Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church Sunday Update – Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 5, 2024

This Sunday’s image of the life the risen Christ shares with us is the image of friendship. We are called to serve others as Jesus came to serve; but for John’s gospel, the image of servanthood is too hierarchical, too distant, to capture the essence of life with Christ. Friendship captures the love, the joy, the deep mutuality of the relationship into which Christ invites us. The Greeks believed that true friends are willing to die for each other. This is the mutual love of Christian community commanded by Christ and enabled by the Spirit.

Focus Question:  How do I abide in the love of Christ?

See the calendar below for other Zoom links for Shepherd of the Valley activities this week.

Others serving today and scheduled for next week:

Ministry	May 5 (Today)	May 12 (Next Sunday
Presider	Pr. Loren Nielsen	Pr. Denver Bitner
Assisting Min.	Dn. Cheryl	Dn. Cheryl
Accompanist	Richard Popp	Richard Popp
Musician (s)	n/a	tba
Opener	Dennis Scheider	Adolph Wacker
Ushers	Dennis Scheider/ Brian Carpenter	Adolph Wacker/ Steve Larsen
Reader	Sue Francis	LaVon Downing
Altar Guild	Barb Pearson	Carolyn Ciaccio
Council Host	Karen Dolan	Karen Dolan
Altar Flowers	Given by Sue Francis, on what would be hers and Scott’s 52nd Wedding Anniversary.	Given by LaVon Downing in celebration of her birthday.

 

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Jackie Anderson, Elizabeth David, Alka David, Cheri Eagleson, Rose Mandera, Linda Severson, Dyvone Freburg, Jeanne Retzer, Gracie Yoder, Carol Dahl, Diane Engel, Ronald Rice, David Collins, Alysha and JoAnn Johnson. 

We also pray for those who have lost loved ones: the family of Louie Dal Collo, the family of Bill Sanford, the family of Joyce Marcell, the family of Vicki Kundo, the family of Scott Francis, and the family of Bob Pellant. 

And we pray for: Opal, Maria, Helen, Valerie, Rose, Michael, Pat, Emily, Kim, Kathy, Al, Kristen, Greg, Gordy, Colleen, Mark, Jack, Pam, Brooke, Libby, Tony, Esther and John, David, and Donna.

In case of pastoral emergencies:

Please call Deacon Cheryl at 815-236-6657.  

 

Calendar for the Week of May 5

Sun., May 5 – The Sixth Sunday of Easter Worship, 9:30 a.m., Presiding Minister, Pastor Loren Nielsen; Assisting Minister and Preacher, Deacon Cheryl Erdmann 

Sunday School, after worship, for those aged 3 – 5th Grade 

Rock Valley Master Chorale Concert, 3 p.m., at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St., Rockford.

Mon., May 6 – No scheduled activities 

Tues., May 7 – Office hours – 9 a.m. – noon

Worship and Music Committee meeting, via Zoom, 10:30 a.m.

Topic: Worship & Music Committee
Time: First Tuesday 10:30 AM Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81225687594?pwd=MFBvcDZKSFc1cmFQVGR0ZmlEVXlZUT09
Meeting ID: 812 2568 7594
Passcode: 317208

Property Committee meeting,  in person in Shepherd Hall, 7 p.m.

Wed., May 8 – Weekly Bible Study [Texts: Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26; Ps 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19]

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85198710201?pwd=NHdydjZmMXp1UkF0TEJ3clVjYTZlZz09
Meeting ID: 851 9871 0201 Passcode: 714638
Dial via landline or cell phone: Dial 1 312 626 6799; then input the Meeting ID 851 9871 0201, then input the Passcode 714638

Thurs., May 9 – Office hours – 9 a.m. – noon

Fri., May 10- Prayer with Litany, 11:00 a.m., via Zoom

Time: Fridays 11:00 AM Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84731771981?pwd=UU9TNWtMbllNT05tQlhYYnY0ekJZQT09
Meeting ID: 847 3177 1981 Passcode: 180747

Sat., May 11 – No scheduled activities

Sun. May 12 – The Seventh Sunday of Easter Worship, 9:30 a.m., Presiding Minister, Pastor Denver Bitner; Assisting Minister and Preacher, Deacon Cheryl Erdmann 

Sunday School, after worship, for those aged 3 – 5th Grade 

A Look Ahead:

Mon., May 13 – Monday Milers, 9 a.m. Bauman Park, Cherry Valley; Ladies Lunch, 11:30 a.m. place TBA

Tues., May 14 – Office hours – 9 a.m. – noon

Wed., May 15 – Weekly Bible Study [Texts: Acts 2: 1-21; Ps 104:24-34, 35b; Ro 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)]

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85198710201?pwd=NHdydjZmMXp1UkF0TEJ3clVjYTZlZz09
Meeting ID: 851 9871 0201 Passcode: 714638
Dial via landline or cell phone: Dial 1 312 626 6799; then input the Meeting ID 851 9871 0201, then input the Passcode 714638

Thurs., May 16 – Office hours – 9 a.m. – noon

Fri., May 17- Prayer with Litany, 11:00 a.m., via Zoom

Time: Fridays 11:00 AM Central Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84731771981?pwd=UU9TNWtMbllNT05tQlhYYnY0ekJZQT09
Meeting ID: 847 3177 1981 Passcode: 180747

Sat., May 18 – No Scheduled activities

Sun. May 19 – The Day of Pentecost Worship, 9:30 a.m., Presiding Minister, Pastor Loren Nielsen; Assisting Minister and Preacher, Deacon Cheryl Erdmann 

Sunday School, after worship, for those aged 3 – 5th Grade 

Other Announcements:

Today is the last day to order Geraniums to decorate the Sanctuary on the Day of Pentecost, May 19. The cost is $6.00 per plant. If you wish to leave your plant to be planted at Shepherd of the Valley please write “(church)” after your name. Otherwise, you may bring your plants home after the service on May 19.

Rock Valley Master Chorale Concert, TODAY,, at 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St. Rockford. This Concert is for the Benefit of Shelter Care ministries and is titled “Give My Regards to Broadway.”

Mission Opportunity, May 17, 8:45 a.m.: If you wish to leave your plant We have the opportunity to provide breakfast for the people at Carpenter’s Place, with First Lutheran, Rockford. Two additional volunteers are needed to serve. The food has already been arranged. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted to purchase paper products, sugar and creamer and serving ware and may be placed in a pew envelope and put in the offering plate, marked “Carpenter’s Place” or given to Dn. Cheryl or Carolyn. Contact Carolyn Ciaccio at 815-262-9544 if you wish to help serve breakfast. 

The Monday Milers walking group is beginning in May. The group meets at 9 a.m. at Bauman Park in Cherry Valley each Monday beginning May 13 for a nice walk around the Lake at the Park. Gather at the 9/11 memorial, just a little way into the park, to join the group. There is a board in the Gathering Area with pictures from last year! For more information, contact Mary Larsen at 815-394-1349.

The Rockford Interfaith Community Garden is located at the far South End of their Hope Garden. Upcoming events:

• Saturday, May 18 – Planting Day 1, begins at 9 a.m. – Will be transplanting the Starter Plants and planting the seeds for those direct-to-soil plants.

• Saturday, May 25 – Planting Day 2, begins at 9 a.m. – Will be doing any planting not done the previous Saturday, and maintenance like watering and weeding.

Katie’s Cup Coffee Bar, 502 7th St., Rockford: please check out what’s going on at the Cup! https://www.katiescup.com/ 

Invitation, the Katie’s Cup annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, May 22nd at Timber Point. See the Gathering Area Desk for the sign-up forms. 

Exciting news! We at Shepherd of the Valley have the opportunity to partner with St. Mark Lutheran Church, on Mulford, for Vacation Bible School this summer! Deacon Cheryl will be part of this fun week and she would love to have other VBS-loving members to join her! Here is more information: 

“Camp Firelight: A Summer Camp Adventure with God” will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, June 17 – 21, from 9 a.m. – noon. It is open to those entering kindergarten through 6th grade, and registration is open until June 3. So, if you have children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces and other young people who might be interested, please let them know. There is NO CHARGE for children to attend Camp Firelight. For more information and to register, either as a participant or volunteer, please go to this link: St. Mark VBS. 

Deacon Cheryl has also put up an interest sign-up sheet on a poster in the Gathering Area for potential volunteers, if you would rather not register online. Here are the opportunities to volunteer:

Site Leaders (lead an activity site like games, crafts, and science)

Group Leaders (stay with a specific group of children, leading them through the rotation to each activity site.)

Assistants for sites and groups.

Other tasks: Pre-VBS planning, decorating, preparing crafts, preparing lesson sites.

This is an exciting chance to be part of Vacation Bible School again and partnering with a fellow congregation!