March 31, 2023
Begin Holy Week this Sunday with our Parade of Palms Worship and Festival, look for daily devotions in your inbox, and return for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 2
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
This special worship is written in 5 Acts beginning with the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and concludes with his prediction of the end, leaving us prepared to turn the page and enter the Upper Room for the Last Supper this Maundy Thursday.
PALM SUNDAY FESTIVAL
9:30 a.m. | Courtyard
The party starts with a festival featuring PONIES, a petting ZOO, and a DELICIOUS breakfast in the courtyard! Bring the whole squad: your family, your neighbors, and yourself. This is our Sunday Funday, don’t miss out!
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
NEXTGEN
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.
THIS WEEK
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
Monday-Friday | Sent to your Email and available on Facebook
You are encouraged to create space for a 15-minute devotional each day during this Holiest of Weeks. We believe that in reading the scripture, experiencing the video interpretation, and saying a personal prayer, you will be richly blessed on this journey. If you came to mid-week, watch the videos again, taking notice of what touches you about the story when hearing it a second time. A special word of thanks to our dramatic monologue voices; Dave Wegner, Steve Schulz, Jennifer Arndt, Eric Paul, and Nancy Etzler. A special thanks to Dave Wegner for his terrific digital work. Blessings on your journey!
HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
Holy Week continues, and the thread of its story becomes increasingly somber. This week’s worship services provide an immersive experience of the tragic events that lead to the unimaginable joy of Easter. Find detailed descriptions of the services here.
HOLY COMMUNION MILESTONE
We celebrate with Christina Davies, Sophie Eckermann, and Caroline Wegner as they complete the Holy Communion Milestone on Maundy Thursday at the 6:30pm worship service. We pray that they continue to experience Jesus as they learn and grow in faith!
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9
Sing Alleluia, the tomb is empty, Christ has risen!
SONRISE WORSHIP
7:00am | Outdoor Worship Center
Experience the Easter story in the rustic setting of our Outdoor Worship Center In the quiet of early morning. This intimate service is about 45 minutes long, includes Holy Communion, and is perfect for early risers.
EASTER WORSHIP
9:00am + 11:00am | Sanctuary
11:00am Livestream
Gather in our beautifully adorned sanctuary and feel the power of the Resurrection as we unveil the cross, sing hymns accompanied by reverberating brass, listen to an inspiring message, and partake in Holy Communion. Same service, two times.
EASTER BRUNCH
8:00am – 10:30am | Activity Center
Every great celebration includes good food and friends. Join us for a festive brunch of homemade delights by the Food for Fellowship Team.
EASTER OFFERING
Our 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. Give online or use an Easter Offering Envelope.
EASTER LILIES
PALM SUNDAY is the LAST DAY to purchase an Easter Lily in honor of a loved one to help decorate our Sanctuary! Make your purchase online or get an envelope as you enter the Sanctuary. Thank you!
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.
JUST SISTERS SPEAK ABOUT RACE
Saturday, April 22
10:00am | Activity Center
The women of Shepherd of the Hills and Greater Zion Baptist Church come together to listen and hear the stories and challenges of two Black men who call Austin home. Join us for this courageous conversation to learn how you can help bring people together in compassionate dialogue on the divisive issue of race that results in a changed culture of unity, love, and justice. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Please RSVP and learn more about the speakers and this important event here.
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!
CARE OF CREATION FAIR
Saturday, April 15
1:00pm – 3:00pm | Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, 9508 Great HIlls Trail, ATX 7879
Come get some dirt under your nails at this Earth Day Celebration hosted by the TLLC Care of Creation Team. There will be education, inspiration, and activities for all ages.
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.
BREAD FOR ALL CHALLENGE (BFA)
BFA needs specific food, and lots of it, to serve the record numbers showing up each week. Food sourced from Capital Area Food Bank continues to remain unreliable for a variety of reasons, and they need our help more than ever. Here’s the challenge:
ARE YOU WILLING?
Add $5 to $10 dollars of food to your grocery cart each week.
Buy from this list:
Dried beans, Peanut butter, Canned tomatoes/sauce, Canned whole beans, Canned fruit, Canned soup, Mac & Cheese
Bring it to the bins!
*Bins are available Saturday 9-11am, Sunday during worship hours, or during the week when you are here.
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!
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, Wanda Lowke, Tom Lueders, Sheila Hilts, and Denise Seidel.
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: 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 our students who have completed the Holy Communion Milestone: Christina Davies, Sophie Eckermann, and Caroline Wegner. We pray for God to bless these students as they learn and grow in awareness of the gifts of forgiveness, love, and grace we receive in Holy Communion.
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.