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As we kick off a new season of ministry at SOTH, we’re thinking about what it means to be a vibrant hub for spiritual growth, community, partnership, and care for creation, rooted in God’s love and justice. Inspired by scripture, “The laborer deserves to be paid” (Luke 10:7) and “Better is a little righteousness than great revenues with injustice” (Proverbs 16:8), our Justice in Song Initiative is one way the music department is putting that mission into practice. Throughout

What happens when we disagree? What happens when relationships are difficult, or when someone sees the world differently than we do? Jesus doesn’t call us to create a tiny circle of insiders. He calls us toward a larger circle of grace—where truth and grace can sit at the same table, differences don’t have to become division, and there is room for everyone. This short excerpt from Sunday’s sermon, The Courage to Stay, offers a challenge worth sitting with: Where have you been

While it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet, it’s definitely time to kick off our ministry this September! Some offerings will be familiar, others have been reworked a bit, and we have a couple of brand-new opportunities. This Sunday, I hope you’ll join us for Front Porch Worship to hear all about what’s happening and the great opportunities we have for all ages. You may think Faith Formation is just for kids and youth, but it isn’t! Our ministry includes all ages and stages, w

What gives you hope? That was the question we explored during our latest Heart & Hope gathering at Shepherd of the Hills. We listened to three people from different generations share where they find hope in their own lives. Matthew Rummans, beginning his senior year of high school, shared about the pressures of school, college, and the future—and reminded us to notice the joy in the small things: a morning birdsong, a cool breeze, a sunrise, or a mountain waiting to be climbe

What kind of place are we becoming? This fall, we’ll journey through Jesus’ teachings in Matthew, exploring how we become a community of belonging, hope, hospitality, and courage—and how ordinary practices can become signs of God’s kingdom in our changing neighborhood. This Sunday we will consider "The Courage to Stay" from Matthew 18:15–20. Every meaningful relationship encounters conflict-which is not a bad thing-it's how we grow. Jesus invites us not to avoid hard conversa

Friends, In the Presbyterian tradition, community refers to the way congregations and their networks live out the gospel through local connection, mutual care, and service to the wider world. Each congregation is called to be integral to its neighborhood — providing spaces for connection, hospitality, and partnership. Congregations are called to “love your neighbor, welcome strangers, and serve others ”. A great example of providing space for neighborhood connection and hospi

As we head into a new season of music at Shepherd of the Hills, we’d love to welcome new voices and ringers to our music ministry! Whether you’ve been singing or ringing for years or haven’t participated since high school (or ever!), there’s a place for you. Choir rehearsals will begin again on Wednesday, August 19 at 7:15pm in the sanctuary. The choir sings regularly in worship on the first and third Sunday of each month, as well as special Sundays. We will also begin prep

Whether our kids are preschoolers in the Nursery or teens it’s never too early or too late to use the living Word of God, our Bible. It’s through God’s Word that we become friends with, communicate with ant build a relationship with God and Jesus the Christ. No matter our age, we need God’s Word to be alive and for us to find a way to regularly engage and experience God’s Word through our Bibles. On Sunday, August 23rd following Worship, 11am-1pm (light lunch provided) our

In a world shaped by anxiety, division, and constant conflict, Jesus invites us to ask a deeper question: What are the things that actually make for peace? As he weeps over Jerusalem, Christ reminds us that peace is more than the absence of conflict—it is a way of life cultivated through compassion, forgiveness, humility, patience, and love. This Sunday we'll explore how the practices Paul describes in Colossians become the building blocks of resilient communities rooted in C

Friends, Did you know that Monday, July 27, was “National Love is Kind Day”? Love is often described as the most powerful force in the universe, influencing our thoughts, behaviors, and well-being in remarkable ways. Psychologists believe love is a fundamental human need. At its core, love is about connection - a deep, abiding sense of belonging that fulfills our most basic human needs. Love acts as a protective shield against depression, anxiety, fear, and various other me

Music Camp is coming—and this year, our campers are becoming Musical Detectives! Over four fun-filled days, young investigators will follow musical clues, crack rhythm codes, discover melody and harmony, and work together to solve sound-filled mysteries. Through singing, movement, games, instruments, and creative activities, each child will build confidence while learning that music is something we create and share together. We are also looking for volunteers to help our Musi

This past Saturday, over 60 people of all ages joined us on the Field for a morning of good old-fashioned fun at our first Summer Community Carnival! It was exactly what the vision was for this event. We hosted grandparents and grandkids, parents and kids of all ages – little through middle school. They almost all came from the neighborhood walking over or riding their bikes. Our two middle school neighbor boys were there for the full two hours, playing the games, winning

Fun for all ages, so bring the whole family and your friends and neighbors for some good old-fashioned fun. Picture bean bag tosses, ball throws, duckie races, all those classics with prizes along with cotton candy and popcorn—all FREE!

In Luke 14:12–24 and Acts 2:42–47, we discover that the gospel always makes room for more people. Jesus continually widened the table to welcome those pushed to the margins, and the early church gathered around tables to share bread, prayers, resources, and life itself. This Sunday, we'll reflect on hospitality not as entertaining guests, but as creating spaces of dignity, belonging, and shared life—especially for neighbors facing loneliness, housing pressures, or exclusion.

July has several events in July that are open to our neighbors and community: Summer Community Carnival July 11 10:00am - noon Step right up for a day of free family fun at our Summer Carnival! Enjoy classic carnival games, popcorn, cotton candy, sweet treats, and smiles for all ages. School Supply Drive June 28 - July 26 Shop and bring your NEW donations to the Church or buy online to be delivered directly to the Jeffco Action Center. Community BBQ July 17 5:00pm - 7

Friends, In his New York Times bestselling book, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written”, Walter Isaacson, claims that the greatest sentence ever crafted by human hand is: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” When these words were first written by the creators of our Declaration of Independence (Benjamin Fr

Every great road trip needs a playlist. Whether you're heading across the country, up to the mountains, or just across town, the right music somehow makes the journey better. This summer, I'd like to invite you to add a few songs to your own "road trip playlist" that we'll be introducing in worship over the coming months. My hope is that these songs become familiar companions throughout the week, so when we gather on Sunday, we're already ready to sing them together. Give the

We are halfway through June, so it is time to think about July! We have a lot of FUN planned for all ages as we look to the month ahead. Kick things off with Worship on July 5th to celebrate our nation’s 250th Birthday and follow that up the next Saturday for our first ever Summer Community Carnival, July 11th 10am-noon outside on the field. Fun for all ages, so bring the whole family and your friends and neighbors for some good old-fashioned fun. Picture bean bag tosses,

Summer has a way of inviting us to slow down, look around, and notice what is already present. Too often, we begin with what is missing. We focus on the problems to solve, the resources we lack, the challenges facing our church, our neighborhood, or even our own lives. Yet the Apostle Paul offers a different vision. Writing to a diverse and sometimes divided church, he reminds them that God's Spirit has already placed gifts among them. "To each is given the manifestation of t