September 1, 2023
Come find inspiration in worship for the new month ahead.
Sunday, August 27 Congregation Meeting Summary
A unanimous vote was issued to call Pr. Lauren as our Senior Pastor beginning November 1, in addition to an affirmative vote to pass the 2023-24 Mission and Ministry Spending Plan.
Fiscal Year End Update
Another big “Praise God” moment is that our 2022-23 Mission and Ministry Spending Plan of $1,379,547 received gifts totaling $1,430,684 for the fiscal year. Gratitude to all who helped push us over the top and allow us to start the new 2023-24 fiscal year in a healthy way. Thanks be to God for inspiring generosity in God’s people!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Come aboard this Labor Day weekend and receive a blessing for the work you do in Jesus’ name.
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 as we continue our study of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead.
EVENTS
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of all our events!
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY
We will be closed in honor of Labor Day. If you need to contact a pastor, please email sheep@shephills.org.
HEARD. A Conversation with Queer Voices.
Beginning this Wednesday, September 6
6:30 p.m. Light apps and sweets | Gathering Space
7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary + Zoom
HEARD is Back! The Welcome & Inclusion Team encourages faithful dialogue around topics that so often divide. Please join us on Wednesday evenings in September to hear from and join in conversation with queer Christians. This Wednesday we are excited to have Rev. Katy Miles-Wallace join us! Contact: Joel Timmons.
Rev. Katy Miles-Wallace is the pastor of Technicolor Ministries, ELCA, and is the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Communications Coordinator for the Southwestern Texas Synod. Katy is nonbinary, transmasculine, and uses they/them pronouns. They are from South-Central Texas, having grown up on the I-35 corridor north of San Antonio and then settling in Seguin. They attended Texas Lutheran University and obtained a business degree (’14) prior to attending Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary for their Master of Divinity (’18).
Katy and their wife Jessica have studied abroad in England, lived in Berkeley, California, and Dublin and Hilliard, Ohio, and now live in Seguin, Texas with their dog and cat.
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY RETURNS
Wednesday, September 6
7:30 a.m. | Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great reading, great discussion. Contact: Pr. Tom or Pr. Lauren
CALENDAR CHANGES
Saturday, September 9
Pickleball, Men’s Breakfast, and Quilting will not take place. Please consult the calendar for future dates.
ALL ABOARD FOR RALLY DAY
Sunday, September 10
9:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Join us to celebrate the launching of SS Sunday’sCool and SS NextGen of the Shepherd’s faith formation fleet. The dedication will start with music and games and the introduction of teachers in the Sanctuary. Afterward, kids can explore their rooms while the parents have a meeting. Sunday’sCool classes start the following week. Contact: Megan Getman.
CONVERSATION CAFE “UNSCRIPTED”
Sunday, September 10 thru 24
9:45 a.m. | Rm 205
Pr. Tom will reflect on some of the impactful stories that have shaped his ministry and life based on scripture verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and 40+ years of laughter, tears, and adventure in ministry.
GOD’S WORK, OUR HANDS
Sunday, September 10
Noon | Activity Center
God’s Work, Our Hands is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) day of service nationwide. The Developing Missions Team will be hosting a light lunch and service activities as an opportunity to celebrate who we are – an ELCA church – freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Sign-up sheets are available this Sunday in the Gathering Space and Activity Center. Click here for a list of service projects. Thank you to all who are donating supplies, the sign-up is filled! Contact Norma Smith.
NEXTGEN ORIENTATION
Sunday, September 10
6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Let’s all gather (parents too!) to look at what the year ahead holds. We’ll discuss planned trips, retreats, fundraisers, and more for both age groups! NextGen is a youth ministry for grades 5-8, and 9-12. Contact Joel Timmons.
QUILTING
Wednesday, September 13
1:00 p.m. | Room 205
Sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief, no experience necessary! Contact Ruth Felger.
VINTAGE FRIENDS’ ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Thursday, September 14
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Barb Hampton’s House
It’s time for ice cream! The Vintage Friends (age 50ish and older — but any age is welcome) will gather at the home of Barb Hampton (422 Brady Lane) for the annual Ice Cream Social. Drop in anytime between 2 and 5pm for Culver’s Ice Cream (thanks Elaine Fick!) and feel free to bring other sweet treats like brownies or cookies. Please RSVP by Sept 12 to Rebecca Guengerich at rguengerich@gmail.com.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, September 16
8:00 a.m. | Butterfly Center
Good food, great conversation! Contact Weldon Allison.
SUNDAY’sCOOL BEGINS
Sunday, September 17
9:40 a.m. | Family Ministry Center
Toddlers thru Grade 4 are invited to join us upstairs for the first day of Sunday’sCool. Contact Megan Getman.
ACOLYTE TRAINING
Sunday, September 17
9:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Acolytes bring the flame to the altar, take it out at the end of Worship, and help serve Holy Communion. This training is great for those who would like to learn how to be an acolyte, and equally good for those who need a refresher! Contact Joel Timmons.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Sunday, September 17
Noon | Rm 205
Gather for physical and emotional nourishment at the grief luncheon. RSVP Rebecca Guengerich.
REMEMBRANCE OF LIFE
KIMBERLY JACKSON
Saturday, September 9
11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary
A service will be held to remember and give thanks for the life of Kim Jackson, child of Dee and Robert Jackson. We grieve with the family and all who loved Kim, as we place our trust in the power and the promise of the resurrection life in Jesus Christ. A reception following the service will be held in the Activity Center. For those who wish to watch via live stream, please use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKIVh88uOdI
FAITH IN ACTION
WE RECYCLE BREAD TAGS
Look for the Plastic Jar in the Gathering Space
Anita Knight with the Caring for God’s Creation team heads up several recycling efforts here at ShepHills. One of these programs is collecting plastic bread tags for Danielle Cares for Chairs. This organization uses the proceeds received from the recycling plant to help clients who need wheelchairs.
The Caring for God’s Creation Team hopes to create a recycling station for other recyclable items such as eyeglasses, CDs, batteries, and cell phones. Until that time, drop those items at the front office. Thank you! Interested in joining the Team? Email Jeri Porter.
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
Giving online is a great way to stay current with your pledge or set up a recurring gift. Thank you for your continued support of our missions and ministries.
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!
MEALS ON WHEELS
We still need once-a-month volunteers on a Wednesday and/or Thursday. Volunteer duties consist of picking up meals from Holy Cross and delivering them on a dedicated route. A route typically takes about 30 minutes. Contact Weldon Allison.
BREAD FOR ALL
Donation Bins | Gathering Space
From Sept. 2022 to Sept. 2023, ShepHills gave 21,000 lbs of food (worth $37,000) to Bread for All. Wahoo! Thank you for keeping donations of non-perishable food and diapers flowing throughout the month by bringing it to the bins each week. Contact Weldon Allison.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner and Alexander Rosas.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Stirling Johnson, granddaughter of Sylvia & Curtis Johnson; Carol Carlos, mother of Sandy Wikelius; Cara Cothham and Ginger Bingham, friends of Debra Jacobsen.
We give thanks and praise for the birth of Madelyn Reese O’Brien, daughter of Jenna and Rob O’Brien, and grandchild of Mark and Kathy Gerhardt. Bless Madelyn on her journey of faith and life.
We pray for the community in Lahina, Hawaii as they grieve the loss of loved ones and begin the process of recovery. And, we pray for the communities in the Southeast as they clean up and recover from the recent hurricane. Give to all a measure of your strength and grace. Use us to support their efforts with prayer that leads to action.
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 Rebecca Guengerich to find (or learn more about) 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.