Love is Self-Less
This Sunday, Pastor Jack starts a four-part sermon series, “Love Letters From God”- a deeper exploration into the New Testament Book of 1 John. The first sermon deals with selfless love. In other words, placing the needs of others ahead of your own needs. Can you think of a few real-life examples of this kind of love? Join Pastor this week as he shares his sermon, “Self-Less Love” and notice how everything relates to the assigned scriptures for the day! Don’t miss this one!

SAVE THE DATES:

CHURCH WORKDAY 2.0 – Sat. Apr. 13, 8:30 a.m.– Help is needed for outside cleanup. Please bring your energy and tools. Rain or shine.

IN-CHURCH BIBLE STUDY – is held on the first and third Mondays at 6 p.m. All are welcome.

BROWN BAG BIBLE STUDY Continues in person at Holy Trinity Church on the first and third Wednesdays from noon-12:45. Join Pastor Jack for a lively discussion of the Bible.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY – A new directory will be emailed to members on Thursday, April 18. If you do not wish your address to appear or if your contact information has changed, please email the office by Tuesday, April 16.

PHOTO SUNDAYS – If your photo is missing from the Our Flock bulletin board, please have your picture taken after service on 4/21 or 5/12. We want to include everyone!

COMMUNITY RELIEF TEAM MEETING – April 25 at 6 PM All are invited to attend.

MEETS, GREETS & EATS – Apr. 27, 3 p.m. at Hassa’s. Sign up in Parish Hall.

INFO. SESSION – Apr. 28 at 9:45 a.m. with guest speaker, Richie Musser of Kirby Smith Associates (fundraising co) regarding capital campaign opportunity. There will be a congregational meeting on May 5 to vote on this partnership.

NJ CONSERVATORY presents Joseph Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War”, Michael Haydn’s “Te Deum” and Mozart’s “Symphony No. 23 in D”. NJ Conservatory Symphonic Chorus accompanied by its Symphonic Orchestra performs here on Sun., April 28, 2024 at 4:00PM. Call 973-402-2004 for tickets.

SPRING VENDOR FAIR – Sat. May 4 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Volunteer signups are on the bulletin board. Please see B. Osborne to help and be sure to invite your friends and family!

FISH N CHIPS DINNER – Many thanks to all who helped to make this a huge success!

BOXES OF BLESSINGS FOR SQT. RYAN WOOD – 24 large flat rate boxes filled with items requested by our NJ Guard troops were shipped from the Andover PO on 4/16! Your generosity was overwhelming, and Ryan will share with his fellow soldiers! Special thanks to Pam Biss, and Nancy VonThun for their help packing and Bruce Whipple who completed the customs forms and delivered the boxes for shipping. Special appreciation goes out to the Sparta Kiwanis for their generous donation toward the postage which along with cash donated by our congregation covered the $552.00 charge!

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO RE-GIFT? – The Activities Team is looking for new items that people want to re-gift. They need to be in the original package and not used. Items can be brought in and given to Judi Wolff, Diane Hassa, Maryann DiCola or Barbara Robinson. Thank you.

THE BEST COFFEE HOUR IN SUSSEX COUNTY – is coordinated by the DiColas with the assistance of Barbara Robinson. The Activities Team would like to have two families volunteer for each Sunday. Please use the signup sheet in the parish hall and see MaryAnn DiCola with any questions. Help is also needed each week to assist the coordinators with cleanup. If you don’t wish to sign up as a host, you can always volunteer to help with the clean-up. Thanks!

PLEASE JOIN THE “GREEN” TEAM – and help us reduce waste by bringing your own mug for coffee hour or using the church’s mugs. Please be sure to wash, dry and replace the mugs. Mother Earth thanks you!

Many thanks to our outgoing council members and to the new leadership team! Your service to our church is greatly valued!

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 GEOFF JOHNSEY FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH ELECTRONIC GIVING at gjohnsey@icloud.com.

Many thanks to all of the donors who support our mission!

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/.

WORSHIP INFO For April 21, 2024

Worship Service Bulletin

New Link for Zoom Bible Study, Wed. at noon

Meeting ID: 829 4727 4304 Passcode: 002314

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL:
Janine Shugan – Council President
Don Wolff – Vice President
Brett Maynard – Treasurer
Solveig Schunk – Recording Secretary
Geoff Johnsey – Financial Secretary
Pat Kovacs – Worship and Music
Nancy Wood – Christian Education
Arden Krych – Giving
Rick Erck – Membership
Russell Shields – Community Relief
Judi Wolff – Activities
Patrick Wood – Property

CLOTHING DONATION BIN – Place clothing and shoes in plastic bags. Proceeds will benefit SOTH. Please do not leave items outside of the box. Please tell your friends and family so that we can fill those bins!

GOT BOOKS? – the New Legacy Books book donation/recycling bin is now in our parking lot adjacent to the clothing bins. This is a “green” fundraising activity. New Legacy will accept books in good, readable condition that have an ISBN barcode label on the book cover. Hardcover, paperback and textbooks are all welcome For further information, please check their website http://www.newlegacybooks.com see their brochure on the bulletin board or ask Wendy in the office.

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.