The Church Council has announced its new officers and committee chairpersons.

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the CHURCH SHEPHERD S VOICE 13600 CASPIAN WAY, CLERMONT, FLORIDA 34711 MAR 1, 2012 COMING EVENTS Women s Spring Gathering March 3 Lenten Dinners & Worship Each Wednesday CPR Training March 10 Celebration of Life Service for Walt McCarty March 17 Council Officers & Committees Announced The Church Council has announced its new officers and committee chairpersons. Diane Bursey was elected to the office of President, replacing retiring President, Laura Dilley. Other Officers include Debbie Kiely, Vice President, Donna King, Secretary, and Dee Shields, Treasurer. Committee chairpersons are: Bert Tunila - Christian Education Nanci Etienne - Worship & Music Michelle Candage - Service Karen Russell - Finance Diane Fischer - Stewardship Dwayne Dundore -Property Susan Sherman - Evangelism Dennis Wick - Youth & Family Diane Bursey, President If you have concerns, suggestions, or just observations you would like to discuss, please contact the council member which most closely is responsible. You can get email addresses and phone numbers from the Church Directory found on our website (in the Who We Are tab).

Nobody knows the trouble I see, nobody knows but Jesus.. Sometimes I m up and sometimes I m down Sing Glory Hallelu! Have you ever heard the words that Martin Luther said as he laid on his death-bed: He said, These pains and troubles here are like the type that printers set. When we look at them, we see them backwards, and they seem to make no meaning. But, up there, when the Lord prints out our life to come, we will find they make splendid reading. During Lent as we kneel before the Lord in humble reflection and confession, let us remember that, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 8-10). Nobody knows the joys I have Nobody knows but Jesus! Benefit A young woman and long time member of our congregation needs our help. A beloved teacher of Sunday School and VBS recently had surgery and recovery requires expensive home health care. To show our love and support there will be a Spaghetti Dinner on April 28, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help raise funds. A donation or more of $10 per person or $25 per family will help this family greatly. If we can raise $1,000, Thrivent Financial will supplement this amount with another $500. We have already received donations totaling $600 so we are well on our way to successful benefit dinner. Even if you cannot come to this very special event, your donation would be appreciated. Just note on your check Benefit for Church Member. Your support is greatly appreciated. Ed Frame Resigns Ed Frame, our Director of Music, choir director, and organist has resigned after 19 years of service at Shepherd of the Hills. We give Ed a hearty thanks for his great work with us over these years and wish him the best in his future endeavors. The last day Ed will play for our church will be March 11. Please extend your thanks and appreciation to Ed for sharing his gift of music with Shepherd of the Hills for close to 1/3 of our church's life. 2

Worship & Music Team Plans Worship Enhancements On Sunday, February 12, 2012, 48 people gathered for fellowship around a delicious pot luck lunch and the sharing of memories. In October of this year, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church will be 60 years old and what wonderful stories were told of past events and the contributions of many people! As we move forward towards that date, we continue to write the history of the 6th decade which includes a new organ, a new piano, a new garage, new opportunities to serve our Lord and a new direction! Don t let the past dictate who you are but let it be part of who you become! Growing in God s grace, we move forward in faith! 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 The new Worship & Music Team is making some changes which we hope will enhance our worship experience. A new subscription to SundaysandSeasons.com (an Augsburg Fortress publication) allows us to print and use worship materials from 8 different hymnals and songbooks, including the new ELW worship hymnal. As a result we are able to discontinue some subscriptions (bulletin covers and weekly scripture readings), print weekly scriptures in the bulletin, and have access to many more liturgies and hymns, including those in the new ELCA hymnbook. And.. All of this is revenue neutral. The incorporation of readings in the bulletin is expected to occur in May. In addition, the committee is improving the scheduling and use of ushers and other worship groups, looking at ways to include children in the worship music, trying new styles of music, etc. You will be hearing about these changes well before they occur.. And we are getting congregational input on changes as well. For example, we are currently getting input on a revised bulletin format. Committee members include Pastor Nancy, Nanci Etienne, Larry Holihan, David Wallin, Ruth Monzillo, and Heather Faraci. They appreciate your inputs and suggestions. 3

Walter Walt B McCarty died on February 20 at age 81. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania after proudly serving in the Army, specializing in Counter Intelligence. He was awarded the Korean Service and the United Nations Service medals for distinguished service to his country. He married during college and became a father shortly thereafter. The family moved to central Florida in 1967 and moved to Clermont 25 years ago. Walt devoted much of his life to serving his family and others through his church and other charities. He enjoyed playing golf & traveling. Walt is survived by his wife of 57+ years, Claire Osterman McCarty; 2 daughters: April Walt McCarty Walt and Claire Christopher (Don), & Devon Kincaid (Whit); 5 grandchildren: Adrienne Longhi (D.A.), Quenton Wright (Josh), Desire Jordan (Daniel), Sefton Kincaid & Dresdon Kincaid; and 1 greatgrandchild, Ryan Wright. Walt was very active in the church serving on church council for many years and he was instrumental in making our new building possible as the Chairman of the Building Committee. Walt was also very active in Habitat for Humanity and participated in building several homes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church or Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778. Walt is in the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that brings such joy and comfort to those he leaves behind. There will be a Celebration of Life Service on Sat, March 17, 2012 at 11:00 am at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. All members and friends are invited to attend. Walt with new building superintendent in early 2000s. BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST Sunday, March 11 Due to many requests, the three month devotional booklet, The Word In Season, is once again available in the back of the church and by the church office in the administrative wing. 4

PRAYER SHAWLS Shawls made for centuries are universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, conditionally loving God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles. Janet Bristow In 1998, Janet Bristow & Victoria Galo, created the Prayer Shawl Ministry as an outgrowth of their graduate theological studies. Care and Love of Knitting and Crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is offered a final blessing before being sent along its way. Creating this shawl, benefits the crafter as the process of knitting and praying is meditative and peaceful. Many receiving the shawl have remarked upon the feeling of peace and feeling like God has wrapped His arms around them. As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing this new one and sometimes the received shawl on to someone in need. Thus the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God! Some letters we have received from those who have received shawls are shared on the next page. For more information and instructions on making prayer shawls, please go to the Prayer Shawl Ministry Website: www.shawlministry.com In 2005, Marie Johnson and Meridith Felt began the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Shepherd of the Hills. Hundreds of shawls have been made with God s love since that time and sent all over our country. An outgrowth of this ministry also led to baby blankets for infants being baptized and lap robes for hospitalized patients at South Lake Hospital. Brochures are available in the church describing this outreach ministry and include a form to request a prayer shawl. Prayer shawls may also be requested at any time by contacting Pastor Nancy or Barbara in the church office. The recipient does NOT have to be a member of Shepherd of the Hills. The Virginia Circle coordinates and funds this ministry. Costs have been defrayed with the blessings of many donations, including over 10 trash cans full of yarn this past summer from the family of a daughter of a former member. The cost of 3-4 skeins of Homespun yarn for a typical prayer shawl varies from $20-27 depending upon sales and the amount of yarn needed. The Prayer Shawl Circle meets the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am. However, most of the time spent creating the shawls is done outside the church by people generously giving of their gifts of time and talent. Yarn and sometimes hooks/needles are available for you to take if you would like to create a shawl. Just ask Marie Johnson or any Virginia Circle lady and they will show you to the supplies. Various skill levels of knitting and crocheting instructions/patterns are available on the Shawl Ministry website www.shawlministry.com 5

Just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful shawl. What a nice gift. Perfect for the hospital during chemo. He always gets cold. Please continue to pray for him it is a long and scary road ahead! SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PRAYER SHAWL STORIES Thank you so very much for sending the beautiful prayer shawl. Your thoughts and caring certainly offer comfort during a time when it is most needed. I would like to take this time to show you my appreciation for the beautiful Prayer Shawl my husband received, it meant a lot to him..they do give a spiritual and loving presence that he was not alone. Thanks so much for his lap robe We were so touched that you put in so much time and any prayers on his behalf He is receiving chemotherapy treatments. As I was waiting in the hospital to take some soup to Jere in the ER, who should appear before me but my dear friend with lunch for me and a beautiful prayer shawl for Jere. He was in terrible pain and couldn t express his gratitude then, but has since thanked you from the bottom of his heart. Thank you for your donation of the Prayer Shawls to South Lake Hospital. They are beautiful-thank you for sharing your talents, time and hearts with our patients. It is touching to know that every stitch was created with love and prayers. Our staff members are also touched to see the extra tenderness and love that can be provided to some of our most critically ill patients. May our Lord s love continue to weave together your lives and guide you in your service. What a beautiful shawl; and what a surprise!! When Sue Price gave that to me, I couldn t believe! I thought these ladies don t even know me and what a wonderful way to show God s love. I do love the Lord and hope I ll be around awhile to do more of his work. Now I m not talented like you but I do like to cook. So I do whatever talents God has given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love, love, love my beautiful pale shades of green prayer shawl. Emily, my granddaughter says, What makes it so soft and warm, Grandma? Everyone in the hospital loved it and it gave me many chances to tell of your ministry and how this shawl is prayerfully made and then blessed by Pastor Jon. When I went for tests [of which were around 8 different ones], people would stop us in the halls and in the elevator admiring the shawl that I used as a spread on me and my bed as I was wheeled to and from. I have my shawl on my chair in my bedroom and will treasure it forever. Thank you and may God bless you PS My daughter is going to try and have a prayer shawl ministry in her church in North Carolina. God is so good! 6

Lent & Holy Week 2012 Mid-Week Lenten Services Wednesdays, February 29, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012 at 7 PM Each Wednesday in Lent we will have a Lenten worship service at 7 PM. This year we will hear presentations by some very unusual eyewitnesses to the crucifixion. Telling their story is the despised Thorn (Ash Wednesday), the rumpled Robe, the hard Nail, the military Spear, the burial Shroud and the huge Stone. The musical setting is Holden Evening Prayer. Palm Sunday April 1, 2012 at 8 AM and 10:15 AM Hosanna in the highest! Today we celebrate Palm Sunday with a traditional Lutheran liturgy, music, Holy Communion, hymns, the waving of palms and the reading of The Passion from the Gospel of Mark. Both services are identical in format. Good Friday Service of Tenebrae April 6, 2012 at 7:30 PM This is a traditional service of Shadow and Darkness as we recall our Lord s betrayal, abandonment, trial, and crucifixion. Easter Morning Worship April 8, 2012 at 8 AM and 10:15 AM We celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord through traditional liturgy, special choir music, Holy Communion, prayer and the sharing of the Word. Join us and sing praise to our God! Both services are identical in format. Lenten Dinners Maundy (Holy) Thursday April 5, 2012 at 7:30 PM The Maundy Thursday traditional liturgy includes dramatic readings, Holy Communion, the stripping of the altar and a silent recessional. Wednesday Mid-week: A pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. precedes each mid-week service from February 29 through March 28, 2012. Bring an entree or other dish to share.. Various church groups provide setup, drinks, and clean up: Feb 29 - Virginia Circle Mar 7 - Youth Mar 14 - Ladies Evening Circle March 21 - Choir March 28 - Church Council 7

Easter Week We need Easter candies for our Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday. Please make sure candies are individually wrapped. Bring candies to the church office. All kids are invited for the egg hunt at 9:15. Our annual Easter Brunch on Easter Sunday at 9:15 a.m. Is always a big hit. Bring your favorite breakfast/brunch dish to share. All members and guests are invited to attend. New Member Classes to begin. Baptized We Live! Come and discover what it means to be a Lutheran Christian in today s world! 3/18, 3/25, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6 at 9-10 am Received into membership Sunday 5/20/12 HEART OF FLORIDA SPRING CONFERENCE Saturday March 3, 2012 9:30 am-2:00 pm Shepherd of the Hills Lunch provided Cost $12.00 (cash only) Theme: In God s Hands Bible Study God s Eraser Never Wears Out Finding the Forever Home Easter is all about Jesus making it possible for us to find a "forever home" in heaven. He paid for our sins that we might enjoy eternal life free of sin, pain and trouble. Here on earth the counselors and case managers of Lutheran Services Florida work hard each day to help children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse find a place that for them can be a childhood "forever home" - a safe place where they can escape daily horrors most of us can't even imagine. This Lenten season, please keep these children in your prayers. If you would like to play a more active role in helping these young victims, visit our website at www.lsfnet.org. 8

SOTH Responds on Souper Bowl Sunday Souper Bowl Results Collection: $591 Food: 450# Nationally: 8,639 groups raised $8,516,152 in cash and food items. Council Minutes are available in Member s Blog on Website. Use username of shephillsclermont and password Btbab1 to enter the blog. UPDATE ON PASTOR JON Pastor Jon attended Pastor's Breakfast on February 28. He was completing his 4th chemo treatment. He has 4 more chemo treatments to go [about 2 months]. His immune system has been good so far but is beginning to drop so he will not be going out much any more. He looked good and had many stories to share with the 20 people sharing breakfast together. 9

SOTH Donates Quilts to Lutheran World Relief In 2011 one hundred and seventy two quilts were made by the members of the quilt circle of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Clermont. One hundred and thirty two quilts will go to Lutheran World Relief (LWR). In 2011 LWR sent 355,621 quilts to some of the most impoverish countries of the world. These countries included those torn by war and those devastated by natural disasters. This is an increase of more than 36,000 quilts over the number sent out in 2010. The remaining forty quilts made by Shepherd of the Hills went to various fund raisers and to the FAITH Neighborhood Center in Groveland where the needy in our own area received them as Christmas gifts. Thank you to all who donated to this ministry either, giving funds, fabric or time. Without you 152 needy people from various places around the world would not have been able to receive one of our quilts. BOY SCOUT PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION Boy Scout Troop 551 presented a Plaque of Appreciation to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in grateful appreciation for our continued support of their troop since the troops formation in 2002. The Boy Scouts and the Boy Scout Leaders regularly meet at Shepherd of the Hills and frequently perform service projects at the church. The Boy Scouts participated with supporting the 10:15 am Worship Service on Sunday February 26, 2012. The Troop Leader Presented the Plaque to Pastor Nancy Vogel. 10

Our Saviour s Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Evangelical Church. October 25, 1952 is the actual date of incorporation for our church and all historical OUR CHURCH S CHANGING NAMES Our church by any name is still our church. Names of our church have reflected societal norms and later actively communicated our church s mission. documents identify our church as either First Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church or First Lutheran Church. Many churches during this era were named with numbers reflecting the expectation of new churches forming in the local community. The church s organizational service was on October 26, 1951 under the sponsorship of the Florida Lutheran Regional Committee of Home Missions and under the auspices of the New York Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Church of North America. The name on our original charter is Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. Charter member names on this document correspond to charter members names identified elsewhere in other historical documents. There is a date, October 25, 1952, written in on the original charter, obviously at a later date because it is in a different colored ink. Nowhere else in any historical document is there any mention of the name of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church again. In none of the written histories is there any mention of the reasons for choosing the names During the 30th anniversary year, our church had just separated from Zion Lutheran Church, finally had a full time pastor and church growth was overflowing all available spaces in the original church Sanctuary and Parish Hall. The following Press News Release was issued in September 1983: First Lutheran Church has changed its name to SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH. This action was taken at a Special Congregational Meeting on September 28, 1983 Continued on page 12 11

Our Church s Changing Names Continued from page 11 in which a new constitution including the name change was approved. The rational behind the name change was: [1] a new name for a new image, [2] Shepherd of the Hills is in harmony with the City of Clermont s slogan, Gem of the Hills, [3] First was not really a name but a number used by many churches of other denominations in the community, and [4] scripturally, a new name is given for a new call: Genesis 17:6, Abram is changed to Abraham; Genesis 35:10, Jacob is changed to Israel; Matthew 16:18, Simon is change to Peter; Acts 13:9, Saul is changed to Paul. These person s names were changed by God as they received fresh calls to new missions. The membership of this congregation feels that it too has a fresh call to a new mission in the Clermont area. For the first time in its thirty year history, the congregation has called its own full-time pastor. The Sunday Church School, Youth Group, Adult Bible Study and all church programs have been reorganized and are growing in number. A building program committee will be appointed in October to begin working toward a new sanctuary to be erected on West SR 50 and 2nd Street. In the early 2000s, building upon our name Shepherd of the Hills our church adopted the slogan Blessed to Be a Blessing. This slogan extends our Shepherd s care by the sharing of our the blessings given so generously to our church by God. It further communicates our mission building upon the name of our church. We are now located upon a prominent hill in Clermont continuing to showcase the name of our church Shepherd of the Hills. Laura Dilley is the chairperson of our 60 th Anniversary celebration to be held at Reformation in 2012. She is submitting a series of articles on the history of our church in preparation for this event. Ellen Wachowshi 9 (left) and Madge Caan were received into membership on February 19. February Baptisms Feb 12 Congratulations to William & Colleen Caldecutt on the baptism of their son, William Christopher Caldecutt, and to Tina Gurney & Lawrence Baldwin on the baptism of their daughter, Marina Jo Gurney. Feb 26 Congratulations to John & Heather Page on the baptism of their daughter, Caroline Elisabeth Page. Caroline Elisabeth Page at her Baptism 12

Pictures of the Month Choir sings at morning worship Youth collect offerings Presentation on Boy Scout Sunday Sunday communion Quilts for Lutheran World Relief Tolanders sing for us at morning worship Boxing quilts for shipment. 13

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN the CHURCH 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