Shepherd of the Hills is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).

What’s with the name?

“Lutheran” means that we identify with the reformative work of Martin Luther, a 16th century German theologian. Luther, in his own time, helped recover the Gospel of Jesus for sinners from errors that crept into the Roman Catholic church at that time.

It might sound strange that a state is in our name. It’s a long story as to how that got there. In short, it signifies where our German Lutheran forebears first settled: in Missouri.

Synod comes from the Greek word σύνοδος, which means “walking together”. We are a collection of churches that believe and confess the same truth found in Scripture and expounded upon in the Book of Concord.

In short, we believe, teach, confess, and worship as the Church has alway done from the time of the Apostles. We believe that the Bible is the true Word of God, without error, and that it serves as the rule and norm for our faith and life.

If you would like to learn more about what our church body believes and the Bible teaches, please visit lcms.org/about/beliefs .

For an overview of the History of the Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod check out our Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod

Here’s what to expect if you were to come and worship with us on a Sunday (please do!):

Worship starts at 9:30AM.

Dress as you please; but as Christians we are interested at all times in dressing modestly so to not distract/tempt others. (1 Timothy 2:9, 1 Pet 3:3-4)

We utilize the Divine Services found in Lutheran Service Book hymnal. There will be a paper bulletin for you to follow the service. If you need help or lose your place—just ask! The person next to you will be glad to help.

There is standing, sitting, singing, speaking, and listening done throughout the service. If you are curious as to why we do what we do, there is a laminated guide of the service in front of or under your seat. If you have further questions, our pastor would be glad to answer them.

Every Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We believe that in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus feeds us with his real body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine that we consume. The LCMS practices Closed Communion. That means only congregation members of the LCMS and members of churches that are in Altar and Pulpit fellowship with are free to commune. For more information on that check out this webpage: https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs/faqs/denominations

If you are not already a member of a congregation of the LCMS you are welcome to come forward during the Distribution of the Lord’s Supper, and with arms crossed, receive a blessing.

If you are a member of another LCMS congregation, please try to introduce yourself to the Pastor before the service and ask permission to take communion. It is a very conscientious and respectful thing to do.

Again, if you have any further questions, our pastor would love to speak with you. You can reach him in the Contact Us section.

After worship we have a time of fellowship where you can grab a coffee and treat and visit with those around you. At around 11AM we have a Bible Study led by the pastor. It is a light-hearted, free-flowing, question-friendly study. We hope you will stay for it!

If, after visiting, you would like to become a member of the congregation, the pastor would be happy to tell you how that works.

Ultimately and most importantly Christians come to church on Sundays to worship the one true God. It’s all about Him and what He has done for us in Jesus. We’re just saying thank you. As members of His Church we want you to be comfortable in joining us in doing just that.

We look forward to seeing you some Sunday.

Rev. Adam Burke

Hi! My name is Adam Burke. I have the pleasure and honor to serve Shepherd of the Hills as pastor. If we haven’t met, I look forward to meeting you. Whenever I visit a new place, I think it is nice to know a bit about the people ahead of time. Permit me to tell you a little about myself.

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I was baptized into God’s family in 1987. I had the privilege of attending Lutheran parochial schools all the way through Seminary. I attended Concordia University in Irvine, California, earning a degree in Theological Studies. In 2007 I married my high school sweetheart and we moved to Missouri so I could attend Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. While at Seminary I had the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University, England. I vicared (a vicar is a like a pastor-intern) at St. Paul, McAllen, Texas. I received my first call in 2012 to Mt. Hope Lutheran in Boulder, Colorado. I accepted the call to serve Shepherd of the Hills in 2018.

Indoors, I enjoy reading and cooking. Outdoors, I enjoy playing just about every sport and especially hiking, biking, and rock climbing. I might have too many hobbies. Pray for me! I like to learn and try new things making me a jack of all trades—master of none. God through my wife, Kayla, has blessed me with four beautiful children. These days I spend my free time trying to encourage their faith in Jesus and explore the wonders of God’s creation.

As a pastor, I am especially interested in the spiritual health of the congregation I serve. It is my joy and duty to preach, teach, and exemplify what the Bible teaches and what it means to follow Jesus. At the same time, I am a deeply flawed sinner who is in constant need of repentance and forgiveness. It is only by God’s grace alone that I am able to serve as pastor and I hope to never forget that.

I look forward to meeting you.

Favorite Hymn: Lord Thee I Love With All My Heart (708 LSB)

Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 25:6-9

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Animal: Pangolin

Mission Statement: Touching Lives Through Christ

CORE VALUES:

  • Caring and love for each other: John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that your are My disciples, if you love one another.”
  • Forgiveness: Col 3:12–13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
  • Outreach – Mt 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
  • Strong Biblical Preaching and Teaching – 2 Ti 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
  • Sharing God’s Message: Ro 10:14–15 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

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1202 Green Lane Suite A
Prescott, Arizona, 86305

We look forward to meeting you

928-778-9122 | office@prescottshepherd.org |  

©2019 Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran