When Jesus Challenges Your Faith

Have you ever had difficult circumstances come your way?  When you felt like your back was against the wall? What did you do then?  In this Sunday’s Gospel narrative we meet a woman who is feeling desperate… yet faith-filled, when she approaches Jesus persistently for help. Can we follow that model?  PJ will address this faith-challenge in his sermon “When Jesus Challenges Your Faith”.  This message will be Part 2 of the four-part sermon series “Faith Under Fire”. Don’t miss these encouraging words applicable to any desperate time!

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 16 will be Irish Sunday.

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – If you are interested in volunteering in the church office on an as needed basis, please see Wendy.

SAVE THE DATES:

OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT FEATURING CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN, BILL MCGOWAN, Friday, August 21, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Check out their music on https://pushingstone.bandcamp.com/

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.

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

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.

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

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 16, 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/.