Weekly Connections

April 21, 2023

This Sunday our campus will be filled with energy and excitement…

BUTTERFLY SUNDAY, APRIL 21

CELEBRATION WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
We join together in praise and thanksgiving for all the children, families, staff, and leadership of Butterfly Christian Preschool. The children’s choir opens us in worship at 10:45.

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Breakfast in the Courtyard Come grab breakfast!
9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Coffee Bus Grab a free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate from the bus!
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Butterfly Open House
Come experience a day in the life of a Butterfly…kid! Meet our dedicated teachers, see the classrooms set up for fun and learning, and the playgrounds will be monitored and open for play.
12:00 p.m. | Above and Beyond Match-Maker Event in the Courtyard* Wait, there’s more! Come feast on BBQ, break open the Butterfly pinata, and support our Above and Beyond Campaign with one-time gifts during the Match Challenge. With up to $250,000 in matching funds, your donation will be doubled! Here’s the catch, we lose the matching funds we don’t use, so let’s give together and reach our goal of raising as much as we can in one day!

*If you are unable to attend, please participate and give your one-time gift (which will be doubled!) by clicking here or sending a check to the Church at 3525 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746. Please designate Above and Beyond. THANK YOU!

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. | Families and Kids in the Courtyard

This week, Sunday’sCool will join with the fun activities in the courtyard and have a make-and-eat-your-own ice cream activity.  Kids will stay with their parents (no signing in this week). Contact Megan Getman with questions.

MUSIC WITH KEVIN
10:25 a.m. | Choir Room

Children’s choir will sing the prelude at 10:45 worship.  Therefore this week only music with Kevin will happen at 10:25 in the music room for practice and preparing for the service.   We’ll finish by staging in the worship center so meet your kids there at service time.  Contact Megan Getman with questions.

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.

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.

JUST SISTERS EVENT
This Saturday, April 22
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. | Activity Center
More than ever we need to come together in unity and love. Join us for an honest and caring conversation about race. Breakfast and lunch are included, don’t be late! Questions? Contact Ruby Cadenhead at 512-497-2495 or Carole Morgan at 512-791-9611.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
This Wednesday, April 19
7:30 a.m. | on Zoom

10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Pastor-led studies of the Good Book. Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom

DO YOU HAVE A GRADUATE?
Let us know!
Graduating is an achievement! Whether it’s preschool or college, we’d like to celebrate with you. Let us know the who, what, and where of your graduate by emailing Amanda Forsberg before May 15 for inclusion in the May 21 Bulletin.

LET’S TALK TRASH

Caring for God’s Creation’s recently implemented recycling program resulted in only 1-1/2 bags of landfill trash after Easter services. New signs will be above the cans to make sorting easier-just match your trash to the picture and toss it in! If you aren’t sure where an item goes, ask someone, or place it in the trash receptacle. Let’s keep doing all we can to care for the environment. Keep up the good work, ShepHills, and let’s all give a big thank you to Caring for God’s Creation!

FAITH IN ACTION

One of the best ways to live out our faith is by actively engaging with the world around us through inter-faith events. Choose what fits and speaks to YOU, and go make a positive impact in our communities and the world.

EASTER YARD SIGNS
If you took an Easter Yard sign home, keep it for next year or bring it back to the Church Office and we’ll keep it for you. Thanks again to all our yard sign evangelists!

DRUG DISPOSAL
This year, 2023, National Take Back Day will be held Saturday, April 22th, between 10 am – 2 pm. Please take this opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused medications safely and anonymously at locations throughout the state. Please visit www.dea.gov/takebackday#collection-locator to find a drop-off location near you.

There is also a permanent collection container at the 24 hr. Walgreens at 6200 Wm. Cannon Dr. West Escarpment Drive.  

AUSTIN CITY LUTHERANS RENT ASSISTANCE
We’ve raised close to $46,000 towards our goal of $50,000 in rent assistance to help prevent homelessness in Austin. Support ACL’s program with a donation before the end of April 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.

*Bins are available Saturday 9-11 a.m., 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 Sophie Ahumada, Mary Allison, Andrew Holzer, Denise Seidel, Rodney Varner, and Sheila Hilts.

We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer; and Ellis Thompsen, Butterfly alum.

We pray in celebration of the baptism of Xander Alan Miller, child of Alan Thomas Miller and Gina Karen Miller.

We pray for: Jay Temple and family on the death of his mother, Marilyn Lamp Temple; and Thom McNeil and family on the death of his mother, Dorothy Mae McNeil. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.

God, we pray for all who have been affected by gun violence and senseless acts that are rooted in fear and hate.  We pray for families who grieve, for communities who are anxious, and for all of us who worry about what this all means for our future.  We pray for justice.  We pray for the tides to turn towards peace and away from violence.  

We pray for the women of our congregation who are headed on retreat next weekend.  You have called over 40 women to gather for time away in prayer and spiritual friendship.  Thank you for the gift of retreat and for the insights and connections that will undoubtedly flourish during this time. We pray for safe travel, for new and renewed community, and for your Spirit to be ever present.

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.