Beware of Labeling – 2nd Sunday of Easter 4/11/21

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, St. Thomas is forever labeled “Doubting Thomas”.  Is this a fair assessment of his discipleship?  Should we assign him the negative label based on one bad day?  How would YOU feel if you were assigned a life-long negative reputation based on one specific judgment error?  Join pastor Jack as he shares Part 1 of a seven-part sermon series, “Delicate Relationships”.  The sermon this week is:  “Beware of Labeling”.

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/.

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.

EASTER FLOWERS – thank you to all who donated. Feel free to take your flowers home when convenient.

EASTER HAMS – your free ham can be donated for our soup kitchen ministry.  Contact Phyllis Fawcett. (bfawcett@optonline.net).

BLOOD DRIVE RETURNING TO SOTH – on Thurs., April 29 from 1 – 7 p.m. Visit http://nybc.org/njdrive  to schedule an appointment. Please use sponsor code 71131. Click here for more information. Volunteers are needed for four+ hour shifts from noon – 8 p.m. Please contact Jeff Behling at 201-968-7109.
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 APRIL 11

This Week’s Bulletin

Kid’s Celebrate Bulletin

Spark Worship Bulletin (Pre-Reader) 

Announcements for April 11

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.  Needles and blue yarn are available at Ocean State Job Lot. If you need supplies, call or text Diane Fitzpatrick (973 )216-8005.

COMING TO SOTH – Clothing donation bins to raise funds for our church.  Start saving your items as Spring and COVID cleaning continues.

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

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!

BULLETIN PRAYER LIST – Please check the current list and send any corrections and/or additions to the church office.

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 $203.89 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 KITSIf 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:

1. 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)

7.  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

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