September 30, 2022
“We are tied in a single garment of destiny, an inescapable web of mutuality.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
Worship
8:15 a.m. Worship | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. Worship | Sanctuary + Livestream
During October, our gifts & talents all “fall” into place! Each week, we will lift up the different pieces of ministry that make ShepHills special, as we hear from members who share their time and talent in many and various ways. We will explore together how we all fit together to share God’s love with the world! Special Sunday bonus? Pr. Brad Fuerst of LUMIN preaches! Look under Special Announcements for a note from Pr. Brad.
Sunday Adult Bible Study
9:15 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Join us. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
Acolyte Training – Grades 5-8
9:45 a.m. | Sanctuary
Why do we light the candles? What does the flame signify? Grades 5 – 8 will meet in the Sanctuary to learn about the meaning and history of this ritual, and receive training for becoming an acolyte. Contact Joel Timmons.
Sunday’Scool – First Day of Class!
9:45 a.m. | Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
Sunday’Scool is our faith formation for toddlers and kids thru Grade 4. Come join your friends upstairs in the Family Ministry Center at 9:45am on Sundays for stories, exploration stations, and more. Register your child here! Come early and join other young families for breakfast beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the Activity Center.
Gather Us In
Noon | Rm 205
Come learn about our community of faith! Join us for lunch and conversation as we get to know each other and answer questions you may have about life at Shepherd. Please contact Ministry Coordinator Amanda Forsberg if you plan to join us.
Ignite! Small Group Sign-Ups for Fall
9:00 a.m. – Noon | Gathering Space + Activity Center
Next week our Small Groups begin a six-week study based on the book “Gracism -The Art of Inclusion,” by David A. Anderson. Pastor Anderson is the founder of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, one of the nation’s leading multi-cultural churches. Sign up for your group today or visit one of the tables in the Activity Center or Gathering Space this Sunday for:
- Sign-ups for groups meeting on Zoom or in-person.
- More information on the study plan.
- Copies of the book “Gracism -The Art of Inclusion.” One book per family unit, with a suggested $5 donation to help cover costs.
NextGen for Grades 5-12
7:00pm | Activity Center
Games and Bible Studies, plus Sara Enochs leads the High Schoolers on the topic of forgiveness.
THIS WEEK
Don’t forget to check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events
Wednesday Bible Studies
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
7:30 a.m. | Early Riser’s Study on Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Late Riser’s Study in the Library and on Zoom
Start hump-day with your best foot forward. Early Risers can jump online every Wednesday morning for a 30-minute look into the Gospel of Mark, or later in the morning for an hour-long study in the library or online. Both studies are Pastor-led. Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom with questions!
2023 Visit the Holy Land with Pr. Tom and Jeanne Grevlos
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
7:00 p.m. | Zoom
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Noon | Rm 203
Pr. Tom and Jeanne are organizing another fantastic journey to the Holy Land on November 8-17, 2023. All are welcome to attend one of these meetings to learn what we are planning! Come walk, touch, and experience where Jesus walked, talked, touched, and experienced his full humanity! If you have been to the Holy Land I hope you will consider a return trip. “After my first (and only) trip in 2017, I feel like there is so much more for me to experience! The extraordinary value of this trip is in the community of travelers, deep appreciation of walking in Jesus’ footsteps, and the reasonable cost of such a lifetime experience.” Pr. Tom
On-Site Flu Clinic
NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Breezeway Building Room 106
CVS will be onsite to provide flu shots for all who need one. Based on the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere, doctors are warning that this will be a very bad flu season and people should get vaccinated as soon as possible. DON’T WAIT!
- To sign-up, simply email Dabney (dabney@shephills.org) by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5. Indicate if you need an egg-free vaccine due to allergy, or a vaccine for over 65 years of age. That’s all sign-up entails!
- YOU MUST SIGN UP TO RESERVE A SHOT. Walk-ins will not be offered.
- Come anytime on Oct. 7 between 10am and 2pm
- Bring your insurance card and $10 in case your insurance does not cover the shot.
Learn How to Sew a Simple Quilt Top
NEXT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
9:00 a.m. | Room 205
The Quilting Team will give a workshop for everyone interested in learning how to “piece” a quilt top. Sandy Nielsen lovingly pieced over 100 quilts a year for Lutheran World Relief (LWR), help us keep her legacy going strong by joining us! The workshop will include easy step-by-step instructions, give you hands-on experience, and send you home with a kit of precut pieces to sew together. Here’s more info about the LWR Quilting Ministry!
Dedication of Prayer Labyrinth and Prayer Walk
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
10:00 a.m. | Shepherd’s Garden
Next Sunday we lift up Stewarding Ministries as we seek to connect people and build community through participation! Come take part in the blessing of the new Prayer Walk and Prayer Labyrinth that the Caring for God’s Creation Team and Scout Troop 31 have created in the Shepherd’s Garden.
Grief Support Gathering
NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Noon | Rm 205
The Shepherd of the Hills Care Team and Stephen Ministers invite you to gather for lunch to meet and share with others who are experiencing grief. Being surrounded by a community sustains us in the process of saying goodbye to people we love or other aspects of our lives. As we allow the feelings of sorrow, anger, depression, guilt, or pain to surface, healing and hope will emerge.
Please invite others who may be interested in attending.
Please RSVP for the luncheon by contacting Rebecca Guengerich, or calling 512-796-0991. If you can’t attend the luncheon, we can talk about future support group options or receiving a Stephen Minister to personally support your time of change.
LOOKING FORWARD
Youth Summer Trip Info Meeting
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
9:45am | Rm 205
Boundary Waters here we come! Families of incoming 9th through graduated 12th graders will find out more about our plans including dates, cost, and itinerary. Join us!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pr. Brad Fuerst – LuMin (Lutheran Campus Ministry – Austin)
LuMin-Austin (Lutheran Campus Ministry – Austin,) is your ELCA campus ministry serving the University of Texas-Austin students, faculty, and staff. As a partnering ministry of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, LuMin works to deepen faith, inspire service, expand minds, and create community among Longhorns in ways that embody the Good News of Jesus Christ.
During the pandemic, any form of ministry has been a challenge. Still, by God’s Grace, LuMin has discerned new and life-giving ways to serve the Gospel – namely, through its food pantry – Daily Bread – run by students for students. And also through weekly “Tailgate Tuesdays” – LuMin’s curbside effort to respond to food insecurity at the University of Texas (one out of three UT students report that they do knot know where their next meal will come from). On average, LuMin now serves free burgers / free tacos to 300+ students each week.
Thank you, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church for your financial support and for how you regularly pray for your Lutheran campus ministry at UT – LuMin-Austin!
Bread for All Food Pantry – Urgent Call for Donations
The need is greater than ever. The Central Texas Food Bank is experiencing a shortage of supplies, and BFA is asking churches and other supporters for these specific items through the end of the year. Please help by bringing these items on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., Sundays from 8:00 a.m. – Noon, or any weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.:
- Canned beans (green, pinto, black)
- Big and small bags – white rice
- Macaroni and cheese
- Soups
- Tomato sauce, or diced tomatoes
- Basic pastas (other than spaghetti)
- Small bags – dried beans
- Diapers, sizes 5 and 6 are especially needed
Financial donations are also needed, either through your church or directly through the ACL website – www.breadforall-atx.org. THANKS!
Garden Plots
Take a wander through the garden plots in the Shepherd’s Garden. If you want to adopt a plot for fall planting, email Anita Knight.
GIVING
Giving is an expression of joy and gratitude for the bounty of God’s goodness! There are so many ways to give-both 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!
Hurricane Ian Relief
Please help support Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) efforts in response to Hurricane Ian and the hard hit areas of Florida. Your gifts ensure that we will be able to provide help and hope for those whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Ian. Gifts designated for Hurricane Ian response to LDR will be used entirely (100%) for hurricane response efforts until they are complete.
Beyond Capital Fund Appeal
145 Households are participating, with $2,290,060 dollars to date given towards our goal of raising $3 million to pay for the recent renovation of the Butterfly Center and eliminate all debt! Learn more here.
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!
HELP BREAD FOR ALL DISTRIBUTE FOOD
Find everything you need to know about volunteering here.
Sunday’s Altar Flowers are given by Lynn and Rob Spillar, in honor of Kelton and Jessica Spillar’s 1st Wedding Anniversary.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
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.
We pray for Rodney Varner and Stacia DeBill
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: The Kruse family, friends of Jackie Rieger, and the Franke and Burks families.
We pray for peace and comfort for The Lunecki family on the death of Dan’s mother, Shirley Lunecki. Surround all who grieve with your comfort and peace.
We pray for all who have experienced the destruction of life and property from Hurricane Ian. Bring peace, healing, and hope to those affected by this natural disaster, and inspire us to use our resources to help your people in need.
We give thanks for a new year of faith formation here at Shepherd of the Hills, with the launch of Sunday’s Cool today! Bless us all–all ages!–with a desire to learn and grow closer to you, God. Give us curious minds, open hearts, and your Holy Spirit to inspire us. We thank you for creative and caring teachers & leaders, and we pray for a year full of wonder in your presence.
We give thanks for the witness of LuMin Campus Ministry at The University of Texas–for the feeding ministry, the caring community, and the development of faith in the lives of young adults. We pray blessings on Pastor Brad, Vicar Cecie, and all the leaders and students of LuMin, that they may be empowered and strengthened in faith and service.
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!
*Prayers for family and friends are listed for 2 weeks, unless we are notified otherwise.