Youth Life News

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Happy Easter season everyone! It was wonderful seeing everyone in worship.  Thank you to our youth who volunteered to help with worship this weekend and during Holy Week. Any youth interested in helping with worship as acolytes, ushers, assisting ministers, etc, please let me know and we can …

Youth Life News

The season of Lent is comes to an end as we observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services tonight and tomorrow. Sunday is Easter Sunday! Sunday services are at 6:30am, 8:30am and 10:30am. Thank you to those who have volunteered to assist with worship. Blessings on your worship during this Holy Week. See you Sunday!  Our …

Youth Life News

The season of Lent is coming to an end with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services next week. Next Sunday is Easter Sunday! There are many worship opportunities ahead, please prayerfully consider attending or even serving at one or more services. Thank you to those who have already volunteered! Our next youth fundraiser is …

Adventure Camp Retreat

Adventure Camp Retreat is coming this summer, June 30-July 4. This amazing fun week takes place in Orlando at the Grand Beach Resort on Lake Bryan and is open to youth currently in the Youth Life group. This event is full of adventure for sure: kayaking, paddle boarding, boating. glow in the dark laser tag, miniature golf along …

Vacation Bible School 2024

Take kids deep into an amazing undersea adventure where they’ll experience the ever-flowing, never-ending love of God. At Scuba VBS, kids will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is really all about! Join us June 17 – 21st from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm! Registration opens March 30th. For additional details, …

Come Dine With Us – Australian Outback

If you have not already made a reservation, please reply to this message and let us know if you prefer the 5:00pm or the 7:00pm seating and how many people are in your party.  Dinner includes an appetizer, salad, entree, vegetables and dessert. Water, tea and coffee, plus a mocktail will also be served. Please also indicate …

Come And Dine With Us

Our annual Come Dine with Us dinner is a much-loved event with great food, great service and benefitting a great cause – supporting our Youth Life group and their summer camp programs. Confirmation Camp provides time for daily study, relationship building and personal growth. Adventure Camp is all about fun – developing self-confidence, team building skills and accomplishment! On Saturday, March 9th we …

Youth Life News

Welcome to the season of Lent. The altar colors (paraments) have changed to purple. They remain purple through Palm Sunday, March 24. During Lent, we have added worship opportunities on Wednesdays at noon and 6:30pm. The evening service is preceded by a soup and salad dinner. Please join us at these reflective services.  Thank you to all …

Sandwich Sunday

Our Youth Life Group were busy Sunday afternoon – making 104 bag lunches for the St Francis Mission House in St Augustine. Thanks to all the helping hands who made and transported the food for those in need. Thanks also to Thrivent Financial for $250 to cover our supplies and lunch for the volunteers.

Youth Life News

Awesome job with the Pancake Breakfast fundraiser! Your hard work paid off and you all raised over $800! And Souperbowl of Caring raised over $1300 including $500 matching funds from Benevolence. Thank you all for participating! You can get community service for Souperbowl, just bring the forms in. As a reminder, you do need to track your own …

Lenten 5 – 5 – 5 Service Project

This year we are introducing something new for our Lenten Project! We will be supporting the NALC Disaster Relief Program. NALC – The North American Lutheran Church to which SOTW belongs, has a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who work throughout the year to be ready to assist in times of natural disaster. We are setting a goal …

Youth Life News

Youth Life Game Day February 18th, from 12:30-4:30 is our next game day. We will be combining a service project with that as it will be Sandwich Sunday, which benefits homeless and food insecure youth. Mark your calendars to attend this event! See pics below from Game Day’s January event. We are planning a Youth Life afternoon out at Top Golf …

Youth Life News

Join your Youth Life friends this Sunday, January 28, 12:30-3:30 for Game Day. Makayla and Braden have put this afternoon of fun together so you all can get together for some fellowship time! Lunch will be served and games will be played! Refer to the flyer for more information. Drop in anytime between 12:30-3:30! See you …

Youth Life News

Can you believe Ash Wednesday is right around the corner on February 13? So, we are going to have a “Shrove Tuesday” breakfast youth fundraiser on Sunday, February 11. We will serve a pancake breakfast between the services and after the 10:30 service. You all do an amazing job cooking breakfast for our fellow church members. If you …

Youth Life News

Happy Epiphany! Did you notice the change? We’ve changed colors again, going from blue for Advent to green for Epiphany. Notice the color change on the altar and the banner change. As the seasons of the church change, so do the colors on the altar.  Our next youth fundraiser is a Pancake Breakfast coming up Sunday, February …

Youth News

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024! Welcome back youth who attended Equipped this past weekend. All had a great time immersing themselves in the Word, enjoying fellowship time with each other, and enjoying the beauty of Jekyll Island. Please see the pictures below. Thank you to Pastor DiBias, Pastor Phillips and Shelley DiBias for chaperoning this event.  …

Equipped Youth Retreat

Equipped Youth Retreat is December 29-31, Villas by the Sea, Jekyll Island. This weekend event full of service, reflection, study and fun is open to those in 7th-12th grade(youth life youth). The cost is $110 per person and includes lodging and food.

Weekend Worship Services

Weekend Worship Services Saturday at 5:30pm (Traditional Liturgy) Sunday at 8:30am (Traditional Liturgy) Sunday at 10:30am (Contemporary) – Live-streamed Other Information: Access to Online Worship Information Christmas Worship Services Christmas Eve Services – Sunday, Dec 24 at 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm & 11:00pm 5:00pm – Traditional Service with Children’s Homily ** Live Streamed 7:00pm – Traditional Service 9:00pm – Cantata …

Family Christmas Caroling

Join us Sunday, December 10th at Noon – All are welcome as we visit shut-ins and to minister to members and others in our communty. We gather in the Shepherd Center at 11:40 for a quick meal. Please indicate your participation on the Yellow Insert so we can plan the groups & routes.

Youth Life News

Christmas Caroling is this Sunday, December 10th, following the 10:30 worship service. This is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer to our friends who are “shut-ins”. Folks will carpool after a quick lunch following the worship service to various locations. If you would like to participate, let me know. Songbooks are provided. Families are encouraged to participate!  …

Youth Life News

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you to everyone for helping with Sandwich Sunday. We made over 100 sandwiches in about 30 minutes! You all are awesome! See pictures below.  Wreaths Across America is a service project we will be participating in on Saturday, December 16, starting at noon. This is a community service hour event. We are in need …

Updated National Youth Gathering Information

We are excited to share with you the information we received regarding the NALC Continental Youth Gathering for 2024! The youth gathering is open to any 7th – 12th grade youth. We hope you’ll prayerfully consider this opportunity to grow in faith with disciples from across the country!! Please see the general “who, what, when and …

Youth Life News

Happy November! Thank you to everyone who helped with the Pumpkin Patch this year. Your help was greatly appreciated!  Confirmation Blessings to Saraya Howard, Freya Lindstad, and Christian Sheprow who celebrated their confirmation this past Sunday during the 10:30 worship service! See their pictures below. Continue to keep them in your prayers as they continue their …

Youth Life News

Our next event is this Saturday, October 21: Party in the Patch, from 11 am-2 pm. We need youth to help hand out candy at the “carnival” games the children will play. Feel free to wear a costume! Party in the Patch is a community service event! We will also need help with setup and cleanup. For …

Youth Life News

Such a fun weekend! Thank you to everyone who helped unload pumpkins Saturday morning. Beautiful day for sure. And thank you to those youth who were able to attend the lock-in Friday night! Big thank you to the adult chaperones: Dennis, Savanna, Adam, and Pastor Phillips. Our next event is Saturday, October 21: Party in the …

Worship Update

Worship Services: Saturday at 5:30pm (Traditional Liturgy) Sunday at 8:30am (Traditional Liturgy) Sunday at 10:30am (Contemporary) Nursery care (up to 3yrs old) is provided in the Shepherd Center for the 8:30 & 10:30am services. **Parking Update** For the next few weeks only, due to the Pumpkin Patch, parking is limited towards the entry of the church property.  We have …

Youth Life News

We are having a church lock-in! All youth, 7-12th grade are invited Friday, October 6-Saturday, October 7th for a good ol’ fashioned church lock-in. Please let us know you are coming! You all love to get together and this is a great way to do so! Meet at church at around 6 pm Friday. We will provide dinner and snacks. New and …

Youth Life News and Notes

Youth Life Class and Confirmation Class are back in session. Please try to attend either class on Sundays from 9:40-10:25. We’ve moved confirmation class to the Youth Life room in the Shepherd Center. Youth Life (confirmed youth-12th grade) will now meet in the new conference room near the fellowship hall. We have several teachers lined up and …

Youth Life News

We are having a church lock-in! All youth, 7-12th grade are invited Friday, October 6-Saturday, October 7th for a good ol’ fashioned church lock-in. You all love to get together and this is a great way to do so! Meet at church at around 6 pm on Friday. We will provide dinner and snacks. You’ll be able to …

Pumpkin Patch Update

FOUR Weeks ‘til PUMPKINS! Save the date: Saturday, October 7th at 9 am – We hope you will make plans to join us as the truck makes its annual trek from New Mexico to Jacksonville with our special delivery. It takes MANY hands to make light work unloading half of a semi-trailer!! Teens earn community service hours!! We will be …

Youth Life News

Thank you to everyone who attended this past Sunday’s Youth Life event. You all prepared over 200 bag lunches which were delivered to St Francis House on Monday. Thanks to the generous donations from the congregation, we had enough food to not only make the 200+ lunches this time, but we have enough for close to 200 …

Rally Day – August 20th

Sunday, August 20th, is RALLY DAY for all from 4 Years through 12th Grade! Backpack Blessing & Prayers for All School Teachers & Staff – All children and Youth are invited to bring their school backpacks with them next week for a special time during worship to ask God’s blessings of safety and focus in the coming school year. …

Youth Life Summer Get-Together

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20th, 10:30-3 pm. We are getting together for 10:30 worship followed by lunch, Sandwich Sunday service project, and a ping-pong tournament! You all had so much fun playing ping pong at camp, that we have purchased more paddles, nets and lots of ping pong balls This is a great day to get together …

Youth Life News

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20th, 10:30-3pm. We are getting together for 10:30 worship followed by lunch, Sandwich Sunday service project, and a ping-pong tournament! You all had so much fun playing ping pong at camp, that we have purchased more paddles, nets and lots of ping pong balls This is a great day to get together and …

Youth Life Notes

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20th, 10:30-3pm. We are getting together for 10:30 worship followed by lunch, Sandwich Sunday service project, and a ping-pong tournament! You all had so much fun playing ping pong at camp, that we have purchased more paddles, nets and lots of ping pong balls This is a great day to get together and …

Pumpkins

The Pumpkins Are Coming! – Yes, even in the heat of July we are planning on pumpkins! We are just thirteen weeks away so, while our little baby sprouts are growing like crazy in the fields in New Mexico, so we have work to do. If you would like to be a part of the Patch Planning …

Youth Life News

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20th, 10:30-3 pm. We are getting together for 10:30 worship followed by lunch, Sandwich Sunday service project, and a ping-pong tournament! You all had so much fun playing ping pong at camp, that we have purchased more paddles, nets, and lots of ping pong balls so you all can challenge …

Waving Ministry

We need Wavers to greet the community before EVERY service, EVERY weekend!!!  But it only works if we have volunteers. A Pastor is almost always out waving but it sends a special message when our people are out greeting as well. please consider offering the gift of your time once per quarter or once per …

Youth Faith Camp

Our Youth returned just over a week ago. But even in just the first few days of camp, the Youth had already placed mulch between the two buildings, made almost 200 sandwiches & bagged lunches for St Francis House, shopped for additional 555 food, and helped load the truck going to LSS. Plus time in …

Youth Life News

It’s time for Confirmation Camp!!!!  Youth will be meeting this Sunday, June 25  attending the 10:30 worship service and staying together for the whole week. There is a full week of service, study, fellowship, and fun ahead. After attending worship, the youth will work on their first service project for the week: Sandwich Sunday, making bagged lunches for the …

Youth Life News

Good afternoon, friends! Happy Summer! All 7th-12th grade youth are invited to join the Youth Life Bible Study held in the Shepherd Center during the Family Hour each Sunday. You meet from 9:40-10:25 am. Thank you to all the youth who helped with Vacation Bible School this past week. All the participants had a wonderful time! Confirmation …

Youth Life News

Congratulations to our 2023 High School Graduates! And Confirmation Blessings to Seth Kilpatrick who was confirmed this past Sunday.  Starting June 4, all 7th-12th grade youth are invited to join the Youth Life Bible Study held in the Shepherd Center during the Family Hour each Sunday. You meet from 9:40-10:25. Vacation Bible School is June 12-16th, 9am-12pm. Volunteers are needed for this event. …

Summer 5 x 5 x 5 Project

The Summer 5-5-5 Service Project has begun! During the five weeks leading up to our Youth Life Confirmation Faith Camp, we strive as a community to collect 500 pounds of food and $500 in financial donations to support the Lutheran Social Service food bank and weekend backpack program.  Each Friday, hundreds of children across northeast Florida leave school in the afternoon …

Youth Life News

Lots of wonderful ways to participate in the life of the congregation and in your Youth Life are coming up soon! From community service opportunities, fundraisers, camps, VBS and travel abroad, all help spread God’s love and share the good news. Please prayerfully consider where you can help out and participate.  Peterbrooke Chocolate sales start …

Youth Life – Update

Good morning friends! Registration for Confirmation Camp is here! Please complete the Registration and Health form found below. Just click on the red box. Camp registration is due by May 14th, that’s less than 3 weeks away. Please also click on the link in the the camp letter which will detail plans for this year. Camp …

Youth Life News – Easter & Summer Updates

Good afternoon, friends! Happy Holy Week! Thank you to the youth who were able to help out with Maundy Thursday services today. Good Friday services are at Noon and 6:30 pm tomorrow. Please prayerfully consider joining us.  Mark your calendars for this Saturday, April 8th, to help with the annual Easter Egg Hunt. This event is …

Holy Week at Shepherd of the Woods

Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd: Palm Waving on the Sidewalk this Weekend – We invite you to join in the fun, waving palms before each of the services on Palm Sunday weekend. We will line the sidewalk in the front of the church property to wave palms and greet passers-by! This is something for all ages and …

Youth Life News

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Garage Sale this past weekend. Over $5,000 was raised for our Peru Mission in Tarma.  Palm Sunday and Holy Week are fast approaching. Maundy Thursday (April 6), we would love to have 7-12th grade youth help during worship, specifically during the altar stripping. This is a very moving service …

Youth Life Ministry

It’s Garage Sale time! You can earn community service hours for this event. We need help sorting items the week of March 13, all day until 7 pm weekdays. Garage Sale day is Saturday, March 18, and help is needed anytime from 6 am until 4 pm. During the week you will help sort and stage …

Pancake Breakfast

Join us from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Sunday, February 19th as we serve a delicious, indulgent breakfast in anticipation of the Lenten season. Enjoy piping hot pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, and juice! Your free-will donation helps provide funds for Youth Life programming, summer camps, and the summer Peru Mission Trip.

Youth Life Update

Saturday is our next youth fundraiser, Dine with Us- Aloha! Our annual dinner fundraiser has a Hawaiian theme this year and promises to be a great event full of tikis and palm trees and all things Hawaiian! Saturday, February 11 is our event day. We ask that you arrive at 3 pm. Hawaiian shirts, long dark pants, and closed-toed shoes, please. …

Souper Bowl of Caring

Join us Sunday, February 12th Now known as “Tacklet Hunger.” Youth will hold giant soup pots in the gathering area and will collect funds after worship. All proceeds benefit the Mandarin Food Bank. This event is a nationwide event and raises millions of dollars for local food banks.

ALOHA Dinner – Fundraiser

Join us for Come Dine with Us – Aloha! Hawaiian Dinner – Saturday, February 11th This evening of fun and great food is a Youth Life fundraiser, and all proceeds will be used for youth programs to include camp participation and the summer mission trip to Peru. This year’s theme is Aloha! and you will be treated …

Mission Driven – A Weekend to Serve

Quilting Workshop – All-Day, Drop-In session on Sat, Feb 4, 10 am to 5 pm. This is the final push to complete quilts that will be sent to the Lutheran World Relief warehouses the following week. There will be stations for cutting squares, designing quilt tops, sewing tops, matching tops to the backing, and finishing the sides and …

Youth Life News

Greetings Youth Life family!  Rock the Universe is this weekend. Participants are asked to meet at the church at 4 pm on Friday, January 27 to depart as soon as possible. A separate mailing went out (to those signed up) with more specific information.  Next weekend is an all-day, drop-in quilting workshop and you can earn community service hours …

Youth Life News

Happy Epiphany Youth Life family!  Rock the Universe tickets have been purchased and hotel arrangements have been made. If you want to go, we may still be able to get tickets but I need to know asap. The event is happening January 27-29 at Universal Studios, Orlando. The cost for the Christian music event including hotel …

Live Nativity

For two evenings we received visitors to our Live Nativity which featured sharing the Word through readings and carols, a photo station, a bunny petting booth, crafts for children, and a fire pit s’mores station. A great time was had by all and we were able to great a number of our community neighbors!

Youth Life News Notes

Merry Christmas Youth Life family!  Thank you to all those youth and families who helped with the Live Nativity this past weekend. Wonderful, fun community event enjoyed by all! Great way to share the true story of Christmas with our friends and neighbors.  Rock the Universe tickets have been purchased and hotel arrangements have been made. If you …

Youth Life News

Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual holiday caroling. Three groups of folks divided up and sang to shut-ins, those in the hospital, in nursing homes, etc. The day was definitely full of Christmas cheer! See some pics below! Live Nativity is happening this weekend: December 17-18th. Thank you to those who have volunteered …

Youth Life Updates

Rock the Universe is a weekend event happening January 27-29 at Universal Studios. This annual event features Christian artists performing at various venues at the Universal Studios theme park. Youth Life (7-12th grade) are in the park for both concert nights and we stay at an onsite hotel. The trip is $215 per person and includes a …

Youth Life

Good afternoon, friends! Thank you all for helping out with the Fall Festival! It was a great Saturday morning and everyone had a wonderful time. Remember to keep track of your service hours- that event counts for 2-3 hours depending on when you arrived.  This past Sunday, October 30th was Reformation Sunday and seven of …

Affirmation of Baptism 2022

We celebrate our 2022 Confirmands and ask God’s blessing on each of their lives as they seek to show Christ’s love.  This is not on the end of study, but the beginning of their journeys of faith and service as adult members in the church.  Please hold in your prayers Jazmyne Hinds, Makayla Howard, Bradley Morici, Gino Morici, …