Newsletter  
Oct-Nov 2016 
 

We invite you to be our guest. 
 

Happy Autumn Glory


QUICK LINKS

Our New Pianist
Leah DeLauder & Jim Luedeke 

Leah Broderick DeLauder
began  her new role as our pianist for worship, on Sunday October 9.  Leah is a 2004 graduate of Shenandoah University with a BFA in Music Theatre. She did an additional year of study at West Virginia University in music composition. She and her husband AJ and sons Miles and Oliver reside in Aurora, WV.  Prior to moving 'back home' Leah was the church pianist at Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church in Glenwood, MD, which just happened to be the congregation of retired Rev. Jim Luedeke, now a member at Shepherd of the Hills.  We welcome Leah with open arms! 
Welcome Visit

Members of the Evangelism and Hospitality Team visited Kay and Wayne Stuckey who recently retired and  moved full-time to Deep Creek Lake.  The Stuckeys had been frequent visitors at Shepherd of the Hills when vacationing at Deep Creek. Wayne commented that it "he still feels like he is on vacation."  Welcome Kay and Wayne (and daughter Rebecca)!

The Stuckeys will be officially  
joining Shepherd of the Hills  
on Sunday, October 23.   
 

L.A.F.F.* Dinners

Gather for laughter, fellowship and food on the second Tuesday of each month, at a different restaurant each month.  Neighbors, friends & fellow workers are welcome! Jokes are provided.  :)
 
  October 11- 5:30 p.m.     Cornish Manor
  November 8 - 5:30 p.m.   Uno Pizzeria

 *  Life After Forty-Five
God's Blessing



October 12 -
Pastor Rick and members of Shepherd of the Hills gathered with hymns, Scripture and prayers, asking God's blessing upon Beth Colville and her store, Amish Connections. The new business is located in "The Fort" commercial area of McHenry, MD.  
(video
 
Harvest banner

  

FESTIVAL
JOINT REFORMATION
WORSHIP SERVICE
Sunday, October 30
at 10:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Bittinger
 
Shepherd of the Hills will join local Lutheran congregations in joyful praise and thanksgiving to God for His pure Word.  Be sure to be part of it!  A meal follows. The entire community is invited.

In addition,
Shepherd of the Hills will offer 
Reformation "Service of Light"  
4 p.m. Vespers at Will O' the Wisp   
Our members are urged to attend both services.
  


Advent Devotions
Preparing Our Hearts for 
the Birth of Jesus

Advent begins November 27   
and continues until December 24. 

 

Members and friends of Shepherd of the Hills are composing daily devotions that will be distributed daily through email, far and wide.  We have found that this 'silent ministry' is touching many lives. 

 

Please let us know if you would like to submit an Advent Devotion ... or if you have not received the devotions in the past, but are interested in receiving the 2016 online Advent Devotions.

 




  
FRIDAY GAME NIGHTS
Game Nights continue on Fridays beginning at 6:30 PM
at
McHenry United Methodist Church
Walk, Ride or Drive
Come in any door and meet us downstairs


Hall Banner (left)
        4:00 PM
Sunday Worship

  at Will O' the Wisp
Rte 219 at Deep Creek Lake
 

       SEE MAP

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 374
McHenry, MD 21541

Pastor Rick's cell:
301-501-8218

Church phone:
301-387-0400 
Message From The Pastor
I pray this change of seasons finds you and yours doing well. Yesterday was a wet and rainy day up on the mountain top until just before last night's the Fireman's Parade and Oktoberfest. Today is partly cloudy and the leaves continue to change colors. The yellows have been appearing for a few weeks, but it's only been in the last week that the reds and oranges and other more vibrant colors have appeared. The Autumn Glory Festival is now in full swing, and change is in the air! With frost warnings several days this week, we've had distinct nip in the air over recent days. Summer is over and we are in a season of change. Just as change is underway outside our doors, so is it underway inside our congregation, with businesses around us, and without doubt throughout the political arena, as can currently be seen and heard both within and outside these various doors.

Besides the significant move from our storefront, so we could worship on the lake and be seen as part of the lake environment, other changes are also under way.   Change in the congregation includes many things. From a planned seasonal change in our liturgy, to the interview and audition of a new music minister, and for some "hails and farewells".   We recently wished Bob and Marcene Huebner "Farewell and Godspeed" as they finish packing their goods and make final preparations for next week's moving trucks. We are thankful for all they've done here at SOTH and all around this mountain top and we look forward to seeing them when they have the chance to enjoy the Deep Creek area! We are also thankful to be accepting new members on October 23! Wayne and Kay Stuckey have asked to be accepted into our congregation on that day. I hope you will be able to come and make our newest members welcome!

If you haven't been up here recently you might not have noticed some of the new businesses which have opened up over the last few months. One of those businesses, "Amish Connection" hosted a blessing of a new business venture. One of our previous new members, Beth Coleville opened this new shop in the "Fort" complex in McHenry within the last week. At her request for a blessing members of the congregation and Beth's friends gathered last Wednesday night to sing hymns, read scripture, and pray for this new venture. The final blessing read, "O God, whose blessed Son preached in the marketplace: Bless those who buy and sell, and especially this business which has been begun in your name, that honesty and integrity may be its foundation, and service rather than self its constant concern; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen". This request and Blessing remind us how we are called to serve God not just at Church or at home, but also throughout all the various aspects of our lives.

Finally, as the 2016 election campaigns approach their ends, I'm reminded of Jesus' words: "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and render unto God that which is God's". This election season has elicited what might in hindsight be seen as unprecedented partisanship and "mudslinging". Now don't worry, I'm not going to advocate for any candidate and certainly will not violate the 1954 Johnson Amendment to the IRS code, but I want to remind each of us how regardless of this election's results we are ALL children of God. Whether you vote for one of the names printed on the ballot or even for a write-in candidate it is important that we remind ourselves to vote and act in accordance with not only the laws of our land, but even more importantly with what the greatest of the law as identified by Jesus. You remember, ... to love God with your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. As Christians, Martin Luther reminded us how we serve in both of God's Kingdoms. How we live every day within the Kingdom of the World (of the secular world of elections, "prince's", governance, work, etc.) with all that means and requires. Yet, Luther also spoke of our service within the Kingdom of God. The place where God's power is exercised in the spiritual realm, through the gospel of forgiveness and grace. As harsh as this political season has been, as dirty as things in our Kingdom of the World have become, Luther reminds us how there IS something greater and how, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can make a difference though the proclamation of the Gospel, especially with those with whom we differ. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your heart, mind, and soul in this time of change. When all is said and done, Jesus always calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. It may never be easy but that is the nature of God's love -- for ALL of God's children.

In Christ!
Pastor Rick

 



God has called us to care for all with which He has  
entrusted us.  In grateful response to His many blessings, how do we live out our life as  
good stewards?

We will focus on Stewardship
during October & November...and
pledge our commitment to the Lord
on Sunday, November 20 

  
BIBLE STUDY - The Book of Genesis
Shepherd of the Hills invites you to join in the adventure as we begin at the very beginning of the Bible!  Wednesdays from noon until 1:00 p.m.  Bring your Bible.

The study of Genesis begins October 19.
Host home changes weekly. 

Contact Beth Johnson for further information. 
 
 
Upcoming Festival Services

October 30 Reformation Sunday
11 a.m. festival joint Reformation service at
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Bittinger. 
Plus, 4 p.m. Vespers Reformation "Service of Light"
at Will O' the Wisp
 
November 6 All Saints Sunday
4 p.m. at Will O' the Wisp
Special thanksgiving for departed loved ones
 
November 20 Christ the King Sunday
4 p.m. at Will O' the Wisp
Praises Christ in His heavenly reign
Designates the end of liturgical year "C".
 (Year "A" begins the next Sunday)        
 
November 23 Thanksgiving Eve
7 p.m. worship at Will O' the Wisp
the Rev. Jim Luedeke, presiding

November 27 First Sunday of Advent
4 p.m. at Will O' the Wisp
First of the 4 Sundays preceding Christmas

 

"God's Work ~ Our Hands"
Saturday, Sept. 10
  
Christian Crossing Thrift Shop has extended a huge thanks to those who helped unpack many boxes of winter coats & jackets and prepared them for sale.
All Glory to God!



As Many as one in three Garrett County residents are Veterans.
The above statement was made during a recent meeting of the Western Maryland Veterans Providers Network. Your experience may be different than this statistic, but this is supported by the fact that during the Vietnam War Friendsville, MD carried the "honor" of suffering the largest number per capita of combat deaths in this nation.  Military service has been and still is a common experience here and throughout Appalachia, yet there are not always many resources to support the old or new Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve warriors who are coming to grips with their combat experience.  That's why Pastor Rick will lead a 1.5-day Rural Clergy Training Program (RCTP), scheduled to take place
November 15-16, 2016
at Garret College in McHenry, MD.

Shepherd of the Hills has recently been awarded an Action Team Grant from Thrivent Financial to provide seed money toward this project.
God's Blessings to Marcene and Bob Huebner
as they journey 'off the mountain' to their new home.
We celebrate their dedication as Godly servants. 
 

   

FRIENDS in Christ

   

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