Interim Pastor for Spring/Summer

Melissa Melnick will join our staff as a part-time Interim Pastoral Assistant for the period of April 17-August 27. She will assist with pastoral care as well as general pastoral duties including leading worship, preaching, and program participation or teaching. Melissa’s interim period coincides with Pastor Diane Sponheim’s sabbatical (April 21 - July 13) and our two mission trips to Tanzania led by Pastor Chris Smith (July 29 - August 12) and Pastor Randy Brandt (August 7-20).

Melissa is a 2014 graduate of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN with a Master of Divinity and is concluding her internship with Jacob’s Well, a church in Minneapolis. Much of Melissa’s pastoral care experience was developed during her internship as a chaplain with the Good Samaritan Society in Minneapolis, where she worked with traumatic brain injury residents and led chapel services. Before entering into ministry, Melissa worked as a Spanish and ESL teacher. Melissa has two sons. Her older son is in college studying to be a neurobiologist, and her younger son is in high school and active in local theater where they sing together in a madrigal group (an a cappella music group of secular and sacred music).

We look forward to the opportunity to partner with Melissa in ministry over the summer! Please give her a warm SOTV welcome!

Pastor Diane Sponheim To Take Sabbatical

Period of April 21 – July 13, 2014

Shepherd of the Valley supports the eligibility of a 12-week sabbatical for ELCA rostered staff leaders after seven years of service. A sabbatical is a time of leave from regular duties for rest, personal growth, reflection, study and renewal. Shepherd of the Valley’s ministry has greatly benefitted over the years by its rostered staff leaders being able to return from sabbaticals refreshed and revitalized.

Pastor Diane has been approved by the Church Council to partake in this important practice. Her studies will encompass pastoral leadership, faith practices and preaching. She will also spend time travelling and focusing on quality family time. This will be her first sabbatical.

During her sabbatical, Pastor Diane’s regular pastoral duties and tasks will be taken up by other pastors, staff members, and volunteers. We are also currently working with our Synod leaders to identify an Interim Associate to assist with worship and congregational care. This interim role may extend beyond Pastor Diane’s sabbatical period to assist while Pastor Chris and Pastor Randy lead back-to-back trips to Tanzania in July and August. 

Please keep Pastor Diane and her family in your prayers during this time of sabbatical. We are grateful for her years of service and happy to support her ministry in this important way.

Further updates will be communicated as they become available.