February 24, 2023
Join us during Lent for Worship on Sundays and mid-week gatherings on Wednesdays. Find out more below.
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Join us as we begin a new message series connecting the stories of Jesus’ journey with our own. This week our story is woven around Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus, asking the question “Where can we find certainty in an uncertain world?”
LENT DEVOTIONALS
Pick up yours this Sunday at the entrances to the Sanctuary!
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Food for Fellowship is serving breakfast from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. every Sunday. Support this hospitality 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
9:40 a.m. | Solomon’s Porch
Families gather for a Lenten Journey during the Sunday’sCool time. We will meet on Solomon’s Porch at 9:40 where Pastor Lauren will lead you to the Gardens at Shepherd of the Hills for the Lent Journey. During the time in the gardens, you’ll explore some lent practices, start your Grace Garden, and at the end enjoy some dirt cups. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
AUSTIN CITY LUTHERANS (ACL) SUMMIT MEETING
This Sunday, February 26
2:30 p.m. | St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street + Zoom
Plan to join us, and please spread the word about ACL’s 2023 Summit. More than an update – more than a meeting – but a time to take action and participate in meaningful and impactful ministry! There will be updates on ACL Ministries and what’s ahead, volunteer sign-ups for BFA Food Pantry, Mariposa FLC Work Team, Move-In Ministry Team, Technical Support Team, Rent Assistance Fundraiser, and more!
Learn more about the Summit Meeting here.
NEXTGEN
6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Bible study and games for grades 5-12. Contact Joel Timmons, Student Ministry Coordinator.
Hear the Story…Once Upon a Time
MID-WEEK GATHERING
Beginning this Wednesday, March 1 | Activity Center
Each Wednesday in Lent we will gather for lunch or dinner, and then hear a dramatic reading telling the story through the eyes of those present at the crucifixion.
- 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Soup’s on!
12:30-1:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story of the Crucified Crook
- 6:00-6:30 p.m. | Soup’s on! Kid-friendly food too.
6:30-7:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story of the Crucified Crook
CALENDAR
We are currently working to address issues caused by a recent Realm software update. As a result, you may find it difficult to log onto Realm. Please use the website calendar (also found under the Connect tab on our website at www.ShepHills.org) until these complications are addressed. We will keep you informed of our progress as we resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We’ll provide an update on Sunday!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY*
Wednesday, March 1
7:30 a.m. | Early Riser’s Study on Zoom
Begin your day with a dive into Scripture! Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom
*The 10:00 a.m. Bible Study will resume after Lent.
CONCORDIA CHORAL CONCERT
Friday, March 10 | 7:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Whether you’re a Cobber, a choral music lover, or both, mark your calendar! Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at ConcordiaTickets.com. Prices range from free (!) to $25.
HOMELESSNESS INFORMATION EVENT
Sunday, March 12
9:30 a.m. | Butterfly Chapel
Pastor Tim Anderson and Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard join us for a discussion surrounding homelessness in Austin, and ACL initiatives on preventing it. Breakfast provided!
REGISTER FOR THE CONFIRMATION RETREAT!
Friday, March 24-Sunday, March 26 | Ebert Ranch
Register Today! We’ll ride horses, participate in team-building exercises, and learn more about the Sacraments and how they relate to Confirmation! Grades 5-8. Contact Joel Timmons with questions.
REGISTER FOR THE WOMEN’S RETREAT!
Friday, April 28-Sunday April 30 | Dilworth Inn, Gonzalez, TX
Recharge your spiritual batteries and return home feeling renewed and refreshed after connecting with old and new friends through faith and fun. Check out a detailed description of what we have planned and register today!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN’S RACIAL DIVIDE
The “Schools” chapter for the 1928 City of Austin Comprehensive plan concludes: “It is our recommendation that the nearest approach to the solution of the race segregation problem will be the recommendation of this district [just east of East Avenue and south of the city cemetery] as a negro district; and that all the facilities and conveniences be provided the negroes in this district as an incentive to draw the negro population to this area [italics added]. This will eliminate the necessity of duplication of white and black schools, white and black parks, and other duplicate facilities for this area.”
Photo
This undated photo, facing south, shows East Avenue before the construction of I-35. The four-lane boulevard was the dividing line between Black and White Austin, before it was replaced with I-35.
Members of the Welcome and Inclusion Team are Ruby Cadenhead, Sean Murray, Lauren Paulson, June Spann, Robert Spillar, and Pr. Lauren Dow Wegner
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.
LAST CHANCE TO GIVE!
Gifts for BeREAL Young Adults
Purchase Appliances Online
Give the gift of love by purchasing an appliance to help an Upbring BeREAL client furnish their kitchen. Thanks to your generous response so far we have 12 toasters, 13 slow cookers, 8 George Foreman Grills, 4 coffee pots, 1 blender, 10 irons, 5 ironing boards, 3 waffle makers, 16! Microwaves 🤓, 4 can openers, 5 floor lamps, 1 set of dishes, 2 pots/pans, 2 sets of measuring cups, and 1 set of measuring spoons! Don’t like to shop? Make a financial contribution! Questions? Contact Kathy Gerhardt.
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS
Please help support Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and Lutheran World Relief (LWR) efforts in response to the devastating earthquake in areas of Turkey & Syria. Your gifts provide help and hope for those whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake. Gifts designated for the earthquake relief effort will be used entirely (100%) for response efforts until they are complete. Love Offering envelopes will be available this Sunday and next for gifts of cash and check, or you may give online.
UPDATE! BEYOND CAPITAL FUND APPEAL
We are getting closer to our $3,000,000 goal! To date, we have raised $2,300,140 with 149 households participating. Please consider a gift! Learn more about Beyond here.
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!
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
Every Monday, Faith Presbyterian Church, 1314 E. Oltorf
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 help Austin City Lutherans’ Bread for All Food Pantry, serving Southeast Austin. No need to sign up ahead of time! This is a perfect activity for families, retirees, or anyone with spare time and a big heart.
The pantry is in special need of Basmati rice, bags of flour, diapers and in addition to other non-perishable goods. Please contact Weldon Allison with any questions! Bring non-perishable items and diapers to the collection bins located in the Gathering Space on Sundays or in the courtyard on Saturdays from 9-11:00 a.m.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner and Eric Paul.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Marie Lindstrom, sister of Linda Fiandaca; and Sara Ella Burden, mother of Sara Burden McClure.
We pray for Debra Wissman and family on the death of her mother, Margie Robinson. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.
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!
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.
*Prayers for family and friends are listed for 2 weeks, unless we are notified otherwise.
DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S CONNECTIONS?
Catch up on what you might have missed by reading last week’s Weekly Connections by clicking here.