» Everlasting Promises

Imagine – you’ve followed God from your homeland and everything that you recognize. And yet – none of that really matters because you have not had a child with your wife. And now, you’re 99. Then – the most amazing and perplexing announcement happens – I – El-Shaddai – will make an everlasting covenant with you – and if you remain faithful to me – your descendants will be MORE numerous than the stars. Imagine.

Building on the promise made to Noah, and also an earlier promise to Abram, God further pushes God’s relationship with God’s people. And all God requires is that Abraham be loyal only to and worship the One True God.

Could you do it? Give up everything to follow God? Surrender your will, your life, your future? That’s exactly what God asks – the Lord God Almighty – of us. This is part of our journey always, but more specifically now during

No matter where you are…know that you are most welcome here.

We Welcome.

Ministry Partner Sundays:
This Sunday, after all our snows and ice, we begin six weeks of hearing and interacting with our ministry partners. This is one way of living out our faith after those mountain top experiences. You hear us sharing stories about what these folks do and how we share things?

This week, Connect for Community will share their vision and their excitement as they continue to grow and reach folks in Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties. They will give a Temple Talk at each service, lead adult forum and also host fellowship hour! Please plan on sharing time with this group as they now are headquartered with us here at SOTH.

Lent Community Fish Fry (&Pie):

We’re having a community fish fry fundraiser! Save the date for Saturday March 14 between 4:30 and 7:30 to eat-in with us or carry-out your dinner(s). The Thistle, a three generation fish and chips shop, with be helping us provide this authentic meal that will be available to eat-in or carry out.

GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY AND SAVE! INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! LET’S MAKE THIS EVENT AN AMAZING EVENING OF FUN AND FELLOWSHIP IN SPARTA!

We need your help to run this event as well as invite all your friends to come and see what Shepherd of the Hills is doing! We’ll need table folks, servers, pie bakers, and set-up/breakdown folks. We pray that this event will welcome the community,share our outreach ministries with them, and raise some money to help keep our facility in working order and open for the various ministries that meet here.

We Equip.
Wednesdays in Lent:
6:30 PM – Soup & Bread Supper – All are welcome. If you feel inclined, bring a pot of your favorite soup to share.
7:00 PM – Evening Worship. This week, we will hear our first interview with a ‘silent witness’ – The Nail of the crucifixion. A small ‘witness’ will be given to accompany the crosses handed out on Ash Wednesday.

Faith Formation:
March brings our studies to a new unit – You Are Never Too Young To Be Called…The youth will learn about Samuel, Moses’ beginnings, and Jesus welcoming the little children. Fun and appropriate stories for our kids who are learning how to put their faith in action.

The outreach project this month will also benefit young people. On March 22, at 9:15 AM, we invite you to help the youth make fleece baby blankets for Birth Haven in Newton. Birth Haven provided hope and shelter for young women who are in need of shelter and support while pregnant and living with newborn children. There are also folks who have been working in knitting and crocheting blankets to be donated as well.

And – if you find coupons for Jo-Ann Fabrics, please drop them off to Pastor Tina – as we will have use of them to purchase the fleece for this project! Thanks!

Confirmation Retreat:
Looking ahead, the Middle School Retreat at Crossroads Camp and Retreat Center is April 24-26. The cost per student is $95. You may register directly with Crossroads. This is a great weekend of fun and fellowship with other youth. If you have questions, please see PTina!
We send.
SEC Food Pantry Gift of the Month:This year, we are switching up our offerings a bit. There are many things that folks need but are unable to buy with SNAP dollars. Last month, our gift was deodorant and soap. This month. our gift will be spices. we all know that salt enhances the flavor of food – but there are other spices that work well with food – and these things aren’t part of the federal program. They are also things that we normally don’t think about when we donate our food.

Looking ahead to March, we are asking for donations of feminine hygiene supplies for the Food Pantry.

Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle enables us to journey in prayer through every region of the world and through every week of the year affirming our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems and sharing diverse gifts.

This week (2/28-3/6) we pray for Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland.
Click on the country names to find out more for specific thinks to pray for and to give thanks.