It’s that time of year again!! Summer is here and, with school out, that can mean only one thing – CONFIRMATION CAMP!! 2026 Confirmation Camp will be held July 26-30th! This year’s theme is “FOLLOW GOD!” Cap will be held at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons Island, GA. We will start with worship on Sunday 7/26/26 at …
Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. 16 For surely it is not with angels …
Our next Congregational Meeting will be Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30 pm and all members are encouraged to be there to vote. Non-members are encouraged to attend as well to hear all the updates on the ministries of our congregation. The meeting agenda includes important and exciting updates on the mission plant in St. John’s …
The Call Committee met on April 24th and May 19th and is working with Pastor Shelly Schultz, the NALC Call Process Coordinator, to fill the Senior Pastor vacancy at Shepherd of the Woods. We are moving forward and the next step is a Congregational Workshop this summer. We ask for the congregation’s prayers at this …
Happy Summer, everyone! Thank you to those who helped out with the latest youth gathering event this past Sunday. Great planning session for VBS and then a fun off site activity at the Escape Room! See pics below. Great way to celebrate the end of school and beginning of summer! Come Dine with the Vicar! This …
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints …
Vacation Bible School is Just Around the Corner! – Our VBS will be July 13-17, 9:00 am -Noon. If you would like to assist in any way – planning, decorating, teaching, preparing snacks, helping with music or crafts or projects – please indicate your interest on the yellow Connect Card. The theme is Rainforest Falls.
The next WOW Potluck & Meeting will be Monday, June 1st, 6-8 pm. We are having a “Picnic Party”!! You are invited to bring any item for the potluck, if you are able. We will spend some time in fellowship with the meal and a game and then have our business meeting. This focuses on …
Gospel Lesson of the Day: John 7:37-39 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this …
Church Council Nomination Forms – We will have three vacancies on the Church Council beginning in July due to term limits and are seeking nominations. Blank forms are available in the office and can be used to nominate another individual or submit information for yourself. All nominees will be contacted by the Council for next …
Mother’s Day Breakfast was a wonderful fundraiser! Everyone had a great time and the food was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a success. Looks like you raised $600! You all worked very well as a team to make this happen. Thank you again! See pics below! Peterbrooke Chocolate Sale for Mother’s Day. This …
Quilters meet weekly on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm – No experience needed and no sewing skills required – there is a job for everyone!! This group works on both prayer quilts and the quilts for disaster relief efforts. There are also Sewing Kits in the Gathering Area for those who would like work on them …
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, …
For Memorial Day Weekend – If you have photos of friends, relatives or other loved ones who have died in the line of duty and you would like remembered on Memorial Day, please bring a picture to the church office by May 20. We will have a slip for you to provide their name, branch …
May is Military Appreciation Month – we are grateful for the service and sacrifices of all who serve this nation’s military and their families. We will honor all our military, active and retired, and their families with breakfast after each service on Sunday May 24. Our men’s Bible Study group will be hosting this so …
We are very excited to officially share with you that we have a new Vicar joining the staff and he will spend the next year as our intern! His name is Jackson Watts and he will be joining us Monday, June 1st, with his first weekend in worship Sunday being June 6th & 7th!! Jackson …
Dear Disciples of Christ, The focus this week’s posting will be less on how we hear the Word and more on how the Word we hear changes us. I made mention last week that one of the great values of participating in weekly worship is that the seed of the Word was planted in me, watered …
Our new Vicar is joining us June 1st – We are delighted to introduce Jackson Watts, who will be completing a year of internship with us as our newest Vicar. Jackson and his fiancée Addie both graduate from seminary on May 16, get married May 17, and arrive in Jacksonville the last weekend of May!! …
Mother’s Day Breakfast: Sunday, May 10: This is a huge fundraiser for the youth group and a great way to honor our Moms. We will be providing breakfast on Mother’s Day between the services and after the 10:30 worship service. Pancakes, casseroles, etc. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate moms and collect funds for future youth …
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Dear Disciple of Christ, If you’ve been reading the Faithful Friday postings for any length of time, you can understand how concerned I am for the next generation of disciples. I suppose this comes …
Make plans to join us after the 8:30am or the 10:30am service on Sunday, May 10th. We will offer a fabulous breakfast/brunch of pancakes, meats, egg dishes and a yogurt & fruit bar. Free-will donations are appreciated as all donations will support our teens attending the National Youth Gathering and to summer Faith/Confirmation Camp.
Volunteers Needed Saturday, May 9th from 2 to 5pm – Our Shepherd’s Shelves Food Pantry is blessed to be a part of the May 9th Postal Workers’ Food Drive where all residents are asked to leave non-perishable donations at their mailbox. We will receive all donations for an entire zip code!! We are seeking several …
Peterbrooke Chocolates on Sale – Just in time for Mothers’ Day! – Please see your insert in today’s Announcements. Our Youth offer a wonderful variety of items from our local Peterbrooke stores, and this serves as a fundraiser to assist those Youth going to the Continental Youth Gathering and to summer Faith/Confirmation Camp. These items …
Dear Disciples of the Word, Last week we considered what it means to be an assimilated member of the body of Christ. In effect, we can use that as a check on our own discipleship. What are we doing and believing and sharing in our days that will ensure disciples being faithful witnesses in the next generation? Have …
The pantry is open Sundays and Thursdays 10am to 1pm and serves between 25 and 35 people each day on average. To sustain support for volume of food needed, we currently receive resources in several ways: We are grateful for your ongoing support. Food donations can be left on the shelves in the Gathering Area. …
Men of all ages are invited to join us on second and fourth Saturdays at 8:00 as we gather for a meal together and then spend time in study of the Word. This is a casual group and newcomers are welcome. Already attending? Invite a friend! We meet this coming Saturday, April 25.
The 2026 National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 7th. This year’s theme is “Glorify God Among the Nations – Seeking Him In All Generations” and we will have the sanctuary open from 6:00am to 8:00pm to allow people to stop in when they choose, with believers praying continuously all day. We will include Matins …
Dear Partners in Mission, Are you familiar with the word, “assimilation”? Sometimes I wonder if what we use in the church is used very often in the “world.” With people moving in and out of jobs so many times in their lives, I assume there is less of a focus on someone getting assimilated to …
Alpha is a program for people who are seeking more from life, seeking an understanding of who or what God is, or seeking that which is missing in their life. Each week participants gather and share a simple meal, watch a video about an aspect of faith, and then they have conversation about what they …
Giving Thru Shredding – April 18 – 8–11 a.m. – Thrivent Financial – 4887 Belfort Rd Bring your documents to our on-site shredding truck to have them shredded. There is no cost to shred items, but Thrivent is asking for donations of full-sized hygiene items they will be given to a local non-profit. Items such …
Our Spring Tea will be held Saturday, May 2 from 11:00am – 2:00pm – This is a fundraising activity with proceeds going to Youth and Family Ministries. Spring Tea tickets will be available in the Gathering Area beginning next weekend!! Suggested donation is $20 per person. This is a VERY fun and tasty event and …
Dear New Members (OK, those who consider themselves “old” are included as well). I needed to add that additional comment or I think some of you (who have been members of your church for years and years) would think this “Faithful Fridays” posting was not for you. I hope you’d know by this time that I …
This annual fundraiser helps generate money in support of our Peru Mission in Tarma, Peru. All funds, beyond our expenses will help with building maintenance, community outreach services, children’s programs, the Kingdom Kids afterschool program and much more! It is also a great way to get our entire congregation involved – through your donations and …
The next meeting will be held April 6 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. We invite all women to join us. Bring a neighbor or friend, too. We will have a short devotional and potluck dinner. Bring your favorite dish to share. Our speaker will be Diane Rohr with Shepherd’s Shelves. Our Spring Tea will be …
Due to both domestic and foreign travel challenges, the 2026 Peru Mission Trip has been postponed until September 8th through 18th. As we continue to plan, you are invited to prayerfully consider joining us. There will be an optional excursion to Machu Pichu available as well. While in Tarma we will work on a variety …
Dear Servants of the Lord, My reflections during my Sabbatical still impact my understanding of ministry and congregational life. Some of the books spoke more powerfully than others and one such book was, “What Every Pastor Should Know: 101 Indispensable Rules of Thumb for Leading Your Church.” Reflection #24 suggests that “Nine of every ten new members …
Cooking & Serving at Beaches Mission House – Tuesday, March 30, 5:00 pm – If you would like to help cook dinner at Mission House or help serve and clean-up, please join us for either or both! No experience needed and we supply everything. Just wear clothes that can get dirty and close-toed shoes! Please …
Children & Family Celebration – Saturday, April 4 – 11am – 1pm – All families with children are invited for a time of fun, learning, games and an egg hunt. Please RSVP on the yellow Connect Card or contact the church office for more information. We will have food trucks – hot dogs & ice …
Dine with Us- Southern Comforts was a great success! You all served over 100 meals and received over $2100 in donations plus another $1000 in matching funds from Benevolence. This is before expenses but you all still raised a lot of funds for your upcoming trips. Thank you to all of our volunteers- youth and adults! …
Dear Partners in the Gospel, I’d like to begin with a familiar reminder that Paul gave the Corinthians and that is always a good reminder for us. In the famous 12th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about the nature of the body of Christ (with us being members of the body) and …
Join us Sat., March 28 at 10:00am – If you are interested in being connected to VBS this year – the dates are July 13-17 – please join us for this preliminary planning session. Please indicate your interest on the yellow Connect Card or contact the church office with any questions.
We will have our annual yard sale on Saturday, April 18th from 7am to 1pm. Your donations and your purchases support the ongoing mission work being done in Peru. Offering your time and energy during the week of April 13, preparing for and hosting the yard sale, has a direct impact on the mission. Thank you in advance for any …
Easter Preparations will soon be underway!! And Many hands make light work! You are invited to help on Saturday, March 21 from 8:00am to Noon as we continue to make our grounds and our Prayer Garden & Columbarium area beautiful. We know we see a lot of visitors during Holy Week and Easter and we …
Shepherd of the Woods has been in mission in Peru since 2005. We’ve been blessed to make numerous trips over the years to share God’s love and hope and the Good News of Jesus Christ through word and deed. God has been at work through us and countless lives have been touched. We often say …
Join us Sat., March 21 at 6:45 for fun, food and fellowship. This is a great way to meet folks who worship at different times. Bring a snack to share if you want to. All are welcome – invite a friend!
In February the benevolence Committee approved donations to SON – Spiritual Orphans network. This organization has strong ties to NALC and LCMC and serves in Eastern European countries to reignite Christianity in former Soviet and communist countries. Also, to Water Mission, a non-profit committed to bringing clean drinking water to impoverished communities and to Heifer …
Kids and Koinonia Family Ministry Dinner –– Saturday, March 14 – Koinonia is the ancient Biblical Greek word for fellowship. All families with children Pre-K through Grade Six are invited to join us for food, fellowship and a conversation about faith. From 5:30 – 7:30pm. The adults will enjoy a lovely dinner in the Fellowship …
Dear Brother and Sister in Christ, It amazes me how long it took me to realize what the mission was that the Father had given His Son to accomplish in the world. I think I had always focused on His death (for our sins). I may have realized the importance of the resurrection as well, but I …
OneBlood Bloodmobile will be onsite next weekend, Sunday, March 8 – you can pre-register to donate at oneblood.org or just show up. Thank you gifts are offered to all donors – a t-shirt, a $20 e-gift card and a health screening. Each donation is estimated to help three recipients, often saving lives. Please consider donating …
Dear Partners in the Gospel, One of the concerns raised in many of the books I read on Sabbatical, refer to the generational differences. Without going into too much detail, there are groups of people who, based on age, whose perspectives and interaction with the world, the culture and the church differ. Briefly (and the list and …
Thank you to all who provided a donation at last week’s pancake breakfast. We raised more than $1,500 and this will be matched with $1,000 from the Benevolence fund. All funds will be split between the Friends of Madagascar non-profit (that our own Pr. Eric Swensson serves) and the church’s Pastors Discretionary Fund. And a …
All ladies, all ages, are invited to join us for our monthly meeting on Monday, March 2. We begin at 6:00 with a devotion over dinner, followed by our meeting at 6:30. Dinner is always potluck – make anything you like, if you are able. Can’t arrive in time for dinner? Then please come at …
Come Dine with Us– March 7. 3 pm -9 pm. This is a huge fundraiser for the youth group. Please plan on participating. Parents, we will need your help too! Our theme this year is Southern Comforts-Taste of Home! We will have two seatings: one at 5 pm and another at 7 pm. We usually serve 100 people …
Save the Date – Sat, March 14, – an event for children Pre-K through Grade Six and their families. 5:30pm – 7:30 with dinner provided.
This year we will support our local community by items to support Jacksonville Family Promise. This organization helps families facing or experiencing homelessness. We have a goal to collect 500 items and raise $500 during the 5 weeks of Lent. Please use the link below for the list of items most needed with the list of items most needed by these organization. There …
Midweek Lenten Worship Services Wednesdays at Noon – Live-streamed Wednesdays at 6:30pm Each Wednesday through March 25th During Lent, through March 25 we offer Lenten Worship at Noon and at 6:30 with a Fellowship Meal of at 5:30pm. Our focus of reflection this year is answering the question of “Why Lent?”, why do we observe the faith …
Join us in reflection this Lent & Easter season “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus …
Calling all parents and grandparents – please stop by the table in the Gathering Area this weekend to speak with Sherrie Prendergast who is our Children’s Ministry Coordinator. She has ordered some wonderful materials to share with your children during the season of Lent. This is not always an easy topic to explain to children …
Read more “Families with Children – Lenten Educational Resources”
Monthly Game Night is Saturday, February 21st at 6:45 pm.– Come out for an evening of fun, food and friends, There are board games, card games, and more. Bring a snack or dish to share if you want. If not, we always have plenty!! All ages are welcome, but we do not offer childcare or …
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – February 18 – and lasts the forty days (not counting Sundays) until Easter. It has traditionally been a solemn time of fasting, meditation and sacrifice. To use up supplies, that would otherwise go bad during these 40 days, a Feast was created and celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday – Some …
Knitters, Crocheters and those who want to learn – meet each Wednesday at 1:30. This group is now making baby blankets, sweaters & hats, and full-sized blankets to support Hubbard House, a non-profit providing shelter and other support services for victims of domestic violence and their children. We will also be working to provide items …
Read more “Knitters, Crocheters, And Those Who Want To Learn”
Save the Date – It’s almost time for Come Dine with Us!! – Each year our Youth Life group hosts a fantabulous dinner as a fundraiser for camps and mission trips. This year, it will be held on Sat., March 7, with seatings at 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Our theme is “Southern Comforts – Home Cookin’ …
Lent is Drawing Near – Join us for Ash Wednesday Worship – We offer traditional Ash Wednesday worship with the imposition of ashes for those who desire. This solemn service begins our season of Lent – forty days of reflection, prayer, repentance, service and meditation of God’s gifts. On February 18th we will hold two …
Bowling- February 8, Plan for a fun afternoon this Sunday! The group of 13 youth and adults are gathering after the 10:30 worship for lunch in the annex and then off to bowling at 1:30pm. You will go to Jax Lanes on Beach Blvd for an afternoon of fun! Parent pickup is at 4:15 at the bowling alley. Cost for the …
The Men’s Bible Study group is hosting our Shrove Sunday Pancake Breakfasts on Sunday, February 15 after each of the worship services. The men will be doing all of the prep, cooking, serving and clean-up!! All men, even if you don’t attend the Saturday Bible Study group, are invited to roll up their sleeves and …
The Rev. Jeff Morlock, Director of Vocational Discernment at the North American Lutheran Seminary, will be here on Saturday, Feb 7th, and Sunday, Feb 8th, at each service. He is visiting to promote the mission and work of the NALS and to speak about church vocations in general, and to answer any of our questions …
Join us on February 8th for the SouperBowl of Caring! This is a weekend set aside for the nation’s Youth to collect loose change after worship services. 100% of funds stay local to support hunger initiatives right in our community. You are encouraged to bring in your loose change and place in the soup pots …
Shepherd’s Shelves Celebration Weekend – February 7th & 8th – It seems like just a few weeks ago that we launched our community food pantry, but it has been almost five months!! We are now seeing 30+ visitors each time we open which means we are assisting 300+ individuals each week when you consider other …
January has been Disaster Relief Awareness Month– All month, we worked towards our goal of providing the NALC Disaster Relief team with items for their warehouses. Today we will be praying over and blessing the beautiful handmade quilts, baby blankets, baby care items, Bibles, and full-size blankets that will be going to a regional Disaster …
Everyone had a great time at Rock the Universe this past weekend. Judging from the pictures, it was a great event. Thank you to our chaperones and youth leaders for their help making this a truly special weekend. See pics below! Mark your calendar for several upcoming youth events: