March 3, 2023
Aaron Lack and the Vibetet join us this Sunday, and don’t miss Wednesday Mid-Week for a meaningful Lent experience! Read below for all the info.
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Jesus’ love knows no boundaries. Join us this Sunday on a quest for authentic love amidst cultural barriers. Aaron Lack and the Vibetet provide mellow jazz sounds at both services.
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m. | Activity Center
Food for Fellowship is serving breakfast from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. every Sunday. It’s so good we know you want to linger, but please don’t be late for Worship! Support this hospitality ministry and give online anytime by selecting the Fellowship Events/Breakfast Fund.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
SUNDAY’sCOOL
9:40 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Meet in Choir Room, Pick up in Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
We are starting something new! Every week we’ll meet at 9:40 a.m. in the Choir Room (to the left of the Sanctuary) to start the fun with some singing with Kevin! Then Megan will escort the kids upstairs for activities. Don’t forget to pick up a printed guide to making your Lenten Garden, complete with activities and prayer. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
NEXTGEN
6:30 p.m. | Activity Center
Bible study and games for grades 5-12. Contact Joel Timmons, Student Ministry Coordinator.
COME HEAR THE STORY…ONCE UPON A TIME
MID-WEEK GATHERING
Wednesday, March 8 | Activity Center
It was so good to see how many came on Wednesday for this unique Lent experience! Join us every Wednesday in Lent as we gather for a simple lunch or dinner, and then hear a dramatic reading of the story through the eyes of someone present at the crucifixion (watch the first week’s story from the Crucified Crook). This week we hear from the Roman Centurion.
- 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Soup’s on!
12:30-1:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story
- 6:00-6:30 p.m. | Soup’s on! Kid-friendly food too.
6:30-7:00 p.m. | Scripture + Story
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Give a warm ShepHills hello to our newest members!
CALENDAR
Check the calendars on Realm or the website for a complete list of events including Yoga, Pickleball, Choir and Bells, PALS, and Bread for All!
SHEPHERD’S GARDEN WORKDAY
This Saturday, March 4
9:00 a.m. | Shepherd’s Garden
Spring chores and Prayer Walk prep for Holy Week! Come help us. Contact Jeri Porter
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY*
Wednesday, March 8
7:30 a.m. | Early Riser’s Study on Zoom
Begin your day with a dive into Scripture! Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom
*The 10:00 a.m. Bible Study will resume after Lent.
MID-WEEK GATHERING*
Wednesday, March 8 | Activity Center
*See description above
QUILTING
Wednesday, March 8 | 1:00 p.m. Room 205
Saturday, March 11 | 9:00 a.m. Room 205
Plenty of work finishing Senior Quilts. Come help!
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, March 11
8:00 a.m. | Activity Center
Breakfast provided as a backdrop to good conversation.
CONCORDIA CHORAL CONCERT
Friday, March 10 | 7:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Whether you’re a Cobber, a choral music lover, or both, mark your calendar! Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at ConcordiaTickets.com. Prices range from free (!) to $25.
ACL HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVE EVENT
Sunday, March 12
9:30 a.m. | Butterfly Center
Pastor Tim Anderson and Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard join us for a discussion surrounding homelessness in Austin, and ACL initiatives on preventing it. Breakfast provided!
RETREAT REGISTRATION – do it today!
REGISTER FOR THE WOMEN’S RETREAT!
Friday, April 28-Sunday April 30 | Dilworth Inn, Gonzalez, TX
Recharge your spiritual batteries and connect with old and new friends. Pastor Lauren Dow-Wegner will reintroduce us to Biblical women who were a lot like us, and we’ll spend Saturday afternoon doing whatever we like (i.e. tour a Painted Church or brewery, hike, or DO NOTHING). Check out a detailed description of what we have planned and register at the same time!
REGISTER FOR THE CONFIRMATION RETREAT!
Friday, March 24-Sunday, March 26 | Ebert Ranch
Register Today! We’ll ride horses, participate in team-building exercises, and learn more about the Sacraments and how they relate to Confirmation! Grades 5-8. Contact Joel Timmons with questions.
FAMILY ADVENT RETREAT AT CAMP CHRYSALIS!
Friday, December 1 – Sunday, December 3 | Camp Chrysalis in Kerrville, TX
Register Today! Get into the spirit of Christmas with a family weekend full of adventure, crafts, worship/songs, and campfires. Each family gets their own private cabin and bathroom. We know from experience this retreat fills up fast, so sign up soon. You can cancel later in the year with a refund, so save your spot. Contact Melissa Robertson with questions.
DAY CAMP!
Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14 | On-site at ShepHills
Completed Kinder through 5th grade are invited for an action-packed week of day camp led by Camp Chrysalis here at home! Find details and registration here, and have your friends sign up by clicking the button on the homepage at ShepHills.org. The more the merrier, there is enough of Jesus’ love for everyone!
SAVE THE DATE!
JUST SISTERS SPEAK ABOUT RACE
Saturday, April 22
10:00am | Activity Center
Mark your calendars for this all-women’s gathering. Invited guests will share personal stories surrounding race as a powerful way to build empathy and understanding across our differences. More information to follow!
BEING THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS
WHAT WE’VE DONE!
Thank you for your bountiful response of $6,076 to aid earthquake victims in areas of Turkey & Syria. 100% of these gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response go directly to those in need.
WHAT WE’RE DOING!
As a Lenten practice of service to others, the NextGen ministry will collect items for Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief throughout Lent, and assemble them during the Palm Sunday Festival. The contents of the Personal Care Kits go primarily to pregnant women and mothers of newborns all around the world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
Please bring these items to the designated bin by the stairs: lightweight, dark bath towels, bar soap (4oz+), toothbrushes (in packaging), sturdy combs, and nail clippers.
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.
SHROVE TUESDAY YOUTH FUNDRAISER
Thanks to all who came for pancakes and gave! You too can help our youth build a foundation that will last a lifetime! This summer’s Boundary Waters Trip makes space for our youth to grow spiritually and feel a true sense of belonging that’s rooted in God’s love and good friends. Visit the envelope fundraising wall in the Gathering Space, or give online! Contact Joel Timmons.
PLEDGES, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS
Keeping current with your pledged or regular giving has never been easier because you can do it all online!
UPDATE! BEYOND CAPITAL FUND APPEAL
We are getting closer to our $3,000,000 goal! To date, we have raised $2,300,140 with 149 households participating. Please consider a gift! Learn more about Beyond 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!
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner, Molly and baby Hartmann.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Marie Lindstrom, sister of Linda Fiandaca.
We pray for Sara Burden McClure and family on the death of her mother, Sara Ella Burden. Surround all who mourn with the peace and promise of resurrection.
Merciful and Loving God, as war and violence rages 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 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.
DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S CONNECTIONS?
Catch up on what you might have missed by reading last week’s Weekly Connections by clicking here.