May 10, 2024
[Jesus said] ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses. . .'” (Acts 1:8)
SUNDAY, MAY 12
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
This Sunday we commemorate Jesus’s ascension into heaven. We ponder our call to be witnesses as we bear witness to the gifts of our youth as they lead us in worship!
Altar Flowers: Given by Dee Jackson, in love for our Youth on Youth Sunday and all days.
BREAKFAST FOR ALL
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Gym
Make your morning hassle-free and enjoy this chance to socialize and catch up with friends.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
The Bible is a book that never grows old. This week we’ll discuss more of 2 Samuel. Contact Ruby Cadenhead.
SUNDAY’sCOOL (Toddlers thru Grade 4)
9:40 a.m. | Family Ministry Center
Meet us upstairs! Contact Megan Getman.
UPCOMING SUNDAYS
PENTECOST + GRADUATION SUNDAY
Next Sunday, May 19 | 8:15 + 10:45 a.m. Worship
Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit. Wear your yellow, red, and/or orange (fire colors!) as we celebrate the power of the Holy Spirit given to the Apostles and recognize our graduating seniors in worship. Make time and stop in for a special breakfast before or after worship.
ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY
Sunday, June 2 | 8:15 + 10:45 a.m. Worship
Celebration Picnic | Noon in the Gym
Anniversary Sunday marks the beginning of our faith community 47 years ago, 20 years of ministry alongside our sister church in Guatemala, and the start of summer programs! Between services, hear the story of our congregation’s beginning from those who were here from the start as our first ‘Discover’ series launches at 9:30am with charter members sharing their memories. After worship, we’ll throw some burgers and dogs on the grill and get out on the dance floor as local musician Sophia Johnson returns to help us celebrate.
COME BASK IN GOD’S LOVE
Join us this summer for discovery, connection, and blessings!
DISCOVER
Sunday Mornings in June and July
9:30 a.m. | Meet in the Gathering Space
Find the path to feeding your soul! Discover what nourishes your faith life within our community.
June 2 The Story of ShepHills
June 9 Music & Worship Lab
June 16 Campus & Creation Tour
June 23 Sewing Workshop for LWR
June 30 Behind the Booth: A/V Production
July 7 Enneagram Exploration
July 14 Prayer Writing Workshop
July 21 Sharing our Faith with Others
July 28 Youth Gathering Highlights
PARABLE PICNICS
Tuesday Evenings in June
6:00 p.m. | Meet in the Courtyard
Leave the cooking to us! We’ll have fans and misters keeping things cool while we connect as a congregation over food, games for the young (and young at heart), and our favorite parables.
AUGUST BLESSINGS
Sundays in August | 8:15 + 10:45 Worship
Come bless and be blessed as we begin a new year together.
August 4 College Students
August 11 New Drivers
August 18 Backpacks
August 25 Congregational Blessing
CALENDAR
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Wednesday, May 15
7:30 a.m. | on Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Pastor-led studies of the Good Book. Contact Pr. Lauren.
CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, May 16
1:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
Shepherd of the Hills offers group support for all caregivers of people with short and long-term illnesses. This ShepHills’ group is also open to the Austin/Westlake community and beyond. For information email Sandy Smith, RN or call 512-569-6453.
FRIDAY FUN NIGHT
Friday, May 17
6:00 p.m. | Activity Center
Join our Friday night ministry for young families as we gather for fun activities and a kid-friendly meal at church. Contact Megan Getman.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR RODNEY VARNER
Saturday, May 18
10:00 a.m. | Online
A memorial service will be held to remember the life of Rodney Varner, who is entrusted to the power and the promise of the resurrection life in Jesus Christ. Rodney is the husband of Roxanne Varner and father of Adam Varner and Elizabeth Smith. A reception will follow in the Gym.
FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS GATHERING
Rescheduled for June 8!
Everyone is busy in May, so we’ve rescheduled our fellowship gathering for Saturday, June 8. Get it on your calendars and join us! Contact Megan Getman with questions.
LWR BABY CARE KITS
THREE WAYS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Baby Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) spread love and support to mothers in need. Each of the 200 kits we assemble each year provides the basics a family needs to care for their babies. Here’s how you can help.
- Celebrate your mom on Mother’s Day by caring for a mother in need! Here’s how! Click the link today and sponsor a Baby Care Kit for $50, or scan the QR code provided on Sunday in the gathering space or gym. Once you’ve sponsored a kit, grab a Mother’s Day card from the table. Each card contains an insert stating that a donation has been made in honor of the recipient.
- Sew, crochet, or knit a baby blanket. We need 100 more blankets for Baby Care Kit Assembly Day on September 8. Contact Kathy Gerhardt if you need some fabric.
- Come to sip tea and more at the Annual Tea for Tots Fundraiser benefiting Baby Care Kits! Purchase your ticket
RHINE RIVER CRUISE
RHINE RIVER CRUISE
October 24-November 2, 2024
Sign up by May 19, 2024
Join us for a journey down the Rhine River stopping at vineyards, Lorelei Rock, and the infamous castles that dot the region. Along the way we will focus on the spirituality of the Medieval Mystics and learn from their spirituality as we travel through lands they once walked. Contact Amanda Forsberg if you are interested!
SUPPORT FOR ACL MINISTRIES
Red below and visit these websites for more information on how you can support the ministries of Austin City Lutherans! Bread for All and the Move-In Ministry, Mariposa FLC, and Austin City Lutherans. You can also follow them on Facebook @austincitylutherans.
MARIPOSA GARDEN PARTY
This Saturday, May 11
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Mariposa FLC, 403 Vargas Rd, Austin, TX 78741
Come for a delightful morning celebrating children, nature, families, and teachers at Mariposa Family Learning Center’s annual Garden Party! Mingle and enjoy a day full of activities for all ages including a petting zoo, bouncy house, and garden tours. Please RSVP.
MARIPOSA MAY FLOWERS FUNDRAISER
Online Fundraiser
This May, Mariposa invites you to support their annual May Flowers Fundraiser. The goal is ambitious: to raise $100,000 to fund scholarships and support dedicated educators. With our help, they can continue to grow and provide the resources children need to thrive.
BUTTERFLY FUNDRAISER FOR MARIPOSA
Last week, Butterfly Christian Preschool held a Sip and Support Fundraiser supporting Mariposa Family Learning Center. Through the sale of children’s artwork, a silent auction, individual sponsorships, and stand-alone donations they raised $63,816, which is enough to cover yearly tuition for 6+ children to attend Mariposa. Shine, Jesus, Shine!
RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THRU BREAD FOR ALL
The best way to reduce homelessness is to prevent it. Austin City Lutherans is launching its fourth rent assistance program this summer through Bread For All Food Pantry (BFA), supported by a generous $30,000 matching gift. Double the impact of your contributions with every dollar going directly to recipients. Donate by May 31 through the website or send a check to Abiding Love, 7210 Brush Country Road, Austin, TX 78749. Thank you for helping to mitigate homelessness in Austin.
DONATIONS FOR BREAD FOR ALL (BFA)
BFA is asking for special assistance as Capital Area Food Bank supplies they count on are currently sporadic. Please contribute canned beans, dry beans, peanut butter, and canned tomatoes and veggies. BRing your donations to the bins on weekdays from 9am-4pm, Saturdays from 9-11am, and on Sunday mornings.
VOLUNTEER AT BREAD FOR ALL (BFA)
Volunteers are welcome to come help set up and/or distribute food to our neighbors through Bread for All Food Pantry. It’s a great opportunity for individuals and groups, young and not so young. Visit the calendar for descriptions, times, and location, or contact Weldon Allison.
NEWS
UPDATE FROM THE CALL COMMITTEE
Thank you to everyone who provided input to the pastoral call process through the online form, the “Congresation” meetings, or connecting with a committee member one-on-one. All of that feedback has coalesced, with the guidance of your call committee, into the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). The MSP will be sent to the church council for review this month prior to submission to the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. At that point, the MSP will be available for viewing by the congregation, and the call committee will shift our focus to developing interview questions as we look forward to meeting pastoral candidates. It’s going to be an exciting summer!
SYNOD ASSEMBLY RECAP
The Bishop Susan J. Briner was reelected last Sunday, May 5 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly, May 3-5, at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. Voting members in attendance from ShepHills were Pr. Laren Dow Wegner, Amanda Forsberg, and Helen and David Maidment.
ELCA – RESILIENCE & REVOLUTION
Tuesday, May 31
Noon – 1:30 p.m. | Online
The ELCA Wittenberg Center is excited to announce their upcoming webinar: Resilience & Revolution: The Role of Protest and Rebellion in Creating Social Change! For more information and to register, please click here. You are invited to share this webinar information with your friends; it is free and open to all!
GIVING
Giving is an expression of joy and gratitude for the bounty of God’s goodness! There are so many ways to give financially and through serving.
YEAR TO DATE GIVING UPDATE FOR APRIL
If you have not received your emailed quarterly giving statement, please contact Bill Dawson.
PLEDGES, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS
Keeping current with your pledged or regular giving has never been easier because you can do it all online! Questions? Contact Bill Dawson for help. Thank you for your continued support of our missions and 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 Pr. Lauren to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Donna Herschleb and Betty Lueders.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members:
Milton Volney, uncle of Debra Wissman.
Buddy Kopplin, uncle of Amy Bishop.
Glenda Rumble, cousin of Terrie Thomas.
John Fiandaca, father of Linda Fiandaca.
O God, we give you thanks for all the saints who have gone before us in faith, and now rest in your eternal life, especially Rodney Varner, husband of Roxanne Varner and father of Adam Varner and Elizabeth Smith. We pray for your comfort and peace to surround all who grieve, as we trust together in the resurrection promise. We commend Rodney to your never-ending love.
Mothering God, today we give thanks for the mothers in our lives; for those women who have left earth too soon and who we miss dearly; for every woman who is raising children now; for every woman who is guiding her children who are grown yet still need her; for those women who have taken in others’ children through adoption and foster care; for those women with grieving hearts for children they have lost; for the special neighbors, teachers, and friends who’ve nurtured us and helped us to become the people we are today; for mothers with whom our relationships are complicated, difficult or strained. Help us all to reflect more of your compassion, kindness, and strength to those around us today, God.
O God, you speak and the face of the earth is renewed. Revive your creation, that habitats and every kind of living thing might flourish. Protect endangered species and help us to care for all your creatures.
God of peace, your world is divided and the nations rage. Grant wisdom and vision to world leaders, that they may seek justice, peace, and the good of all. Strengthen international partnerships and cooperation. We pray especially for the people of the Holy Land, for all the victims of war and violence; we pray for peace and an end to suffering.
God of all people, your work is done with our hands. Bless the ministries of this congregation and those we support: Butterfly Christian Preschool; Bread for All Food Pantry, Mariposa Family Learning Center, Move-In Ministry of ACL; Upbring Ministries; ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, Global Refuge; Pr. Karen Castillo and the Lutheran Church in Guatemala; Malcolm & Joy Henderson and CHARIS in Haiti.
Empower us to embody your love for the world.
Would you like someone to pray alongside you during troubling times? A Stephen Minister can travel with you on life’s sometimes bumpy road. Contact Alana Oehler with inquiries about this confidential ministry.
*Prayers for family and friends are listed for 2 weeks unless we are notified otherwise.