Weekly Connections

July 21, 2023

God is everywhere-in the wheat and the weeds, in our successes and failures. Come learn more…

SUNDAY, JULY 23

WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
We continue with the Message Series “You are My Witnesses” during a jazz-filled Sunday featuring Aaron Lack and the Vibetet at both services.

BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Feed your body and soul before the Learning Hour!

ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m.
 | Library + Zoom
Join us this week as we discuss 1 Samuel 19. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.

CONVERSATION CAFE
9:45 a.m. | Room 205

Come listen, learn, ask questions, and share conversation in a faithful way with Sussane Wilson of Water to Thrive as she discusses how clean, safe water impacts lives in rural Africa. We won’t meet on July 30, but join us on August 6 as we begin a sprint through the Bible.

NEXTGEN
No NextGen for the next two Sundays while Joel is in the Boundary Waters!

FLOWERS
Altar Flowers:
Given by Anita Knight in honor of Barbara Hampton’s birthday.

DRIVER NEEDED FOR MEALS ON WHEELS

MEALS ON WHEELS needs someone for one Wednesday a month to deliver meals, and several people to sign up as substitutes to be on call for regular drivers who are on vacation. It’s simple: Pick up meals at Holy Cross Lutheran between 11am- 12pm and deliver them to roughly 4-6 clients, all in close proximity to each other. Takes about 45 minutes. Grab a friend and make this your time to catch up while helping older adults in Central Texas live independently in their own homes. Contact Weldon Allison.

EVENTS

Check the calendars on Realm or the website for more details on these events, plus a complete list of additional events including Yoga, Pickleball, Choir and Bells, PALS, and Bread for All.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Tonight, July 21

6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Water ball fight! Bring a towel and clothes that can get wet (or come in your bathing suit). We have some awesome reusable water balls (earth-friendly water balloons) and will provide pizza. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. Come get cool!  Contact Megan Getman.

READERS’ HEAVEN
Thursday, July 27

7:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
Readers’ Heaven meets to discuss Everything Is Spiritual, an unexpected and compelling invitation to see your life in a whole new way. This review will convince you to make it your book of the summer. Zoom links in the Realm Events calendar or contact Karen Flint.

BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD SUGAR SCREENINGS
Sunday, August 6

9:00am – 11:00am  |  Activity Center
Westlake Hospital will conduct free screenings between services. No appointment is necessary, just walk on in! Contact Rebecca Guengerich with questions.

GATHER US IN
Sunday, August 6

9:45am  |  Activity Center
Interested in learning about our community of faith? Grab breakfast, look for our table (hint: we’ll have a sign!), and join us for conversation as we get to know each other and answer questions you may have about life at Shepherd. Please contact Ministry Coordinator Amanda Forsberg, or just come have a seat at the table!

SUNDAY MATINEE MOVIE
Sunday, August 6
12:15 p.m.  | Room 205

Picture this: a lazy Sunday afternoon sitting on a couch in a cool, dimly lit room watching a documentary on Dorothy Day. Sounds good doesn’t it? Lunch and popcorn provided. Contact Pr. Tom.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER

TEA FOR TOTS
Fundraiser for Baby Care Kits, Lutheran World Relief

A big thank you to all that attended our Tea for Tots event this past Saturday. This event raised over $5000, which means we have exceeded our goal of making 200 baby care kits for Lutheran World Relief this year! Heartfelt thanks to all who helped make this happen.

~ Kathy Gerhardt (and all the babies and mommas too!)

Tea for Tots Team: Alison Cannon, Betty Lueders, Karen Flint, Dabney Gomes, Pr. Lauren Dow- Wegner, Dave Wegner, Amanda Forsberg, Norma Smith, Tiffany Stein, and Carly Wikelius.
A special thank you to Mark & Naomi Tate for their generous Silent Auction donations.
Hostesses: Donna Auby, Debra Ayoub, Alison Cannon, Linda Finadaca, Karen Flint, Anne McDonald, Carole Morgan, Pam Petrik, Melissa Robertson, Linda Roesle, Norma Smith, Christine Stern-Calvo, and Sandy Wikelius.
Waiters: Rick Burnight, Bril Flint, Pete Forsberg, Mark Gerhardt, Pr. Tom Grevlos, Jerry McDonald, John Robertson, Tim Stein, and Larry Wikelius.
Models: Amanda Forsberg, Julie Hudnall, Betty Lueders, Jackie Rieger, Karen Stern, Pr. Lauren Dow- Wegner, and Carly Wikelius. Thank you to Bokabuku at the Hill Country Galleria for the clothes.
Ticket sales and registration: Judy Haugen, Lauren Paulson, Jackie Rieger, Tiffany Stein, and Gayle Yenawine.
Photo booth: Amanda Forsberg and Dawn Paulson.

DAY CAMP DIAPER DRIVE
Benefiting Bread for All

Wowza! Thanks to all who donated diapers to the Day Campers’ Diaper Drive. This year’s collection was a record-setting 3027 diapers, a huge help for parents having to choose between food and diapers. Thank you!

GIVING AND SERVING

“Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are and what we have are gifts to be received and shared.”—Henri Nouwen

PLEDGES, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS
Our personal relationship with God is the foundation for all other relationships…including money. The money we give to support our missions and ministries has a direct and indirect impact on the lives of people, including ourselves. To make sharing God’s Love our aim, our generosity to God is a sign of our love for others. It is that simple and that important!

  • As we move toward the end of our Fiscal Year (Aug. 31st) it is our hope and desire that we will finish well and start strong in the new Fiscal year. Please look over your financial statement to see where your status for your giving thus far. If you have questions, please contact our Finance Controller, Kevin Marlow.

BREAD FOR ALL
Keep the cans coming this summer. Stomachs get hungry year-round, and with the kids home from school there are even more mouths to feed. Thank you for your endless support! Contact Weldon Allison.

SERVING
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, Nancy Etzler and Margaret McQuiston.         

We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer; Stirling Johnson, granddaughter of Sylvia & Curtis Johnson.

O God, we pray for our youth and adults heading home from the Boundary Waters trip today. We thank you for their experience in your creation, and we pray for a safe journey on this final leg home.

God of joy and adventure, we give you thanks for this wonderful summer of ministry, especially with our young people–Camp Chrysalis, Day Camp, Picklebell Camp, and the Boundary Waters trip. As our young people have enjoyed play and laughter, renewed friendships, and growth in faith, we pray for these experiences to be carried with them throughout the coming year.

Merciful and Loving God, as war and violence rage 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.