Weekly Connections

October 7, 2022

Every Sunday is special. This week we visit with Bishop Sue Briner of the Southwestern Texas Synod, dedicate the new Prayer Labyrinth and year-round Prayer Walk, listen to great music by Bob Cannon on trumpet (both services), and jump for JOY with the debut of the new Children’s Choir with Bells accompanying (late service).

THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

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 and explore how we all fit together to share God’s love with the world. Check out the information tables in the Gathering Space and Activity Center for this week’s five areas of focus. If you visit with us on Livestream, look here for an online list of opportunities to get involved!

Sunday Adult Bible Study 

9:15 a.m. |  Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.

Sunday’Scool !

9:45 a.m.  |  Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
Sunday’Scool is faith formation for toddlers and kids thru Grade 4. Come join your friends upstairs in the Family Ministry Center 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.

Dedication of Prayer Walk and Prayer Labyrinth

10:00 a.m. | Shepherd’s Garden
Meet us out back as we dedicate these special places of prayer. We’ll also bless the Eagle Scout Projects of BSA Troop 31 members Peter Walsh (Prayer Walk), Max Hagan (Handicap Ramp to Shepherd’s Garden), and Auggie Hagan (Prayer Labyrinth). Special thanks to the Caring for God’s Creation Team for their gifts used in creating and maintaining this special space. If you’d like to join this team, contact Jeri Porter!

2023 Visit the Holy Land with Pr. Tom and Jeanne Grevlos

Noon | Rm 205
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

Grief Support Gathering

Noon | Library
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.

If you can’t attend the luncheon, we can talk about future support group options or being paired with a Stephen Minister for support during your time of change. Email Rebecca Guengerich, or call her at 512-796-0991.

NextGen for Grades 5-12

7:00pm | Activity Center
Games and Bible Studies, plus Sara Enochs returns with another journaling prompt for the HIgh Schoolers!

THIS WEEK

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

Wednesday Bible Studies

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12
7:30 a.m. | Early Riser’s Study on Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Late Riser’s Study in the Library and on Zoom

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!

Men’s Breakfast

THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
8:00 a.m. | Activity Center

Do you like to eat? Do you like to talk? Then join us for Men’s Breakfast. Want to know more? Contact Weldon Allison.

Learn How to Sew a Simple Quilt Top

THIS 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!

PALS (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10
7:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom

Parents and family members (over the age of 18) of loved ones who struggle with addiction are invited to participate in the  PALS support group to receive hope, through education and an opportunity to share and learn from others facing the same challenges.

For more information about this group and others in the surrounding Austin area and other cities, visit the website, www.palgroup.org   You are not alone!

Youth Summer Trip Info Meeting

NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
9:45am |
Sanctuary
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!

UPCOMING SUNDAYS

Contemporary Music Sunday

NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
8:15 + 10:45 a.m.
+ Livestream
Once a month we bring you Contemporary Music Sunday! Music uplifts and enhances our worship experience in a variety of ways, and mixing things up keeps us looking at our faith through a new lens. Join us as Josh Norem, Charlie Hills, Laura Hills, Rachel Hills, and Pr. Lauren share their musical gifts!

Confirmation Sunday

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
10:45 a.m.
+ Livestream
Juliet Auby, Lila Bishop, Seth Hansen, Daniel Holzer, Flannery Norman, Ethan Nutter, Ben Oehler. and Katherine Oehler will be confirmed as witnesses of Jesus!

Reformation Sunday

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
8:15 a.m. + 10:45 a.m.
+ Livestream, and Oktoberfest at Noon
Wear your red and rest assured we have plenty planned! All are invited to Celebration Reformation Worship and the UT Trombone Choir, a Sunday’Scool Reformation Festival in the Courtyard, and Oktoberfest with the Oompah Band!

Bread for All Food Pantry

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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!

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 – Help us reach 150 households!

Slowly but surely, our numbers grow every week! We now have 146 Households participating, and $2,292,135 dollars to date pledged 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, Stacia DeBill and Inez Schrader

We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Scott Mauer, family of Ruth and Tom Felger

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 Terrie Thomas on the death of her friend, Linda Sue Diebitsch.  Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.

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.  

God our Creator, we thank you for the gift of the prayer walk, labyrinth, and garden that we dedicate today. For all the hands that have worked hard to create this holy space we are grateful. May it be a source of strength and blessing to all who connect with you through these beautiful places.

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.