November 17, 2023
In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Join us this Sunday as we gather in faith, fellowship, and worship – your presence adds to the joy of our community! Choir sings at early service.
Altar Flowers are in honor of the 50th Family Anniversary when Bob and Joan Vorkoper were married and he became an instant dad to Kay, Julia and Tom. The second bouquet is in memory of Joan’s first husband and Bob’s friend, Dale Mollgaard, and their daughter Kay Mollgaard Vorkoper.
SEMI-ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
9:30 a.m. | Activity Center
Breakfast will be served as we elect new Council and Endowment Board members (more info on them below) and review year-end financials. Childcare is available upstairs in Rm 205.
MEET THE NOMINEES
New Council and Endowment Board members will be elected at the upcoming Semi-Annual Meeting this Sunday, November 19. Please click here to learn more about our nominees.
COUNCIL NOMINEES
Beth Turman and Bob Cannon are new nominees for Council. Megan Hansen, June Spann, and Ted Powell are up for re-election. Special thanks to Nicholas Dertien and Audrey Cullinane, who have finished their terms.
ENDOWMENT BOARD NOMINEES
Nadar Ayoub and Kathleen Macaulay are nominees for the Endowment Board. Special thanks to Larry Anderson and Bobby McQuiston, who have finished their terms.
SPECIAL WORSHIP AND OFFERINGS
THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP, OFFERING, and FOOD DRIVE
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
7:00 p.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Come worship in celebration of God’s abundant blessings! As an act of gratitude, we are requesting food donations for Bread for All, and collecting a special offering for Meals on Wheels.
- Your financial support is greatly appreciated as a special offering designated for Meals on Wheels Central Texas. Meals on Wheels delivers to home-bound seniors, bringing them a hot meal which is often their only one of the day.
- Please bring non-perishable food for the Bread for All Food Pantry. Bread for All distributed food to over 1300 people on the first two Mondays in November. Food is running out and your help is greatly needed.
THE SEASON
“The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.” ~Henri Nouwen
ADVENT DEVOTIONALS
“Come, Emmanuel” is a pocket-sized devotional that will guide you in the Advent tradition of reflection centered on brief prayers known as the “O Antiphons.” Starting November 22, look for the Advent Display in the Gathering Space, and take one home for the season.
SUNDAYS IN ADVENT
December 3, 10, 17
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
December 24
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream (no Worship at 8:15 a.m. on this day, it’s also Christmas Eve!)
Throughout Advent, our worship will seek to help us slow down our frenzied and frenetic lives. We will gather in quiet and low lighting as we light candles to symbolize the brightness of Christ’s birth into our lives. We will hear the ancient stories of Scripture that harken us back to the prophecies of old, reminding us that the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus have always been part of God’s plan for us. Join us for worship as we prepare our hearts and our lives for Jesus’ birth!
WEDNESDAYS IN ADVENT
December 6, 13, 20
7:00 p.m. | Butterfly Center
Join us on Wednesday evenings for a beautiful, contemplative vespers service using the Holden Evening Prayer. In the stillness of the evening, we’ll reflect on the prophets and yearn, as they did, for the coming of the Messiah.
It’s never too early to think about Christmas! Check out service times and descriptions here.
WHAT’S A PLEDGE?
PLEDGES (EXPRESSING AN INTENTION TO GIVE)
Pledges express your intention to give over the next year. Already a regular giver? Great! Take one more step and submit a pledge card (stating your intention) so we can anticipate your gifting goals and plan our spending accordingly. Win-win! Please visit Shephills.org/pledge for an online pledge card and tools to guide your giving.
GIVING STATEMENTS
2023 Fall Giving Updates were emailed on Wednesday, November 15. Please open and view this statement! Questions? Contact Finance Controller Kevin Marlow for help.
EVENTS
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of all our events!
THANKSGIVING OFFICE HOURS
The Church Office will close for the Thanksgiving holidays at noon on Wednesday, November 22, and reopen on Monday, November 27. Please email sheep@shephills.org to get in touch with us.
#GIVINGTUESDAY
Tuesday, November 28
This year ShepHills is participating in the global act of generosity called Giving Tuesday by building awareness and support for our friends in Guatemala in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Pilar. How can you help? Share our #GivingTuesday social media posts with your followers. If you are not on social media, we will send an email on Tuesday for you to forward to family and friends. It will contain information on the crisis and a link to give. Thank you for sharing grace and generosity! Questions? Contact Dabney Gomes.
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Resumes Wednesday, November 29
7:30 a.m. | Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great reading, great discussion. Contact Pr. Lauren
CHRISTMAS GIVING TREES / HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR BEREAL
Return Gifts by November 27 | Shelves on the Gathering Space Stair
Don’t let the date sneak up on you! Please return all gifts to the Gathering Space by Monday, November 27, and place them underneath the shelf holding the Giving Trees. Contact Linda Roesle with questions.
GUATEMALA TRIP RESCHEDULED
New Dates: June 15 – 22, 2024
Check your calendars and join us for a focused, intentional time to open our hearts to the Guatemalan people and discern how we can assist the Lutheran Church of Guatemala (ILAG) in its mission of providing the necessary tools that help spiritual and material development in vulnerable communities. For more details, contact Joel Timmons.
FAITH IN ACTION
Introduction to Centering Prayer and Sacred Movement Workshop
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Saturday, December 2, 2023
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Rm 8 | 1500 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746
The intention of this free workshop is to deepen our relationship with Christ within and open ourselves to God’s presence and action in the activities of daily life through the practice of Centering Prayer and Sacred Movement. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 22, or call 512.426.1266.
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. Questions? Contact Finance Controller Kevin Marlow for help. Thank you for your continued support of our missions and ministries.
VOLUNTEERING
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!
URGENT MISSION SUPPORT
GUATEMALA EMERGENCY RELIEF
This summer our Guatemala Team witnessed firsthand the severity of the drought caused by the current El Nino weather system. As a result of this drought, 34 families from our sister church Iglesia Luterana Augustina Virgen del Rosario in Aurora, Guatemala lost all of their crops. Subsequently, the torrential rains accompanying Hurricane Pilar in late October washed away newly planted seed corn, and this potential crop was also lost. If you would like to support a family with corn and corn seed, please donate. The cost is $175 per family, and donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
BREAD FOR ALL
Donation Bins | Gathering Space
Last Monday Bread for All Food Pantry (BFA) served 644 individuals. Our support is needed more than ever as food insecurity rises in Austin due to high rents and inflation. Please make shopping for BFA part of your weekly grocery trip and bring non-perishable food items on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. to the bin outside the Gym (NOTE THE NEW LOCATION!) or on Sundays. Bread for All is a ministry of Austin City Lutherans serving Southeast Austin every Monday.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner and Tamara Allen.
God of Peace, as wars continue on the battlefield, in the halls of our government, in the online 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.
Holy God, as war has once again broken out in the Holy Land, we lift to you prayers for peace and resolution to this age-old conflict among your people. Draw near to the victims, and inspire leaders to seek your will and your guidance.
Almighty God, you inspire and equip us to serve your people, both here in our community and around the world. Continue to keep us connected in mission and ministry with Austin City Lutherans and the ministries of Mariposa and Bread for All; with our fellow congregation in Guatemala alongside the ministry of ILAG; with the ministry of Charis in Haiti; and with all the places and people you call us to serve. May we be your hands and feet!
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.