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A huge thank you to our many volunteers who helped make Faith Formation happen on Sundays! Since they are mostly downstairs helping, teaching and supervising kids you might not know who has dedicated time, energy and passion with our little ones, elementary age and middle school kids this school year. We just recently hired our Nursery staff so our volunteers have really stepped up since the beginning of the year to care for our little ones in the Nursery. Thank you to Kati

Pastor Matt talks about how you can help fill our new food pantry.

Dearest Shepherd family, I am writing this letter to you to let you know I am retiring from the finance office as of May 15th, 2026. I was hired for a temporary finance office position in October of 2020 and was temporary until June of 2021 and worked all through COVID. Then I was hired as your finance manager in January of 2022 on a permanent basis. It has been an honor & privilege serving you in this position for the past six and a half years, but now I am ready to just bec

May is a month of celebrations with Cinco de Mayo (May 5), Mother’s Day (May 10), and Memorial Day (May 25). But there are plenty of other ways to celebrate in the merry month of May. Here are just a few: May 1 is May Day and the celebration of spring. May 2 is World Tuna Day. May 4 is National Star Wars Day [May the 4th be with you]; but it is also our National Day of Reason. May 7 is National Day of Prayer. May 8 is National No Socks Day. May 9 is National Lost Sock Memoria

In the span of a few weeks, we went from Easter brass blazing to sitting at tables, listening to one another’s stories. If that’s not the full range of what worship can be, I don’t know what is! Summer is on its way, and with it comes a slightly different rhythm in worship. You might notice more variety in our offertory music—solos, duets, small groups—each week bringing something a little different to the table. It’s one of my favorite parts of the season: a chance to hear t

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