When Jesus Demands Sacrificial Faith

When the going gets tough, the tough get going”… but what a challenge that is!  Faith is pushed to the brink whenever difficult and adverse circumstances come our way.  This Sunday, PJ addresses the challenges of keeping the faith, and remaining steadfast, especially when tough times come your way.  Are you struggling through challenging circumstances?  Then this Sunday’s message is just what you need to hear. 

LWR SCHOOL KITS are available in the narthex to be filled. Please return by the end of August. If you would prefer, donations are being accepted to cover the cost of shipping. Please add “LWR School Kit shipping” to the memo line of your check.

SOTH has hosted the Christmas Festival of Lights in recent years, and we’re looking for congregation members to chair this year’s celebration. If you can help lead or serve, please contact a Council member by the end of July.

WEEKEND BAG PROGRAM – boxes of pasta and spaghetti or pasta sauce urgently needed. (not tomato sauce or tomatoes). Prego & Hunts make them in plastic jars. No glass please.

COFFEE HOUR HELP NEEDED – help is urgently needed to set up and clean up each week. Also, please sign up to bring ethnic food to share on our special heritage Sundays this summer. Aug 30 will be Polish Sunday.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Shepherd of the Hills invites all first responders to wear their dress blues or Class A uniforms to the Sunday, September 13 worship service. We want to recognize and thank those who serve our community with courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Your presence in uniform will help us honor the lives lost, the heroes who responded, and the families forever changed.

SAVE THE DATES:

Thank you to everyone who helped make our first outdoor summer concert with Christian musician Bill McGowan a memorable success.

FAITH KITCHEN –HELP URGENTLY NEEDED- Wednesday, August 26. Meet Tuesday, August 25th to prepare. Saturday, September 5 to serve and Friday, September 4 to prep. Sign up in Narthex on Bulletin Board.

BLOOD DRIVE – Thurs., Aug. 27, 1-7 PM –Sign up in narthex to volunteer as a host. To book your appointment, visit NYBC’s scheduling page and enter sponsor code 71131, or call 1-800-933-2566. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

ESCAPE ROOM – Saturday, August, 29 -9:00am Sign up in Parish Hall

SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY – Sun., Sept. 13 is the first Sunday of Sunday School which meets at 9:15 after the children’s sermon. All children ages 4 – grade 6 are welcome. Registration forms are available in the narthex and on the church website.

FIREPIT FRIDAY MEN’S GROUP – Fri., Sept. 18 at 6:30 PM, see Pat W for details.

Shepherd’s Quilters Saturday, September 26th 8:30 – 12:00

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is delighted to welcome back Lumos, for a “Halloween” themed event on Sat., Oct. 17, 2026, additional details to follow. 

FALL VENDOR & CRAFT FAIR –Sat., Oct. 24 – 10 AM-3 PM. Please sign up in narthex to volunteer and spread the word to friends and family!

“STOP THE BLEEDING” free trauma response training – Sat. October 25, 2026, 11 AM – 12:30 PM Provided by NJ Office of Homeland Security, sign up with Judi W.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS – Fri., Dec. 4 – 6-8 PM. See Judi W to sign up to sponsor a tree, and as always, volunteers are still needed.

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

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

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 August 30, 2026
Worship Service Bulletin

Celebrate
As Each has Received
Gifts of Love
Multi-Cultural Flyer
NJ Synod-Germany Trip
Trial of Martin Luther
Weekend Bag Program

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
Diane Fitzpatrick – Recording Secretary
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/.