Faith Makes Us Well

What role does faith play in positive medical outcomes?  In personal healing?  In miraculous circumstances?  According to Jesus, faith is an essential ingredient which works with the catalyst known as the Holy Spirit… all to produce successful results.  This week, Pastor Jack will rely on the evidence of Scripture, and the conclusions of current medical studies, to reinforce his message “Faith Makes Us Well”.  This is an essential message for anyone experiencing difficult circumstances in life. 

TODAY IS CLERGY APPRECIATION DAY – we are so grateful to God for the ministry of Pastor Jack.

FOOD COLLECTION FOR LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES- Please bring the following items and place in the shopping cart:
Oct. – dog and cat food – dry & canned

500 ITEM FOOD COLLECTION – Thrivent is once again sponsoring this $500. grant which we hope to once again give to the Weekend Bag Program which serves 26 area schools. We are collecting: soup, cereal, fruit snacks, pasta/sauce, bottled water, mac’n cheese, granola bars, tuna, ramen noodles, and applesauce cups. NO GLASS PLEASE. Please place donations on the table in the Parish Hall. Deadline is Oct. 31.

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS URGENTLY NEEDED – Please sign up on the bulletin board in the parish hall.

RIDES FOR RONN – Drivers are needed to provide rides to and from church on Sundays for Ronn Sacchiero who lives in Mt. Arlington. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the parish hall. Thanks!

SAVE THE DATES:

ACTIVITY TEAM MEETING– Tues., Oct 14 at 6 PM Join us as we begin planning for 2026! All are welcome—bring your ideas and enthusiasm.

GIVING TEAM MEETING – Aug. 25 – 7p.m. All are invited to help plan Generosity Sunday.

SUNDAY SCHOOL – The new Sunday School year for Children ages 4 through grade 6 has begun. Registration forms are in the narthex and on the church website.

FALL VENDOR & CRAFT FAIR –Sat., Oct. 25 – 10 AM-3 PM. Please sign up in narthex to volunteer and spread the word to friends and family! Most help is needed at end of event to put church back in order.

CHURCH WORKDAY – Sat. Nov.8 – 8 AM See Pat W. for more information.

PROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY THANKSGIVING BASKETS – Please see the bulletin insert for donations needed by Nov. 16. Delivery drivers and cash to purchase fresh items are also needed. Please make checks to SOTH with PSS Thanksgiving on the memo line. Sign up sheets are on the narthex bulletin board.

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE by Katie’s House. Please see bulletin insert. All items due in the gift box in the narthex by Dec. 5.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS – Sat., Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. lighting of over 20 decorated Christmas trees. Sponsors for trees, carolers, bakers and children will be needed for the Live Nativity. Please see the bulletin insert.

PLANET NETWORKS – is now our  Internet and telephone provider. If  you decide to choose them for your  Internet service, visit:

https://planet.net/ or telephone them at 833-3Planet and use the  referral code P8RC9 to earn a free month of service for SOTH! 

MONDAY ADULT BIBLE STUDY – Beginning Feb. 3, if you cannot attend (in person) our Bible studies on the first and third Mondays at 6:00pm, you can join us live via ZOOM video conferencing.
Please use this link:
Topic: SOTH Bible Study
Time: Apr 7, 2025 05:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87871072581
Meeting ID: 878 7107 2581

BROWN BAG BIBLE STUDY 
Continues in person at Holy Trinity Church or via Zoom, the first and third Wednesdays from noon-12:45. Join Pastor Jack for a lively discussion of the Bible. No prior experience necessary! Click here to join us via Zoom. 

JOIN US WITH GENEROUS GIVING TO OUR MISSION: with these gifts, we continue to welcome folks to our community, to equip them with faith tools – learning the word, prayers for one another, and communal support – and then to send us into the world to welcome others. Your donations to SOTH can be accomplished in the following ways:

• On Sunday, place your donation in the offering plate.
• Mail your offering to: SOTH 246 Woodport Rd., Sparta, NJ 07871
• Go online to setup your e-giving from your checking, savings, credit card or debit card http://secure.myvanco.com/L-YXCY
• Download Vanco Mobile (Faith) on your smartphone, search for Shepherd of the Hills (Sparta)
• Text Giving to 973-832-0226 You can make a one-time gift or setup recurring offerings.

PLEASE CONTACT Barbara Osborne FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH ELECTRONIC GIVING at bjo1216@gmail.com

Supplemental Opportunities For Giving – In addition to financial offerings mentioned above, there are additional ways to support our congregation that are mentioned on our website: https://www.sothnj.org/giving. 

Many thanks to all of the donors who support our mission!

WORSHIP INFO For October 12, 2025
Worship Service Bulletin
Faith Month Flyer

New Link for Zoom Bible Study, Wed. at noon

Meeting ID: 878 7107 2581

SOTH CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL AND TEAM LEADERS
Janine Shugan – Council President
Don Wolff – Vice President
Brett Maynard – Treasurer
Solveig Schunk – Worship and Music
Barbara Osborne – Financial Secretary
Recording Secretary – vacant
Nancy Wood – Christian Education
Patrick Wood – Property
Rick Erck – Membership
Kathy Schwab – Marketing
Judi Wolff – Community
Relief Activities – vacant Giving – vacant

STREAMING IS HERE!: We are excited to announce that you can now view our service live at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday. Click on this link to see the service and subscribe to our SOTH channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/@shepherdofthehillslutheran8820/streams  Don’t worry if you missed the live broadcast.  All services are archived on our channel.  You can also search for us on Facebook and like our page. https://www.facebook.com/SOTHNJ/.