Happy New Year! 2019 has arrived. With the new year comes an exciting new opportunity for ministry at Shepherd of the Valley. A human care committee has been formed to guide our congregation in a process to support people in need locally and throughout the world. Members of the committee include Lonnie and Korrine Lang, Micheal Henke, along with Leon and Jerry Lippert. They will work with the board of stewardship in presenting opportunities to support various ministries.
The 2019 Annual budget includes one percent of offerings to be directed to human care efforts. There will be a special emphasis each quarter of the year that will be highlighted and supported. We will support “Christ’s Care For Children” in Kenya during the first quarter of 2019. You are urged to give offerings to these special efforts during the quarter that will enhance the blessing of our gift to “Christ’s Care For Children.” This mission effort is one of the projects that was adopted at the 2018 ND District LC-MS convention for this triennium.
Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya is a child sponsorship program, initiated by the LCMS Office of International Mission. It is directly linked to the Project 24 sites in Kenya. It is through care and compassion for these children that they receive safe housing, food, education and spiritual care. Each site is strategically located near an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya church and school so that the children can receive academic as well as spiritual teaching and care.
Currently the five operational sites have 165 children who are in need of sponsorship. This is purely a child sponsorship program. Each child will have his or her own digital packet that will contain a one-page description of the project/site where the child comes from, information about the child along with his/her picture and then any continuous updates. The child’s digital packet will be sent to the donor when the match is confirmed. The child’s reports, which will include their welfare, spiritual engagement, school grades and performance, will be made available quarterly. The program welcomes donors to visit their sponsor child and the place where they stay in the months of February, June or October of every year.
DOXOLOGY ENCORE
Pastor Wolfgram will be joined by Lonnie and Corrine Lang as they attend the second phase of the Doxology series of weekends to support pastors and enhance ministry. The conference will take place in Racine, WI January 18-20. The following bullet points highlight the desired outcomes for the conference.
-Pastors and lay leaders will review servanthood models and strategies that equip them to respond to very real parish challenges.
-Engaging modules and presentations will renew and assist parish leaders to serve their congregation with new appreciation for and zeal to support their pastor’s ministry.
-Facilitated conversations with other pastors and lay leaders will invite mutual encouragement, support, inquiry and lively sharing.
JANUARY HANGOUT
Young adults in their 20’s and 30’s will gather on January 15 at 6:00 PM at Shepherd of the Valley. Bring a dish to pass and share as this will be a pot-bless meal followed by a brief Bible study and board games. Bring a friend or two along with your favorite board game.
VOTERS MEETING SET
The next voters meeting will take place on January 27 during the education hour. In addition to hearing update on the activity of various church boards, we will also consider application for a vicar for 2019-2020.
ND DISTRICT ANNUAL MEN’S RETREAT will take place at Shepherd’s Hill at the Crossroads January 25-26, 2019. The presenter will be Rev. Daniel Suelzle, Wittenberg Lutheran Chapel at UND, Grand Forks. The focus of his presentation will be: “Misquoted: Things the Bible Doesn’t Say”. Please sign up today to show your commitment to attend the retreat!
Women Walking With The Lord will meet at 9:30 am on Saturday, January 12, at Shepherd of the Valley.
The next Men’s Network gathering will take place on Saturday, January 19, 9-11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church. Plan to attend.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of God.” Galatians 1:10
Looking back on 2018, I can’t help but be thankful for all the ways that God has blessed us at Shepherd of the Valley and for the ways you have stepped forward to serve God. We had the benefit of two wonderful vicars and their families – Vicar Kyler the first half of the year and Vicar Woodside currently. The Gospel is joyously proclaimed at our church and is reaching many others via Facebook and on television. We celebrated 40 years of ministry at Shepherd of the Valley, with Pastor Wolfgram serving our congregation for half of that time. We are also on solid financial footing with members giving generously in tithes and offerings enough to cover our ongoing expenses while also stepping forward with additional gifts in order to pay off our mortgage.
Looking forward to 2019, I’m excited to see what God has in store for us. This could include the continuation of God using SOTV and Bethel in the development of pastors through the vicarage process. The Voters’ Assembly will meet on January 27th and formally decide to request a vicar for the 2019-2020 school year.
The Church Council has approved a storage plan to make the best use of our limited space. This will include the identification of any materials and supplies that are no longer needed and alerting the congregation prior to discarding any large items. As mentioned earlier, the Facility Planning Committee is working with an architect to develop draft plans for a possible expansion. The congregation will have opportunities to examine any plans that are developed prior to efforts to launch a capital campaign.
The recently formed Human Care subcommittee will be used to care for others beyond the walls of SOTV. This will build upon our existing efforts to help those in our community such as the Free Pantry, providing for students in transition at Wachter Middle School, and the People Matter Carnival connecting people in need with those that can help.
God’s richest blessings to all of you as we begin a new year!
Your Brother in Christ,
Justin Dever
NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
If you would like to receive the newsletter and calendar electronically, please email your request to shepvalley@gmail.com. When you receive the newsletter and calendar via email, you are helping to cut cost for the church by not using the paper or the prints on the printer. Thank you for your consideration!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
I would like to thank everyone for entrusting myself and the Sunday School Leader Team to instruct your children in God’s Word and the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are enjoying our time and have had such a great turn out.
We have 36 students registered for Sunday School.
- 8 = Pre-K
- 9 = K / 1
- 8 = 2 / 3
- 11 = 4 / 5
Due to space issues and also to allow our students to sing/learn music more for their age groups we have broken up the hour as you see below.
- Opening (Attendance) 9:30-9:35
- Grades PreK/K-1 Lesson 9:35-9:55
- Grades 2-3/4-5 Music
- Transition 9:55-10:00
- Grades PreK/K-1 Music 10:00-10:20
- Grades 2-3/4-5 Lesson
- Transition 10:20-10:25
- Closing (Birthdays and Prayer) 10:25-10:30
We are averaging 23 students per week and have raised nearly $150 in offering and filled the church pantry 6 times, but across the city a total of 8 times. We donate non-perishable goods for the food pantry as well hygiene items; toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and such.
We have an Acts of Kindness wall where we ask students to let us know of what they have done to help a fellow student, friend, sibling, parents or any acts of kindness. These acts are posted on a notecard to a wall in the Sunday School area. In the first semester we have had 65 Acts of Kindness. I encourage you to take time and read these acts of kindness.
I would like to also thank my Sunday School Leader Team, who work very hard to make our Sunday School what it is today.
- Michelle Dever = Michelle really is co-director of the Sunday School
- Samantha Henke = Music Director
- Becky Gildea = Pre-K teacher
- Logan Peterson = K/1 grades teacher
- Sara Vukelich = 2/3 grades teacher
- Uriah Burchinal = 4/5 grades teacher
- Kristi Hintz = Creative Decorator ? Take time to see what she and Michelle have done with the Sunday School area.
During the Sunday School program, I neglected to thank my wife Donna, she fills in for me and for a number of our teachers when we are not available.
We had 6 students receive Attendance Certificates this semester.
o Cameron Dever
o Reese Dever
o Keityn Hanson
o Mackenzie Gildea
o Madison Gildea
o Audrey Harling
God’s Blessings in the New Year,
Sincerely Tony
MAIN STREET LIVING NORTH TELEVISION JANUARY SCHEDULE
January 6: Rev. Lester Wolfgram, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND, presents the message: “A Light For Our Dark World” based on Matthew 2:1-12. Today’s This Is The Life program is “A Friend In Deed.”
January 13: Rev. Kevin Zellers, Messiah Lutheran Church, Mandan, ND, presents the message: “Theophany of God” based on Luke 3:15-22. Today’s This Is The Life program is “God of Love.”
January 20: Rev. Brandon Woodruff, Peace Lutheran Church, Garrison, ND and St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Max, ND, delivers today’s message: “Signs” based on John 2: 1-11. Today’s This Is The Life program is “Adrift.”
January 27: Rev. Thomas Marcis, Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND, presents the message: “Jesus’ Opening Address” based on Luke 4:21. Today’s This Is The Life program is “The Hand of God.”
“MAIN STREET LIVING” is a locally produced TV program that includes a 30-minute worship service led by participating pastors of the North Dakota and Minnesota North Districts of our LCMS, along with a 30 minute Lutheran Hour program (normally “This Is The Life,” along with occasional church-season specials). Programs are broadcast at 10:00am Central KBMY Xtra Channel 17.3 (channel 594) Bismarck and archived on www.mainstreetliving.com.
| BAPTISMAL BIRTHDAYS
Donna Aukland 1-11 Doris Weidrich 1-12 Leona Mittag 1-13 Dwight Cook 1-19 Patrick Reiman 1-20 Kristina Hausauer 1-29
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| Jan. Elders
Dec 1-15 Craig Helm Dec 16-31 Dick Dever
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| JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Lucas Borneman Kristina Hausauer Jacob Fetzer Ayden Lewellyn June Hintz Sherrald Kostek Jackson Arroyo Steph Issak Janice Fuhrman Don Gienger Shaylee Issak Sara Kapp Corinne Aukland Luella Richter Alice Ganskop Corrin Fahrni Matthew Kalonick Angie Voegele Cindy Bittner Joshua Lewis Joshua Lawyer Larry Walker Nathan Davis Kallen Hintz Keaton Davis Carter Davis
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| JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES
Joel & Brittni Williams 1-05-12 Dylan & Kelsey Lewellyn 1-28-14
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| THE PURPOSE OF SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH IS TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL NURTURE THROUGH WORD AND SACRAMENT, LIVE THE FAITH AND REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. |