life of the flock: summer 2014

Our Vision: Invite all people to experience the welcome, transformation, and sending of Jesus Christ | Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, ELCA

SUMMER 2014

2 | SUMMER 2014 | Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church | Main office: (952) 432-6351 | www.sotv.org

T his past year has seen a lot of excitement

at SOTV! Not only have we tried new things,

but we’ve also been doing a lot of listening. You may wish to never see another survey from SOTV, but those surveys – in

combination with small-group discussions, feedback on the comment cards and

online, volunteer task forces, and individual conversations – have given a lot of

perspective and direction for how we can best live out Our Vision.

You will see more in the coming weeks and

months, but this is what we are up to now:

Looking Back & Looking Ahead...

Saturday Worship 3

Results of our CAT Survey 4

Survey Findings on Giving 6

Capital Campaign for 2014-15 7

Faith Pathways 9

GodZone 19

Confirmation 21

What To Do This Summer...

Bible Studies & Fellowship 8

School Supply Drive 13

Habitat for Humanity 14

Shepherd’s Sale 15

Gifts for Tanzania Partners 17

Volunteer at VBS 19

Our Vision: invite all people to experience

the Welcome, Transformation, and Sending

of Jesus Christ

Shepherd of the Valley is…

Pastors Christopher Smith, Senior Pastor

Randy Brandt, Executive Pastor

Duane Paetznick

Mary Lund

Diane Sponheim

Chuck Tindell, Visitation Pastor

Leland Johnson, Visitation Pastor

Church Council

Steve Mueller, President

Jenny Buckley, Vice President

Arlen Wilson, Secretary

Troy Nelson, Treasurer

Lynn Askew, Past President

Ann Boekhoff

Shalom Ewald

Julie Fries

Paul Keller

Angela Zielinski

Main Contact Info Church Office: (952) 432-6351

Fax: (952) 432-6917

Website: www.sotv.org

Parish Nurses (952) 985-7365

Children, Youth & Family Office number: (952) 432-6385

Weddings Jill Johnson (952) 985-7381

Baptisms Merilu Narum (952) 985-7326

Funerals Jill Johnson (952) 985-7381

Most importantly,

Shepherd of the Valley is…

YOU! Thank you for supporting our mission and vision with your gifts of time and finances.

In This Newsletter...

http://www.sotv.org/

Our Vision: Invite all people to experience the welcome, transformation, and sending of Jesus Christ | 3

Worship

B eginning September 13, we

will offer two worship

opportunities on Saturdays. 4:00

PM worship will be band-led, and

we will shift the organ/piano-led

worship to 5:30 PM (these times

were determined by feedback

from the November Worship

Survey).

We will also be adding GodZone sessions

on Saturday at 4:00 and 5:30 pm for age 3

(by Sep. 1) to Grade 3. GodZone sessions

for Grades 4 & 5 will now be aligned with

middle school Confirmation (see page 21) on Wednesdays at

4:30 or 5:45 pm.

Since we moved all worship into the Sanctuary, we have more

people experiencing band-led worship than ever before. We’re

excited to add another option for our existing worshipers, and

to invite more people to Experience Jesus in a casual, come-as-

you-are environment.

This summer, there will be three band-led previews at 5:00 pm

worship, to introduce current Saturday worshipers to band-led

worship. Those Saturdays are May 31, July 5, and August 2.

Here’s what else you can expect

this fall on Saturdays:

More “Sunday” music will be offered at

the 5:30 organ/piano-led service including

Sounds of Praise (1st Saturday of the

month), hand bells (3rd Saturday), and

Senior Choir (4th Saturday). Some options

for children’s or youth choirs are being

considered.

In addition to adding Saturday GodZone,

we’ve also planned a “Saturday Sampler,”

something new each week in the narthex

at 5:00 pm in-between worship services.

A large group of volunteers met to brainstorm ideas so that

each week’s sampler is welcoming, interactive, casual and

appealing to all ages.

Options we’re considering include:

Bible studies or devotions

Service opportunities for all ages

A special theme fellowship like “Oktoberfest”

A community meal

Look for a full schedule of activities closer to fall. Have ideas

you want to share? E-mail [email protected] or

[email protected].

New Saturday

Schedule

Beginning September 13

4:00 PM Band-Led

5:30 PM Organ/Piano-Led

GodZone will be offered both

hours for PK* - Grade 3.

*Age 4 by Sep. 1, 2014

Summer Worship Focus

Ephesians: June 14 & 15 - July 5 & 6

Ruth: July 12 & 13 - August 2 & 3

1 John: August 9 & 10 - August 30 & 31

Get a Taste of Band-Led Worship

3 Saturdays this Summer:

May 31, July 5, and August 2

Get Saturday Worship Fever! By Kari Slotten

sotv.org/worship

Photo: Patty Zwiefel


Survey Results

Thank You!

T he Church Assessment Tool (CAT)

Survey was completed by 927 people

between January 19 and February 16, 2014.

This is fantastic! The large sample provides

results which have high validity and yield

reliable insights. Thank you for taking the

time to complete the survey. Below is a

summary of key findings from the survey.

A full copy of the report with an explanatory

DVD is available at the Welcome Center for check-out.

A High Energy Church The people of Shepherd of the Valley (SOTV) report that the

church is a high energy center of ministry in the name of Jesus

Christ. SOTV is a transformational church where people express

overall high satisfaction with their experience of its ministry

and appreciate the diverse opportunities for worship and

growth that our church offers.

An Adaptable Church SOTV people also report that they experience the church as a

flexible, adaptable place of mission and ministry. We are willing

to adapt our worship and our programs in order to meet the

changing needs of our current members as well as to reach out

to others in our local community. We are also a theologically

diverse community of faith. We think and talk about God in a

variety of ways and make room for others with differing

viewpoints.

Particular Strengths The CAT survey highlighted a number of areas of strength in

SOTV’s ministry:

Music and Worship – Worship at SOTV is characterized

by music and other worship elements that are outstanding

and inspiring for faith

Educational Offerings – SOTV provides opportunities for

education that are high quality and suit the needs of our

community.

All Called to Ministry – SOTV does a good job of

equipping its people for ministry and helping them know

that they make a difference.

Energetic Spirit – At SOTV, people experience the

presence of God in ways that impact their faith and how

it connects to other aspects of their lives.

High Morale – People at SOTV are energized and

transformed by their experience of the church so that they

invite others to experience the church as well.

Of course just because these are strengths of SOTV does not

mean that these same aspects of our ministry do not need

attention and improvement. CAT results also point to ways we

can build on our strengths to enhance the experience of the

ministry and mission of SOTV.

Places for Improvement The CAT survey also revealed a number of areas where SOTV

can improve:

Governance – CAT results suggest that the Church

Council and other governance teams at SOTV do two

things: First, include broader representation from the

congregation and, second, make information about key

decisions more accessible for review and comment.

Transformation and Meaning – While people experience

an energetic spirit and high morale at SOTV, they also

seek greater meaning from their experience in worship

and beyond to apply to their lives every day.

Conflict Management – SOTV has gone through a variety

of changes in recent years. Changes like these will happen

more effectively through broader engagement and

excellent communication in the process of making

decisions and implementation.

Invitation and Welcome – SOTV needs to explore new

ways to welcome and engage the diverse community

around us.

Activity Level Beyond Worship – While the people of SOTV

affirm worship as a key priority in their faith development,

their involvement beyond worship is at a lower level than

most churches. How can we inspire greater participation?

Opportunities to Give – The people of SOTV on average give

1.28% of their household income to support the mission and

ministry of SOTV. A giving increase of just one-half of one

percent of household income would fully fund our mission

and enable us to be far more generous with those in need.

Chris Smith

Senior Pastor

CAT Survey Results Provide Helpful Insights A Summary by Pastor Chris Smith

sotv.org/CAT


Survey Results

Your Priorities The CAT survey provided the opportunity to name priorities and

hopes for SOTV. The results ranked four as high or very high

priorities:

Serve Our Community – The people of SOTV want to do

much more to reach out and serve those living on the margins

of society. This means that our church needs to develop

ministries that bring healing to those broken by life

circumstances.

Reach Out – The people of SOTV want to develop and

implement new ways to invite others to engage in the life and

ministry of SOTV.

Build Relationships – The people of SOTV want to form new

relationships with others in our community of faith. This

priority means that we need to create new and diverse ways

for people to meet one another and build relationships.

Worship that Transforms – Worship and music are already

key strengths of SOTV. The people of SOTV want these

experiences to deepen their connection to God and one

another and to bring greater meaning to their faith in daily

living.

The Vision and the CAT It’s exciting to see how the results of the CAT survey align with the

vision of SOTV. Our vision is to invite all people to experience the

welcome, transformation, and sending of Jesus Christ. This vision

supports devoting more energy to reaching out, building

relationships and community, and creating transformational

worship experiences, all priorities for SOTV. These efforts would

also build on our strengths as a church. As an adaptable, high

energy church we have the capacity to put into action much that the

CAT survey results suggest.

Ideas Please! Your leaders on the church council and on the church staff will

be discussing the CAT results in the weeks and months to come.

If you have ideas about putting insights from survey results into

action, please share them. We need good ideas! And, thanks

again for completing the survey!

More Survey Findings

Compared to benchmarking from other congregations

who have completed the CAT Survey, Shepherd of the

Valley has high energy and high satisfaction. This is

known as the “transformation” quadrant.

Compared to other congregations, Shepherd of the

Valley is a progressive-adaptable church.

To view the full report or watch a hour-long video

analysis by our consultant, visit the Welcome Center

or go to www.sotv.org/CAT.

Adaptable

Settled

Conserv

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Pro

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High Energy

Low Energy

Hig

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sotv.org/CAT


Giving

T he Church Assessment Tool

(CAT) survey has provided a

comprehensive look at SOTV’s mission

and ministry (see previous pages). The

CAT survey also provided quite a bit of

information about giving and finances

in the SOTV faith community:

1. More than two-thirds of the SOTV community agree or

strongly agree that the church does a good job of providing

information that enables people to give joyfully to support

the work of its ministries. Another 27% “tend to agree”

with that same affirmation.

2. The people of SOTV on average give 1.28% of their

household income to support the mission and ministry of

SOTV. That percentage is about half of what households

in the typical ELCA church community give. The CAT

showed that average annual household income in our

community is almost $126,000, with average gifts to

SOTV of about $1,612.

3. Giving at SOTV has decreased, along with worship

attendance, between 1% and 3% each year for a number of

years, beginning back in 2003. Church leadership began to

address this back in 2005 and in a more sustained way

beginning in 2008. The result of their work was a reduction

in budgets and creating a leaner organization. Careful

budgeting resulted in a surplus which has been used to

invest in initiatives related to the vision and address facility

maintenance needs. The coming fiscal year will include

additional budget cuts.

4. Almost 22% of households indicate that they will increase

their giving in the coming year, while two-thirds intend to

give about the same amount of money. Only 5% of

households indicated that they would likely give less in

the coming year. Your church is very grateful for your

continued generosity. Thank you!

Why Give to SOTV?

Your Giving Matters

Excellent worship and an array of inspiring educational

offerings that shape faith are a hallmark of our church.

Well-supported and dynamic children’s ministries and

confirmation and youth ministries programs are essential to

our mission as a church. In addition, SOTV has multiple

ministries that serve those in need and seek to reach to a

hurting world. CAT results indicate that our community wants

to do even more to serve our neighbors in need. To continue

our vibrant mission and to grow it well, we need your help

and support. Thanks to all of you as we continue to move

forward in faith!

Transparency Desired

CAT survey results suggest that your church leadership be

more transparent in their governance and in reporting financial

information. Your church council is already discussing ways

to accomplish these goals. On the finance side, the Finance

Committee recently decided to begin publishing year-to-date

giving information in the weekly worship bulletin. The Church

Council and Finance Committee will keep the congregation

posted on a more consistent basis.

Always Available for Questions

Do you have questions about giving or finances at SOTV?

Your church leadership is always available to answer your

questions. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

“CAT” Facts: Finances and Giving

sotv.org/giving


S hepherd of the Valley will

undertake a capital campaign

from the fall of 2014 through early

spring of 2015. SOTV completed its last capital campaign in 2004, with pledges

received through 2007. Some of you may remember that fund

appeal as the Imagine Campaign. It was the church’s most

successful campaign to date.

The time has come to complete another capital campaign. For

more than a year two groups of SOTV volunteers have worked

hard to prepare for a capital campaign:

1. The Capital Campaign Strategy Team has worked to

determine the best partner to help us conduct the campaign

and also to propose key goals of the campaign.

2. The Kairos Stewardship Team has gathered information

from you, participants in the life of SOTV, to learn how you

think about giving to the church’s mission and what is

important to you for the future. A big part of this group’s

work was conducting the Church Assessment Tool (CAT)

Survey.

The Strategy Team’s work concluded in May when they

completed interviews with potential fund appeal partners who

will help guide this work. Their choice will be announced at the

SOTV Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 8. They also identified

three key goals for the fund appeal:

Mortgage Debt Reduction –SOTV continues to service a

mortgage debt of about $4.5 million. It’s time to reduce this

debt very significantly. By reducing debt, we can devote

more resources to causes that make a difference for many.

Serving Others – For the first time, a significant portion of a

capital campaign at SOTV will be devoted to serving others

in our own community, regionally, and in other parts of the

world. The Benevolence Committee conducted a process of

proposals and assessment that resulted in an exciting list of

partnerships and ministries that serve others in need and

bring healing and wholeness to those who are struggling.

Facility Improvements – Parts of SOTV’s facility are aging

rapidly and need attention. Two examples are SOTV’s

parking lot, which needs redesign and renovation, and the

north end of the building, which needs prompt attention

inside and out.

Through the work of the Kairos Stewardship Team and the

CAT survey, the people of SOTV affirmed these priorities.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our dedicated volunteers for

their time and energy preparing for SOTV’s next fund appeal:

Capital Campaign Team: Lynn Askew, Greg Carlson,

Mark Dean, Julianne Fries, David Kuhnau, Troy Nelson,

Suzy Schrader, and Lynne Schulz

Kairos Team: Sara Althoff, Jenny Buckley, Scott Erickson,

David Kuhnau, and Karla Williams

Benevolence Committee: Ann Boekhoff, Patricia Buss,

Doug Franzen, Steve Lokensgard, and Dale Reed

At the SOTV annual meeting on June 8, council leaders will

share more details about the fund appeal. Mark your calendar

and plan to attend.

This is an exciting time in the life of SOTV as we prepare for the

future by reducing debt, serving others, and preparing our

facilities for the next generation. Thanks be to God for all the

gifts he entrusts to us for the sake of his mission!

Giving

Providing for the Next Generation Capital Fund Appeal 2014-2015

sotv.org/giving


Bible Studies

Small Groups

Men’s Tuesday Morning

Bible Study Group

Weekly, 6:00 - 7:00 AM

Join us for engaging conversation

and an early morning foundation

for the day. Currently watching

parts of the History Channel’s

series The Bible, followed by Bible

research.

Contact: Denny Ofstedahl at

[email protected]

Please note:

The Men’s Wednesday Night

Bible Study will resume in the fall.

Sarah Circle Women’s Group will

return in the fall, meeting on the 2nd

Saturdays of the month.

The Shalom Circle and Men’s

Friday Morning Studies will meet

this summer, with dates and times

TBA. Please see our weekly newsletter

for more information.

Sunday Summer Studies Sundays at 9:45 AM in the Chapel

Each week features 20-30 minutes of video, followed by discussion and other

learning activities. Leaders will include Pastor Mary Lund, Pastor Duane Paetznick,

Tim Braun, Mark Gamm, and Ken Loher.

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians

Sundays, June 1 – July 27(No class July 6)

This 8-week series features video from the PBS Frontline series From Jesus to Christ, that

tells the epic story of the rise of Christianity. It explores the life and death of Jesus, and

the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created the religion we

now know as Christianity.

Making Sense of the Bible

Sundays, August 3 - September 14 (No class August 31)

This 6-week series was put together by Adam Hamilton, United Methodist Pastor in one

of the largest churches in North America. In this study, you are invited into an honest

conversation about the Bible. The series includes foundational questions such as: “How

and when was the Bible written?” and also considers questions that divide Christians,

including: “Why would Paul command women to "keep silent in the church"?”

John Ortberg Book Discussion

Who is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus Led by Pastor Duane Paetznick // No cost; Bring your own copy of the book.

5 weeks — Choose a Wednesday evening or Thursday morning session time:

Wednesdays, July 16 – August 13, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Thursdays, July 17 – August 14, 10:00-11:30 AM

Jesus is history’s most familiar figure. His impact on the world has been immense. In

Who is This Man, author John Ortberg shows how Jesus’ influence has swept over history,

bringing his inspiration to art, science, government, medicine, and education. Come and

talk about this book with others.

Women’s Bible Study A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study:

A Refreshingly Unique Look at God's Word Monday mornings, 9:00 - 11:00 AM // June 9-30 // Led by Sanna Ellingson

No cost; Bring your own copy of the book.

Looking for a light and fun summer bible study? Join this one! The book offers user-

friendly advice on how to get the most from your personal Bible study time. Like a funny

conversation between friends, A Modern Girl’s Guide by Jen Hatmaker will make you laugh

out loud as it transforms study into a fresh, simple format that will radically change the

way you interact with Scripture forever.

REGISTRATION INFO

= Register with cash or a check at the Welcome Center, CYF office, or online with a credit or debit card at www.sotv.org/events.

Scholarships are available for our programs. Download an application at www.sotv.org/events

= Childcare is available for this program. You must register ahead of time at www.sotv.org/events. There is no registration fee

sotv.org/adults

http://my.serviceu.com/public/openRegistrations.asp?orgID=4091&bShowCalendar=True&strColumnsToShow=OccStartDate,NumberAvailable,RegEndTime

http://www.sotv.org


Bible Studies

O ver the past year, the congregation has shared a desire for

more focus on faith development. People want to dig

deeper. They want meaningful connections. They want to be

supported and challenged along their faith journey.

The original concept has evolved significantly through

discussions with pastors, staff, a prayer team, and an advisory

group. At this point, there are four main components to Faith

Pathways: 1) Entry Points, 2) Guides, 3) Balanced offerings on a

quarter system, and 4) Clear communication.

There are four main times when someone may be looking for an

“entry point” at SOTV: 1) when they are brand new to SOTV, 2)

when they have had some connection to SOTV, but haven’t

really gotten connected, 3) when they are in a life transition, or

4) when they are questioning faith. The “Entry Points” category

meets these people where they are, through one of the following

methods:

First Contact: Have a volunteer be stationed at the

Welcome Center after every worship service. They would

give a tour to any interested visitors, provide them with

basic information, and note contact information if follow-

up is desired (beginning fall 2014).

New Member Class: This is for people comfortable with the

Lutheran Faith, and intentionally looking to affirm that

faith through a commitment to SOTV (already exists).

About SOTV: This class highlights all of our different

ministries and opportunities for involvement. After the

presentation, there would be opportunities for participants

to ask questions of representatives in areas they’d like to

get involved, and to sign up (beginning fall 2014).

Roots: This class looks at existing perceptions of God and

Faith, Christianity, Jesus, the Word, and the Church; then

explains how SOTV views these areas. We expect this

discussion-based course to have both large group and small

group elements and have discussions with each pastor

(beginning fall 2015).

Let’s Talk: This class focuses more on questions and

discussions (versus Biblical instruction) in a comfortable,

small group setting (beginning fall 2015).

Guides are people who help others find the right fit. They would

be available to help people understand their gifts, discuss ways

to get connected (education, service, social opportunities, etc.),

and facilitate those connections. Although anyone can sign up

for opportunities themselves, a Guide can help people who

have questions or uncertainty, and can foster connections in a

way registration doesn’t. Guides would be connected to Entry

Point classes, and available upon request (beginning fall 2015).

The key theme of Faith Pathways is to meet people where they

are along their personal faith journey. Our goal is to have

balanced offerings throughout the year that appeal to people at

different stages of faith development. In addition to our varied

Bible studies, we will consider life application courses and

discussion groups at times that match busy lifestyles. We are

also looking to make natural links between worship, education,

and service to help us live out Our Vision of “Welcome,

Transform, and Send.”

Finally, Faith Pathways strives for clear communication about

all of these opportunities. We want to use consistent formats,

language, and categories so people can compare options and

easily identify opportunities that appeal to their preferred styles

and interests. In addition to quarterly course options, we will

update our website and other communication tools for easy

navigation and registration.

Faith Pathways By Kari Slotten

sotv.org/adults


Ongoing…

Coffee for Men Wednesdays, 9:00 AM

Men who would like to get together to

visit over a cup of coffee or tea are

encouraged to join us. There's no agenda

other than connecting with other guys.

Woodworkers Group Wednesdays, 10:00 AM // Open to all

Whether you are a beginner or more

advanced woodworker, join us to share

projects, ideas and conversation.

Shepherd Quilters Mondays, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Summer schedule: Meeting on 6/2, 6/9,

6/30, 7/7, 7/28 and Mondays in August.

All skill levels are welcome to help quilt,

cut, iron, and stitch. Quilts are donated

to Target House and other organizations.

For more information contact Lois

Pedersen, (952) 236-8993.

The Golden Stitchers 1st & 3rd Thursdays // 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM

We will not meet the following days:

June 19, July 3, and July 17

All skill levels welcome to quilt, cut, iron,

and stitch. Contact: Shirley Blix at (952)

432-2083.

GIGGLES

(Girls in God Growing Loving

Eating Sharing) 1st Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost: Free

Women of all ages: Come join us once a

month for an evening of fun and

fellowship at SOTV. Come meet new

friends and keep in touch with old friends.

Bring your knitting, scrapbooking, or

whatever craft project you're working on.

Or, just come and talk, laugh, play games,

eat, and pray with fellow SOTV women.

We'll take turns bringing treats to share.

Fellowship & Enrichment

Men’s North Shore Retreat June 26-29, 2014 // Chateau Leveaux (near Tofte, MN)

Cost: $225, $100 non-refundable deposit due at registration

Join Pastor Chris Smith for a three-day weekend on the North Shore of Lake

Superior. There will be a variety of activities including hiking, fly fishing,

kayaking, and golfing. Please contact the church office for availability.

Men’s Black Hills Hiking Retreat September 3-7, 2014 // Estimated Cost: $300-400

$100 non-refundable deposit due at registration

Visit a land of legends. Walk in the footsteps of history.

Experience a place regarded as sacred, a place where

stone emerges dramatically from the Prairie and seems to

reach for the sky. Take in some of the greatest vistas in North America. This is an

important opportunity to deepen your faith and build connections with a small

group of like-minded men. We will stay at Custer State Park and spend three

days hiking and in Christian study. Expand your horizons and your faith. For

more information, contact Pastor Randy Brandt at (952) 985-7302 or Gary Lorenz

(952) 423-3771 with any questions.

Adult Retreat at Camp Wapo September 16-19, 2014

Lake Wapogasset Camp, Amery, WI

Led by Pastors Paul Oman and Duane Paetznick

Cost: $165 per person for 3 nights and 7 meals

Travel to Camp Wapo and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, great food, and get to

know your church friends better. Paul Oman is a pastor and artist who has

painted worshipful masterpieces during three past worship services at Shepherd

of the Valley, most recently at our Thanksgiving worship. Paul will lead our Bible

studies and will incorporate his artwork into the teaching and worship we have

together. His theme will be “The Freedom of a Christian” with a focus on the

book of Galatians. To register, pick up a brochure at the Welcome Center.

Retreats

sotv.org/adults


Fellowship & Enrichment

Women’s Fall Retreat Friday, September 19 - Sunday, September 21

Heartwood Retreat Center, Trego, WI - Space limited!

Cost: $225 (all inclusive) $100 non-refundable deposit

Make plans to attend the annual retreat. The retreat center

is nestled in 700 acres of breathtaking natural woodlands,

has two private lakes and direct access to the Namekagon River.

Pastor Mary Lund will be leading us through a study of the book of Ecclesiastes,

Seasons: A Time For Every Matter Under Heaven. The Bible has a message for each of

us no matter what season of life we are experiencing. Take heart in the Word and

enjoy the support and fun that can only be experienced when a group of Christian

women gather together to pray and play, study and serve. Women of all ages

are welcome - invite a friend or family member! For more information about the

retreat, requests for financial assistance or other questions, please contact

[email protected].

Financial Peace University Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 PM // June 19 - August 21,

No class July 3 // Cost: $95 for a member kit

Millions of people have gone through Dave Ramsey's Financial

Peace University. They've worked a plan, rewritten their stories,

and changed their futures. This class meets for nine weeks, one

night a week. It incorporates small-group discussions that help encourage accounta-

bility and discipleship.

SOTV Has a Men’s Softball Team! And they’re looking for a few more players to join the team.

Games are Tuesday evenings at Johnny Cake Ridge Park from

May 6 - July 22. Contact [email protected] if

you’re interested. You and your family can come and cheer them

on too as they compete against other local churches. The full schedule will be post-

ed at Facebook.com/SOTVorg.

O.K.’s a.k.a. “Older Kids” All seniors (55+) are welcome to the

following events:

Museum of Broadcasting

Wednesday, June 11

Carpool from SOTV at 9:00 AM to

St. Louis Park. Lunch afterwards at

Olive Garden in Bloomington.

Cost: $18 per person.

Must sign up and pay in advance.

OK's Minnesota Centennial Showboat

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

Tuesday, July 1 at 2:30 PM. Cost: $18

Carpool from SOTV. There will be a

lunch prior to the performance, details

TBD. Lunch will be an additional cost.

OK’s Picnic & Raptor Center

Monday, July 14 // 11:30 AM

Picnic at the church followed by a

unique experience of a demonstration

by a handler of an Eagle and raptors in

the Atrium. Cost is $11.

Please note the EARLY time and sign

up and pay in advance.

O.K.’s Ribfest

Saturday, August 16

Time and Cost: TBD

Travel by bus from SOTV to Emanuel

Lutheran Church in Hamburg, MN.

More details in weekly newsletter

Women in New

Konnections (WINK) Join the WINK women each Sunday,

beginning at 10:30 am at the round tables

near the patio doors for coffee and

fellowship. All are welcome to join us!

Upcoming event:

WINK Picnic at Alimagnet Park

Friday, June 27 // 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Join us for an afternoon of conversation

and games. Alimagnet Park is located at

211 Ridgeview Drive in Apple Valley.

Bring your own bag lunch and beverage.

REGISTRATION INFO

= Register with cash or a check at the Welcome Center, CYF office, or online with a credit or debit

card at www.sotv.org/events.


= Childcare is available for this program. You must register ahead of time at www.sotv.org/

events. There is no registration fee

sotv.org/adults


http://www.sotv.org


Care & Support sotv.org/support

Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM,

Room 160

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

13901 Fairview Dr, Burnsville

Contacts: Randy Goeke (952) 240-2754

Richard Erickson (651) 788-0275

Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM,

Classroom 1-3

Easter Lutheran Church on the Hill

4200 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan

Contact: Bob Lawrence at (612) 845-9481

NEW AL-ANON Meeting “Pursuing Peace in Al-Anon” Every Tuesday, 7:00 - 8:00 PM // Questions? Keli (651) 335-5763

We who live, or have lived, with the problem of alcoholism understand as perhaps few

others can. We, too, were lonely and frustrated, but in Al-Anon we discover that no

situation is really hopeless and that it is possible for us to find contentment, and even

happiness, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. If this message speaks to you,

please try our program. It has helped many find solutions that lead to serenity.

NAMI Parent Resource Groups Every 2nd & 4th Thursday // 6:00 - 8:00 PM at SOTV // Cost: Free

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, presents an opportunity for parents

and caregivers of children with challenging behaviors to get together to share similar

experiences, discover resources and learn coping skills. Pizza and childcare are

available. Contact NAMI Minnesota at (651) 645-2948 for more information.

Challenged by Cancer

Second Tuesdays, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

An opportunity for women living with cancer to gather and support one another.

Support groups have helped thousands of people cope with cancer, and no matter

where you are in your journey, we encourage you to come. Contact Susan Ferber at

(651) 683-9236 or [email protected].

Suicide Survivor Support Group

2nd Tuesdays & 4th Thursdays // 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Mary Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Road, Burnsville

Park in West parking lot, enter main door, and look for sign.

The Depression Support Coalition

Monthly Educational Speakers Select Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM

Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Road, Burnsville The Depression Support Coalition has developed a program of monthly informational talks by leading

healthcare professionals and clergy educated and experienced about depression and related diseases.

Aug. 5: “Coping with Anxiety and Depression: My Story”

Presented by Ben Swanson, Pastor of Edina Covenant Church

Sep. 9: “Teen Depression: A Family Experience”

Presented by Jamie, Daniel & Shaela Moloney

Weekly Support Group Meetings For individuals who suffer from depression, as well as their loved ones and caregivers:

Job Connections Group

Are you in job transition?

Shepherd of the

Valley and Prince

of Peace Luther-

an Church (POP)

collaborate on a

support group

for individuals in job transition and run a

meeting every Tuesday evening from 6:30

to 8:15 pm at POP in the Christian Life

Center Building at 13901 Fairview Drive,

Burnsville, MN 55337.

For scheduled topics please go to:

popmn.org/gethelp/jobs

For questions or comments, please

call the Job Connections Hotline at

(952) 898-9388.

Down Syndrome

Parent Support Group Sunday, August 17 // 5:00 - 7:00 PM

For additional information, contact

Suzy Runkel at (952) 891-5082 or

[email protected].

Compassionate Friends

South of the River Third Tuesdays at 7:00 PM

For all parents who are grieving the loss

of a child of any age from any cause.

Contact Susan Ferber at (651) 683-9236

or [email protected].

Support Groups

Returning in the Fall…

ADHD, Autism, & Other

Disabilities on the Spectrum

DivorceCare

GriefShare

Growing Through Loss


Local Outreach

S OTV has been collecting and

distributing school supplies to

area students for 20 years.

Here are some of the reasons why:

“ We are so grateful for the supplies we get each year. The kids

and moms are so appreciative and excited to get new school

supplies for the year. Often the kids will get their school sup-

plies and want to label or organize their things right away.”

—Dakota Woodlands

“ We love the school supplies that we get from SOTV. We give

away a lot of supplies during the year – especially to kids that

move in during the middle of the year. We’ve been using the

supplies to help some of our “organizationally challenged”

students – who may never come to school with a good

organizational system.”

—Falcon Ridge Middle School

“ Apple Valley has a large number of students who need help

with meals, supplies, and transportation. Your wonderful

church delivered a huge number of school supplies. My guess is

around 200 students benefited in some way from your generous

donation. We can’t thank you enough; what a tremendous

blessing you have been to our schools and community.”

—Apple Valley Middle School

“ Shepherd of the Valley made a big difference for some of the

single moms in the M.O.M.S. Program. Six children received

backpacks filled with the specific supplies according to their

school and grade. Three of those children are in the same family

and it was not possible for mom to provide this need herself.

The children were delighted to get their backpacks and it gave

them an excitement about starting school. The mothers of these

children were both relieved and thankful.”

—M.O.M.S. Program, Dakota County

“ Going back to school can be a stressful time for parents, when

the household cannot afford supplies and other required items

for school. You have helped relieve that stress for many grateful

families. We offer our heartfelt thanks to you for your

partnership and support with this annual drive. We hope we

can continue to provide this support for our families in the

years to come.

— Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota

Almost 100% of the families served by our programs live

below the poverty level so these families value this support.

Without your generous donations of 340 backpacks with

required supplies, we could not provide these needed items

to our families.

Your donations to the SOTV school supply drive make a big

difference in the ability of students to participate and be

successful in school. There is a great need in District 196,

in addition to the other organizations that receive supplies

from SOTV. In 2013, donations were supplemented with

almost $9000, designated from the Shepherd's Sale, to

purchase needed supplies.

Your donations are needed and greatly appreciated. This

year's school supply collection begins in July through mid

August. Please pick up an information sheet/list of needed

supplies, watch for sales and consider donating to this

important ministry.

This outreach would not be possible without volunteers

(families with children welcome) to pack and deliver

supplies. Watch the weekly newsletter for specific dates.

School Supplies Help Students Succeed By Lisa Loher

sotv.org/outreach


Local Outreach

2014 Shepherd’s Sale Wed. June 25 – Fri. June 27

Volunteers Needed:

Mon. June 16 – Fri. June 27

Donations Accepted:

Sun. June 22 – Mon. June 23

This year marks the 21st year that SOTV is holding our annual Sale. As you do your

spring/summer cleaning, please set aside your gently used items for our Sale.

Our Shepherd’s Sale benefits many in our congregation and community. We offer gently

used items to those in our community who could not otherwise afford them, we provide

gifts in kind (sale items are given to those in need), and the money we raise goes to local

children’s charities including Lutheran Social Services Safe Homes, Bundles of Love,

Dakota Woodlands, Lewis House, school supplies, college scholarships and more. We

build our church community with volunteers who generously give their time and talents,

we build friendships and have lots of fun! We also offer a place to recycle and reuse

items, helping us to be more green in our community.

There are many opportunities to help make our sale a success. Consider volunteering to

help in the set-up, sale and clean-up in June. We also need donations of gently used items

and food for the volunteers. See the opposite page for full details, and use the form on

page 16 to sign up for volunteer hours. You may also sign up at www.sotv.org/sale.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hegerman at (952) 985-7329.

Golf and Gears

for the Good Sunday, September 7 — Times TBA

Golfing! Biking! Motorcycling! Join us for

our annual day of fun outdoor activities

followed by a delicious dinner together and

silent auction. Last year, we raised over $4,900

for 360 Communities!

All of this year’s proceeds will benefit S.A.I.L

Ministries (Showing All Individuals Love) at

SOTV. This ministry works to support

individuals and families touched by physical,

developmental and emotional disabilities.

If you are interested in volunteering, or want

to help plan the event, contact Lisa Hegerman

at (952) 985-7329. Watch the weekly News for

the Flock for more information.

Habitat for Humanity/

Thrivent Builds Join our work

crews as we work

to construct new

homes in Cottage

Grove on two

different weeks:

July 7-11 and

August 18-22

The workday is Monday - Friday,

8:30 am - 4:00 pm and we have space

for 15-18 volunteers/day (Must be

16 years and older, and one adult

supervisor for every four youth).

You can work a whole week, or a

few days as your schedule permits.

All skill levels are welcome - no

prior experience is needed.

Questions? Please contact Lisa

Hegerman at (952) 985-7329 or

[email protected].

Red Cross Blood Drive Thursday, July 31

12:00 - 6:00 PM

Wanted: Donors (double red too)

16+yrs. with one hour and a desire

to make a life changing difference in

someone's life. Register online at

www.sotv.org/redcross.

Volunteers we need you too!

Teens/adults, and adult with chil-

dren, needed to work the day of the

blood drive (2 hour shifts) or to call

donors and make appointments.

Serve others, have fun, make a

difference!

Questions? Please contact Lisa Loher

at (651) 683-9127.

sotv.org/outreach


Global Missions

Holy Land Shepherds

Recently, Shepherd

of the Valley was

honored to host

Dr. Mitri Raheb,

an acclaimed

theologian and

peace advocate and

pastor of Christmas

Lutheran Church

(ELCA) in Bethle-

hem, Palestine.

He provided a new

perspective on the

Bible looking

through the lens of a Christian living

in Palestine.

Palestinians have been under occupation

much of the time for tens of centuries

including the time when the Bible was

written. Rev. Raheb shared insights from

his new book about how the Bible speaks

to all of us during difficult times and

brings us hope. He examined how

Christians can see God in the powerless,

the poor, and the oppressed. He

described the programs that are part of

the mission of Christmas Lutheran

Church that seek to bring hope to

Palestine and to help Christianity thrive

in the Holy Land. These programs are

partially supported through the Holy

Land Shepherds at SOTV and Bright

Stars of Bethlehem, a US charity.

A copy of his book, Faith in the Face of

Empire The Bible Through Palestinian Eyes,

is in our library as well as a DVD

highlighting the work of Christmas

Lutheran Church.

Holy Land Shepherds is an SOTV group that

is dedicated to helping and raising awareness

of the plight of Palestinian Christians living

in Bethlehem. For more information, contact

[email protected].

Tanzania Partnership

Prayers, Gifts & Letters for

Our Tanzanian Partners This summer, 27 SOTV members will

travel to Tanzania to visit our partners in

Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes.

You can help fill their suitcases with

tangible gifts:

Solar calculators with scientific

functions (TI 30X or TI 36X)

Tote bags for students

Pens

Toothbrushes

Large size latex gloves for

medical use

Newborn caps, knitted or crocheted

SOTV t-shirts

$20 to purchase one indestructible

soccer ball from oneworldfutbol.com

Paperback Bibles, Revised Standard

Version only. These are used in the

Bible Knowledge course offered at

the secondary school.

Monetary gifts will be used to purchase

gifts in country, including bikes, food for

the orphanage, and medicines for the

dispensary. Please write checks to SOTV

with “TZ trip gifts” in the memo.

Travelers will also carry the prayers of

the congregation. This summer travelers

will invite you to have a photo taken in

the narthex between services, and prayer

cards will be created to distribute in

Tanzania.

Finally, we invite sponsors to send a letter

to their sponsored student. Small, light-

weight gifts can be included if they fit in a

quart size Ziploc bag.

Please bring all gifts to the church by

July 20, 2014 for packing.

Plan Ahead: Safari 2015 Our Tanzanian partner congregations at

Tungamalenga and Makifu invite you to

visit, walk together, and learn how God

is changing lives through our partnership

and its ministries of evangelism,

education, health care and economic

development. Join Pastor Diane Sponheim

and Kirsten Levorson on this journey,

early August 2015.

Informational meetings:

Sunday, May 18 at 11:00 am

Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 pm

Commitment deadline: Sep. 15, 2014

For more information on our Tanzania

Partnership, please contact Kirsten

Levorson at [email protected]

Rehema Visima, holding a prayer card given

by 2010 travelers, promises to pray for

SOTV member Clarice Morrison and for the

partnership between our congregations

The Rev. Dr. Mitri

Raheb, spoke at

SOTV on Sunday,

March 30


Children & Families

C an you remember the last time you

were sitting around a crackling’

campfire roasting a s’more… or watched

a fiery sunset? Camping experiences

are full of unique sights and sounds.

The same is true at Bible Camp.

What is Bible Camp? Bible Camps fuel our self-confidence,

independence, friendships and faith by providing a place set

apart, intentional Christian community and opportunities for

fun and adventure. It is also a great evangelism opportunity

for you. Think about how easy it is to invite someone to come

to camp with you or your child. Try it out sometime! It will be

a great experience for you and the person you reach out to.

For many, going to Bible Camp is a life-changing experience.

Here are 3 reasons why.

1. Bible Camp is a “place apart.”

This is important for all Christians. Just as Jesus sought quiet

places throughout his ministry, we also must seek a place

apart to recharge. Bible Camp offers us a place to step away

from the usual routine and into fellowship with other

believers (and explorers) actively seeking to follow Jesus

more closely. We need extended doses of outdoor life and

healthy, real Christian community.

2. Supported by Authentic, Affirming & Available Adults

At Bible Camp, caring adults, counselors and mentors come

alongside campers. Most of us go to camp talking about

adventure and fun, which we find, but we go home talking

more about our camp counselors—the young adults who –

although they are also still maturing – love campers, love

God, and love articulating their Christian faith through face

to face conversations with campers. Many campers point back

to these positive role models as the ones who gave their life

direction. When encouraged by these role models and peers,

youth are able to more deeply identify with Christian beliefs.

3. Nurtures Faith through Holy Play.

A recent study by the ACA (the largest accreditation agency

for all kinds of camps) showed that Bible Camps are more

successful than any other kind of camp (including sports,

music, and academic) in achieving their goals – namely,

growth in lifelong faith. This means an active faith is

strengthened more effectively by Bible camp than soccer skills

are at soccer camp! Through a wide variety of structured

conversations, games, Bible Studies, interactive worship,

camp outs, crafts and music children are inspired to grow in

faith and friendship together. Bible Camp nurtures the seeds

of faith that God plants in us.

How You Can Help

SOTV partners with Camp Wapo in Amery, WI. This summer

please keep all our campers who are attending WAPO One

Day, Weekend & Weeklong Camps or are serving on WAPO

staff in your prayers. There are also opportunities for people

of all ages to attend this summer and year round (Check out

CampWapo.org for the full list).

Great faith experiences don’t have to be confined to camp

either. Every year, the church looks for adults and confirmed

youth to serve as Crew leaders in our weekly GodZone

(PK-Grade 5) education program , or Guides in weekly

Confirmation (Grades 6-9). For more information, please

e-mail [email protected] (GodZone) or

[email protected] (Confirmation).

Brianna Iverson is the Program Coordinator

for Grades 4-5 at Shepherd of the Valley

Getting Fired Up through Bible Camp By Brianna Iverson

sotv.org/children


Children & Families

GodZone Expanding with New Session Times GodZone is Shepherd of the Valley’s fun, creative and totally interactive Christian

education program! It maximizes an hour of highly relational large and small group

activities to nurture children, age 3* through Grade 5, in faith and community.

It considers a partnership with parents a priority through ongoing communication

and special events.

Age 3* - Grade 3

An expanded worship schedule (see schedule below)

will provide more opportunities for this age group to

worship with their families and/or go to GodZone.

Grade 4 & 5

Learning experiences for this age group are

specifically designed to prepare them for

Confirmation. Aligning these sessions with middle

school confirmation will give them opportunities

to associate with a maturing faith community. The

program will also include resources for intentional

worship with their families on weekends.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mim Campbell, Director for

Children and Family Ministries at (952) 985-7350 or [email protected].

*Age 3 by September 1, 2014

Vacation Bible School For children entering PK* - Grade 5

July 14-17 or 21-24 // 9:30 AM - Noon

Cost: $40 (until 6/1) $45 (after 6/1) PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes 7 days before

each session begins. *Age 4 by Sep. 1, 2014

This year we will celebrate how the

ordinary becomes extraordinary with

God. Children will experience the love

of Jesus as they use imagination and

creativity to build their faith. They will

join in games, crafts, music, Bible activities

and creative opportunities for reaching

out to others. Incoming Grades 4 & 5 will

have a special day camp of their own that

will take them offsite to respond to crea-

tive ways to serve God and God's people.

Youth and Adult Volunteers Needed

Share your time and care for children

through one of the many opportunities to

lead and serve in GodZone! You may

partner with a friend in leading a small

group or assist on a prep team. Check-in

with Mim or scan through the list of roles

on the registration form online, in the

Children, Youth and Family Ministry

office or at the Welcome Center.

“WAPO-Get-Set” Orientation Sunday, June 8, 9:45 AM

No registration necessary

Children and parents are invited to come

and get last minute info about camp, along

with bus or potential ride-share options.

The event will include a camp snack and a

drawing for free camp t-shirts. Families

will share a camp snack and play a "get-to-

know-you" activity along with a quick

scan through daily camp schedules and

lists of “what-to-bring.”

Registration begins

Sunday, June 15 Early Bird: $40

After August 1: $50

Register at

www.sotv.org/GodZone

or pick up a form at

the Welcome Center

or Children, Youth and

Family (CYF) Office.

Age 3* - Grade 3

Saturdays:

4:00 PM

5:30 PM

Starts September 13

Sundays:

8:30 AM

9:45 AM

11:00 AM

Starts September 14

Grades 4 & 5

Wednesdays:

4:30 PM

5:45 PM

Starts September 17

REGISTRATION INFO

= Register with cash or a check at the Welcome Center, CYF office, or online with a credit or debit card

at www.sotv.org/events.


= Childcare is available for this program. You must register ahead of time at www.sotv.org/events.

There is no registration fee

sotv.org/children


http://www.sotv.org


Youth

I was in for a surprise when I took Money and

the Mission of the Church as an elective for

my Masters of Arts study degree at Luther

Seminary. What I thought would be a class on

budgeting and fundraising turned out to be a

revelation in how I tend to my various

relationships.

I learned that “stewardship” is

not just a topic to be discussed

once a year when it’s time for

parishioners to make their

annual pledge to the church.

Stewardship is more than what I

am willing to give away; rather

it is a means of self-awareness

that shapes how we see the

world through a lens of faith.

The church has traditionally

geared stewardship messages

around the concept of tithing,

meaning to set aside 10% of your

income for the church. We know

from Psalm 24 that everything

we have belongs to God: “The

earth is the Lord’s and all that is

in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it

on the seas, and established it on the rivers” (Psalm 24:1-2).

Because God is the owner of everything we have and

everything we are, then that includes how we care for

our relationships.

Thinking of relationships through stewardship is problematic

for people. The consumerist culture we live in socializes

certain desires in us, like excessive competition, most

poignantly observed during adolescence. Young people learn

to buy this and not that in order to fit in, to participate in this

program and not that one for personal advancement, and to

go here and not there to someday become marketable.

The church even falls prey to sending a similar message of

consumerism to its young people by using youth ministry as

a way to entice participants. This is done through the guise of

“join our youth group to be a good Christian kid” to lure in or

fix fringe youth. Rather than teaching practices for grateful

living, the church invites young people to be consumers of

programs. I believe stewardship is the antithesis of

consumerism. This contradiction, however, opened a window

for me: What could youth ministry look like if stewardship

living were its guide?

The families I encounter through youth ministry are stretched

to the max for time. Sacred days and events for church

activities are becoming relics of the past as other activities

compete for precious time. My concern is not that youth

participate in activities outside of church; sports, music and

other clubs are great and honor a young person’s giftedness.

Rolf Jacobson, associate professor of Old Testament at Luther

Seminary writes: “[Church workers] are mistakenly telling

people that what they give to church—both in terms of time

and in terms of treasure—matters to God; but what they give

at home—in terms of time and in terms of treasure—does not

matter to God.”

A starting point for stewardship living is to discuss Sabbath.

How do we prioritize holy rest and renewal for ourselves and

for our families? The church can support families in however

they feel called as a family to steward their time, keeping

them accountable to their respective Sabbath practices.

It is my belief that when the church recognizes how

influential consumerism is for its young people and starts

authentically examining how to live out our Christian

identity, stewardship living offers a meaningful structure

for families and churches to form robust and hopeful young

adults.

Excerpted with permission from: Living Well Together: Stewardship as the

Paradigm for Youth Ministry by Sarah L. Bane. This thesis, submitted to

the faculty of Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN) in 2013, was a requirement

toward Sarah’s Master of Arts degree, and was a finalist for the Annual

CYF Prize. To read the whole thesis, please e-mail [email protected].

Sarah Bane grew up at Shepherd of the

Valley, and joined the youth staff in 2013.

Stewardship as Relationships By Sarah Bane

sotv.org/youth

Student Nick Dolan and adult

guide Sheryl Olson assembling

hospice kits. Confirmation is a

great time for youth to build

relationships with adult

mentors and with each other.


Katie Strand

Director of Youth & Family Ministries

(952) 985-7360 // [email protected]

Erin Swenson-Hatzung, Youth Director

(952) 985-7367

[email protected]

Sarah Bane, Youth Director


Barb Schulz, Administrative Assistant


YOUTH STAFF

Youth

High School Bonfires Youth completing grades 8-12

Wednesdays, June 18 - August 6 (no Bonfire July 2)

8:00 - 10:00 PM in the SOTV backyard

Cost: Free; No registration

Enjoy summer evenings with friends around the

bonfire! Camp songs, faith conversation, “play”

time, and s'mores are all part of the night. In case of

bad weather, festivities will move indoors. Adults,

we need volunteers! Contact: Katie

High School Guitar Jam High School Students (grades 9-12)

Wednesdays: June 18 - August 6, 7:15 - 8:00 PM

Cost: Free; No registration

An open invitation for guitar players and singers of

ALL skill levels to learn, play/sing, and practice

songs. Stick around following the jam session for

the High School Bonfire and use your gifts and

love for music to help lead songs! Contact: Erin

Summer Commissioning Sunday, June 8, 9:45 or 11:00 AM Worship

All Summer Stretch and Summer Service Trip

participants and leaders, attend worship to receive

prayers and blessings for your upcoming

adventures in faith! Arrive early to pick up your

t-shirts from a table in the Narthex. Contact: Sarah

Summer Trip Schedule Pray for us this summer in our travels!

Camp Luther Dell – June 15-20

Disaster Relief: Gifford, IL – June 21-28

Intergenerational BWCA – July 17-21

Heartwood Family Service – July 6-9

Haiti – July 10-18

DOOR Denver – July 12-18

YouthWorks! Rapid City – July 27-August 1

Summer Stretch – Tuesdays in June & July

sotv.org/youth

T he Confirmation program at Shepherd of the Valley is for

students in Grades 6-9, with the Rite of Confirmation

celebrated in the fall of 10th Grade. During each year, students

experience Jesus through trusting relationships with peers and

adults, digging into scripture, and conversations about life and faith.

Confirmation Options for Grades 6-8 (For information on Grade 9, please visit sotv.org/youth)

Each participant registers for either:

Confirmation Gr. 6-8 must also:

Worship regularly and

complete 18 worship notes

Attend 3 Parent Nights

(Wednesday evenings)

Participate in 2 Service

Opportunities (various days)

Registration opens

Sunday, June 15, 2014 Forms available at sotv.org/youth

and the church office.

Weekly Sessions One Weekend Retreat

Wednesdays

Through the School Year

A typical Wednesday session

includes a Large Group teaching

time and a small group reflection,

discussion or activity.

4:30 PM

5:45 PM

7:00 PM

Retreat

+ Monthly Small Group

An overnight (Friday-Sunday)

experience centered in worship,

prayer, scripture, conversation, and

fun powerfully impacts faith and

Christ-centered relationships. Small

groups will decide which day they

will hold their monthly gathering.

August (dates TBD)

September (dates TBD)

A OR B


Barb Schulz upon the death of her father,

Douglas Hansen

Maren Swanson upon the death of her

mother, June Swanson

Elaine Reynolds upon the death of her

brother, Keith Erickson

Nancy Sunder upon the death of her

father, Douglas Hansen

Eric Schulz upon the death of his

grandfather, Douglas Hansen

Amy Schulz upon the death of her


Carrie Erickson upon the death of her


Marne Donnelly upon the death of her


Joyce Angerhofer upon the death of her

husband, David Angerhofer

Jason Schulberg upon the death of his

father, Gerald Schulberg

Carol Saunders upon the death of her

mother, Florence Watson

Curt & Diana Highet upon the death of

their grandmother, Lorraine Highet

Arlen & Jan Wilson upon the death of

their nephew-in-law, Don Rollins

Nancy Bauernfeind upon the death of

her cousin-in-law, Don Rollins

Andrea Mandel upon the death of her

cousin-in-law, Don Rollins

Sarah Allan upon the death of her

brother, Robert Allan

Matt Schlosser upon the death of his

father, LaVerne Schlosser

Andrea Parish upon the death of her

father, William McNeill

Lowell Gunderson upon the death of his

mother, Connie Gunderson

Don Leidner upon the death of his

father-in-law, Pete Johnson

Tabby Casey upon the death of her

father, David C. Sparrow

Joni Fredrickson upon the death of her

mother, Lucille Slininger

Tom Karlson upon the death of his

father, Bob Karlson

Priscilla Flom upon the death of her

husband, Martin Flom

Erin Rowe upon the death of her

father, Martin Flom

Linda Nelson upon the death of her

cousin, Korey Stromstad

Erin Swenson-Hatzung upon the death of

her grandfather, Bob Welter

Gale Thomsen upon the death of her

father, Robert Kamrath

Delaine Jacobs upon the death of her

brother, Jerry Hansen

Jan Murphy upon the death of her

brother, Jim Batten

Brad Zielinski upon the death of his

grandmother, Rosemary Kapuscinski

Kim Dahlen upon the death of her friend,

Dale Lehrke

Ron Lee upon the death of his father,

Ralph Lee

Barb Nelson upon the death of her

friend, Marion Scott

Dan Sidla upon the death of his mother,

Donna Sidla

Susan Schmiel upon the death of her

mother, Dorothy Minerich

Jan Ausland upon the death of her father,

Dick Heidenson

Pat Buss upon the death of her aunt,

Dorothy Tutewohl

Diana Mueller upon the death of her

friend, Cooper McKinnon

Michael Hall upon the death of his

brother, John Hall

Gary Olson upon the death of his aunt

Rick & Cindy Hatch upon the death of

their friend, Harry Junjak

Doug & Joyce Gustafson upon the death

of their friend, Shelley Gifford

Milestones

Our prayers are with these members

who have recently experienced the

death of a loved one.


Milestones

God’s blessings to these families who

celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism

in February, March, and April.

Emma May Baden, daughter

of April and Jonathan Baden

Sally Isabelle Lauer, daughter

of Erin and Eric Lauer

Violet Jane Kalin, daughter

of Beth and Michael Kalin

Michael Thomas Ranney, son

of Lori and Scott Ranney

Braeden Andrew Stone, son

of Katie and Erik Stone

Sawyer Michael Salay, son

of Jessalin and Chad Salay

Landon David Buss, son

of Megan and Julian Buss

Alyssa June Ruhsam, daughter

of Emily and Craig Ruhsam

Allie Lynn Swanson, daughter

of Jennifer and Dwight Swanson

Ethan James Kaul, son

of Sarah and James Kaul

Karina Ann Bentley, daughter

of Ingrid and Erik Bentley

Ella Frances Iverson, daughter

of Kristine and Derek Iverson

Pyper Jase Schulberg, daughter

of Jessica and Jason Schulberg

Hudson Edwin Stewart, son

of Lindsey and Ryan Stewart

Malorie Moon DeRock, daughter

of Amanda and Justin DeRock

Brady Timothy Moynihan, son

of Abbey and Jonathan Moynihan

Madelyn Grace Keene, daughter

of Christine and Sean Keene

Graden Todd Lian, son

of Jocelyn and Patrick Lian

Morgan Renee Ruf, daughter

of Kirsten and Robert Ruf

Liliana Laura Huber, daughter

of Patti and Troy Huber

Isabel Marion Novak, daughter

of Anna and Todd Novak

Jonah Glen Rautio, son

of Andrea Rautio and Brandon Olson

Noah Charles Boekhoff, son

of Deanna and Brian Boekhoff

Olivia Maria Smith, daughter

of Crystal and Donnell Smith

William Christopher Ahlberg, son

of Kirsten and Jason Ahlberg

Colton William Tapper, son

of Melissa and Russell Tapper

Thomas Ryan Sullivan, son

of Carri and Ryan Sullivan

Caleb Blake Pederson, son

of Karin and Blake Pederson

Mason Lee Schabert, son

of Sara and Ryan Schabert

Colin Beau Shultz, son

of Trista and Brett Shultz

Baptism Classes 1st Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00 PM // No class July 3 // Cost: Free

This class is required for families preparing for their first baptism at SOTV. Babies are

welcome in class, as children must be at least 6 weeks old to attend childcare. The

Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated every 2nd weekend of the month in worship and,

as needed, on 3rd weekends as a separate service at 12:30 pm. To schedule a baptism,

please complete the form (available at the Welcome Center or at sotv.org/baptism) and

contact Merilu Narum at (952) 985-7326 at least one month in advance.

Preschool Adds Class This Fall

In the Fall, Celebrating Children Preschool will offer two

“High Five” classes. In addition to our morning class, we

are adding an afternoon class M-Th from 12:30 - 3:00 pm.

High Five is a preschool class with an emphasis on Kinder-

garten readiness for children who will be five by Sep.1, 2014

but are attending Kindergarten in the fall of 2015, as well as

children who will be five by December 31, 2014.

We are still accepting applications for our 3 & 4 year old and 4 & 5 year old classes. Check

us out at www.sotv.org/preschool for full details. Contact Linda Nelson at (952) 985-7370

or e-mail [email protected] if you want to register or set up a tour.

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Baptism


Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road

Apple Valley, MN 55124

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage

PAID Permit 2692

Twin Cities, MN

Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed Fridays (as of May 16)

Worship Hours:

Saturdays, 5:00 PM

Sundays, 8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 AM

www.sotv.org

(952) 432-6351

Serve Others This Summer!

Annual Shepherd’s Sale p.15 June 16-27 (Sale is June 25-27)

Vacation Bible School p.19 July 14-17 or July 21-24

Habitat for Humanity p.14 July 7-11 or August 18-22

19

15 14

life of the flock: summer 2014

Documents