The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost – July 31, 2022

BE ON GUARD AGAINST GREED

MANY THANKS to all who helped to repair the fence. It looks great! Special thanks to Pat Wood for coordinating the repair and for all of the recent repairs with the septic system. Don’t know what we would do without you!

ADOPT A GARDEN – there are many church gardens in need of weeding and planting (if you’d like to add to the flowers.) Please see Pat Wood to choose your space, and thank you for beautifying your church.

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS – are needed. Please see the sign-up sheet on the narthex table. Thanks to the DiCola’s for leading this fellowship activity.

MASKS ARE OPTIONAL -Traditional communion has returned, but communion cups will still be available.

 LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSEYour gifts will support Ukrainians and others. Gifts to “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by the crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Checks or money orders can be sent to:
Lutheran Disaster Response P.O. Box 1809 Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
Write “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” on your check memo line.
Give by phone at 800-638-3522 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT) or online.

SAVE THE DATES:
BLOOD DRIVE is scheduled for Thursday, July 28 from 1-7 PM. Volunteers are needed. Please contact the church office if you can volunteer to help or serve as the coordinator.

WINE TASTING is scheduled for Saturday, August 6 – 6 to 8 PM Please invite a friend, and sign up on the clipboard on the narthex table or let Solveig Schunk (201-919-2015, Solveig2012@gmail.com) know as soon as possible if you will attend so we can have sufficient beverages on hand

PASTOR’S VACATION –will be from 7/18 to 8/1. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact Rev. Fred Becker at 973-366-2821 or fred3becker@gmail.com. Special thanks to  Rev. Drs. Arden and Margaret Krych who will conduct the service in his absence. It is always a joy to welcome our very own SOTH members as worship leaders.

SUBSTITUTE SECRETARY NEEDED – The church office is in need of a volunteer, substitute secretary on an “as needed basis”. Please contact Wendy Whipple if you are interested. Training happily provided!

PLEASE CALL AHEAD – before venturing a trip to the church office. Office hours are subject to change.

FAVORITE HYMN SUGGESTIONS – can be written on the form in the bulletin and placed in offering plate or emailed to ro2nkate@gmail.com These will be given to Ronn for possible inclusion in a future worship service.

DID YOU KNOW THAT – Sparta HS Junior, Emily Smernoff, has been volunteering in our church office.  We are so happy to have the extra set of hands! Thanks Emily!

THANK YOU to all who order using AmazonSmile. An additional $42.66 donation was added for the period covering Jan. – March 2022.

NEED YARN? -Marty Nielson has replenished the supply of  Barbara’s stash for anyone’s use. Currently, the yarn is in the room between the office and Pastor’s office.  You are welcome to it. We will be collecting handmade blue hats for #Hat Not Hate again this year. Faith Kitchen does not accept any clothing.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED – CONTROL ROOM HELP, OFFICE VOLUNTEERS, COFFEE HOUR HOSTS, FINANCIAL COUNTERS, PHOTOGRAPHER, DEACONS AND USHERS are all needed.  Training joyfully provided. If someone calls to recruit you, please prayerfully consider how YOU can serve.  You can always volunteer by contacting the office.

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.

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

HELP SOTH WHILE SHOPPING ON AMAZON SMILE

Your shopping can benefit SOTH. Click here to find out how you can donate when you shop on Amazon.  We have raised $469.07 to date!DID YOU KNOW – that you can donate your used car to benefit SOTH? Please visit this site to get started: 
https://careasy.org/nonprofit/shepherd-of-the-hills-lutheran-church 

WWW.SOTHNJ.ORG – The church’s website is the place to look for upcoming events. Please consult the calendar there. The weekly email can be found under News at the bottom of the home page.
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/channel/UCH8w_r1Rb9HH7i6SD15Tu6w  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/.

WORSHIP INFO FOR July 31

This Week’s Bulletin

Kids Celebrate Bulletin

Spark Worship Bulletin (Pre-Reader)

New Link for Zoom Bible Study, Wed. at noon

Meeting ID: 829 4727 4304
Passcode: 002314

Bible study will resume in August

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL:
President: JD Allen
Vice President: Emery Malasits
Treasurer: Brett Maynard
Recording Secretary: Celeste Bethmann
Financial Secretary: Steve Lewandowski
Property: Patrick Wood
Nurture (Worship & Music): Pat Kovacs
Social Ministry: Diane Fitzpatrick

A 2nd CLOTHING DONATION BIN – has arrived. Place clothing and shoes in plastic bags.  Proceeds will benefit SOTH.  Please do not leave items outside of the box. Please tell your friends and family so that we can fill those bins!

BROWN BAG BIBLE STUDY -Will resume in August, 2022.
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. ++++++

Copyright © 2021 Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, All rights reserved.
You are a treasured member of the church and here is another way to get information in a timely manner

Our mailing address is:

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

246 Woodport Road

Sparta Township, NJ 07871