Category: Announcements

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Easter Sunday Worship News

Plans have changed…

Due to an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in our county since this plan was first posted, we have needed to revise our Easter plans. The information on this page is out of date. You can read the current announcement here.

We are pleased to announce that we are intending to hold Easter Sunday worship services in the sanctuary, safely and in person, on Sunday April 4th!  Worship services will be held at 9:00 am and 10:30 am to accommodate as many people as possible in a safe manner.

Pre-registration, face masks and social distancing are required.  Pews will be marked to ensure proper distancing.  Entrance to the sanctuary will be from the narthex and exit out the door near the library.  Windows on both sides will be open to provide safer air flow. 

Live-streaming of the worship service will be available on You Tube and via Zoom at 10:30 am and will be posted at goodshepherdlife.org.

All who are fully COVID 19 vaccinated* will be able to attend and in addition, up to 25 other people who are not yet fully vaccinated will be able to attend each of the two services.  Everyone must pre-register!

If you want to attend in person on Easter Sunday, here’s what you will want to do.  Contact Donna Wenger in the church office either by phone or via email – no later than 3:00pm on Thursday, April 1, 2021.  You will need to provide information regarding the number of people in your party, the service time that you are interested in attending, and if you and/or others in your party have been fully vaccinated, you will need to provide information regarding your vaccination date(s).

We are delighted to be able to offer in person worship with Holy Communion on Easter Sunday.  We are also continuing to act with caution and care for our members and our community in establishing precautions to ensure safety for all.  As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the Congregation Council will continue to monitor the trends in Allegheny County and surrounding communities and if there is any change to this plan, we will let you know.

* Fully vaccinated – is defined as being 2 weeks after having received the \second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or 1 dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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Interested in residential solar power? We’d like to hear from you!

Our neighbors at East Suburban Unitarian Universalist Church are in the early stages of exploring the opportunity to create a solar power co-op for Monroeville area homeowners. Similar projects have been implemented elsewhere in southwestern Pennsylvania. By working together, homeowners have decreased expenses and streamlined the process of going green.

There are no commitments or obligations – this is a chance to talk and learn more.

If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, please let Pastor Bob know so he can connect you with ESUUC.

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Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time 2021 begins at 2 am on the second Sunday in March, March 14. That means that sometime on Saturday evening our clocks should be set FORWARD one hour. Yes, that also means that we actually lose one hour of sleep! But, we are better able to take advantage of the sun’s natural light and get out and do more in the evenings. As warm weather arrives, wouldn’t it be nice to have more time to enjoy the evening? Let’s hope the weather cooperates!

Try some of these easy ways to help your body adjust to the time change:

  1. Let sunlight into your room as soon as you wake up.
  2. Don’t drink caffeine after lunch time.
  3. Exercise in the morning, afternoon or early evening and not close to bedtime.
  4. Dim the lights in your house an hour before bedtime and make your bedroom as dark as you can.
  5. Take a bath before bed and add some lavender essential oil.
  6. Some herbal teas are known to help relax and destress. Try Lavender, Hops, Catnip, Lemon Balm or Chamomile, but, make sure it is okay with your doctor first!
  7. Go to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier during the week before the time change. If you can’t do that, make sure you don’t miss any sleep that week and get to bed on time!

Hopefully some of these tips will help you ease into the Spring Forward time change!

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Spring Begins March 20

The “official” start of spring, regardless of what the weather is doing outside, is Saturday, March 20th. Spring is about 92 days long! The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a stormy, mild and wet spring for the Pittsburgh area.

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Stay in touch!

Help us to keep you in the loop – check in with the church office to verify your current contact information. We’d like to know:

  • The members of your household
  • Your phone numbers (including mobile, if that’s OK)
  • Your mailing address
  • Your email addresses

You can reach us at 412-372-2934 or by filling out the form below:

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Worship Opportunities Abound

Lost track of the ways to worship at The Good Shepherd this spring? Here’s a quick rundown:

Sunday Mornings

As of late February, we aren’t yet holding services in person. (Visit our COVID-19 Information Center at goodshepherdlife.org/covid for the current status.)

  • Join our service interactively using the Zoom app on your Mac, PC or smartphone. It’s as easy as clicking the link on our Worship page.
  • You can phone in from your any telephone by calling 1-929-436-2866. Enter the code 266 831 067 when you’re prompted. Long distance rates may apply.
  • You can watch the service live or any time later on our YouTube channel.

Wednesdays in Lent

We’re offering a joint Zoom service with Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Eastmont each Wednesday in Lent. Use the instructions above to join by phone or using the Zoom app. (You can watch the video on YouTube if you prefer, but you won’t be able to participate in the discussion and fellowship time that way.)

Holy Week and Easter

COVID-19 cases are still higher now than they were at the peak of last summer’s initial outbreak – but they are trending in the right direction. We are hopeful that if the trends continue it might be possible to hold some form of in-person services during Holy Week and Easter, but it is too early to tell.

Based on the extremely positive feedback we’ve received about our Christmas Eve service, we’re confident that we’ll be able to make these important services powerful and meaningful no matter whether they’re in-person, online only or available both ways.

Keep an eye on our website for news. We’ll also use mailings, phone notifications and email to keep you in the loop.

Every Day

Our nationally-recognized devotional program Daily Prayer is available on YouTube and your favorite podcasting app. Join us each day for 10-15 minutes of scripture, prayer and encouragement in the midst of a chaotic world.

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Inspiring conversations brought to you by Thrivent

The Thrivent Member Network is pleased to introduce our OnDemand Series. Throughout the year, the Thrivent Member Network will provide a variety of online events for you to enjoy at your convenience.

Click here to view the first of Thrivent Member Network’s OnDemand Series featuring inspiring conversations with Misty Copeland, Dr. Mae Jemison and Chris Gardner. These on OnDemand Interviews are available through Sunday, February 28.

No products will be sold at these events, and you don’t need to be a Thrivent member to participate – share this invitation with anyone you think would enjoy the programs!

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Take the Synod’s Lent Hunger Challenge

Our SWPA Synod Hunger Elimination and Advocacy Team is challenging you during Lent this year to think more about how we are taking care of “the least of these” by specifically focusing on the problem of hunger, how we contribute to it, and how we help to fight it.

This is a Lenten discipline to take up which includes elements of the traditional Lenten disciplines: fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Use these forty days to walk more closely with Jesus as we walk with our hungry neighbors.

Take the Challenge
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It’s easy to support our ministry

Supporting the work of The Good Shepherd is easy to do, no matter how you prefer to give.

God’s called us to important work in Monroeville and the surrounding community. We provide food to hungry neighbors. We support our local men’s shelter with clothing, food donations and in-person service. We provide a home to many community support groups and other organizations. And we witness to our faith in big and small ways every day so that Jesus is made known in us.

You’re a part of that work. Now, more than ever, your contributions empower The Good Shepherd to do this ministry.

Visit our Donations page to learn how you can make a one-time gift… or choose a recurring contribution, if set it and forget it is the way you roll.

Thank you for your partnership!

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Inspiration on Demand – We’re on YouTube

Have you visited The Good Shepherd’s channel on YouTube? We’ve got a growing collection of videos to inspire you, with more added every week.

Here’s just some of what you’ll find:

  • Sunday morning’s worship service – and an archive of our previous services, too.
  • A library of more than three dozen hymns, solos, virtual choir anthems, bell performances and other musical selections.
  • Hundreds of episodes of Daily Prayer, our nationally recognized daily devotional.
  • And more!

Be inspired!

While you’re there, be sure to click on the “Subscribe” button and the 🔔 icon to be notified every time we post a new video.

Take Me There