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We are now in the church season of Eastertide which is the period between Easter and Pentecost, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit and birthday of the Christian Church. Eastertide is 50 days of basking in the glory of the resurrection, or 50 days of Joy. For us, Easter is not just one day! It is a season, a week of weeks, a month & a half, 50 days of celebration after the Day of Resurrection. Eastertide was originally a season to continue t

In an exciting new initiative to celebrate the energy, creativity, and faith of our youngest members, Shepherd of the Hills will be turning the entire service over to the kids. That’s right—our children will be taking the reins for every part of worship. From greeting at the door to leading prayers, reading scripture, and even guiding the sermon, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the life of our church. Ada and Hudson will welcome you at the door with you

Over the past several weeks, members of our congregation have been gathering in homes and shared spaces to answer the question, “What pressures are you facing in this season of your life?” These Heart & Hope gatherings have been filled with honesty, care, and a deep sense that every voice matters. As we begin to wrap up this season, we’re incredibly grateful for the many who opened their homes, facilitated conversations, and showed up with openness and care. Together, we’ve b

We are now journeying through the fifth and final week of the Lenten Season. From here we celebrate with our palm waving on Palm Sunday before the hard seeking through Holy Week to another celebration on Easter, the Day of Resurrection. However, there is lots in between those two celebrations that we often miss. We spend 5 weeks preparing our hearts, minds and souls for this, we can’t just jump from the parade in Jerusalem to the empty tomb in the garden. While Maundy Thur

Helen Keller once said, “I believe that life is given us so we may grow in love, and I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower, the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” This is a pretty amazing message coming from a woman who lost her sight and her hearing to illness when she was nineteen months old. That meant communication was incredibly difficult for her, yet she became the first deafblind person in the United States to e

During our Ash Wednesday service, Pastor Matt challenged us to consider what it might mean to give up injustice for Lent. Not just in the abstract, but in the daily habits, assumptions, and systems that shape our lives. Our new Justice in Song Project is one tangible way we are responding to this Lenten call and living into the vision and mission of SOTH. Rooted in Jesus’ teaching that “the laborer deserves to be paid” (Luke 10:7) and inspired by Zacchaeus’ act of generous r

Step into stillness at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church and walk our labyrinth—an ancient practice for centering during Lent. Open Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, and Sunday, March 8, 8:30 AM–1:00 PM, in the Fellowship Hall.

As we enter this First Week of Lent, I wonder what you are seeking in this sacred season? The Season of Lent is a time to slow down, push the pause button in our lives, and stop long enough to reset. Our theme this season is “Seeking”. As we hear our scripture stories, I believe there are messages about how to seek; by looking past the darkness, seeing clearly, looking with new eyes and focusing on what is important, even taking a closer, deeper look. With the help of the

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what comes to mind - hearts, chocolates, roses, love? Here are some interesting facts about our symbols of Valentine’s Day: Boston-based pharmacist Oliver Chase invented the machine that produced small medical lozenges. When he saw the popularity of these small pop-in medicines, he turned them into candy with cute messages on them. Venus, the Roman goddess of love, used to adore red roses. This caused people to start spreading love by giving

This February, our choir is honoring Black history through music that has inspired generations. We’ll be singing “ This Little Light of Mine ” and “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ”. About the Songs: · “This Little Light of Mine” – The song’s origins are not definitely known, but it is believed to have been influenced by the biblical passage about a lamp under a bushel. It was first sing in the 1920s and later adapted by activists during the civil rights movement. ·

In the season of Epiphany reminds us that the incarnation of God is not neatly wrapped up with a bow; rather, it is just beginning, with implications for our lives as citizens of the world and followers of the incarnate God. In a narrative found only in the Gospel of Matthew, wise men visit Jesus, following the Bethlehem star. These Magi, who may have been Zoroastrian priests, are outsiders. They travel a long distance after seeing signs in the sky. When they arrive, they see

After the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we are approaching “Ordinary Time” in the church year. Ordinary Time is where faith stretches out into daily life, where there are fewer mountaintop moments and more steady steps. It’s the season of growing, practicing, and showing up again and again. That feels especially fitting as we begin our Heart and Hope Gatherings at the end of the month. These gatherings aren’t about having all the right words or polished stories

“Light the Advent Candle one, now the waiting has begun,” is the first line of a favorite Advent Song. The waiting has indeed begun, and we are on our way, beginning the journey to the manger in Bethlehem. I don’t know about you, but this Advent journey has a different feel to me. I find myself longing for peace, seeking hope in a world that feels hard and fierce, and wanting joy to burst through the fear that is encountered almost daily now. Our worship series, “What do

Friends, On Sunday, November 23, we will be assembling “blessing bags” after worship in Fellowship Hall. This is something that Shepherd has done on the Sunday before Thanksgiving since COVID passed. But just what are “blessing bags”? “Blessing bags” are simple, powerful gifts that convey both humanity and hope to struggling, marginalized members of society. By filling bags with essentials, writing encouraging notes, and directly providing them to those in need, caring citize

Got a song stuck in your head—or on your heart? I’d love to hear it! Whether it’s a beloved hymn, a new praise song, or something that’s been speaking to your spirit lately, your suggestions help shape the music we share in worship. Click the link below to send in your ideas — and keep an eye out! From now on, you’ll find this song suggestion link in each weekly newsletter, so you can share inspiration anytime it strikes. 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfD-Ppcx_U

For a couple weeks, we as a congregation are focusing on sharing peanut butter (cereal, protein like tuna, chicken in a can are welcome too) for the Jeffco Action Center. This is an intentional need-based collection due to the SNAP benefits not being provided beginning in November due to the government shutdown. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides monthly benefits to help low-income individuals and families buy groceries. The assistance is loaded

This Sunday is Reformation Sunday on the church calendar – but we celebrate “Scot Sunday” on Reformation Sunday. That’s because our roots are in the Reformation of the 16th century and the influence of John Calvin and John Knox. Presbyterians played a significant role in shaping Protestant Christianity especially in Scotland and the United States. John Knox studied under Calvin and upon returning to his native Scotland, helped establish a national church governed by presbyter

Friends, this Generosity Season October 19th thru November 16th is about cultivating lives of hope with Christ, planting deep roots of trust in God, and preparing to bear fruit in season. Your elected spiritual leaders have been following the guidance of the Spirit in inviting God to reimagine our church in the Lakewood neighborhood. On November 16th, during the Generosity brunch following worship, they will be sharing with you many of the exciting opportunities they have bee

What does it mean to offer the first fruits of our lives to God? In Deuteronomy, the people brought the best of their harvest—not as a tax, but as a confession of trust and gratitude. Pastor Matt reminded us this week that gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. It’s the way we live, give, and share from the abundance God has already provided. When we offer our first and best—our time, creativity, kindness, and resources—we join the holy rhythm where gratitude leads t

On Sunday, October 5, we join Christians across the globe for World Communion Sunday, a celebration of the feast Isaiah envisioned: a...