August 4, 2023
Join us for a month of blessings.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
In the month of August, we will be looking for intersections between new beginnings and our faith with a new message series “BLESSINGS and BEGINNINGS.” Come give support, love, and encouragement as we bless the remarkable journey of our students, the independence of new drivers, and the collective strength of our congregation:
This Sunday! August 6 – College Student Blessing
August 13 – Backpack Blessing
August 20 – New Driver Blessing
August 27 – Congregation Blessing
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Don’t go around hungry, come fill your body and soul with food and conversation.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Join us this week as we continue our discussion of 1 Samuel. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
CONVERSATION CAFE
9:45 p.m. | Room 205
We begin a one-month sprint through the Bible! This Sunday we’ll cover Genesis through Psalms.
GATHER US IN
9:45 a.m. | 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
12:15 p.m. | Room 205
Come enjoy 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.
NEXTGEN
6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Join us this week for tall tales of big faith from the Boundary Waters trip, fun, games, and ice cream! Contact Joel Timmons for more information.
CALLING NEW AND CURRENT ASSISTING MINISTERS!
LEARN TO BE AN ASSISTING MINISTER
Sunday, August 13
9:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Have you ever thought about being an Assisting Minister? If so, come and dip your toe in the water and attend our Assisting Minister orientation/training for a behind-the-scenes look at how easy it is to share your faith in this role.
CURRENT ASSISTANT MINISTERS
Sunday, August 20
9:15 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Are you a current or past Assisting Minister? If so, come to our Assisting Minister re-orientation for some helpful pointers from our pastors and digital ministry staff.
QUESTIONS? Feel free to talk to Pr. Lauren, Pr. Tom, or Amanda at any time.
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.
EARLY RISERS BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays, August 9, 16, 30
7:30 a.m. | Zoom
Start your day off on the right foot. Bring your coffee and meet us online. Contact Pr. Tom for Zoom info.
QUILTING
Wednesday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m. | Room 205
Saturday, August 12 at 9:00 a.m. | Room 205
Sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Let us teach you what we know, no experience necessary! Contact Ruth Felger.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 a.m. | Activity Center
Good food, great conversation. Contact Weldon Allison.
GRIEF GROUP
Sunday, August 13
12:00 p.m. | Room 205
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 Guengerich
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, August 17
1:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
This group offers support and companionship for caregivers of people with short and long-term illnesses. Please contact Sandy Smith.
STAY COOL!
Indoor Exercise
We have two great options to get out of the heat while you stay fit – Pickleball (Sat, Tue, or Thu) and Yoga (Tues).
SAVE THE DATE
PASTORAL CALL AND CONGREGATION MEETING
Sunday, August 27
Noon | Activity Center
The time is fast approaching. Save the date and cast your vote to extend a Call for Senior Pastor to Pr. Lauren Dow Wegner, and to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget at the Congregation Meeting. Please contact Bill Dawson.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR KIMBERLY JACKSON
Saturday, September 9
11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary
On Tuesday, July 25, Kimberly Jackson passed from this life into life eternal. We grieve with her parents Dee and Robert Jackson, their family, and all those who loved her as we place our
trust in the power and the promise of the resurrection life in Jesus Christ.
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.
SHOW YOUR PRIDE
Austin Pride Festival
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse Segovia St.
The RIC Lutherans will have a booth, come say hello! Joel Timmons.
Austin Pride Parade
8:00 – 11:00 p.m. | Downtown
Come walk in the parade with other Austin Lutheran churches. Park in Parking Garage A, 1401 San Jacinto St., Enter from Trinity (arrive at the parking garage around 7:15 p.m.). Our parade position will be somewhere on San Jacinto between 11th and 15th streets-more on that later! Interested? Contact Joel Timmons.
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
FINISH WELL, START STRONG!
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.
PLEDGES, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS
Giving online is a great way to stay current with your pledge or to set up a recurring gift. Thank you for your continued support of our missions and ministries.
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!
CHARIS UPDATE
The United Nations Human Rights Director, Volker Turk, in his address to the UN Council on May 3 said; “Haiti is dangling over an abyss”.
The anarchy of the country with no effective government and gangs running rampant has deeply impacted millions of lives in the most impoverished country in the world. Please take a moment to read the CHARIS Ministry in Haiti newsletter to more fully understand the situation.
Yet CHARIS continues to grow. A new food bank has opened, and a new medical clinic has started with two doctors and seven nurses. Our help is needed more than ever! Our August Mission focus is CHARIS and the harvest of ministry they are doing in Haiti, saving the lives of thousands and providing worship and education for our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray about how you might respond. Thank 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 Jan Burnight.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Alexander Rosas, grandson of Sheila Hilts; Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer; Stirling Johnson, granddaughter of Sylvia & Curtis Johnson; Carol Carlos, mother of Sandy Wikelius; Charles Wikelius, brother of Larry Wikelius; Mike Young and Pauline Krc, friends of Terrie Thomas.
We give thanks for the witness of the saints who have gone before us in faith and now rest in eternal life, especially Kim Jackson, daughter of Dee and Robert Jackson. We pray for Dee and family as they grieve this loss. Give comfort and peace to those who mourn, and a sure trust in the promise of resurrection life.
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.