Neurologist Dr. Leon Barkodar will speak about Alzheimer's at the first of SOV's "Gather, Share, Learn" events. Come and learn more about this disease, which so often affects our families and our friends. Everyone is invited, so please extend an invitation to anyone in the community who might be interested in this subject.

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The Vision Committee's "Gather, Share, Learn" program revolves around the skills, talents, and/or interests that God has bestowed on each of you. Share them at a monthly gathering with our congregants and our neighboring community. While we might not be able to use every idea we would love to hear yours. If you feel called to serve as a moderator for an event, we would love to hear from you, too. We are also taking submissions of ideas for our marquee on Kittridge Street. Thanks to Arlene and Vlad Fajnor who have volunteered to help with maintaining the marquee.

Please fill out the attached form and return it to any of the following Vision Committee members: Chip Lee, Murray and Stephanie MacLeod, Julie Rowland, Sharon Van Velzer, and Bryan Golnick. Together we are one body.

Selected Calendar Items for this Week:

Thursday, August 27

10:00 a.m. TK-6 New Student Orientation

Monday, August 31
6:00 p.m. Spiritual Yoga with Julie

Tuesday, September 1
7:00 p.m. Alzheimer's Talk - Dr. Leon Barkodar, Neurologist

Wednesday, September 2
9:30 a.m. First Day of School - Begins in Chapel

Anniversary Sunday on September 6

If you have a significant (five-year intervals or 50 years and up) wedding anniversary this year, please indicate so on the attendance registration form or contact the church office so that we may include you in the anniversary celebration.

September is Back to Education at SOV!

Sunday School--

Sunday Mornings,
9:00-9:30 a.m.

Preview Sunday, September 6

Kick Off Celebration, September 13

Sunday School is open to all ages. We begin in Founders Hall with Pastor Bryan introducing the theme and story. The lesson continues in small groups, using age-appropriate material. Adults will have the opportunity to form a Weekly Word group to meet during this time. Volunteers will be needed to teach and help with small groups, assist with preparation and light clean up, and provide snacks. Coffee, juice and fellowship will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Younger children can remain in supervised care during worship, while older children will be provided with activities related to the Sunday School lesson they may complete during the sermon.

Confirmation and Youth --

Resume on Wednesday, September 16, 7-8:30 p.m. Grades 6-8 meet together (and in mentor groups), while grade 9 transitions into High School youth as they make final preparation for their confirmation on October 25. High School youth meet in the youth room for hang time and activities.

Weekly Word groups begin again during the week leading to Sunday, September 13.

Save the Date!

Pastor Bryan's 30th anniversary of his ordination is this October. We will be celebrating at worship service on

Sunday, October 18 with a celebration brunch following the service.

More details coming soon...

Lutheran Social Services News

LSS Walk to End Poverty: Saturday, October 3 for more information click here.

Fall is coming! Please help support our Holiday programs.

We need food boxes filled with Thanksgiving items and funds to buy turkey certificates for 150 families. Our goal this year is $2,250, but if we can support all of our 300 families currently being served that would be awesome!

Book Club Meeting

The SOV Book Club will be meeting on Sunday, September 20, at 10:45 a.m. in the library. We will be reviewing the best selling novel "ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE" by Anthony Doerr. Please join us.

ELCA Foundation Regional Gift Planner

"Legacies are footprints we leave behind after we die. They prove that we were here: we lived, we mattered, we made a difference". Rachel Freed

What Will Be Your Legacy?
A legacy can come in many forms. It can come from the way you lead your life, the way you share the word of God, and by the way you share your resources given to you by God. For those who walk in faith, all three of these ways of leaving a legacy are important. To learn more about how you can leave a legacy from your resources, contact our congregation's Gift Planner.

Greg Shepherd

909-910-6823
gregory.shepherd@elca.org

Let's go to the Movies!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Christian Film "Leaving Limbo." If you missed it, you have an opportunity to see another Christian movie also produced by SOV's Lisa Lambert. Fragile World will screen at the AMC Promenade Woodland Hills for One Night Only - Wednesday September 9th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchase in advance no later than September 2nd.

Click here to order tickets.

Fragile World is the story of Rosalie, a lonely interior decorator with a history of delusions who falls for a dashing stranger who may or may not be real. The film ponders the depths of human loss, the fragile framework of the human mind, and the road to emotional and spiritual healing. This film also received 5 out of 5 Doves from the Dove Foundation.
To watch the trailer or learn more, click here to email Lisa or visit the website:fragileworldmovie.com

Will Stephen Ministry work in my context?

Congregations of all sizes, demographics, and styles are using Stephen Ministry, including-

Congregations with fewer than 100 members to more than 10,000.
Congregations in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Congregations that consider themselves traditional, contemporary, or emergent.
Congregations founded in the 1700s and those planted in the past decade.

Stephen Ministry works in so many contexts because no matter the size, type, or location of a congregation, two factors remain constant:

There are always many more people in need of care, in the congregation and community, than a pastor alone can care for.
There are always gifted laypeople capable of providing high-quality Christian care-if trained and organized to do so.

Weekly Word Schedulee

Check with your guide for your group's summer schedule.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
23838 Kittridge Street, West Hills, CA 91307
818.348.8343 www.sovlc.org