Weekly Connections

August 23, 2024

Welcome our new Finance Officer, Hilary Russell! 

After several months of interviews and discernment by our Finance Search Team, we are grateful and excited to welcome Hilary Russell to our staff.  As Finance Officer, Hilary will be an integral part of our ministry as she will track and steward our financial accounts, assist congregation members in making financial contributions, and oversee and evaluate all revenues & expenses. Hilary is highly skilled and she brings many years of experience in finance, including nonprofit accounting.  Hilary will begin her work with us in mid-September, but you might see her around on some Sunday mornings before then!  She is looking forward to meeting the congregation.  Welcome, Hilary!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

WORSHIP
8:15 a.m.  | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Gospel of St. John 6:56-69
Join us this Sunday for a special Congregational Blessing, as we celebrate life together as believers in Christ. We will also rain down blessings on Megan Getman and Deb Pollock Darnell as they enter candidacy and Joel Timmons as he continues the candidacy process. Our musical guests this week are Glenn Richter (8:15), Bob Cannon (8:15 + 10:45), and Kristina Bishop (10:45).

Altar Flowers are given by Ruth Felger in celebration of Tom Felger’s 80th birthday

BREAKFAST FOR ALL
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Gym
Simplify your morning! Join us every Sunday for breakfast in the gym.

POLOS AND T-SHIRTS
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Gym
Last chance! Buy one and wear it at the Semi-Annual Meeting this Sunday! Credit, cash, or check.

RALLY DAY!
9:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Join us as we kick off the start of Sunday’sCool!  We will gather for song and prayer before getting down to the business at hand: the ultimate family-friendly challenge of Clue Countdown! All are welcome to join in or watch the fun.  Don’t forget, Sunday’sCool begins next Sunday, September 1. Questions?  Contact Megan Getman. 

ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Please join us for discussions following the sermon scripture, Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, and John 6:56-69. Contact Ruby Cadenhead.

SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, August 25 | 12:15 p.m. | Gym
Lunch and Childcare Provided
Members are invited to vote on ratification of ShepHills’ 2024-25 spending plan (budget) and revisions to the bylaws. Please RSVP to Megan Getman if you need childcare so that lunch from Canes can be provided for your child.

NEXTGEN (Grades 5-8, 9-12)
6:00 p.m. | Activity Center
It’s time to look at the fall calendar, including retreats, special events, and our curriculum for the year! Contact Joel Timmons.

20th ANNIVERSAY OF ORDINATION

AT SHEPHILLS

Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events!

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDIES
7:30 a.m. | Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Join us in lively and thought-provoking discussions on the weekly scriptures. Choose the time and place that works for you. Contact Pr. Lauren.

SUNDAY’SCOOL BEGINS
Begins Sunday, September 1
9:40 a.m. | Family Ministry Center
PreK through Grade 4 are invited to join the group upstairs in the Family Ministry rooms to explore Bible stories, make fun crafts, play games, and experience God’s everlasting love. Megan Getman

SHEPHERD’S GARDEN WORKDAY
Saturday, September 7
9:00 a.m. | Shepherd’s Garden
Get your hands dirty and join the Caring for God’s Creation Team for our monthly workday in the garden.  Contact Jeri Porter.

BABY CARE KIT ASSEMBLY
Sunday, September 8
9:15 a.m. | Gym
Let’s do this! We will assemble 250 Baby Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief as part ELCA’s day of service called God’s Work, Our Hands. The “assembly line” will be open during the Breakfast Hour for all ages to lend a hand in this annual tradition. We also need volunteers to distribute items and help with wrapping. If you’d like to assist, please reach out to Kathy Gerhardt!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

UPBRING BEER GARDEN SOCIAL
Saturday, August 24
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Bouldin Acres 1806 Braker Ln, ATX 78758
It’s not too late to get your tickets to enjoy delicious food and drinks, exciting raffle prizes like gift cards and memberships to various Austin experiences, and more! Invite your friends and families to support the children and families served by Upbring in the Austin area through Foster In Texas, New Life Children’s Center and BeREAL Supervised Independent Living.

LIFETIME LEARNING INSTITUTE
Registration is Open
Lifetime Learning Institute, a low-cost extended learning provider for folks 50 and over, is returning for the fall semester to Shephills. Brochures are on the ledge by the stairs or use this online link to see the class list and register. Click here for classes offered at ShepHills.

JUST SISTERS – A CONVERSATION ON THE 2024 ELECTION
Saturday, September 7
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | First Baptist Church of Austin
JustSisters invites Christian women into a safe space to hear panelists and participate in table conversations exploring the duality of citizenship in the kingdom of God and the democratic republic of the United States of America, if we consciously differentiate between the two, and how each might inform our choices. Click here for an in-depth agenda, and to register.

CROSS TRAILS MINISTRY
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | First Baptist Church of Austin
Camp fun goes on all year long! Read the Cross Trails newsletter for upcoming retreats and fundraisers.

SNAP SHOT

STAFF RETREAT
On Thursday the staff gathered at the Circle C Community Center for our bi-annual retreat. It’s true, some silliness was involved, but we also took an in-depth look into our workflow and relationships, reflected on the highs and lows of ministry over the past 6 months, and engaged in long-range planning. We are grateful for this time together. Special thanks to Nancy Etzler, Stephen Palmer, Sharon Collins, and Cindy Nelson for providing us with meals and treats!

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.

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.

GIVING STATEMENTS
Year to date giving statements were emailed on Wednesday, August 15. For those without email, statements were mailed to our last known address. Please review and if you have any questions concerning your statement, updates to giving methods (i.e. bank or credit card info), or exploring different types of giving (like gifts of appreciated stock), please contact Bill Dawson.

DONATIONS FOR BREAD FOR ALL (BFA)
All sizes of diapers are needed and we continue to covet (in a good way) donations of peanut butter, dried beans, and canned goods. Bring your donations to the bins on weekdays from 9am-4pm, Saturdays from 9-11am, and Sunday mornings.

VOLUNTEER AT BREAD FOR ALL (BFA)
Volunteers are welcome to help with setup and food distribution at the Bread for All Food Pantry. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals and groups of all ages. For more information on descriptions, times, and locations, please visit the calendar or contact Weldon Allison.

PRAYERS

In need of prayer? Please contact Pr. Lauren to be put on the prayer list.

We pray for: Marie Fortune, Hunter Clark, and Dana Dertien.

We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Drew Officer and Kate Sheeran, friends of Kathleen Macaulay; Justin Cain, son-in-law of Rex and Sheila Fortune; Mary Campbell, aunt of Laura Hills; Amy Pike, friend of Pastor Lauren; Ben Funk, stepfather of Lynn Spillar; Audrey Lentz, sister of Donna Auby; Chuck Wiemann, cousin of Jan Burnight; and Joyce Carter, cousin of Karen Flint.

O God, you have built your church on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and as we continue in the call process for an Associate Pastor, we pray for your wisdom to guide us. Bless our call committee as they continue in this diligent and faithful work. Bless all the candidates who come our way, and give us clarity when it is time to extend a call. Send your Holy Spirit upon us.

O God, we give you thanks for our ministry partnership with Mariposa Family Learning Center and our own Butterfly Preschool.  We thank you for the gift of learning and growing, and we pray that you bless the students, teachers, and families of Mariposa and Butterfly.

God, we pray your blessing upon our congregation as we meet today to ratify our Spending Plan for the next fiscal year and update our bylaws. The business of the church is ever important as we seek to steward your gifts and reach the world with your world. Send your Holy Spirit upon us.

God, we give you thanks for Rally Day today, for the start of a new Sunday’sCool year, for the leaders and teachers who will form the faith of our young ones. Bless our children as they learn and grow as your disciples.

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.