09/15/2024
A Special Message from Jacob Schandel:
This will likely be the final post of the Shepherd of the Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church social media accounts as we close our church's doors with our service of Holy Closure which concluded a little while ago.
First and foremost, I want to thank the Rev. Scott Anderson for his work in our church. You have been a blessing to not only our congregation but also our family as we navigated some of the most challenging years of my life. I also wish to thank Bishop Barbins for leading today's service along with Pastors Matthew Diehl, John Maroni, and Bob Sander.
For my entire life, my late mother's entire life, and most of my grandmother's life, our family has called Shepherd of the Valley our home church. I think I speak for my entire family that we count it a blessing and an honor to have been able to have worshipped the Lord and served our community with you all for as long as we have. God's work is truly alive and well in our community, not just in Sandyville or in our little corner of the state of Ohio, but truly I believe worldwide.
As we end this chapter and Brock, Jack, and I shut off the lights in the sound room for one last time, my prayer for you all is that you may continue to see God's work being done with all of our hands around the world. I also pray that you may find a new place where you may feel welcomed to express your love for our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as I have been able to, be it at another Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA church as I am sure some will or with another church dedicated to doing the Lord's work, as I have personally been blessed to find with Grace Church, Medina East Campus.
Above all else, as we would say most every Sunday...
"May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make his face shine upon you,
May the Lord look upon you with favor and give you his peace."
Go in peace and serve the Lord,
JHS
