|
Love is the only tool that changes the hearts and minds of the indifferent
I sit here wondering what will become of our world and the people in this world. I wonder because I know we as people have similar common denominators. We want to be in love, raise families, climb corporate ladders, reach for the stars and we want to know our purpose in this life. Why are we here and what will become of us? I think about all the people flailing, searching, grasping for something or someone to make them whole. My heart bleeds for those in desperation and in need of so much help and who feel shame because they need the help.
We as people of faith must stand for change. Our tool, love. Love is the only tool that changes the hearts and minds of the indifferent. It is what gives people self-respect and enables them to turn darkness into light. Love is the only force capable of turning enemies into friends. We as a church must be reminded that we have an obligation to stand up and be a beacon of love and speak out against injustice. We must stand as some kind of spiritual and moral authority, not an irrelevant social club that has nothing to say. I believe a spiritual entity has a right to comment on public policies and to monitor them as many political decisions are unjust and unfair. Who but the church will stand up and say, "the people do not agree." I know that I would stand with someone with the courage to speak their mind. I feel now more than ever is the time for people to come together and talk about who they want to be. Without fear, without worrying about how they sound, but because they want to stand for something good like equality and to be of service to those in need. To look in your neighbor's eyes and see a divine spirit in them and in turn see it in yourself. How powerful is that?
Come share yourself with us. Come be free in spirit with us. Come help us shape the community and world we live in. Come ask questions, have conversation with us, and help us free those who have had no place to worship. We are the present and the future. We are going to learn and also teach our children to be our own people in this world and in the world of faith. We will combat fear with love and people who are used to being under the thumb of doctrine, show them more love. With all of this love, there will be more justice and we will be awakened and renewed in our faith and in each other. Let us show the way. Let us dare to speak up and say, "This is how we shall live."
Peace ~ Debbie Williams
SOTH Celebrates Truthfulness in Its Many Vibrant Colors and Forms
My wife and I have ventured out to look for a church on many occasions over the years. Wanting something that felt right for us, providing a safe, enriching environment for our children. Our belief has always been one of unity and acceptance of others beliefs and we desired a church with the same openness. On occasion we would find one that provided pieces but never the whole. We recognized the difficulty in locating a church which did not subscribe to one and deny another when the truth is found in many forms. We finally found such a place at Shepherd of the Hills.
As a young child I was taken to church, taught the rituals and instructed to follow the teachings. As I grew, I began to sense something deeper and more profound that lay beyond the words. Since that time, I have come to discover that truth is not confined to any particular affiliation. Volumes of literature, miles of canvass and centuries of debate have been written, painted and discussed trying to encapsulate the truth. In actuality, it is the essence of what we already know deep within our soul. Jesus said "The Kingdom of God is Within You (Luke 17:20-21). It is the ever present reality of all things originating from the source. Throughout history there have been many great works created by sages, prophets, scholars, shaman, clergy, artists, poets, scientists, teachers and layman pointing the way to towards truthful understanding. In this way there is a commonality across all major religions and ancient wisdom teachings.
At Shepherd of the Hills Church, they celebrate truthfulness in its many vibrant colors and forms. They provide a spiritually rich community of members whose diversity enriches our understanding and experience of ourselves and the world around us. Their purpose is to share ideas and reflections of the truth regardless of origin so that each of us may realize deep within our being the peace, joy and love that comes from reconnecting to our source. It is from this knowing that we heal ourselves, heal each other and heal our world. They are an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ. They invite all to join and encourage you as you travel on your spiritual journey.
~ Ron McDevitt
Christian Education for Adults
People know that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer humanity. At the same time, many have a sense that they are alone in being a "thinking" Christian and that "salvaging" Christianity is a hopeless task. What is needed is a safe environment where people have permission to ask the questions they've always wanted to ask but have been afraid to voice for fear of being thought a heretic.
Shepherd of the Hills uses curriculum and media for both seekers and "church alumni/ae" convinced that Christianity still has relevance in the 21st Century. Utilizing a variety of flexible formats, SOTH helps people explore the future of Christianity and what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world.
Two examples of recent or current explorations include:
- The 12-week Living the Questions curriculum is a DVD and web-based small group study exploring beyond the Christian traditions and rote theologies in which so many people and local churches seem to be stuck. Assuming a basic familiarity with traditional expressions of Christianity, LTQ is ideal as a springboard for the task of re-imagining Christianity for a new millennium. Each session is an immersion in one of the major themes of Christianity that is being rethought as part of the radical reformation of basic Christian doctrine already emerging in the world.
- Do you ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right or the Secular Left? Saving Jesus is a revolutionary DVD-based small group exploration of Jesus Christ for the third millennium. Featuring leading religious voices of our day, the 12-week program includes a printable participant reader and a facilitator guide offering discussion questions. The basic format for each weekly 1 - 1½ hour session includes conversation around the readings, a 20-minute video segment and guided discussion.
Christian Education for Children
Our Christian Education Program is offered every Sunday morning for Preschool through Middle School. Children stay with their families during the beginning of the Worship Service, and proceed to Sunday School after the Children’s Chat (at approximately 10:00 a.m.) Children are taught by caring, educated teachers with a history in the church, using the curriculum Seasons of the Spirit. This curriculum is a collaborative Christian resource that represents congregations from many parts of the world and is sensitive to a variety of traditions, faith practices, and cultures. Seasons of the Spirit uses a cycle of Bible readings from the ecumenically created Revised Common Lectionary and the seasons of the church year to provide structure for worship, learning, and service. It also uses the Revised Common Lectionary to draw on the wisdom of many denominations in several countries. It explores the Bible through music, visual art, movement, literature, poetry, and drama. It also encourages connections between faith and everyday life, with a focus on service and outreach.
Children's Chat
An age-appropriate story or message is shared with children early in the worship service. This is coordinated by Karen Smith and utilizes the talents of various church volunteers.
Confirmation
Our middle school students are offered the opportunity over several months to reflect on what it means to develop their own belief systems in special confirmation classes hosted by congregation members. This is a time when faith formation includes increased awareness of the larger world: being skeptical, asking questions, reflecting on justice issues, and making decisions which include future participation in the church. On Pentecost Sunday (the birthday of the Christian Church) in May, confirmands are welcomed into church membership. The Confirmation class also takes a weekend retreat with their teachers at Pilgrim Pines, the camp and conference center of the Southern California/Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. After the children have been confirmed, they are accepted as members of the church. Those whose background is Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) may choose to be baptized at a special service. (Those whose background is United Church of Christ were normally baptized as infants.)
Special Events
Lenten family activities have included a Seder service and dramatizing "A Walk Through Holy Week". Sunday School children perform a Christmas pageant during the worship service before Christmas. Service to others has included: “Feed the Pig” which is the children’s offertory, Nothin' But Nets malaria net project, the Heifer Project, buying and assembling school supply kits for Church World Service, Trick or Treating for UNICEF, Church World Service Moringa Tree hunger project, and collecting funds for college scholarships for African students.
Christian Education coordinates with our Worship Committee in planning the participation of children and youth in worship, in planning our annual church picnic, and recognition of our confirmands, high school/college grads, and our teaching staff.
Christian Education Department
The Christian Education Committee offers volunteer teaching positions for a range of ages, substitute teaching positions for those who cannot commit to a weekly format, and positions for those who might enjoy teaching an adult seminar. Contact Karen Smith or Wendell Pew.
|
