April 28, 2023
Begin your week in the best way possible…in worship and community!
ABOVE AND BEYOND
WHAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND?
We are paying it forward by paying it off! We are working to eliminate our remaining debt from the Campus Renewal with a matching fund campaign of $250,000 provided by generous donors. We will match your one-time gifts dollar-for-dollar, bringing us closer to completely paying for our Campus Renewal. Our goal is to meet the match with $250,000 in gifts and raise $500,000 by June 18.
HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR?
Great! Above and Beyond kicked off last week as we celebrated Butterfly Sunday with worship, food, fun, and YOU! Thanks to all who have participated through gifts totaling $58,975 as of this Wednesday, April 26. Add $58,975 in matching funds and we have $117,950 towards our goal of $500,000!
Thanks to Sara Dawson and Ann Watt for organizing breakfast; Alison Cannon for organizing lunch and Connie Astrachan for set-up and tear down; Brad Seidel, Milt Nielsen, and Nadar Ayoub for the excellent brisket; everyone who brought sides and helped set up and clean up (there were so many who chipped in, thank you!); the Butterfly teachers who led classroom tours, and for ALL OF YOU who joined us. We are a blessed community!
HOW CAN I GIVE?
Prayerfully consider what you can give! If you’re honoring a current pledge to Beyond, consider making a special one-time gift in addition to your pledge. If you haven’t made a pledge, or are new to Shepherd of the Hills, consider a one-time gift to help us become debt-free. All gifts may be made online, through Zelle (use controller@shephills.org), or by check. You can also give stock, IRA transfers, and donor-advised funds. Contact Kevin Marlow, Finance Controller.
THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 30
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Easter Season continues with a look into the Gospel of John 10:1-10. …When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice...
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m.| Activity Center
Food for Fellowship serves breakfast every Sunday beginning at 9:15 and ending at 10:15 a.m. Plenty of time to eat and enjoy time with new friends and old (psst…please refrain from bringing your breakfast food and drink into the Sanctuary). 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 & MUSIC WITH KEVIN
9:40 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Meet in Choir Room, Pick up in Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
Gather in the Activity Center for breakfast with family and friends, and some crafts, too! 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.
KURT SENSKE BOOK GATHERING
TONIGHT, April 27
6:30 p.m. | Gathering Space
7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
Join Upbring and Shepherd of the Hills for a book conversation with Dr. Kurt Senske, past CEO of Upbring. Kurt’s new book “The CEO and the Board” offers valuable insights into nonprofit governance, and is Amazon’s “hot pick” for new books on leadership. The event is free, the book will be available at a discounted price, and any additional funds raised will benefit Upbring ministries and Mariposa Family Learning Center. Invite friends, family, and board members!
BABY CARE KITS FOR MOTHER’S DAY
Kicks off this Sunday!
Pick up one of our card kits on Sunday to Sponsor a Baby Care Kit for $50 (or as you are able) in honor of Mom and you’ll be set for Mother’s Day! Each kit contains a blank Mother’s Day Card from Hallmark and a card insert indicating your gift made in her honor. Look for tables in the Activity Center and the Gathering Space with cards and directions on how to sponsor a Baby Care Kit online or by check. Baby Care Kits are distributed by Lutheran World Relief, an internationally known nonprofit. Each kit costs approximately $50 and helps a mother in need care for her baby with items such as baby clothes, soap, and diapers. Contact Kathy Gerhardt with questions.
PALS
Mondays
7:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
Parents and family of loved ones who struggle with addiction are invited to weekly meetings for hope, education, and an opportunity to share. Please contact Rebecca Guengerich, Spirituality and Wellness, if you have questions or would like Zoom information.
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
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
GRIEF GROUP
Next Sunday, May 7
12:00 p.m. | Room 205
Each person grieves in a different way, yet 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, silence, and any other emotion is welcome. Please R.S.V. P. to Rebecca.
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.
FAITH IN ACTION
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!
JUST SISTERS
Last Saturday Shepherd of the Hills hosted over 80 women attending the Just Sisters’ conversation “Black Men, We See You.” Just Sisters is a group of Christian women committed to love, justice, and sisterhood through storytelling and conversation. Special thanks to Tyler Campbell and Darrell Pierce for sharing their personal stories of what it means to grow up black and to live and work as a black man in Austin, TX; and to Carole Morgan and Ruby Candenhead for initiating and preparing for this event.
WORLD LABYRINTH DAY
Saturday, May 6
Come walk the labyrinth in the Shepherd’s Garden on World Labyrinth Day! You can also join labyrinth walkers all over the world participating in a research study to explore the collective power of heart-centered energy with focused intention by clicking here to learn more and register for the Legacy Labyrinth Project. Registration ends May 1.
FAITH IN ACTION
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 Mary Allison, Andrew Holzer, Rodney Varner, and Sheila Hilts.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer.
We pray for the women of our congregation who are headed on retreat this 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.
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.
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.