Author: Leigh Pogue

We are blessed as a congregation to have loving, giving members who are always so willing to share their gifts. There are a few opportunities in the next few weeks for food ministries that are in need of volunteers.

Rise Against Hunger – Saturday, November 21, 2026 at St. John’s Lutheran in North Versailles. Rise Against Hunger is a really fun meal preparation event for all ages. The event begins at 9:30 am and lasts about 2 hours. Volunteers fill bags with rice and dehydrated vegetables to make meals for those in need. Last year’s event provided meals for hundreds of people.

Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery – Wednesday and Thursday, November 23 & 34th at Garden City United Methodist Church. We are all invited to share in this wonderful act of service to prepare and/or deliver meals to local families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Last year’s event was a huge success. If you are interested in volunteering, there is a sign-up sheet located in the narthex. Or if you, or someone you know is in need of a meal, there is a number to call on the bulletin board or on their facebook page.

Monthly Shelter Meal – The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Service Committee is continuing to provide a meal to the Northside Common Ministries shelter on the third Friday of every month. A sign-up sheet to provide food donations or a financial contribution is available on the bulletin board in the narthex. Or you can sign-up at the church office.

We are settling in at Garden City, and our new home is truly beginning to take shape. The furniture brought from Old William Penn is now in place, and our dedicated space is starting to feel familiar and comfortable. As we continue adjusting our worship experience in this new setting, we are grateful for the ways God is guiding our transition.

The Congregation Council invites you to join us for an Open House on Sunday, November 8, immediately following worship. This will be a chance to explore the entire building—both our dedicated areas and the shared spaces we use alongside the Garden City Methodist congregation.

Please plan to stay after worship for a walk‑through, fellowship, and refreshments as we celebrate this new chapter together.

We have heard from a few of our members and friends that walking from the parking lot across the street from the new church can be challenging. The Congregation Council is actively exploring options to improve accessibility on Sunday mornings for those who may need additional support.

If you are concerned about accessibility, please note that the circle driveway directly in front of the Sanctuary entrance is available as a drop‑off area for anyone who would benefit from being let out closer to the door. This circle may also be used for short‑term parking when coming to the building for meetings, rehearsals, Shelter Meal drop‑offs, or other brief visits during the week. We ask that it remain reserved for drop‑off use on Sunday mornings.

Thank you for your patience and care for one another as we continue settling into our new space.

Beginning Sunday, September 6^th, our church family is stepping forward in faith towards the future God is preparing for us.  While our surroundings may look different, our foundation remains unchanged: one Lord, one faith, one family in Christ.   We are grateful to our neighbors in Christ and now in residence, the congregation of the Garden City United Methodist Church for opening their church building to us.

Come and worship with us in a space where old traditions continue, new ministries grow, and God’s presence meets us just as faithfully as ever.

You can find us at:

500 Laurel Drive

Monroeville, PA 15146

Lutheran Worship Services – Sundays 9:00 am

Our church office will be moving later this month.  If you need assistance from the office, please call us at 412-372-2934. 

Please join us for worship on Sunday, August 30th at 10:30 am where we will worship together for the last time in our current building. We will be honored in worship with Bishop Melissa Stoller alongside Pastor Bob Schaefer. The bell and chancel choirs have prepared special music for the service and we are looking forward to being together. We will be sharing in the creation of a collaborative art project to make a banner – with each of us adding their own special thought or message.

A luncheon will follow at 1:00 pm for those who have registered.

While this closes a chapter for our congregation, we look forward to the next chapter that God has opened for us at our new home, 500 Laurel Drive with our neighbors, the Garden City United Methodist Church.

Sunday, August 16th – Lutheran Multi-Congregation Worship in the Park

Where: Monroeville Community Park West, Pavillion 1

When: 10:30 am Worship Service followed by a Potluck Lunch. Worship will be livestreamed on Youtube.

What do you need to bring? You may bring a dish to share and a lawn chair if you choose. Neither are required to come and enjoy!

Worship Service at the Good Shepherd will resume in our building on Sunday, August 23rd.

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Sunday, August 30th – Final Worship Service in our building (10:30)

Catered lunch to follow at Jaden’s; RSVP Please! on or before August 23rd on our website or by completing a Registration Form – Forms are available in the Church Office or in the Narthex

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Sunday, September 6th – First Worship Service at Garden City

Worship will begin at a new time: 9:00 am!

Please join in coffee and fellowship after worship!

 We are grateful for God’s provision and blessing and with that we share the following update:

Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 10:30 am – Will be our final worship service in our current building. The service will be followed by a luncheon at Jaden’s in Monroeville. Please RSVP at www.goodshepherdlife.org or sign up in the church office or on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. RSVP’s by Sunday, August 23rd, please!

Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 9:00 am – Will be our first worship service in our new location; 500 Laurel Drive, Monroeville, PA. Please join us there for worship with Holy Communion followed by fellowship and coffee!

We look forward to sharing these important moments together in the life of our congregation!

We are preparing for the final worship service to be held in our current building on Sunday, August 30^th.  This special service will be held at 10:30 am followed by a catered lunch.  We are working to make this service a beautiful homage to this place that we’ve called home for so very many years while at the same time, looking forward to making a new home together in Garden City.  More details will be available in the coming weeks, please “Save the Date”!

On Sunday September 6^th, we will be holding our first worship service in our new location.  That worship service will begin at 9:00 am.

We are excited to be joining some of our neighboring ELCA Lutheran churches for an outdoor worship service and picnic on Sunday, August 16, at 10:30 am at Pavillion 1, Monroeville Community Park West.  This worship service will replace our regular Sunday worship here at the Good Shepherd on that day.  The service will also be streamed on YouTube for those who prefer to participate remotely.

There will be a potluck lunch following worship.

What will be provided:

• Hamburgers, hot dogs and buns
• Paper plates, napkins
• 2 cases of water

 All are encouraged to bring chair(s) for the lawn and any games. All are welcome for worship, food, fellowship and f

The following information was shared with the congregation at worship on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

While we do not have a final date for the closing of the sale of our property, we have a high level of confidence that sale will close sometime on or before the end of September 2026. We are hoping to sign a lease agreement on the new property at Garden City United Methodist Church before the end of this month.  Members of our Property Committee and Transition Coordination Team (TCT) have been working to ensure that our designated space there is as move-in ready as possible when we arrive.  A date for the final worship service in our current building has not yet been set but we are hoping to make that decision very soon.

As we continue to prepare ourselves for vacating our current buildings, we are in need of additional volunteers to sort, pack, label and move items for disposition.  There are sign-up sheets in the narthex for anyone interested in helping out.  Please consider lending a hand to this important work!  If you have any questions, please contact any member of the TCT or the church office.