Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church is at 801 E. Denver Avenue in Bismarck, where it is known for centering everything it preaches and teaches on Jesus Christ. Its fellowship carries that teaching into relationships, education, worship, music, and service in the Bismarck-Mandan community and beyond.
Jesus Christ at the Center
Pastor Lester Wolfgram's welcome begins with relationships. The congregation seeks first to nurture a faith relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, celebrating that His death and resurrection have made people His forgiven children. His love moves the congregation to care deeply for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Shepherd of the Valley also seeks to connect God's Word to the stresses and difficulties of life so that people receive forgiveness, peace, and hope, and then put faith into action by serving the community.
The church's beliefs begin with the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - as the one true, living, and almighty God. It affirms the Bible as the inspired Word of God and teaches that Jesus Christ is both God and humanity, who came to suffer and die for the sins of all people. In Christ, the church declares complete forgiveness of sins and the free gift of eternal life.
Its mission and vision center on three commitments:
- Nurture faith through the Word and Sacraments.
- Live the faith in which we are called by Jesus Christ.
- Share the Gospel of Christ with the Bismarck-Mandan community and beyond.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod places this work within a mission to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within churches, communities, and the world. The church names gratitude to God's grace and empowerment by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments as the foundation for that work.
Sunday at Nine and Wednesday at Six
Sunday worship begins at 9:00 a.m., and Wednesday worship is at 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion is offered every Sunday except the fifth Sunday of the month. The congregation's welcome centers on hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ and how He died and rose again. Worship can also be watched online.
Music is woven into Sunday worship through organ, piano, and clavinova. The recurring worship pattern names a preacher and liturgist, identifies an accompanist and acolyte, and includes lay volunteers assisting in worship. Those roles place preaching, liturgy, music, and congregational participation together at services centered on Word and Sacraments.
A Week of Assigned Scripture
A week of assigned Scripture extends through all seven days. Sunday's readings include 1 Kings 3 and 2 Corinthians 1; Monday moves through 1 Kings 5-6 and 2 Corinthians 1-2. Tuesday continues 1 Kings 7-8 and 2 Corinthians 3. Wednesday pairs 1 Kings 8 with 2 Corinthians 4, Thursday pairs 1 Kings 9 with 2 Corinthians 5, and Friday and Saturday draw from 1 Kings 11-12 and 2 Corinthians 6-7. The rhythm places substantial readings from Kings and Corinthians before the congregation throughout the week.
Children Learning Together at 9:30
Sunday School for children ages 3 through high school begins at 9:30 a.m. Children gather for opening and then separate by age to further their study. The classes use the same Bible references each week, allowing families to discuss God's Word together. A separate Cradle Roll ministry is designed for children from birth through age 3.
Junior and senior high youth have extensive ministry opportunities intended to support and equip parents, provide fellowship, create chances to serve God and others, and help young people grow in faith.
Vacation Bible School welcomes children who are three and potty-trained through fifth grade for a week centered on Jesus through song, crafts, Bible stories, and games.
Bible Study in Groups and Around the Church
Adult Bible Study meets weekly at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. ChristCare groups gather for Bible study in a variety of formats. Some meet weekly, some biweekly, and some monthly according to the needs of each group. Other groups are activity driven, with camping, hiking, or sewing. One ChristCare group meets at Shepherd of the Valley at 8:30 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays and is led by Pastor Wolfgram. Another meets at the church at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays and is led by Brad Kautzman.
Missional service opportunities include Open Your Heart, United Way Day of Caring, the United Blood Services Blood Drive, Bible study, and fellowship within the group.
fellowship for Adults, Men, and Women
HANGOUT is ministry with adults in their twenties and thirties. They meet monthly in participants' homes for fellowship and study of God's Word.
The Men's Network meets from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at LC-MS churches in Bismarck/Mandan.
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League meets at 2:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. It is the LCMS women's auxiliary, affirming each woman's relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission, and supporting global missions.
Organ, Piano, and Four-Part Harmony
Music is an important part of worship at Shepherd of the Valley, with opportunities to participate. Sunday services are accompanied by organ, piano, and clavinova.
The Adult Choir is open to anyone from seventh grade through adult who wants to sing music featuring four-part harmonies. It rehearses on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. and sings at Sunday worship approximately twice a month. The Shepherd of the Valley Choir also rehearses on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
Lay Ministry and the Little Free Pantry
Lay Ministry assists the pastor in all areas of worship and in the spiritual, emotional, and physical welfare of the congregation.
Beyond Lay Ministry, four areas have defined responsibilities:
- Evangelism helps people carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community and beyond.
- Stewardship helps people discover and use their God-given gifts, placing all life and its resources in service to honoring Christ.
- Trustees maintain and repair church property so ministry can continue effectively.
- Education promotes Christian education and nurture across the congregation.
Service opportunities extend into practical roles such as usher, greeter, videographer, and video editor. The Little Free Pantry is another direct way to serve neighbors by providing food.
Martin Luther School and Christian Education
Martin Luther School is one of Shepherd of the Valley's mission connections and a local LCMS organization. Denise Wolfgram is its principal. At the school, she teaches English and religion and directs two choirs.
She also offers piano lessons through the Luther Academy of Music and has served at Shepherd of the Valley in various capacities. Her roles connect Christian education, music, and congregational service.
Mission Connections Near and Far
Its named mission projects and connections are:
- Martin Luther School
- Shepherd's Hill at the Crossroads
- Food For The Poor
- Holy Cross - North Bismarck Mission Start
- North Dakota District LC-MS
- Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy
- Carrie's Kids
These connections place education, a North Bismarck mission start, district service, law enforcement chaplaincy, work for the poor, and two named ministries within the church's evangelism emphasis. They reflect the mission to share the Gospel in Bismarck-Mandan and beyond, while ChristCare adds service opportunities such as Open Your Heart, United Way Day of Caring, and the United Blood Services Blood Drive.
Pastors Rooted in Study and Service
Pastor Lester Wolfgram was born in Grand Forks and raised on a farm near Niagara, North Dakota. He attended Unity High School, Concordia College in St. Paul, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. His first call in 1992 served Trinity Lutheran in Tolley and St. Paul Lutheran in Flaxton. In 1998, he received the call to Shepherd of the Valley and has served there since. He has been a law enforcement chaplain since 1999, serves as Senior Chaplain for the North Dakota Highway Patrol, and has served on the North Dakota Lutherans for Life State Federation Board of Directors, the district's Congregational Health division, and a regional human rights committee.
Pastor Justin Woodside earned a history degree with a philosophy minor from UC Riverside in 1996, then taught middle and high school history for nearly 20 years. In 2016, he and his family moved to Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne to pursue preparation for LCMS ministry. He serves as Assisting Pastor at Bethel and Shepherd of the Valley and lives in Bismarck with his wife Victoria and their five children. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, guitar, and board games with his family.
A Sanctuary for Worship and Milestones
Non-members may use Shepherd of the Valley for weddings and funerals. Its sanctuary seats 250 people.
At 801 E. Denver Avenue in Bismarck, Shepherd of the Valley is a congregation centered on Jesus Christ, nurtured through Word and Sacraments, and engaged in education, music, mission, and service across generations. Its identity comes from teaching that Christ is God and humanity, that His death and resurrection bring forgiveness, and that faith is lived by sharing love and serving others.