengthened, and may the love of God be felt in the beauty of nature, community, and time set apart to be together.
Merciful and Loving God, as war and violence rages in Ukraine and other parts of the world, we pray that leaders of the world will practice peace-making, bringing together people of every tribe and race under the umbrella of your amazing grace.
We pray for our global ministry partners: Rev. Karen Castillo in Guatemala; Iglesia Luterana Augustina Virgen del Rosario, Aurora 8 de Octubre, Guatemala. We pray for Malcolm and Joy Henderson and the ministry of CHARIS in Haiti.
We pray for our local ministries: Mariposa Family Learning Center, Bread For All, and Upbring Ministries.
We pray for our faith community, that we may be a church without walls and live out loud…faithfully!
*Prayers for family and friends are listed for 2 weeks, unless we are notified otherwise.
DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK?
Catch up on what you might have missed by reading last week’s Weekly Connections by clicking here.