Squiggles Pillows

Have you met Squiggles? 

He's a caterpillar that hangs out with us in the Preschool and Kindergarten GodZone classes. Squiggles can be found on every page of the Spark Story Bible and has many adventures during our large group time.

At the end of every school year, Squiggles has a party to celebrate all of the wonderful stories we have read during the year. The party is capped off with a special gift from Squiggles. This year, the Shepherd Quilters, several wonderful volunteers, and GodZone program coordinator, Pam Tschida, teamed up to create a wonderful memory for our youngest GodZone students.

Work began in October on “Squiggles Pillows” with a morning of sewing and stuffing pillows to be given to students at the end of the school year.

What a wonderful partnership! Working together, they sewed and stuffed over 250 pillows! The kids were so excited to receive their pillow from Squiggles and couldn’t wait to show mom and dad. 

Our two quilting groups are always looking for new friends to cut, sew, and stitch! All skill levels are welcome and the finished pieces are all donated to charities such as Target House, LSS, or Union Gospel Mission. The Shepherd Quilters meet Mondays, 9-2 and the Golden Stitchers meet 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays, 9-Noon.

Below are photos of the quilters, the finished products, and their satisfied customers!

We're Having a Block Party!

Have you heard we’re planning a Neighborhood Block Party? It will be Saturday, September 6 outside in the SOTV parking lot on from 4-7pm.  Please help spread the word!

Many of you have urged us reach out more to our community. We agree! Connecting to our community is an important way to live out Our Vision to invite all people to experience the Welcome, Transformation, and Sending of Jesus Christ. So let’s do it! We will need your help to come and invite others to join you.

Our volunteer worship band led by Shawn Vaughan will provide live music. Volunteers and staff are donating supplies, setting up tents and helping run games. Dannelle will be cooking hot dogs and brats. This will be a low-cost event, but a fun way to connect with our neighbors. Banners will be up soon at our corner, and an invitational mailing will hit many area homes the first week of September. Invitations that you can give to friends and neighbors will be available at church entrances.

Worship will be inside at 5 pm, and the following week (September 13) we will shift to two service times on Saturday: 4:00 pm (band-led worship) and 5:30 pm (organ/piano-led).  In between services at 5:00 pm is a casual community and fellowship time we’ve dubbed the “Saturday Sampler.” Each week there will be special activities planned – something different each week!

You may have also heard that GodZone Christian education for Age 3 (by 9/1/14) – Grade 3 is now available at each worship time, including Saturdays. Register for fall.

We've timed the Neighborhood Block Party on purpose a week before this new Saturday schedule and fall programming starts, so that people can get connected into the life of Shepherd of the Valley. 

Please come to our Neighborhood Block Party, and bring a friend, or two. All are invited!

Revisions to GodZone & Confirmation 2014-15

Frequently Asked Questions


Shepherd of the Valley considers it a privilege to partner with families as their children grow in faith. GodZone is our Christian education program for Age 3 (by Sep. 1) - Grade 5. Confirmation is our Christian education program for Grades 6-9. Youth are invited to Affirm their Baptism in the fall of 10th grade.

 

The questions and answers below reference our revised 2014-15 schedule for GodZone, Age 3- Grade 5 and Confirmation, Grades 6-8. The schedule for Confirmation Grade 9 remains unchanged from last year.


How were the revised options for GodZone and Confirmation decided?

• Our Vision to invite all people to experience the Welcome, Transformation and Sending of Jesus Christ, led us to evaluate our worship, education, and supporting programs.
• We listened to feedback from members, administered surveys, sought advice from consultants and similar congregations, and engaged members for further advice and recommendations including a Children’s Ministry Task Force.
• We made adjustments to our initial plans based on this combined feedback and advice.

Why are there new sessions for GodZone on Saturdays?

• Starting in September, there will be a new worship schedule on Saturday with a band–led worship at 4:00 PM and organ/piano-led worship at 5:30 PM.
• There will also be an increased variety of music, hands-on service, food and fellowship on Saturdays for families.
• New GodZone sessions will provide more opportunities for families to be involved in worship, education and service.
• All music groups, including children and youth choirs and bells, will include Saturday performances on a rotational basis.

Why is GodZone divided between grade levels on Wednesday and Weekends?

• Consolidating sessions for each grade level will ensure the enrollments necessary to maintain quality, high-energy programming , effective group dynamics and motivations for student attendance.
• Data from GodZone 2011-14 enrollment and attendance indicates that the majority of PK-Grade 3 are more likely to enroll in a session time aligned with worship and Grade 4-5 are more likely to enroll in Wednesday sessions.
• The curriculum and objectives for Grade 4-5 are more focused on a readiness for confirmation. Aligning this group with confirmation on Wednesdays will provide opportunities to share service projects, parent resources and expectations for involvement in weekend worship.

Why is 3:15 Confirmation no longer offered on Wednesdays?

• 3:15 is inconvenient for students from local schools with the exception of Falcon Ridge students (who can walk across the street after dismissal).
• Immediately after school is not an optimal time for students to be in a structured learning environment.
• Attendance at 3:15 is very inconsistent due to seasonal participation in after school activities.
• It has been a difficult time to recruit youth and adult volunteers, and to establish parent involvement. SOTV believes that forming relationships to peers and mentors is critical to faith formation in young adults.

How will you support families whose children cannot attend the revised session times?

• A GodZone Home Edition will be available for parents to teach their children at home. Packets will be available once a month for parents to pick-up. Children’s Ministry Staff will also be available for specific grade level support.
• In Confirmation, we are excited to offer a weekend retreat + monthly small group option. Following the retreat, small groups will decide the day and time they will meet. Additionally, we are happy to provide you with resources for faith formation at home.

Why make changes at all if it will inconvenience some families?
God continually calls us to innovate and adapt program ministries to enrich opportunities for people of all ages to grow in faith and community. Several factors demanded that we reconsider and revise our options:

• Member feedback for more options that fit a busy family schedule
• Desire for programming at times when volunteers are more readily available
• Matching programming to an expanded worship schedule
• Group size and dynamics for quality programs
• Efficient use of staff resources and facility space

Further questions? Please contact:

Mim Campbell, Director of Children’s Ministry at (952) 985-7350 or Mim.Campbell@sotv.org
Katie Strand, Director of Youth Ministry at (952) 985-7360 or Katie.Strand@sotv.org


View revised 2014-15 Schedule for GodZone and Confirmation.