Volume 60 Issue 9 OCTOBER 2018

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

A CONGREGATION OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

Christian generosity begins with knowing who you are. As Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton often

reminds us, we are church, we are Lutheran, we are church together, and we are church for the sake

of the world. The last of these four emphases moves us from identity, who we are as Christ’s

church, to mission, what Christ sends us to do. Because we are here for the sake of the world, we

show Christ in how we relate to our neighbors, in our advocacy and generosity for those in most

need, and in our prayers for the whole world, even our enemies and persecutors.

In living for the sake of the world, we are following our Savior. After all, “Christ died for the

ungodly” (Rom. 5), and his words in Matthew 5 (NRSV) are clear: “[I]f you love those who love you,

what reward do you have? . . . And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you

doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

At the same time, we are also church together, supporting each other in our common calling. Your

support helps church workers in Tanzania, new leaders in your seminaries, and new ideas and con-

gregations in your Northern Illinois Synod. And you support one another in your daily lives as

Christians right here in Rockford.

One important way that happens is through the Helping Hands Fund. Not a part of the congrega-

tion’s regular budget, the Helping Hands Fund has aided several of your SVLC sisters and brothers

through difficult times. With your help God has made firm the footholds of many members of

Christ’s body here.

In fact, the Helping Hands Fund has been so important that this month I’m asking you to consider

making a special gift to replenish it. It’s not just that your brothers and sisters are grateful—

though in my experience they are overflowing with gratitude. It’s not even just that they have

been personally helped. More than that, I can attest to the witness you enable them to make as

Christians living among people who need hope: how they are spiritual rocks for their neighbors

and friends; how they show welcome to strangers.

In other words, in supporting your sisters and brothers you support their ministry, just as they wish

to support yours. They thank God for you, and so do I. And thanks to your generosity, the Help-

ing Hands Fund will continue to help us all share Christ’s love with the world.

SHEPHERD’S STAFF

IN OUR PRAYERS Intercessions: Nevagay Abel, Don Abel,

Alka David, Elizabeth David, Stu

Hoffman, Lisa Jones, Doris Kampfe,

Kevin Persaud, Carline Talmadge, Karl Anderson,

Doris Dohlen, John Miller, Hugh DeGroff, Alice

Schaefer, Robert Aken, Richard Farris, Graydon

Anderson, Catharine Edlen, Ronald Rice, Scott

Francis, Sam Horvath, Lyle Solko, Iona Reidlinger (niece of Linda Severson), Loretta Thompson (sister of

Linda Severson), Scott K. (husband of Karl Anderson’s

niece), Tyler Webb (son of Jordan Stork), Nancy Brandt

(Kay Brindles sister), Patty Stork (Jordan Stork’s

mother), Linda Finegan (friend of the Bailey family),

Charles Last (Judy Miller’s brother), Charlotte Sand

(mother of Kay Brindle, Lisa A (friend of Mark &

Laurie Pellant), Karen (Dave Musser’s sister), Keith

Sand (Kay Brindle’s brother), Sara Falth (Karl

Anderson’s sister), Pastor Jane McChesney, Pastor

Eric Lemonholm, those affected by the hurricane,

and the Stubbs family (missionaries in Tanzania).

Thanksgiving: Jeanne Retzer

(Please review this list and let either Pastor Scott or the church

office know when a name can be removed).

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 2

Keeping Shepherd of the Valley

Up to date

Please be sure to let the office of Shepherd of the Valley know when you have a change in

address, phone number or e-mail.

Please let the church office or Pastor Scott

know if there are items you would like to see

in the newsletter.

Become a Member Please speak with Pastor Scott after worship if you would like to be received into our

community of faith on All Saints Sunday,

November 4, 2018.

Library books The library committee has been doing an inventory of the library materials for the past few weeks and have noticed there arm many missing items

(books, etc.)

Please check around your house, in closets, in drawers, under beds, or any other place a book might hide, and if you find some that belong to Shepherd of the Valley’s Library, kindly return them.

Crafty Ladies Come join us on Monday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m. We will be making Blankets for the pre schoolers at Circles of

Learning to use during their rest time.

Living Vine

(Women’s Bible Study)

Join the women of Shepherd of the Valley

at 9:30 a.m. on October 15th for a women’s bible study. We are using the bible study

from the Gather magazine.

November 4th

Time to set

your clocks

back one hour.

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 3

Attendance statistics average are based on ATTENDANCE FROM

September 2 - September 23

Average attendance: 78

Financial reports

Faith Forum Join us in Shepherd Hall (down the hall from the

office), 11:00-11:45 A.M. most Sundays for Faith Forum (a.k.a. Adult Forum). Each month we'll

typically follow this pattern:

1st Sunday of the month: Together in Faith

(informal coffee and conversation in Moline Hall)

2nd Sunday of the month: Living Lutheran

(discussing last month’s Living Lutheran Maga-

zine)

3rd Sunday of the month: Connecting the Faith

(how our faith matters in the world)

4th Sunday of the month: Deepening the Faith

(topics to deepen our roots in the faith)

Mark your calendars

Get your offering counting questions

answered and see how it’s done on Sunday,

October 14, in

Shepherd Hall at 11:00 a.m.

In February Deaconess Cheryl

Erdmann toured India with a

delegation from the Northern Illinois Synod and spent time with the

Arcot Lutheran Church, companion synod to Northern Illinois Synod.

On October 7th at 11:00 a.m. hear

Cheryl talk about her experiences.

Kids At Heart

The next outing

will be October 30.

Plans are being made to go to Ed-

wards Apple

Orchard.

Watch the Kiosk and the weekly

announcement sheet for details.

Financial results as of August 31, 2018 and Year to date totals

C & B C & B C & B YTD C & B YTD

Actual Budget Actual Budget

Income $13,477.30 $12,875.00 $119,053.84 $117,100.00

Expense $15,210.32 $16,347.29 $134,525.56 $130,172.05

Inc/exp -$1,733.02 -$3,472.29 -$15,471.72 -$13,072.05

plus offsets $864.74 $440.67 $9,645.09 $4,235.34

Net income -$868.28 -$3,031.62 -$5,826.63 -$8,836.71

8/31/18 7/31/18

C&B balance $1,502.05 $2,400.33

Building Building BLD YTD BLD YTD

Actual Budget Actual Budget

Income $1,490.00 $2,060.37 $14,385.00 $17,137.52

Expense $2,220.00 $2,220.00 $17,760.00 $17,760.00

Net inc/exp -$730.00 -$159.63 -$3,375.00 -$622.48

8/31/18 7/31/18

Building fund balance $11,880.45 $12,610.45

Please note: Financials run one month behind in the bulletin

Balance on our mortgage - $272,981.15

Note: Our challenge is to give 5% more than you pledged!

Co-Sponsored by Rockford Deanery Council of Catholic Women and North conference of the Northern Illinois Synod Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 4

School is once again back in session. The 4’s and 3’s are adjusting very well to their new routine. Both classes will be going to Valley Apple Orchard the end of September if we don’t get ex-cessive rain the days we are sched-uled to go!

Until next month: Shepherd of the Valley pre-school.

Saturday, October 20

10:00-11:30 a.m.

Zion, Belvidere

Coffee with the Bishop

22nd Annual Ecumenical Benefit Brunch Saturday, October 6, 2018

9 - 11:30 a.m.

St. Bernadette Catholic Church

2400 Bell Avenue, Rockford, IL

Far Away and in our Backyard-

Continuing our conversations…

Human Trafficking

Come and hear what wonderful things One Body Collaborative is doing in Rockford.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 21. Meet Mary Pulliam, Senior Director of Church Relations. Learn the many ways you can serve the Rockford community.

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 5

Katie’s Cup

502 7th Street

Rockford, Il

7:00—8:30 p.m.

Just Show Up

October 14

November 11

December 9

January 13

February 10

March 10

April 14

May 12

FOOD

Music

Games

Praise

Worship

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 6

Good News? Do you have good news in your world that you would like to share with your brothers and

sisters in Christ? A graduation? A new baby? A winning effort? Let Judi know so it can be

put in the monthly newsletter. Share your good news!

On Sunday, October 28, five young people will make affirmation of their

baptism before God and the congregation. Keep them in your prayers as they enter the next phase of their Christian life.

Tanner Jacob Bailey

Gina Therese Fiorenza

Anthony William Thomas Fiorenza

William David McGinnis

Cayla Sidney Purvis

On Sunday,

November 4, we will be welcoming new members to

our congregation.

November 4th is All Saints Sunday

and we remember the following saints who have left this world to

meet their heavenly Father this

year:

Lyle Nelson

Jan Carter

Alice Kundo

Marshall Holmgren

Bruce Pearson

Destiny Tolodxi

Saturday, October 6th at 6:00pm till 9:30pm (event cancelled if raining)

8321 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL (South of Cherry Vale Mall on Perryville Road)

Hosted by Fellowship Committee Hot Dogs, Chili, S’mores and Hot Cider

Please bring chair bags for seating

FALL BONFIRE

AT THE BAILEYS

OCTOBER 2018 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 7

Discovering Hope; Building Vitality in Your Congregation The Discovering Hope; Building Vitality in Your Congregation conference is sponsored by the Congregational Vitality Team, ELCA Domestic Mission. The event is being held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 200 S. Main St., Washington, IL, on Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We gladly invite your congregation to

send a team (pastor and at least two lay

people, or at least three lay people if the

pastor is unable to attend). This

conference will energize congregational leaders as they listen to Pastor Nancy

Nyland, event leader, and building

relationships with other congregations to

the synods who share similar

characteristics

Contact Pastor Gary Erickson at gerickson@nisynod.org, 815-289-6055.

Rockford Area Lutheran Night Hershey Bears vs. Rockford Ice Hogs

BMO Harris Bank Center

Sunday, October 14, 2018

4:00 start, 3:00 doors open

Tickets: $14 each

A portion of each ticket sold through this promotion will be donated back to the Rockford Area Lutheran

Ministries and Greater Rockford Area Lutheran

Schools.

For group tickets (15 or more) contact Amy Hoening

at RALM 815-962-4279 or ralmmail@aol.com.

For individual tickets contact Ryan Woodrow at

815-847-6383 or woodrowr@icehogs.com.

Orders due no later that Friday, October 5th.

A KATIE’S CUP CONVERSATION

Tuesday, October 9

11 a.m. - Noon

Focus on Mental Illness Awareness

Presenter: Danielle Angileri,

Executive Director of the National Alliance on

Mental Illness (NAMI) Northern Illinois

KATIE’S CHOICE BOOK CLUB

Thursday, October 11 10:00 a.m.

The Sweetness at the bottom of the Pie

By Alan Bradley

“If ever there was a sleuth who’s bold, bril-liant, and, yes, adorable, it’s Flavia de Luce,

the precocious eleven-year-old at the center of the scrumptious first novel.” - USA Today

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (ELCA)

2715 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61109

Phone: 815-399-5503 E-mail: svlcsecretary@att.net

On The Web: www.shep61.org.

Office Hours, Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Rockford, IL

Permit No. 4261

Officers of the Congregation

President - Carol Bailey Vice-President - Sherry Scheider Secretary - Janette Erickson Treasurer - Phil Smalley

Congregation Council

Carol Bailey Liz Beale Janette Erickson

Rhoda Fox

Vicki Nitz

Sherry Scheider

Zane Smalley

Bob Tukker

Peggy Wenstrom

Don Wiese

John Wolf

Staff

The Rev. Scott Benolkin, Pastor

Judi Fields, Secretary

Linda Longardner, Organist

Phil Smalley, Treasurer

Susie Smalley, Music Coordinator

Patte Lund, Christian Education

Anita Ralston, Custodian