Abide in Love – Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 9, 2021 (Mother’s Day)
This Sunday (5/9) is “Love Sunday”, as Jesus mentions the word “love” or “loved” no less than nine different times in the same paragraph of the assigned Scripture. Join Pastor Jack as he outlines in his sermon “Abide in Love” the broader definition of love as declared in the Bible. The prominent question: What does it mean for me to be a representative of God’s love to the world?
TODAY WE WELCOME Mr. Chad Flynn to our keyboard as guest musician. Chad is a Sparta resident (just two blocks away from SOTH) and currently serves as Music Director at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Rockaway. Mr. Flynn is also a music teacher at Jefferson High School and is husband to Jennifer Forte and father to daughter Cadence and son Nolan.
THANK YOU to everyone for making the Vendor Fair a success. Thanks to all who helped with advertising, donated items for the food sale, came out to help to set-up and help throughout the day, stayed to clean up, those that did shopping, and to those that offered prayers for a successful event. All of us coming together as a church community made it a wonderful day and $2,785.00 was raised to further our mission here!
LOOKING FOR A SAFE FAMILY ACTIVITY? – Adopt a garden at church! Our property team, responsible for everything from broadcasting the service to keeping the building safe, could really use your help with the outside gardens. Call Pat W. (201-602-4219) to volunteer. Many thanks to all who volunteered at the recent clean up day.
CHURCH CLEAN UP 2.0 – Join us Sat., 5/22 at 8 a.m. to continue our clean up. Please bring tools and lots of energy. All are welcome for as long a time as you can spare.
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. We are no longer Zooming our weekly service. You can also search for us on Facebook and like our page. https://www.facebook.com/SOTHNJ/.
NEW MEMBER CLASSES– will be held Mon. 6/7 and 6/14 from 7 – 8:15 p.m. and Sun., 6/13 from 10-11 a.m. New member reception will be Sun. 6/27 during 9 a.m. worship. Please see Pastor Jack to be included!
IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER -and in need of a covid vaccine, please call the church office at 973-729-7010 or email office@sothnj.org for a scheduling contact at the Rockaway Mall site.
HELP WANTED– Please prayerfully consider how you can help your church. Click here to see the link to the “Join our Team ad” which appeared in today’s bulletin. Stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities!
WORSHIP INFO FOR May 9
This Week’s Bulletin
Kid’s Celebrate Bulletin
Spark Worship Bulletin (Pre-Reader)
New Link for Zoom Bible Study, Wed. at noon
Meeting ID: 829 4727 4304
Passcode: 002314
Faith Together At Home
(Faith Formation Activities)
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL UPDATES:
The congregational council has reorganized. Many thanks to all who have agreed to serve!
President: JD Allen
Vice President: Emery Malasits
Treasurer: Brett Maynard
Recording Secretary: Celeste Bethmann
Financial Secretary: Steve Lewandowski
Property: Patrick Wood
Nurture (Worship & Music): Wendy Whipple
Social Ministry: Diane Fitzpatrick
Diane Terhune
Jeff Behling
#HATNOTHATE – Why not make a blue hat for the anti-bullying campaign of #HATNOTHATE? Hats must be handmade, at least 75% blue (any shade), and should be 16-20″ circumference. Hats need to be into church in July. Free hat patterns are available on hatnothate.org. If you need supplies, call or text Diane Fitzpatrick (973 )216-8005.
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. More details to come!
HELP IS NEEDED IN OUR CONTROL ROOM – Sunday morning assistance is needed for audio, visual, and internet streaming…let’s proclaim the Gospel near and far. Training joyfully provided! Contact Patrick Wood: phwood@optonline.net
PLEASE CALL AHEAD- before venturing a trip to the church office. Office hours are subject to change
FOUND MONEY? – Some of us have recently received government stimulus checks. Please pray about sharing a portion of this gift with your local faith community, with other social services organizations, or local businesses to assist those in need. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
SPARTA ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY – Please remember that a shopping cart is located in the narthex for donations to our local food pantry. The pantry has been serving an unprecedented number of our area residents during this challenging time. Help is needed to deliver the food to the pantry. Please contact the office for the pantry’s hours of operation.
HELP SOTH WHILE SHOPPING ON AMAZON SMILE
Click here to find out how you can donate to SOTH when you shop on Amazon. We have raised in $254.08 to date!
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.
AT-HOME COMMUNION KITS – If you are worshiping with us from home and would like a communion kit, please contact the church office and arrangements can be made for you to receive the number you would like.
God’s work. Our hands.
God’s work. Our hands Sunday has passed, but the needs of these various organizations continue. Please consider one or more of the following. 1) For Lutheran World Relief
Personal Care Kits consisting of 1 lightweight bath towel (20” x 40” to 52” x 27”) dark color, 2-3 bath-size bars of soap in original wrapping, 1 adult size toothbrush in original packaging, 1 sturdy comb no packaging, 1 metal nail clipper, no packaging. LWR.org/kitvideos for reference if needed. 2) Donation to the Lutheran Disaster Response, can be designated to a specific disaster on the check memo line. 3) The Sparta Ecumenical Food Pantry. Donations can be mailed to 32 Main St. Sparta, NJ 07871 or if you prefer to donate food items, place them in the shopping cart at SOTH. 4).Connect for Community is a very worthy organization. Donations can be placed in the collection plates, made out to the organization.
Volunteer Opportunities: More hands are needed to make light work. No prior skills necessary to help your church in these ways:
- Bring in items for” God’s Work our Hands” organizations.
2. Serve on the church audit team.
3. Serve on Church Council.
4.. Become a Sunday worship servant.
5. Sing in the choir (post-COVID)
6. Help to run a parish activity (post-COVID)
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Join the volunteer church office staff.
8. Organize Faith Formation opportunities by serving as the FF Superintendent.
9. Prep a meal for the Trinity Faith Kitchen.
Please email the church office at office@sothnj.org or call 973-729-7010 for more information!
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Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
246 Woodport Road
Sparta Township, NJ 07871