Enriched by Faith

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in the Cottage Meetings last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Everyone attending had a wonderful time and we all were enriched by the faith stories of those people who gave their individual stories.

On such story was given Friday evening by Rod Stoltenburg who talked about looking for a church in Fargo, North Dakota when it looked as if he and Betty were going to be moving there. Search as he might, going back several times to various churches; he was unable to find a church home like Shepherd of the Valley. Not only are we happy Rod and Betty will be remaining at SOV it was very interesting to hear the story of his search and what simply did not feel right in North Dakota.

Terry Wageman provided a very emotional letter as you would expect from our Japan correspondent, however I will not steal Cal and Caryl's thunder as I am sure they will share with you all Terry's comments in the near future. Terry's mother had the most interesting story about Terry and his big sister Tammy feeling that Terry needed a flashlight to find his way back to church when he was in the latter years of high school and college however we are delighted that Terry found his way back to church and is an active member of SOV regardless of where he lives.

There were a number of other touching faith stories, most from people you would never expect to be sharing such personal thoughts. What a wonderful experience. If you missed any of the three Cottage meetings you missed the experience of a lifetime.

Families attending the Cottage Meetings are being asked to return their Response Cards by Sunday, May 18th. If anyone is unable to do so please make sure the cards are received no later than our Celebration Sunday, June 1st 2008.

Even though it was only last Thursday (8th), Friday (9th) and Saturday (10th) that we held the Cottage meetings, as of Sunday the 11th we have received commitments in excess of $50,000.

The power of prayer and guidance of God is the driving force behind the "Building on CHRIST our Foundation" campaign.

Blessings,

Bob McFall & Tammy McDonald
Co-Directors, Capital Funds Campaign

Westview High School Competition

Hello everyone - for those of you who were at SOV's variety show this year, you had the pleasure of hearing the Y-Chromatones - an acapella group with our own Jameson Tabor as member. They will be involved in a competition this coming Friday night, May 16th at 7:30 pm at Westview High School in the auditorium. The competition starts at 7:30 pm with a suggested donation of $5. Everyone is invited to this fun event!

Nancy, church secretary

Questions about Capital Funds Campaign?

As you prayerfully consider the three-year capital funds campaign for the building of Phase I, our new sanctuary and remodeling of our current building to better serve our youth and needs of our congregation, and respond with your gifts to support the "Building on Christ our Foundation" appeal, know that we are so proud of all of your undying support of Shepherd of the Valley. You are a mission minded people and together we will wear out this building with caring and serving ministry to young and old of God's world.

At the same time we recognize that you may have questions which may affect how you are evaluating your gift to the Capital Funds campaign for the new addition to our existing space at SOV and the remodeling of our existing space for better utilization.

For that reason we are asking that you send your questions either to Tammy McDonald, Tom Barnes, or to me, Bob McFall.

As soon as possible the Executive Team, Council and the Building Committee will answer each question and each question will be answered as honestly and straight forward as possible by email and also printed in the Sunday bulletin.

Please submit ALL of your questions to one of the above email addresses. We want everyone's questions answered.

Blessings! See you Sunday.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Bob McFall & Tammy McDonald
Co-Directors Capital Campaign Fund

Top Ten Reasons

Top Ten Reasons We Should Support - "Building on CHRIST our Foundation"

10. It forces us to look to the Lord for guidance because it's too big for us to do on our own
9. It provides us an opportunity to leave a legacy for the next generation
8. This is the Lord's house
7. Accomplishing such a major project will be a unifying event for our congregation
6. We will all be proud of our sanctuary and newly renovated church and will be much more likely to invite our friends
5. We only have one time to make a good first impression and first time visitors will want to return
4. As we ponder, pray and "stew" about what we want to give to the appeal we will grow spiritually. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is your heart will follow."
3. Most of our giving to the church comes out of our income. A building fund appeal forces us to remember that everything that we have is a gift from God as we contemplate giving from our total resources. Yes, even our stocks, bonds, real estate, business assets, etc. -- ALL are from the Lord.
2. Over time we will give even more money to give to benevolence and for special needs outside of our church. Building fund programs tend to help people grow in their giving and, even when the building is paid, they often give more to their church on an ongoing basis. By giving more we trust God more and that lesson stays with people for the rest of their lives.
1. The church is where the major events of life are recognized and blessed. It is at church that we celebrate baptisms, where we teach our children about God, where we see young people affirming their faith, where those in love are married, where we hear the Word of God proclaimed, where we confess our sinfulness and accept God's forgiveness, where we are renewed through the sacrament of Holy Communion, where we call when a loved one needs pastoral care, where we have many of our closest friends, where we can come for fellowship and fun, where we can pray, laugh, shed tears, study, reflect and put our entire lives in perspective. Think for a moment -- "What would my life be without this church?"

In these past 35 years we have together gathered wonderful people of all ages in ministries of care and service in the congregation and community. We have grown in mission. We have been blessed with tremendous examples of 'faith active in love'. We are challenging ourselves to add Phase I of our building addition plan so that we can better witness, serve and grow for the future.

Our Phase I at Shepherd of the Valley is a strategic plan to better serve the growing neighborhoods surrounding SOV, and to bringing the "un-churched" to hear the word of God.

We have witnessed many changes during our years together. We have matured in our prayerful care for one another and strangers. We have said 'goodbye' to dear friends in Christ. We continue to work at growing our youth programs and spreading the word of God.

Since change is as real as the air we breathe, how we embrace and manage change is so important. We don't change just for change's sake; but we do change in order to update, adjust, and connect to the life and needs of people around us. We, the congregation of SOV voted to stay and grow our ministry where we are currently located on Cornell Road, we have adjusted our worship hours at various times through out the years to be flexible to the needs of our congregation, we have changed music and worship styles, we have worked diligently in order not to incur a large mortgage, we have changed habits for new ones and we save the best and adapt and grow! Why?

Because we have a changeless God in a changing world. The message that we are saved by grace through faith is the Gospel truth. How we live and share it requires a new mind and fresh heart. This is what we so admire about you at Shepherd of the Valley!

We follow God's heart for lost, hurting, lonely, hungry, sick, and searching people. As we follow the Lord's heart for the world, we take risks, we dare to do ministry in new areas, we find ways to tell and live the old, old story in new, new ways. In following the Spirit's heart for the world we are blessed with a unity of purpose. We are a united church and this will continue to happen as we follow God's heart. The buildings are just that – buildings. The church is the people who are redeemed and gathered to live out God's heart.

So as you prayerfully consider your upcoming three-year capital funds campaign for the building of Phase I, our new sanctuary and remodeling of our current building to better serve our youth and needs of our congregation, and respond with your gifts to support the "Building on Christ our Foundation" appeal, know that we are so proud of all of your undying support of Shepherd of the Valley. You are a mission minded people and together we will wear out this building with caring and serving ministry to young and old of God's world.

May God Bless you!
Bob R. McFall & Tammy McDonald
Executive Directors: "Building on Christ our Foundation"

Block Party

As part of "Building on Christ our Foundation", there will be a Block Party here at SOV on Sunday, May 18th—4:00 to 6:00pm. Kids of all ages coming together to have fun, share good food, and get together to have a fun time building with blocks; celebrate existing membership, celebrate new members, and honor and celebrate our youth who are becoming adult members of the congregation by their confirmation of faith. Please bring a salad or hot dish to share. SOV will provide beverages and the makings to build your own ice cream sundaes.

Pastor's weekly message

Dear Friends in Christ,

This coming Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, a name derived from the Jewish festival of Pentecost, observed fifty days after Passover. On the fiftieth day of Easter, we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. In the reading from Acts (Acts 2:1-21), images of wind and fire describe the Spirit poured out on disciples of all nations. In John's gospel the risen Christ breathes the Spirit on his followers on Easter evening (John 20:19-23). In the one Spirit we were baptized into one body, and at the Lord's table the spirit unites us for witness in the world.

Prayer of the Day

O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Please read on for announcements and prayer requests!

Announcements:

This week we have three opportunities for you to attend a cottage meeting, where members of SOV will share their personal faith and their hopes and dreams for this congregation you all love. There will be a gathering here at the church on Saturday from 10 to 11:30 am; a continental breakfast will be provided. If you are not able to attend this gathering, please contact Caryl Husk or Cal Sugiyama to sign up for the Thursday or Friday evening meetings.

Come celebrate at the Mothers and Others Tea this coming Saturday, hosted by SOV and KOK, from 2-3:30 pm. There will be light tea, readings, crafting, and fellowship—fun for all ages!

A very happy Mother's Day to all the women of Shepherd of the Valley! You are all "mothers" to us!

On Sunday, May 18, we celebrate Trinity Sunday and all the ways our God relates to us. At the 11 o'clock service, we will also celebrate the rite of confirmation for four of our students. Please join us as Nidhi George, Joseph Gilbertson, Sara Hurd, and Aaron Sugiyama affirm their baptisms and enter into adult membership in the church.

Put on your hard hat and get ready to build up the church! We're having a block party here at SOV on Sunday, May 18, from 4-6 pm. We'll have fun building with Legos, blocks, and cake (with frosting as mortar, of course!), and we'll share a good, old-fashioned potluck supper.

Mark your calendars: On Memorial Day weekend, we will hold only one worship service on Sunday, May 25. It will be at 10:30 am. Beginning June 1, we will move to our summer worship schedule: 8:30 and 10:30 am.

Sunday, June 1st is Celebration Sunday, the day we conclude the active phase of SOV's Capital Campaign. It is also the day when we celebrate those who are graduating. Please let Wendy Roeder know if you or someone you know is graduating.

SOV's annual congregational meeting will be held June 8th, immediately following the second service. We will be celebrating SOV's ministries and electing new officers for the coming church year. Child care and food will be provided.

Please hold these sisters and brothers in prayer:

Prayers of thanksgiving for the 15 new members SOV received last Sunday!;

Darlene Anderson—Prayers for healing for her knee after a recent fall;

Baby Jacob (in foster care with the Adamos)—Prayers for healing;

Jacob Tabor—Prayers for healing and strength to persevere with his restricted diet;

Ron Farnsworth, recently diagnosed with prostate cancer—Prayers for healing and strength and for good treatment options;

Rachel Flath, undergoing treatment for cancer—Prayers for healing and strength;

Sharon Graalum, undergoing cancer treatment—Prayers for healing and strength;

Jennie Graham—Prayers for healing and strength as she deals with ongoing health issues;

Maurice Labrousse, Julie Zetterberg's father—Prayers for healing so that he can return home from rehab soon;

Les Peterson—Prayers for healing and strength as he deals with ongoing health issues;

The Rasmussen family—Prayers for God's peace and comfort, as they mourn the death of Dave's grandmother, Ila Fenwick;.

…Prayers for peace and healing for members and friends of SOV who are dealing with the pain of divorce.

…Prayers for strength and guidance for all who are caring for loved ones.

Mother's & Other's Tea

Hello ladies! The Mothers' and Others' Tea, sponsored by the SOV Sunday School and Kids of the Kingdom, is:

SATURDAY, MAY 10TH AT 2:00 TO 3:30 PM

ALL ARE WELCOME!

THERE WILL BE A LIGHT TEA, READINGS, CRAFTING AND FELLOWSHIP.

To help the "tea folks" prepare for refreshments and crafts, please RSVP to Linda Rasmussen.