Category: Announcements

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Announcements

Holy Week and Easter schedule

We are pleased to announce the following services to make your Holy Week and Easter a profound and moving experience this year:

Palm Sunday

  • Worship with us online using Zoom or YouTube!
  • Special “Readers Theatre” presentation of the Passion Gospel by members of The Good Shepherd.
  • Special music by the church musicians.

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday

  • A special service will be offered on our YouTube channel – you can view at any time at your convenience.
  • Gather a some water and a towel before so you can participate in the washing portion of the service.

Good Friday

  • The rostered leaders of the Synod Council have prepared a service of readings and preaching based on the Passion According to John. Pastor Bob will read the seven readings from scripture.
  • We’ll view the service together at 7:00 pm using our regular Zoom link. Or you can view the service any time on the Synod’s YouTube channel.

Easter

Easter Sunday

Plans have changed…

Please note that due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in our county, we have revised this plan since it was first posted.

  • We are planning for two services: 9:00 and 10:30.
  • We are planning a single service at 10:30.
  • If you have been fully vaccinated (two weeks have passed since your final dose), you may attend in person – please register with the office.
  • If you have not been fully vaccinated, you may request to attend – up to 25 at each service will be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The service will be livestreamed as always using our normal Zoom and YouTube links for any who are unable to join us in person.
  • Lots of special music has been prepared by our musicians!
  • Holy Communion will be offered in the sanctuary for those who can attend the service in person, and to everyone in a drive-through distribution from noon to 2:00 in the church parking lot.
  • Please note that case numbers in Allegheny County are currently rising. It is possible that they could reach levels where our COVID-19 policy no longer permits in-person gatherings indoors. If that occurs, we will be in touch with anyone who has registered, and will announce alternative plans.

The Second Sunday of Easter

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Announcements

Paper? Email? Both? How to get our newsletter

The Shepherd’s Staff is the newsletter of The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We publish two different editions of the newsletter – an online version that comes in your email, and a printed edition that is mailed out. We understand this might be a little confusing, so let us lay out the details:

The Shepherd’s Staff – Digital Edition

  • Sent to all members and friends of the congregation with email addresses on file.
  • Contains a summary of the news and announcements on our website in the last week, as well as helpful links like our online calendar and the Sunday worship instructions.
  • Emailed early every Tuesday morning.
  • Free for us to send.

The Shepherd’s Staff – Print Edition

  • Sent to all members and friends of the congregation who do not have an email address on file, or who have requested a print copy.
  • Contains a summary of the news and announcements on our website in the last month, as well as a copy of the next month’s calendar.
  • Mailed via USPS the last week of the month.
  • Costs a little bit to print and mail, but you’re worth it to us!

All of the content in The Shepherd’s Staff is available on our website – just choose “The Latest” or “Calendar” from our menu.

If you’d like to change how you receive The Shepherd’s Staff, just let the office staff know.

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Announcements

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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Announcements

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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Announcements

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:

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

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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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Announcements

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