Serve at Shepherd of the Valley

Caring Visitor  

When & Where  

As your schedule permits  
Shepherd of the Valley & locally 

What to Expect  

Friendly Visitors are a trained group of caring people who visit others within our congregation who aren’t able to attend church. 

When you sign up, you will receive a call to set up a time to get an information packet and some helpful guidance for making visits. We will work with your availability and comfort level to find the right match for you.

Church Council & Leadership Teams  

What are Leadership Teams?  

We actively encourage our lay members to be involved in the governance of the church. For some areas, specific expertise and/or related experience is needed. In other areas, a passion for the ministry is desired. . 

Interested?  

If you are interested in joining any of these groups, please complete an application and email it to nominations@sotv.org. 

Confirmation  

What is Confirmation Ministry at SOTV?  

Confirmation is a highly-relational faith formation program for students in grades 6 – 9. This program is designed to help students name and grow their unique, God-given gifts, with the invitation to use those gifts for service in the church and in the world. At baptism, parents and sponsors said, “Yes, God!” on the child’s behalf. Confirmation is the opportunity for a young person to grow, question, and explore so they may make the decision to take ownership of their faith and continue to say, “Yes, God!”

Volunteer with Children, Youth, and Family Ministry  

Overview  

Volunteers of all ages and abilities make every one of our programs possible! We need volunteers to help lead small groups, work on special projects, maintain worship bags, and so much more. Service opportunities are also a great way to fulfill NHS hours and other school or organization requirements for service. 

Facility Work at SOTV  

When & Where  

A time convenient for the volunteer  
Shepherd of the Valley (inside and outside) 

What to Expect  

Shepherd of the Valley has needs inside the building, such as helping facilities personnel complete periodic tasks. Work is also completed outside the building, which can include outside clean-up and landscaping.

Food Shelf Volunteer  

Current Volunteer Opportunities  

Most needed volunteers

Volunteers: (Tues or Thurs – 8:45 am – 12:45 pm or 12:30 – 4:30 pm) Stock/sort/pre-pack and shop with clients. Commitment twice per month.  
Volunteers: (Sat – 8:30 am – 12:30 pm). Stock/sort/pre-pack and shop with clients.  
Rescue Support volunteers: (Tues or Thurs – 8:30 am – 12:00 pm) Requires no client contact. Receive grocery store food, check dates, and stock shelves. Commitment twice per month.  
Monday truck delivery help: (9:30 am – 12:00 pm) Requires no client contact. Unload food items, stock shelves, refrigerators, and freezers. Must be able to lift 40lbs. Commitment twice per month.    

What to Expect  

The Food Shelf depends entirely on the support of our dedicated volunteers, whose efforts make it an invaluable resource for our community. We are deeply grateful for their commitment. We invite you to join our volunteer team and be part of an energized group focused on serving our neighbors. Your involvement will help us continue to provide essential support to those in need. Consider making a difference today! 

Training is provided for all volunteer positions. 

Other volunteer opportunities: 

Delivery support role: Volunteers work a couple of Monday shifts a month from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. 

Rescue support volunteer (RSVs): Volunteers work shifts on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday or Thursday mornings or 2nd and 4th Tuesday or Thursday mornings, approximately 2.5 – 3 hours. 

Food shelf volunteer (FSV) responsibilities: Volunteers need to commit to a minimum of two regular shifts each month. We work around vacations, etc. Shifts are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 1:30 pm or 1:00 – 4:30 pm.  

Interested? Contact the Food Shelf.

MN FoodShare March Campaign

Shepherd of the Valley partners with 360 Communities to operate Apple Valley’s only food shelf, located at 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road in Apple Valley, near the Minnesota Zoo. Contact the Food Shelf at 952.985.7388 (phones are answered during food shelf hours only). We typically assist 60 families weekly.   

Questions about the Food Shelf? Contact the Food Shelf at 952.985.7388 (phones are answered during food shelf hours only) or contact Shepherd of the Valley at 952.432.6351.   

To schedule an appointment, contact 360 Communities Burnsville office by calling 952.985.5300 Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 3:30 pm.   

Use your own bag, or for your convenience pick up a large orange “Food on the Fourth” shopping bag at the church, fill it with nonperishable food, and then return it to the SOTV collection bin located near the Welcome Desk at the main entrance. Inside the front pocket you will find a card requesting the most needed items. Use this as a suggestion, but feel free to provide your favorites. Thank you for supporting your neighbors and generously participating in the ways God provides for us all.  

Funeral Lead & Luncheon Volunteer  

When & Where  

Funeral lunches are generally held in the Great Hall, as needed. 

What to Expect  

Volunteers prepare, serve, and clean-up after the luncheon. Funeral Leads are always present to help train as needed. 

About this ministry: Four Funeral Leads take turns covering funeral lunches, and call rotating lists of volunteers as necessary. Each volunteer can agree to help when called, or decline if the date and time doesn’t work. This ministry allows the family and friends of the deceased to continue fellowship following the funeral service, and involves a large and enthusiastic group of volunteers.

Greeting Card Ministry  

When & Where  

As your schedule permits
In your home 

What to Expect  

Do you like to uplift people with a card and a personal message? Do you enjoy making homemade cards? Consider volunteering with the new greeting card ministry at SOTV. We will be sending cards to support our members during times of joy and challenge. If you are interested in writing cards, the commitment would be about 3-5 cards per month and cards are provided (stamps too if needed). If you are interested in making cards, we prefer the inside blank so the card can be used for a variety of occasions. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry  

When & Where  

This ministry combines knitting and/or crocheting and praying. At your own pace, make a prayer shawl for someone in need of prayer and support. 

What to Expect  

Click on the Instruction Sheet link for information about materials and directions. Jill Johnson has yarn available, or you can purchase your own. Once you’ve completed your prayer shawl, bring it to church. Pastors and parish nurses then give these shawls to people in the midst of health concerns, difficult situations, or grief. 

Library Volunteer  

When & Where  

Weekends or Monday nights  
Shepherd of the Valley Shepherd Room (by the Great Hall, Music Room, and Food Shelf) 

What to Expect  

There are two ways to volunteer in the library: 

Photographer  

When & Where  

Based on your availability  
Shepherd of the Valley & locally 

What to Expect  

A picture is worth a thousand words. If you enjoy photography, your gifts will tell great stories about Shepherd of the Valley’s ministry and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world. Photos of our ministry are used in endless ways – on the website, around the building, and in newsletters. 

Any and all skill levels are welcome, and a church camera is available for use – contact us to arrange for the camera use at 952.432.6351. 

Time slots through the volunteer link above are for the entire event. You are welcome to stay the entire time, or otherwise just get any photos you can! We love photos of the people involved in the event – participants and volunteers/staff. If you have any questions on what you’d be taking pictures of, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

To submit pictures taken, you can drop by with a cord to plug the camera into a computer, send a Dropbox link, put the photos on a CD or flash drive, or let us know what works best for you!

Prayer Shepherds  

When & Where  

Prayer Shepherds pray for people on our Prayer Concerns List, as part of their own prayer routines. 

What to Expect  

An updated Prayer Concerns List is available each week by email or by hard copy at the Welcome Center. Prayer Shepherds are asked to regularly pray for people on the list, and to maintain confidentiality of the listed concerns.

Quilting Groups  

Shepherd Quilters  

Every Wednesday  8:45 – 11:30 am  
Shepherd of the Valley (rooms 14/17) 

Golden Stitchers  

1st, 3rd, & 5th Thursdays of the month (except for month of July)  
9:00 – 11:30 am  
Shepherd of the Valley (rooms 12/13) 

What to Expect  

The quilting groups welcome all ages to join them. Coffee and treats are available, and it’s a great way to meet new people and socialize. Women, men, and youth are all invited! 

There are a variety of ways to help: 

Training will be provided if needed. If you like to sew, bring your own machine or use ours.  

What happens to the quilts? 

Shepherd Quilters donate to Children’s Hospital, homeless shelters, Ronald Mc Donald House and other organizations. The Golden Stitchers donate to missions, hospitals, and other organizations.

Welcome Center & Administration  

When & Where  

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and/or Thursdays: 
8:00 am – 12:00 pm  
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm  

Saturdays: 
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm  

Sundays: 
8:15 am – 10:15 am  10:15 am – 12:15 pm

What to Expect  

Welcome Center volunteers are the face of SOTV! Greet those in-person and on the phone, answer questions, and complete administrative tasks/projects.     

Interested? Please email Sam Heiting, Office Manager, for questions or to sign up! (Training is provided.)