Shepherd of the Hills - March 2014 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran

S H E P H E R D
O F
T H E
H I L L S
L U T H E R A N
C H U R C H
the
SHEPHERD’S VOICE
1 3 6 0 0 C A S P I A N W A Y, C L E R M O N T, F L O R I D A 3 4 7 1 1
Ash Wednesday worship
March 5
12 Noon & Worship 7 PM
Full Liturgy with Ashes and Communion
Message: “Overheard: Conversations by the Cross-­‐-­‐
Malchus & Mark”
Sundays in Lent March 9, 16, 23, 30 & April 6, 2014 Worship 8 and 10:15 AM
One Wednesday Pre-­‐
Worship Pot Luck March 12, 2014 at 6 PM Wednesday Lenten Services Worship 7 PM
Holdon Evening Prayer (Liturgy)
Weekly Dramas: “Overheard-­‐Conversations by the Cross” 3/12—Barabbas and Caiaphas
3/19—Pilate and his Wife
3/26—Simon and the Centurion
4/2—The Two Thieves
4/9—Mary and John
M A RC H , 2 0 1 4
MARKING THE END OF A
SEASON… IN MUSIC
The Lenten season is upon us, and for
us Christians this means that we now
enter into a period of penitence,
meditation, contemplation, and
remembrance as we gather with the
whole Christian community in
participation of the death of Christ.
Sunday, March 2nd, is a bridge between
the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle
that comes to a close on that day and
the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in
several days. On the mount of
transfiguration Jesus is revealed as God's
beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory
sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem.
At the close of the services on that day, our Alleluias will be escorted
out from our service and songs. Then, beginning Sunday, March 9th ,
we will be making a slight change in our liturgy and in our music.
The alleluias we have been singing throughout the year will be
omitted.
The simple word ALLELUIA emits such wonderful feelings of joy
and elation. By “putting it away” for Lent, we will anxiously look
forward to having it burst out again on the glorious Easter morning!
Grab a Broom, Lord…
There’s Dust Everywhere!”
“This is the title of a women’s devotional by Karen
Phillips Goodman. At first, I thought this would be a
clever title to introduce our “Old Fashioned Spring
Cleaning” event scheduled for March 15th. When I
read the subtitle, “The Imperfect Woman’s Guide to
God’s Grace,” a deeper meaning bubbled to the
surface. It is a perfect Segway into our new church
season, the forty days of Lent. There is,
indeed, dust everywhere.
The dust I am referring to is that which
we will remember on Ash Wednesday in
the words, “Remember that you are
dust and to dust you shall return (Gen.
3:19).” As children of God, Lentenfocused disciplines including worship
help us face the reality that we are
mortal; we are imperfect, sinful, and
need God’s grace. Through prayer and
reflection, we can discover how to
refocus our attention from our human
failings, that dust that covers our world, onto that
which will help us “return to the Lord our God (Joel
2:13).”
While this sounds like we will have a grueling 40 days
ahead of us, we can choose to experience this time of
reflection as an opportunity, a time of cleansing, a
time of repair and letting go of the past. We can look
through our dust and ask God to help us better
understand it. Goodman suggests these questions as
reflection tools:
1. Which of your imperfections or mistakes
bothers you the most? How have you been
dealing with them?
2. What have you tried to accomplish or correct
without bothering God. How’s that going so
far?
3. Why have you been afraid or reluctant to seek
and accept the gift of God’s grace?
4. Will you let yourself rest in the safety of God’s
mercy and believe in the wonders he has yet
to show you?
Sometimes God’s mercy seems far from our
midst; we sort through our dust and
becoming overwhelmed by the unending
grit, we blindly proceed to sweep. We sweep
and sweep but we cannot clear a square inch
of space. We are imperfect and as fast as we
put the past behind us, more dust piles up.
We forget, however, that we are not alone,
that we have help. Even this side of heaven,
no dust-bunny can get the upper hand. God
in Jesus Christ and through the power of the
Holy Spirit sweeps alongside us until the
ashes of this world are replaced with eternal life. Our
ongoing supply of dust is forgiven; God’s endless grace
is, was, and will continue to be all that we ever need.
So, grab a broom, Lord…there’s dust everywhere!
A prayer for your Lenten Journey: “Lord, I will go
wherever your generous and loving heart leads! I pray
that you will take my messy dust, wrap it all in your
perfect grace, and let me begin the most amazing
journey of all, my never ending walk with you (broom
and all). Amen.”
Inspiration for this article came from:
“Grab a Broom, Lord—There’s Dust Everywhere!” by Karon Phillips
Goodman; Barbour Publishing, Inc. 2003; used by permission.
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Saying Goodbye and Thank You….Saying Hello and
Thank You….Time of Change, Growing Pains and
Prayer…..Making Known God’s Grace!
Goodbye and Thank You…..
Hello and Thank You…..
On Wednesday, February 19, 2014 we
said goodbye to a long-time staff member and
friend, Barbara West. Barbara learned earlier in
the week that her
cancer had returned
and that she will be
on chemotherapy for
an extended period of
time.
Barbara has served
this congregation
since 1997 with a
faithful heart
adapting to many
changes along the
way. Her
contributions to the ministry at Shepherd of the
Hills will be remembered with great respect and
gratitude.
Barbara’s exit was quick due to the need
to begin treatments as soon as possible and the
need to deal with the accompanying emotional
stress of this situation. The congregation may
send cards to her at the address below. At this
time cards, notes, and letters are most
appropriate. In addition, the congregation is
receiving financial gifts through Sunday, March
9, 2014 that will be sent to her as a group gift
after this date. Place cash in an envelope or
checks made out to cash (either clearly marked
Barbara or Secretary) in the weekly offering plate
or bring them to the church office during office
hours.
Let us keep Barbara, Charley, their
daughters Lindsay and Kelly, and family in our
prayers.
Welcome to Sara
Holton who has
stepped into the
position of office
secretary on a
temporary basis. We
are grateful to Sara
for this interim
service that will keep
us up and running
especially through
Lent and Easter.
Sara remains our
part time music director in addition to the
temporary office position. Be sure to thank Sara
for her faithful partnership in ministry.
Time of Change, Growing Pains, and
Prayer……
At the annual meeting on January 26, 2014, the
congregation approved funding for an additional
office staff person. The Executive Team of
Council (the officers) will be meeting to evaluate
the current office situation and determine the
next steps to staff the office in a fiscally
responsible manner with a comprehensive
position review. A job description is in the
process of development and interviews for the
new permanent position(s) will take place as soon
as possible. If there are any questions, please see
Pastor Nancy or Debbie Kiely, Council
President. Please support our Council in prayer
through this next phase of decision and
implementation.
Together, we Make Known God’s Grace.
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Small Group Ministry is a Congregational Core Team of
the Congregational Council. Diane Bursey is the Council
liaison. Small Group Ministry seeks “To make known
God’s Grace” by making disciples and nurturing leaders!
Each Small Group has a focus: Bible or Mutual Care/Support or Ministry Task.
All Small Groups contain: Prayer, Bible study/devotion, Mutual Care/Support, and a Ministry Task
that supports and strengthens its focus.
Bible
Study Exodus: Meets
Wednesdays after Worship,
7:30-8:30 PM
Facilitator: Pastor Nancy
Task: mailing cards to those
who need encouragement
Mutual Support
Men’s Fellowship: Meets twice
a month at Bob Evans for
breakfast at 8:30 am, second
and fourth Saturday of the
month
Facilitator: Bill Wright
Task: TBA
Ministry
Virginia Circle: Meets second
Tuesday at 10 am
Facilitator: Norma Thompson
Tasks: Quilts, Crafts (Me Dolls),
Easter Brunch, Receptions after
funerals, Christmas and Spring
Luncheon (all welcome), Pot Lucks
Advent/Lent, Spring Cleaning,
Garage Sale, other service projects
as identified.
Mutual Support
Women’s Support Group
(Dealing with Grief and Loss of a Spouse)
Facilitator: Pastor Nancy
Format: six weekly meetings; due to sensitive subject the group is
closed after second meeting. A new group may form if interest
shown or existing group may continue with new focus.
Task: TBA
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continued from page 4
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
In order to help us plan which
future groups to establish,
please fill out the survey and
return to the church office or
put in the offering plate.
New Announcement
Display
You may have noticed a new display on the wall of our Fellowship Area. It has been provided to display
announcements of church activities, information about church programs, information about members,
pictures of our church staff and council, as well as many things we haven’t even thought of yet.
It also has the capability of viewing Skype calls, projection of powerpoint slide shows (for meetings,
Bible studies, etc.) and movies. The display is a Memorial to Walt McCarty and Phyllis Ahlers and will
be dedicated on March 23.
5
S
Get ready! Get set! CLEAN!!
Saturday, March 15th, from 9 a.m. to noon(ish) we’ll be dusting, waxing, weeding, wiping,
tossing, scrubbing, and dumping! Pastor Nancy will be here all day to direct traffic and answer
questions. And we’ll have a leader assigned to each major area of the church building to help make
decisions as to what stays and what goes! We’ll definitely have something for everyone to do! Stay for as little or
as long as you want!
Here is a list of the major areas that we’ll be focused on:
• Kitchen
• Sacristy (front and back areas)
• Electrical room behind the Sacristy
• Garage
• Women’s group storage area (hallway and small room)
• Nursery/Quiet room
• Back of the Sanctuary (Welcome Center area)
• Confirmation classroom
• Exterior landscape
• Removal of entry area bushes
• Custodial storage room
• Sound room/Tech supplies
• Sanctuary – dusting chairs and placing hymnals back in their proper places
•
If possible, please bring some cleaning supplies – heavy duty trash bags, rags, paper towels,
Windex, Clorox wipes, and anything else you think we may need. And if you have a truck (pickup
or larger) and would like to bring it to help take things to the dump, please Pastor Nancy or Sara
Holton (office) know what time you would be here. Later morning would be best for trucks.
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congregation council Leaders 2014
• There is an open position on the
Memorial Committee. If you would be
interested in serving, please notify the church
office.
• Update on the
collection we received
on Souper Bowl
Sunday: $800.19.
WOW! Every penny
goes to the Faith Neighborhood Center.
President: Debbie Kiely
Vice President: Judy Lojko
Secretary: Michelle Candage
Treasurer: Pat Quellhorst
Christian Formation: Open
Finance: Nanci Etienne
Small Groups: Diane Bursey
Property: Open
Worship and Music: Open
If interested in either open position, please see any member of
council or Pastor Nancy.
Church Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed holidays
Office phone : 352-394-3382
Emergency phone: 352-682-6838
shephillsclermont.org
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The Adult Choir is MOVING!
The choir will now be rehearsing on
SUNDAY MORNINGS at 9:30 a.m.!
We’re making the move for several reasons.
The most important is now YOU have an
even better chance to join too! By making
this exciting move, we’re not conflicting
with work schedules, night vision, or bad weather during the week. We
can now go to worship mid-week and not have to stay even later for
choir rehearsal. And…most importantly… those of you who’ve always
wanted to sing in the choir, but never could get to practice on a
Wednesday…well, just come join us at 9:30 on Sundays and you’re in!
So, remember… choir is now at 9:30 on Sunday mornings! Won’t you
join us?
On Saturday, March
8 at 9:00 am,
volunteers are needed
to clean, plant, and
mulch the Memorial
Garden.
"Look Upon Us As His" a Lenten
devotional booklet (prepared by Lutheran
Indian Ministries--A Ministry of the Lutheran
Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S.) is
now available for free at the Information
Center in the rear of the sanctuary.
Devotions begin on Ash Wednesday,
March 5.
"Lutheran Indian Ministries shares the
Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native
American Nations, encouraging them to
proclaim Christ's Kingdom to their own
and others. God's grace compels us to
help build the capacity of Native
Americans to impact their communities
for the sake of Chris's Kingdom. May
you be blessed as you read the messages
contained in this booklet." Rev. Dr. Don
Johnson, Executive Director
Please bring
gardening tools.
March 19 at Olive
Garden
11:30 am
ALL ARE WELCOME
BRING A FRIEND
Church Council Minutes
and Monthly Financial
Reports are located in the
Members’ Blog on our
website. If you don’t know
the password, email Larry
Holihan for it.
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Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest
was to find the most caring child.
The winner was:
PALM SUNDAY IS FOR KIDS!
1. A four-­‐year-­‐old child, whose next door
neighbor was an elderly gentleman,
who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had said
to the neighbor, the little boy just said,
'Nothing, I just Helped him cry.'
Hey Kids!!
We will be having a procession again this year of children and palms! ALL KIDS (young and old!) are invited to participate in this procession at each service. In the coming weeks, there will be a PARTICIPANT TICKET available for you to hold on to until Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, bring your ticket with you to worship, in exchange for a fresh palm to walk down the aisle with!
Check handout on Information Table for more information
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As we all age, members of our families (or even us) may need a little extra care. In our congregation,
Nancy Adams is heading an effort to help provide resources for those in need. A website called
Agingcare.com is great source of information in these circumstances.
The website has kindly allowed us to reprint some of their material. This month we are focusing on the
topic When an Elderly Loved One Needs Extra Help. This article is reprinted on the following page. In the
following months, we will feature additional topics.
If you need further information, please contact Nancy Humbyrd through the church office.
2014
Three members of SOTH attended the recent SeniorFest at Hope Lutheran
Church in the Villages.
The event was sponsored by Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA), and
included worship and music, a great speaker, outstanding lunch prepared by Hope volunteers, interesting
and informative breakouts, interesting displays and even a blood pressure check. A woman’s liturgical
dance group (picture above) performed for the group.
This is a perfect event for seniors. Although the attendance from our church was a little disappointing we
are hoping we can greatly increase our attendance at next year’s event.
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Note for your calendars!
Mark Your Calendars
May 18, 2014
Zion Lutheran Church
Groveland, FL
95th Anniversary
More info TBA
Synod Interim Network News
Friday February 7th and Saturday February 8th,
2014, eighteen (18) Interim pastors, along with
Bishop Robert Schaefer and Assistant to the
Bishop, Connie Schmucker (Associate in
Ministry), met at Shepherd of the Hills for an
annual training event. This training is part of an
overall plan to develop continuing education and
support for a growing interim network. In our
ever changing world, there continues to be a
significant need for interim pastors, those who
help a congregation during the time of a pastoral
vacancy prepare for the process of calling a new
pastor.
a special thank you goes to
Pastor Nancy Vogel (Interim
Leadership Team Member),
Aimee Markussen (Food and
Serving Coordinator), Wayne
Ahlers and Sara Holton
(Technology Support).
This partnership in ministry is a true blessing. It is
also another way that Shepherd of the Hills lives
out its Mission Statement, making known God’s
Grace in Clermont and beyond.
Shepherd of the Hills is centrally located in the
synod and a perfect place to gather. The Interim
Network and the Synod are most grateful for the
hospitality of Shepherd of the Hills. In addition,
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The Shofar
“Shofars, also spelled shophars, are musical
instruments created and developed by ancient
Hebrews. The shofar is made of a ram or
antelope horn. It has a flattened mouthpiece from
which the user blows air.
“The Hebrews conquered the ancient city of
Jericho by marching an army around the walls
and blasting the shofar seven times. The sound of
the trumpets coupled with the shouts of the
Hebrews caused the walls to collapse (Joshua
6:2-5).
“The shofar was sounded in the Jewish temple on
the Day of Atonement. This was the day that the
Hebrews presented their sacrificial lambs in the
temple as an atonement of their sin.
“At the very birth of the Jewish people at Mount
Sinai it is related in the book of Exodus that the
blast of the Shofar emanated from a thick cloud over the
mountain. Additionally, we learn from the Bible
that the Shofar was used in order to announce
holidays, the Jubilee year and the start of a war.
The blowing of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is
mentioned in the book of Leviticus as it is termed
"a memorial of blowing." Later on, the Shofar
was also employed in processions and as a musical
instrument in the Temple.
“In the Temple, the Shofar would sometimes be
blown together with trumpets. On New Year's
Day the Shofar was the main feature in the
principle ceremony and was accompanied by two
trumpets on either side of it. On fast days the
order was reversed and the trumpets were
featured in the center and a Shofar would
accompany them on either side.
“In post-biblical times, the Shofar is still blown on
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, at four
different places in the services, and is also blown
at the end of the Yom Kippur services- the
services of the solemnest day of the year. The
Shofar is blown in the month of Elul which is the
month preceding Rosh Hashanah, so as to
prepare the Jewish people for the High Holidays.
Shofars are also used during penitential rituals
such as on Yom Kippur Katan, and in optional
prayer services that have been arranged due to
communal distress.
“There are many symbolic meanings associated
with the shofar and one of the best known is
when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The
story is recounted in Genesis 22:1-24 and
culminates with Abraham raising the knife to slay
his son only to have God stay his hand and bring
his attention to a ram caught in a nearby thicket.
Abraham sacrificed the ram instead. Because of
this story some Midrashim claim that whenever
the shofar is blown God will remember
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son and will
therefore forgive those who hear the shofar’s
blasts. In this way, just as the shofar blasts remind
us to turn our hearts towards repentance, they
also remind God to forgive us for our trespasses.”
This Lenten season, we too will be hearing
the blast of a shofar at various times
during our worship services in the coming
weeks. May the musical blast of the shofar
remind us also to turn our hearts toward
repentance.
Excerpts taken from the following online articles:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5453459_shofar-­‐history.html
http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/whatisashofar.htm
http://www.myshofar.com/shofar-­‐history
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Thoughts from the
counters
“So…really how important are those Offering envelopes that I have?!”
“Oops – forgot mine…oh, well…I’ll just use the envelope on the chair. As long as I put money in there, it’ll be fine!”
We’ve all felt that way at some point. And we all moan and groan over those little “envelopes!” BUT… they are truly more important than we can possibly know. Just ask a counter! (You know…those people who count the money in the offering plates after worship.)
Recently it was discovered that they were here for several HOURS after church one Sunday, just trying to match up what was given with the proper donor…and all because of that little number on those little envelopes. So here are a few suggestions that they would like to pass on to you… •
PLEASE remember to use your envelope for your offering
If you don’t have your envelope, please put your number on a blank one
If you aren’t able to use an envelope on a given Sunday, please put your number on your check
Please do not tape the envelopes Print your name and other information Please complete the information on the front of the envelope (if nothing is designated, the offering will always go into the General Fund)
If you fill out the “Other” line item, please specify what is “Other” (music, education, building, etc)
All these items just make it more efficient for our wonderful counters to complete their tasks. We do want them to know how much we appreciate all they do every week!
Thank you, COUNTERS!! And THANK YOU, congregation, for making these important adjustments!
Lenten Potluck
March 12
Memorial Garden Cleaning
March 8
Spring Cleaning Day
March 15
Lunch Bunch
March 19
Men’s Small Group
March 8 & 22
Memorials Dedication
March 23
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Pictures of the Month
Doris and Irving at our 90th Birthday Party
The Tolanders give their gift of music.
Souper Bowl Sunday skit
and collection.
New Information Display
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S H E P H E R D
O F
T H E
H I L L S
L U T H E R A N
the SHEPHERD’S VOICE
the SHEPHERD’S VOICE
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
13600 Caspian Way
Clermont, Florida 34711
Phone: 352-394-3382
Web: www.shephillsclermont.org
Click HERE to view the church calendar
C H U R C H