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    April 27

    April Council Meeting

    There was a great deal of excitement at this months Church Council Meeting.   During our meeting we learned that Kevin Austin has been placed at our congregation from the seminary.   We also had a chance to speak with Kevin directly - he called during the Council Meeting.  Needless to say, there were many happy, smiling faces on our side of the phone.
     
    Other Council business accomplished at the April meeting:
     
    • The Council completed two appointments.  Steve Wise was appointed as congregational Treasurer.  Renee Fyfe was appointed as chairman of the Mission Board.  We now have a full complement of Council members and are blessed to have Steve and Renee serve in thier roles.
    • We are moving forward with the DCE Call Process.  The Needs Assessment team has completed thier work and the Call Committee has been formed.  The job of this committee is to match the profile created by the Needs Assessment committee with potential candidates and make recommendations to the Church Council.  The Call Committee is be led by our Vice Chairman Rhonda Bricker and the next meeting is May 1st.   (For a view of the entire DCE Call Process, see the attached picture).
    • The Council passed a motion to allow the South Property to be used by an organization that provides used textbooks to Chaffey College students at discounted rates.  This will provide some regular revenue to the Church, but more importantly it will significantly increase the awareness of SOTH to students attendee Chaffey and provide a nice outreach opportunity. 
    • The Council got several updates about activities and needs:  National Youth Gathering, Golf Tournaments, Stewardship Committee, Mission Mexico, and the normal board reports.
    April 26

    A New Pastor!

     
     
    We are excited to announce that the St. Louis Seminary has placed Kevin Austin as Assistant Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills! 
     
    This truly is an answer to the prayers of our entire congregation and we are so blessed that God has led Kevin to our congregation in order to fulfill his Call!  I know there are a lot of questions about when Kevin when be joining us, so here is a brief timeline:
     
    May 11th-14th - Kevin will be visiting our congregation and community.  Look for more announcement.
    May 27th - Kevin will be Ordained at his home Church in Texas
    June 3rd - Kevin will be formally installed at Shepherd of the Hills!
     
     
    The Lord is my strength and my shield, in whom my heart trusted and found help.
    So my heart rejoices; with my song I praise my God.
    Lord, you are the strength of your people, the saving refuge of your anointed king.
    Save your people, bless your inheritance; feed and sustain them forever!
    Psalm28
     
    April 07

    Last Supper Tableaux

    On Maundy Thursday we held services with our traditional Last Supper Tableaux.   There have been many artistic intrepreations of this event – some of them available here - http://www.abcgallery.com/religion/lastsupper.html

     

    It was interesting to learn about the men who were with Jesus at the Last Supper.  It is also interesting what happens to these men as they spread the Gospel throughout all nations.  

     

    • James (brother of John) is beheaded by Herod in A.D.42.  This is the only such account recorded in the Gospels (Acts 12:2).
    • Peter is crucified, head downward at his own request, in Rome in A.D. 67.   The site of his crucifixion is marked with a pagan obelisk from Nero's garden, said to be the last thing Peter saw.
    • Andrew (Peter's brother) spread the Gospel to Russia where he was crucified.
    • Nathanael (Bartholomew) travels to Armenia where he is tortured to death with flaying knives (reportedly signing hymns throughout the torture).  
    • Philip is put to death by a Roman Proconsul in Asia Minor after he converts the Proconsuls wife to Christianity.
    • Matthew (Levi) is killed with a spear spreading the Gospel in Ethiopia.
    • Matthais (who replaced Judas Iscariot) preaches in Asia Minor and Syria, where he is burned to death.
    • Thomas (Didymus) is stabbed to death by Brahmin priests in Mylaproe India in A.D. 72.
    • Simon the Zealot and Judas (Thaddeus) are torn apart by a Persian mob in A.D. 79.
    • James (son of Alphaeus) spreads the gospel to Persia where he is stoned to death at the age of 94.
    • John dies in Ephesus of natural causes at the age of 100 in A.D. 98.
    April 04

    Holy Week

    What a great time of year to reflect and celebrate all that God does in our lives. 
     
    I came across this Psalm of David (Psalm 32) while preparing for Services this week:

    Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.   Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

    Of course David was writing several centuries before Christ, but isn't this a great description of what Christ does for us?

    We are blessed, our transgressions are forgiven, our sins are covered - all through Jesus Christ

    Hosanna! Hosanna!  Hosanna in the Highest!   

    April 03

    SOTH Approves a Pastoral Call!

    On April 1st (Palm Sunday), we officially approved a resolution to call an Assistant Pastor from Concordia Seminary.  This is an exciting time for us at SOTH and the Assistant Pastor position is integral to our mission and ministry preparation.   Our Call request has been formally submitted.   The results of the call process will be announced at an official ceremony on April 25th at the Seminary i St. Louis, and we will know whether any of the graduates will be placed at SOTH.
     
    Please continue to keep all of those being Called in your prayers.