SHEPHERD'S E-NEWS SHUMC CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church March 27, 2020

Dear SHUMC Family. . . . Because of health concerns to prevent the spreading of the Coronavirus, we are honoring our Governor's request to limit meetings of 10 persons or more.  We are also heeding the decision of the Recreation Centers in Sun City West to remain closed through the end of April. Worship Services and meetings are canceled through at least April 30, 2020. Be safe out there. God is with us. This week’s worship service is available on our website, on our FaceBook page, through our church-wide email on Saturday afternoon or on a DVD, if requested.  a.      An email will be sent Saturday afternoon containing a link to the worship service. When you open this email, you will see a picture with a triangle over the picture. Click the triangle, and the video will begin to play. If you are not receiving these emails and wish to, please contact the office to add your email address. b.     The service will be posted to our FaceBook page and the Shepherd Hills FaceBook account. It is accessed by clicking on the triangle over the pastor’s face. c.      Through the website www.shepherdofthehills.org.  When the home page comes up, click on SERMONS. To play the current sermon click on the triangle over the pastor’s face. d.     We will send DVDs out to anyone who wants one. Contact the office to request a DVD.    Rev. Deborah Lerner, Senior Pastor

WEEKLY PRAYER

Gracious God, Worry and fear are not of Your heart. You remind us that perfect love casts out all fear, and we pray Your perfect love upon the hearts of all those who are burdened with the fear of this virus. Lord, we know with no doubt that You are bigger than the threat of anything, especially illnesses. Please comfort those who are living in fear. Please free them from the bondage that anxiety creates within. Help those who are living in unease to trust You in this time so that in times to come we may rest assured that You will be faithful to us until the end of the age. We know that You cover us with Your wings. In Jesus’ name,     Amen.

Please join us in prayer for…

Our sister United Methodist Congregations: Ajo Federated Church Calvary UMC, Phoenix Chino Valley UMC

CHURCH INFORMATION

Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church 13658 W. Meeker Blvd. Sun City West, AZ 85375 623-584-2280

Pastor on Call for Emergencies: 623-584-7642 Prayer Line: 623-584-2922 Partners in Prayer: Please send your prayer requests to prayers@shepherdofthehills.org

SERMONS

INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAY THE SERMON Position your mouse cursor on the arrow/triangle below. Click on the arrow/triangle and the video will begin to play. 

March 21 & 22, 2020 "Focus on Forgiveness: Forgiving" Rev. Deborah Lerner

CALENDAR

March 2020 Calendar

GIVING

MANY WAYS TO GIVE We are counting on your financial support, even when we cannot gather. You can give in many ways: a.        Mail a check to the office: 13658 W Meeker Blvd, Sun City West, AZ 85375 or drop your gift through the mail slot in the left side of the glass sliding doors. b. Bring check, cash, credit or debit card to the church office M-F 8 AM – 4 PM. c.       Go to the website at www.shepherdofthehills.org and click on the ONLINE GIVING tab. You will be guided through several choices for your giving. d.        Call Julie Calvert, our Financial Secretary, Monday or Wednesday mornings, to set up regular online giving or to make a gift with credit or debit card by phone. e.       Add Shepherd of the Hills to your list of payees for bill pay from your checking account through your bank. This can be set up for weekly or monthly gifts to the church.

MISSION CANDLE During this time when we are unable to worship together, please know that your request to have a Mission Candle will be honored. It will be mentioned at the beginning of the worship service that we record each week. Please call the office to set this up or write your request on a piece of paper and mail it to the church or use the mail slot located in the glass sliding doors. You can email or phone your request to the church also. The cost is $15 per request. The Mission Candle can be dedicated to anyone to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or in memory of someone special. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH

NOTE FROM THE OFFICE During this time of quarantine, the office has been busy with projects from our “To Do” list. One of the projects is syncing the database with the software we use to send emails to the congregation. If you have an email address, and it is in our system, you will begin to receive emails such as updates and words of encouragement from Pastor Deborah, the weekly worship service which is recorded in the Sanctuary, the weekly E-News and the monthly newsletter. If you are currently not receiving these emails, and you have an email address and would like to receive them, please call the office at 623-584-2280 or email us at church@shepherdofthehills.org . If you are receiving these emails and would like to stop receiving them, just give us a call or send an email and we will take care of your request.

JUSTA CENTER SANDWICHES Under the direction of the Missions Committee, a few people gathered in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, March 25 to make sandwiches for the homeless seniors. Every person kept social distancing of 3 to 6 feet apart while making the sandwiches. The total was 771 sandwiches! Thank you to everyone who donated supplies and volunteered to help. You are a blessing to this church and the community around us. You make a difference and are appreciated more than you know.

EASTER FLOWERS Orders for Easter flowers are still being accepted. The cost is $10.00 per plant. Please call or email the church if you would like to order a plant. You may pay for the plant by choosing one of the ways listed in Many Ways to Give article. As we must abide by the precautionary measures set forth by the CDC and our President, we will be unable to meet for worship on Easter Sunday. The worship service will be recorded and will be blessed with the beautiful surrounding of the Easter plants. Easter flowers may be picked up at the front of the Sanctuary after 12:00 PM on Good Friday, April 10. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

LENTEN DISCIPLINES INSERT - WEEK 5 Due to the cancellation of worship services, the Lenten insert for week 5, One Prayer a Day for Lent, is shown below. Sunday, March 29 My loving Lord, it's so hard to love the world sometimes and to love it the way Jesus did seems impossible. Help me to be inspired by his love and guided by his example. Most of all, I want to accept that I can't do it alone, and that trying is an arrogance of self-centeredness. I need you, dear God, to give me support in this journey. Show me how to unlock my heart so that I am less selfish. Let me be less fearful of the pain and darkness that will be transformed by you into Easter joy.   Monday, March 30 God of love, I know that you are the source of all that is good and graced in my life. Help me to move from the life of sin to which I so often cling into the new life of grace you offer me. You know what I need to prepare for your kingdom. Bless me with those gifts.   Tuesday, March 31 Loving God, You have heard my complaints, my impatience. Sometimes I become frightened when I move away from you. Guide my heart back to you. Help me to think beyond my own wants and to desire only to do your will. Thank you for the many blessings in my life (you can name some of your blessings here) and for the ways I feel your presence. Wednesday, April 1 Loving Creator, I know in your great love for me you see the deep sorrow in my heart for (you can name some of your sorrows here). Hear my prayers which are offered with such trust in you. Be with me in both mind and heart as I renew my life in your Spirit.   Thursday, April 2 Lord, all I want is to be faithful to you in my life, but so often I fail. Free me from my many sins and guide me to the life I will share with you. I wait for your promise to be fulfilled with great hope in my heart and your praise on my lips.   Friday, April 3 Most forgiving Lord, again and again you welcome me back into your loving arms. Grant me freedom from the heavy burdens of sin that weigh me down and keep me so far from you.   Saturday, April 4 Loving God, Your eternal watchfulness keeps me safe from harm. I am filled with a great happiness when I feel your endless love for me. Thank you for your care for me, one of your children. I ask you to protect from harm.... (you can name those on your mind here). May they also hear about you and desire to experience you in their lives. Please continue to pour out your blessings on all of us who have been given the life-giving waters of baptism. 

CHURCH EVENTS

DROP OFF FOOD BANK DONATIONS The food banks are desperate for food to distribute to those in need of emergency food. We can help by doing a drop-off food collection on the first Saturday and Sunday in April (April 4 and 5) at the church. Please do not go shopping for food to donate, as that would put yourself and others at risk. Bring non-perishable food items that you can share with others to the church anytime during that weekend. Please do not bring outdated food. This will not be accepted at the Food Bank . Leave your donation in the plastic tubs placed at the outdoor kiosk. We will pick it up several times during the weekend and deliver it to the Food Bank on Monday. We are blessed in so many ways to be able to help others. Pam Rice, Missions Committee

AN UPDATE ON THE PICTORIAL DIRECTORY We have been notified by LifeTouch (our pictorial directory company) that their production has been shut down by COVID-19 precautions in their home state. They are not sure exactly when they will be allowed to re-open. We had received a first proof and realized we needed to make some significant changes, so that process will continue as our staff is able to continue in our work (also not certain). All of that, taken together, means it is likely that we will not have a finished and published directory until late summer or early fall. Be patient. It is a difficult moment for our country and our church! Pastor Deborah, Senior Minister

WEEKLY FARMER'S MARKET Every Wednesday, and ending on May 27 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM in the Church Parking Lot

Fresh local produce, bread & pastries, jams, arts & crafts, food trucks, weekly prize giveaways, 60+ vendors

HELPERS WANTED FOR SHUMC BOOTH Every Wednesday 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM   We need some smiling faces to be present and greet those who come by our booth at the Farmer’s Market, offer things we are giving away, plus prayer cards or brochures if wanted, and generally have a good time in the festive atmosphere of the market. Please sign up for one of the shifts: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM   If you can do multiple Wednesdays, let us know! Sign up sheet is in the office hallway. If you miss it, call the office and let us know when you can serve.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

UMW EASTER BASKET UPDATE United Methodist Women would still like to complete our Easter Basket program for Valley View Food Bank. Because of the virus issues, we realize many of you who wanted to help will not be able to go out and shop to fill a basket. Jesse at the Food Bank says he can perhaps find a place to buy already made-up baskets. If you would like to contribute monetarily to this project, we will give the monetary donations to the Food Bank to purchase the already made-up baskets. Easter for these children will be a special occasion in spite of this pandemic state. Please drop off or mail your donation to the office. UMW will take our already prepared baskets and the monies to buy a few more to the Food Bank. If you wish to write a check, make it out to SHUMC-UMW and on the memo line put Easter baskets. Thank you again for supporting the projects of our UMW. For further information, contact the church at 623-584-2280.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are always welcome and needed to assist with sorting food at St. Mary's Food Bank in Surprise on the third Thursday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Call the church at 623-584-2280.

Coups For Troops Update We are collecting manufacturer's coupons only - no store coupons, no rebates, no fast food, and no restaurant. Coupons are going to family bases so all kinds of manufacturer's coupons are useful including those for children and baby items, automobile products, household and laundry supplies and, of course, groceries and toiletries. Any questions about the program, please contact the church at 623-584-2280.

Alternative Revenue Sources            SHUMC Window Decals – Purchase at the office for only $5 and $1 of that will go to Missions. Easy to apply yourself and perfect for your golf carts too!          Recycling Paper & Cardboard - There are recycling bins located in the northeast side of the church parking lot for paper and cardboard. You may deposit cardboard, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, computer paper, office paper and phone books, junk mail, shredded paper in clear plastic bags, colored paper, paper bags, pizza boxes and cereal boxes. No aluminum or plastic please! SHUMC receives $20 per ton of recycled paper from the recycling company, so you can support your church and the environment, too! Please bring all paperback and hard covered books to the church Library (another way to recycle!).            Fry’s Community Rewards Program - You can help SHUMC every time you shop at any location of Fry’s Foods. Participants are required to have an email and must enroll your Fry’s VIP card, and you need to re-enroll August every year to keep donations happening. If you need a VIP card, they can be obtained at any Fry’s location. If you have a Fry’s VIP Card, all you need to do is enroll your card online at www.FrysCommunityRewards.com , and then every time you shop and present your VIP card SHUMC will be credited and receive a reward from Fry’s based on your purchases. The church office has printed instructions for “Creating and Online Fry’s Account” and “Registering for the Fry’s Community Rewards Program.”

Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church 13658 W Meeker Blvd Sun City West, AZ 85375-3700 Website: www.shepherdofthehills.org Email:church@shepherdofthehills.org Office: 623-584-2280 FAX: 623-584-1868 Pastor-On-Call for Emergencies: 623-584-7642 Prayer Requests: 623-584-2922 Partners in Prayer: prayers@shepherdofthehills.org