Traditional fellowship activities continued, as did the Celebration Sunday breakfasts, which often included individual faith journey stories. Ken Smith retired, Patrick Jordan returned as a parish associate, and there was another change in youth directors. A task force on recruiting younger members and families was received by the session.

A special ministry fair was held in November, with speakers focusing on local and global mission projects. Harold Kurtz, an executive with Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, was the keynote speaker.

Just before that, however, the congregation approved the calling of Ron Holmes, a Denver native, to be the fourth senior pastor in the church's history. A graduate of Austin (Texas) Seminary, Pastor Holmes served as an associate in Hastings, Neb., and Amarillo, Texas, before joining Shepherd of the Hills on October 1, 2001. He was formally installed in early December.

As the calendar turned to the year 2002, it became apparent that the church's myriad activities and programs mandated more than one full-time minister. With the position of youth director unfilled, a study group considered various solutions.

The recommendation: to seek a full-time associate pastor with experience in youth ministry, who would also work with young adults. In August, the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee recommended Julia Leeth from San Diego for the position. She joined the staff in late October.

In September, Shepherd of the Hills offered the Alpha program, a 10-week series of videos and small group discusssion to introduce non-believers to Christianity. An adult mission trip traveled to Juarez, Mexico, in October to build a home in conjunction with the Casa de Christo organization. The church thanked John Bratt for his service with a farewell luncheon in November. He had served as a parish associate with emphasis on adult ministries since 1993.

Bev & Jim Stockwell at Juarez, October, 2002 As Always, Up to Their Elbows in Mission Work

Fellowship of the church has been celebrated through the years in various ways and through various activities, which have included Couples Club, Mariners, Happy Bookers, Duplicate Bridge and Bridge Marathoners, Dinners for Eight, XYZ, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Men, One Anothering, All-Church Retreats, All-Church Picnics, Youth Softball Leagues, and Pioneer Girls, to name but a few.

And for the future.

The future will have new challenges to be met as the congregation pursues a vision for the future outlined by the Strategic Planning Committee. The session accepted the group's report in November and began planning to implement the proposals in 2003.

The Strategic Planning Committee’s report included a statement of core values for our church, which are both realized values and aspirational values, and a vision statement defining specific goals. Both documents are contained elsewhere in this booklet. A full presentation was made to the congregation at a Celebration Brunch following Epiphany Sunday in January.

God, indeed, has blessed Shepherd of the Hills. It is a spiritual home and vital part of the community and, as such, is committed to continuing the journey, complete with changes necessary to remain as vibrant in the future as it was in 1962, when its light was first illuminated on the hill. Life does begin at 40!

Church History Compiled and Written by Jennifer Lamb

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