Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church

Join us for worship Worship Services All Service are in-person, drive-in and live streamed. Check our home page or call the church office for the latest updates. Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship Live-Streamed, In-Person & Drive-in 10:30 a.m Coffee and Fellowship 10:15 a.m. Pancakes and Praise Third Sunday, Sunday school (Families join together for a Sunday school lesson, Pancakes, and fun!) Special Services Wednesday Evening Lenten Services Ash We dnesday - February 18, 2026 5:30pm Soup and Bread Buffet 6: 15pm Ash Wednesday Service with Communion and the Distribution of Ashes. 2/25 - 3/25 5:30pm Lenten Meal and Service Wednesdays in Lent, beginning February 25th, we will gather at 5:30 pm for a meal and devotion together. As we enjoy our warm meal, we will have an informal and simple devotion that will spark conversation around the table. Please join us and invite your friends and neighbors. A free-will offering will be collected for a different mission of the church each week. Holy Week Palm Sun day - March 29, 2026 9:30 a.m. Worship Service Good Friday - April 3, 2026 7:00 p.m. Worship Service Easter Day - April 5, 2026 9:30 a.m. Worship Service Children's activities after the service. Christmas Services Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026 Christmas Eve Servic e s 3:45 p.m. Prelude 4:00 p.m. Family Service 6:30 p.m. Prelude 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service Friday, Dec. 25, 2026 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship

Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church is searching Faith Community Nurse (FCN). This part-time, 10 hours per week position will be responsible for supporting the church ministry and helping individuals understand and implement best practices that connect faith and health. For a full description and information on how to apply, click the button below. Faith Community Nurse information

Each year, Shepherd of the Bay church takes a short-term mission trip to help the Maya people of Guatemala. Guatemala Mission Trip March 2023 Shepherd of the Bay & Peace Lutheran Churches 2018 Mission Trip 2017 Mission Trip 2016 Mission Trip Why Guatemala? The SOTB Mission Team was will travel to Guatemala February 23 - March 3, 2026 for the tenth time. But why Guatemala? A 30 year civil war that ended in the mid 1990’s has left Chichicastenango and surrounding areas in a state of devastation. Many of the indigenous people, especially the men, were killed in their fields and homes or were “taken prisoner” and never seen again. As a result there were approx. 70,000 widows left in the area of Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Locals live in a great amount of poverty. They generally earn a living through farming or weaving goods to be sold in the market. Women and children are not considered equals as they are in the United States. Many children work from a very young age. It is difficult for a woman to make a living on her own. In Chichi alcoholism is a large problem. Many of the men are alcoholics and it is easily visible as you walk or drive through town. The hope of the ministry is to bring Christ to the people in Chichi to change the practice of abuse into a practice where men are caring for and loving their families, and respecting women and children like God does. Chichicastenango is the center of Mayan idol worship in Guatemala, although the country is listed as a Catholic nation. Pray America/Manos de Jesus is active in approximately 40 Mayan communities. The vision is to go deeper in these communities, moving them constantly closer to sustainability and more importantly into a relationship with Jesus. Relational trust that has been built by Pray America/Manos de Jesus over more than 10 years has been the key to reaching these communities through a series of weekly nutrition programs, widow house construction, water filtration systems, efficient vented cook stoves, solar powered audio bibles, and more. There is much work to be done. As always, we ask for you to pray for those going and for those with whom we will be sharing the love of God. Please pray about how you can participate in this mission activity…. Think about it….. Pray about it….. Join us ……. Inside new home with the cross. Building site of one of the widow houses Building a widow house Painting and repairing a widow house and installing a bathroom Sharing a Bible story with the family New efficient Stove installing a water filter One widow give us bread and soda in a baggie Sue with the market girls Alex & Jennifer washing the feet of the widow in her new house Mother and Child Mission Team 2017 Mission team 2018 Can you hold this board? Show the family how to use the solar lights

Ministries Shepherd of the Bay church offers many ministry options for all ages in our community. Full Directory of Ministries Klaud's Food Pantry The food pantry is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm, all year round. It's open to everyone, regardless of income. You don’t need to provide any information or have any obligations. We understand that families in Door County can experience difficult times and may need help. Weddings Door County is a beautiful place to hold your wedding. We host many weddings all year around for both members and guests. Stephen Ministry Sometimes it takes more that a parka or a blanket to keep another person warm. Sometimes it takes the presence of a caring Christian friend. Youth & Family Ministry We offer many programs for children ages 3-18 and their families. Guatemala Mission Trip Each March, we send a team of 12-18 members and friends on a week long mission trip to work with the Mayan people of Guatemala. We build and repair homes for widows, install water filters and efficient cooking stoves, give out solar powered audio bibles and more. WELCA The Women of the ELCA are involved in many fund raising events for local, national and international organizations.

Events and Special Services SPECIAL SERVICES LIVE STREAM Here you will find information on upcoming events and concerts. Midsummer’s Music and Griffon String Quartet Present the Musical Museum Featuring Neuroscience Researcher Clara Takarabe Wednesday, January 21, 2026 @ 1:00pm Midsummer’s Music, in collaboration with its affiliate ensemble the Griffon String Quartet, proudly presents The Musical Museum, a unique and deeply engaging musical experience that blends live performance with insights from neuroscience, poetry, and conversation. This is a free, public event at Shepherd of the Bay. Special guest Clara Takarabe – violist, neuroscience researcher, and co-director of the Northwestern Music and Medical Program – joins the Griffon String Quartet for this innovative program. Takarabe is a clinical music researcher at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where her work explores the powerful connections between music, brain health, and human connection. Musical performances are thoughtfully interwoven with commentary and discussion around sound, music, memory, and poetry—inviting audiences not only to listen, but to reflect and connect. Audiences are warmly invited to attend and experience how music, science, and conversation come together in the Musical Museum—a program that celebrates curiosity, connection, and the enduring power of music. No Tickets necessary Vacation Bible School June 8 - 12, 2025 FREE Community Event The community wide Vaction Bible School is a colaboration of Northern Door Churches. It is held at the First Baptist Church in Sister Bay from 9-Noon the Week of June 8-12. This year's theme is Holy Week The Bible Stories take us through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are told thru Skits, Games, Crafts and Storytelling. Everybody, Everybody, Everybody is Welcome Register to attend Midsummer’s Music presents Passionate Perspectives Wednesday, July 29, 2026 @ 7:00pm This is music that will bore into your very soul. Even the most hardened heart will have to yield to these works. Two wonderful Czech Romantic composers and the great Argentinian Tango master bring back-stories to their pieces that overlay them with spine-tingling Amore. Purchase Tickets

Job Opportunities Part-time Organist More Information Minister of Music More Information

Newsletters May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 Newsletter Archives Annual Reports 2025 Annual Report 2025 Annual Meeting Annual Report Archives Shepherd of the Bay's newsletter, The Parish Door, is available at the start of each month. Articles about upcoming activities, worship services, Christian education and fellowship events at the church keep the congregation informed. The readings for the upcoming month of worship services are also included. The latest issue and archived issues are available below. If you would like to be added to our mailing list (USPS) or would like to receive your copy of The Parish Door by e-mail, send a message to sotboffice@yahoo.com with your mailing information.

Night Prayer Printer Friendly version (Congregation recites bold print responses.) Almighty God grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Amen. By day, O God, you grant your steadfast love , and at night your song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. NIGHT HYMN CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Holy and gracious God, I confess that I have sinned against you this day. Some of my sin I know. — the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed— but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me, that I may rest in peace. By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, in whom we are forgiven. We rest now in the peace of Christ and rise in the morning to serve. PSALMODY SONG READING Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Into your hands I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. Into your hands I commend my spirit. Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Into your hands, I commend my spirit. GOSPEL CANTICLE Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace. Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of ev'ry people: a light to reveal you to the nations a nd the glory of your people Israel. Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace. PRAYERS Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. In righteousness I shall see you; when I awake, your presence will give me joy. A series of short prayers are spoken or chanted. LORD’S PRAYER BLESSING Let us bless the Lord Thanks be to God. Almighty and merciful God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep us, this night and forevermore. Amen. From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

In -Person Worship Services We will continue live streaming our Sunday morning Worship Service at 9:30am. We have opened up seating in the sanctuary or you can continue to stay in your car in the parking lot and listen on your radio. In accordance with CDC revision of the guidelines, we will be continuing to observe social distancing but will be relaxing mask and Pre-registration. Attendance for the service inside the church will NOT be limited. If you have been fully vaccinated, you do not have to wear a mask inside the church. We will post a recorded version of the live streamed service on our website for view later. Drive-In Worship Knowing that outdoor worship is safer than indoor, in person worship, we are continuing the outdoor, drive-in worship service at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. The service will be broadcast to your FM radio at the 89.1 frequency. We ask that the following guidelines be followed for our Drive-In Summer Camp Service: Only one household per car; members of differing households should not mix in the same car. It’s important that everyone stay in their car. We will observe a measure of distancing between cars. Drive in Church on a foggy morning. Jim giving the sermon. Usher Sue West pointing the way. Even pets can attend church. Honk for Jesus! Jim, Judy and the bell tower. Judy playing the keyboard.

Youth & Family Ministry Shepherd of the Bay is here to partner with, to support, and to come along side children's true faith developers, the parents. It is Christ-centered, guided by prayer, and ever changing. Through cross generational support, trust, and acceptance, it provides a sense of belonging and grows faith through worship, learning, service, and fellowship. We celebrate God's gift of grace through Jesus. Register Here for VBS June 9 - 13, 2025 High School Youth Mission Trip 2022 Wonderful Wednesdays kids learn about Habitat for Humanity. Confirmation Class 2023 Sunday school Christmas Program. Summer Wonderful Wednesdays kids playing games outside. Little Lambs Story Hour for preschoolers meets on Friday mornings Nov. thru May. Synod Youth Gathering at Imago Dei Village. Little Lambs winter outing. First Communion students and their families. High School Youth make pies and cookies for Christmas.