BIBLE FACTS ON TODAY’S READINGS Mark 1:21-28 - In the Gospel of Mark, the first person healed by Jesus had "an unclean spirit." So do we all; yet in baptism we receive instead the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel describes Jesus as speaking with divine authority; his words have the power to replace the reign of evil with the kingdom of God. This excerpt lays out central questions of Mark's gospel: who is Jesus, and from where comes his authority? Mark tells the Christian community that even though crucified, Jesus is the Holy One of God, and although Jesus is a hidden messiah, the powers of evil recognize his power. Visiting teachers were sometimes offered the privilege of delivering the sermon that interpreted the appointed synagogue reading. ANNUAL MEETING Shepherd of the Hills Annual Meeting is scheduled for today, Sunday, January 29, after the 10 am worship service. A copy of the agenda and the 2012 budget will be handed out and is available in the Welcoming Center. SOUPER BOWL LUNCHEON This year the Souper Bowl Luncheon is the week before the Super Bowl. That’s today following the Annual meeting.  Anyone who attends the 8:00 service and would like take out is welcome to get their soup and sandwich to go. ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS  If it is your intention to nominate someone for a council position from the floor during Shepherd of the Hills annual meeting on January 29, 2012, please pick up a copy of the   “Church Council Demographic Form" outside of Pastor Barb's office. Have them fill it out completely in anticipation of their nomination. It needs to be typed and ready to be copied once they are nominated at the Annual Meeting.  It will then be distributed so all individuals attending the Annual Meeting will have the same information on those they are voting for.    Consider the following when nominating someone or voting for someone:  Do they have a deep spiritual life? Are they prayerful?  Are they generous in their use of time, talents and possessions?  Do you see these reflected in how they live out their life, keeping in mind St. Paul's words  that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness  & self-control?  Do they have a  heart for the mission of the church?  Do they have the ability and willingness to listen to all sides of an issue and let go of it once the issue is dealt with?  Can they keep confidential information confidential? If you have any questions about this, please speak to Pastor Barb or one of the council members. PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOOD PANTRY THIS WEEK   We have a grocery cart in the entry way to receive your gifts.  The local food pantries benefit from our giving, and our donations stay right here in Jo Daviess County helping our neighbors in need. This month the need is soup, cereal, canned meats (tuna, chicken), pancake mix/syrup and one-box meals. GIVING STATEMENTS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK Your year end giving statement for Shepherd of the Hills was either sent to you via email this week or, if we do not have your email address, it is available today in the Welcoming Center.  Please check it over and make sure it reflects what you did give to the church in 2011.  If there is a discrepancy and it can be validated by your records (checks), direct deposit, etc., then speak with Alana Turner our Financial Secretary at Shepherd of the Hills and adjustments will be made.  This statement is needed if you are going to claim a charitable contribution on your income tax.  Thank you Alana for your hard work all year long in serving our congregation in this capacity.     PASTORAL CARE OR EMERGENCIES Pastor Barb will be on vacation beginning February 1st to February 17th.  If there is a pastoral need or emergency please contact Diane Gehrts or Bob Stark who will contact the pastor on call.   PANCAKE & SAUSAGE SUPPER St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pearl City (229 S. First St.) is hosting a Pancake & Sausage Dinner Wed., February 1st, at 4:30 - 7:30 pm. Menu includes: pancakes, sausage , applesauce, cookies, cheese, milk and coffee. Tickets are: $6 (adults), $3 (3yrs. - 10 yrs.) and 2 & under eat free. Carry outs are available, call 815-443-2215. GOOD NEWS Mary Ann Stadel has returned home to continue her healing process. DEVOTIONAL MATERIAL Pick up your January - March Portals of Prayers.  They are on the Welcome Center table.  Beginning January 1, 2012  you will be able to go to www.shepherdofhill.com and read an on-line devotion provided by Luther Seminary in Minneapolis-St. Paul.   It is short, to the point and even has the scripture passage included.   Don't forget to get your day started or ended on the right note by doing a brief devotion with scripture.  BEEF NOODLE/CHILI SUPPER Christ Lutheran Church, 600 North Main Street, Stockton, Illinois is hosting a Beef Noddle/Chili Supper on Monday February 6 at 4;30 -7:00 pm. The menu includes: chili, beef noodle soup, ham sandwiches, relishes, cookies and drink. The cost is Adults $5.00 and Children under 10 years old $3.00. Carry-outs are available, call 815-947-2033. Proceeds to help seminary student Sharron Arnold. SUITS MAILING ADDRESS We have added Jeaneen Suits to the Prayer list.  She has had a significant illness and will be in rehabilitation for quite some time.  We would like to suggest that if folks wish to, they can send a card. The mailing address is: 681 Greenfield Road, Sugar Grove, IL  60554.  Duane needs our prayers and support too. DECEMBER FINANCIAL STATEMENT Financial Statement December 2011 The above PDF document is password protected. If your need the password please contact us at SOTHoffice@jcwifi.com and we will be pleased to send it to Church Members.       Sunday Healing Services with Holy Communion 8  & 10 am, Sunday School 8:45 am Choir Practice 9 am Annual Meeting 11 am Souper Bowl Luncheon Monday  - Tuesday Quilting 8:30 am - 3 pm Wednesday Pastor Barb on Vacation through February 17th Thursday Office Open 11 am - 2 pm Friday - Saturday - Sunday Worship Services with Holy Communion 8  & 10 am (Pastor Chris Stienstra. preaching), Sunday School 8:45 am Choir Practice 9 am     UPCOMING EVENTS  Wednesday , February 22th     Ash Wednesday Service 7 pm Week of January 29, 2011 Service Family     8 am - Stuart & Mary Ohms 10 am - Kay Kappes & Esther Huizenga Communion Acolytes 8 am - Maddie & Elizabeth Heim 10 am - Ryan Schiess Readers 8 am - Vickie Sershon 10 am - Laura Duerr Communion Assistant 8 am - Jen Heim 10 am - Laura Duerr Communion Set-up Vickie Sershon Communion Clean-up Mark & Kathy Hesselbacher Sunday School Cookies Alana Turner & Kirstin Ehrler Tellers Sarah & Joann Hesselbacher Hospitality Trish Bianchetta & Barb Jones SERVING US  February 5^th  JAMES ANDERSON ANDREW BOTTELL (Eva Koehn’s niece’s Son-In-Law) TAYLOR DANIEL (Nancy Sell's granddaughter) TERESA FOLKS COLLEEN HANSEN (Jim Hansen's Sister-In-Law) ANITA HANSON BONNIE HUBER (Kathy Kent’s Mom) RON KAPPES BROOKE KELEHER (Laura Duerr) CARL LANTAU (Tammy Winter’s Grandfather) PASTOR LAURA KOPPENHOEFFER LIAM PETELLE (Edie Petelle's grandson)  NORMA PRAHL (Israel, Krueger) LENORA BRANDT ROOT (Betty Holland) BROOKE SCHUBERT ALISON SCHWARTZ (Esther Huizenga) JOHN SINCOX CLINT SITZMANN (Diane Gehrts) MARY ANN STADEL JEANEEN SUITS DAVID SURFACE (Sandy Wilke’s Son-in- law) TONYA SAKOWICZ (friend of Hansen’s) KARLIE WHITE MEN AND WOMEN serving in the armed forces PEACE IN THE WORLD