INSIDE Mission ..................................................4 Adult Ministry.......................................7 Children & Family Ministries ............................................. 12 True Student Ministries ..................... 15 Connect, Concerns & Calendar .......17 Subscribe to this newsletter online at tinyurl.com/shpc-nl Staff Guide Larry Coulter .................Senior Pastor Mike Killeen ................... Assoc Pastor Britta Dukes ................... Assoc Pastor Ted Thulin ....................... Assoc Pastor Sherry Smith.................. Adult Ministry Chris Gordon ..................... Children’s Ministry Beth Watson ............... Music Ministry Zack Uzzle .................... Music Ministry Josh Coulter................ Music Ministry Pattie Lawrence ............... Preschool Director Belva Koerth .................... Office Mgr Mary Aversa...Communication/..... Business Director One church, two locations William Cannon Campus: 5226 W. William Cannon Dr. Brodie Campus: 12420 Hewitt Lane Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church 1 Shepherd of the Hills Presby The Shepherd’s Watch December 2013 Issue 11 Discover Jesus With Us On Christmas Eve each year the church lights are dimmed and the candles glow. People are done with their shopping and their friends and families are gathered. It's time to tell a story. Sometimes other scriptures are read first but the story really begins with Luke when he writes: "So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child." The narrative that follows is so familiar that for Christians it's hard to image a world without the story of God- with- us. Emmanuel. The Christmas story is our story. The miraculous born in the mundane-the subversive surprising work of God. God's creative, life giving, amazing grace is front and center at Christmas. My prayer for you and your family is that this story will not get lost in the midst of all the voices that take the holiday a different direction, but instead that the season will open you up to the wonder and joy of our Savior's birth. I look forward to spending Christmas with you!
Subscribe to this newsletter online at tinyurl.com/shpc-nl
Staff GuideLarry Coulter .................Senior Pastor
Mike Killeen ...................Assoc Pastor
Britta Dukes ...................Assoc Pastor
Ted Thulin .......................Assoc Pastor
Sherry Smith ..................Adult Ministry
Chris Gordon .....................Children’s Ministry
Beth Watson ...............Music Ministry
Zack Uzzle ....................Music Ministry
Josh Coulter ................Music Ministry
Pattie Lawrence ...............Preschool Director
Belva Koerth ....................Office Mgr
Mary Aversa...Communication/ ..... Business Director
One church, two locationsWilliam Cannon Campus:5226 W. William Cannon Dr.Brodie Campus:12420 Hewitt Lane
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church 1Shepherd of the Hills Presby
The Shepherd’s Watch December 2013 Issue 11
Discover Jesus With UsOn Christmas Eve each year the church lights are dimmed and the candles glow.
People are done with their shopping and their friends and families are gathered. It's time to tell a story. Sometimes other scriptures are read first but the story really begins with Luke when he writes:
"So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."
The narrative that follows is so familiar that for Christians it's hard to image a world without the story of God- with- us. Emmanuel. The Christmas story is our story. The miraculous born in the mundane-the subversive surprising work of God.
God's creative, life giving, amazing grace is front and center at Christmas. My prayer for you and your family is that this story will not get lost in the midst of all the voices that take the holiday a different direction, but instead that the season will open you up to the wonder and joy of our Savior's birth. I look forward to spending Christmas with you!
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Worship Music for the Christmas Season!Both Wm. Cannon and Brodie will enjoy wonderful music during advent. The choir will be singing their Christmas
Cantata, “Love Came Down,” at Brodie during the 11:00 worship hour on December 8th, and at Wm. Cannon on December 15th during both worship hours. Bluegrass Christmas, now a SHPC tradition, will be at Wm. Cannon during both hours on December 8th, and at Brodie on the 15th. Don’t miss these special worship experiences during the holidays!
YOU'RE INVITED TO A FESTIVE AFTERNOON OF CAROL SINGINGMONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 4:00 P.M., EMERITUS AT BECKETT MEADOWS
Every year, we gather around the piano with the residents of Emeritus at Beckett Meadows to sing our favorite Christmas carols together.
This is a multi-generational event that includes Children's Ministry, our SHPC Preschool families and anyone else who would like to join in the fun!
If a little "Joy to the World" and some "Fa La Las"
sound like something you'd like to add to your Advent season, please meet us in the lobby of Emeritus at Beckett Meadows (just around the corner from the church at 7709 Beckett Road) at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9th. Please contact Pastor Britta with any questions about this event: (512) 892-3580, ext. 107 or [email protected]
ALL-CHURCH FIRESIDE CAROL SING
Gather around the fire in the narthex at Wm Cannon on December 22nd at 6:30 PM as we sing all our favorite carols and enjoy cookies, cider and hot chocolate. PJs are welcome! (Especially footy pajamas with reindeer…)
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Christmas Mission Opportunities at Shepherd of the Hills
There are a number of ways you and your family can share the joy of Christmas with those who are struggling in Central Texas and around the world. Here are the many opportunities Shepherd of the Hills offers. More information can be found on some of these missions in the next pages of this newsletter.
Angel TreeChoose an Angel from the tree, sign out the angel at the designated table, buy and wrap the gift, attaching the
angel to it then return the gift under the tree by December 12th. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to recipients who might not otherwise have anything to open on Christmas.
Angel Tree gifts benefit clients of Refugee Services of Texas, Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services, Trinity Child Development Center and Angel Tree of Prison Fellowship.
Meals on Wheels Christmas BoxesChristmas Boxes are lovingly provided to seniors and disabled adults identified by Meals on Wheels. Meals on
Wheels will deliver their holiday dinner, and a Christmas Box gives them something to look forward to both on and after Christmas. Wrap your gifts and return them to the church December 1st or 8th.
Take a flyer from the Narthex table next to the Meals on Wheels Christmas Box poster for a list of suggested items and recommendations on packaging your gifts.
Guatemalan Craft FairThe Fair takes place in the Narthex November 24th and December 1st and is a great way to do a little
Christmas shopping for a great cause. The Guatemalan crafts sold by the Guatemala Partnership Team of Mission Presbytery are obtained from two fair trade organizations in Guatemala: UPAVIM, which translates to United for a Better Life and MAYAN HANDS. All monies received from craft sales are used to support these two organizations.
Manos de Cristo Tamale SaleOrder and pay for your tamales in the Narthex November 24th and December 1st, then pick them up at the
church on December 8th. Shepherd of the Hills has a long-standing relationship with Manos de Cristo, a fantastic local organization supporting Central Texans living in poverty.
Christmas Eve OfferingOur mission partners in Malawi, Mexico and Guatemala will benefit from offerings collected on Christmas Eve.
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MISSIONGreat Opportunities for DOUBLE GIFTS
Looking for a way to provide a great gift for that hard to shop for someone in your life? Well look no further. Shepherd of the Hills has plenty of ways for your gift giving dollar go further than ever before. How you ask?
Take part in one of many opportunities to give this year and are helping more than just the recipient of the gift. If you buy from the Guatemalan craft fair, you can purchase a gift, and you know that profits went back the artisan who made the item. That’s a DOUBLE GIFT!
What about those hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list? If you give an Angel Tree gift to a deserving recipient in your loved one’s name, that’s a DOUBLE GIFT!
If you help provide for our christmas meals on wheels food boxes you have provided two gifts in one, The first is the goodies inside the box, and the second is the gift of restored hope. That’s a DOUBLE GIFT.
And lastly, the Manos Tamale Sale allows you to support a fantastic ministry here in Austin while gaining an easy meal to bring to grandma’s house for that Christmas gathering. That’s a very tasty DOUBLE GIFT.
The concept is simple and effective, so stock up now on those double gifts that show the love of Christ and the compassion and faithfulness of his followers.
Angel TreeThis Advent season we will provide
Christmas gifts in partnership with four agencies—Refugee Services of Texas, Presbyterian Children's Homes & Services, Trinity Child Development Center and Angel Tree of Prison Fellowship.
Beginning Sunday, Nov. 24th there will be a Christmas tree in the narthex covered with paper angels. Each angel will have a recipient's name and gift wish (most in the $25-50 range, but there will also be bicycles and a few other “special” requests).
To participate:1. Choose an angel,2. Register your choice
by signing out the angel at the
designated table3. Buy and wrap the gift, attaching
the angel to it4. Return the gift under the tree by
December 12th.Another fun and meaningful
way to participate is to help deliver the gifts. Beginning Sunday Dec. 15th there will be several opportunities on the weekends as well as during the week to actually take the gifts to families.
Christmas Boxes for SeniorsJoin the PrimeTime Adult Ministries in collecting Christmas Boxes for Seniors. These will be distributed to seniors
and disabled adults who Meals on Wheels has identified as unlikely to receive anything for Christmas, and a Christmas Box shows them that someone truly cares about them!
Meals on Wheels will provide each client a holiday dinner (delivered beforehand frozen to be heated by the client), and our Christmas Boxes will give them something to look forward to on Christmas and after.
These boxes should include a Christmas card, a few small decorations, a small wrapped gift, and some everyday things we take for granted, but are luxuries on a limited budget.
You can use a shoe box or cardboard box or a decorated a small plastic storage box with decorated packages inside, but please keep the box under 20 pounds and about 2 cubic feet. Remember, volunteers have to transport these in addition to their normal food deliveries! Please be sure that the boxes close, and please do not place bows or other decorations on the outside of the box. Here are some ideas.
• A Christmas card – write a line or two. Sign it; this may be the most cherished gift!
• Small decorations that will fit into the box• Non-perishable food, such as
• Coffee & artificial sweetener• Sugar-free hot chocolate mix• Apple cider packets• Box of tea bags• Small canned ham or tuna• Canned vegetables, fruit or soup• Instant oatmeal packets• Jars of peanut butter and jelly
• Plastic Christmas Tablecloth• Christmas Place Mats• Christmas dishtowel
• Christmas coffee Mug• Sugar-free candies• Tin or package of cookies• Gloves or mittens• Knit cap• A calendar• Notepad & pens• Envelopes & stamps• Scarf• Lap Blanket or Throw• Facial Tissues• Hand lotion• Shampoo• Shaving cream & disposable razors
PrimeTime will collect these boxes before services in the narthex. They will be delivered to Meals on Wheels clients the week of December 16 as part of the regular food deliveries.
Consider making this a family activity. Take the kids or grandkids shopping for the items to go in the box, then have them help pack the box, write a note, sign the Christmas card or even draw a Christmas scene.
Help some of our neighbors remember that someone cares.
PLEASE RETURN YOUR BOXES ON DECEMBER 1 OR DECEMBER 8.
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A Big Trip is Coming!We want you to consider joining us this summer in Guatemala. We are
in the early stages of trip planning right now and want you to start praying about whether or not this might be “your year.”
Every summer we take 40-50 adults and students to Guatemala to serve in ways that are powerful, even life-changing, for both SHPC travelers and our hosts. God moves in magnificent ways when we get outside our comfort zone, and he calls us to open our eyes to needs of those around us.
Please consider joining our amazing efforts in Guatemala. We have several areas where you and your family could be involved. Please start praying now. God is calling all of us. Trip dates will be published next month, and these trips fill quickly, so register as soon as possible.
Austin Flood UpdateA huge thank you!
The Mission committee would like to thank all of the families and individuals who assisted and are still assisting those affected by the recent floods in Austin. Students and adults of all ages came out to help provide the man/woman power to get things started on the clean up effort. It is power to see
not just our church but the entire austin faith community reach out together and provide love, care and assistance. Special thank goes out to Bill Brock. Bill is our disaster coordinator and he work closely with the Austin Disaster Relief Network to mobilize the people of shpc.
There is still plenty left to be done and many families who are without adequate lodging. If you would like to help please visit ADRN.org for the most current list of needs both physical and spiritual.
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ADULT MINISTRYMary Martha Circle Celebration!
"Piece on Earth" SHPC QuiltersWe ended our season of quilting in October and we
will start anew in January. This year we had new quilters join us to make their first blocks and our 'core' group who returned each month taking these quilts through their paces, one layer, one technique, one seam at a time - through to the end.
We ended up with approximately 30 lap-sized quilts, and these will be given to Meals on Wheels through our Prime Time group.
Beginning January 25, 2014, the "Piece on Earth" quilters will continue to meet, every 4th Saturday but we will be meeting off campus. The exact dates, time and location will be announced in the January Newsletter. Thanks to everyone who donated fabric or gift certificates for fabric!
Dee Merrell will continue sending out monthly emails with news of our group and information on "quilty" shows, galleries and classes for our area. If you would like to be on the email list for this group, or if you have specific questions, please contact: [email protected] or 512-829-4352 - You do not need to be a quilter to be on our email list!
Prime Time is SHPC’s 50± adult ministry
December Lunch BunchPlease join us again for the Christmas Adult Fellowship
Luncheon on Saturday, December 14th, at 11:30am. This year we’ll be at Romano’s Macaroni Grill located at 701 East Stassney Lane (Stassney and I-35).
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there for a great lunch and Christian fellowship! Please reserve your place by phoning Annie Ward at (512) 373-8803 or emailing ([email protected]) by Wednesday, December 11th.
Ho! Ho! Ho! MERRY CHRISTMAS! You are invited to the
Mary Martha Christmas Luncheon!December 5th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
in the William Cannon sanctuary
Karan Adams will play piano while Ray leads the singing.
Lunch will be served in the Narthex. The cost is $9.00.
Please RSVP to Diane O’Leary at 512-263-2083
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A Different Kind of Journey Group2013 SHPC Study Tour Participants in Florence, Italy
Our SHPC trips are more than just travel to interesting places. We begin preparing the participants about a year in advance by sending them a suggested reading list. Then that is followed by watching related movies, and finally by a series of history classes to prepare us for the focus of each particular trip.
For this particular tour entitled “Discover Tuscany: Birthplace of the Renaissance,” we focused on the years from 1000 to 1600. We looked at the developments that lead from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and finally to the Reformation. We looked at key historical events and people for each century as well as the key spiritual movements that developed. Joyce Stewart also provided a weekly blog of meditations relevant to the themes we were studying.
I believe this group was more prepared than any so far to understand and appreciate what they would be seeing. During this process, the 40 SHPC members and friends also got to know each other so that most everyone already knew each other’s names before the adventure began.
As we arrived at the airport everyone was given a daily information and meditation booklet produced especially for this journey. Throughout our journey, Larry
taught us more about the key spiritual movements we had been studying.
Since we landed in Rome, we first had a day of visiting the ancient Roman sights such as the Forum and Colosseum. Then we headed for Tuscany where we were based in a town called Montecatini Terme. From there we headed out by bus each day to the nearby medieval hill towns, largely frozen in time since the Black Death plague of around 1350. In Assisi, we saw the church of Saint Francis. In Siena, we visited the square where the famous Palio bareback horse races take place. We saw a “hospital”, meaning place of hospitality, where pilgrims on their way to Rome would stop to rest. In San Gimignano we marveled at the medieval towers still left from times reminiscent of Romeo and Juliette when rival families battled each other for prominence. We were there on a Thursday for Market Day in the town square, a tradition which has continued for more than 1000 years at that site.
In Florence, we visited the Cathedral and Larry and several brave souls made the 465 step climb up into the dome engineered by Brunelleschi. It was the largest dome in the world until Michelangelo created
Continued on page 9
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church 9
the dome of St. Peter’s. We walked in the steps of the Medici family in the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace. Some of us who had read both Dante’s Inferno and Dan Brown’s Inferno in preparation for the trip, made sure to take a look at Dante’s death mask. And, of course, we made a visit to behold Michelangelo’s David.
Throughout the trip we shared wonderful meals together and tasted wines from each region as well as local specialties such as wild boar and saffron risotto. Most of us also had gelato almost every day – sometimes twice. We also had free time to shop for local handicrafts of pottery, leather, and olive wood. Our fellowship continued to be enriched as we shared all these activities with each other.
Finally, on our last day we were back in Rome and had a wonderful tour of the Vatican, ending with a viewing of Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. What a great highlight with which to end our tour and our exploration of the Renaissance.
Our next study tour will be in 2015. We are considering a study of the Reformation which would mean traveling to Germany and Switzerland while studying Martin Luther and John Calvin, among others. Past trips, which will be repeated at some point, include the Holy Land, walking in Paul’s footsteps in Greece and Turkey, Early Christianity in the Roman Empire, and Presbyterianism as it developed in Scotland and England. For information on these study tours, please contact Director of Adult Ministry, Sherry Smith, at [email protected].
Andiamo!by Lynn Wright
Andiamo is Italian for “Let’s GO!” That’s just what thirty six intrepid SHPC travelers did in November, as we trekked through Italy with Pastor Larry.
We walked on cobblestone streets used since Roman times, climbed LOTS of stairs, ate more food than we'd care to admit, viewed art that most of us know only from postcards and stood in places of worship used by Christians for centuries. We worshiped at restaurants, at a vineyard, and in a moving bus and were awed by our Tour Manager's a cappella rendition of "O Holy Night" on our last evening in Rome. How blessed we feel to have had such an amazing trip with good friends.
If you want to hear stories or see pictures, just ask...we have lots!
A Different Kind of Journey Groupcontinued from page 8
BEGINNING IN JANUARY
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Do you ever feel insufficient? Could it be that your weaknesses are the keys that unlock God’s strength? Through a look at the life of Gideon, we discover that instead of ignoring, neglecting or trying to escape your weaknesses, you can see them as the gifts, given specifically and strategically by God to unlock the door of God’s strength.
The winter women’s morning Bible study runs from January 7th through February 25th, Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 at the William Cannon Campus.
All are welcome! Childcare is available with preregistration.
For more information or to register contact Renee Forsythe at [email protected] or 512-288-4546.
Searching for more?If you enjoyed Explore God and are interested in continuing to wrestle with similar questions, such as ‘What
is the point of life? Why is there suffering in the world? What happens when we die? and more…then we encourage you to join us at Alpha.
What is the Alpha course? It is a practical introduction to the Christian faith that gives participants an opportunity to explore the meaning of life. Alpha is fun, relaxed and totally non-pressured. Listen, learn, discuss, and discover. Ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is off limits. How does it work? Each Alpha course beings with food, followed by a short talk looking at a different aspect of the Christian faith. After that, there is a time for discussion in a friendly small group. Who is Alpha for? Alpha is for everyone, especially those who have given up on church, those wanting to investigate Christianity, those who are new to the Christian faith and those wanting to grow in understanding and faith. What is the cost? There is no charge for the Alpha course.
Alpha is a 10 week course that will meet on Sundays from 6-8pm. If you are interested in participating in Alpha come join us for our Kick-off dinner on Sunday January 26 @ 6pm at the William Cannon Campus. To sign up please contact Greg Williford at [email protected] or Ted Thulin at [email protected]
SHPC Men’s Book ClubThe Men’s Book Club will meet on Thursday,
December 5th at 7:00 p.m. in Room 9 on the William Cannon Campus. The book is Adam Makos’ A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II, an exciting adventure about two pilots, one German and the other American, whose lives intersect over Germany during WWII. As Amazon describes the book:
Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly, a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and later be called the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.
This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day—the American—
2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II. A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s
harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of 1,000 bombers each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.
Join us as Ron Ward leads the discussion as host for the meeting. For more information, contact Stefan Haag at 512-288-3479 or [email protected].
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Celebrating Holidays...Even When There’s Griefby Deborah Ballew
Christmas! That time of year when conversations consist of: “Are you staying home or traveling for the holidays?” or “Got the shopping done yet?” Have you noticed that at this time of year we also replace “Hi” and “Bye” with “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”, but have you ever said this to someone only to be met with a scowl, glare or even worse, a comment along the lines of a “BAH HUMBUG!” It’s a reaction that leaves you wondering if you’ve just me the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge himself.
While, for most people this is the season of joy and giving, the holidays are a very difficult time for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, loss of a job or as
we’ve seen on the news those who have lost their homes, possessions and more in the recent floods. These people are going through a season of loss.
Do you know someone who’s experiencing a season of loss but don’t know how to help them? Talk to your friend or loved one and encourage them to request a Stephen Minister. Let them know there’s nothing wrong or embarrassing in asking for help, this is one of the reasons God created the Church. We are family, and we are to care for each other. This is why SHPC provided the training for those individuals in the Stephen Ministry, to come alongside those who are experiencing a season
of loss or just need someone to listen. A Stephen Minister is there to comfort, listen and through this process, maybe turn a season of loss into one of understanding, healing and restoration.
“Look after each other that none of you fails to receive the grace of G o d ” Hebrews 12:15
Four couples, four months,
fabulous food and fun fellowship are what 4 x 4 dinner groups are all about.
Participating couples will be assigned a group in January, then beginning in February, groups will
meet once a month for four consecutive months to share a meal together. Each couple hosts and prepares the entree and beverages one time then brings a side dish to each of the
other three meals. This adults-only event is a wonderful opportunity for you and your significant-other to create deep relationships with
other couples in the church! Signups take place in December. Contact Dick & Susan Klusmann at 512-301-3561 or [email protected].
4 X 4 DINNER GROUPS
BODY & SOULMark your calendars
for your next opportunity to focus on the Word and your body together.
Body and Soul Yoga starts again February 1st and goes through March 8. Saturdays, 9:30-10:45am in the FMC. No previous yoga experience necessary. "...therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1Corinthians 6:20
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CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Children’s Ministry Important Dates• Wednesday, December 4 – Christmas Pageant rehearsal• Saturday, December 7 – Christmas Pageant dress rehearsal & Family
Activity• Sunday, December 8 – 2013 Christmas Pageant at 5:30 p.m.• Sunday, December 15 – Last day of Sunday School for 2013 (bothl
campuses); Children’s Ministry Volunteer Potluck and Christmas Celebration at 6:00 p.m.
• UpStreet and WONDER Junction Sunday Schools will continue in 2014 on January 5!
Hey Dad, Want to be My Hero? Sometimes, all it takes is breakfast with
your kids. All Pro Dad is a simple idea with a profound impact. It's a one-hour monthly breakfast where fathers and their children meet with other dads and kids. During this time, they discuss a wide range of family topics, spend time together, create fun memories, and are equipped with resources to strengthen their relationship.
Make plans to join us on Saturday December 14th at 8am for an All Pro Dad’s breakfast at the Brodie Campus. We will have a guest speaker, great food & fellowship. If you want more information or have any questions please contact Ted Thulin at [email protected].
All members and friends of the congregation are invited to join us for our Children’s Christmas pageant, Love Came Down at Christmas!
A reception and photo opportunities will be held immediately following the performance.
Dress Rehearsal for this year’s Christmas pageant will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 9:00 a.m. Children will pick-up their costumes and run the entire show together!
Any Preschool children wishing to be sheep, shepherds or angels are invited to our Dress Rehearsal. This will be a rehearsal for all cast members. If you have a preschool child interested in participating
please email Pastor Britta Dukes ([email protected]) your child’s name, age, and role preference, and we’ll have a costume ready!
Any adults who can help with herding our sheep, and guiding our angels that for the dress rehearsal and the performance should contact Chris Gordon: [email protected]
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JOYFinding a way to be happy, even when things don’t go your way.
December Virtue
Preschool NewsWe are so grateful to have
such precious children and terrific teachers in our halls here at preschool. The kids were excited to get a visit from Firefighters recently and to also celebrate fall with our Costume Caper and class parties.
We had some adorable costumes again this year and some happy trick or treaters!
Now we are learning about Thanksgiving and giving to others. This is reinforced with our upcoming
Thanksgiving Feast and through our canned food drive. During Chapel time, the children are learning the story of David & Goliath as well as verse Psalm 107:1. Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
ATTENTION SNUGGLERS!
The holidays bring with them multiple church services, visitors to SHPC, and the opportunity to love on some babies! In an effort to allow our out-of-town Child Care team members time with their
families during the holidays, we are adjusting schedules and offering SHPC members time in the Nursery. Anyone interested in helping with Nursery care for the 3:45 and 5:00 services on Christmas Eve should contact Chris Gordon ([email protected]).
COME CREATE CHRISTMAS CHALETS AND CAROUSELS!It's a family favorite here at SHPC
-- making gingerbread creations together!
This year's big event will take place on Saturday, December 7th, from 10am- 12noon, in the Family Ministry Center on the William Cannon campus.
You can expect a Saturday morning packed full of fun and laughter as families put together their festive sugar-covered creations! Christmas tunes and the smell of hot chocolate will fill the air, and sweet treats will abound. Top perks include bonding as a family and with other families, and a real favorite… not
having to clean up your own kitchen when it's over because we're taking care of the mess!
Sign up now for the gingerbread kit of your choice ($10 each). Sign up sheets are located in the narthex area (WC & B) and Family Ministry Center (WC). You may also register by e-mailing Pastor Britta with your name, number of family members attending and choice of kit
to [email protected]. This family event is considered "the more, the merrier" and is open to all, so invite a friend and come join the fun!
Deadline for registration is Wednesday, December 4th.
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JOY! JOY! JOY! BIG STORY LIVE IS COMING SOON!
Hey kids-- grab your parents and perhaps a friend or two, and join us for our next Big Story Live gathering! We promise 45-minutes of fun as we sing, laugh and learn more about this month's Life Application of JOY and how to "Let It Shine!"
The Clubhouse Kids will be up to their usual shenanigans, so you can expect lots of smiles and surprises as they share what they know about Joy.
We have two show times for your convenience, so join us at 11am in the FMC at William Cannon or at 12:30 in the sanctuary at Brodie (with lunch provided free of charge).
We hope to see you there!
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TRUE STUDENT MINISTRIESThe Youth are CONSPIRING
Conspiring?! How? By asking the question, “What
if we did Christmas differently? What if instead of self we focused on another? What if, instead of receiving, we focused on giving, and what if, instead of buying stuff, we tried making gifts from the heart?”
Worship Fully. Christmas marks the moment where God’s promise was fulfilled and love took form. This moments deserves a celebration not of self, but of giving more from the heart and less from the wallet.
Spend Less. Quick question: name one gift you got last year for Christmas. Can you name the fourth gift? Do you remember any
of them? Spending less is not a call to stop giving gifts, it is call to stop spending money on gifts we wont remember a year later. Of the 450 billion dollars that will be spent this season, very little will be remembered and cherished. By spending wisely and staying out of debt, we allow our hearts to fully engage in the true spirit of Christmas.
Give More. Believe it or not, this is actually possible, even when spending less. The most powerful and memorable gifts are the ones that come from your heart and not your wallet. The best gift you can give someone is yourself, being generous with your time. That’s what
Jesus did. Spend more timewith the people you love. It is a powerful and lasting gift.
Love All. When all is said and done, you may find yourself with a slightly heavier wallet or a much shorter credit card bill, and that is awesome. Now with those new found funds, we want you to give to those with the deepest needs around you. The students of SHPC are skipping their crazy gift exchange this year to save and collect HEB & Walmart Gift Cards for the families effected by the recent floods. If you want to conspire with these students, simply Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More & Love All.
CONFIRMATION 2014
Want to really know what you believe? I hope so! Knowing what you believe is what confirmation is all about. Getting to know God and your faith better, and to be able to articulate those things that you believe about God out loud is what happens at Holy Moly.
Along the way you will be guided by pastors, other youth and Mentor Adults from the church. Plus, we will attend a crazy and wild camp at Pine Cove that will simply blow you away.
Confirmation starts on Sunday Mornings in January (many classes will be repeated on Wednesday nights as well) and is for all students 8th grade and above!
If you have said yes to following Jesus in your heart, it just might be time to say Yes out loud to your church. More information is available at iamtrue.org.
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NEW PICTURE DIRECTORY IN 2014!Have you checked out your family portrait in the
current SHPC picture directory lately? It’s been 5 years since the last one was produced, and if your family is like most, things have changed just a little bit!
Life Touch Studios will once again be at Shepherd of the Hills this winter to take portraits and produce a new photo directory. Watch for announcements to come, and make sure to schedule a session when sign-ups become available.
Photographers will be at the William Cannon campus for two weeks to give you plenty of flexibility. We have tentatively scheduled the second and third weeks in February.
Welcome, New Members!
We’re glad you’re here!
Donna Carol AylorI’m a Texas girl. Born in
Galveston, Texas and raised in several cities in Galveston County on the Mainland. I have two daughters and five grandchildren all living in Austin, Texas. I’ve lived in Austin 16 years and love it here. My son-in-law, Scott Sokol, and his two children Faye and Winston invited me to SHPC one Christmas several years ago and I have been attending since then. I also bring my other two young grandchildren, Aniela and Ronan Hayes when I can. One granddaughter, Camen Nichols, is a Junior at A & M in Corpus Christi, Texas. I have transferred my church letter from First Baptist Church, LaMarque, TX. I am so happy to make SHPC my church home now.
Miss Turning In Your Pledge?If you missed turning in your pledge, you can still do
that in one of two ways. There are pledge cards and envelopes in the Narthex that you can fill out and mail in or place in the offering plate. You can also e-mail the amount of your pledge to [email protected].
Your pledges help us create the budget for 2014, so even if your pledge seems small to you, it would help us tremendously to know how much you plan to contribute in 2014.
MANY THANKS!
SHPC November Calendar HighlightsRooms are at our Wm Cannon Campus (W) or Brodie Campus (B).
Only events that do not occur every week are listed below. For complete calendar, including updates to rooms and times, visit
calendar.shpc.org. 1 Sunday Guatemalan Craft Fair before and after worship, W & B,
Narthex5 Thursday 11 a.m. Mary Martha Circle Christmas Luncheon7 Saturday 9 a.m. Pageant Dress Rehearsal, W-Sanctuary 10 a.m. Cantata Dress Rehearsal, B-Sanctuary 10 a.m. Family Gingerbread Day, W-FMC8 Sunday DEADLINE FOR JANUARY NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS Last day to return Meals On Wheels Christmas Boxes 11 a.m. Big Story Live!, W-FMC 12:30 p.m. Big Story Live!, B-Sanctuary Christmas Cantata during worship at Brodie Bluegrass Christmas during worship at Wm Cannon 5:30 p.m. Christmas Pageant, W-Sanctuary12 Thursday Last day to return Angel Tree Gifts14 Saturday 8 a.m. All Pro Dad, Brodie 10 a.m. Cantata Dress Rehearsal, W-Sanctuary15 Sunday Christmas Cantata during worship at Wm Cannon Bluegrass Christmas during worship at Brodie 22 Sunday No Wonder Junction, UpStreet, or True Faith. Kids are in
worship. 6:30 p.m., All-church Christmas Carol Singalong, W-Narthex24 Tuesday-Christmas Eve CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED Wm Cannon Services at 3:45, 5:00, 6:30, and 8:00 p.m. Brodie Service at 5:00 p.m.25 Wednesday-Christmas Day CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED29 Sunday No Wonder Junction, UpStreet, or True Faith. Kids are in
worship.
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Anniversaries and BirthdaysANNIVERSARIESDec 02 Mark & Tracy LordDec 05 Steve & Deborah WagnerDec 09 Jeff & Lori WhitmireDec 11 Jaco Steynberg & Elna ReinachDec 13 Matt & Kim ArthurDec 14 John & Sandi MoehlmanDec 15 Tim & Summer WhittenDec 18 Nona Jo & Gary MayDec 19 Bruce & Maryellen AlbertsonDec 20 Steve & Elisa DonnellDec 21 Asa & Donna Sphar, Phillip & Jenny
CallahanDec 23 Mike & Aimee KilleenDec 27 Dick & Susan Klusmann, Don & Jody Barrett,
Jim Meador, Maria TissingDec 24 Laura Bost, Mary Carnes, Howard
Haberman, DeAnne Pearson, Emily PellerinDec 25 Alicia Carr, Allison SchaferDec 25 Dec 27 Olivia Brady, Karen Hughes, Chris Huntley,
Pam Immitt, Brenda Johnson, Ramsay Mudgett, Marc Padovani, Tim Whitten
Dec 28 Keira Jordan, Susan Klusmann, Martin Ramirez, Lynn Tunison
Dec 29 Major Bettridge, Kyle Parker, Sarah Peters, Frances Tomlinson
Dec 30 Nancy Hines, Bryan ParkerDec 31 Shirley Henry, Chris Lenertz, Sally Schilstra,
Sue Wendelin, Lori Whitmire
Sermons for DecemberDecember 1
DISCOVER LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS
December 8DISCOVER LOVE IN THE MIDST OF APATHY
December 15DISCOVER HOPE IN THE MIDST OF DESPAIR
December 22DISCOVER PEACE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS
December 25DISCOVER JOY IN OUR MIDST
Joys — Mickey Bell recovering well following quadruple bypass surgery
Sorrows — Curtis “Ronnie” Davis, husband of Libby and father of Rebecca Berryman, passed away November 15th—Steve Gerlach’s mother passed away November 1st—Sharon Rothert’s sister, LaVerne Epperson, passed away on October 25th—Kim Harkness’ father passed away on October 20th
Please pray for — Jim Riggs’ brother, triple bypass—The Haberman family–rapidly declining health of Porky and major health concerns for Porky’s brother, Howard—Sharon Rothert, hospitalized—Elizabeth Flores, sister of Carol Lee, considering mission work—Deb Ballew’s friend, Charlene O’Brien, breast cancer—Deb Ballew’s friend Deb VanDongen, recurrence of leukemia—Don Abbinanti, father of Cathy & Peter Greenlaw, scheduled for bypass surgery—Typhoon victims in the Philippines and for the aid workers who are helping them—Susan Ward, cousin of Cathy Beard, brain aneurysms—Melissa Lutke, seeking new job following layoff—Kati Freytag’s friends Rebekah & Jason Jones, recently diagnosed with leukemia – Kati Freytag asks prayers for the parents-in-law of Amy Hoskins, both diagnosed with cancer—Amy Miller Clines, friend of Elaine Carroll, cancer—Albert Olson, in nursing care with declining health—Peggy Howard and her son Sam Howard, friends of Jessica Wade, needing prayers of support—Bryant & Anita Savage, flood damage to their home – Marion Bolton’s father, Al Olson, health issues—Pat Haag, recovering from knee surgery—Nita Coulter, niece of Jo Williford, upcoming surgery—Marie Velliquette, recovering from injuries sustained in a fall—Kathi Edgmon, friend of Elizabeth Gandy, dealing with her husband’s and son’s health issues—Beth Armitage, recovering from a serious fall—DeAnne Pearson’s mother, recovering from a serious fall—Al Lepley, doing okay after being unwell in church on October 20th—Deb Coulter Bueide as she continues battling cancer – Gary Henley, friend of Wayne & Pam Gonzalez, surgery – Rhonda Rosenaver, work partner of Wayne & Pam Gonzalez, foot amputation—Austin, the city where we’re planted—Pastor Alfred Mtonga, his family, and Manyamula CCAP Church—Pastor Chimwemwe Mhango and his family—Pastor Clement Munthali and his family—Pastor Kenneth Muyila and his family—Ronica Ngulube
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Please add to your prayers...
Please pray for our leaders and our loved ones in the military…
Members of the Armed Forces and all world leaders involved in war zone crises including: David Floto, son of Carl Floto & Ruth Ann Widner… John Fisher, nephew of Derek & Kristi Fisher… Brian Moran, friend of the Morales family… Jose Fernandez, friend of Gaston & Junie Broyles and graduate of PPAS… Mitch Guile, friend of Eddie & Stacey Reynolds… Teddy Sweredoski, friend of Stan & Jessica Wade… Tyler Moser, son of a friend of Dee & Greg Merrell… Kate Ingram, daughter of Temple & Janet Ingram… Christopher Lehmann, son of Mark Lehmann…. Larry Roberman, brother of Lori Whitmire…
