Others First
Serving in the Community
Serving the Community means joining in our mission to love God and our neighbors by showing care to those outside of Shepherd’s walls. It means coming alongside people and organizations already making a difference in our own communities and beyond to support them in their goal of serving people who are hurting, under-resourced, or in need of support.
Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities | The Mission helps people rebuild their lives by providing safe shelter, nutritious food, medical and dental care, and a broad variety of life-changing programs for children and adults. The mission has opportunities for mentorship, serving meals and more!
Valley Outreach | Valley Outreach provides people with a wide range of support including food, clothing, rental assistance and help navigating resources during a challenging time. Volunteers are needed to help with food shelf duties as well as with the clothing program.
Hudson Backpack Program | Provides fresh, frozen and shelf stable food for people experiencing food insecurity. Ways to serve include packing food for distribution and helping to load cars during distribution.
Loaves and Fishes | This ministry serves free, healthy meals at St. Matthews Church in St. Paul. Volunteers from Shepherd prepare, serve and clean up the dinner meal the first Wednesdays of the month. To be part of the group that is notified when help is needed, click HERE
Adopt An Educator | Volunteers are matched with Shepherd educators in the east metro and a co-worker of their choice. Adopters pray for and support these two educators throughout the school year in partnership with the serving staff. Contact Caitlin Ronayne
Community Care Team | Team of people helping others within the Shepherd community. Opportunities to serve include providing rides to appointments, making and delivering meals to people, and being notified when ministry partners need volunteers. Help as your schedule allows. Click here to join.
Shepherd Prayer Shawl Ministry | Create shawls that are provided at times when a tangible reminder of God’s love is needed. Knitting or crochet lessons are available. To find out when the team meets, contact Julie Asp
Shepherd Quilting Team | Create quilts for LWR and other ministry partners while enjoying fellowship with one another. To find out when the team meets, contact Nancy Bode
Baja Love Outreach | Baja California, Mexico | TBD
Sandy Bay Lighthouse Ministries | Roatan, Honduras | February 21-28, 2025
We believe spiritual growth happens as we serve others by putting their needs above our own.
Others First
Serving at Shepherd
Serving at Shepherd means joining in our mission to love God and neighbors by showing care to those inside Shepherd’s walls. It means helping others feel welcomed, noticed, and important. By sharing your gifts of hospitality, friendship, and empathy, you can be the love of Jesus to each person who walks through our doors. Training is always provided.
Choir | Make music with others and bring beauty to worship for a season or more. Rehearse on Wednesdays at 6:00pm, sing on Sundays at 8:00am
Communion | Set up, serve, and take down communion. Third Sunday of the month.
Greeters | Provide hospitality by welcoming people at the entrances. Scheduled 2 weeks on with 4 weeks off.
Ushers | Welcome people to worship, count the number of attendees, help seat people, and guide them to communion. Scheduled 2 weeks on with 4 weeks off.
In Service Prayer Team | Pray with worship attendees who would like prayer after the service. Pick the weeks you’d like to serve.
Tech | Bring our services to life through cameras, slides, or audio. Pick the weeks you’d like to serve.
Ready to help kids grow in faith? The sovKids team is always looking for enthusiastic teens and adults to get involved! Some roles available include,
- Drama Team
- Tech Team
- Photographer
- Special Friend to a child with special needs
- Discovery Team & Prep (crafts and games)
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
- Welcome and Security Team
- Nursery Team
- Surge Worship Band
- Small Group Leader, Assistant, Sub
Ready to help students grow in faith? Get involved with The Circuit and make a difference in the life of a young person. Some roles available include:
- Small Group Leader | Our small group leaders are a vital component at Circuit. Many students tell us their favorite part of Circuit is small group time. Leaders meet weekly with their small group to discuss that week’s message at Circuit, dig into the Bible, and pray for one another (Weekly, Sep – May)
- Welcome Team | The Impressions team greets students as they arrive at Circuit on Wednesday nights and assist with student check-in. This is a great opportunity to serve in a vital role at Circuit, on a smaller scale (2 times per month).
- Hospitality Team | Volunteers assist in putting out a light meal for our adult leaders, before Circuit begins on Wednesdays. Most meal prep is done ahead of time, and ready for the hospitality team to set-up at 5 pm (2 times per month).
- Snack Shack | Volunteers work in the kitchen, selling pizza, treats and sodas to students during Circuit gathering time. Snack shack volunteers track purchases and place orders to replenish supplies (2 times per month).
- Other Opportunities | Contact Kari Kahl to hear about additional serving opportunities that help to power the many events that happen outside of Circuit. Adult volunteers are needed for mission trip preparations, fundraising events, retreats and more. Let’s talk!
Intercessory Prayer Team | This dedicated team covers Shepherd and its ministry partners in prayer on a regular basis and in the moment as needs arise. Receive monthly prayers and immediate needs via email and pray from anywhere. To join this team, contact Jill Wurm.
In Service Prayer Team | Members of this team pray for worship service attendees who are looking for prayer support after services. Sign up to pray at services that work with your schedule. To join this team, contact Jill Wurm.
Spiritual Care Team | Team members help people in need through active listening, prayer and/or sharing communion. Contact with those in need includes phone calls, emails, text messages and in person visits. If interested in becoming a member of the Spiritual Care Team, contact JoAnn Wert.
Others First
Financial Support
In addition to serving with our time and talents, Shepherd commits financial resources to support non-profits and missions in our communities and around the world. Each year, 10% of general fund giving is set apart to support these organizations at the direction of a Benevolence Committee appointed by the Church Council. Serving means using a portion of our financial gifts to support others whose mission to love God and our neighbors.
Arrive | Helps refugees transition to life in the US
C.A.S.T. | Nonprofit working in prevention of sexual exploitation
Christ’s Children’s Ministries | Inner-city ministry serving teens and families
Dwelling Place | Shelter for women and children leaving domestic violence situations
Grace Place | Homeless Shelter in New Richmond
Hope Academy | School in inner city Minneapolis providing education to kids with different economic, racial, and social backgrounds
Hudson Backpack | Nonprofit providing food to those experiencing food insecurity in the St. Croix Valley
LCMC | Association of Lutheran churches that Shepherd belongs to
Lighthouse of Life | Providing Christian-based sober living to those recovering from addiction
Loaves and Fishes | Serving hot meals Mon-Fri to those struggling with food insecurity
Operation Help | Helping with emergency financial assistance to those in crisis situations in the St. Croix Valley
Servant of the Shepherd | Church in River Falls that primarily serves addicts and recovering addicts
TLC of Hastings | Pregnancy Resource Center
Union Gospel Mission | Ministry that serves meals, houses homeless, and provides recovery help 365 days a year
Valley Outreach | Helping people in need of financial assistance, food, clothing, and more
AIM | Ministry that rescues girls involved in sex trafficking, giving them a place to live while they heal and learn skills to provide for themselves
Baja Love | Ministry that serves orphanages along the Baja California peninsula of Mexico
Haiti Teen Challenge | Ministry that seeks to transform the lives of Haitians who are involved in drugs and gangs; HTC provides a biblical foundation to for students
Oasis Ministry | Ministry in Sweden to help grow the Christian Church in one of the least Christian countries in Europe
Sandy Bay Lighthouse Ministry | Two-part ministry with a home for children whose parents are unable to care for them & a Christian school for them to receive an education
Robbie Ellingson, Cru | Robbie serves university students in Bogota Colombia through Cru, focusing on relationships as a way to share about Jesus
Dane Hanson, Operation Mobilization | Dane oversees the Balkan Region of Operation Mobilization; OM provides relief and ongoing support to vulnerable people all over the world
Jay and Beth Vetter | Missionaries in France who work to strengthen the local church and build relationships with the local people to share the gospel of Jesus
Brent Voight, Fellowship of Christian Athletes | East Metro Area Director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Tony Rojas, Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Hudson Area Representative
Tony and Grace Walters, Chi Alpha | Curtis leads the Cru student ministry in Turkey, guiding staff and interns across 5 cities. Annie started a new team aimed at reaching University students.
Ryan Pott | Serving with The Navigators in the Twin Cities
