SHEPHERD'S E-NEWS
SHUMC CELEBRATING 40 YEARS
Take a Moment to Stay in Touch
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Most of our staff are in the office only limited hours at this time. We can be reached through the church number, (623-584-2280) and email, church@shepherdofthehills.org).
Worship with us weekly online at shepherdofthehills.org
In-person worship will be resumed
when we are confident that it is safe.
Be safe out there. God is with us.
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The front office will be open
Tuesdays and Fridays
from 10 am – 1 pm,
starting next Tuesday, October 13.
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SERMONS BY PHONE
We are excited to announce a new service for those who are challenged by technology. Our weekend services, in a slightly shortened version, will be available by phone by Saturday
at 3:30 PM. Please share this news with friends who are not able to join us online or via DVD.
Simply call 1-623-223-9151.
The service will begin playing immediately.
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STRUGGLING WITH TECHNOLOGY?
NOT ABLE TO WORSHIP ONLINE?
Mondays at 9:00 A.M.
in the Fellowship Hall
(NOTE NEW DAY AND TIME)
Beginning Monday, October 12, 2020.
Maximum of 10 persons -- Please contact the office to sign up.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If more than 10 persons are interested, we will find an additional time to show the service.
This is for YOU if you sometimes, often, or always choose not to attend weekly worship because you do not enjoy worship on a computer screen or, if you are defeated by the technology required to do so.
We want everyone to be able to worship with us.
Our Sunday viewings were not well attended, so we will not repeat them. We are now trying a weekday morning.
From Pastor Deborah: “The sound was GREAT with the big speakers and the video was GREAT on the big screen and it was very worshipful! Try it out! Especially wonderful this week: The choir’s virtual anthem. Incredibly special.”
Please contact the office at 623-584-2280 to sign up.
Hearing assist devices are available upon request.
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If you are on our email contact list:
We will send you an email 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.
Click the triangle above the date you want to watch.
If you are a Facebook user, find it posted on either our Shepherd of the Hills page and/or the Shepherd Hills Facebook account. Click the triangle.
Please watch, then forward to a friend or two.
Click the link in the email labeled Online Attendance Card and
let us know that you are worshiping with us.
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MISSION CANDLE
For Sunday, October 11, 2020:
The Mission Candle shines today in loving memory of Paul Stewart, from his wife, Sharon.
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 or email us to set this up. 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.
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Please join us in prayer for… |
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Our sister United Methodist Congregations:
Trinity UMC, Yuma
Sedona UMC
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INTERCESSORY PRAYER
While we are not able to be in the Prayer Room
at church for intercessory prayer time, we are offering intercessory prayer by phone. We will
make ourselves available on Sundays from
10:00-11:00 AM.
If you want prayer at another time, call either of us. If we don’t answer, leave your name and number and we will return your call.
Bill White – 623 688 7565
Linda White 623 688 7417
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PRAYER PHONE
Please call our prayer line at 623-584-2922 to hear a short prayer. Then you will be invited to leave specific prayer requests, which will be forwarded to the Prayer Team.
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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR DEBORAH |
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A New Season Begins
I have been relieved, and grateful, to see the statistics related to COVID-19 infection in our area improving week by week. The positivity rate is very low in our zip code and all those immediately adjacent. Cases per 100,000 are also low, in the very low “moderate risk” category (10 – 100 cases per 100,000 are moderate, around us there are none above 20, and many are around 11 or 12, and have been declining for several weeks).
With that in mind, our Task Force for re-opening decided to ask our District Superintendent for permissions to open our door a little wider.
We have now received permission to:
1. Hold memorial services for 50 or less persons in the Sanctuary, with masks, social distancing, and no ”live” singing (congregation or soloist). We have some work to do to know what this means for us.
Music is such a vital part of many such gatherings, and we are working out how we can offer this as a pre-recorded option (which involves extra work from our VEW team, our sound team, etc). We are thinking we will need to schedule carefully, to allow those recordings to be done when our teams are already gathered to record the weekly service. We will need to compensate the volunteers who then spend a number of hours recording, editing and being present to play the recordings.
With all due speed, we will work through these kinds of considerations and begin to contact families who have been waiting to honor their beloved ones who have graduated to glory. It will take us a little bit of time, but we will let you know.
2. Hold outdoor service(s) for 100 or less persons, (we asked for 50 but they have already expanded that number for services outside).
We hope to have our first outdoor service(s) on November 8.
November 1 is communion Sunday and All Saint’s Day, and we don’t think we can handle those logistics our first week out.
It will be socially distanced, with no hugs or handshakes and the only music will be soloists, carefully removed from where most people will sit. But it will be a joyous day, indeed, when we can gather!
One of our challenges: we don’t have that many chairs without upholstery (for easy sanitizing) and will have to ask you to bring your own. A second challenge: assembling a sound system.
3. Have the office open to “the public.” (the front window, at least!) This will be limited hours per week (6 or less). Access will be ONLY to the front window through the sliding glass doors, so we know what areas need to be cleaned and sanitized.
Please help us make this safe by wearing masks (required ANYWHERE inside), signing a covenant before entering and staying within the area indicated.
We will not be holding any meetings in the office areas, including the parish nurse’s office. The office door and the parish nurse’s door will remain locked.
If you need an appointment with a pastor, those meetings (by appointment only) will be held in the conference room or some other “public” space.
Most of the staff will continue to be in the office, limited hours weekly, but available by phone or email during regular office hours, 8 – 4 weekdays.
The front office will be open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 am – 1 pm,
starting next Tuesday, October 13.
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STAYING IN TOUCH WHILE WE ARE APART |
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ALL CHURCH / CHARGE CONFERENCE
Monday, November 9, 2020
2:00 PM via Zoom
Plan to join us for a conversation with our District Superintendent, Nancy Cushman, about where we have been this year and where we think we are headed next. We will approve pastor's salaries, deal with membership matters, certify our lay speakers and do other necessary business.
All persons who call SHUMC are welcome. Only SHUMC members are allowed to vote.
Further details will be made available as the time approaches.
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CALLING ALL VETERANS!
On November 8, during the worship service, we will recognize all the veterans in our congregation.
Please call (623-584-2280) or email Jodi at jodi@shepherdofthehills.org, and let us know your name and what branch of the military you served.
Thank you to all soldiers, both past and present, for your bravery and fighting for our freedom!
May God bless you!
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CHURCH & SOCIETY IS BACK
Our prayers to God for a Shepherds’ Church & Society team who could lead us into living out our Christian values of love, compassion and justice have been answered. I gladly introduce to you our new Co-Chairs, Dale Salyers and Ellis Eskritt.
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They accepted a divine call to create opportunities for all of us, where we can live as disciples of Christ, while learning and acting for the transformation of our world. It is a blessing to have these dedicated and faithful leaders, as well as team members, facilitating for us the opportunities to influence and impact our society. |
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They will remind us that God has given us his power to make a difference for all of God’s children. That sometimes simple, small words and actions can make a huge difference in our neighborhoods and our lives. That when the work God asks of us is tough, we do it not with individual strength, but supported by the strength of brothers, sisters and his Holy Spirit. |
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With their leadership we will take a look at some of the most pressing challenges our local and global communities face. And we will find a variety of avenues to minister to these needs together, in grace-filled, inviting and hopeful ways.
Thank you Dale, Ellis and Church & Society team members, for the wonderful gifts you will be sharing with all of us. We will support you with our prayers and, as we are able and ready, with God’s help we will join all of you in the work of love, peace and justice for the sake of God’s kingdom.
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Not a Zoomer?
Try a Bible Study by email or by phone!
The Education Team is happy to announce an opportunity for a four-week Bible Study on Psalms 23. We understand that some are not comfortable with Zoom, so we are offering this class either by email or by phone.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Jodi at jodi@shepherdofthehills.org or 623-584-2280 to let her know if you would like to be in an Email Study (groups of 3 or 4) or a Phone Study (with a designated partner). We are excited to try this out as we view reading the Bible and keeping in touch to be very important activities, not just during the pandemic, but always.
Format:
Each week you will receive the weekly Scripture verses to read and questions to guide your personal reflection.
Email Study group members will then share (via email) your reflections of how the study impacted your life that week.
Phone Study partners will share reflections via phone.
Repeat the same steps the following weeks. You will be connecting with members of your groups, finding spiritual support and creating important bonds with each other as well as with God.
We will begin the Bible Study process on
Monday, October 26th after email groups and
phone partners have been created.
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IN-PERSON BIBLE STUDY
The Education Team is happy to announce an in-person Bible Study Class. Dale Salyers is the facilitator and he brings a wealth of experience in Biblical teachings, so we hope you will join us.
The class will meet on October 16, 23 and 30 at 9:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. We will follow recommendations for meeting safely in-person by wearing a mask and physically distancing.
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This study is based on the book by Adam Hamilton, The Call. Books are available for $5.00 from the office (please note change in price), and you can still participate without one. Please bring your bible and something to take notes.
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BOOK CLUB
The Book Club will meet on Thursday, October 15 at 9:30 AM, via Zoom. The book to be discussed is Vanished Arizona by Martha Summerhayes.
The heart of this book is the time Martha Summerhayes spent during the 1870s in Arizona as an army wife. Raised in comfortable circumstances on the East Coast, she was intelligent and educated, but unprepared for the harshness of life in Arizona. Bad food, extreme heat, discomfort and dangerous animals and people were all parts of her life. She was a keen observer of all that she experienced.
Everyone is welcome to attend. The Zoom link will be sent by email to those who wish to attend. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Mary Jane Banfield or Michael Moore.
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SHUMC LIBRARY IS OPEN
Tuesdays 9 AM – Noon
The church library opens the door on Tuesdays for three hours. Masks and gloves are required to be worn and will be provided. Please follow all posted directions.
The library is not staffed during this time. Please observe the limitation of one person or one couple at a time to allow for adequate social distancing.
If you borrowed books before the church went into lockdown and you would like to return them, there is a bin outside the library door Monday through Friday for this purpose.
Remember: the office remains closed to visitors at this time.
You can reach office staff by phone or email.
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PICTORIAL DIRECTORY UPDATE
The office received the proof of the Pictorial Directory this week. The staff is reviewing the book for accuracy and we hope to return it to Lifetouch Photography during the week of October 12.
We will take our place in line for publishing to begin. Hopefully, we will have the books in the office within a month and can begin distribution.
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BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY SECTION WILL BE PRINTED MONTHLY
IN THE VOICE NEWSLETTER
Email your birthday and/or anniversary dates to: jodi@shepherdofthehills.org to be included in the monthly celebration article. Please include month/date/year. The year will not be published, but the information will help us update the church database.
We will keep your date(s) in a folder and when the month arrives, your name will be in the birthday article. You can send in your dates at any time.
(To be included in the November newsletter, please submit your dates by Friday, October 23).
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Justa Center Update
Sandwich Making and Delivery
Thank you for your support of the Justa Center ministry to homeless seniors in Phoenix. Special thank you this week to the Wednesday sandwich makers: Marlene Northup, JoAnn Anderson, Don Middleton, Karen McDonald, Joyce Rapp, Mary Giese, Gail Poynor, Toni Tucker, Starlit Halstead, Dale and Vicki Salyers.
If you would like to make sandwiches on Wednesday, October 7th at 9 AM, Please contact Pam Rice at 801-540-6573 or pamean@msn.com
We will also accept donations of peanut butter and jelly. Please bring them to the outside bench at the church office during the hours that Shawn is there …before 1pm. (Some of us prefer the creamy peanut butter because it spreads easier and faster!!
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LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY
This weekly Bible study will be held via Zoom every Thursday at 1:30 PM. Please join in whenever you are available.
We will use the “Life Journal” which identifies scripture readings for each day of the week. Journals are available at the church. They are on the bench in front of the glass sliding doors or at https://www.liferesources.cc. It’s okay if you don’t have one. We will give you the daily scriptures.
We will read the passage together and then each of us will do the following:
S - Identify which scripture verse spoke to you.
O - What is your observation for this verse - what does it mean to you?
A - How can you apply the meaning to your life?
P - Pray that God will help you change based on your application of the verse.
A reminder email will be sent Thursday morning with the link to join the bible study group.
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Puzzles-To-Go
Check out the puzzle list and find the puzzle you would like (first come basis). There are paper copies available in the plastic bins by the church office for selecting the puzzle you would like to do.
Email your choice to fmhicklin@msn.com or call 515-979-2861.
You can add a puzzle to the exchange by contacting Carolyn Hicklin at
515-979-2861 or fmhicklin@msn.com. Puzzles should have NO missing pieces and puzzles will not be returned to the owner.
Click on the links below to "shop" for the puzzle you would like to work on.
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SEND US A POSTCARD
We realize many of you cannot get pictures to us, so we invite you to send us a postcard – a brief note to the church by email, or on the special “Postcard” section of your attendance/registration card.
We will put all your “postcards” together and send them out as part of Crazy Monday Photos and Postcards. It’s just another way we can stay connected, even when we cannot see each other. We love to hear from you. Send us a postcard this week.
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WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT & HOPE
(Our supply is running low)
The congregation is so appreciative of this endeavor and they look forward to reading
each one. There are only a few contributions
left to print.
You can share and write about anything. Each one is different, inspiring and enlightening, and sometimes a dash of humor is thrown in.
If you are currently not receiving the emails from the church, and would like to, please call Jodi in the office or send her an email with your email address.
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The "Crazy Monday" feature is so much fun! So many people look forward to "what will it be this week?"
We have received some wonderful photos and we get to know, a little bit better, the people who make up our congregation.
Thank you to everyone who has sent in photos of the great things you have been doing.
Every Monday we will feature a person or group showing us what keeps them entertained during quarantine.
All you need to do is send an email with an attachment to:
Subject Line - Crazy Monday
Questions: Call Carolyn Hicklin at 515-979-2861.
We look forward to seeing what everyone has been doing!
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LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
Several members and friends of Shepherd of the Hills Church volunteer at St. Mary's Food Bank on the third Thursday of each month.
This month's work day is Thursday, October 15, from 10 AM to noon. The food bank is located at 13050 W. Elm Street, near the corner of Bell and Dysart roads, behind the DMV. Park in the area to the far right of the entrance and walk in the door on the ramped sidewalk by the big American flag, Turn to the left when you get inside and go all the way to the back where the coffee room is. You will see other volunteers there and they will show you the work area and the task.
Donated food comes in bags and boxes and our task is to sort it into big bins in the warehouse. No heavy lifting is required, but some walking is involved. Up to 10 people can be in the sorting area. Everyone must wear a mask (bring your own or they will be provided) and remember to stay at least 6 feet of distance apart. Gloves will be provided. Wear a name tag and closed-toe shoes. For more information contact Becky Fay at 623-518-9502.
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The Area Agency on Aging’s Benefits Assistance Program can help make sense of Medicare. Click on the links below:
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JUSTA CENTER NEEDS YOU!
Click on the link below to see how you can help the Justa Center in providing for the homeless seniors.
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MONETARY DONATION
TO FOOD BANKS
Give hope to your neighbors in need. $1 helps provide enough food for 7 meals. Your donation is 100% deductible and may qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit. You may also donate on behalf
of your business by clicking HERE.
If you have questions, or would like to donate by phone, call (602) 242-FOOD.
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To see our current calendar, please click on the link below:
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Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church
13658 W. Meeker Blvd.
Sun City West, AZ 85375
623-584-2280
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Pastor on Call for Emergencies: 623-584-7642
Prayer Line: 623-584-2922
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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. 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, and leave a message. She will return your call 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.
f. Donate right from your smartphone through our GivePlus Mobile app. Here is what you have to do:
1. Download the free GivePlus (Give+) app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Find our church by Zip Code or by searching for Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church.
3. Give as a Guest or set up an account.
Thank you for your generosity!
Due to our current situation, Julie will have to call you back as soon as she picks up her messages and/or emails.
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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
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Pastor-On-Call for Emergencies:
623-584-7642
Prayer Requests:
623-584-2922
Partners in Prayer: prayers@shepherdofthehills.org
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