By Whose Authority?
By whose authority? That’s the question that the synagogue leaders asked of Jesus as he healed a man of evil spirits. For all they knew, Jesus was just this itinerant guy who had some knowledge of the scriptures – but that didn’t make him a healer. And it certainly did allow him to break Jewish law – or did it?
By whose authority? The lesson from Deuteronomy today asserts that it is by the authority of God that a prophet shall come – from their own people – who will speak the words that God has commanded. This is a promise made to the Israelites after their long journey through the desert. It is a promise that God kept.
By whose authority? We have sent out – authorized – to bring the Good News because of God’s Word. Maybe not as spectacularly as Jesus but to speak and to witness to the amazing grace and mercy poured out through Jesus because GOD LOVES US. And God’s love trumps all our rules, our excuses, our fears.
Worship with us this Sunday at 8 AM and 10:15 AM!
We Welcome.
New Members Class: Are you interested in becoming a member of Shepherd of the Hills? Are you interested in the basics of Christianity and Lutheranism? We will meet on Saturday January 31 and February 7, & if needed, February 14 from 10AM-12PM. You will also be able to meet with folks from our church council and learn how your hands and feet help to make our mission of Welcome, Equip, and Sent Out come alive. Please contact Pastor Tina so we have materials for you.
Pathways to Prosperity will be returning February 10 to begin a 6 week course on Financial Strategies for low income families. We are excited to welcome them back – and to have their energy in the house. If you know of anyone that may benefit from this program, please contact Dianna at 973-383-4787 ext. 255
P2P is looking for some help with meal preparation for these Tuesday evenings. Here’s what Dianna sent to PTina:
Our cooking teams usually pick one Tuesday a month to prepare a meal. We reimburse up to $125/meal. We feed approximately 50 people. Cooked chickens from Costco (only $4.99 a piece) make an excellent meal served with side dishes. The team delivers the meal to the Shepherd of the Hills, assists with serving and clean-up. We use paper plates, plastic cups and plastic silverware to streamline clean-up. Volunteers with P2P meet extraordinary people who are so appreciative of all of the efforts of the volunteers.
We Equip.
Faith Formation:
Thanks for all the hands that helped to fill and bless our Good Neighbor bags. Many went to the Faith Kitchen in Dover and PTina will get the others out this week. The students indicated that they liked this project and other members expressed interest. It’s not on the schedule yet – but keep your eyes open.
Our next unit of study is “Sharing the Good News.” We will learn about Paul’s letters to the Christian communities, the Woman at the Well, and the Walk to Emmaus. Our unit outreach project on February 22 will be write cards and make bookmarks for the residents at Merryheart in Succasunna.
Confirmation tonight (1/28/15)! We will continue to learn about our faith in action as we study “World Religions”. Please be on time for worship at 6:30 so we end on time at 8 PM.
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.
Fellowship Hour: We are in need of folks to host our time of coffee and sharing on Sundays after the 10:15 am worship service. This involves setup and cleanup. Direction and help provided as needed. Sign up on white shutters.
Thrivent Action Teams: Want to do something positive to strengthen your community? Think you can organize a team to help bring it to life in 90 days or less? If you said “yes” to both, simply gather your team, submit an application to Thrivent and—once your idea is approved—you’ll receive up to $250 in “seed money” to help cover promotional, production and material expenses. This offer is for Thrivent members – and if you are wondering how you can be involved, see PTina – she’ll help you to get started.
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.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the witness of saints and missionaries, who faithfully proclaimed the gospel to these and other lands; Ecumenical initiatives to bring Christians closer together; The work for justice and peace in which Christians join with others to imagine a better world; Centres of Christian renewal; Tartans, bagpipes and boys’ choirs singing in ancient cathedrals; Poetry and song.
We pray for God’s grace for immigrants and asylum seekers who seek a better life in these countries; Reconciliation and an end to enmity between peoples; Strength for those who combat racism; Churches which try to be faithful to Christ in the midst of secularization and change; Those who feel they have been left behind: the homeless and unemployed, those whose education seems inadequate or their skills out of date, and those who are long-term patients in mental hospitals; Those whose industry has been ravaged: the coal miners and slate workers who know of pit and quarry closures and who suffer emphysema and pneumoconiosis, the farm and land workers who have lost their livelihoods and have seen their communities changed dramatically, the factory workers who have lost their jobs, the young who cannot find work, and the elderly who depend on support in residential homes.