SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the CHURCH SHEPHERD S VOICE 13600 CASPIAN WAY, CLERMONT, FLORIDA 34711 NOVEMBER, 2014 Men s Golf League Each Tuesday at 4 pm Clean our Signage Day November 1 Worship & Praise November 2 at 10:15 am All Saints Day Virginia Circle November 11 at 10:00 am When God Left the Building November 16 Visioning Retreat November 23 Thanksgiving Eve Service November 26 Thanksgiving Day Dinner November 27 Call Committee Applications Due December 7 As we begin our journey to call a new pastor, we swill be holding a Visioning Retreat on November 23 after our 10:15 service (about 11:30 am). The retreat will last approximately four hours and will include a pot luck dinner. The retreat will be led by Cheryl Stuart - Vice President of Synod Council. using the Living Lutheran as a model. The retreat will include group discussions and prayer as we consider our mission, ministry, and future. All members are strongly encouraged to attend this retreat and supply input as we begin the call process. A Call Committee will be formed to consider, interview and recommend pastoral candidates. Page 2 of this newsletter provides information about the call committee and how the pastor will be chosen. Applications are now being taken for those desiring to be on the Call Committee. This is a self-nominating process. Application forms, available on the tables in the rear of the church, must be submitted by December 7, 2014. A six member call committee will be elected at the Annual Congregational meeting on January 25.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH CALL COMMITTEE The Call Committee determines the needs of the church and then communicates that to the Synod. The Synod will then put out a job posting. All responses to the posting go directly to the Synod. No postings will be accepted by SOTH. After the application deadline, the Synod will return to SOTH their suggested 3 candidates. These 3 candidates will then be reviewed by the Call Committee. If they find a suitable candidate among them, then that pastor will be asked to visit the church and meet the congregation. A vote will be taken and, assuming the candidate is approved, the call is done and the committee released. If no acceptable candidate is found from the first three, then the posting process starts all over again, resulting in an additional time commitment. The Call Committee will be made up of 6 voting members. Through prayer and scriptural reflection they will seek God s will for SOTH. Their responsibilities will include: 1. Determine the overall needs and wants of the congregation as pertains to the qualities and characteristics of a new pastor. 2. Establish a vision for the congregation as to what they see SOTH becoming under the service of the new pastor. 3. Coordinate that information into a job description to be communicated to the Synod for their creation of a job posting. 4. Be available to meet as often as weekly for a period 2 to 3 months which will include interviewing any suitable candidates. 5. Be available to make visits to each of the churches of the 3 candidates to see them in action (assuming that they are within reasonable driving distance). There will be no sermon made at SOTH before the call is made. 6. Make reports to the Church Council to keep them informed of their progress. 7. Finally choose a candidate well-suited to their view of the congregation and able to continue with the vision for the congregation and present that candidate to the congregation at SOTH. 8. Any other activities that become necessary to complete the task of choosing a new pastor. 2
Discernment: What will you say to me today, God? I am sitting still watching a new sunrise, coffee on my left, devotional on my right. What will you say to me today, God? You are often creative and challenge me to do something new and creative. That sounds most excellent! Sometimes you remind me that I hurt someone and that I need to apologize. That is always humbling. Other times you are silent, something I have learned means I have to sit and wait on you. Waiting is uncomfortable for me. I am a doer, someone who makes things happen. Why would you want me to sit still and wait? Wait, (no pun intended), I get it! Waiting allows you to work on something that isn t quite ready for me. It could also be that I am not ready for what you want me to do. These options create fear in me, fear of the unknown, the fear of being idle and wasting time. The more fear I feel, the harder it gets to wait. This is especially true when what you want me to wait on is a process, something that takes time and great effort to experience. I guess that when you made me, God, you forgot that special ingredient called patience. Patience is boring. Patience means I must be willing to stay where I am and live in the present situation. Waiting is also open-ended and that feels uncomfortable. But, being open ended also allows hope to float into my presence; the hope that something hidden in my waiting will be revealed to 3
From the Pastor: Discernment (continued from page 3 me. The only thing I need to know is that I trust you and you will tell me in your time. Taking control and moving ahead without consulting you through prayer and scriptural reflection would only serve my own selfish desires, not yours. Waiting requires both patience and obedience, doesn t it? I immediately think of Jesus when I think of someone who is obedient. His first three years of active ministry were full of doing like healing miracles and teaching. Then, however, came his time to wait on you. He was arrested in the Garden and waited through humiliating conversations, painful beatings, and even death on a cross before your raised him from the dead to save a fallen creation. That is a true testimony to waiting through patience and obedience. less? Can I do no Well, God, today I am waiting on you. Waiting on you reminds me that, I too, have a cross of patience and obedience to bear. It also reminds me that resurrection is not just about something after death. It is something that can break through even today as I wait in the sacred messiness of life. Even in my waiting, I can glorify you. So, God, I will check in with you later but know that no matter how fast the world might want me to move and work, I wait for you to lead me and guide me. Prayer: Gracious Lord, may spiritual discernment throughout the call process for our congregation be one of waiting on you to lead and guide us to the pastor you have already chosen for us. Amen! First Communion Class Welcome to the Table Saturday December 20, 2014 10 am to 11:30 am For ages 7-10; Speak to Pastor Nancy for children under 7 or over 10 First Communion can be at any Sunday service on any date 4
Sunday, November 16, 2014 When God Left the Building Movie, Discussion, Worship Sponsored by the Church Council 8:00 a.m. Relaxed traditional worship with Holy Communion 9:10 a.m. When God Left the Building Movie Viewing 10:30 11:00 a.m. Question & Answer Session 11:00 11:30 a.m. Spirited Traditional Worship with Holy Communion A free will offering will be received to defray the cost of the movie. A staffed nursery/child care will be available. Youth, Confirmation, and Adult Sunday School students will attend the movie. Younger children may use the nursery. WORSHIP & PRAISE SERVICE The next Worship & Praise service will be Sunday, November 2 nd at 10:15 a.m.. We ve been having great fun praising the Lord with our alternative forms of music and worship. November s service will focus on All Saints Sunday. 5
Inquirer s Class Come Learn More About Shepherd of the Hills! November 9, 2014 at 11:30 am Light lunch served Facilitated by Pastor Nancy God's Global Barnyard. The pig and farm banks have arrived. If you have not picked one up, please do. You will never miss your loose change and your gift can go a long way. This is also a good way to teach your children about sharing. This project is ongoing to Thanksgiving. So let's once again remember - "God's Work Our Hands." Confirmation Class 2014-2015 Gretchen, Piper, Matthew, Miranda, Mackenzie, Lauren, and Audrie announce.we are as a class project. Adopting a Child from Uganda! Stay tuned for details. ELCA 2015 Youth Gathering Detroit, Michigan July 15-19, 2015 Contact Dennis Wick at 321-443-6739 for more information. 6
Thrivent Happenings Our local chapter of Thrivent has approved and supports the following projects: The Faith Neighborhood Center will receive a check for $1,600 for food if we give 800 volunteer hours to the center. We are getting close to our goal so please keep up the good work. Thrivent local chapter has also approved $1,000 for the Faith Neighborhood Center for Christmas gifts for needing children. We will need to accumulate 500 volunteer hours. So if you have been shopping or looking for that perfect gift, please keep track of your time. Also anyone helping at the Center on this project, all these hours count. The Request For Funding projects as we know it will end as of December 31, 2014. There will no longer be a local Thrivent Chapter. The new program will be run by "Action Teams." A Thrivent associate or benefit member may apply for a $250 debit card to be used to help others in the community. More information will be forthcoming on how to apply for funds. We have approximately 25 members and each member is allowed to apply for funds twice a year. If each member does two projects, we can help our community to the tune of $12,500 at no cost to us. How awesome is that! In addition we are allowed 8 associates members at a cost of $20 for the year. For each new associate member our church will receive $50 per new member. Wow! Aimee & Christian Markussen will be hosting a dinner here at SOTH for anyone who might be alone, or would like to dine with them on Thanksgiving Day. There is a sign-up sheet on the Welcome Center Table, or see Aimee for more information. 7
WE WON! Back in August, we were notified of a contest regarding how the portable partitions we purchased were being used: There would be 5 winners. Each winner would receive a FREE Wizard Wall Portable Dry Erase Board Kit (a $99 value) donated from PortablePartitions.com. Our partitions Well, we decided to enter the contest. We included pictures of our VBS décor, and our entry read: From dividing our Worship Space to dividing the Red Sea!!! They responded: Congrats - you are the winner of a Wizard Wall Portable Whiteboard! Aside from the great standard setup, it s nice to see an extra unique usage for our dividers. Our Red Sea wall The Wizard Wall Whiteboard is perfect for temporary notes or impromptu meetings, the sheets affix easily to our room dividers with static electricity and can be reused, reversed, and recycled. So now we have an additional aid for use at meetings, Sunday School, council and other activities -- see, we CAN win! Our prize CHRISTMAS IS COMING! And the adult choir is getting prepared once again to present our Choir Cantata. This year s cantata is titled, Glory to the Newborn King. It is a very beautiful arrangement that will celebrate the most miraculous birth the history of mankind has ever known: the birth of Jesus Christ! And it s not too late to join us! We have CDs and music to rehearse with. If you would like to sing with us on December 14 th, talk to Sara Holton or another member of the choir and get your rehearsal kit; practice at your leisure at home, and join us for our dress rehearsal the week prior. Join us as we sing the story of the birth of Christ and spread the Gospel as we give Glory to the Newborn King! 8
Global Mission collection in October: Well Done SOTH! We received $271 on 10/5/14; this amount will be gathered together with other donations from other congregations in the synod and will be sent to our companion churches in Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, and Suriname for special projects. Please save all paper towel and toilet tissue card board rolls and give to Aimee Markussen. These items will be used for school projects. Thank Yous: Womans Grief Group is in session; if interested, please speak with Pastor Nancy.. Aimee Markussenfor decorating the bulletin boards in admin. Joe Foryan leading both worship services on 10/12 and every Wednesday eve. Larry Holihan for sending out the midweek email when Sara out of town To all those who helped make our Pancake Breakfast a success. Joe Powell is at home in NJ recovering. You may send cards to: Joe and Linda Powell 117 Timberlane Road Clarksboro, New Jersey 08020 Did you know: Larry Holihan also maintains the TV in fellowship area Alzheimer s Support Group: Open to the public, especially caregivers. Monthly on the 3 rd Thursday Cooper Memorial Library Room 108B Leader contact: Debra Snow 352-406-8465 Men s Groups: The Men s Group meets periodically at The Men s Golf Group plays nine holes each Tuesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Green Valley. Cost: $10 for golf, dinner at your own expense followed by discussion of The Purpose Driven Life. Please contact Bill Wright for more information on both of these events: 352-242-9107. Trash & Treasure Sale and BAKE SALE!! Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8 Start saving your treasures! The sale will be hosted by the Virginia Circle, with all proceeds going toward the purchase of materials to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and ME Dolls for the children at Florida Children's Hospital in Orlando. Please hold on to your items until Sunday, November 2nd. You may bring them to the church on/after that day. We will also need help with setting up. If you would like to volunteer, please see Norma Thompson or call the church office. 9
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Pictures of the Month Pancake Breakfast on Reformation Sunday Confirmation class reciting Bible chapters on Reformation Sunday Pastor Nancy s interpretative dance on Reformation Sunday Pastor Nancy delivers 47 lap robes and 36 baby caps to South Lake Hospital on October 22 Debbie Kiely and Judy Lojko brief congregation on retreat and call process 11
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the SHEPHERD S VOICE CHURCH 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