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Shepherd’s Voice
Shepherd of the
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August 2007
Shepherd’s
Voice
Shepherd
of the
August 2007
AUGUST BRUNCH
Please join us for our final brunch of the summer months on Sunday,
August 12 at
The July bunch raised $410.00, plus $200.00 from Thrivent for a total
of $610.00 for Wartburg Seminary Scholarship Fund.
Thank you to all who donated food items and time to this event as
well as all of you who were able to support it by attending.
SOTH FIRST ANNUAL STEAK FRY
Shepherd
of the Hills Men’s Group is hosting a Steak Fry on Saturday, August 18 in
the Fellowship center (
SAMANTHA
HENDREN TO SHARE
WSYLS
EXPERIENCE
Come hear Samantha Hendren talk about her 10 days at Wartburg
Seminary’s
ELCA CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY & WORSHIP
JUBILEE TO BE HELD AT NAVY PIER
The
Visitors are also welcome to attend the ELCA Assembly. You can even go volunteer for any number of jobs for the Assembly as a thousand volunteers are needed to greet guests at the airport, assist with registration, serve as pages in the assembly hall at Navy Pier, usher, assist with transportation, monitor the assembly hearing rooms, etc, etc, etc. Check it all out at www.elca.org/assembly. Questions about volunteer opportunities or just attending as a visitor are answered at the same web site.
CONFIRMATION MEETING SCHEDULED
A Confirmation meeting, for all parents and students, who wish to
enroll in the 7th and 8th Confirmation Program at
Shepherd of the Hills, is scheduled for
BAPTISM
Congratulation to Brady James Turner, on his baptized at the
LANDSCAPING UPDATE
If you haven’t noticed, the landscaping work is coming to a close for this year. Evergreen Landscaping finished the hard-scaping as well as a large-percentage of the landscaping. Trees and bushes, grass seed and grass sod have been planted around the church The Frey’s (Tom, Mary, Aaron and Christine) added to the plan by planting (at least) 140 other plants. On top of this Gary Saam’s crew did a bit more work to get the drainage problem under control. They did so by adding concrete around the drainage areas and connecting underground drain pipes from the eaves troughs on the east side of the church to the drainage pipes.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We welcome into membership -- Paul and Karron Mills and Tammy Winter.
Tammy was born in
Tammy is an Executive Assistant to the Jo Daviess County State's
Attorney. I have been there for a year now and just love it. She
has met so many people and has learned so much. Dave and Tammy have
two children, Olivia and Thomas. Olivia will be in 1st Grade this fall
and Tommy will be entering Pre-Kindergarten. She enjoys working in the
yard, cooking and scrap-booking. SOTH is such a great place to
worship. Tammy really feels at home here. Dave's family has been
a part of the SOTH family for a long time. It seemed only natural for
her to become a member of that family too! She is glad to be part of
it! Tammy would like to thank everyone for their kind words and for
welcoming her into the church family.
Paul and Karron are residents of
Paul retired (2000) from being a machinist at John Deer. He and Karron enjoy working in their yard and Paul especially likes fishing and working on his 57 Chevy. They are both delighted to join SOTH since they knew quite a few people who already belong here and have been made to feel welcomed.
PASTOR
BARB ON VACATOIN
AND
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Pastor Barb will be on
vacation from August 8th through 16 and utilizing Continuing
Education time from August 17 - 24th.
In case of a pastoral emergency from August 8 through 15 contact
Pastor Kurt Hansen at 563.542.3001 (home) or 815.591.9970 (St. Paul
Lutheran, Hanover); 815.591.3637 (Church Office).
From August 16 through the 23 Pastor Margo Peterson can be contacted
at 815.745.3444 (church) or 608.325.2084 (home)
SUMMER YOUTH BIBLE CAMP
August 3 and 4th
SOTH’s Youth Summer Bible Camp is scheduled for Friday, August 3
(starting at
We also need many volunteers to help/serve in any or all of the 3 sessions. The time slots for the different sessions are:
Session 1 – Friday,
Session 2 – Saturday,
Session 3 – Saturday,
Positions needed include:
· Music Leader(s)
· Teachers (session 2 or 3; could use one more for Session 1)
· Teacher’s Aids (session 2 (no one signed up), or 3 (one more needed)
· Kraft people (none have signed up for Session 2)
· Kitchen help (taken care of for all 3 sessions)
· Tent set-up people (at least one more needed)
· Tent tear down people (none have volunteered)
· Recess people
· Cemetery Haunters
It’s not too late to sign up. Descriptions
of these positions and a sign up sheet can be found on the bulletin board in
the
THANKS
TO……
Ø Withrow Meeker whose monetary donation paid for a large percentage of the plants and shrubs around the church.
Ø Rick Huizenga whose “greatly discounted landscaping estimate” allowed so much of the landscaping to be completed at this time
Ø
Dave and Bonnie Dal Ponte who donated the refrigerator/freezer
to the hospitality area in the
Ø The Frey’s who donated the plants that added to the landscaping and planted them with TLC.
Ø Ray Israel and Rick Huizinga who continue to water the newly planted shrubs, plants and grass to ensure that they stay alive
Ø Gary Saam and his crew (which include Randy and Kyle Goodwin) as they tirelessly worked to get the drainage problem under control in our parking areas.
Ø
Jessica Ehrler who is spicing up the children’s corner in
the
Ø Dean Williams who dug out the dirt so that concrete for the SOTH sign could be poured; Jim and Mel Ehrler who are doing the other prep work for the sign and Bill Miller of Miller Steinke Funeral Homes who is paying for the brick work around the sign.
Ø All of you for your regular worship attendance and support for the church through sharing your time, talents and possessions.
Ø
Ø
All who continue to contribute baked goods to our fellowship
time each Sunday morning. Please
join us (
Ø All who help coordinate the brunches (council members), those who helped cook the eggs, all those who brought baked goods or fruits for the brunches, those who helped clean up and those who contributed so that benevolent causes could be funded.
Ø God, who sent the glorious rain that, was needed.
How Does it Feel to Give?
Van-Tastic!
Rev. Ken Matthews is pastor of Hanover United
Presbyterian Church, and his wife, the Rev. Lynne Matthews, is pastor of
Hanover United Methodist church in northwest
However, in the past couple of years, things have changed. Ken developed infections in his legs which prohibited the use of the steel braces which had enabled him to maneuver on crutches. There were several hospitalizations, and eventually the crutches had to be abandoned for a wheelchair, but further complications ensued.
As with many men in the middle years of life, Ken’s rotator cuffs were wearing out, and because 100% of his mobility had always been dependent on using his arms and shoulders for weight-bearing and transfer, the damage to Ken’s shoulders had become severe. Ken underwent surgery last year on his right shoulder, but the damage was so extensive that even after several months in a hospital bed at home and a long, painful application of physical rehabilitation, little gain was made. A kind, Christian soul donated an electric wheelchair, which helped greatly, but this could not be used in a normal vehicle. So, every transfer in and out of a vehicle put further strain on Ken’s shoulders, and threatened to reduce his ability to function in his work.
Some folks decided this needed to be attended to right
away. Research was done on wheelchair-accessible vans, and an arrangement
was made with the local bank for a line of credit to enable the purchase of
a new Dodge Caravan, equipped with all the accessories needed to enable Ken
to go wherever God’s work required him to be. We obtained this vehicle the
week before Christmas and delivered it to Ken and Lynne as a surprise after
worship on December 24th, with members of all the churches in
Now we need your help. We acted to meet this need,
trusting that folks would want to participate. We are calling for
congregations all across northern
Please prayerfully consider what your congregation
might do to help. Men’s and Women’s groups, individual donations,
fraternal matching fund programs, and congregational mission funds might be
considered as resources. All donations should be directed to Mr. Shane
Gerber at Centrue Bank,
Thanks in advance for your participation in such good work as this, and with our response, let us all echo the sentiments of Tiny Tim Cratchett in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”: God Bless Us, Every One!”
LIFE IN
COMMUNITY
Grandmother Karen and granddaughter Annika (age 5) were traveling along highway 26. Karen was noting the height of the corn that seemed to grow several inches each day. She then said to Annika, “With this tall corn along the road, I feel like we’re going through a tunnel.” It just so happened that the next day they were traveling along the very same highway. This time, granddaughter Annika said, ‘Grandma, with all this tall corn, I feel like we’re going through a tunnel.”
Ever notice how children imitate the adults in their lives? That could be grandparents, parents, teachers, pastors. I think that is kind of scary. But it can also be rewarding.
Knowing that children imitate us, what do they see when it comes to our faith life? Do we, as adults, show them the importance of time with God by reading Bible stories or reading devotions to or with them? Do we make sure they know the importance of the faith community in their life because we have brought them to Sunday school and church on a regular basis? Do we make sure we are following the promises we made to God on the day our children were baptized? Do we make sure that they are following the promises they made when they were confirmed?
Or, are we much more likely to make sure they get to their softball, volleyball, soccer or basketball games? Or that they make the play practices and the band practices so that they can excel in those areas? Which is more important, secular activities or developing a faith life grounded in Christ’s love?
Without a doubt, they do imitate us. In all things! How will their lives reflect what we have shown them about faith in a loving God and life in the community we call the church?
--SEE YOU IN WORSHIP?
-Pastor Barb
IF
GOD SHOULD GO ON STRIKE
It’s
just a good thing God above
has
never gone on strike.
Because
he wasn’t treated fair
or
things he didn’t like.
If
he had ever once sat down
and
said “That’s it – I’m through
I’ve
had enough of those on earth
so
this is what I’ll do”.
I’ll
give my orders to the sun
cut
off your heat supply.
And
to the moon give no more light
and
run your oceans dry.
Then
just to really make it tough
and
put the pressure on.
Turn
off the air and oxygen
till
every breath is gone.
Do
you know he’d be justified
if
fairness were the game
For
no one has been more abused
or
treated with disdain.
Than
God and yet he carries on
supplying
you and me.
With
all the favors of his grace
and
everything for free.
Men
say they want to better deal
and
so on strike they go.
But
what a deal we’ve given God
whom
everything we owe.
We
don’t care who we hurt or harm
to
fain the things we like.
But
what a mess we’d all be in
if
God should go on strike.
--Author
Unknown--
Keep in Your Prayers
¶
JIM
EHRLER
¶
ORVILLE
BOLDT
¶
DAVE
VERDON
¶
BUD
NESBITT
¶
WALLACE
WILKE (Bruce Wilke’s brother)
¶
ANGIE
WINTER
¶
RYAN
HENZE
¶
MARVIN
WILLIAMS
¶
GARY
SAAM
¶
MARY
ANN STADEL
¶
DANNY
KOESTER
¶
TODD
LANCASTER
¶ MEN & WOMEN SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES
and their FAMILIES
¶ PEACE in the world.
MEN’S COFFEE/BIBLE STUDY
The monthly meeting of the
Men’s Coffee/Bible Study will be held at the church on
We meet for approximately 1 hour. Offer opinions on any subject, plenty of refreshments, an interesting bible topic and great fellowship. We look forward to having you join us.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A CARD
to Jim Ehrler who is a patient at the University of Iowa Hospital in
Jim Ehrler
University of
7RCS
Phone number for the hospital: 1-319-353-9907
(Room 105)