Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost three dozen members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the second of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

The Rev. Ron Drury, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, wrote this meditation.

Meditation

PRAY this May Day Devotion finds you + your In BASKET well in GOD’S Grace!!!

“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on.” I Peter 1:3 CEV

Thanks be to GOD for all of GOD’S goodness with which we are blessed! Here on this Second Sunday of Easter, I thought it would be good to ponder our Vision Statement that has served us well for many years which contains a few of the Core Values that were raised up over a decade ago.

Nurture faith from The Holy SPIRIT
Outreach to all, to follow JESUS
Witness the Love of GOD!!!

We nurture through our worship, education, outreach, mission, stewardship + youth ministries! We also are raised up by The Holy SPIRIT to within our interactions with our sisters and brothers here at Shepherd of the Hills and throughout our day to day lives to care for and encourage all who GOD places in our path. Some of our youth are this weekend at Norris School performing the High School version of “Les Miserables”. Within the climax of this passionate operatic musical are the lines, “To love another, is to see the face of God!”. As CHRISTians it is our calling to seek to see + serve JESUS in each person we encounter!
Our earliest Holy Scriptures empower us to reach out in a way that follows the command found in Leviticus 19:18b,
“I am The LORD, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself!”
(Contemporary English Version – CEV)
Through youth, stewardship, mission, outreach, education + worship we are involved in outreach to everyone. Whether they be nearby us here in the Norris communities or around the world. We compassionately share all of the gifts with which GOD blesses us with everyone! We do this through clear actions empowered by the Holy SPIRIT as we follow JESUS faithfully!
We witness through the ways we live, both in word + discipleship. The words from our Second Lesson today ring true as we contemplate the power of how we serve in JESUS name.

“You have never seen Jesus, and you don’t see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy(joyful) you are to be saved. That’s why you have faith.” – I Peter 1:8-9 Contemporary English Version/CEV

These core values and encouragements seem to be just as important NOW as they once were! We witness through our mission, youth, stewardship, education, worship + outreach ministries.
May GOD Guide us all as we seek to be SPIRIT Driven to more fully follow JESUS!!!
Please pray together often…. “Loving LORD empower each of us to…
Nurture faith from The Holy SPIRIT (for)
Outreach to all, to follow JESUS (as a)
Witness (to) The Love of GOD!!! Amen.”

SHALOM Pastor Ron Drury