March 10, 2023
Join us this Sunday as we strengthen our bonds and work towards creating a better world for all. Read more below.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
John 8:1-11 This week’s Gospel story of the Accused Woman uplifts Jesus as the one who never condemns. Join us this Sunday as we look at the violence of judgmentalism. Pr. Tim Anderson of Austin City Lutherans preaches, Bob Cannon plays at both services, and Choir and a Bell Ensemble join us for the 10:45 Worship.
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Food for Fellowship serves breakfast from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. every Sunday. It’s so good we know you want to linger, but please don’t be late for Worship! Support this hospitality ministry and give online anytime by selecting the Fellowship Events/Breakfast Fund.
ACL HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE EVENT
9:30 a.m. | Butterfly Center
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!
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
SUNDAY’sCOOL
9:40 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Meet in Choir Room, Pick up in Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
We are starting something new! Every week we’ll meet at 9:40 a.m. in the Choir Room (to the left of the Sanctuary) to start the fun with some singing with Kevin! Then Megan will escort the kids upstairs for activities. Don’t forget to pick up a printed guide to making your Lenten Garden, complete with activities and prayer. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
NEXTGEN
No NextGen this week!
Enjoy Spring Break, and we’ll see you next week. Contact Joel Timmons.
COME HEAR THE STORY…ONCE UPON A TIME
MID-WEEK GATHERING
Wednesday, March 15 | Activity Center
Emotion, Storytelling, Connection. This week we hear a dramatic reading from the Accused Woman. Come for a simple lunch or dinner beforehand. Don’t just take our word for it, take 10 minutes and experience last week’s story for yourself!
- 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Soup’s on!
12:30-1:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story
- 6:00-6:30 p.m. | Soup’s on! Kid-friendly food too.
6:30-7:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story
CALENDAR
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events including Yoga, Pickleball, Choir and Bells, PALS, and Bread for All!
CONCORDIA CHORAL CONCERT
Tonight! 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.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, March 11
8:00 a.m. | Activity Center
Breakfast is provided as a backdrop to good conversation.
QUILTING
Saturday, March 11 | 9:00 a.m. Room 205
Plenty of work finishing Senior Quilts. Come help!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY*
Wednesday, March 15
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.
MID-WEEK GATHERING*
Wednesday, March 15 | Activity Center
*See the description above
NATIONAL QUILTING DAY
Saturday, March 18
9:00 a.m. | Room 205
Join us on National Quilting Day for a stitchin’ good time! We promise to unravel the mystery of quilting and show you just how easy it can be. All ages are welcome, so bring your friends and family. Let’s sew this thing together! Hosted by the ShepHills Quilting Group.
WHIM ‘N RHYTHM A CAPELLA CONCERT
Saturday, March 18
4:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
Shepherd of the Hills is bringing the heat with the one and only Whim ‘n Rhythm, Yale’s senior soprano-alto a cappella singing group. Music director Isa Zou is a graduate of Butterfly Preschool and Westlake HS, and is now a senior at Yale. Don’t risk being left out in the cold, wishing you could harmonize like these musical masterminds – get your tickets by donation today or at the door!
BREAD FOR ALL DONATIONS (BFA)
Saturdays
9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. | Bins in Courtyard and outside Office doors
Bread for All has issued a special request for diapers sizes 5&6. You can also bring donations on Sundays, or anytime the Church office is open. Thank you for your generosity! This past Monday BFA assisted 96 families. Keep those donations coming!
RETREAT REGISTRATIONS – do it today!
REGISTER FOR THE WOMEN’S RETREAT!
Friday, April 28-Sunday April 30 | Dilworth Inn, Gonzalez, TX
Ladies, it’s time to escape and treat yo’self to some quality time. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (but mostly from laughing too hard), and you’ll leave feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world. So grab your girlfriends and join us for a weekend of relaxation and sisterhood. Check out a detailed description of what we have planned and register at the same time!
FAMILY ADVENT RETREAT AT CAMP CHRYSALIS!
Friday, December 1 – Sunday, December 3 | Camp Chrysalis in Kerrville, TX
Register Today! Get into the spirit of Christmas with a family weekend full of adventure, crafts, worship/songs, and campfires. Each family gets their own private cabin and bathroom. We know from experience this retreat fills up fast, so sign up soon. You can cancel later in the year with a refund, so save your spot. Contact Melissa Robertson with questions.
DAY CAMP!
Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14 | On-site at ShepHills
Completed Kinder through 5th grade are invited for an action-packed week of day camp led by Camp Chrysalis here at home! Find details and registration here, and have your friends sign up by clicking the button on the homepage at ShepHills.org. The more the merrier, there is plenty of Jesus’ love to go around!
SAVE THE DATE!
JUST SISTERS SPEAK ABOUT RACE
Saturday, April 22
10:00am | Activity Center
Mark your calendars for this all-women’s gathering. Invited guests will share personal stories surrounding race as a powerful way to build empathy and understanding across our differences. More information to follow!
BEING THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
NextGen Youth are collecting items for Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief throughout Lent. Please bring (one or all!) of these items to the designated bin by the stairs: lightweight, dark bath towels, bar soap (4oz+), toothbrushes (in packaging), sturdy combs, and nail clippers.
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!
MID WEEK LENT AND EASTER OFFERING
Our Mid Week Lent and Easter Sunday offering has been designated to support ELCA World Hunger and Mariposa Family Learning Center. ELCA World Hunger responds to global hunger needs, and Mariposa, a ministry of Austin City Lutherans, provides affordable child care and support for parents and families in Southeast Austin. Thank you for giving in support of these amazing ministries!
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.
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!
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Marie Lindstrom, sister of Linda Fiandaca; and Linda and Tom Ferris, sister and brother-in-law of Jennifer Arndt.
We celebrate the birth of Tobias James Hartmann, son of Molly and Madeline Hartmann, brother of Coraline. We pray for Tobias as he grows, and that we may surround him in love and prayers throughout his life.
Merciful and Loving God, as war and violence rage 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.