March 17, 2023
Every Sunday is a celebration. Spread joy and pick up an Easter Sign for your yard! Read more below.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
John 9:1-23 The Pharisees are still trying to prove Jesus is not the son of God by pointing out his “sins” and giving easy answers to hard questions. But there are no easy answers…
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.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
SUNDAY’sCOOL & MUSIC WITH KEVIN
9:40 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Meet in Choir Room, Pick up in Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
Toddlers thru 4th grade sing along with Kevin (or play quietly with Megan) and then move upstairs for faith stations! Contact Megan Getman with questions.
STEVE LARSON MEMORIAL GATHERING
2:00 p.m. | Courtyard
The Larson Family invites you to join them this Sunday for a casual gathering in the Courtyard to remember Steve and reflect on his wonderful life.
NEXTGEN
6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Calling all 5th thru 12th graders for a night of laughter, friendly competition, and spiritual growth. Bring your A-game and your bible, because faith and fun go hand in hand! Contact Joel Timmons.
CONFIRMATION RETREAT!
Register by this Sunday!
It’s not too late, but giddy up y’all! You must register by this Sunday to join us at Camp Ebert Ranch Friday, March 26-Sunday, March 28.
GETTING READY FOR EASTER!
EASTER YARD SIGNS
Get yours in the Gathering Space
Be a yard sign evangelist and let your neighbors know about our Easter Sunday Services! Get yours soon before they’re all gone…
EASTER LILIES
Help us decorate for Easter Sunday! Purchase an Easter Lily online or get an envelope as you enter the Sanctuary. Thank you!
COME HEAR THE STORY…ONCE UPON A TIME
MID-WEEK GATHERING
Wednesday, March 15 | Activity Center
Immersive. Anticipatory. Impactful. Last Wednesday we heard the Accused Women tell her side of the story. This week Barabbus has a lot to tell us. A simple lunch or dinner is served beforehand.
- 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!
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!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY*
Wednesday, March 22
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 22 | Activity Center
*See the description above
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Wednesday, March 22
2:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
All caregiving, whether long-term or short, from near or far, brings challenging moments. This group acknowledges both the challenges and joys while offering practical tips from lived experience. Contact Rebecca Guengerich with questions.
GRIEF GROUP
Sunday, March 26
Noon | Library
Each person grieves differently and for different things, but we don’t have to grieve alone. Join us in gathering for lunch and a time to share in a safe space where crying, laughing, anger, and silence are all welcome. Please RSVP to Rebecca Guengerich.
FOR YOU COMMUNION RETREAT
Sunday, March 26
Noon – 2:00 p.m. | Activity Center
Join us for this special Holy Communion Retreat designed for kids who are ready to learn more about this sacrament. There is no age requirement, though the curriculum speaks best to students in grades 1-4. During the Retreat, students learn more about the sacrament and engage in fun activities to commemorate this milestone in faith. Students will also be recognized at the 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship. Contact Megan Getman if you have questions.
PERSONAL CARE KITS FOR LWR
NextGen Youth are collecting items for Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) 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.
FAITH IN ACTION
One of the best ways to live out our faith is by actively engaging with the world around us. We’ve developed this new section of inter-faith events to provide opportunities to put your faith into action – from volunteering at a local shelter to participating in a social justice rally. You choose what fits and speaks to YOU, and go make a positive impact in our communities and the world!
TEXAS IMPACT
Equality for LGTBQ+ Texans
Join the work of Texas Impact, an organization that unites people of faith in advocating for those whose rights are at stake. Read the open letter to lawmakers, with a link to sign if you wish to support this issue. Visit their website to learn more about other issues they are supporting in this legislative session.
AUSTIN CITY LUTHERANS RENT ASSISTANCE
Want to help prevent homelessness in Austin? Support ACL’s upcoming rent assistance program with a donation before the end of April. We plan to raise $50k (we have almost $40k) to help neighbors stay in homes and apartments. Read more about this program, and give here. Please designate “rent assistance.” You can also send checks to ACL Rent Assistance in c/o Abiding Love, 7210 Brush Country Dr. Austin, Texas 78749.
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!
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 peanut butter and pinto beans. You can also bring donations on Sundays, or anytime the Church office is open. Thank you for your generosity! This past Monday BFA was grateful for your donations of 416 diapers! Thank you!
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!
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; Linda Ferris, sister of Jennifer Arndt; Brenda Hearn, daughter of Wanda Lowke.
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.
We pray for Jennifer Arndt on the death of her brother-in-law, Tom Ferris. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.
God, be with our NextGen students Clay Bishop, Isaac Bishop, Alicia Calvo, Jonathan Davies, Sawyer Dertien, Jake DeVaney, Luke Hansen, Alex Nuernberg, Andrew Nuernberg and Keaton Robertson, and leaders: Amy Bishop, Christine Stern-Calvo, Pr. Tom Grevlos, and Joel Timmons who are at Ebert Ranch for the Confirmation Retreat next weekend. May you work in their hearts and minds. May they learn and grow closer to you and to their faith community.
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.