May 12, 2023
Mothering Spirit, nurturing one, in arms of patience hold me close so that in faith I root and grow
until I flower, until I know. ELW #735
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 14
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
We celebrate all women in worship with blessings, songs, and flowers. Contemporary music at 10:45.
BREAKFAST
9:15 a.m.| Activity Center
Food for Fellowship serves breakfast every Sunday beginning at 9:15 and ending at 10:15 a.m.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
9:30 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Great discussions of the Good Book. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
SUNDAY’sCOOL & MUSIC WITH KEVIN
9:40 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Meet in Choir Room, Pick up in Family Ministry Center (upstairs)
This is our last time together before we break for summer. Join us for Music (we’ll be practicing with PL and then singing with her at 10:45 if we choose to, but come to sing regardless) and then have fun upstairs. Contact Megan Getman with questions.
NEXTGEN
No NextGen this week! Contact Joel Timmons
DO YOU HAVE A GRADUATE?
Let us know!
Graduating is an achievement! Whether it’s preschool or college, we’d like to celebrate with you. Let us know the who, what, and where of your graduate by emailing Amanda Forsberg before May 15 for inclusion in the May 21 Bulletin.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Small changes at small scales can lead to significant results! Thanks to the 73 participants from ShepHills and Butterfly Preschool for their gifts large and small.
HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THIS?
Make a one-time gift before June 18. We will match your gifts dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact. Gifts can be made online, through Zelle (use controller@shephills.org), or by cash or check. You can also give stock, IRA transfers, and donor-advised funds. Contact Kevin Marlow, Finance Controller.
HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR?
Tremendously! We have raised 80.3% of our $250,000 goal. Double that with our match and we will have $500,000 to significantly reduce our debt.
DEVELOPING MISSIONS UPDATE
CONVERSATION CAFE
Sundays in July
9:45 a.m. | Butterfly Center Fellowship Hall
Come for coffee and stay for conversation with a great lineup of guests who work day in and day out for the missions we support. It’s a great opportunity to gain first-hand insight and a better understanding of their needs and perspectives, enabling us to provide better support.
July 2nd… Guatemala Trip Guests: G-Team
July 9th … Texas Lutheran University Guest: President Debbie Cottrell
July 16th… Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) Guest: Dan Beirne
July 23rd… Water to Thrive Guest: Dick Moeller
July 30th… Austin City Lutherans Guest: Pr. Tim
BABY CARE KITS!
We have raised $2,485 of our $5,000 goal thanks to your generous support. Sponsor a Baby Care Kit for $50 (or as you are able) in celebration of someone in your life. Look for tables in the Activity Center and the Gathering Space with directions on how to sponsor a Baby Care Kit online or by check. Contact Kathy Gerhardt with questions.
GUATEMALA
Thanks to your excellent response to the Guatemala “Kitchen Shower,” the $5027.35 given by 14 contributors has covered the costs for a new church kitchen in Aurora.
A team of 7 congregants led by Joel Timmons will travel to Guatemala June 23-30.
HAITI
Malcolm and Joy Henderson continue to be stateside due to political unrest in Haiti. CHARIS’ ministries continue to grow and expand under the leadership of Pr. Ebony.
Supplies and resources are getting to CHARIS through Wal-Mart and numerous local banks. It is a full-time job for Joy to get their staff of 42 paid.
Malcolm is currently writing a book that Crossway will publish, and we look forward to a possible September visit from both Malcolm and Joy.
MARIPOSA
May Flowers is a short-term fund appeal to raise $50,000 to match the commitment of ACL of $50,000. Monies will subsidize the cost of childcare and staff. See below for how you can participate.
Rather than hiring an Advancement Director to replace Adryana, who has resigned due to health, Mariposa is developing an Advancement Team. A grant writer who brings experience from Upbring is joining this team.
AUSTIN CITY LUTHERANS
We have sent a rent assistance check for $5,000.
FUNDRAISERS
MAY FLOWERS FUNDRAISER
Mariposa Family Learning Center, a ministry of Austin City Lutherans, is fundraising for scholarships, programming, and continued expansion. “May Flowers” is your chance to double your impact by giving a gift in May that will be matched.
Donate Via Mail:
Mariposa Family Learning Center
403 Vargas Rd, Austin, TX 78741
(512) 551-9877
Donate Via Web:
linke.to/mayflowers
FOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS
Spirit of Compassion Fundraising Event
Thursday, May 18 | 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Fair Market 1100 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78702
Vive la vida! Put on your dancing shoes and come enjoy the music of Grammy Award-winning Grupo Fantasma while supporting Feed My People’s parent organization, Foundation for the Homeless. Pre-sale tickets range from $25 – $500, and tickets at the door start at $45.
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.
PALS
Mondays
7:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
Parents and families of loved ones who struggle with addiction are invited to weekly meetings for hope, education, and an opportunity to share. Please contact Rebecca Guengerich, Spirituality and Wellness, if you have questions or would like Zoom information.
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY
7:30 a.m. | on Zoom
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom
Pastor-led studies of the Good Book. Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom
QUILTING
Saturday, May 13
9:00 a.m. | Rm 205
Sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Let us teach you what we know, no experience necessary! Contact Ruth Felger.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, May 18
2:00 p.m. | Library + Zoom
If you care for someone in person or from a distance (child, spouse, parent, friend), we welcome you to join us! While caregiving is a gesture of love, it also brings many challenging moments. The fellowship of other caregivers acknowledging those challenges and joys, but also sharing practical tips from experiences, can be both helpful and supportive. For information email Sandy Smith or call 512-569-6453.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Saturday, May 20
8:00 a.m. | Activity Center
Start your day off with food, fellowship, and a side of stimulating conversation. Who knows, you may even learn something new before your second cup of coffee! Contact Weldon Allison.
CAMPUS CLEANUP
Saturday, May 20
9:00 a.m. | Courtyard
Smear on some sunscreen and bring some tools. We will be mulching, trimming, repairing irrigation, and removing and replacing some small dead trees before summer’s onslaught of heat. BSA Troop 31 will join us. As always, breakfast tacos will be on hand for the hungry. Contact Dave Wegner.
FAITH IN FOCUS
Sundays in Summer, Beginning May 28
9:45 a.m. | Room 205
Looking for a summer book recommendation rich in imagery, storytelling, and complex characters, and a group to talk about it with? Join Megan Getman in reading the New Testament cover to cover 3 chapters at a time. On Sundays, we’ll gather for a casual conversation about what we noticed in the scripture. Not here every Sunday? That’s ok! Come when you can, we’ll miss your perspective when you are away. Contact Megan Getman.
FEED MY PEOPLE
Tuesday, May 30
5:15 a.m. | Family Life Center of First United Methodist Church, 1300 Lavaca
We really need you this last Tuesday in May. It is a holiday weekend and the UT college students that make up the bulk of the volunteers are on break, so we desperately need volunteers to help feed the homeless. In addition to the serving line, there are a variety of behind-the-scenes jobs to choose from. Click here, and then scroll down to May 30 for sign-up slots and descriptions. Contact Norma Smith.
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!
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 Mary Allison, Rodney Varner and Deb Pollock Darnell.
We pray for family and friends of Shepherd members: Krista Bowers, niece of Herb and Kathy Palmer; Kathy Reese, sister of Tom Hudnall; Ellis Thompsen, Butterfly alum.
We give you thanks for all mothers and mother figures in our lives, for all the faithful women who have taught and shared faith, for all who have nurtured us in our lives. Bless them and all of us who seek to help others grow and bloom in this world.
We pray for communities impacted by mass shootings, especially in Allen, Texas. Walk alongside all the families grieving the loss of loved ones. Give courage to leaders to respond in life-giving ways, and may we all be mindful of Jesus’ call to be peacemakers.
Merciful and Loving God, as war and violence rage 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.