| "God alone is Lord of the conscience." | Presbyterian 101 |
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church (SHPC) is the local expression of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Chaska, Minnesota. The PCUSA seal, reproduced above, combines a number of symbols important to the Reformed tradition in which we are grounded: cross, descending dove, open Bible, baptismal font, cup, and the flames of fire of the Holy Spirit.
Presbyterian 101 is a condensed guide to "Who We Are" prepared by the national offices of the PCUSA. SHPC is a local congregation of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. As with other Christian denominations, Presbyterian congregations vary widely. Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska is no exception. It will take a visit and some conversation to become acquainted with the distinctive character of Shepherd of the Hill.
As the only Presbyterian Church in Carver County, Minnesota, Shepherd of the Hill Church in Chaska is a bit different. Not better. Just different.
Like our Lutheran, Catholic, and Episcopal brothers and sisters, we place a high value on tradition and structure in worship. Presbyterian Sunday worship is a clearly structured liturgy ("the work of the people"). With all other Christians, we are grounded in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures as the continuing source from which, by the Holy Spirit, God's Word engages us today. Like the Friends ("Quakers"), we hold sacred the voice of dissent and shun vesting power in one person or even a few. We take seriously "the still small voice" of the prophet Elijah, the premise of the Friends meeting. Like our Unitarian-Universalist friends, we place a premium on the life of the mind, eschewing every attempt to shrink the presence of God or the truth we encounter in Jesus Christ to a single creed or religion. Like Baptists and Pentecostal Christians, SHPC joyfully celebrates the good news with music that moves the soul to sing and dance before the Lord with spontaneity. Like our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, we bow in awe and respectful humility before the Holy One Who is always Other, and we seek to honor God in respectful engagement with those who are other than we. "What does the Lord require of you but to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8) is a good summary statement of the call to practice the faith in our daily living.
Call us or use the Contact page to arrange for conversation over coffee with Pastor Gordon Stewart. He makes a habit of meeting people for coffee at the Dunn Brothers in downtown Chaska.
Better yet, join us for worship this Sunday morning 9:30 AM to taste the fare for yourself. Taste the music of SHPC jazz-gospel-classical pianist Momoh Freeman and the preaching of Pastor Gordon Stewart. Or, if you'd rather keep your distance before coming to Shepherd of the Hill, stay at your computer and go to the SHPC, Leadership, Mission, Commentary, or Society page to get a sense of how we approach the intersection of faith and daily life, or attend one of the Shepherd of the Hill Dialogues.
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church - home of First Tuesday Dialogues - is the only Presbyterian Church in Chaska, MN. SHPC offers worship, education, mission outreach, and public gatherings that promote mutual understanding and the common good, in the name of Christ. An MPR commentary by SHPC Pastor Gordon Stewart airs frequently over the airwaves of Minnesota Public Radio (91.1FM). Momoh Freeman and Linda Livers lead the music. Join us for worship this Sunday at 9:30. |