November 2018 WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING. WE ARE GUIDED BY GOD S PROMISES. God makes promises to God s people and to all creation and is faithful in keeping those promises. We will continue to see throughout this year that God worked with and through Abraham s descendants the nation of Israel as a physical symbol of God s blessing for the world In the first story (narrative) in September we began to focus on God s promise not to destroy the earth ever again. We continued with the covenant with the Israelites and will continue to the promise of Jesus and Paul s words that nothing can separate us from God. We continue to focus on God s promises and God s faithfulness. God keeps promises, even though we often struggle to respond faithfully. It is these promises that should guide our own lives and decisions as we trust fully in God. Faith in the promises of God gives us the courage to work and speak for justice, to live in hope no matter the circumstances, and to share the good news of Jesus with all people. We, as followers of Jesus are called, like Noah, like Abraham and Sarah we are called to be a blessing to the world. We too, like Noah, Abraham and Sarah, will be challenged on how we answer that call in order to be a blessing to the world. Friends, may you listen to God s call, may you continue to be guided by God s promises and may you be up to the challenge of your call so that you will not only have a blessed day but also be a blessing to others. Have a blessed day. Pastor Di Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service Join us in giving thanks Wednesday, November 21, at 7 p.m. Come early for pie fellowship in the Gathering Area from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors as we gather together to give the Lord Thanks and Praise.
Page 2 The Messenger November 2018 Stewardship encompasses so much more than money. It is a way of life. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In our baptism we are made children of God and members of the Body of Christ, the Church. God s message of hope and reconciliation strengthens us in our faith walk and calls us to be servants of Christ and stewards of all God entrusts to us. We believe that God s Good News has changed everything and that God is transforming us and sending us, every single one of us, into the world to spread and live that Gospel-Good News. That's what we are about at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church it is who we are. This is the ministry that our financial stewardship supports. We are thankful for your strong and faithful support to Shepherd of the Hills. You are stewards who have helped this congregation make a real difference in the lives of the people that SHLC serves in Jesus name. We believe, with the apostle Paul, that there is a power at work within us, to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. We take God at God s word and we give thanks for each of you. Stewardship, in its simplest form, is the practice of generosity. It is essential to the daily expression of our faith. As a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and life, we know that understanding personal and household stewardship is crucial in responding to God s abundant grace. Each of us has a unique story, and we are part of a larger story that makes up the ELCA. We are grateful for what you have already done and now we invite you to consider again this year to prayerfully consider how you can Step Up your financial commitment to Shepherd of the Hill s mission and ministry for the coming year. Blessings, SHLC Leadership Stewardship is about so much more than money. Stewardship, at its core, is about love. It is one of the primary ways that we live out Jesus commandment to love God and our neighbor with our whole beings.
Page 3 The Messenger November 2018 Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2018 Trunk or Treat Community Outreach! Special thanks to Cindy Hoff, Debra Parks, Kay Drain, Kaitlyn Butler and all who helped make this a success! Advent is the season four weeks before Christmas in which we prepare for the coming of Christ. It begins on Sunday nearest to the 30 th of November. Advent this year begins December 2 nd. Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus and its name comes from the Latin word adventus, which means coming. The season celebrates Christ s anticipated coming again in the fullness of time to rule triumphantly over life in heaven and earth, as well as the coming of Christ as the infant Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. There is much about Advent to enjoy, the Advent wreaths found in our churches where they have four candles to be lit each Sunday and one for Christmas Day. But in the midst of our church we know that just as we prepare for Christmas, so we have to make ready to welcome Jesus in our lives. Are you ready for the coming of Jesus? You are invited on the first Sunday in Advent, December 2 nd to worship, stay for lunch and join in service/mission activities, intergenerational Advent project you can work on & take home to enjoy during Advent. THANK YOU FROM BILL MYERS This has been a very successful year for the Alzheimer's Association s Walk to End Alzheimer s. They had a record number of teams registered, a record number of participants, and a record amount of money raised. This was also a very successful year for me as I reached a personal record of funds raised, thanks to the generosity of Family and Friends. Many friends from here at SHLC have supported me with a donation and I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to each and everyone of you. Your generosity and support helped me to raise almost $7000. Although the Walk To End Alzheimer s is past, there is still time to make a donation if you have not as yet done so. Donations for this year s Walk will be accepted through December 15 th. If you would like to make a donation on my behalf, you may do so at http://act.alz.org/goto/wmyers. Thank You for your support.
Page 4 The Messenger November 2018 Thank you to everyone who helped with Trunk-or-Treat! Faith Formation Classes for 3 year-olds thru High School meet each Sunday from 9-10 a.m. Contact Kathy Nelson at (402)880-6464 or Lisa Sorensen at (402)677-3793 if you have questions. An Adult Sunday School Class meets each Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Youth Room. All are invited to this study of Women of the Bible. Monday Movie Matinee: We meet at 1 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month. This month we will meet November 5 th and 19 th. All ages are invited for Popcorn and a movie on the large screen. You may bring snacks to share. Women s Circle will meet on Monday, November 12 th at 1 p.m. in the Gathering Area. All women are invited for Bible Study and Fellowship. We are studying from the magazine Gather the magazine of Women of the ELCA. Elda Juracek Lutheran Women of Omaha will meet at Kountze Lutheran Church, 2650 Farnam St. on Tuesday, November 13 th for a noon luncheon. The program will be Where did the Apron Go? by Freda Bauer. The Free Will offering goes to The Kountz Memorial Food & Medical Pantry. For reservations, contact Jean Mortensen at (402)496-0233 or jmort@centurylink.net Community Meal: Tuesday, November 20 th from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome! SPREAD the word! INVITE your friends and come celebrate with our community and church family! Project HOPE: Pantry times = Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Receive clothing and food pantries! Volunteers from the congregation are always needed! Call (402)453-7649. Financial, clothing & food donations are appreciated. Thursday Bible Study meets each Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Gathering Area. As Christians, we re called to proclaim God s name in all the earth (1 st Chronicles 16:8), but how do we do that in the midst of false gospels? Beginning in October, we will use A Clash of Kingdoms DVD to discover how Paul communicated the Good News of Christ to Philippi, a Roman colony that worshiped false gods. Can you live the message as Paul did while he encouraged the church in Philippi to consider itself a colony of heaven, not Rome? Consider your citizenship and the message you convey to the world as Ray Vander Laan takes you deeper into the culture of ancient Philippi. Questions will facilitate discussion and inspire personal reflection. Please join us! If you have questions, contact Del Finlay at (402)451-1168 or delf60@cox.net. December Newsletter Deadline: Monday, November 26 th. The Newsletter Folders will meet on Thursday, November 29 th at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Eve Service: Join with family and friends to give thanks for our many blessings. On November 21st, come from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. for delicious pie, followed by worship in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Special Music: The Worship and Music Team would like to invite you to share your musical talents with the congregation! In place of a formal choir, we will be having special music throughout the year. Vocal and instrumental solos, duets or groups are welcome!! See Lisa or Janelle to practice or to schedule your date. Make a joyful noise to the Lord!
The Messenger November 2018 Page 5 Notes from October 2018 Council Meeting Thanksgiving Eve Service will be Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 7:00 pm with a pie fellowship from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Pastor Diana would like to invite the Myanmar congregation to join us. We have completed the audit of who has keys to the building and what areas are they opening. Our insurance company has requested that we need tighter control of our keys. We are, therefore, asking all who have keys to our building to turn them in by November 11 th. These keys can be turned into the office or any Council members. We will, hopefully, reissue keys quickly. Thank you in advance for cooperating with us in our effort to meet this request for tighter control. Stewardship Campaign will begin with a letter sent to all members of the congregation along with Time & Talent Cards. We are asking that the cards be brought church (or returned to the church) to the November 18 th Worship Service for Consecration Sunday. IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE will be on Wednesday, November 21 st at 7:00 p.m. Join us before the service from 5:30 to 6:45 for Pie Fellowship in the Gathering Area. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 TH : The Sunday School will lead us in worship with a retelling of the Christmas Story. (This is not a Christmas Pageant. ) MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 TH : The Christmas Eve service will be at 5:00 p.m. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 TH : Join us as we worship jointly with the Myanmar congregation at 11:00 a.m. A Potluck lunch will follow immediately after the worship service. SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019: Annual Meeting of the Congregation The Next Council meeting will be at 11 a.m. (after service) on Sunday, November 18. All are welcome. Respectfully submitted, Marge Sawerbrey Bob Hoff Council President hoff860@cox.net 4706 Redick Ave Omaha 68152 (402)884-6468 (402)889-8171 cell Deborah Becker Council Vice President 2022 S. 80 th Ave Omaha 68124 the-beckers@cox.net (402)932-3928 (402)815-1680 work (402)932-3928 Pam Cummings Treasurer pdcummings@cox.net 9607 Florence Heights Blvd, Omaha 68112 (402)457-6266 Connie Helmberger Secretary 6803 N 60 th St. Omaha 68152 helmberger@cox.net (402)571-7861 (402)351-3955 work (402)768-3717 Kay Drain 4502 Larimore Ave Omaha 68104 (402)720-8530 Bill Myers 4021 Verona Ave Omaha 68111 williamjmye@msn.com (402)676-0082 Marvin Knapp BlueIndianMarvinKnappBlueIndian@outlook.com 8267 Iowa Street Omaha 68122 (402)572-7896 Red Cross Blood Drive November 11 Shepherd of the Hills and the American Red Cross are hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday, November 11 th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood and donations to respond to the disasters near and far. To make an appointment, sign up online at RedCrossBlood.org and enter Shepherd or email Lisa Sorensen Kuhns at lisa2204@rocketmail.com
Page 6 The Messenger November 2018 Personal Notes: Karen Schultz on the death of her son, Trey Lauren and Elda Juracek on the death of their son, Kurt Cindy Root on the death of her husband, Rick Valda Grinbergs on the death of her son, David Anita Larson Andres on the death of her mother, Dagmar For the victims of Hurricane Michael and other natural disasters For our unnamed loved ones who suffer with emotional issues or mental health struggles Prayers of thanksgiving for M.A. Nelson who is now in remission Prayers and help for those who struggle financially All who are recovering from illness or surgery The vulnerable ones in this world: refugees, immigrants, poor, those who are young and those who are elderly, and minorities of all types For all who are fighting against stubborn diseases such as cancer, Parkinson s, mental health, alcoholism, Alzheimer s, COPD, Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and others Children s Christmas Worship Plans: The kids of Shepherd of the Hills would like to invite you to help present the Christmas message on December 16 th during the worship service! Please talk to Lisa if you would like to participate either as an actor or singer. Do you have a key to the church? If so, we asking you return this key to church (or any council member) by November 11 th so that can update our records and re-issue new keys. Any questions, please feel free to contact any council member. Upcoming Important Events: November 4 All Saints Sunday November 18 Consecration Sunday November 21 Thanksgiving Eve: 5:30 p.m. Pie Fellowship; 7 p.m. Worship November 25 Christ the King Sunday December 2 Advent 1 December 9 Advent 2 December 16 Advent 3; Children and Youth Christmas Story December 23 Advent 4 December 24 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candle light Worship December 25 Nativity of Our Lord
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Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church ELCA 6201 North 60 th Street Omaha, NE 68104 www.shlcomaha.org Phone: (402) 571-7797 Fax: (402) 571-6810 Office Hours: 10 am to 3 pm Monday-Thursday 10 am to 1 pm Friday Every Sunday: 10 am Worship in the Sanctuary Pastor... Rev. Diana ME Kuhl Office Manager... Dwight Williams Organist... Janelle Miller Custodian... Scott Yeshnowski 2018 Church Council: Bob Hoff... President Deb Becker... Vice-President Marge Sawerbrey... Secretary Pam Cummings... Treasurer Bill Meyers Kay Drain Marv Knapp Ushers: Video Tech: Altar Guild: Counters: Lector: Serving in November Bob Hoff, Angie Yeshnowski John Sawerbrey, John Quist Charlotte Nibbe Val Adler Communion Assistant: Anita Larson Andres and Deb Becker Connie Helmberger 2 nd Harmony Thompson 3 rd Peyton Johnson John Sawerbrey November Birthdays 8 th Carolyn Koehler, Kristen Queen 11 th Kay Drain 12 th Irving Holm 16th 25th Valorie Adler, Susan Quist Rachel Andres, Jeff Gabelhaus If we have inadvertently omitted your birthday or anniversary, please contact the church office so we may update and correct our records! Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 6201 North 60 th Street Omaha NE 68104