Shepherd of the Hills' growing graces

Sparta - It was built in 1967 to serve the summer residents of Lake Mohawk. The directive given to the builder was simple, “…don’t make it look too much like a church, just in case we have to sell it.” That need never arose. The congregation of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church has grown in leaps and bounds since then, and as a result the building is increasing in size to accommodate the larger congregation. On Sunday, Jan. 28, the cornerstone was laid at the construction site of the new sanctuary, and Pastor Barry Benson, is on cloud nine anticipating its May 2006 completion date. “We’re really excited to be getting such a great new narthex and sanctuary. Some days it’s standing room only or hallway seating in order to accommodate those attending worship services,” said Benson. The new sanctuary is part of a $1.6 million expansion project which also includes choir prep rooms, a quiet/crying space for fidgety toddlers and babies, and additional classroom space for Christian education. The church, located in Sparta on Woodport Road, is one of the fastest growing Lutheran churches on the east coast. When Benson began his ministry in 1994, the church had 200 members. At that time 23 students made up the entire Sunday school. “Today, we have 200 students attending our Christian education, and 800 parishioners, all coming from Sparta and surrounding towns,” he said. The church regularly reaches out to Sparta and the surrounding towns by hosting a variety of seasonal programs and events open to the community, such as an Easter egg hunt, vacation Bible school held in the summer, a fall family fun festival, a Halloween party and the popular live nativity scene. “Many of our event attendees later become members,” said Benson. “People in this community appreciate the friendliness and openness of our church culture.” During the cornerstone ceremony, the congregation buried a time capsule at the site. Its contents include, children’s rendering of the new sanctuary, the 40-year anniversary church bulletin, the worship bulletin for Jan. 28, the February edition of the church’s newsletter, and a recent copy of the Sparta Independent. “This is a very exciting time and we are happy with the new addition, and looking forward to worshipping in the new sanctuary,” said Benson. “I believe we’ve grown because parishioners feel the connection between the Sunday service and their Monday worlds.”