Author: Donna Wenger

On Monday, February 8, a pick-up of medical equipment which has been donated to The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has been scheduled with The Brother’s Brother Foundation. This equipment includes wheel chairs, walkers, canes and adult diapers. These donations “provide our partners with goods that help many projects in developing countries” Brother’s Brother states. This will be the second donation in a few years collected here at Good Shepherd. If you have medical equipment in good condition or unopened supplies that you would like to donate, please call the church office at 412-372-2934. Donations must be made by Thursday, February 4, 2021.

We will not be able to provide gift bags to our homebound members this year for Christmas, SOOOO let’s shower them with Christmas cards! A list of our homebound members is available from Donna, our secretary. It is available as a paper copy or it can be emailed to you. While you are at it, think of some of our other members that could use some Christmas cheer and send them a card too!

Val Corbin has placed a sign by our church driveway entrance which contains FREE masks. She could use some help keeping it supplied. If you can help, there are Joann Fabrics gift cards available in the church office to help purchase supplies. Please call the office if you are interested.

Please wear your mask, limit group activities and stay 6 feet away!

Harvest Sunday was November 22 but we are continuing to collect non-perishable food and personal care items. These items will go to local food banks, restock the pantry at Good Shepherd and, be used to provide food for several families in the Gateway School District. Recently a request was made to the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium. The Gateway School District asked for food and cold-weather clothing items for families in the district in need. The Service Committee used some of the money in their budget to purchase food and Giant Eagle gift cards. Bags were delivered to Ramsey Elementary on November 17th. Seven additional bags have been assembled and will be taken to University Park Elementary next week. If you have new or gently used hats, gloves, coats or boots that you can part with, we will be collecting those at Good Shepherd too. We will donate those to families in the school district as soon as we get more detailed information. Thank you for all that you do for our neighbors in need!

Did you pick up your Advent wreath making supplies yet? They are available in Fellowship Hall. Here is a picture of what one member did…

Show us what your family has created with your Advent Wreath!

Angel Tree-Every one of the 25 names from our Angel Tree was claimed! We have received some monetary donations that we will use to cover gift requests. Remember to bring your gifts/donations to the church on or before December 6. Service Committee members will be in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 6 from 11am until 1pm.

Pick up your FREE Advent wreath kit in the Fellowship Hall – one per household.

Advent is a very special season in the church year.  It is a time of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ both in the past in His incarnation as the baby Jesus, but also in the future with His promised second coming as Christ Triumphant. Furthermore, Advent is a time to focus on His present coming to us in the Word and Sacraments. 

The Advent Kit included here will provide you with a way to experience this beautiful season of light in your own home.  The ritual of lighting a new candle each week and sharing God’s word of promise and hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ may make the darker days seem brighter!

The Advent Kit includes 4 Candles, Instructions for Creating your own Wreath and Liturgy to use each week when lighting your candle(s).

We are still planning to have the Angel Tree! We have 25 names this year. In communicating with the Director of The Northside Common Ministry, the suggestion was made to provide gift cards this year. Target, Amazon, and Dollar General are all stores accessible by most families in the program. If you wish to donate money, the Service Committee will purchase the gift card for you. If you are donating money, bring the donation to the church in an envelope labeled Service Committee/Angel Tree. You can come to the church to select a name from the tree or call the church office, 412-372-2934, to get a name. Please have your donation to the church by Sunday, December 6. The church will be open on Sunday, November 22 from 11am to 1pm, Monday, November 23 from 10am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 7pm, and Tuesday, November 24 from 10am to 2:30pm for drop-off of your donation or pick-up of a name from the Angel Tree. Again, we Thank You!

Reminder- Sunday, November 22 is Harvest Sunday. Since there is no in-house worship, please bring your donations to the church. If you have a key to the church, you can bring your donations anytime. The church will be open on Sunday, November 22 from 11am to 1pm, Monday, November 23 from 10am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 7pm and Tuesday, November 24 from 10am to 2:30pm. The food collected for Harvest Sunday will be donated to local food banks. Let’s take a big bite out of hunger, one mouth at a time!