Shepherd’s StaffShepherd’s Staff

Volume 49, No. 5 • May 2013

Shepherd of the HillsUnited Church of Christ

Youth Club Director RetiresSandy Kline retired as the director of Youth Club at the end of the spring termafter serving 10 years in that capacity. She was involved for many years beforethat in other aspects of the program.

Always cheerful and energetic, she loves to teach children about Jesus. As anew chapter unfolds for Sandy she will continue to do that in one way oranother.

National Day of PrayerThursday, May 2

The 62th Annual National Day of Prayer will takeplace Thursday, May 2, 2013. Millions will unite

in prayer at thousands of events from coast tocoast.Ê

This year’s theme, “Pray for America”, is basedon Matthew 12:21 which reminds us that “In

His name the nations will put their hope.” GregLaurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian

Fellowship and Founder of Harvest Crusades, willserve as the 2013 Honorary Chairman of the NDP Task Force and will give thekeynote address at the National Observance in Washington, D.C., to be held atthe Cannon House Office Building.

“The American people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simpleanswers, and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance,protection, and blessing – not only on the National Day of Prayer, butthroughout the year,” says NDP Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson.

The National Day of Prayer tradition predates the founding of the UnitedStates of America, evidenced by the Continental Congress’ proclamation in1775 setting aside a day of prayer.Ê In 1952, was created by a joint resolutionof the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.In 1988, that law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as thefirst Thursday in May.ÊÊ

Father’s DayFather’s DayFather’s DayFather’s DayFather’s DayCar ShowCar ShowCar ShowCar ShowCar ShowJune 16

Vacation BibleVacation BibleVacation BibleVacation BibleVacation BibleSchoolSchoolSchoolSchoolSchoolJune 17-21

Relay for LifeRelay for LifeRelay for LifeRelay for LifeRelay for LifeJune 22-23

Coming EventsComing EventsComing EventsComing EventsComing Events

As a boy, French poet Anatole Francewas fascinated by the story of SimeonStylites, a Christian ascetic saint whotried to achieve holiness by living atopa pillar for 37 years. Young Anatoledecided to try something similar byplacing a chair atop the kitchen table.

His mother, however, wasn’t a fan ofhis methods. She made him climbdown from his perch beforedinnertime, which led the boy toproclaim, “I perceive it is a verydifficult thing to be a saint while livingwith your family.”

(Continued on next page)

From the Pastor

JESUS IS MY HERO

When I think about the sins I constantly strugglewith and that of so many others, I am soencouraged by the story found in John 8:1-11. Init, a woman is caught in the very act of adultery.By the religious laws of that time she shouldhave been stoned to death. When this wasbrought to Jesus’ attention, many of the religiousleaders were trying to test Him. How would Jesusrespond? Would he violate the religious law,showing that He has no regard for that which is

held in truth? Or, would he condone the death of a woman who was being hurtby her own sin, thereby disregarding this grace and mercy He so often preachedabout?

What happens next still stuns me to this day. In one swift turn of events Jesusgoes for option three. And when everyone else has left, He is still there, helpingto pick up this once disgraced woman who has now been rescued and restoredby the grace and presence of God, Himself.

I still remain speechless at how Jesus in the same breath can simultaneously lookinto the heart of someone and say, ‘I don’t agree with what you are doing, andthat needs to change, but I LOVE you even in the midst of all of this, won’t youlet me help you find what you are truly searching for?’ ”

I think Jesus is still saying the same thing to us today, and to those who seek tofollow their own “pleasures” in this world, but actually end up hurting themselvesand others. Like the woman in the story, I am that sinner. You are that sinner.We are that sinner – who Jesus lovely looks upon and says – “won’t you let mehelp you find what you are truly searching for?”

Are you ready to receive that kind of LOVE in your life? LOVE that is sooverwhelming that it refuses to leave you in the mess you are in, but so gentlethat it still remains as strong no matter where we might find ourselves. And areyou ready to be like Jesus and share that kind of LOVE in someone else’s life?

This should be the purpose of all of our programs, ministries, and outreaches.May we continue to be the type of church and the type of Christ-followers whoare always willing and ready to be the hands, feet, voice, and heart of Jesus.

Jesus is my hero – that is why I shall follow Him all of my days. Is He yours?

Blessings,Pastor Derrick

Sunday School9:15 a.m.

Toddler through Grade 6Confirmation Class (Grades 7-8)

Young Adults – Room 25Discussion - Parlor EastSpiritual Growth - FH

Children’s ChurchPre-K to Grade 4 – every Sunday

during the 10:30 a.m. service.

H2O YouthWednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Derrick Whitmore

The organizing task force is a privatelyfunded organization whose purpose isto encourage participation on the Na-tional Day of Prayer. It exists tocommunicate with every individual theneed for personal repentance andprayer, to create appropriate materi-als, and to mobilize the Christiancommunity to intercede for America’sleaders and its families. The Task Forcerepresents a Judeo-Christian expressionof the national observance, based onthe understanding that this country wasbirthed in prayer and in reverence forthe God of the Bible.

Vacation Bible SchoolJune 17-21

9-11:45 a.m.Toddlers to Grade 6

Theme: Sonwest Roundup

(Nat’l. Day of Prayer, cont’d. frompage 1)

Ruth Mark is our Faith Promisemissionary for May. She works with WEC’sRadio Worldwide outreach in England. Herareas of responsibility include Englishprogramming, training of radio operators,and producing the monthly Audio PrayerNews. She and several others have beenworking on a pilot program called “Lettersto my Daughters.” The English version isnow being tried by radio stations andinterested organizations. Efforts to preparea similar program in a Central Asianlanguage have been more challenging, butcontinue.

The May Vision Project is the Kentucky countywide VBS.

Missions

Wednesday, May 1At Mary’s Meals, Narvon

(Meal at 12:30 p.m.; Departure timeto be announced)

A full course meal will be servedconsisting of fruit salad, tossed salad,homemade breads, chicken tenderloin,roast beef, corn, green beans, lemonsponge and cherry pies and ice cream.Suggested donation – $15.00 (cashonly).

Save the Dates!September 7 - Prime Timer

Everybody’s Birthday DinnerNovember 16 - Dinner & Show,

“A Christmas Carol” at Dutch AppleDinner Theatre, Lancaster

Ruth Mark

Congo Community RedCross Blood Drive

Saturday, May 187:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

At St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,Sassamansville

2013 National PrayerFather, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America,America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today.We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts ofhorrific violence.

Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best toremove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms andculture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.”But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive ourcountry again.

Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to anypeople” (Proverbs14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt ourcountry again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We haveexperienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritualbut also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again,so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)

That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakeningthat will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. Youhave told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turnfrom our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2Chronicles7:14)

Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.

Must-have traitsHow far you go in life depends on yourbeing tender with the young,compassionate with the aged,sympathetic with the striving andtolerant of the weak and strong.Because someday in your life you willhave been all of these.

- George Washington Carver

Pastoral StaffRev. John Brown, Jr.Senior Pastor

Derrick WhitmoreAssociate Pastor

Shepherd of the Hills’ regular officehours are Monday throughThursday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

527 Hoffmansville RoadBechtelsville, PA 19505(610) 754-6446(610) 754-6121 (fax)sothucc@aol.comwww.shepherdofthehillschurch.org

The Shepherd’s Staff is published ten timesa year by Shepherd of the Hills Church.It is distributed by third class mail to membersand friends of the congregation.

Prayers of Sympathy are extended toRuth Morrison and family on the deathof William Morrison on March 26.

Confirmation of the 8th grade class willtake place at the 10:30 a.m. service onSunday, May 19. This year’s confirmandsare: Patrick Coffey, Rylee Fluharty,Abrielle Houck, Ciera McFarland, ConorMurray, Noah Volgger, Carly Wilson andShawn Wilson.

A persistent leak in the sanctuaryfoyer appears to have been found andrepaired by Diirner Roofing on a recentvisit. Hopefully this will be a solutionuntil that area of the roof is replaced.

Bits and PiecesMany thanks to Mountains of Mulch, awholesale business on SassamansvilleRoad, who graciously donated all themulch used on the church property thisspring.

The annual MOPS Tea will be heldon May 11. See any MOPS member fortickets.

The Alpha Course was extended oneweek because of a snow cancellation. Itwill now end on May 20.

Shepherd of the Hills will again serveas a Douglass Township polling locationfor the Primary elections on May 21. TheFriends for Life committee will be sellingrefreshments to voters.

Sunday Services8:00 and 10:30 a.m.

Ever-evolving, ever-loved

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” often knownsimply as “The Navy Hymn,” dates back to1860, when William Whiting wrote it for astudent of his about to travel by ship fromEngland to America.

Original verses testified to the protection ofGod the Father, Christ, the Holy Spirit andthe Trinity. In 1940, the U.S. EpiscopalChurch rewrote the hymn to include travelon land and in the air. Many verses havebeen written since: for Navy SEALs,submariners, astronauts, military families,ship dedications and more.

The following verse, intended for Memorial Day, may be used with the credit linebelow:

We thank you, God, for loved ones dearWho clung to faith beyond their fear,Who served and paid the highest priceFor freedom bought with sacrifice.May they remind us of your SonWhose death our final freedom won.

- Heidi L. Mann, 2012