1Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church825 West Main StreetLead, SD 57754 e-mail : hello@leadshepherd.org

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June 2020A newsletter of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran ChurchSaturday worship service 6:00 pm Sunday worship service: 9:00 amSunday School : 9:30 amRadio Ministry : 11:00 am KDSJ 980AM

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

A story from, “The Simple Life” (an Amish family)By Wanda E. Brunstetter

 Not that I speak in in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content  Philippians 4:11   “Look at that fox squirrel over there,” Susanna said to her three children as they walked through the woods bordering the back of their home. 

Eight-year-old Molly pointed to the furry creature and giggled. “He’s holdin’ an ear of corn in his mouth while tryin’ to dig a hole so he can bury it.” 

“I saw a squirrel take a green tomato right out of our garden the other day,”  Jonah, who was ten piped up. 

“That silly creature is gonna be disappointed when he realizes he can’t store a tomato like a nut,” twelve year old Willis said with a shake of his head. 

Susanna nodded. “The squirrels are trying to get by with other food sources this year, since there aren’t many nuts to be found.” 

“How come there aren’t many nuts? Jonah asked. 

“We had a late frost in the spring, so the nut trees in the area didn’t produce well.” Susanna motioned to the acorn tree growing nearby. “There are hardly any acorns on the branches at all.” 

Molly tugged on the corner of Susanna’s dark apron. “The squirrels wont starve  to death, will they mama?” 

“Not if they find other sources of food.” 

“Jah, just like that shmaert (smart) little squirrel with the tomato in it’s mouth,” Willis said.  

“That’s right,” Susanna agreed. “We could take a lesson from the animals that  are learning to be satisfied and make do.” 

Jonah looked up at his mother with questioning eyes. “What can we learn from them?” 

“We should learn to be content and enjoy what we have, rather than longing for things we can’t have,” she explained. “We can make do with what’s available and be thankful for whatever God provides.” 

We have so many things to be thankful for, and sometimes searching for ways to make do can be fun. Rather than complaining or feeling sorry for ourselves, we can learn to rely on God, and be content with

 whatever he provides. 

“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6)  Be Blessed, Pastor Will  

June Announcements and Activities

Special Congregational Meeting June 14, 2020 following church services.

Hope Circle and Women of the Word Meeting

Circle and WOW are postponed until September 2020.

Have a blessed Summer.

ATTENDANCE:May (Saturday) 52 est. (Sunday) 159 est.

REMINDER:We appreciate our congregational members and all they do for the church behind the scene. Please remember to lock the doors of the church after your visit or time spent in the church.

Meditation & Communion

The church will be open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to noon for those who wish to take a self serve communion and private moments of meditation. A reminder to continue to practice social distancing with others during this time in the sanctuary. Last day will be June

Parsonage Land Line - Pastor and Susan have disconnected the landline at the parsonage. To

reach Pastor Will 605-645-5951 and to reach Susan 605-645-5980.

Story of the Three TreesOnce upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.

But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.Source unknown

BAKED BEANS

Ingredients 2 lbs Small White Beans (3 cups) or Northern Beans 9 C. Water 2 Medium Onions 1 Large Ham Hock or Salt Pork 1 1/2 C. Ketchup 1 1/2 C. Dark Brown Sugar 1 additional cup water 2 tsp Dry Mustard 2 Tbsp Molasses Salt & Pepper to taste Liquid from Cooked Beans

Directions

Soak Beans all day.

Drain and rinse Beans

Put beans in crock pot with one diced onion, pork or ham hock and cook on low overnight or 8 hours.

Drain (saving 1 cup bean liquid) put back into crock pot and add all remaining ingredients, including the 1 cup of bean water into crock pot.

Cook on low 10-12 hours or high 4-6

Stirring occasionally

Submitted by Cathy Enderby - from her mom.