New Life. Shepherd theof Valley. at Shepherd of the Valley. Lutheran Church. Building Hours Saturday - Thursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Closed on Fridays

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1 New Life at Shepherd of the Valley Building Hours Saturday - Thursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Closed on Fridays Shepherd theof Valley Lutheran Church Johnny Cake Ridge Road Apple Valley, MN Find us on Facebook at Shepherd of the Valley- Apple Valley, MN and on

2 WORSHIP Worship Times: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 8:30 am, 9:45 am, 11:00 am, & 5:00 pm New BREAKING BREAD Breaking Bread meets in the Great Hall on Sundays at 5:00 pm 92 Baptized 117 Students Confirmed New Members: 56 This is very different than our other worship services, and different than anything I ve seen in other places, says Pastor Wendy Steger. There is no big sanctuary, no rows of seating, and we encourage talking during worship. We weave dinner right into the service, and follow dinner with the celebration of Holy Communion. People of all ages have found this experience very meaningful, and appreciate the opportunity to tailor it to their needs. Families with young children enjoy the freedom of letting the kids move back and forth between their table and a children s table. The one-hour service features songs led by acoustic guitar, scripture and a message from one of the pastors, dinner with light discussion questions, communion, prayers, and a blessing. A father with small children said, Breaking Bread is like stepping back to a time when life was smaller, when faith and community were integrally entwined. There is strength of connection that deepens my faith and stills my heart when I have a meal, literally break bread, with my family. And the casual, comfortable atmosphere reassures me of the ever present nature of God s love and grace. Worship 293 Services 77,602 Worship Participants Your offerings to the General Fund support worship. The anticipated cost for directly related staff and expenses next year is $417,779. We hope Breaking Bread reaches people who don t already have a church community. We know that traditional church isn t right for everyone, but God s grace is. - Pastor Wendy "Attending services is a great way for me to check in on my faith. Worship is a time for me to collect my thoughts about my journey and where I am lacking in my interactions with God and with others. I am also very involved in our spectacular music programs and by participating in such a way, I can give back a little to others, but take away countless more from others in witnessing their expressions of God s love." - Jim

3 New FAITHCONNECT LEARN 153 Small Study Groups FaithConnect and FaithBasics classes were new opportunities this year to connect faith to life, and God s people to one another. All classes included large group and small group components, opportunities for questions and discussion, and an opportunity to get to know the pastors and their teaching styles. The first FaithConnect class, called God s Purpose, My Purpose, was led by Pastor Wendy last fall. That class started with a broad understanding of God s plan, and narrowed each week to focus on each person s gifts and call for this season in life. 3,625 Participants in Learn Events All pastors led different nights in the FaithBasics series this winter. Each class helped people better understand core components of the Christian faith like God, Jesus, and the Bible. The spring FaithConnect series Jesus said WHAT? examined different statements by Jesus that were confusing, then and now. Watch for more FaithConnect and FaithBasics classes next year! I appreciated the thoughtful discussions and lessons, and meeting some great new people from the congregation. - Rachel We decided to participate in the FaithConnect Series knowing that we have made such great connections the first time we participated. It also gave Dennis and I an opportunity to study the Bible with other members of the church. We have had great discussions as to how the Bible verses apply to us today. - Maria Favorite part about GodZone: Grace and Alex (her high school leaders). - Kinley I love working with the kids and watching them grow as people and expand in their faith! It s such a fun experience for me to learn and grow with them! - Alex Our Men s Bible Study has been meeting since As a group, we choose our studies. Our discussions are very thorough, but the best part is the fellowship we share and provide for each other. In the years we ve met, every one of us has experienced some trial - whether it be the loss of job; death of a loved one; our own serious illness or illness of a family member. We are there to provide the care, comfort, and prayers we need for each other. - Rolf Your offerings to the General Fund support children, youth, and adult learning. The anticipated cost for directly related staff and expenses next year is $600,155.

4 CONNECT New YOUNG ADULTS Young Adults group, commonly referred to as the 20s/30s Group, welcomes singles and couples, with or without children. People involved in the group take turns hosting monthly events, at church or in the community. Activities so far have included a variety of service projects, fellowship gatherings, and learning events. Learn more about this ministry at sotv.org/young-adults. 20s/30s group has been an impactful ministry in my life. We have participated in service projects, faith-based learning and created lasting friendships with other young adults in the congregation. - Rachel 323 Participants in Summer Camps & ties Service Opportuni SOTV COLLECTIONS: BACKPACKS & HYGIENE KITS UNITS OF BLOOD (helps 183 people) WINTER OUTERWEAR ITEMS 1,991 CHRISTMAS GIFTS 654 SOTV consum es 924 doug hnuts and co at fellowsh okies ip followin g Saturday Sunday wors and hip. SHERIDAN STORY 29 kids get weekend food support EASTER DINNERS EASTER BASKETS BIRTHDAY BAGS QUILTS 32 3, TOTAL ITEMS COLLECTED pport e General Fund su Your offerings to th ns tio ec service conn our fellowship and us. nd ou d the world ar with each other an d an ff sta st for Connect The budgeted co ar is $331,523. expenses next ye

5 New EMERGENCY SHELTER IN DAKOTA COUNTY Many churches have worked with Matrix Housing Services and Dakota County staff to provide overnight shelter from November through March. Shepherd of the Valley has offered financial and staffing support by: Purchasing all of the shelter s mattresses (through the Capital Fund) Preparing and serving meals Donating all proceeds from the Community Chest event Providing and serving a hot meal to the residents was an amazing experience. Talking with some of the young men (who are the same age as my own child) really tugged at my heart. These kids have powerful stories to share and were very open to doing so. While some admitted making a couple of bad mistakes, the other stories centered on the lack of affordable housing. Everyone seemed very eager to get on a different path. - Lisa We received many heartfelt thank-you s from those that came through the food line. They appreciated the fact that people cared enough about them to take the time out of their day to provide a hot meal for them. It was a fun and rewarding experience for all the members of our group who helped plan and serve that night. - Ken GREET usher SING 130 SERVE TOGETHER PARTICIPANTS WAYS PEOPLE SERVE THROUGH SOTV: PAINT PLAY AN INSTRUMENT READ SCRIPTURE SERVE COMMUNION VOLUNTEER IN THE FOOD SHELF 5,396 ADULTS & CHILDREN BENEFITED FROM OUR FOOD SHELF IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS serve meals PRAY FOR OTHERS DO YARDWORK TECH SUPPORT MAKE SANDWICHES teach PREPARE MEALS PLAN VISIT make coffee WRITE ARTICLES PICK UP GROCERIES ASSEMBLE GIFT BAGS GIVE BLOOD KNIT PRAYER SHAWLS MAKE WOODEN CROSSES SEW QUILTS TAKE PICTURES clean out worship activity bags DONATE FOOD TUTOR DRIVE create birthday bags CALL DONATE NEW AND USED ITEMS DELIVER TIE BLANKETS FILL BACKPACKS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES THOUSANDS Impacting THOUSANDS of people in our church, our community, and the world!

6 New CARE FRIENDLY PHONE CALLS Knowing Jesus involves knowing God s love, healing, comfort, and care through our relationships with others. During the past year, some individuals from Shepherd of the Valley have been on a mission to call as many members of the congregation as possible, simply to let them know that we care about them. In the past year, these callers spent five nights calling 2,200 families. Although we left many voic s, we were able to talk with 500 people! Through those conversations, we were able to hear about life s joys and struggles, plus offer care when needed. It was a wonderful way to share God s love with just a simple phone call. The call made my day! Even my teenagers appreciated hearing that our church cares about us. - Dave Friendly 32 Visitors I love the Friendly Visitor program; I ve made two great friends. They shared wisdom from their experiences, which I realized were answers to my prayers. The Friendly Visitor program has shown me how the Holy Spirit works for good, in and through us, to the very moment we re taken home. I m grateful for ways the staff have reached out to my son experiencing anxiety and depression. The personalized attention has really helped him get through a hard time. Support Groups Available 16 The current mantra is FAITH, FRIENDS, FAMILY, and FUN brought to us by Linda Sundquist (breast cancer) who wore a new hat every Sunday during Chemotherapy. "Healing is the process of integrating the body, mind, and spirit to create wholeness, health, and a sense of well-being, even when the person s illness is not cured." New COLUMBARIUM OVER 1,560 Prayer Requests This Year The SOTV Prayer Ministry is an important part of my daily life, and I m honored to be called a Prayer Shepherd. It s comforting to know that as people of God we pray for each other s joys, sorrows, and concerns. The Columbarium and Memorial Garden is a place for peaceful meditation and prayer among those we have loved and whose lives and service we wish to remember. Your offerings to the General Fund support our Care ministries. The budgeted cost for Care staff and expenses next year is $191,707. Thank you for making our wedding experience at Shepherd easy and memorable. We have had so much fun preparing for our big day! We appreciate your time, guidance, and expertise. Funerals This Year 33 When my husband died, Pastor Duane came to visit and brought a prayer shawl made by one of the SOTV members. This has been a real comfort to me. Now, as I am adjusting to my new life, SOTV is there for me. So many people have been very supportive and caring.

7 LETTER FROM PASTOR RICK Numbers are everywhere. There are courses and majors and jobs that focus solely on using and understanding numbers. Certainly when we think of budgets, we don t expect to see much more than a list of numbers. Numbers appear throughout the Bible too 3,000 baptized at Pentecost, 40 days and nights, 12 disciples. In the Bible, though, the purpose of the numbers is to support the experience. Forty days and nights indicates a long time. Only in God s economy does five loaves and two fish add up to 12 baskets full of leftovers 12 being the biblical number that stands for wholeness and perfect abundance. Stories are the best way to share how lives are changed. Stories show us the mysterious, astonishing, transforming power and presence of our relentlessly loving God. Our God who cares about all human beings - including us everywhere and all the time. Think about it. Chaos to order. Slavery to freedom. The hungry fed. The homeless sheltered. Providing for the poor. Comforting the grieving. Healing the sick. While God is certainly not limited, God has chosen to work primarily through the head and heart and hands of human beings, through the stories we make. It started with the likes of Abraham and Moses, Sarah and Miriam. It was most fully true in Jesus. Now, the Spirit carries on through Christ s body - the church and each and every one of us are called and empowered to love God and neighbor through our actions. It s a great story! So, instead of simply offering numbers, we share some of our SOTV stories, showing how thousands of lives have been impacted in the past year. In addition to those stories supported by the General Fund, each month we see the continuing impact of our Capital Campaign contributions. These dollars have helped us care for our facility so that it can be the place where ministry both happens and starts. We have lowered our debt by nearly $600,000 over the past year, which will enable even more ministry when it is eliminated. We have directly impacted lives through a number of benevolence projects, including building a primary school in Mpalapande, Tanzania! Because the Spirit moves among us, leading us in new and different directions, we don t just keep doing the same things over and over again. There are always new opportunities to worship, learn, connect, and care! We tried several new initiatives this past year, which you ll see among the stories. Imagine where God might be leading us next! We are called to make new stories to share, to continue to impact lives with God s transforming love, to strengthen our outreach to our community and around the world. Thank you for your generous support, so that we can tell stories of lives made better because of our shared ministry. I m excited to report that our giving has trended upward this year! But if we are to keep growing our impact, we need to continue to grow in our generosity. Please consider a special one-time gift to the general fund, or increase your regular giving by one-percent or more of income. For fun, figure out what your favorite beverage or snack costs per week and give that amount extra to support our ministry. Watch for special opportunities throughout the year for gifts to particular ministries supported by the general fund. We all can do something that will make a difference. The old saying was Good things come to those who wait. Recently, an airline commercial has turned the old adage on its head. Good things come to those who go! God s relentless love in Jesus has already given us so many good things. May we respond to that love by giving generously, so that we might continue to go with gusto, doing God s work with our hands. There are so many more stories to tell BUDGETED EXPENSES AUGUST 1, JULY 31, 2019 Each expense area includes staff and expenses that are directly related. Worship: $417,779 Learn: $600,155 Connect: $331,523 Care: $191,707 Facilities: $444,782 Administration (supports all ministry): $795,820 Total expenses listed here are $2,781,766. Actual budgeted expense for next year is $2,663,334, when adjusting for 95% staffing, and fiscal year vs. calendar year benefit costs.

8 IN REVIEW Holy Week Pack the Pews Food Drive Putting feet to our faith Breaking Bread Thanksgiving Eve Worship with Comedian Brenda Elsagher Feed My Starving Children Emergency Shelter in Dakota County Christmas Eve CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING Halloween Spooktacular with Trunk or Treat The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting Spring FaithConnect Series: All Church Serve Together