March 24, 2023
Let us worship God! Join us this Sunday in anticipation of Holy Week and treat yourself to some “Love Love Love” from the Kids’ Choir at the late service.
THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 26
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
John 11:1-44 “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”~Jesus. The Kids’ Choir is ready to show us some “Love, Love, Love” this Sunday at the late service-come get your share!
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 start with “Music with Kevin” at 9:40 in the Choir Room, then we will move upstairs to do our service project. The project this week is decorating the new worship bags. Pick up at 10:30 upstairs as usual. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
GRIEF GROUP
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
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.
NEXTGEN
No NextGen this week! See you next week. Contact Joel Timmons.
PERSONAL CARE KITS FOR LWR
NextGen Youth are collecting items for Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) throughout Lent. WE STILL NEED ITEMS! 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 by this Sunday.
HOLY WEEK
There is no more important week for us to observe than Holy Week. From Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) to Jesus sharing his last supper on Passover (Maundy Thursday) and his betrayal and crucifixion on the cross (Good Friday), it is all in preparation for joy at finding the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Find detailed descriptions of each service here.
GET READY FOR EASTER!
Easter is the best opportunity to invite someone to church. Here are some ways you can!
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…
LIKE AND SHARE OUR POSTS!
Are You on Facebook?
Facebook Events for Palm Sunday and Easter have been posted! Please visit our page with these links, respond that you are going, and share on your timeline so others can see! Every like, comment, and share helps rank our content so more people see it!
EASTER LILIES
Help us decorate for Easter Sunday! Purchase an Easter Lily online or get an envelope as you enter the Sanctuary. Thank you!
EASTER SUNDAY
Sing Alleluia! The tomb is empty, and the trumpet of eternal life sounds. Join us for services indoors, outdoors, and online. Choose the Worship that fits you by reading detailed descriptions here. Don’t miss Easter Brunch from 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in the Activity Center.
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!
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 29 | Activity Center
Come for the last Mid-Week Gathering. This week we hear from Mary, mother of Jesus. A simple lunch or dinner is served beforehand. If you missed this week’s reading, watch it here.
- 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 CANCELLATIONS DURING HOLY WEEK
Make sure and check the calendar before heading over! Pickleball, Men’s Breakfast, and Quilting have all been canceled on Holy Saturday. Come do the Prayer Walk instead!
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!
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.
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.
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. We’ll have more information next week!
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 4, 5, and 6. One reason diapers are so important: Without diapers, children are unable to attend daycare, and parents are unable to work. You can also bring donations on Sundays, or anytime the Church office is open. Thank you for your generosity last week, BFA received 396 lbs of food, and 558 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: Brenda Hearn, daughter of Wanda Lowke; Richard South, nephew of Sylvia and Curtis Johnson; Matt Simon, father of Katie Jones; Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer; Henry Land, father of Amanda Land Palmer.
We pray for: Jennifer Arndt on the death of her brother-in-law, Tom Ferris; Kathie Smith on the death of her brother, Fred Stowe; Judy Haugen and family on the death of her brother-in-law, Mike Morgan. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.
We pray in celebration for the baptism of Benjamin Douglas Tate, son of Lauren and Andrew Tate.
God, be with our 11 NextGen students and 3 leaders who are traveling back from Ebert Ranch for the Confirmation Retreat.
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.