Members of the community and clergy from the West Virginia- Western Maryland (WV-WMD) Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered on Sunday, November 11, 2007 to celebrate the Installation and Commissioning of The Reverend Donald R. Thomas. The service was held at Will O' the Wisp at Deep Creek Lake. Mr. Robert E. Thomas, Esquire, brother of Pastor Thomas and former Lutheran pastor, preached at the service. The Most Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia Western Maryland Synod, also led the worship service of Holy Communion and the Order for Installation.

Shepherd of the Hills is the first "mission congregation under development" of the WV-WMD Synod since the merger of the ELCA in 1987. It holds its regular weekly services at the Garrett 8 Cinemas at 9:30 AM Sundays. Newcomers, tourists and visitors are always welcome. For further information, persons may contact Pastor Don Thomas at 301-387-0400 (church office), or visit the church website at www.shepherdofthehillslutheran.org

 

During the months of February - September 2007, the following individuals led us in Sunday morning worship. We thank each and every one!

Rev. Roland Nairn, Accident Evangelical Lutheran Parish, Accident, MD, Past Interim Pastor
Rev. Alex Black, retired Bishop, Past Supply Pastor
Rev. Donald Thomas, Interim Pastor (April - September)
Rev. Wolfgang Herz-Lane, Mission Director
Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia- Western Maryland Synod, ELCA
Rev. Matthew Riegel, Lutheran Campus Minister, West Virginia University
Rev. Sarah Lee Faulkner, Church of the Covenant, Grafton, WV
Rev. Ron Fearer, Retired
Mr. Lowell Leitzell, lay minister
The Rev. David Luecke, Retired
Rev. Kathleen Reed, Director of Development, Gettysburg Seminary

October 2004 found the Synod Council of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the ELCA voting to allow Shepherd of the HIlls to organize as a synodically authorized worshiping community and voted to be supportive of the church becoming the first mission congregation in the synod since the merger of the ELCA in 1987. Mission status as a developing congregation was determined by the Outreach Review Committee of the National organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, January 2005.

 

Feb. 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007:
The Reverend Alex Black (retired Bishop, residing in Fairmont, WV) - Supply Pastor
The Reverend Randy Nairn (Accident Evangelical Lutheran Parish) - Interim Pastor

MISSION DEVELOPER 2005-2007
The Reverend Claude L. Villemaire

 

GUEST PASTORS 2004-2005

During our developmental period (July 4, 2004 through August, 2005) guest pastors from Western Maryland and West Virginia generously led Shepherd of the Hills in worship. We thank each and every one! They are:

The Rev. Torben G. Aarsand, On-Leave-From Call; Exec. Director of Aarsand Family Foundation
The Rev. Theodore Bessey, Holy Trinity, Elkins, WV
The Rev. Larry Cantu, Grace Lutheran Church, Petersburg, WV
The Rev. James L. Caton, II, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Clarksburg, WV
The Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Dunkin, Bishop of the West Virginia- Western Maryland Synod, ELCA
The Rev. David Luecke - Retired, he lives in Waynesboro, VA.
The Rev. Roland Nairn, Accident Evangelical Lutheran Parish, Accident, MD
The Rev. Robert Newpher - Stewardship Specialist for the three western synods of Region 8, ELCA
The Rev. Keith Pittsnogle, St. John Red House, Red House, MD
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. Frederick A. Soltow, St. Peter, Shepherdstown, and St. James, Uvilla, WV

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