What to Expect
Worship Services
(Live Stream or In Person at 9:00a.m.)
Our worship service with communion is based on our Lutheran background and uses a traditional liturgy with a blend of traditional hymns and more contemporary music.
God’s word is proclaimed through scripture readings and a sermon by our Pastor. A member of the congregation serves as Assisting Minister.
We are a loving congregation striving to live our lives in faith, trusting in God’s love. Our traditional services are joyful, inspiring and heartfelt, and all visitors are truly welcomed.
We welcome all people to Holy Communion.
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The church and its facilities are accessible and hearing assistance devices are available from the ushers.
Rev. Phillip Vickers
Pastor Phillip Vickers answered the call to lead the Shepherd of the Lake in the fall of 2022.
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Pastor Phil came to Tennessee after beginning his career in the Texas Panhandle and more recently in Kansas City, Kansas. He brings with him his wife of 20 years, Cheryl, and their three children, Autumn, Zoe, and Sean.
Pastor Phil was raised in the Mississippi Delta. He was the first in his family to attend college. While studying English at Mississippi State, he also found faith, and was baptized by the campus minister at the Wesley Foundation (an outreach of the Methodist Church).
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Shortly thereafter, Pastor Phil met his future wife Cheryl who introduced him to the Lutheran faith. He received his Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary in 2007. He served an internship in North Carolina at Winston-Salem before his first assignment in Texas. At Hutchison, Kansas, he supervised an intern and served as Dean of the area, providing pastoral care for Lutheran clergy. He served there as Associate Pastor for Family Life Ministries. In Kansas City, he served as the pastor of First Lutheran Church, a 150 year old congregation, founded by Swedish immigrants.
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Pastor Phil delivered his first sermon at Shepherd of the Lake on September 4, 2022 and leads a Wednesday morning Bible study.
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Pastor Phil enjoys hiking with his family, cooking and, per his English degree, reading and writing.
What We Believe
"A Christian community sharing God's love with the world."
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We are saved by the GRACE of God alone – not by anything we do. By our BAPTISM we are initiated into the priesthood of all believers and are called to be ministers to others.
The BIBLE is the inspired word of God’s love,
together with the spoken witness of believers and the Living Word of Jesus Christ.
All are welcomed to commune at the Lord’s Table.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” -Matthew 25:35-40