Spring Tea Thank You
The Spring Tea held on Saturday morning was just lovely and the Staff of the Early Learning Center would like to thank everyone who purchased Tea tickets, raffle tickets and those who baked treats and made sandwiches and served in the kitchen. This is an impactful fundraiser for our Early Learning Center ministry, and we …
Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting
Please plan to attend our summer Semi-annual Congregational Meeting on Wednesday, June 26th. This is an opportunity to get updates on our ministries, and to vote on our new Church Council nominees. We will also be voting on extending a call to Vicar Beaver to temporarily serve as an Associate Pastor until he is called …
Worship – June 23rd
Faithful Friday – June 21st
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” – Hebrews 13:1-2 Dear Disciples of Christ, Do you notice the distinction between those two verses? The first verse (of Hebrews 13) describes the care we should have for members of the body of Christ. This should be distinctive …
Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast
Worship – June 16th
Joining Jesus As A Family
VBS Needs
Vacation Bible School (VBS) begins this coming Monday, June 17th! A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated supplies. We truly appreciate you! We still have a few items that we need to make this week a SCUBA-tastic success! Please read the list below and bring the items to church between now and this Sunday morning-June …
Faithful Friday – June 14th
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” – Matthew 16:15 Dear Disciples of Christ, This is the last part of the orientation I do for new members. We cover lots of areas of church life but …
Monthly Game Night
Monthly Game Night will be held Saturday, June 15th at 6:45pm. Come and enjoy some fellowship, food and a friendly game or two! Invite a friend.
Summer 5 – 5 – 5 Project
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 not …
Worship – June 9th
Disaster Response Update
Your love and care of neighbor and generosity abound. We look forward to getting these supples to those in need via the NALC Disaster Response. We are blessed to be a blessing!
Faithful Friday – June 7th
“So when Jesus and His disciples had come together, the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has …
Congregational Meeting – June 26th
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our summer Semi-annual Congregational Meeting. This is a good opportunity to get updates on our ministries, and to vote on our new Church Council nominees. We will also be voting on extending a call to Vicar Beaver to serve as an Associate Pastor until he is called …
Donation for Ghana
Pastor Eric and Mrs. Joyce Swensson will be going to Ghana in July and while there, they want to distribute a few things to the students at the Lutheran School for the Visually and Hearing Impaired – Legos, soccer balls, shorts, shirts, and used laptops and tablets. They use Legos to teach Braille, so if you …
Meals On Wheels Volunteer Openings
We have a few more openings on one of our routes right now. If you have ever considered volunteering for this ministry, most people drive just one day each month (more if you choose) and the route takes about an hour and a half (from 10:30 or 11am). If you would like more information or would …
SOTW Happenings – May 24th
Worship – June 2nd
Faithful Friday- May 31st
And Jesus said, ”For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. -Matthew 18:20 Dear Disciple of Christ, Do you have any idea what a “critical mass” is? What might first come to mind for you is that it is “the amount of fissile material needed to sustain nuclear …
Little Lambs Early Learning Center
Vacation Bible School – 2024
Women’s Retreat 2025
Worship – May 26th
SOTW Happenings – May 25th
Youth Life News – Summer Updates
Vacation Bible School is June 17-21. Volunteers are needed to help with games, crafts and fellowship. Please let Kelly Clark or Cynthia Cannon know if you are able to help out this summer. 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 …
Confirmation Camp 2024
Join us from July 21 – 25th at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simon’s Island, GA. This event is open to rising 7th graders- 12th grade. Registration is open now and due by June 23rd. The cost for the camp is $250.
SOTW Happenings – May 18th
Worship – Pentecost
Mother’s Day – Thank You!
Thank you to all those who prepared, served, attended and supported our Mother’s Day Pancakes and More Breakfast. Thank you to those who participated in the Peterbrooke Chocolatier Fundraiser, as well. These donations will greatly benefit the Youth Life ministry at Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church.
Youth Life News
Thank you to everyone who helped out with the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast this past Sunday. You all raised over $750! Awesome job everyone! And a special thank you to our adult helpers- Heather, Sherrie, Sara, Charlotte, Adam, Jackie, Joe, Anita, and David. See pictures below. Vacation Bible School is June 17-21. Volunteers are needed to help …
Monthly Game Night
Yes! It’s already that time again!!! Join us Sat, May 18 at 6:45pm for an evening of fun, food, fellowship, and friendly competition. Whether you like board games, card games, charades, you name it – we play it!! Except Twister – we don’t play Twister! Feel free to bring a snack to share if you want to. All ages …
Little Lambs Early Learning Center
Our Little Lambs – Early Learning Center serves the community by offering a faith-based, educational curriculum for children 2-5 years-old. Unlike many preschools, we focus on reading literacy, math and language skills, and the development of social and problem-solving skills. Also uncommon, we offer full-day and year-round programs for households where all adults work during the day. We …
Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting
If you would like to volunteer with VBS this year and want like to help with the planning of this year’s program, you are invited to attend Sat, May 18 from 10am to Noon. This week-long program requires a lot of planning, set up and hands-on volunteers. All are welcome!!
Joining Jesus As A Family
SOTW Happenings
Worship – May 12th
Faithful Friday’s – May 10th
The apostles returned to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place …
Youth Life News
Sunday, May 12th is our Mother’s Day “Pancakes and More” Breakfast! Please mark your calendars. This fundraiser is a bit more involved than our last breakfast as we will have more variety in the menu. Help will be needed to serve after both the 8:30 and 10:30 services. So plan on being here from 8:30 until about 12:30pm. You can earn …
Church Council Nomination Form
We will have two vacancies on the Church Council this summer due to term limits and are seeking nomination forms. Blank forms are available in the church office and can be used to nominate another individual or yourself. Please submit completed forms by Sunday, May 26.
SOTW Happenings – May 4th
Worship – May 5th
Peterbrooke Chocolatier Fundraiser
Just in time for Mother’s Day! Pick up May 11 and May 12 If you would like to order, email the church office and indicate which items you would like, the quantity and the total amount of your order. Orders must be placed by Monday, May 6th. If you want something other than milk chocolate, …
Youth Life News
Peterbrooke Chocolate fundraiser continues this weekend, May 4-5. We have a table set up in the gathering area. Youth are needed to be at the table taking orders. It is set up to be “self serve” but it’s always nice to be present for a fundraiser. There will be samples available as well as the order …
Mother’s Day – Pancakes and More Breakfast
Shepherd Shelves Food Pantry
We continue offering food support to those in our community, both homeless individuals but also families trying to make it to the next paycheck. We have people come in most weekdays. There are many items we are fully stocked on but others we really need at this time. If you are shopping for this ministry …
SOTW Happenings – April 27th
Worship – April 28th
Peru Mission Trip
Mother’s Day: Pancakes and More!
Join Youth Life on Sunday, May 12th with our Mother’s Day “Pancakes and More” Breakfast! This year, there will be greater variety in the menu and we are excited to host you. Additional details will be published soon. Proceeds of this fundraiser will benefit Youth Life at Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church.
Youth Life News
Good afternoon, friends! We welcome Vicar Luke Beaver this weekend with his installation as our new vicar. Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome him to Shepherd of the Woods! Peterbrooke Chocolate fundraiser begins this Sunday, April 28. We have a table set up in the gathering area. Youth are needed to be at the …
Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study
Saturday May 11 at 8:00am – We normally hold this study on first Saturdays but will be meeting on the second Saturday in May. This group enjoys a great breakfast at 8:00am and begins their study at 8:30am. They continue the study of the books of Peter. A Zoom option is offered for those who are not …
Beaches Mission House
Join us on Tuesday, April 30th at 4:30pm – SOTW supports Mission House by sending a team to cook and serve dinner on months with a Fifth Tuesday. If you would like to participate, please indicate on the Yellow Insert. We gather at 4:30pm to prepare the meal and serve by 6pm. With serving and clean-up we are …
Faithful Friday – April 26th
Dear Disciple of Christ, So, may I ask, why you think God has blessed you with health and talents and resources? You may consider it a sign of His love for you and that would be appropriate. He does bless us but could it really be that it stops with us? Is it only so we are …
Kitchen Renovation Questionnaire
A Kitchen Renovation questionnaire is available in the church office. If you would like to provide input, use th this form to share your ideas and thoughts. Return the form by April 28 . Once the information is compiled, we will create a program document and list of priorities as we create the budget and invite your …
ALPHA – Upcoming Course
Alpha is a program for people who are seeking more from life, seeking an understanding of who or what God is, or trying to uncover what is missing in their life. Each week participants gather and share a simple meal, watch a video about an aspect of faith, and then have conversations about what they …
Guest Chefs Email List
Over the last few years we have been blessed to have many in our congregation volunteer to cook meals for events like Alpha, Congregational Dinners, Youth functions, and Lenten and Advent Dinners. Some meals are prepared by one person, others by a couple and others by a team of two to four people. To reach …
Youth Life News
Happy Easter season! We continue in this season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday, which is May 19, followed by Holy Trinity Sunday, May 26. We then continue in the season of Pentecost through most of October. The colors in the church will change from white to green. Our next youth fundraiser is Sunday, May 12th …
SOTW Happenings – April 19th
Worship – April 21st
Mission Support
This weekend we are blessed to hear the testimony of Veronica Weeks and excited to learn of what God is doing in her life and how He has called her into the mission field by traveling to the Philippines to help establish campus ministry programing on 2 college campuses through Navigators. If you would like …
Joining Jesus As A Family
New Class begins on Sunday, May 19th at 9:30am! This class has been created to help anyone live a fruitful and fulfilling life as a disciple of Jesus. Parents, grandparents, foster parents, guardians and those who serve children will be inspired and blessed by our time together. Classes will meet the 3rd Sunday of every month between …
The Vicar Is Arriving Soon
Vicar Luke Beaver will be joining us at the end of the month. It is our tradition to “Pound the Vicar” with a warm welcome. We do this by providing a POUND of anything you choose – groceries, sweets, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc. Anything he will need for his new apartment. Of course, it doesn’t …
Monthly Game Night
Join us Saturday, April 20th for an evening of fun, food, fellowship, and friendly competition! There are games of all types available and there is always lots to eat. Feel free to bring something to share if you like. Please indicate your interest on the Yellow Connect Card Insert or contact the church office with questions.
SOTW Happenings – April 13th
Worship – April 14th
Faithful Friday – April 12th
Dear Disciple of Christ, If you remember when we paused to receive devotions provided by the national church office, I had received an unsolicited call to move from my first to my second congregation. I mentioned that those transitions in congregations are not always easy. It is not easy for the congregation “losing” their pastor, the next …
Peru Mission Update
Spring Tea – An Early Learning Center 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 Saturday, April 27th at 11:00am and the suggested donation for tickets is $25. In addition to the scrumptious fare and fun fellowship, we will have songs from the children and raffles for three exciting …
Read more “Spring Tea – An Early Learning Center Fundraiser “
Joining Jesus As A Family
Now beginning Sunday, May 19th
SOTW Happenings – April 5th
Worship – April 7th
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 …
Yard Sale – Thank You!
Our annual Yard Sale last weekend raised more than $6,300 which will be used to further programs in our mission church and outreach ministries in Tarma, Peru and the Kingdom Kids after-school and tutoring programs. Thanks to all who donated and who worked all week getting ready for the sale!
Midweek Bible Study Resumes
Midweek Bible Study resumes this evening at 6:30pm in the Annex South classroom and continues the study of the Book of Matthew. All are welcome! If you are not able to join in person, please use the link below to join by Zoom.
Adventure Camp – Summer 2024
Peru Mission Trip Update
You are invited to prayerfully consider joining us on our next Mission Trip to Tarma, Peru! Our tentative dates are sometime in early August 2024. Estimated cost is approximately $1500 and is mostly dependent on the cost of the airfare. Please check off your interest in learning more on the yellow connect card.
Lenten 5 – 5 – 5 Project Update
Thank you for your support and involvement with our Lenten 5-5-5 congregational outreach project. We had a goal of receiving 500 items for NALC Disaster Relief Kits and Hygiene kits and collecting $500, all in 5 weeks’ time. We give thanks to God for the love and care you have extended and rejoice at His work through …
Resurrection Day Worship – March 31st
SOTW Happenings – March 30th
Good Friday Worship – March 29th
SOTW Happenings – March 30th
Easter Worship
Easter Saturday, March 30 5:30pm – Easter Worship with Holy Communion Easter Sunday, March 31 6:30am – “Sunrise” Easter Worship with Holy Communion 8:30am – Easter Worship with Holy Communion 10:30am – Easter Worship with Holy Communion (Live-Streamed) Please join us for a time of fellowship with coffee and snacks after Worship. It is our mission to spread the Gospel by …
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 …
Worship – Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Worship
Maundy Thursday, March 28 Join us for a traditional Maundy Thursday worship service with Holy Communion. The services will include a symbolic foot washing and will conclude with the stripping of the altar. Services are at Noon and 6:30pm. The Noon service is live-streamed. Good Friday, March 29 Join us as we reflect upon the death …
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 …
Worship – Palm Sunday, March 24th
SOTW Happenings – March 17th
Life Changer Campaign
Our Life Changer campaign this year has been so successful thanks to your generous donations. To date, we have raised funds to sponsor 37 children with a school uniform, shoes and a backpack – all required before a child can be registered for school in Peru! We will never be able to fully see the outcome of these children receiving …
Midweek Worship – March 20th
Lent is observed for the Forty Days beginning Ash Wednesday until Easter – excluding Sundays. Join us on a Lenten journey where we will reflect on the battles we face in life; powers & principalities, evil, darkness, the devil, and even attempts at identity theft as a child of God. We will delve into the scriptures to hear and …
Children’s Ministry Outing To Sunshine Park
Monday, March 18, at 10:30 am – Bring the kids out to enjoy some fresh air and burn off some energy during Spring Break! We’ll enjoy playtime and a picnic. Meet at Sunshine Park – located at 2514 S Beach Pkwy, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. There are cool playgrounds, a skate park, recreational fields, pickle …
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 …
SOTW Happenings – March 16th
Worship – March 17th
Pacetti Road Property Update
As of March 10th, we have a conditional closing on the property. We have signed all the closing documents and wired the money but it is being held in escrow until the seller follows through on their commitment to remove the shipping containers. Once that is completed, we will pass on our paperwork and funds …
Dine With Us – Australian Outback
Great job everyone! Dine with Us- Australian Outback was a huge success. You all worked so hard and it paid off as everyone had a wonderful time. Lots of compliments to you all for being kind, friendly, attentive and caring. You all raised about $1800 after expenses! Thank you to those who participated and a giant thank …
Yard Sale Update
Our annual Yard Sale will be Saturday, March 23rd and our storage pods have arrived! Please consider donating gently used items you no longer want – clothing, luggage, housewares, toys, seasonal decorations, electronics, bedding, lamps, decorative items, artwork, and even furniture and appliances. We kindly ask that you separate clothing, shoes and accessories as one pod will be …