Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Will O' the Wisp
Sitzmark Room
20160 Garrett Highway
Oakland, MD 21550
Phone: 301.387.0400
NEWS
January - March, 2005
February 17, 2005
Lenten Suppers and Services at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church welcome the community to their Wednesday Lenten suppers and services. Upcoming dates are Wednesday, February 23, March 2, 9, and 16. The supper begins at 6:15 p.m., followed by the service at 7:00 p.m. All services for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church are currently held at Will O' the Wisp on Route 219 at Deep Creek Lake. Information is available on the church website http://www.shepherdofthehillslutheran.org or by calling (301) 387-0400 (messages are returned daily).
Lenten soup suppers begin each Wednesday evening at 6:15 p.m. Two selections of soup, breads and beverages are prepared by Will O' the Wisp Restaurant. The meal is offered downstairs in the Sitzmark Room of the restaurant. The suggested donation for the meal is $5 per person.
Lenten services are held each Wednesday in the lower level of Will O' the Wisp, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Services are conducted by The Reverend Matthew Riegel, Lutheran Campus Pastor of West Virginia University.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is blessed by the presence of supply pastors from the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA). In addition to Rev. Matthew Riegel presiding during the Lenten services, other supply pastors during Lent and Holy Week are: Sunday, February 27 - The Reverend Torben G. Aarsand, On-Leave-From Call; Executive Director of the Aarsand Family Foundation; Sunday, March 6 - The Rev. James L. Caton, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Clarksburg, WV; Sunday, March 13 - The Rev. Matthew Riegel, Lutheran Campus Pastor, WVU; Sunday, March 20 (Palm Sunday) - The Rev. Allen Schwarz, St. John's Lutheran Church, Davis, WV; Thursday, March 24 (Maundy Thursday) -The Rev. Torben G. Aarsand; Friday, March 25 (Good Friday) - The Rev. Torben G. Aarsand; and Sunday, March 27 (Easter Day) - The Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the ELCA.
February 10, 2005
Letter to Council Officers and Pastors of Garrett County ELCA Congregations
This letter is an invitation to the Church Council Officers of Grace, Friendsville, St. John's , Accident, and St. Paul 's, Accident; Zion , Jennings , St. John , Swanton, and Emmanuel, Bittinger; St. Mark's, Oakland ; St. Paul , Aurora , and St. John , Red House and to their Pastors.
Our invitation is that of a meeting to be held on Saturday, March 19 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church , Bittinger , MD. The purpose of this meeting will be that of explaining how we have arrived with the creation of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Chapel. Members of Shepherd of the Hills will be present to share their mission and vision. Together we will be present to answer your questions surrounding this new mission.
Our plan is for this meeting to begin at 10:00 a.m. and to conclude by noon .
The ELCA process for the creation of a new congregation calls for an area consultation with neighboring congregations to afford the opportunity for you to express your support (including any financial and prayer commitments you wish to make), to raise questions for clarification about how the new ministry will be developed, and to express concerns about how the new ministry might impact your congregation.
We look forward to this meeting with you as an opportunity to learn together.
Bishop Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia - Western Maryland Synod
Helen Harms, Mission Director of Region 8 for the ELCA
Council of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
January 31, 2005
Letter from ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
Dear Friends in Christ (Members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church),
Thank you for your recent gift of $1,015 to the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, which provides both immediate and long-term assistance to children, families and whole communities around the world.
We are grateful for your gift, designated for the South Asian Tsunami relief. Your gift will help rebuild lives and communities torn apart by this unprecedented disaster. In the midst of the overwhelming scope of this tragedy, we take some comfort in the strength of our relationships with our church family in the region. Even before the tsunamis struck, we had long been present in many affected communities through our companion churches and other World Hunger partners. Your gift allows us to work through these trusted partners to help those in great need following this disaster.
The long-term impact of this disaster will be extensive. Much will be required in order to rebuild devastated livlihoods and communities. Your gift proclaims our commitment to walk with those whose lives have been shattered by this disaster - now and for years to come.
Thank you for your commitment to bring help and hope to people in great need.
In Christ's Service,
Kathryn Sime
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
January 30, 2005
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is approved for Mission Development
Shepherd of the hills Lutheran Church received word that the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved their grant for Mission Development January 16, 2005 . This will be the first mission congregation in the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod since the merger of the ELCA in 1987.
According to Mission Director, Helen R Harms, The Division for Outreach-ELCA has begun the search for a spirit-filled leader to become the mission developer for the new congregation. The development of the new Word and Sacrament ministry will be funded from a variety of sources including the Division for Outreach's budget and Mission Founders (synods and conferences, congregations, and individuals). It is the desire of the ELCA that God will open the hearts of people in the community to respond to the witness of the congregation . . . and that God will help the ministry grow in numbers and faith.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church gathers each Sunday at 5:00 p.m. for worship and music, in the Sitzmark Room of Will O' the Wisp, Route 219, just north of Glendale Road. Following the worship service, at 5:45, a time is set aside for fellowship, youth Sunday school and adult reflection on the sermon and scripture readings. The congregation welcomes tourists, newcomers and individuals seeking a church home.
Prior to the arrival of the mission developer (pastor), Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church continues to be blessed with supply pastors from the Western Maryland-West Virginia Synod of the ELCA. These pastors include The Rev. Larry Cantu, Grace Lutheran Church, Petersburg, WV; The Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia- Western Maryland Synod; The Rev. Roland Nairn, Accident Evangelical Lutheran Parish; The Rev. Keith Pittsnogle, St. John Red House; The Rev. Matthew Riegel, Lutheran Campus Minister, West Virginia University; The Rev. David Rockwood, Grace Lutheran Church, Fairmont, WV; The Rev. Allen Schwarz, St. John's Lutheran Church, Davis, WV; The Rev. Torben Aarsand, Hagerstown and The Rev. Theodore Bessey, Oakland.
Further information about Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church can be found on its website http://www.shepherdofthehillslutheran.org or by calling (301) 387-0400. Messages are returned daily.
January 11, 2005
The Sunday School children are learning the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and will participate in the January 30 worship when the Beatitutes are the Gospel for the day.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Will O' the Wisp
Sitzmark Room
20160 Garrett Highway
Oakland, MD 21550
Phone: 301.387.0400