In the words of John Wesley (1703-1791)
 “A Methodist is … one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength.”

Following the example of Christ, Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church offers a balance of ministries for personal faith and social action. Living into our mission of feeding, tending, sending in the name of the Good Shepherd, we offer a diversity of ministries, small groups, Bible studies, and Christian education opportunities. Through a diversity of caring and connecting ministries, we are challenged to live out our faith in daily relationships as well as outreach ministries in the community and the world.  We hold Jesus Christ as the center of our life and work as Christians.

Today, John Wesley’s life and teaching still carry a special meaning to United Methodists:
        GOAL of being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ
        EXAMPLE of sharing God through missions
        CONCERN with social problems
        EMPHASIS on ecumenism
        BELIEF in the grace and forgiveness of God’s love.
United Methodists share a common heritage with other Christians:
    · Conviction that God has mercy and love for all people
    · Belief in a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
    · Faith in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ
    · Celebration of the sacraments
In these and many other ways, Methodism affirms, within “the communion of saints,” a oneness in Christ. 
United Methodists also share four main guidelines for belief which help them understand their faith:
    · Scripture
    · Tradition
    · Experience
    · Reason

Our Mission is to ...

     FEED God’s people—providing opportunities to grow in faith.  
     TEND God’s people—serving all with acts of love and compassion.  
     SEND God’s people—living joy-filled lives through Christ.

The Social Creed

We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ the
Redeemer of creation.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.
We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.
We joyfully receive, for ourselves and others, the blessings of
community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging and those with handicapping conditions; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. 
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the good of
themselves and others, and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress. 
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to freedom for all peoples, and to the rule of justice and law among nations.
We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human
affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world.  Amen.
“The Social Creed” from The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church – 1984