SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the CHURCH SHEPHERD S VOICE 13600 CASPIAN WAY, CLERMONT, FLORIDA 34711 JULY, 2014 Pastor s Breakfast Each Tuesday at 8 AM Men s Golf League Each Tuesday at 5 pm Celebration of Freedom July 2 at 7:00 pm School Supplies Collection Starts July 6 Deadline August 3 Vacation Bible School July 21-25 VBS Sunday July 27 Worship & Praise August 6 Blessing of the Backpacks August 17 Come and join us on July 2 at 7:00 p.m. in a celebration of praise and thanks to God for the freedoms we share in our country. (No Bible study that night.) Refreshments will be provided. Our VBS kids will participate in a special service at 10:15 on July 27 to tell us what they learned during their Wilderness Escape. And don t miss our Worship & Praise Service on August 6 at 7:00 p.m. Those of you who attended last year know what an uplifting wonderful service to expect. Refreshments after worship. Celebration of Freedom July 2
Jesus of Nazareth had been hailed by hundreds of his enthusiastic followers as Israel s new king. Within days, however, Jesus was arrested and brought to a less than fair trial, publicly humiliated, beaten and executed, and hurriedly put into a tomb. On the third day, the tomb was found empty; Jesus had risen from the dead. He spent a number of weeks after this visiting with his followers. Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit coming and giving them power that would enable them to give witness to Jesus as the Messiah. One day, while his disciples watched, Jesus ascended into heaven. Two men in white robes appeared and told them that Jesus would come again. That s when these disciples made their way back to Jerusalem and went to an upstairs room. There they were joined by some other men and women including Mary the mother of Jesus. We are not told about the reactions of each of the witnesses to the ascension of Jesus but one key observation about this gathering is this: they were a group of people in a time of transition, the time between the past they knew and the future yet to come. How do we handle such crucial times of transition; times that involve waiting for more to happen while not knowing what that really is going to be? Acts 1:6-14, does not tell us what these people were thinking or feeling about all this. We do, however, hear what these followers of Jesus did: All of them were constantly devoting themselves to prayer. What do we know about prayer that is constant and devoted? Here are some possibilities: 1. Constant and devoted prayer is not about a panic situation or casually asking God to find us a parking spot. 2. Constant and devoted prayer is a way of life, a life centered on God. 3. When we pray constantly and devotedly, we open ourselves to change designed by God. We open ourselves to God s will and call. We all know that Jesus faced challenges when he walked this earth and that prayer was important to him; it was more than important, it was a way of life. Prayer was an intentional, active, and obedient act of his will. In John 17:1-11, the words of Jesus in prayer are recorded the night before his crucifixion. It was a time of waiting, an in between time. In this prayer he asked God to take care of those that had been entrusted to him. All that Jesus wanted was to do and say that which glorifies God. His transition time was spent caring about others like you and me and showing God his constant devotion. The story of the followers of Jesus in the upper room praying constantly and devotedly after the ascension of Jesus is not only a 2
continued from Page 2 wonderful story out of the past; it is an important story for us today. That s because you and I live in such an in between time, a time of transition. Like it or not, the world is continually changing around us. And like it or not, these changes affect us. Whether we change the culture around us or learn to live faithfully within it, we are in a world of transition, a transition to something new. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is also a congregation in transition; something in between the past and what is yet to come. As we continue to work on our Transition Check list and move forward towards electing a call committee, let us be open to God s will and call. Let us not get caught in doubt or fear. Instead, let us pray intentionally, actively, and obediently like Jesus as well as constantly and devotedly like those first century Christians. Share the Spirit --Florida-Bahamas Synodical Women s Fall Gathering, November 14, 15, & 16, 2014; Lake Yale Conference Center, Leesburg Florida. Registration fee of $189 includes weekend programs, lodging and meals. See information and registration details at www.flwelca.com. Grants available to help defray costs for anyone wishing to attend. Through God s saving act in Jesus Christ and the power of God s Holy Spirit, our prayerful witness will move Shepherd of the Hills forward confident in God s earthly kingdom now and throughout eternity. Synod Assembly June 2014: Wyndham Resort and Conference Center, Orlando Florida: Rebecca Candage (youth delegate), Jim Johnson (adult delegate) and Pastor Nancy spent one full day at the assembly. We participated in worship, meaningful workshops, and reviewed information displays on ministries of the Florida Bahamas Synod and the ELCA. Thank you to Shepherd of the Hills for providing this glimpse into the larger Church to which we belong. 3
Classes Wednesdays at 7:30 PM (immediately after 7 PM worship): Leviticus for several weeks and then on to Numbers; facilitated by Pastor Nancy; meeting throughout summer. but check the church office for dates when there may be no class. Sunday Morning 9 AM (all through the summer months): The Story of the Bible (a Great Courses production); DVD and Discussion facilitated by Jim Johnson New Website Now Online Our church website has been completely redesigned and is now online (use the same url: shephillsclermont.org). We hope you will try it out. The new, simpler format should appeal to new users and members alike. Links to topics are easily found. A whole new menu dropdown entitled MEMBERS contain links to the Members Blog, church directory and other topics of interest to members only. Some may require passwords (contact the webmaster if you don t have them -- they haven t changed. Also, look out for a new member menu called Transitions. in the Member s menu. Information about our transition to a new pastor call will be included here in the near future. 4
Ministry Virginia Circle: Meets second Tuesday at 10 am Facilitator: Women of the Church. 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. Discipleship 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 Spiritual Formation Group Meeting Times: Tuesday NEW afternoons at 3 pm or Thursday mornings at 10 am; Contact Pastor Nancy or the church office if you wish to be a part of this group. Maximum number or participants - 6. Women s Reunion Group In recess for the summer. Fall schedule coming soon. Dealing with Death and Grief Annual School Supplies Collection Bring in those supplies and place them in the receptacle in the back of the sanctuary beginning July 6. These items will go to Sawgrass, Clermont, and Mascotte Elementary Schools. Deadline for supplies is Sunday August 3, 2012. Supplies Needed: Glue sticks pencils 12" rulers Large rule notebooks Notebook paper crayons markers highlighters pink erasers pencil cases Soft-sided lunch boxes index cards Underwear: 4T to boy/girl size large Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to noon Closed Friday during summer Office phone : 352-394-3382 Emergency phone: 352-682-6838 shephillsclermont.org 5
Unsung heroes of the Altar Guild! Many of our ladies serve on the Altar Guild and prepare the altar for worship (setting up for communion, changing the seasonal paraments, and cleaning the linens); they serve behind the scenes, silently and faithfully. Thank you ladies! Thank you to John Mei, Dan Candage, and Michelle Candage for re-carpeting the pulpit platform. It matches the carpet on the floor and looks fresh and new! You are appreciated: Many thanks to Joe Foryan, Nevin Thompson, Ed Stuemke, Rebecca Candage, and Taylor Candage for sharing their very special musical gifts! Joe Foryan also plays guitar for the Wednesday evening service. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Did you know? Kathy Wright helps out in the office whenever our Program Coordinator is not available. She answers the phone and directs traffic in the building. She has even been known to help with filing and shredding old documents. Thank you Kathy for your willingness to help out when needed! Christine Grussaute remains in a rehab facility in Leesburg recovering from a broken leg and ankle. Brian and Marc appreciate any meals that can be dropped off at home to help with their schedule of work, home, and driving to and from Leesburg. Did you know that Shepherd of the Hills LC now has a new Safety Policy for Children and Youth? Coming soon is a Disaster Response Plan. These items will be posted on the Church web site in the very near future! The following supplies are needed for VBS. Please contact Diane Bursey for additional details. 4-5 Light Blue Flat sheets - Coloring Books Small Paper Plates Jingle bells - 80 children making a tambourine Permanent Markers Plastic Lacing Adhesive gems Glue Dots or scotch tape Small beads First Communion Class: September, October, November 2014 If you have a child going into the fifth grade or younger who is ready to receive communion, please see Pastor Nancy so time can be spent learning about this Holy Sacrament. Individual or group classes are possible. 6
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!! July July 21-25 Ages Preschool to 5 th Grade 9:30am-3:30pm REGISTER ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE This year s Vacation Bible School will be filled with adventure, mystery, and excitement as we realize all that God provides. We will discover, create, imagine, and explore with crafts, games, stories, and music! IMPORTANT: LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER. VBS Outreach Project 2014: The ELCA Malaria Campaign About 200 million people contract malaria every year and as many as 600,000 people die. This devastates families, communities, and economies. Since 2009, the ELCA has been actively involved in this battle. Through our hands, God is working to bring resurrection in the midst of the death caused by this disease. Daily, our VBS participants will hear a special message about those struggling with the challenge of Malaria in their communities. The children will be encouraged to bring daily offerings that will be gathered together at the end of the week and sent directly to the ELCA. We can make a difference in the fight against malaria--god's Work, Our Hands! For more information or to make a donation yourself, please go to: www.elca.org/malaria/donate 7
Hurricane Season is Here Be Prepared May 30, 2014 The 2014 Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a nearnormal or below-normal season of 8 to 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 3 to 6 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 2 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). While this is below normal seasonal averages, it only takes one hurricane to have a major impact. In Florida, we must always be prepared. Are you ready? LSF and Disasters Lutheran Services Florida works with local, state and national agencies in responding to disasters. While Florida is prone to hurricanes, the recent severe flooding in the Panhandle reminds us that disaster can strike in many ways at any time. LSF s Twitter page - @LutheranServFla on www.twitter.com will have the latest information on storms affecting Florida. For more information on disaster preparedness and LSF s role in disaster response, please contact David Yarborough at 813-676-9505 or dyarborough@lsfnet.org. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSF is the coordinating partner for Lutheran Disaster Response in Florida, partnering with Lutheran congregations to provide survivors of natural disasters with immediate aid and ongoing assistance to help them rebuild their homes and their lives. For information, visit: http://www.elca.org/our-work/relief- and-development/lutheran-disaster- Response Have a Family Emergency Plan The Great Hurricane Blowout offers a number of preparation resources including tools for building a family emergency plan and hurricane emergency kit at www.greathurricaneblowout.org. What will your family do if a hurricane is coming? You should have a family emergency plan. Collect copies of important papers like the deed to your home, insurance paperwork, financial information, etc. Review your property insurance coverage and keep updated photos and/or a video inventory of your personal belongings. Collect important phone numbers like the number of your insurance company, 8
doctor, veterinarian and family contacts and store them in a safe place. Identify your evacuation routes. Have an alternate route planned in case the first option is not navigable. Identify the safest place in your home to ride out a storm and make sure everyone knows where to go. In case your family is not together when a hurricane hits, make sure you have a pre-identified meeting place in addition to your home, and make sure everyone knows the address and phone number of your meeting spot. If you have a medical issue or may need help evacuating, contact your local emergency management agency now to find out how to get the help you may need. Trash bags (4 per kit). First aid kit that includes: two pairs of latex or other sterile gloves; sterile dressing to stop bleeding; cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect; antibiotic ointment to prevent infection; burn ointment to prevent infection; adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes; eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general decontaminant. Can opener. Hand sanitizer. Five-gallon bucket or other container for kit supplies. Helpful Websites Federal Emergency Management AgencyWeather information, tips on making an emergency plan and disaster kit www.ready.gov Build a Hurricane Emergency Kit The following supplies should be included in all hurricane emergency kits. Special circumstances such as medical needs or pets should be taken into consideration when planning your kit. Three-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each person in the household (one gallon of water per person, per day). Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio. Flashlight. Dust masks (at least 4). Batteries (8 AA and 4 D). Florida s 511 Traveler Information System Evacuation and emergency travel information www.fl511.com Great Hurricane Blowout Tips on making an emergency plan and disaster kit www.greathurricaneblowout.org NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheets. State and local emergency contact information, weather radio stations www.ncddc.noaa.gov 9
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Pictures of the Month At Worship Planning for VBS 11
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the SHEPHERD S VOICE CHURCH Celebration of Freedom 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