A WELS Congregation on North Northern Avenue
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church sits at 8799 North Northern Avenue in the Casas Adobes area of northwest Tucson, where it has been sharing the Word of God for more than fifty years. The congregation belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a fellowship of Lutheran churches whose teaching stands in the historic Lutheran Confessions.
The church describes its mission in plain terms: it teaches the "pure Word of God to all ages." From infants to longtime members, from first-time guests to lifelong Lutherans, the ministry keeps a full slate of worship, education, and fellowship each week. Sunday mornings fill with two services, an education hour, and a confirmation class for older youth. Weeknights and mornings add Bible studies for women and men, rehearsals for handbells and choir, and a quilting group that turns out quilts for local missions. A flagship outreach called Mission Marana carries the church's work across the Pima County line into Marana, a growing town northwest of Tucson.
The sanctuary is arranged in the traditional Lutheran manner, with a chancel and altar at the front. Families who prefer not to appear in archived video can choose a seat further back. Pastors and those participating in baptism, confirmation, or profession of faith are the only people named on camera.
Two Sunday Services, Two Styles
The Sunday schedule offers a choice for guests based on what kind of worship feels most like home.
The 8:00 AM service is the traditional service. It follows the historic Lutheran liturgy with traditional hymns and a classical Lutheran style - the kind of worship someone returning to church after many years will recognize. The 10:30 AM service is the contemporary service. It offers the same Scripture-centered preaching in a more relaxed setting, suited to those who prefer a less formal atmosphere while still hearing the Word from the chancel.
Both services include the sermon and the Lord's Supper in the same week, so visitors can attend either one (or both in a single morning) without missing the heart of the morning. The services livestream and archive to the church's Vimeo and YouTube channels, with a video library going back several years for those who miss a Sunday or want to revisit a sermon. Visitors in the pews are invited to fill out an online Connection Card so the ministry team can thank them for joining.
The 9:15 Sunday Hour
Between the two services, at 9:15 AM, three things happen at once in classrooms around the building:
- Adult Bible Study works through a book of the Bible - currently the book of Jonah - under the pastor's direction. The class is also offered via Zoom so members at home or away can join.
- Sunday School gathers children and younger students to learn Bible stories, the catechism, and hymns at their own level.
- LYFE (Lutheran Youth Fellowship and Enrichment) gathers students in eighth through twelfth grade for Bible study, fellowship, and service in a relaxed atmosphere.
At 12:00 PM, Confirmation meets every other Sunday, giving older youth a deeper grounding in the Bible and the Small Catechism under the pastor's direction.
LYFE: Lutheran Youth Fellowship and Enrichment
LYFE is one of the most active corners of the church. Open to students in eighth through twelfth grade, the youth group meets every Sunday morning at 9:15 AM and combines Bible teaching with activities and volunteer service around the Tucson area. Students in the LYFE band also rehearse on Sunday evenings, learning guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard so that they can lead music at contemporary services and events.
Confirmation and Bible Information Classes
Confirmation is offered for students who want to affirm the vows made for them at baptism. Classes meet every other Sunday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM under the pastor's guidance, walking students through a catechism review, a Bible overview, and an opportunity to declare their faith before the congregation.
For adults, the church runs Bible Information Classes (BIC) for anyone curious to study the Bible from the ground up, learn what Lutherans teach and why, or prepare to join the congregation. The class is open to anyone in the community, regardless of church background.
Weekday Bible Studies and Women's Ministry
Shepherd of the Hills keeps three ongoing adult Bible studies on different days so the schedule fits people in different seasons of life:
- Monday evening at 6:30 PM: a women's Bible study.
- Tuesday morning at 6:30 AM: a men's Bible study timed so working members can join before the workday.
- Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM: a second women's Bible study.
Mary Watson directs the women's ministry, including both Bible studies and the women's quilting group. The quilting group meets every other Tuesday at 9:30 AM, and the quilts it produces go to local mission partners, giving quilters a steady, tangible way to serve Tucson neighbors. The women's ministry also gathers seasonally for outreach projects, such as assembling hygiene bags for those in need.
Mission Marana: Reaching the Northwest
One of the church's signature outreach efforts is Mission Marana, a Bible study and planning partnership aimed at the growing town of Marana, just northwest of Tucson. Twice-monthly meetings combine planning time with Bible study and fellowship, drawing members from the church who want to take the gospel into a community that has fewer WELS congregations than central Tucson. Members of the church also take part in WELS national efforts, including the WELS National Online Teen Bible Study that meets Sunday afternoons. The church stays connected to the wider WELS family through synod rallies, gatherings, and shared mission events.
Music Ministry: Handbells and Choir
Music shapes both Sunday services. The handbell choir rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, and the vocal choir at 6:30 PM, so both groups can join the 10:30 AM contemporary service. Lorrie Palmquist directs the handbells and Paula Schmugge directs the vocal choir. Combined choirs also lead special services throughout the church year, including a Reformation service each fall.
Starting Point, Member Care, and Getting Connected
Newcomers have a few places to begin. A recurring calendar item called Starting Point gathers interested visitors and prospective members to ask questions and learn what the congregation teaches and how it operates. A MemberCare ministry looks after members during illness, bereavement, and other needs, coordinated by lay leaders who keep in touch with shut-ins and bring the church's care into homes and hospitals. Adult visitors can also enroll in the Bible Information Class to study the Lutheran Confessions in a small-group setting.
Online Worship, Devotions, and Giving
Sunday services livestream and archive to the church's Vimeo and YouTube channels. The Vimeo library keeps recent services on demand, while the YouTube channel features shorter weekly devotion videos. A photo gallery of church life is available online as well.
The church points members to WELS Devotions, a podcast the synod releases each weekday morning with audio reflections on a fresh Scripture passage, and to Forward in Christ, the synod's devotional magazine.
Giving runs through PushPay at pushpay.com/g/lutheranchurchtucson or by texting "Give" to (833) 245-6522. The church frames giving with Second Corinthians 9: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Visitors coming in person can find the church at 8799 North Northern Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85704. The main office is reachable at (520) 297-5710 and at info@lutheranchurchtucson.com.