Wednesday, December 4 we will hold our Advent Potluck Dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. Bring friends and a dish to share.

Each Wednesday in advent we meet at 7:00 p.m. to explore one of the following models of faith as we gather

for worship. Please join us.

• Dec 4 - Monologue: "Ruth: Chosen"• Dec 11 -Monologue: " A Samaritan Woman: Hope"• Dec 18 - Monologue: "Dorcas: Risen"

The Sunsations Steel Drum Band will present the sounds of Christmas...with a Caribbean flair! Join us in the church sanctuary on December 14, 2013 at 6:00 pm for a unique and fun-filled concert, presented by members of our community.

Admission is FREE, and light refreshments will follow this amazing concert! A free will offering will be taken.

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SHEPHERD’S VOICE 1 3 6 0 0 C A S P I A N W A Y, C L E R M O N T, F L O R I D A 3 4 7 1 1 D E C E M B E R , 2 0 1 3

S H E P H E R D O F T H E H I L L S L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

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COMING EVENTS

Advent WorshipDec 4, 11, 18

Sunsations Steel Drum

BandDec 14

Choir CantataDec 15

Last Day for Toy Drive

Dec 15

Jesus’ Birthday PartyDec 15

Christmas WorshipDec 24, 25

Join Us in celebrating the Advent/christmas Season

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On December 15, 2013 at each of our morning worship services, the Choir will present this year's Christmas cantata, "Mary, Did You Know?" You will hear traditional carols such as "Away in a Manger," "The First Noel," and the "Hallelujah Chorus"; as well as the beautiful,

more contemporary ballad, "Mary, Did You Know?"  So please be sure to come to worship at either 8:00 am or 10:15 am on December 15th to experience the Christmas story as presented in the wonderful work, "Mary, Did You Know?"

Have your kids and their friends attend our Jesus‘ Birthday Party on December 15 at 9:00 am in the education wing. Have them bring a toy or food for donation to the Neighborhood Center.

Bring a new toy for donation to the Neighborhood Center for their Christmas party for kids. Donations need

to be received by December 15.

Purchase a poinsettia in memory or in honor of a loved one. Poinsettias are $7.50 each and must be paid by December 15.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we celebrate the coming of Jesus with three worship services - 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and and 10:15 a.m. on Christmas Day. All members, associates, guests, and visitors join us as we celebrate the birth of the Lord.

Christmas Eve services include a monologue entitled Wrong Way Wise Man, prayer, a candle light blessing, and the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Christmas Day services include scripture, Holy Communion, prayer and Christmas music and a special message presented by Rev. Steve Tolander. Special music is provided at Christmas Eve services.

Advent/Christmas Season continued from page 1

Click HERE to order

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In 1893, Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) created a chapel interior for the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair. The Chapel was a sensation and brought the already successful designer of glass objects to new levels of popularity. Overtime, and at multiple different times, the chapel fell out of use and into disrepair. One of its several locations included a prestigious placement in the crypt of New York’s Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. It is now fully restored and housed at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida.

Recently, I was entertaining a friend from out of town. We visited an extraordinary exhibit of Russian Icons at the Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park and then found ourselves at the Morse Museum; the Chapel was a highlight for both of us. Most people have heard of Tiffany lamps but Tiffany’s artistry in light is much deeper than artificial illumination.

One special feature of the chapel’s presentation is a number of different levels of lighting that cycle on and off. Each level

revealed another angle of color and mood from the glass mosaics. In turn, different emotions were invoked in my personal impressions. I felt joy, freedom, sadness, grief, light-heartedness, energy, and peace to name a few. The light, reflected in so many different stages of intensity and value, also felt sacred and holy. For me, it could only be the revelation of the Light of Jesus Christ. It is a light not of traditions and artistry, but a light that meets us in the sacred messiness of everyday life, a

place where experiences and emotions vary greatly. It is a light that brings Jesus close to us.

May the Light of Christ at Christmas be close to you.

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• Check out the Library! Thanks to Pastor Nancy and Larry Dodge for decluttering and sprucing up the space.

• Thank you to Aimee Markussen for decorating the bulletin boards in the Administration wing.

• The High School Sunday School Class is making Christmas decorations for the congregation (take a look in the admin wing) and some will be delivered to our homebound members.

• Thank you to John Mei for fixing the sink in the men’s room and working on the water damage in the choir room.

• Thank you to Wayne Ahlers for trouble-shooting computer hardware issues!

• The carpet is being cleaned in the sanctuary on Monday morning, December 9, 2013. The cleaning will take four hours with three hours to dry. Make plans accordingly.

• Confirmation Retreat at Luther Springs, Hawthorne, Florida: Coming Soon! Check it out HERE See Debbie Kiely, Confirmation Teacher, to register.

• We are now studying the Book of Exodus at our Wednesday Evening (7:30 pm) Bible Studies. All are welcome.

• Seniorfest at Hope Lutheran Church, The Villages February 18, 2014 8:30-4 pm workshops, Keynote Speaker, Worship and Music.Travel Hosts: Pastor Nancy and Sara Holton. The Keynote speaker will be Bob Baker and the worship leader will be David Ludwig.

Car pools arranged (leave church by 7:30 am) Look for Sign Ups in January 2014. Additional information is available on the website:  www.aloafloridaseniorfest.com.

• CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. January 26, 2014 (after 10:15 service, about 11:30 am). Mission Statement: Make Known God’s Grace. Join us for the business of the Congregation and the Mission of God’s Church

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Lap Robes

Pastor Nancy delivered 31 Lap Robes to South Lake Hospital on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. They were received by the Rev. Pamela Masten, Chaplain at the hospital. Thanks to all who created these practical and beautiful robes; many patients will feel the warmth of God’s love through these gifts.

Interest Survey:Book Blog

What  is  a  Book  Blog?Simple -- read an agreed upon book and “blog” about it with Pastor Nancy and other people reading the

same book via the Shepherd of the Hills web page.

How do we get the books?

Books are purchased by the reader; they may be ordered through church office.

What books can we discuss?

We will discuss one at a time--titles to choose at this time:1. “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young: Daily devotions with scriptures2. “If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the

Boat” by John Ortberg3. “Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope” by Joan Chittister4. “On God’s Side” by Jim Wallis

Call the Church Office: Give your name and which book you wish to blog about.

Church Office HoursMonday-Friday 8 a.m. to

1 p.m.Closed holidaysOffice phone : 352-394-3382

Emergency phone: 352-682-6838

shephillsclermont.org

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Dorothy Anderson and Dorothy Derrick Coordinators

There are about 10 people who faithfully work on making quilts. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month and other Tuesdays when possible. The majority of quilts go to Lutheran World Relief; they go any place in the world where they are needed including disaster relief locations, hospitals, orphanages, and refugee camps. Over 400,000 quilts are sent out every year. SOTH contributes about 125 quilts per year to this effort.

This year, quilts will be available to the congregation for a $50 donation. The contribution is used to purchase the batting (stuffing) to make more quilts. The quilts will be made available in the sanctuary Wednesday December 4, and Sunday, December 8, 2013. On Monday they will be packed up and made ready to send around the world!

Donations of the following items are always welcome: fabric for the top of the quilts, sheets or large pieces of fabric for the back of the quilts, and crochet cotton.

Thank you to all who contribute the supplies that just show up! And a special thanks to all who provide the talent.

New! Small Group for Women

“Coping with the grief of losing a spouse”Group led by Pastor Nancy (once a week for 6-8 weeks).

Date, day of week, and time to be determined by participants.

If you are interested in participating in this support group, please contact the church office. A date will be set to meet after mid-January 2014.

Q u i l t M i n i s t r y

We need help with landscaping, our memorial garden, and various other property related projects.

If you can help please contact Council Secretary, Michelle Candage after the 10:15 service or by calling her at 352-242-6562.

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The Faith Neighborhood Center gratefully received the check for $1,600 from Thrivent Financial. This went towards food at a most needy time. It was with your effort and the support of our local Thrivent Chapter that made this event not only possible but a huge success. Thank you all for the food donations.

Through Thrivent Financial and with the support of our local chapter, we have also requested $500 towards gifts for needy children. The gifts will be given to the Faith Neighborhood Center. The Center is a buzz with activity and our volunteers are hard at work there.

Santa's helpers have told us that for the boys there is a need for Legos, cars and trucks; for the girls anything Barbie and jewelry made from crafts and the little ones educational toys.

There is a volunteer sign-up sheet near the large gift boxes. Let's see if we can fill these boxes with gifts for children to overflowing. In order for us to receive the $500, we need 250 volunteer hours. Shepherd of the Hills is a most generous congregation when it comes to helping those in need and we appreciate the support of members to make this all possible.

Please bring your gifts a/s/a/p as we only have about 10 days to collect the gifts.

Pictures of the Month

Choir singing atmorning worship

Our redesigned entrance to sanctuary

Lap robes presented for dedication

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Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Schaefer

Dear sisters and brothers,

Writing to the whole church at Philippi, Paul wrote:  “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your

sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).

As we approach the national day of Thanksgiving and the turning of another church year, I find myself resonating with Paul’s thinking, except that for me, “the first day until now,” is less than four months.  None-the-less I find myself deeply thankful and regularly joyful for the awesome privilege to serve as your bishop and this synod’s pastor.  Over these months I have had the opportunity to get to know you in this relationship through seven conference visits and services of Holy Communion, installing five rostered leaders into new calls, presiding and preaching in twenty congregations in various contexts around the synod, and in having the opportunity to teach and lead worship at the Synod Deacons retreat and the annual gathering of the Synodical Women of the ELCA.  On November 15 the Executive Leadership Team (“Bishop’s staff ”) was completed with the arrival of Pr. Jaime Dubon. Together with Ken Aicher, Connie Schmucker, Pr. Jim Greaser and the other synod house staff, we

have an awesome team—for that alone, thanks be to God!

As I travel the synod, I have discovered a healthy hunger for connectedness and a robust willingness to engage in God’s mission to the world together.  I have found pastors, lay rostered leaders, and disciples in congregations who are willing, even longing to share their gifts with the church for the sake of the world.

For all of this, and especially the love and support of my family, I am profoundly thankful to our gracious God.  It is interesting how the heart of Christian worship early on came simply to be called “eucharist,” the Greek word for thanksgiving.  Thankfulness is at the heart of our faith and relationships are at the heart of our thankfulness.  As I stand at the Table in congregations around the synod, in addition to being thankful for the new life we have in the dying and rising of Christ, I thank my God for you and the relationships we are building and I pray with joy for the work that God is doing among us and will continue to do until the day of Jesus Christ.

Peace be yours,+ Robert Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod

the SHEPHERD’S VOICEShepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church13600 Caspian WayClermont, Florida 34711

Phone: 352-394-3382Web: www.shephillsclermont.orgClick HERE to view the church calendar

S H E P H E R D O F T H E H I L L S L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

the SHEPHERD’S VOICE