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Visiting Worship FAQ
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Who may attend
worship services?
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Where is
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, and how do I get there?
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Can I worship anonymously, without being singled out as a Visitor?
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What
is the worship service like?
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I've heard lots of fire and brimstone at other churches.
What are the sermons like at Shepherd of the Valley?
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How much will it cost me?
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What is the length of a typical worship service?
Membership FAQ
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What's so important about being a church member anyway?
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Do I have to be a member to attend worship services or other
events?
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What is the process for joining Shepherd of the Valley and
becoming a member?
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WELS?
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I've moved away from my home WELS church, but it's
hard to actually go through with transferring my membership. What should I do?
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Do I need to be a member of Shepherd of the Valley to have
my wedding there?
Anyone.
Visitors are always welcome. Join us Sunday mornings at 10:30 and you will find
a delightful group of people representing all ages and walks of life - local
college students, veteran members of long years, families and singles.
We are located at 121 Sheyenne
St. in West Fargo, just south of Main Street.
<< Map to SOTV >>
Where
do I park?
Shepherd of the Valley has a
parking lot on the north side of the building. Many people also park across
the street in the parking lot of Furniture for Less.
Where
do I enter?
You can enter the glass doors
on the south or west side of the building by the church sign. The hallway as
you enter will direct you to the worship area.
Most certainly. Aside from a
warm and friendly greeting from the pastor, and an usher who hands you a worship
service guide and hymn book, we'll let you become comfortable with the new
surroundings without being too noticed.
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At Shepherd of the Valley we
worship with a meaningful blend of old and new, in an attempt to worship God
with reverence and awe. Our structured, rather than spontaneous, order of
service allows visitors to see what's ahead. We hope the worship experience
will inspire you to greater heights of joy, and the relevance of our messages
will guide you with new insight for the week ahead.
The sermons at Shepherd of the
Valley are intended, more than anything, to communicate God's Word in a way that
21st century people appreciate and understand. We strive to bring the Bible to
life, making its timeless truths relevant for today's world. From the first
words to the final "Amen," our pastor speaks on the level of the listeners to
give messages of God's grace and guidance.
We want to give
something to you when you visit, not take something from you. Although an
offering is gathered during our worship service, it is done so as an opportunity
for our members to express their faith and love toward God and others by
participating in the mission of our church. Visitors need not feel obligated to
contribute, and are not expected to do so
45 minutes to 1
hour.
It's not so much the status
of church membership that's important, but the activity associated with it. The
title "member" simply recognizes that a person is engaging in the activities
that the Bible has defined for the church. These activities are important for
three reasons.
Most importantly, these
activities, like hearing God's Word and receiving Baptism or Holy Communion, connect
us to God's mercy and might – they strengthen our faith, increase our hope, and
rekindle our love. Secondly, activities like Bible studies, public worship,
service projects, ministry programs, and even church outings connect us with
other Christians in a bond of fellowship and unity; they also allow us to
connect with others to love and serve them. Finally, activities like those
mentioned above give us greater opportunity to praise God, thank him for our
blessings, and use the gifts that he has given us to honor him in a way we might
not be able to do on our own.
No. Our worship services, Bible
studies, and fellowship activities are all open to members and visitors. We
actually plan for visitors to attend, and make every effort to welcome them
warmly. While we hope that visitors will consider membership (engaging in and
enjoying the activities mentioned above), we don't pressure anyone to join.
Membership is essentially a
participation in the activities mentioned above, including an agreement on their
Biblical basis. Therefore, those who wish to join may wish to become familiar
with our programs and activities, and will certainly want to inquire about our
beliefs and teachings. In the end, the beliefs and teachings of a church, and
their Biblical basis, establish fellowship and full participation between
members more than any program.
Members of congregations who
belong to our church affiliation (the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod or
the Evangelical Lutheran Synod) are already in fellowship with us, since the
congregations in these church bodies believe and teach the same Bible truths. If
such a member wishes to join Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, it is
called a "transfer" of membership. The procedure includes:
1. Contact Pastor David Bitter
at Shepherd of the Valley to arrange an informational meeting. E-mail works
best at
sotvrev@ideaone.com or call the church office at 701-277-8481.
2. Contact the pastor of your
present WELS or ELS church and request a transfer of membership to Shepherd of
the Valley.
3. The church leaders at both
churches will want to be informed of your decision, so that they can adjust
their administration appropriately. This normally happens in the regularly
scheduled meeting of a church council.
4. Once the Shepherd of the
Valley Church Council has confirmed your transfer of membership, you will be
notified. Soon afterwards, you will be welcomed as a member at one of our
worship services.
5. Our intent for new members
is to inform you and involve you, at first through regular attendance and
activity, and later through a special, meaningful task or role in the church's
ministry.
Other church or unchurched
There are many different church
denominations, even Lutheran denominations that believe and teach many different
things. For this reason, we offer our popular "Growing in Hope" Bible
Information Class to those from other churches, or no church background at all,
who wish to become more familiar with our teachings. This is a natural
expectation if such people are considering membership at Shepherd of the Valley.
Although the Bible Information
Class prepares people for membership at Shepherd of the Valley, it does not
obligate anyone to join. The class is taught by Pastor Bitter and the 15-session
series meets at various times during the year generally in the evening.
Through Bible exploration and
insightful discussions, participants come to appreciate a comfortable and casual
atmosphere where any question is welcome and receives a Bible-based response.
Topics studied include:
• how to be sure you're right with God
• creation and evolution – compatibility or conflict?
• Jesus Christ, what he did, and what it means for us today
• the essence of faith (you'll be surprised)
• a Biblical explanation of Baptism and Holy Communion
• where the Bible comes from and why it is so reliable
• the real meaning of Judgment Day
• and more ...
Participants may have scheduling
conflicts that cause them to be absent on some evenings. This is normal, so the
pastor gladly schedules "make-up" classes as needed.
When the Bible
Information Class is completed, participants may choose to join Shepherd of the
Valley as a member by expressing agreement with our beliefs, or wait to learn
more, or search for a different church home
Interestingly, the church
leaders at your home church may be wondering the same thing. One of the
statements that church membership makes is, "Please care for me spiritually,
as I seek to serve God at this church." Absentee membership can certainly be
a part of any transition or move, but as it continues for months, and maybe
years, it becomes unhealthy for the member and a concern for the church.
Our pastor is experienced and
understanding in helping WELS members on the move handle the joys, memories,
connections, and moving pains of leaving family and friends from another church.
We prefer to view it, however, not as a separation but as an expansion.
Membership at Shepherd of the Valley will not prevent anyone from going back
"home" to a previous church, nor will it cut off meaningful memories and
relationships. It will offer yet another church home where even more connections
with fellow believers can be made.
No. However, we do give preference in scheduling to
members, and ask non-members to discuss their plans with the pastor.
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