On a stretch of East Smoky Hill Road in southeast Aurora, a tan and stone building with a labyrinth and peace pole out front serves as the home of Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church. The congregation's stated welcome could hardly be simpler: "God's grace is for everyone. We welcome everyone." Anyone, whatever their religious background or spiritual path, is invited to bring doubts and questions and to join in loving, serving and growing together.
From Thunder Ridge Middle School to a Building of Their Own
Lord of the Hills grew out of conversations that began in 1995, when several families from All Saints Lutheran Church in Aurora formed a working group with the Rocky Mountain Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to plan a new congregation on Smoky Hill Road. Tom Renquist was called in late 1995 to be the developing pastor. After ringing more than 6,000 doorbells, the first worship service was held in the cafeteria of Thunder Ridge Middle School with 211 people attending.
A Sunday School program began in April 1996, a mission statement was developed in June 1996, and on December 8, 1996, Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church was officially organized with 228 baptized members. Construction on a 9,800-square-foot building began in July 2002, and the structure was dedicated to the glory of God on May 18, 2003. In the spring of 2009, a Parish Life Center (PLC) added 6,500 additional square feet for classrooms, offices, a choir room, and youth rooms. The congregation belongs to the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a denomination of nearly 2.7 million members in more than 8,400 worshiping communities across the United States and the Caribbean.
Two Sunday Mornings Around the Liturgy of Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending
Worship is the central thing the congregation does. Two Sunday morning services follow the classic Lutheran pattern of Gather, Word, Meal and Sending. At 8:00 a.m. the early service gathers in person, and at 10:30 a.m. a second service gathers in person with sermons available on YouTube. The musical life of the congregation runs through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.
Communion is celebrated every weekend at all worship services, and everyone is welcome at the table. The congregation describes itself as "kid-friendly, come as you are," blending traditional, contemporary, creative and interactive worship components. Grape juice and gluten free wafers are offered in addition to wine and bread at each service. Children are invited to the celebration, and a "welcome to communion" learning opportunity is offered periodically for parents and children to study the Lutheran understanding of the sacrament together.
Members of the congregation are encouraged to participate in every service. Open positions include greeter, usher, reader, assistant minister, communion assistant, communion bread preparer and altar preparation, and people sign up through Realm Connect.
Cantate Deo, Bells on the Hill, Apostle's Creed and the Hosanna Choir
Music ministry at Lord of the Hills is a welcoming place for the youngest members to the oldest, a way of serving God, the congregation and visitors by sharing musical gifts and talents.
Cantate Deo is the adult choir, open to anyone past confirmation age and older who loves to sing in a vocal ensemble. The choir serves throughout the church program year under the direction of Thomas Kielmeyer with worship and music representative Charlene Nelson.
Bells on the Hill is the adult handbell choir, made up of musicians confirmation age and older. The ensemble uses three-octave Schulmerich handbells and three-octave Malmark handchimes, growing spiritually and musically in a lighthearted setting. Kathy Sheffer serves as the worship and music representative.
Apostle's Creed is the praise band, made up of guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboardists and vocalists confirmation age and older who share their gifts in a contemporary music setting and occasionally lead worship. Chris Sheffer is the worship and music representative. Soloists and small ensembles are also invited to share their gifts during the prelude, postlude or communion.
Hosanna Children's Choir was reinstated for the 2025/26 program year and is open to all elementary-age children who want to sing and proclaim the Gospel at services throughout the year.
Faith Formation: Sunday School, Confirmation and Bible Studies
An educational hour fills the gap between services on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15, August through April. Sunday School classes are offered for children ages 3 through 8th grade using the Spark Sunday School curriculum. Preschool through 3rd grade begins with a joint opening in the Parish Life Center and then moves into the Matthew room; 4th and 5th graders move to the Magdala room of the PLC. Middle school students often lead the opening skit and then head downstairs for discussion. High school students may serve as crew leaders, teachers, join the choir or attend the adult Sunday School class, which gathers "whenever two or more" are present in the PLC.
Confirmation is a three-year program for 6th, 7th and 8th graders that meets Wednesday evenings August through April. The Lutheran Study Bible is the main text, and the course of study covers the Old and New Testaments, the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism, Lutheran identity, and topics such as media, relationships and love, stewardship and serving neighbors. There is a $30 annual program fee, and the congregation never wants finances to prevent participation.
Weekly and monthly Bible studies are offered throughout the year. Lectio Divina meets Wednesday mornings at 7:15 a.m. in the Inspiration Room in the main building. Lunchtime Lectio gathers over the lunch hour from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on Mondays, also using the Faith5 format, September through May. Men's Breakfast and Bible Study meets from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month, September through May. Additional Adult Christian Education offerings appear on the calendar throughout the year.
Children, Youth and Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp
Beyond Sunday School and Confirmation, three youth groups offer regular fellowship and service. Mustard Seeds, for 3rd through 5th graders, typically meets the 3rd Sunday of every month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., often in the Art Room of the PLC, with occasional tubing trips and service projects. The Middle School Youth Group, for 6th through 8th graders, meets monthly as well, typically the 3rd Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., with activities like laser quest lock-ins and service projects. The High School Youth Group centers much of its activity around summer mission trips and the ELCA Youth Gathering, along with bonding events and fundraisers.
Vacation Bible School fills part of the summer, with children learning songs, Bible stories, art projects and games. Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in the Colorado mountains plays a recurring role in congregational life; the congregation regularly sends children, youth and adults to camp, and Pastor Margot has written about the deep connections made there through prayer with hands wide open, singing, shared meals and KP duty.
Youth and caring adults participating in programming complete an annual Health and Medical Release Form, and background checks are run on everyone 18 and older who wishes to volunteer with youth.
Prayer Shawls, Grief Support and a Care Committee
The Prayer and Care ministry addresses the needs of the congregational family, friends and broader community. A confidential Care Committee responds to requests submitted through the prayer and care request form.
The Prayer Shawl ministry began at Lord of the Hills as a ministry of compassion, knitting and crocheting combined into a prayerful practice. Each shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient and continues those intentions throughout the creation of the shawl, with a final blessing offered upon completion. Recipients sometimes pay the kindness forward by making a shawl for someone else, so that the blessing ripples outward. Anyone who could be blessed by receiving a prayer shawl can contact the church office.
A Grief Education Support Group is part of the care ministry as well.
Service: Glocal Outreach Around Aurora
The congregation's Service Committee describes its work as "glocal," combining outreach locally and globally. Hope Starts Here Food Bank operates every Saturday just down the road at the Vineyard on Smoky Hill and Orchard, with volunteers arriving at the volunteer desk at 6:30 a.m. The congregation assembles Aurora Warms the Night hygiene kits on an ongoing basis, with a list of needed items.
Blessing Bags, small ziploc bags filled with goodies, are kept stocked by the Mustard Seed Sunday School and 3rd to 5th grade youth group. A collection box sits near the church entry; bags can be taken for the car and shared with someone in need, and the congregation donates items for replenishment. Thrivent members are encouraged to put their $500 annual Thrivent Choice dollars to work through Thrivent Action Teams, and quarterly workshops help members write grant applications for service projects, educational events and fundraisers.
Each year, on the Sunday after Labor Day, the congregation observes God's Work, Our Hands Sunday, an ELCA day of service with projects in worship, between services and after worship, often including yard work for homebound neighbors.
The Gratitude Path, Labyrinth and Peace Pole
The congregation is building a dedicated pathway leading to its outdoor labyrinth and peace pole, a space designed for reflection, mindfulness and unity. Personalized engraved bricks can be purchased for $50 (4 by 8 inch) or $100 (8 by 8 inch) as a tax-deductible donation, with optional icons including a cross, Bible, angel, rose, heart, footprints, handprints and music notes. Proceeds help fund the completion of the space and offer a way to honor a loved one, celebrate a milestone or share a message of peace.
Pastor Margot Wright and the Music Staff
Pastor Margot Wright leads the congregation and writes regular reflections on the day's Gospel, summer themes of deepening relationships with God, others and self, sabbatical experiences, lectio divina, the Faith5 practice, Martin Luther's definition of faith as a living daring confidence in God's grace, and the Dignity Index as a tool for staying rooted in love amid division. Thomas Kielmeyer serves as Director of Music, and Dr. Jiwon Baik serves as Accompanist.
What Visitors Can Expect
People arriving for worship will find two Sunday morning services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with the second service also offering sermons on YouTube. Communion is celebrated at every service, and grape juice and gluten free wafers are available alongside wine and bread. The congregation describes itself as kid-friendly and come-as-you-are, with a children's message that includes the Change for Change noisy offering supporting community non-profits. Educational hour runs from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. between the two services, August through April. Giving is available through Venmo, and those wishing to learn more about baptism, confirmation, weddings or membership are invited to email the office or schedule a chat with the pastor.