Worship | Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

Gathered.

Worship is at the heart of our community of faith. We believe that worship gathers us together so that the liberating work of the Spirit can take hold.

Nourished.

God's welcome is risky, life-altering work. In order to live out the call of the Gospel in love we gather to be fed by God's promises, found in Word and Sacrament.

Sent.

Worship isn't an end in itself, but something that draws us back into community with each hearing. Refreshed and made new, we are sent back into the world for service and love.

Worship forms the center:

It's who we are and what we do

We are a community rooted in Christ's liberating work of grace, gathered by the Spirit to celebrate and share in the radical wideness of God's welcome.

In worship at SVLC we're less concerned with style or form than communicating God's abundant love to each and every person who walks in the door.

As a newcomer to our space you'll hear sermons that engage the challenges of daily life, and that attempt to refresh ancient scriptures for today's world. You'll find welcoming faces who are glad to help form a human point of contact. You'll also find a wide expression of music that captures what it means to be a person of faith, not just in times of happiness and joy, but in times of sorrow and loss.

Visit SVLC

Worshipping with SVLC

Answers to common questions

Yes. Holy Communion is served nearly every Sunday of the year.

Yes, and yes. At SVLC we believe that Christ sets the table, not us, which means that all who are drawn in are welcome to the table. That welcome is also extended to children of all ages. If you or your child would prefer to receive a blessing, simply place your hands over your chest as you come forward.

Yes! Go to https://www.svlc.org/live to worship with SVLC each Sunday morning via live stream. You can also check out sermons and worship content on both our Facebook and YouTube pages.

A pattern of worship across many expressions of Christianity forms the backbone of our service: gather, word, meal, send. Each week you'll find liturgical elements like confession and forgiveness, prayer, and song, in addition to hearing scripture and a sermon.

Musically speaking, our services are blended, which means you'll find traditional hymns alongside more modern and global music.

We're Lutherans: of course there's coffee. Each Sunday after the 10:30am service we gather around coffee and an occasional pile of delicious treats.

No, it doesn't make a difference to us. All are welcome.

We're aware that the words "All Are Welcome" have been used to draw people into Christian churches, and then pull the rug out from under them. SVLC is an Open and Affirming congregation, externally designated as a Reconciling in Christ congregation by a group called Reconciling Works. RW is an organization that has long “advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.” Check out the "Reconciling in Christ" tab under the ABOUT section on our site for more information.

Most of us wear what is most comfortable and seasonal. You're unlikely to see many suits and ties in worship at SVLC, and when you come probably find us wearing shorts and t-shirts. In other words, this is Southern California! We're pretty relaxed :)

Welcome Statement:

We at Shepherd of the Valley invite all into the fullness of God’s love. This invitation is inclusive of people of every ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability, or station in life. We pledge to use our differences as gifts for our work together.