May 26, 2023
Wear your fire colors, this is Pentecost Sunday!
PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 28
WORSHIP
8:15 a.m. | Sanctuary
10:45 a.m. | Sanctuary + Livestream
Light your faith on fire and come dressed in yellow, red, and/or orange (fire colors) as we embrace the Holy Spirit at this special celebratory worship.
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
This week we will finish our study of Samuel and then take a break for summer. All are invited to join in the New Testament Read-a-Thon this summer, please find below. Contact Ruby Cadenhead for more information.
NEW TESTAMENT READ-A-THON
9:45 a.m. | Rm 203 (we will meet in the Library beginning June 4)
Join Megan for an overview of your chance to read the New Testament cover to cover this summer. We’ll follow a simple reading guide of three chapters a day, and then gather on Sundays for casual conversation about what we’ve read. Contact Megan Getman for more information.
ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY, JUNE 4
WORSHIP @ 8:15 Sanctuary | 10:45 Sanctuary + Livestream
Come next Sunday for the start of a new Message Series “You Are My Witness.”
Q+A WITH PR. LAUREN @ 9:30 a.m. | Activity Center
In preparation for the congregational vote to call Pastor Lauren as our Senior Pastor, we are providing opportunities to chat with her about our shared mission, vision, hopes, and dreams for ministry at Shepherd of the Hills. This is a dialogue; your voice and input is deeply valued! Please take some time to consider the following questions and share your thoughts during the Q+A session over breakfast. Pastor Lauren will also offer her reflections on the following questions.
What do you feel are some of the core priorities of ministry at Shepherd of the Hills? How do we currently live these out? How can we do that even better?
What are you most excited about for our future as a congregation?
What are the key challenges we are facing in the future?
ANNIVERSARY PICNIC @ NOON | Courtyard (Activity Center if it rains, which it won’t)
We’ll be throwing some burgers and dogs on the grill in celebration of 46 years together as a vibrant community of faith. Bring a picnic blanket and we’ll supply great food, friends, facepainting, and music by local artist Sophia Johnson. Don’t fret, there will be a few tables for those who prefer not to sit on the ground.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Small changes at small scales can lead to significant results! Look what has happened in just 5 weeks of fundraising, and we have 3 more to go.
April 26: $58,975 May 3: $108,361 May 10: $200,766 May 17: $212,381 May 24: $230, 197
May 31: $? June 7: $? June 14: $?
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.
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.
MEMORIAL DAY – CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
The Church office will be closed this Monday, May 29 in honor of Memorial Day as we remember those who served. Contact Pr. Lauren if you have an emergency.
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY – SUMMER SCHEDULE
Pastor-led studies of the Good Book. Contact Pr. Lauren or Pr. Tom
7:30 a.m. | Zoom, contact Pr. Tom. Here’s our summer schedule:
June 14, 21, 28
No July dates
August 9, 16, 23
10:00 a.m. | Library + Zoom, contact Pr. Lauren. Here’s our summer schedule:
Wednesday, June 28 – Psalm 86
Wednesday, July 19 – Psalm 119
Wednesday, August 2 – Psalm 27
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 most 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.
W.O.W. (Worship on Wednesday)
Beginning Wednesday, June 7
6:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hall in Butterfly Center
Come gather to ponder and discuss the Psalms every Wednesday this summer. Join us in shorts for this informal worship, and as always, be ready to sing. We’ll finish with ice cream! Contact Joel Timmons.
CONVERSATION CAFE every Sunday
Beginning Sunday, June 11
9:40 a.m. | Room 205
Expand your mind with education and conversations around specific topics in June, missions we support in July, and a sprint through the Bible in August! Contact Pr. Tom.
SUNDAY MOVIE MATINEES
Sunday, June 11
Noon | Room 205
Join us for the first of three matinees featuring people of faith and courage. June’s movie is a documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young German theologian who openly voiced his opposition to Adolf Hitler and stood with the Jews in their time of need. Contact Pr. Tom.
SUMMER VACATION PLANS?
We hope not! We have lots planned for this summer. Please keep an eye on your mail this week for more information, and join us when you’re in town.
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!
BREAD FOR ALL CHALLENGE (BFA)
BFA needs specific food, and lots of it, to serve the record numbers showing up each week. Food sourced from Capital Area Food Bank continues to remain unreliable for a variety of reasons, and they need our help more than ever. Here’s the challenge:
ARE YOU WILLING?
Add $5 to $10 dollars of food to your grocery cart each week.
Buy from this list:
Dried beans, Peanut butter, Canned tomatoes/sauce, Canned whole beans, Canned fruit, Canned soup, Mac & Cheese
Bring it to the bins!
*Bins are available Saturday 9-11am, Sunday during worship hours, or during the week when you are here.
PRAYERS
In need of prayer? Please contact a pastor to be put on the prayer list.
We pray for Rodney Varner, Deb Pollock Darnell, Alexander Rosas, Lois Qualben.
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; Marie Lindstrom, sister of Linda Fiandaca; Brodie Vigness, cousin of Jane Tackett; Iris Riddle, mother of Pam Peterson.
We pray in celebration for the birth of Scout Rose Bonner, daughter of Cole and Kristen, sister of Finn and Sienna. Bless Scout as she grows, and pour out upon her your blessings of love and grace.
We pray in celebration for the wedding of Greg Haugen and Margie Ramirez this weekend in Colombia and Katy Miller and Michael Sliwetzka in Germany. Bless them in their life together, as they grow in faith, hope, and love.
We give thanks for the 50th anniversary of Bob and Judy Moore. We celebrate the love they share and the witness they offer in their life together! Grant them continued blessings and joy in the years to come.
We pray for the summer season, as families and students begin new schedules with day camps, summer sports, and other programs. We pray for our Butterfly Preschool summer camp these next two weeks. We pray for renewal and rest for all of us, as we enjoy vacations and travel in the coming months.
We ask for a special measure of your grace to be with the community of Uvalde, TX as they are one year later and continue to grieve the senseless killing of 21 adults and children at Robb Elementary School. May your Spirit speak kindness and peace into the hearts of all people.
O God of truth and justice, the Alpha and Omega we hold before you those men and women who have died in active service. As we honor their courage and cherish their memory, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and forever.
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.