Easter Sunday Kids Schedule
Easter Sunday Worship
Good Friday
Good Friday – this holy day recalls the last hours of Jesus’ life as the suffering servant is nailed to the cross, fulfilling his mission as the sacrifical Lamb of God. The sinless One takes on humanity’s sin as he is betrayed, arrested and sentenced to death, even as Pontius Pilate finds no fault in him. We …
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday – provides us the opportunity to recall Jesus’ last supper with his closest friends, during which he institutes what we call The Last Supper (the sacrament of Holy Communion). As a sign of his servant love, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and gives them a new commandment, that they should love one another as he has loved …
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
PLEASE JOIN US FOR WORSHIP Maundy Thursday, April 17 Join us for a traditional Maundy Thursday worship service with Holy Communion. The services will include a symbolic foot washing and concludes with the stripping of the altar. Services at Noon and 6:30pm. The Noon service is live-streamed Good Friday, April 18 Join us as we reflect …
Annual Spring Tea Fundraiser
Please make plans to join us for a lovely morning of tea and delicious finger foods and sweets. Our festive spring event will be Monday, April 28th at 11:30am and the suggested donation for tickets is $25. This event is for ladies AND gentlemen of all ages and serves as a fundraiser for the various ministries of Shepherd …
Holy Week Worship Schedule
Youth Life Lock-In
Women’s Bible Study
A new 4 session series on the Prayer of Jabez has begun. Remaining sessions are April 14th, 28th and May 12th. You are welcome to join in! Please let the church office know if you need a book.
MidWeek Lenten Worship – April 9th
Resurrection Sunday
Palm Sunday
MidWeek Lenten Service
Midweek Lenten Worship Services Wednesdays at Noon – Live-streamed Wednesdays at 6:30pm Each Wednesday through April 9th Fellowship Meal – Soup and Salad Wednesdays at 5:30pm – serving continuously through 6:15pm – please reply to this message to RSVP if you have not already signed up. A suggested donation of $5 per person is appreciated. On-Line Worship Service – For …
Life Changer Outreach in Peru
Thank you for showing and sharing Christ’s love. Now, 79 children have been provided uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies to equip them for school. (Pictures of a few of them and our gracious partners in ministry serving on the ground in Tarma!) Glory to God! Thanks be to God!
Worship – April 6th
Easter Candy
Candy Collection – We are collecting bags of individually wrapped candy for the children’s Easter party on Easter Sunday. Bring in your candy donations by Friday, April 18th and place in the bin provided in the gathering area.
Pastor Beaver’s Farewell
Pastor Beaver’s last Sunday with us will be Easter Sunday. We invite you to a “farewell dinner” on Wednesday, April 23rd at 5:30pm with dinner served at 6pm. Please kindly let us know if you will attend the meal by signing up on the yellow Connect Card.
Worship – March 30th
Palm Sunday Worship
Youth Life News
Mark your calendars for two summer youth events:
Mid-Week Lenten Service – March 26th
Peru Mission Trip
Plans are being put into place and you are invited to prayerfully consider joining us on our next Mission Trip to Tarma, Peru, June 3 – 13 , 2025. We have a great group forming and you can be a part of this work! Not only will you be a blessing to the mission, but you …
The Blood Mobile
The Bloodmobile – from OneBlood will be at Shepherd of the Woods on Sunday, April 6th from 9:00am until at least Noon. Those donating blood will receive a $20 online gift card and a t-shirt and a wellness checkup. You can register online at oneblood.com or just walk up to the bus on the 6th! Donating blood …
Life Changers
Thank you for the “life changers” who made contribution to our Peru School Uniforms Fund. Complete uniforms are required for a child to attend school in Peru and, for families who cannot afford this, they are faced with not being able to provide their child with an education. Because of your generosity, love and care, …
Worship – March 23rd
Mid-Week Lenten Service – March 19th
Youth Life – Top Golf
What Is Lent
Worship – March 16th
Bake Sale Weekend
It’s Bake Sale Weekend – our volunteers have baked an amazing array of delicious goodies which are on display in the Gathering Area. All proceeds benefit our Little Lambs Early Learning Center. Items are not priced but free will donations are appreciated, as your heart leads you and you are able! And we’re not sure it’s true, but …
Youth Life News
Sunday, March 23rd is Top Golf youth outing. More details to follow, but it will be after worship on Sunday. Cost is estimated at $50-60 per person for food and fun. Mark your calendars for two summer youth events:
Lenten MidWeek Service – March 12th
The Lenten season and is a time of personal reflection, repentance, and renewal. We gather each Wednesday at Noon and at 6:30pm for worship. We pray this Lenten season is a time of reflection and growth in faith. Lenten 5-5-5 Service Project – This year we will support our local community by collecting and delivering items that …
Lenten Discipline Ideas 2025
Lent is a season in the church in which we especially focus on examining our hearts, confessing our sin, and reflecting on the significance of Christ’s death on the cross. Lenten disciplines are a tool in turning our hearts and lives to Christ. Below are some ideas for you, or you may think of some …
Palm Sunday
Mark Your Calendars for Palm Sunday – April 13 – It is our practice to greet the community on Palm Sunday by waving palm fronds on the sidewalk before the services. We even do this before the 5:30 service on Saturday, April 12! We hope to line the entire length of the property with volunteers, and we’ll have a few …
Lenten 5-5-5 Service Project
This year we will support our local community by collecting and delivering items that will be of help to the homeless. We will be helping Beaches Mission House in Jacksonville Beach and St Francis House in St. Augustine. 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 …
Monthly Game Night
Our next Game Night is Saturday, March 15 at 6:45. This is a fun gathering with cards, board games and more. And, when we meet – we eat!! Bring a snack or other item to share if you want. This is for all ages, but we do not provide childcare or a nursery. Please let us know …
Worship – March 9th
Women’s Conference 2025
Uplifting teaching, great fellowship, crafts, and Spirit led ladies who reflected on “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:1
Church Yard Sale
Yard Sale – Next Weekend
The Yard Sale is next weekend, and we continue to collect housewares, dishes, cookware, small appliances, books, linens, working electronics with cords, furniture, seasonal items, artwork, lamps, home décor, tools, toys, games, puzzles, baby items, craft items, clothing of all sizes. If you have not yet dropped your items off, you can do so through Tuesday …
All Hands Work Day
All Hands Spring Cleaning Workday – Saturday, March 8 from 9am to Noon – We invite you to come out and help us with a variety of spring-cleaning projects both outside and inside our buildings. There will be jobs for everyone as we are seeking to reorganize our sacristy, our cry room, and a utility closet; continue final …
Ash Wednesday Worship
You are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19) Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the lenten season and is a time fo personal reflection and repentance. As a symbol of repentance and admission of our frailty, the imposition of ashes will be offered for those who desire to receive them. We invite …
Worship – Transfiguration Sunday, March 2nd
Lent 2025
Lent is Observed for the Forty Days – begining Ash Wednesday – until Easter – excluding Sundays. As we anticipate the season of Lent, you are invited to make time each week to join us in worship and take time to reflect on the gift of God’s son. We begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5, …
Come Dine With Us
Yard Sale Updates
The Yard Sale donation storage bins are in place and we seek to collect housewares, dishes, cookware, small appliances, books, linens, working electronics with cords, furniture, seasonal items, artwork, lamps, home décor, tools, toys, games, puzzles, baby items, craft items, clothing of all sizes. Kindly include only clothing that is clean and in “gently worn” condition and …
Mid-Week Lenten Worship
Shepherd Shelves
We are blessed to support many families, and the faithfulness of our congregation has had an impact on our surrounding community. We gladly receive fresh, frozen and shelf-stable items. Please put dry goods on the marked shelf in the Gathering Area to be checked in and give cold items to a staff member. Our current needs are pastas & …
Worship – February 23rd
Ash Wednesday and Lenten Worship Schedule
As we anticipate the season of Lent, you are invited to make time each week to join us in worship and take time to reflect on the gift of God’s son. We begin on Ash Wednesday, March 5, with worship at Noon and 6:30pm, offering the imposition of ashes at both services. Then, beginning on Wednesday, March …
Church Work Day
The Seminary Experience
Thrivent Choice Dollars
Are you a Thrivent customer? If you have any Thrivent financial products such as insurance, annuities, etc., you have the opportunity each quarter to “vote” your Choice Dollars which provides a donation to the non-profit organizations of your choice. You may direct them to Shepherd of the Woods if you want (and we are very grateful when …
Quilters Gathering
Quilters gather on Sat, Feb 22 from 9am to 4:00pm. You can come for an hour or two or for the whole day. No experience needed; no sewing skills needed – there is a job for everyone. All men, women and teens invited. There are many steps to creating a quilt and therefore many tasks. Even if …
Youth Life – Bowling
Worship – February 16th
Shrove Tuesday
We will celebrate Shrove Tuesday…on a Sunday! Whether you call Shrove Tuesday “Mardi Gras” (France), “Dia de la Tortilla” (Spain), “Pancake Day” (England) or “Fettisdagen” (Sweden), please join us on Sunday, March 2 after the 8:30am or the 10:30am services for a Pancake Feast. This is an annual fundraiser for our Youth Life group as they seek …
Ash Wednesday Worship
Youth Life News
Hats off to you all!!!! What a great event! Dine with Us was a huge success. Thank you all for all of your hard work and great service to not only our guests but to each other. Thank you to our hard working volunteers who worked behind the scenes to help make this event a success. Please …
Yard Sale Donation Bins
The Yard Sale donation storage bins have arrived and we seek to collect housewares, dishes, cookware, small appliances, books, linens, working electronics with cords, furniture, seasonal items, artwork, lamps, home décor, tools, toys, games, puzzles, baby items, craft items, clothing of all sizes. Kindly include only clothing that is clean and in “gently worn” condition and electronics …
Souper Bowl of Caring
Our Youth Life group collected loose change, paper money, checks and even card swipes for a total of nearly $1,000. 100% of these funds will go to support local hunger programs. Your care of those in our community makes a difference!
Update From Mission Partners in Peru
A very brief, yet fruitful and Spirit inspiring, trip to Lima. We conducted our annual administrative and mission planning trip meeting with Pastor Araujo, our Mission Pastor in Tarma, Peru. God is doing great things! He continues to build the community and the witness of HIS church. Thanks be to God. Also pictured is Pastor Araujo’s …
Monthly Game Night
Join us for some fun on Saturday, February 15th at 6:45pm. There will be games and cards and, of course, snacks!! Bring something to share if you like. All ages are welcome but there is no childcare.
Women of the Woods
All ladies are invited to join us Wednesday, February 19 at 6:00pm for dinner and a meeting. Newcomers are welcome! We gather for dinner first but if you can’t make it for the meal, join us for the meeting at 6:30pm. This group is growing and making plans to support the ministries of the congregation.
Peru Mission Trip
Worship – February 9th
Youth Life News
Our annual Dine with Us fundraiser is Saturday, February 8th and our theme is “Hats Off to You!” This is a major fundraising event for your youth group and for your upcoming youth events. Help is needed on Saturday, February 8th from at least 3pm until 9:30pm. In addition we will be having a training session on Friday, February 7th in the afternoon from 4pm-4:45pm with Dennis …
Souper Bowl of Caring
For over 30 years, the Souper Bowl of Caring movement has been inspiring people across the nation to tackle hunger in their local communities. Mobilizing grassroots resources including churches, schools, civic groups and caring individuals, this movement has created over $193 million worth of support that stays completely local. Over the last three years alone, …
Shepherd Shelves
We are blessed to support many families and the faithfulness of our congregation has had an impact on our surrounding community. We gladly receive fresh, frozen and shelf-stable items. Please put dry goods on the marked shelf in the Gathering Area to be checked in and give cold items to a staff member. Our current needs are …
Monthly Game Night
Join us for some fun on Saturday, February 15th at 6:45 pm. There will be games and cards and, of course, snacks!! Bring something to share if you like. All ages are welcome but there is no childcare.
Valentines For Veterans
Thank you to all who participated in our card-making party. To learn more, please visit: Valentines for Veterans. Most importantly, thank you, veterans for your service.
Worship – February 2nd
Year-End Giving Statements
Year-End Giving Statements have been printed and are available for you in the Gathering Area. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties with the software company we use to track donations, we are still in process of attempting to send out electronic statements. If you want a pdf copy of your statement, please email Rhonda Taylor. Otherwise, all …
Thrivent Long Term Care Workshop
The Thrivent Long Term Care Workshop was rescheduled for Tues, Feb 11 at 5:30 pm. It includes dinner. Reservations are needed for the meal and are due by Thurs, Feb 6. Contact the church office to make a reservation or for more details.
Come Dine With Us – Hats Off To You!
Dinner includes a soup course, friseé salad, entree, vegetables and dessert. Water, tea and coffee, plus a specialty “mocktail” will also be served. Please also indicate your selection of entrees – beef, chicken or vegetarian and your dessert choices. If you have any dietary restrictions, please share those and we will do our best to comply! …
Outdoor Columbarium
The retaining wall is installed and we continue to work on filling and leveling the ground. We anticipate the new 96 niche columbarium to arrive at the end of February. We will also spend time beautifying the area with some landscaping, including a butterfly garden!
NALC Disaster Relief
Do you like to knit or crochet? Come join us any Wednesday at 1:30 pm as we begin to make baby blankets for Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital and NALC Disaster Relief. If you can’t make it during the day, we are exploring an evening/weekend gathering as well.
Card Making Party
Women of the Woods will host a valentine card making party on Sun, Feb 2 following the 10:30am service. Grab a fellowship snack and join us in the Annex to make a few cards!
Worship – January 26th
Oneblood Bloodmobile
Oneblood Bloodmobile will be onsite this weekend – Sunday, Jan 26 from 9am to Noon. Just walk up to the bus even if you have not pre-registered. Donors will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt, a wellness check and a $20 electronic gift card! Blood donations save lives!
Youth Life News
Rock the Universe 2025 is here! January 24-25 at Universal Studios, Orlando. We’ve got a great group of 17 adults and youth attending! We meet at church at 4:00pm with a 4:15 departure time. Tickets have been purchased for all who signed up and hotel reservations at Cabana Bay have been paid for. Prayers for a wonderful weekend full …
Quilting Ministry Update
163 Quilts made to the Glory of God! May they provide warmth & security to those who have experienced tragedy, disaster, displacement, or have no other shelter. May all who receive them be wrapped in His love & encouraged with His hope. Amen.
Shepherd Shelves
We were blessed to support many families in 2024, and the faithfulness of our congregation has had an impact on our surrounding community. We gladly receive fresh, frozen and shelf- stable items. Please put dry goods on the marked shelf in the Gathering Area to be checked in and give cold items to a staff member. Our …
Worship – January 19th
Quilt Blessing
Our Quilt Blessing will be Saturday, January 18th and Sunday, January 19th. Our quilters have been VERY busy this past year making dozens of quilts for disaster relief efforts via Lutheran World Relief and NALC Disaster Response Team. More than 200 beautiful, unique pieces of art grace our sanctuary this weekend and we offer our …
Youth Life News
Confirmation classes continue. Thank you to those who attend and to those who lead these important instructional sessions. Rock the Universe 2025 annual Christian Music Festival is being held January 24-25 at Universal Studios, Orlando. We’ve got a great group of 17 adults and youth attending! We will leave Friday afternoon, meeting at church at 4:00pm with a …
Valentines For Veterans
Valentine’s Cards for Veterans & Military – our local First Coast Group – Thrivent is helping spread the love this Valentine’s Day with a card collection drive for veterans and our military. They have partnered with Naval Station of Mayport for their local and deployed service men and women. We will have a collection bin in the Gathering Area through …
Come Dine With Us
Join us Saturday, February, 8th – Our annual Youth Life fundraiser is a great opportunity to have a wonderful evening out. Invite some friends, another couple or make it a date night! We offer two seatings – at 5:00pm and 7:00pm and we always have a fabulous menu! The suggestion donation is $35 per person. Reservation sheets will be …
Long Term Care Workshop
Thrivent will host a Long-term Care Workshop on Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30pm which will include a buffet dinner. Please see the insert in the church bulletin for more information or contact the church office to register by Jan 16.
Worship – January 12th
Women of the Woods
Women of the Woods gather Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00pm for dinner and a meeting as this group continues to develop and explore ways to support the ministries of SOTW. All women are invited. If you can’t join us at 6:00 for dinner, please come for the meeting at 6:30pm. Please use the yellow Connect Card to …
Transportation Ministry
One of the many ways we support each other within our congregational community is to provide occasional transportation to medical appointments and grocery shopping for those who are temporarily not able to drive due to illness or surgery or for those who are no longer driving. If you would like to offer the gift of …
First Fruits
Did you know….The Core Values of Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church First Fruits – Each month we set aside 10% of undesignated giving to support a variety of ministries in Christian love and care. This past month, our Benevolence ministry supported a global and local mission: Vision First Fruits – Each month we set aside 10% of undesignated …
Annual Congregational Meeting
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:30pm. A fellowship meal will be held at 5:30pm. Mark your calendars and plan to attend the meeting to hear important updates and share your vote on important matters related to our life together and the development of the mission church plant in St. Johns …
The Annual Yard Sale
We will be holding our sale a little earlier this year – On Saturday, March 15, from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. All proceeds from the sale support our Tarma, Peru Mission Church. The storage bins will arrive the week of February 17th so now is the time to begin cleaning out closets, drawers and the garage!!! If …
Peace in Christ – Women’s Retreat
This year we will gather at the St. Stephen’s Retreat and Conference Center in Titusville, FL from Friday, Feb 28 through Sunday, March 2nd. St. Stephen’s is a lovely waterfront retreat center with beautiful study and worship spaces. There will be time for study, worship, individual time and fellowship. Our retreat speaker is the Rev. Julie Smith (co-founder …
Quilting Workshop
Save the Date – All Day – Drop-In Quilting Workshop on Sat, Jan 18 – men, women and teens are invited to come for an hour or come all day! No experience needed and no sewing skills required. There is a job for everyone and teens earn community service hours for school. Stay tuned for sign-up opportunities.
Worship – January 5th
Christmas Joy and Blessings in Peru
Christmas joy and blessings delivered in Peru. Thank you for extending your love and care by sharing and showing Christ 3000 miles away. We are blessed to be a blessing!
Adult Study: The Life of Martin Luther
New Adult Study Class on the life of Martin Luther – begins Sunday, Jan 5 at 9:45am in the Shepherd Center Conference Room. This nine-week course will present various events in Luther’s life and reflect on the Biblical themes underlying the Lutheran Reformation. It provides insight into Luther’s influence on shaping the development of the Lutheran Church. By …