Vision
Welcome home! Gathered. Loved. Sent.

Mission
In response to God’s love, we worship, learn, care, and connect with each other and the world around us.

Values
Centered in the love of God in Jesus, we are:

• Gathered. All are invited, welcomed, and affirmed, inclusive of age, ethnicity, race, ability, faith background, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
• Loved. We want SOTV to feel like home – a safe place where people are accepted, known, and treated with respect and dignity – and also challenged to grow.
• Sent. We nurture this growing faith, equipping individuals and the church body to meet needs, change lives, and restore hope in our homes, congregation, and communities.

Welcome to Shepherd of the Valley! We’re glad you’re here, and hope you feel right at home. We’ve answered some common questions below, and you can also contact a staff member with other questions. We look forward to getting to know you!

What is worship like? Click here to read about our traditional and contemporary services, plus view a video about each service. Communion is regularly offered in worship, and all are invited to this sacred meal. We welcome children in worship. We provide a safe, warm, and welcoming nursery for children during worship and certain events.

What about kids? There are many opportunities for faith formation and fun for children and youth! From age three through high school, we have learning experiences that include weekday preschool, GodZone and Zone 45 (our Christian education program for children age 3 – grade 5), confirmation for grades 6 – 9, and high school opportunities. SOTV offers many fellowship and service opportunities for families and children in the church and the community.

How do I get involved? We have a variety of opportunities to grow in faith together! Learn with others through Bible studies and faith-based classes on topics such as finance, retirement, marriage, and more. Connect with others in Christian community. We have several groups based on age or interests. Serve others at church, in the community, and globally. There are many opportunities based on your skills, interests, and time available. Care for others, or receive care throughout life’s ups and downs. There are many support groups that meet here or nearby, and we offer prayer, visits, and meals during times of need.

Do I have to be a member? Membership isn’t required to worship or be involved in the wonderful programs we offer. Membership is only required to be married here or to serve on Church Council. Yet, many people feel their faith deepen and their sense of community grow as they commit to intentionally living out their relationship with Jesus in community with others. You can learn more by attending a new member class and seeing if membership is for you.

We offer learning, connection, and service opportunities for families and children at all ages and stages throughout the year at SOTV! During the school year (September – May), join us for weekly learning options from age 3 through grade 9, and monthly opportunities for birth – 3 and high school. Summer (June – August) is filled with camps, vacation bible school, summer stretch, and trips. Learn more about ministries from birth to high school!

We were founded in 1981, and belong to the Saint Paul Area Synod (SPAS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Centered in Christ Jesus, we welcome you to the Saint Paul Area Synod (ELCA), a network of congregations and other ministries. We are committed to the community around us and around the world. We support, empower, and advocate for all, believing God’s love embraces all persons equally, no matter their age, ethnicity, race, abilities, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, citizen status, political leanings, religious expression, or any other boundaries the world uses to decide who is worthy and who is not. We are striving to be open and inclusive.  We commit to loving YOU and caring for YOU by showing YOU the love of Jesus that we have been taught through the Great Commandment to love God wholeheartedly and to love one’s neighbor as oneself.

Read about SOTV’s Equity Advisory Task Force that supports our desire to be a diverse and equitable congregation by examining leadership, staffing, and programmatic structures and practices, identifying issues that need attention or opportunities for enhancement. Read SOTV’s constitution.

Our Church Council is our governing body, with many Leadership Teams utilizing their passions and expertise to lead our congregation. Talented pastors and staff guide and support a variety of ministries.

Sometimes God reaches us when we least expect it! You’re invited to see how some people at Shepherd of the Valley have experienced God or felt supported in their faith. Do you have a story? Contact us!

We strive for excellent ministries in our four core areas. Click to learn more about each. Find details about all our ministries here.

 Worship: We gather around God’s word and sacraments, offering our thanks and praise.

 Learn: We grow in faith using our heads, hearts, and hands.

 Connect: We join together in fellowship, service, and outreach.

 Care: We support, pray for, and nurture one another.

Shepherd of the Valley strives to be a church where all are welcomed and invited, inclusive of age, ethnicity, race, ability, faith background, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Becoming an RIC partner congregation signaled to the community that our congregation has meaningfully thought about our welcome and want to extend that welcome to all. Learn more. Questions? Please contact Pastor Rick.

Call Committee Update

The call committee meets weekly preparing for the selection process of our new senior pastor.

Interim Senior Pastor, Rob Carlson, has been working with the team focusing on a study of critical journey, life cycles of congregations, and prayer. These key areas are assisting the group to build a foundation on which they will draw from when the time comes to review and interview candidates.

Together with the executive leadership team, the call committee is completing the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) for Shepherd of the Valley. This document is used in partnership with the Saint Paul Area Synod to provide information about our church, community, and the congregation to potential candidates. Upon Council approval, the MSP will be available to the congregation. Watch for more information online and the newsletter.

Questions may be sent to call@sotv.org Please continue to hold the SOTV Call Committee in your prayers.

Call Committee members: Dar Spiegelberg – Chair, Mary Meyer – Secretary, Adam Airhart-Swanson, Seb Gillen, Anne Hemmerlin, Michael Kelly, Paul Moyer – Council VP, Chanda Ramond, Bill Wilken, Jennifer Davidson – Staff liaison.

Realm is our cloud-based database and ministry tool that informs our staff and connects our congregation. Learn more about Realm, request an invitation to join, log in, get the app, or get help.

Are you looking for meaningful and rewarding employment? Join our staff to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our community.

See our latest monthly newsletter or pick one up at church. View past sermons, access our livestream, read our blog, and watch our videos. See our family resources, or browse the online catalog of our in-house library. Learn about the Bible and scripture from free online resources. See our past Council minutes. You can even connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Do you or someone you know need help and want pastoral care, needs to speak with a faith community nurse, be on our prayer list, or want contacts for urgent assistance?