Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church - LCMS

C.S. Lewis is admired & referred to often in Bible classes and sermons at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Santa Ynez. If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis, you will find Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran to be a place where you can find great intellectual fulfillment and help in processing tough questions that skeptics bring out about the Christian faith.

Guests are treated with great dignity and respect!

Grape juice is provided for children and recovering alcoholics at Shepherd of the Valley. The type of wine served for Holy Communion is a popular sweet wine, Manischewitz.

Yes! ❤️

The worship service lasts for approximately a little over one hour with refreshments following in the fellowship hall.

We believe that God still heals today, according to His perfect will. Following our worship services, and during the week by appointment, we make time for personal prayer for the healing of human hurts at the altar. We can also arrange for pastoral home visits for those who so desire.

It's easy to make friends at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran. It starts by being open to the people God wants you to meet. Just stick around following worship in the fellowship hall and you will be introduced by leaders to those who come from similar backgrounds and interests in life. 😊

Here at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, we do not believe in money mongering. Feel free, to just place in an offering envelope, a prayer request or email contact reference - so as to subscribe to the church's weekly news.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran has childcare upon request. Also, there is a children's Sunday school following the pastor's children's sermon.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran has lots of parking and good highway access!

Yes. And in the next few years we anticipate a new ministry focus in the valley will be to rockers on walkers! 😂 ✌️

If you want to lift hands up in worship that is perfectly acceptable. As for clapping...we sometimes clap in appreciation, but not as much to the beat of worship.

The roof will not cave in on you when you visit. The church is more like a hospital for the spiritually infirm and not a museum for saints!

Shepherd of the Valley is multi-generational, so young parents with children can feel right at home with grandparent aged adults who are there to care. The members come from a wide variety of political backgrounds.

Yes, we believe that God does miracles today through the power of prayer! ✨

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran uses individual cups for Holy Communion. The sacrament is viewed as a type of medicine for those who desire a "close" relationship with Jesus. Hence, the church believes in "close" communion for those who have faith. As the Lutheran Catechism puts it: "...that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

Come as you are. However, out of honor to the Lord, many prefer to dress as they would going out to eat at a nice restaurant.

The music at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran ranges from piano oriented historic hymns to modern praise music with an uplifting beat. Like a family dinner that varies from one evening to another, so the church offers a variety of styles of worship to appeal to the diversity of its membership.

If you do not have an understanding of the sacrament, the pastor would love to get together with you and discuss its meaning and how faith in the "close" nature of Jesus in the sacrament can make a positive difference in actualizing its benefits.

Yes! Children are encouraged to worship during the first part of the worship service with their parents. They are given an opportunity to attend children's Sunday school following the children's sermon. Each week a children's message from the pastor is given to engage their attention and help them connect to God and His plan for their life. During the sacrament of Holy Communion children are invited back in, and up at the communion rail they can receive a pastoral prayer blessing for the week!