April 2014 - Shepherd of the Hills

April 2014
Monthly Newsletter of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
The Shepherd’s
Voice
April Worship Foretaste
April 6
Theme - Dry Bones and a Tomb
Music - Piano/BibleSong
April 13 - Palm Sunday
Theme - Palm Sunday
Music - Organ
April 20 - Easter Sunday
Worship - 8, 9:30, 11
Theme - Resurrection of Our Lord
Music - 8am: Organ, Choir, Handbells
9:30: Organ, Choir, Handbells
11am: Organ, The Flock
April 27
Theme - Peace. Be. With. You.
Music - Organ
Over the Handlebars...with Pastor Dana
I think April is a wonderful time of year. I
love to see spring flowers come out, and
when they pop through a spring snow, they
look like beautiful courage. Birds are
returning, you can see lambs and calves in the
fields, and the sun is up so much longer.
Everywhere you look there is rebirth. It’s a
beautiful, wonderful part of God’s creation, it
happens every spring and we are the
witnesses to the miracle!
Rebirth doesn’t only happen in nature, it happens with our spirits too.
In the gospel from a few weeks ago, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he
must be reborn, not physically, but spiritually. This rebirth truly
happens for us over and over again in our lives, as we return to the
promises that God makes to us through Jesus. When we are baptized
we are reborn children of God, and as we return to that promise we
are renewed in faith and strengthened. Our rebirth is another kind of
miracle, one that God keeps doing in our spirits throughout our lives.
The month as we celebrate Easter, we are called to the cross and the
empty tomb, where the incredible word of resurrection is proclaimed
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Article Continued …
to you and me. Jesus is not dead but
alive, reborn from the dead to give
abundant and eternal life to you and to
me. His resurrection brings
reconciliation between God and
humankind; in Jesus God is repairing
our broken relationship with him.
To live in the power of Easter is to let
that rebirth take over your life; to let the grace of God pour over everything
you do, to seek God’s kingdom in your own life and in the life of this
community. We are Easter people…reclaimed from death into new life. Seek
the presence of the Holy Spirit in your everyday living, and let the God of
resurrection go to work in your heart.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
So if anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation:
everything old has passed
away; see, everything has
become new! All this is
from God, who reconciled
us to himself through
Christ, and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation;
hat is, in Christ God was
reconciling the world to
himself.
Living with this reborn Easter faith may surprise you, because God is
constantly at work in the hearts of Easter people, and God may have a rebirth
for you that you won’t see coming.
Easter is truly the ultimate rebirth, for through Jesus’ resurrection God makes
all things new.
Blessings this April
PD
RE:Spond – A new take on an old
tradition of Vacation Bible School
For the past four years we have combined with the other Fort Collins
ELCA churches for Vacation Bible School utilizing both Sky Ranch and
Group curriculum. This has been a wonderful experience but after a four
year rotation we have decided to take a different direction this summer. All
four congregations have coordinated to not have overlapping dates so that
the youth in our city could have more opportunity. We will be partnering
with the other ELCA churches on advertising and on an end of summer celebration.
What does this mean for SOTH? Well as a small congregation we don’t
have the numbers to host a traditional VBS for just our elementary youth.
This presents a great opportunity for us to have a ‘VBS’ that is multigenerational. I promise we will have activities for all ages. We will be
looking at how can we RE:spond to our community through service. We
will be looking at the model from our Synod of ‘God’s Work Our Hands’.
Please mark your calendars for July 24 – 27 for this amazing event. More
details to come in our next newsletter… what I can tell you is that it will be
cheap, there will be t-shirts, and it will be lots of fun!
Time to Think About Sky Ranch!
Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, Summer 2014 Camperships available.....
We are encouraging any youth from our congregation (having completed 1st-12th grade) to sign up for a program
through Sky Ranch. Shepherd of the Hills will then pay the equivalent to 1/3 of your cost (= to deposit but family
pays this first). Sky Ranch programming can be found at www.SkyRanchColorado.org You can also call them at
970.493.5258 or stop by to visit at 805 S. Shields (in St. Thomas Chapel). Program booklets are available at the Welcome Center.
Contact Sky Ranch with camp related questions or Sarah Baietti at [email protected] regarding campership questions. Happy Camping!
Music Notes from the Fold
The Flock brings it’s orchestral sound to our SOTH fold on Sunday, April 20 at the 11am Easter worship service. Rehearsals have already begun, meeting after 10:30 worship until Easter. They’ll bring strings, winds and percussion sounds
to your Easter morning.
Re:Bellion rings in the Easter morning on Sunday, April 20 at the 8am & 10:30am worship services. Their handbell
choir repertoire includes classical faves, sacred gems, secular beats, and Christmas carols at
the hockey rink. You’ll hear fanfares and sacred gems on Easter morn.
The SOTH Adult Choir brings their sweet sounds to Easter Sunday, April 20 at 8am &
10:30. The handbells will join them to proclaim “Joy in the Morning.” You will also hear
“God is Our Refuge and Strength,” a choral arrangement of Psalm 46.
March Council Meeting Highlights
WELCOME new member Robert Blue and thank you for accepting the Church Council Treasurer position. We look forward to working with you!
THANK YOU Dawn Luze for sharing Group Publishing’s Spiritual Gifts Discovery program with the council. The council
was excited to learn more about our individual spiritual gifts. We believe all of our members will benefit from this discussion. Look forward to more information about this program!! Ask a council member what they learned about their spiritual
gifts!
John 14:1-2
“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. For in my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were
not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
Council shared this verse and the comfort it brings knowing that there is room for us in God’s kingdom of heaven. Many of
us are uplifted knowing we will be reunited with our loved ones.
RE:Group Happenings
(SOTH’s college and young professionals)
RE:Fresh: This is a time for college students and young professionals to gather
together to grow in faith around scripture. Each month has a theme but every lesson stands alone. No need to prep, Pastor Dana and Jenny take care of that for
you. Just show up! Please join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in classroom 3.
Miniature Golf/Go Carts/Batting Cages! I challenge YOU to a game of miniature golf, a race on the go
carts, and the highest number of connections with the bat. The person who has the best score in mini golf, the
first to cross the finish on the go carts and the highest number of hits gets a free gift card to a surprise
restaurant. Who wants to challenge me on Sunday, April 27 at 12pm? We will be going to Fort Fun. The
cost is $14 ($6.50 per round of mini-golf, $5.50 per round of go-cart, $2 for 18 pitches). They have a
restaurant there that serves burgers, hotdogs, nachos, and pizza (food ranges from $3 - $10). Please RSVP to
Jenny no later than Friday, April 25.
Confirmation
Confirmation will be on Sunday, April 27th at the 10:30
service. Please join us for a light brunch between services at 9:30 am in the narthex to congratulate and visit
with these young confirmands. God's blessings to Slade
Lebsack, Griff Bibbey, and Averi Luze.
Spring is in the Air!
Our youth are selling Gulley Gift Cards again this year!
Cards are $20 and available at the Welcome Center between services starting April 6, 2014. $4 from every card
goes to the youth and will be used to fund mission trips.
YOUth
Little Lambs (Younger Children’s Ministry)
GIFT - Join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 –
10:20 for our Sunday School hour. This is a time
filled with music, trivia, theatre, art, and much more.
Yahweh Youth (Middle School Youth Group)
and FAITHS (High School Youth Group)
We are headed to Quake Zone April 4 – 6. Please
pray for the youth to have a great experience at this
gathering and that they grow in their faith and
relationship with God. We will have a slide show
for you on Wednesday, April 9 at the Soup Supper
as well as Sunday, April 13 at the Pancake Breakfast
between services. Please join us for these events and
see what the youth learned.
Elder Cab
Shepherd of the Hills has a group of folks who would like to pick up any homebound members and
bring them to our Sunday morning worship services. Please contact the office if you would like a ride to
worship. Also, contact the church office if you are willing to provide transportation once or twice a
month to homebound members. We will match people up according to location
within Fort Collins.
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12
Many thanks to those who have already volunteered to provide rides. Through
your discipleship, our body of believers can come together more fully.
Eucharistic Ministers
Pastoral Care
“Praise be to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who comforts us in all our troubles.”
Caring for our members is an important part of
our ministry here at Shepherd of the Hills.
Pastor Dana provides pastoral care to those in
need. Please let him know if you or a loved one
will be hospitalized or wish for an in-home visit.
Call the church office at 482-9692.
New Member Class
Join us on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00 PM. New members
will be received on Sunday, April 13. Please contact Pastor Dana, or Dawn in the office at 482-9692 if you would
like more information about becoming a member of Shepherd of the Hills.
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,
took bread, and when he had given thanks, he
broke it and said, “This is my body, which is
for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1
Corinthians 11:23-24
We share the sacrament of Holy Communion at
every worship service at Shepherd of the Hills.
From the table of communion where Jesus
Christ comes with forgiveness, life, and
salvation, God sends us out to share the good
news and to care for those in need.
When someone is homebound or hospitalized
and unable to attend worship, we take Holy
Communion to them. Pastor Dana sanctifies the
bread and wine during Sunday worship so that
our Eucharistic Ministers are able to take and
share it with those desiring communion.
If you would like to receive communion from
either Pastor Dana or our Eucharistic Ministers,
please call 970/482-9692.
Stephen Ministry
Ephesians 4:12 tells us to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Stephen Ministry seeks to do this by training lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in
and around our congregations.
Shepherd of the Hills has a dedicated group of Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders already equipped to
serve our congregation. If you would like to hear more about Stephen Ministry or know someone who may be
in need of a Stephen Minister, please talk to Louise Wendt-White, or Pastor Dana.
If you’re interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, talk to Louise or Kari. We are currently partnering with
Our Savior’s and Spirit of Joy for Stephen Ministry training. It’s marvelous to work with other lay ministers in
equipping the body of Christ. Our next training session is scheduled for Jan. 2015; however, if we have enough
interest, we can offer one sooner. Please talk to Louise.
Positively Positive
Lent is my favorite season and Easter is my favorite holiday. There is so much hype around Christmas but not
nearly as much around Easter. I like Christmas and we wouldn’t have Easter without Christmas but there is such
hope in Easter that my cup overflows with joy.
Recently, I went to the Synod office for my monthly Youth Director meeting. At every meeting we go around the
table and introduce ourselves with name and where we serve. At this last meeting we also had to state ‘what discipline we had taken on for Lent’. One of the youth directors, Emily, stated that her discipline was to be positive.
She and her roommate decided to practice this discipline together and the way they started it was to come home
every day and say something positive about their day first. This brought on a lot of self reflection for me. I think
many times we get caught up in the humdrum of life, going through the motions, and listening to all of the negative
influences around us whether it be from co-workers, friends, media or our own negative self-talk. As I thought
more about Lent and why I love the season of Lent I felt that Emily’s discipline was perfect for me and that I was
going to adopt it immediately.
Wednesday night services during Lent bring on a time of reflection and sense of calm, a deeper connection with
God. I especially love when we do the Holden Evening Prayer Service. All of the pain, suffering both physically
and emotionally, the anguish, and the anticipation that Jesus went through FOR US to SAVE US is such a source
of hope for me. When life is hard, when I am surrounded by others who are negative, when there are many temptations out there the season of the Lent and Easter Day – God’s ultimate sacrifice for us! – bring me a joy that I am
loved in spite of my sins, my negativity, my weaknesses, my shortcomings. A promise that I am going to be ok, a
hope that tomorrow will be better, a joy that makes me want to be a better person.
In being a better person and reflecting on a discipline for Lent, reflecting on God’s love and promise for me, reflecting on my own actions, I went home that night and told Cody I wanted to be more positive everyday and to
start we would share something positive about our day first. He loved the idea too and we have started on this new
journey together. They say it takes 30 days to make something a habit. As we started this on March 13 and Easter
is April 20 I think we can make this a habit that will become more than a discipline through Lent but a change in
our lives to be positive people. Some days it is harder than others to come up with something positive to start our
conversation but it sure does give pause to look at life through a different lens as well as be thankful for all that
blessings in our life. May Easter bring you joy this year.
Blessings,
Jenny
Members’ Celebration Page
Ardell & Linda Halvorson
Bill & Freddie Dahmer
Lanae & Lanny Schlitt
Travis & Kris Baugh
Steven & Beverly Totten
4/11
4/15
4/15
4/22
4/25
April Birthdays
4/1
4/4
4/5
4/6
4/7
4/10
Alfred Sell
Marilyn Allen
Kari Fedde
Ele Luze
Linda Larkey
Mary Nel
Kim Opfer
Alex Blaho
Austin Blaho
Arta Mae Bass
Ray Eastberg
Connie Lane
Bob Hahn
4/12
4/13
4/14
4/17
4/18
John Drege
Shirlie Walters
Linda Homann
Averi Luze
Chuck Vesely
Eric Bockhaus
Avery Smith
Michele Banowetz
Audrey Wilson
Jim Larson
Kelsey Blaho
Claire Lorenz
4/19
4/21
4/22
4/23
4/26
4/30
Jason Haferman
April Peterson
Cole Purdy
Margaret Quinn
Kristi Smith
Byron Swanson
Margaret Schneider
Richard Sunken
Phil Purdy
Richard Stenger
SOTH Events & Opportunities
Monthly Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Fellowship Circles:
Ruth Circle: All women from the church are welcome, even if you don’t regularly attend. We meet the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at members’ homes. Our next meeting will be April 21.
Lydia/Miriam Circle: We meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:30 am at the church. Theme: The people
of God: Unity in the Midst of Diversity. Join us! Contact Janet Haferman, 221-1677, for more information. Next
meeting April 16.
Sewing Circle: We meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 9-noon at the church. We would like to have
more ladies to help with our quilting projects throughout the coming months. Come join us! We can always use
large pieces of cotton material and also plain cotton flat sheets (full, queen or king size). Questions? Contact
Nancy Wick at 493-7697, for details. Next Meeting is April 9.
Book Club: The SOTH Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:00. The book discussion for
April 22 is The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain . The Book Club is open for all. Please join us!
Silver Singles: Our Silver Singles meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 11:30 am. This month Lynda Sipes is
your hostess. Lunch will be at Pappy’s located at 1027 W. Horsetooth Rd., on the corner of Shields and Horsetooth. We will see you April 10. If you have any questions, please contact Lynda at 970-482-0132.
Crocheters, Knitters and Wannabes… Check out our Prayer Shawl Ministry. We meet the 2nd & 4th Thursday of
each month at 1 pm in the narthex. We would love to have anyone who is interested! Come for fellowship and a
cup of coffee. For more information, contact Pat Madson at 970-282-9205. Next meetings are April 10 and 24.
April 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
30
8:15 AM Worship
9:30 AM Sunday School
for All Ages
10:30 AM Worship
31
1:30 PM Living Word
Bible Study Lynda Sipes'
Group
3:30 PM Staff Meeting
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
8:00 PM Narcotics
Anonymous
1
12:30 PM Social Concerns Meeting
2:00 PM Book Club
6:30 PM Faith Formation
Team Meeting
6:30 PM Living Word
Bible Study - Ray Bailey
Group
2
3
4
8:30 AM Stephen Minis- 9:00 AM CSU Women's FAITHS and Yahweh
try Meeting
Assoc.
Youth Quake Zone
12:00 PM Greek Class
5:30 PM Lenten Soup
Supper
6:00 PM Handbells
Rehearsal
7:00 PM Lenten Service
7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
8:00 PM NO RE:Fresh
5
FAITHS and Yahweh
Youth Quake Zone
6
FAITHS and Yahweh
Youth Quake Zone
8:15 AM Worship
9:30 AM Sunday School
for All Ages
10:30 AM Worship
12:00 PM Executive
Comm
7
9:00 AM Congregational
Care Ministry Team
Meeting
3:30 PM Staff Meeting
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
7:15 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
8:00 PM Narcotics
Anonymous
8
4:30 PM Worship &
Music Team Meeting
5:30 PM E & O Ministry
Team Meeting
6:30 PM Living Word
Bible Study - Ray Bailey
Group
7:00 PM 4-H
7:00 PM New Member
Orientation Class
9
9:00 AM Sewing Circle
12:00 PM Greek Class
5:30 PM Lenten Soup
Supper
6:00 PM Handbells
Rehearsal
7:00 PM Lenten Service
7:45 PM Choir Rehearsal
8:00 PM NO RE:Fresh
10
11
Summer Newsletter
Deadline
9:15 AM Living Word
Bible Study Wendland's Group
11:30 AM Silver Singles
1:00 PM Prayer Shawl
Group
6:00 PM Council Meeting
12
9:00 AM Men's Breakfast
13
Food Drive Ends
Palm Sunday
8:15 AM Worship
9:30 AM Palm Sunday
Pancake Breakfast
9:30 AM Sunday School
for All Ages
14
15
1:30 PM Living Word
Bible Study Lynda Sipes'
Group
3:30 PM Staff Meeting
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
8:00 PM Narcotics
Anonymous
16
8:30 AM Stephen Ministry Meeting
9:30 AM Lydia/Miriam
Circle
12:00 PM Greek Class
6:00 PM Handbells
Rehearsal
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
7:30 PM NO RE:Fresh
17
Maundy Thursday
7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service/Seder Meal
18
Good Friday
7:00 PM Good Friday
Service
19
20
Easter Sunday
8:00 AM Worship
9:30 AM No Sunday
School
9:30 AM Worship
11:00 AM Worship
21
Office Closed
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Committee Meeting
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
6:30 PM Ruth Circle
7:15 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
8:00 PM Narcotics
Anonymous
23
Administrative Professionals Day
12:00 PM Greek Class
6:00 PM Handbells
Rehearsal
6:30 PM Confirmation
Rehearsal
6:30 PM FAITHS
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
7:30 PM RE:Fresh
24
9:15 AM Living Word
Bible Study Wendland's Group
1:00 PM Prayer Shawl
Group
25
26
27
FFH Volunteer Rotation
- We need volunteers!
8:15 AM Worship
9:30 AM Sunday School
for All Ages
10:30 AM Confirmation
10:30 AM Worship
12:00 PM RE:Group
Mini Golf at Fort Fun
28
29
FFH Volunteer Rotation - FFH Volunteer Rotation We need volunteers!
We need volunteers!
3:30 PM Staff Meeting
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
7:15 PM Boy Scouts
Meeting
7:30 PM American Recorder Society
8:00 PM Narcotics
Anonymous
30
FFH Volunteer Rotation We need volunteers!
12:00 PM Greek Class
6:00 PM Handbells
Rehearsal
6:30 PM FAITHS
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
7:30 PM RE:Fresh
1
2
FFH Volunteer Rotation - FFH Volunteer Rotation We need volunteers!
We need volunteers!
National Day of Prayer
9:00 AM CSU Women
10:30 AM New Members
10:30 AM Worship
22
2:00 PM Book Club
6:30 PM Living Word
Bible Study - Ray Bailey
Group
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
3
FFH Volunteer Rotation - We need volunteers!
10:00 AM Preschool
Spring Fest
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1200 South Taft Hill Road
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970.482.9692
Join Us Easter Sunday
8:00 AM
9:30 AM
11:00 AM
Mission @ SOTH:
Building Disciples Together
Sunday Worship @ 8:15 & 10:30 am
Sunday school for ALL ages @ 9:30 am
Pastor: Dana Peterson - [email protected]
Visitation Pastor: Bruce Bergquist [email protected]
Office Manager: Dawn Luze- [email protected]
Music Director: Kari Fedde - [email protected]
Director of Faith Formation: Jenny Kalous [email protected]
Financial Associate: Sue O’Grady - [email protected]
Organist: Leonard Smith - [email protected]
Visit us on the web at www.sothftc.org
Check out our fan page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!