Yet that is exactly what's been going on here, this summer, at Shepherd of the Hills (SOTH).  As you've already read in council minutes and in other releases, such as in this newsletter's introduction, we have been working hard to discern what God is calling us to do ... and to be ... here on this mountaintop.  Many difficult issues have been resolved, yet do we know the challenges our future has in store?
 

While you've previously heard how our giving has been down, what you may not have recognized is how precipitous our decline in visitors has been since moving our worship from Garrett 8 Theater to the storefront in Sand Flat Plaza.  From an all-time high of 520 visitors a year and an average of about 450 prior to our move from the theater, our annual visitors had dropped by as much as 50% since moving to that storefront.  As a trained analyst, I've seen many things can influence people's attitudes and decisions while as a geographer, I know how physical barriers such as lakes, mountain's and distance can impact human endeavors. How being a mere two miles south of Glendale Road might seem like forever for people who have come to the lake and the mountaintop to enjoy time away from their labors.

With all of this in mind, over the last sixty some days, SOTH has decided to end its lease on the Sand Flat Plaza storefront and move our worship back to Will-O-the-Wisp Sunday afternoons at 4:00 PM.  We also took time to sell, donate, and give away material things SOTH would no longer need.  Things such as the 50 cushioned red chairs, ELW hymnals, and the former altar were all donated to establish a Chapel at the new Lutheran Home at Miller's Grant in Ellicott City, MD.  Remaining light fixtures, office, and assorted furniture items were then given to local Lutheran congregation to include St. John's Lutheran in Davis, Saint John's Lutheran in Red House, Emmanuel Lutheran in Bittinger, and the WVU chapel in Morgantown, WV.  Additionally, items such as the bookcases from the former Pastor's office were donated to McHenry United Methodist Church (UMC) while the former Pastor's desk and office computer stand are now providing ministry support for Pastor Ted Bessey and the leadership of St. Paul's UMC in Grantsville, MD.

During this same period, following discussion with Bishop Riegel and Blair Morgan the synod's interim Director for Evangelical Mission, I both offered and accepted a reduction in pay which means at least until things improve, SOTH will be paying below established Synod minimums.  Yet this move was only approved by the greater church, because both they and the council could see something was afoot here at the Lake.

Along with our council's decision to give-up our own worship space, reduce expenses, to redistribute our unneeded belongings, and to open merger conversations with Emmanuel Lutheran in Bittinger, both our Bishop and church-wide representative were swayed by SOTH's drive to ensure mission outreach here at Deep Creek Lake.  They were impressed with our willingness to give up everything from our name, identity, treasury, and even decision-making authority in order to ensure continued mission outreach to the unchurched and non-churched in this place.  They also related how they were persuaded with the as many as four new families planning to move or retire to the lake (and our church).  And with all this in mind, the council was then told the mission development support from both the Synod and Church-wide would continue.

That brings me to yesterday and to the largest worship SOTH has had all summer.  With several visitors and visiting musicians, it was quite an afternoon with many people taking notice of what was going on.  Following worship our discussion time continued the day's sermon focus which came from the Gospel of Luke (14:25-33).    We talked how Jesus called his followers to remember our discipleship would not be easy.   How Jesus never promised an easy or simple life especially when he said, "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."  During that discussion, in light of the totality of SOTH's long summer of trials and challenges, I began to reflect about how much had happened, and also, about how much was still required for Christ's mission outreach at Deep Creek Lake to flourish.

Therefore, as this Labor Day and this long weekend come to a close I was reminded of the need to put off our rest, and of our call to go back to our labor.  Not just the labor needed to meet the needs of our daily lives, but more importantly the labor our Lord went to the Cross over.  Jesus never promised our labor would be easy, yet he continues to empower us, from life through death, with the food of eternal life.  With that in mind I pray you've enjoyed your day of rest and are ready for the challenges yet to come!  

In Christ!