October 6, 2023
This Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Sunday! Express your thanks with a note-bring one from home or use one of our blank ones which will be set out in the Gathering Space.
SYNERGY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
What is Synergy? It’s what you see here every Sunday-it’s how we worship, learn, serve, and give to support our community of faith. It’s living as witnesses to the love of Jesus.
For the month of October we are lifting up all that our gifts support (and it’s a lot!) and asking you to participate. We have visits from our missionary partners, a ministry fair, grilling burgers for Lutheran students at UT, a prayer vigil, and so on. And once we see firsthand all we do together, we will bring forth our gifts and pledge our support for another year of God-filled ministry. Praise be to God!
Altar Flowers are given by Kit and Glenn Richter, in loving memory of their parents and grandparents.
WORSHIP IN COMMUNITY
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
We continue to be guided in worship by the book of Ephesians. This week we contemplate Paul’s writings about God’s creation of a holy community. Choir sings and Bells ring at 8:15 service.
MINISTRY FAIR + FELLOWSHIP DURING THE BREAKFAST HOUR
9:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Stick around after early service, or come early for late service, just make sure to grab breakfast while exploring the diverse ministries and meeting the people involved in them. From volunteering opportunities to building connections, this event is your chance to eat, meet new people, and find your fit in the ShepHills’ community.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | library + Zoom
Join us as we move with intent through the book of Ephesians. This week Pr. Tom leads the study, and all are invited to join us. Contact Ruby Cadenhead.
SUNDAY’sCOOL
9:40 a.m. | Family Ministry Center
Toddlers thru Grade 4
Kids join in our church-wide study of Ephesians and learn what it means to work together as God’s Church. The Children’s Offering collected this week will go to support Bread for All Food Pantry. Contact Megan Getman.
NEXTGEN
6:00 p.m. | Activity Center | Grades 5-8, 9-12
Synergy: Throughout the month of October we’re diving into the theme of Synergy. This theme will be prevalent in all sorts of ways this month.
Learning: All of the preaching and teaching will come from the book of Ephesians.
Serving: We have so many ways to serve and get involved this month – check them out at shephills.org/synergy
Giving: Stewardship is always important. This month we also want to encourage participation from our youth in giving. It’s a good opportunity for our youth to learn generosity!
Contact Joel Timmons.
NEXTGEN PARENTS GROUP
6:00 p.m. | Solomon’s Porch
Stick around for a time of prayer, study, and community with other NextGen parents. Contact Pr. Lauren.
Click here for a full list of Synergy events in October, and join us for faith-filled mission and ministry.
EVENTS
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of all our events!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Wednesday, October 11
7:30 a.m. | Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great reading, great discussion, TWO TIMES. Contact Pr. Tom or Pr. Lauren
QUILTING
Wednesday, October 11 at 1:00 p.m. | Rm 205
Saturday, October 14 at 9:00 a.m. | Rm 205
A hands-on ministry creating quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Contact Linda Fiandacca.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Friday, October 13
6:00 p.m. | Activity Center
Game night with friends and family. Dinner TBD, but it will be good. Contact Megan Getman.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, October 14
8:00 a.m. | Butterfly Center
Enjoy camaraderie and spiritual connection with a serving of eggs on the side. Contact Weldon Allison.
PRAYER VIGIL
Saturday, October 14
15 min prayer slot | at church or at home
You can pray from anywhere! Join us for a Prayer Vigil from 8am to 8pm. Sign up for a 15-minute prayer slot and pray from the heart for the world, our community. Reserve your spot on Sign Up Genius to ensure full coverage, and find helpful prayer guides.
BABY CARE KIT ASSEMBLY
Sunday, October 15
9:15am | Activity Center
This is a day for coming together in service of our neighbors. We will be assembling 200 Baby Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief. It’s a simple and rewarding activity, fun for every age, and all are encouraged to participate. Breakfast will be served!
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Sunday, October 15
Noon | Rm 205
Shepherd of the Hills Care Team and Stephen Ministers invite you to gather for a luncheon to meet and share with others who are experiencing grief or loss. RSVP to Rebecca Guengerich.
SERVE BURGERS AT UT LUMIN TAILGATE TUESDAY
Tuesday, October 17
Serve a two-hour shift
Begins at 3:00pm, ends at 7:30pm
It’s ShepHills’ Tuesday to serve! LuMin (Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Texas in Austin) serves grilled hamburgers to 350 to 400 students (for free) every Tuesday. Talk about some hungry college students! Click here to sign up and find directions. Contact Joel Timmons or Rebecca Guengerich.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
MOGGA DOGALE
Saturday, October 21
11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary
A memorial service will be held to remember the life of Mogga Dogale, who is entrusted to the power and the promise of the resurrection life in Jesus Christ. Mogga Dogale is the son of Flora Lano and brother of Wuseng, Lado, Kafuki, Petia, and Gore Dogale. A reception will follow in the Activity Center.
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.
COMMITMENT SUNDAY
With Commitment Sunday on October 29, it’s never too early to start thinking about your giving. Find interesting information on what “tithing” means, and use their free calculator to plan a recurring gift by clicking here.
Wondering WHAT pledging is and WHY it’s important? Read this fact sheet and learn a lot in a small amount of time.
MINISTRY UPDATES
Take a moment to read September’s ministry update from Upbring BeREAL. Your gifts are helping two young adults achieve self-sufficiency.
UPBRING BeREAL
Donation Needs
BeREAL, a ministry of Upbring providing services for those aging out of foster care, is asking for donations of hygiene items, silverware, and dishes (plates, bowls, cups). Please bring your donations to the small bin labeled “BeREAL”. Contact Kathy Gerhardt with questions.
BREAD FOR ALL
Donation Bins | Gathering Space
Thank you for keeping donations of non-perishable food and diapers flowing throughout the month by bringing it to the bins each week. Bread for All has urgently requested the following items. Contact Weldon Allison if you have questions.
- Pasta/spaghetti (the foodbank has not had any pasta for a few months)
- Canned soups
- Dry beans (pinto or black)
- Rice
- Bags (paper, plastic & 13 ga. plastic)
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.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner, Lydia Perkunas and Yulah Sisler.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Mike Schrader, son of Inez Schrader; and Maxine Johnson, sister of Donna Auby.
God of unity and Love, Through Jesus you say to us that whoever wishes to be first must become the least and the servant of all. May this time of worship and praise be a reminder that your victory is won through the cross. We pray that your church may be one. Teach us to accept humbly that this unity is a gift of your Spirit; Through this gift, change and transform us, unite us with the mind of Christ. Lord, in your mercy…
Lord of all creation, unify our world with peace and generosity of spirit.Break down the divisions of race, sexual identity, gender, class. Inspire us to bring unity found in you, empowering us to build bridges and extending kindness and compassion and lavish grace. Lord, in your mercy…
God of Peace, as wars continue on the battlefield, in the halls of our government, in the on-line bullying and lying, equip us with the power of your Spirit to stand for those without power or position, and give us the courage to stand for what You stand for. Lord, in your mercy…
Lord of Life, as we focus our attention this month on renewal and unity as your church, inspire in each and every person a feeling of belonging and participating in a faith community that welcomes all, participates in the mission and ministry you call us to do, and generously supports the sharing of your love in Guatemala, Haiti, the ELCA, and the ministries of Austin City Lutherans—Mariposa and Bread for All. Be with all who lead those ministries and all whose lives are impacted. Lord, in your mercy…
God of our Community of Faith, inspire us and encourage us to come together in Synergy and be a church that lives out loud faithfully! A Church where we boldly proclaim that we are one in Christ empowering us to be a church without walls. Lord, in your mercy…
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.