CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM PASTOR ALMA
Friends at Shepherd,
I have requested to go on a Voluntary Leave of Absence beginning July 1, 2023. Due to personal reasons, I hope to stay away from ministry for a season of at least 12 months and will not be reappointed to Shepherd for the coming conference year.
It has been a true honor and pleasure to serve with all of you for 5 years. I know I will greatly miss you and the ministry we have done together. The opportunity to have you be part of my life and be part of yours is something I will always treasure. I will also miss our wonderful staff.
The Associate Pastor position at Shepherd of the Hills will be put on the list of clear openings sometime soon. This allows any clergy interested in the position to submit their names to the conference cabinet for consideration. The cabinet will work with our senior pastor and the SPRC to discern my replacement at Shepherd of the Hills.
Blessings Always,
Pastor Alma Aguirre-Olivares
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While you watch the live stream, we would like you to be aware of two things. First, you may notice a small delay (up to two minutes) when watching the live stream. Second, while you may still experience buffering it should be short lived (15-30 seconds), but it will recover quickly and there should be no loss of content.
Thank you all for your patience as we worked to correct and improve our live streaming.
OR go through our gallery of
past services and midweek devotionals on the Worship Tab.
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Choir Cantata, “Festival of Faith”, By Joseph M. Martin
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 6, 2023 – 4:00 PM, Sanctuary
Dramatization of the Last Supper
Worship with communion, Live stream available
Live stream available
Easter
Join us to celebrate the Risen Savior!
Saturday, April 8 – 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary
Sunday, April 9 – 9:00 & 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary
Join us any Sunday at 10:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall Meeting Room.
Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws
by Adam Hamilton
Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7 – Stations of the Cross in the Courtyard. Follow the posted signs.
INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
the early Christians observed with great devotion
the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection,
and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration
there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation.
During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism.
It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins
and had separated themselves from the community of faith
were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness,
and restored to participation in the life of the Church.
In this way the whole congregation was reminded
of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ
and the need we all have to renew our faith.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church,
to observe a holy Lent:
by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial;
and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.
Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws
by Adam Hamilton
“A first-century portrait of Jesus that explores Luke’s sentiments on our Savior’s love for outcasts and strugglers — like you and me.”
What is distinct about the way Luke can help us see Jesus, that is hopeful and inspiring for our lives today?
This class accompanies the Lenten Sermon Series. Rev. Russell Urban will facilitate this 6-week series in the Sunday Connections class.
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Prayer Vigil
Saturday, April 1 — 4:00 PM
Sunday, April 2 — 9:00 AM
in the Sanctuary
Live stream available
Choir Cantata
“Festival of Faith”
By Joseph M. Martin
DVDs available on request
Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7
in the Courtyard
Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7
in the Courtyard
Follow the posted signs.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
4:00 PM
Sanctuary
Dramatization of the Last Supper
Worship with communion
Live stream available
DVDs available on request
Good Friday Service
Friday, April 7, 2023
4:00 PM
Sanctuary / Live stream available
A solemn remembrance of
Jesus’ death on the cross.
Join us to celebrate
the Risen Savior!
Saturday, April 8
4:00 PM in the Sanctuary
Sunday, April 9
9:00 & 11:00 AM
in the Sanctuary
STRENGTH TRAINING EXERCISE CLASS
Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 9:45 to 10:30 AM
in the Choir Room
Everyone is welcome.
MEN’S PRAYER GROUP CHANGES TO WEDNESDAYS
The SHUMC Men’s Prayer Group meets every Wednesday morning at 7:00 AM in the Prayer Room. Call Cal L. at 623-584-2280, if you have any questions.
Grief Group Support
Meets every WEDNESDAYS at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Prayer Room
GRIEFSHARE
The group will meet on Thursday afternoons from January 5 through March 30 in Fellowship Hall.
Each of the sessions are designed so that any person can feel welcomed, no matter what session number they are attending for the first time.
We affirm that each person’s grief journey is unique. Therefore, in an environment of respect and confidentiality, each participant can explore the questions and experiences of grief they bring to this safe space.
Community members are welcomed. Sign up at the office or the Kiosk on Sunday.
RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS
AT DESERT GARDEN UCC
March 20-23, 2023 9am-Noon
Recycle through AZ StRUT, any used or non-working electronics such as audio/video equipment, answering systems, cable boxes, cables, wires, digital/film cameras, calculators, computers, phones, copiers, printers, etc.
WEST VALLEY CHORALE CONCERT
Thursday, March 30 at 7 pm
In the Sanctuary
UNDIE SUNDAYS RETURNS
Through March 31
SHUMC RECEIVES AWARD
Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church has been selected three years in a row for the Best of Sun City West Awards for Places of Worship and now qualifies for the 2023 Sun City West Business Hall of Fame.
For details and more information please view our website:
2023 Best of Sun City West Awards – Places of Worship
We are not having new member classes right now, but we welcome persons who wish to join. Let the church office know you are interested or have questions and Pastor Deborah will contact you. If you want to remain a member of “the church back home” you are welcome to become an affiliate member (a person who belongs primarily to another United Methodist Church or an associate member (a person who belongs to a church from another denomination).
FOOD BANK DONATIONS NEEDED
Food banks are way down. But hunger is up! Can you help? The Missions Team is extending food bank collections to be continuous during the summer. Next time you shop, please grab a few extra items that can be donated to our local food banks. Donations can be brought to the church during office hours and placed in the hall between the Library and Choir Room. Or feel free to donate by phone or online,
Call (602) 242-FOOD
Your donation is 100% deductible and may
Volunteers are needed to help at St. Mary’s Food Bank, located at 13050 W. Elm St., Surprise.
We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 10 AM to Noon. The task is to sort food that has been donated. No heavy lifting is required. If interested, please contact Becky F. at
623-584-2280.
SANDWICH MAKING FOR JUSTA CENTER
The peanut butter party (weekly sandwich making) will meet on Mondays, at 8:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall to make sandwiches for Justa Center. Masks are mandatory during sandwich making.
Please call Mary G. at 623-584-2280 if you would like to join them.
SHUMC’S BOOK CLUB
On Thursday, April 20, the group will read and discuss Clementine, by Sonia Purnell and on Thursday, May 18, the group will discuss The Woman They Could Not Silence, written by Kate Moore. Everyone is welcome to attend.
LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY 
The weekly Zoom Bible Study will meet on Mondays at 3:00 P.M. We hope you will join us! The Zoom link will be sent out every Monday morning to those interested in participating.
CHESS CLUB 
The Chess Club meets on Thursdays at Noon in the Narthex.
Call the office 623-584-2280 for more information.
TIE A KNOT AND SAY A PRAYER
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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 United Women in Faith to raise more funds and allow the opportunity to help support approximately 13 local charities.
MISSION CANDLE PHOTOS
If you would like to have a photo displayed on the screen when the Mission Candle is being read, please provide a photo to the office with the Mission Candle request. We need a week’s notice to be sure all the information is in the hands of the VEW person making the slides. If you have any questions, please contact Jodi.
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Please have all articles in the office no later than April 15 in order to be included in the May issue of the Voice newsletter.THE PRAYER LABYRINTH
Check out the painted rocks in the Prayer Labyrinth!
They are absolutely beautiful!
SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450
- By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
- By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 or given at or through any United Methodist church
One hundred percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause.
The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.
2023 LAY SERVANT CLASSES
Lay Servant classes are being offered through the Southwest District. Click on the link below to register for the different classes being offered.
REMEMBER: 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 the 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
