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SPECIAL NEWS FROM THE COVID TASK FORCE
January 14, 2022
Please take a moment to read this entire update
Our COVID Task Force met Thursday, January 13, to consider the new COVID statistics put out by Maricopa County for our area and determine what an appropriate response might be. Total cases, case rates per hundred thousand and positivity rate have been going up rapidly across the state. On Wednesday, January 12, new cases totaling 18,983 were reported, with a 7 day average for new cases in Arizona of 14,972.
In Sun City West, zip code 85375, the number of cases per 100,000 persons was 123.44 last week; but jumped to 524 this week. The positivity rate jumped from 10.76% to 24.1% in the same week. In 85374, just across Grand Avenue in Surprise, cases per 100,000 persons jumped from 224 to 793, with positivity rate rising from 14.7% to 30.45%. Other surrounding zip codes also reported extraordinary jumps in case rates and positivity.
Additionally, we have experienced a number of persons testing positive within our congregation, including at least one in our choir and likely a member of our VEW crew.
This has caught our attention. We believe the situation calls for some temporary changes in our life together, including these:
- There will be no choir practice and no choir participation in worship this week or next week (Sundays, February 6, 2022;
- There will be no bell choir practice this week or next week (Fridays, February 4, 2022);
- There will be no Fellowship Hour after either the Saturday service or after the 9:00 Sunday postponed until February 5 or 6;
- We will move the Saturday service and any memorial services scheduled in the chapel that are expected to exceed 25 in attendance, to the sanctuary for at least the next two weeks, through February 1, 2022;
- The memorial reception scheduled for Friday, January 21 will be held outside;
- The prayer room will be closed until February 1;
- There will be no meetings in our fellowship hall meeting room or the conference room until February 1. Meetings may be held in our larger spaces;
- The Connections Sunday School class until February 6. Keep watch for updates.
- Sandwich making will take place as scheduled on Mondays at 9:00 a.m., with careful distancing and masking;
- The Social Shepherds luncheon scheduled for Wednesday, January 26 is cancelled. Watch for further information about ticket refunds and/or re-scheduling the event;
- Our new worship schedule will continue as planned: Saturday at 4:00, Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00.
The Task Force will meet by Zoom weekly on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. to consider new statistics and make further choices for our safety. You are welcome to attend if you are interested. Just let Pastor Deborah know and we will send you the zoom link.
I am grateful for each of these faithful servants as we make these difficult choices together.
Be careful out there!
Blessings,
Pastor Deborah
WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHANGE
Begins
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Church Office Hours are:
Monday through Friday
8:30 AM until 4:30 PM
Please handle your church business
during open office hours.
Come Holy Spirit and in Your mercy hear our prayer. We praise you, gracious and loving Father and bless your Holy name. In Philippians 4:6, You tell us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present our requests to You. In this period of change may we remember that You know the plans you have for us; plans not intended to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. You, Lord, have a plan for our church that outweighs what is being felt by us right now. Guide us throughout this time of transition and may Your will be done.
From the beginning of Shepherd of the Hills UMC, You have blessed us with caring, compassionate and competent leadership when it was most needed. That is evidenced by the loyal and hardworking servants displayed in pictures on the wall of the fellowship hall. We were grateful for the appointment of Pastor Deborah as our Senior Pastor. She has guided us through a transition period and encouraged us in our walk with You. We are thankful. We pray for Pastor Deborah and what You have planned for her. We pray for the Pastor You choose for our church.
Oh Lord, help us deal with the loss and uncertainty we feel. You are our rock, our fortress and our deliverer. You are the one constant in this time of transition. Help us to remember our mission is bigger than any one pastor. Strengthen us to be your church in all times and under any circumstances. Guide us, Lord, in wisdom to be receptive to change. We need your Grace to redirect our hearts. May we enter this new era with excitement and open minds.
Our church has gone through many changes in leadership, but You do not change no matter the circumstances. You never leave us. Isaiah 58:8 says, You will guide us always. You are there to walk beside us or even carry us if needed. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). We put our trust in You and put the future of our church leadership in Your hands. We know you will continue to bless our church with another leader to move us forward into the future.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen, and Amen.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Are you celebrating your 50th Anniversary this year?
Social Shepherds is beginning to plan for their 50th Anniversary Celebration. Sunday, February 13, 2022, 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service. Reception following.
We invite couples who, have not been recognized in the past for 50 or more years of marriage, to submit their names. Please send your name to: church@shepherdofthehills.org.
This is such an amazing milestone and we, as your church family, would like to be part of celebrating your very special occasion. Watch for more details.
SANDWICH MAKING FOR JUSTA CENTER
The peanut butter party (weekly sandwich making) will meet on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 9:00 AM in Fellowship Hall to make sandwiches for the Justa Center. Masks and social distancing.
Please call Mary G. at 623-584-2280 if you would like to join them.
Most needed items: big jars of creamy peanut butter and grape jelly (preferred). Please bring donations to the church office or leave them on the counter in the kitchen.
Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Choir Room
with Pastor Alma.
LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY 
The weekly Zoom Bible Study will meet on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 3:00 P.M. We hope you will join us! N0TE: CHANGE T0 m0NDAYS AT 3:00 P.M.
The Zoom link will be sent out every Thursday morning to those interested in participating.
For more details, call Kathy Culliton at 623-584-2280
BOOK CLUB
The SHUMC Book Club will meet in-person on Thursday, February 17 at 9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall. We invite all readers to come to the meeting. If you need a Zoom link to join in on the discussion, please let Jodi in the office know.
SEE SPIRITUAL GROWTH SECTION OF WEBSITE NEW CLASSES TO BEGIN:CONNECTIONS SUNDAY Class
Moses: In the Footsteps of the Reluctant Prophet
Postponed for February 6, 2022
NEW PLACE: Fellowship Hall Meeting Room
NEW TIME: 10:15 am
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Renovate: Building a Life With God
6 week Class & Sermon Series 2022
WEDNESDAYS at 11:00 am
in Fellowship Hall
Postponed: New date to be announced
Facilitator: Pastor Alma
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY
It is time to collect soup and soup fixings for Souper Bowl Sunday! Each year, Shepherd of the Hills collects food for Valley View and St. Mary’s food banks in honor of Superbowl.
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Merry Christmas from the office staff!
We wish everyone a blessed Christmas!
Front Row: Esther Vallet, Julie Calvert,
Pastor Deborah
Second Row: Shawn McMullen,
Jodi De Luca, Pastor Alma,
Thanksgiving/ Christmas Letter and Offering
NO! PASTOR DEBORAH WILL NOT ASK
YOU FOR GIFT CARDS OR MONEY!
Friends,
Apparently they are at it again.
Several members have received texts that purport to be from me asking for gift cards and/or money. The phone number is NOT MY PHONE NUMBER! (First thing to check). Call church office to check phone number of pastor 623-584-2280.
But you really do not have to check, because you KNOW that I will not ask you for help/gift cards/money by email.
Be careful out there.
Rev. Deborah Lerner
Senior Pastor
PLAN AHEAD – YEAR END GIVING
This is a reminder regarding your end-of-year giving if you wish to receive contribution credit for gifts in 2021. Because of IRS rules, we will only be able to accept gifts for your 2021contribution credit if the following are true:
Gifts are physically received by December 31, 2021. The office will be closed December 27 through December 31. There is a mail slot at the main door to the office. If you are hand delivering your contribution, please keep this in mind, OR a mailed gift must be dated AND postmarked on or before December 31, 2021.
A gift from distributions such as an IRA, must also be dated AND postmarked on or before December 31, 2021.
Thank you all for your generous support of Shepherd of the Hills UMC and may you have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.
Julie Calvert,
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SHUMC’S
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Also below is our latest Midweek Devotional.
Please have all articles in the office no later than January 15 in order to be included in the January/February issue of the Voice newsletter.|
The Mission Candle can be dedicated to anyone to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, honor or in memory of someone special. Please call or email the office to set this up. Your request will be read during the worship services each week. Your donation of $20 or more will enable the UMW to raise more funds and allow the opportunity to help support approximately 13 local charities.
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