Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation at Deep Creek Lake that worships at St. Peter at the Lake Center, 1140 Mosser Road in McHenry. Its stated mission is to live in witness to Jesus Christ and to welcome the diverse Deep Creek Lake community, from year-round residents and retirees to vacationers, Garrett College students and veterans.

Worship and Study

Sunday worship includes Holy Communion every week, along with Christ-centered teaching and music; the church's musical life has included the Chicago Folk Service and Schubert's Deutsche Messe. You can attend in person or follow along through the church's Facebook page. Through the week there's a prayer group, Bible study on Zoom and in person, Sunday school and adult discussion, and special worship during Advent and Lent. Readings follow the Revised Common Lectionary, and the website shares study helps, including an introduction to Lutheranism. The congregation describes itself as committed to Lutherans in the ELCA and its full-communion partners.

A Congregation That Has Moved Around the Lake

Shepherd of the Hills has gathered in several places over the years, including Wisp (twice), the Garrett 8 Cinemas, a storefront near the lake and McHenry United Methodist, before settling at St. Peter at the Lake Center. Pastor Richard T. (Rick) Egtvedt has led the congregation since 2015, a second-career pastor who served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force before seminary at Gettysburg.

Fellowship and Outreach

Fellowship includes monthly LAFF dinners, game nights, movie nights and ski outings. The church supports food banks in Maryland and West Virginia, helps Garrett College students in need, and joins "God's Work. Our Hands." service projects in the community.

Whether you live at the lake or are here for a week, you'll find a year-round place to worship in McHenry.

Call Us!

• Website
• (301) 387-0400
• Email