SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH (SOTV)

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Social Concerns & Justice www.sotv.org | June/July 2011 | News for the Flock Bi-monthly THANK YOU! “Fill the Ark” Weekend Thanks to all who bought “living gifts” and enjoyed the petting zoo (despite the cold and snow flurries!) Thanks to you, we raised over $8,600 that Heifer International will use to purchase livestock for our needy brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe. Doesn’t it feel great to be aprt of something so life-changing Our God is an awesome God. Thrivent Builds/ Habitat for Humanity Many thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who worked at the Shakopee site in May! By giving of your time and talents, you have helped a family realize home ownership. What a wonderful gift! Garage Sale Thank you to everyone who supported the SOTV Garage Sale for Children in Need. We are thankful for those who donated, shopped and volunteered to work before, during and after the sale. The majority of the sale proceeds go to children in our community. Proceeds from the sale of bikes go to purchase bikes for our sister parish in Tungamalenga. Total proceeds will be published in an upcoming newsletter. LSS Spotlight: Disaster Services Lutheran Social Service (LSS) provides disaster recovery services throughout Minnesota. In the past, recovery services have been provided in places affected by floods and tornadoes. These services include long-term disaster case management, volunteer coordination, rebuild assistance, mental health supports, financial counseling and other related disaster recovery services. Volunteers are utilized to provide valuable physical help, and to offer families great comfort by simply showing up and letting them know that they are not alone. In addition to the services listed above, LSS also provides a camp for children who live in areas affected by disaster called Camp Noah. It’s a safe, caring and fun environment with curriculum specifically designed to help children heal by processing their disaster experience. You can visit www.lssmn.org/disaster to learn more about disaster services. If you would like to find out more about SOTV's relationship with LSS and how you can be involved please contact the LSS Ambassadors at lssambassadors@sotv.org or Brandon Newton at (952) 985-7361. 18 Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church | (952) 432-6351 | Our Vision: Gather, Grow, & Give in Christ
News for the Flock Bi-monthly | June/July 2011 | www.sotv.org Social Concerns & Justice Our Daily Bread Food Shelf The number of people that receive food stamps in the Unites States hit a record 44.2 million in January. That's up 4.7 million from a year ago. In Minnesota, almost a half a million people benefit from this program. Today, one in seven Americans receive food stamps, the highest share of the population ever to do so, according to the Food Research and Action Center. (CNN Money) Food shelf demand has remained fairly stable with around 20 families visiting most weeks. To meet demand and increase our capacity, the food shelf is creating partnerships with neighboring congregations, Second Harvest Food Bank and even Costco to ensure a steady stream of donations and to make our dollars stretch further. SOTV members in need of help from our food shelf can work with one of our pastors or contact 360Communities at (952) 985-5300. Caring for Creation WATER - THE GIFT OF LIFE. We can live about three days without it, but without water, no food, or anything else, can be grown. Minnesota has more lakes and rivers than any of the other states except Alaska and Hawaii, making us among the most fortunate people of the world for our access to clean water. More than one of every six people in the world do not have access to it. On average, women and girls in those areas walk four miles each day to carry 5 gallons, 42 pounds, of water that is often not clean back to where they live. More than two million people in developing countries, most of them children, die each year from diseases associated with unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. In the decade preceding 2006, bottled water sales tripled, to $11 billion per year. Since then, they have nearly doubled to $21 billion per year, equaling the total spent on all U.S. water systems. That annual amount, in eight years, would pay for water wells for approximately one billion people, nearly all of those who currently lack it. SOTV is having a “Walk for Water” this year to provide a new well for the Tungamalenga Parish. We need to support it and make it a success! See more details on page 17. Fair Trade Coffee A variety of delicious coffees, teas, cocoa, and chocolate is available for purchase every third weekend of the month (after Saturday worship and between Sunday worship). Purchasing fair trade items helps people in other communities feed and shelter their children as well as improving schools and healthcare. Volunteer Opportunities: Summertime Get Away for Housing Families Lutheran Social Service (LSS) has housing developments for families living at the poverty level. Each year the housing department sponsors a summertime get away for the families in LSS housing. This is a chance for families to enjoy each other, feel supported and take a break from their crisis filled worlds. When: Thursday, July 14th Where: Como Park Pavilion Volunteer Needs: (you can volunteer for any or all of the following) Drivers to pick up families and bring them to the park at 10:00 AM and drivers to take them home at 4:00 PM People to do face painting, fish pond, paint nails etc. setting up a carnival type atmosphere for the children 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon (A great opportunity for youth) People to enjoy the zoo with families and assist them in meeting the needs of their children at the zoo. If you are interested in volunteering, or for more information call Cindy Johnson at (612) 578-6830 or e-mail cindy.johnson@lssmn.org. Honor the Military Special Recognition Service Saturday, July 2 at 5 PM Reception to follow worship Help us honor those who have served our country, veterans, active military and their families. After the service there will be hot dogs, beverages and cookies. A special display of military vehicles will be available. The owners will be on hand to tell the history of their vehicles. Our Vision: Gather, Grow, & Give in Christ | (952) 432-6351 | Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church 19
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