Shepherd’s Voice
LENTEN MID-WEEK THEME "THE I AMS OF JESUS" by Gail Gaymer Martin
Join us as we continue our mid-week Lenten Services on March 3, 10, 17 & 24 and experience a series
of contemporary dialogs for Lent and Easter. They begin at 7 p.m. and are followed by food and
fellowship.
A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM BISHOP WOLLERSHEIM
The letter below was received in the Church office in mid-February. It's contents are self-explanatory,
but do support the Council's decision to send out the letter of January 31, 2010.
February 16, 2010
The Reverend Barb Rapp
Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church
336 E. Schapville Road
Scales Mound, IL 61075
Dear Pastor Rapp and Congregational Council members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church,
Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have received a copy of your letter dated January 31, 2010, addressing the intolerable anonymous
letters dropped off in a mail box stating that “you are not welcome at Shepherd of the Hills”.
I am writing to express my support and deep appreciation for the Congregational Councils clear
condemnation of this unacceptable activity. I rejoice in your affirmation of being an open, welcoming
and accepting congregation of all people.
Please know that your witness to God’s grace and love through Jesus Christ is a source of
encouragement to me and our Synod. You are an example of what it means to be the Church. During
these challenging times for the ELCA Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is a sign of hope and light.
I give God thanks for your faithfulness.
In Christ,
Bishop Gary Wollersheim
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY/COFFEE
The next meeting of the Men's Bible Study/Coffee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 8 am in the Gathering Center. We
will be planning the Maundy Thursday soup and sandwich supper for which we have been asked to sponsor. Please join us
anytime you can.
SURVIVOR BREAKFAST 2010
I would like to invite everyone to our Relay For Life Survivor Breakfast on Saturday, March 20th at 8:30 am at Galena United
Methodist Church in Galena, Il. It will be a wonderful morning spent among friends and fellow survivors. This breakfast is our
way of honoring those who have had to battle cancer and provide them with a strong support system. ALL Survivors eat for
FREE as our guests of honor and our inspiration to fight back every day against this terrible disease.
Please come show your support for our local survivors and enjoy a morning of fellowship and friends.
Reservations are requested, as we don’t want to run out of food, but walk-ins are welcomed too. To RSVP please contact Alana
Turner at 815-776-0673 or email turnera50@yahoo.com. Thank you, Alana Turner - Relay For Life Co-Chair
SYMPATHIES EXTENDED
We extend our deepest sympathies to Carol Anderson and Sheila Ohms and their families at the death of Carol and Sheila's.
mother Marie North of Darlington, WI and their sister Diane Gile of Dubuque, IA. We trust in God's promises that we are
claimed by Christ forever, through our baptism. We rest in the sure hope of the resurrection.
GOOD FRIDAY CANTATA
Shepherd of the Hills, in an attempt to provide a different type of worship experience for our Good Friday service, is hoping to
present a Holy Week Cantata entitled, "God so Loved the World." Practices are on Sunday mornings from 8:45a.m. to 9:30 am
through Sunday, March 28th, 2010. Good Friday is on April 2 at 7 pm Karen Capel, a retired pastor and a choir director for 31
years, has agreed to direct the cantata. This will allow our current directors to sing. If you love to sing and would like to join
us for this "time-limited" practice schedule, please do so on the dates listed above. It will be fun and a powerful experience as
we tell the story of Holy Week in word and song. If not enough people are interested, we will not continue practices. We are
also going to invite the Schapville Presbyterians to join us.
LIFE IN COMMUNITY
Several years ago I attended a conference on "Healthy Congregations" led by one of the leading names in Conflict Resolution:
Peter Steinke. In fact, it was the last workshop he was going to lead before he actually retired. I pulled my "Healthy
Congregation" book out yesterday and decided to share with you the eight "Marks of a Healthy Congregation." Look them
over and decide whether Shepherd of the Hills has the Marks of a Healthy Congregation. In the
upcoming months, I intend to expound a bit more on some of them, including the Biblical
references which support them and a few of our Biblical witnesses who lived them out within
community.
We could probably nominate Jesus as one of the best leaders in living these with the community
of his disciples. The Apostle Paul must have used similar guidelines when he wrote to churches in
conflict.
Peter Steinke in his book/facilitator’s manual "Healthy Congregations" identifies the eight marks
"from a system perspective." They are:
1. Healthy congregations respond to anxiety (rather than react).
2. Healthy congregations accept differences (rather than deny).
3. Healthy congregations focus on their strengths (rather than weaknesses).
4. Health congregations manage conflict (rather than avoid it).
5. In healthy congregations, leaders seek to challenge people (instead of comforting them).
6. In healthy congregations, leaders recognize that the disease process is enabled (instead of the work of a single
agent).
7. In healthy congregations, leaders focus on mission (instead of "getting along," the past, survival, "the minister," or
some other "thing" or issue).
8. In healthy congregations, leaders promote health through their presence and functioning (instead of through their
skill or technique).
These are food for thought for the month of March, when Lent calls us to focus on our faith. More will come in April.
A blessed Lent to all of you.
Pastor Barb
Visit our Web Sites: www.shepherdofhill.com or our historical site www.shepherdofhill.tripod.com
Questions or comments, please e-mail shepherdsvoice@jcwifi.com or call us at 815-845-2061
CALENDAR
BIRTHDAYS
ANNIVERSARIES
March 2010
"I am the good
shepherd.
The good
shepherd lays
down his life
for the sheep.
John 10:11
Week Two - March 3: "I Am the Way." - a husband and a wife get lost on a drive again in ”Did
You Bring the Map”, performed by Barb & Bob Stark’
Week three -March 10: "I Am the Good Shepherd" - a parent and child discuss the game in
“Follow the Leader", performed by Tammy & Olivia Winter.
Week Four - March 17: "I Am the Light of the World" - a couple is left in the dark when the
electricity goes off in “Who Turned Off the Lights?, performed by Karen & Paul
Velsor.
Week Five - March 24: "I Am the Resurrection” - A father and daughter discuss getting
another dog in “Daddy, Can I Have a Puppy”.
