Update 8.1.2020

​The more things change the more they stay the same…
We (at church here) can’t be the only ones feeling all the feels that go with this actuality. We certainly feel like we are living it at Shepherd. What we mean by this is we are in a new way of being church, but the things that we love about being our church community have not changed….meaning that we simply want to be together in new and creative (and safe) ways.
 
So here’s what’s new at Shepherd as we all make our way in this new way of being church:
 
Our worship: HELLO Parking Lot Worship!! This new model is giving us the opportunity to be together in our cars, or sitting in front of our cars or even sitting on the lawn. You can listen on your car radio at 88.9 FM or simply listen to our (very efficient) loudspeaker system. We have one service at 9:00 am and even celebrate Holy Communion each week. Communion supplies are offered as you drive into our parking lot and then one of our many parking lot ushers will guide you to a parking spot. We have gratefully seen some visitors during our Parking Lot Worship experiment! We are even beginning our “Coffee and Donuts Time” after church on the lawn. It is BYOE (bring your own everything) but this will be another opportunity for us to gather safely.
 
Our building: The summer weather in Minnesota is (usually) delightful and we are taking full advantage of this time to be together in small groups outside whenever we can make that happen. Whether on our deck out back (the garden is beautiful!), on our lawn or at Island Lake Park, we know that we do not need a building to gather as the Body of Christ.
 
We will remain grateful for the opportunity to gather in any way that we can. All of this is to say that we will also continue to ask the question of when we, as the people of Shepherd of the Hills, feel comfortable moving back into our building in a fuller manner. We want to hear your voice! To do that, another survey has already been sent out (the last one was sent out on May 28) and we will let you know what we are collectively thinking/feeling about all of this.

As we have been saying all along, the church is not closed and never has been. We have been worshiping, doing Bible study, teaching our youth and our preschoolers, doing pastoral care, conducting church business and connecting through virtual gatherings in all sorts of different ways since this pandemic came to visit in March. And we will do all of those things in-person again…when we are ready. In the meantime we will explore new ways where we can be
together and all feel safe and comfortable doing so.

In God’s Peace, Your Shepherd Staff Pr. Renee, Jilene, Pr. Brice, Joe, Sr. Tashina, Miranda and Michelle