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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 The information on this page is out of date.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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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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News

We are freed to be generous because of God’s great mercy!

“Because of God’s Great Mercy” is the title of our stewardship emphasis this year.  The scriptural basis of this focus on our stewardship of all that God has entrusted into our care is I Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.”

We begin by proclaiming all that God has done for us, hence the title “Because of God’s Great Mercy.”  God has made us God’s own people. We will also consider how generous giving is an important part of every Christian’s life, and how our combined generosity can make even greater things possible through our congregation.

During our stewardship program, we will think together about how our giving to the Good Shepherd is an important part of our Christian faith.  We will also focus on how our congregation uses our offerings to do God’s work within the Good Shepherd’s walls, in our community, and around the world.

“Because of God’s Great Mercy” will ask you to do two things.  First, you will be asked to think thoughtfully and pray about the ways that you contribute to the Good Shepherd.  Second, you will be asked to commit to giving consistently.  You might consider using an automatic funds transfer program through your bank or set up a recurring payment through PayPal.

As you make your gift, please know that confidentiality is of the utmost importance.  The only people who will be aware of your financial contributions are you and the Financial Secretary, Steve Smith.      

“Because of God’s Great Mercy” will use mail, e-mail, and time in worship to share information with you.  Please watch for material during this important time in our congregation’s life.

If you have any questions about our stewardship program, please feel free to contact the church office. They’ll put you in touch with Laura Mauser OR Liz Smith. For questions concerning your past giving to the congregation they’ll connect you with Steve Smith.

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COVID-19 News

Having trouble registering for a vaccination? We can help.

Although many Pennsylvanians are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, it’s not always easy to find an available dose and register to receive it. We’ve compiled these resources to help you toward being COVID-free.

Hands-on Help

Council member Matt O’Donnell is offering his assistance to anyone who doesn’t have the technology or skills to use the various online registration systems. Reach out to the church office and we’ll connect you with him.

And if you’d like to also offer your services, please let us know.

Searching for Doses

As of this writing there is still a significant shortage of the vaccines compared to the demand for them among eligible Pennsylvanians. We hope that will lessen soon. In the meanwhile, here are the tips we’re hearing for locating vaccination:

Take advantage of 65+ clinics

The most successful route is for seniors 65 and older. Several vaccination clinics have been held in Monroeville for people in this age range. You can read Bob Rossetti’s experience at one of the first ones here. If you qualify, this is one of the easiest ways to get your vaccination.

Join a Facebook group

One of the best tools to help you find doses is social media. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join the Getting Pittsburgh Vaccinated group and check regularly for tips about clinics other locations where doses of the vaccine are currently available.

Get on a standby list

Two of the three approved vaccines require very specific handling, and once the doses are ready for patients, they have a very short shelf life. For providers, a canceled appointment can mean a wasted vaccination dose.

Dr. B – the standby list for leftover doses – helps to connect spare vaccinations with arms that are looking for them. Registration is quick and free, and the site follows HIPAA guidelines regarding the data you provide.

If a provider finds itself with spare doses, it notifies Dr. B. The site then identifies nearby eligible people from its waitlist. If that’s you, you’ll receive an invitation to reserve the dose. You’ll need to move quickly and be able to travel to the provider, so you’ll want to consider transportation beforehand.

See where Rite Aid and Walgreens have available appointments

We’re not going to lie – although it’s great news that the vaccines are being made available at the national pharmacy chains, it’s really hard to snag an appointment to get one. The pharmacies’ online registration systems make it difficult to determine what locations currently have available doses.

Your best bet is to use Vaxx Maxx, an online tool that will show you all the available appointments in your state for either Rite Aid or Walgreens. It’s updated every few minutes.

You’ll still need to go to each pharmacy’s online registration tool to nab the appointment:

Competition is fierce, and there’s a good chance that appointments listed on Vaxx Maxx will be gone just minutes after they appear. It’s also likely that if you find an appointment someone else will be registering for it at the same time as you are – don’t be surprised to get to the end of the process and be told that your appointment was claimed by someone else. Perseverance is the key.

We’ve also been told that Rite Aid tends to dump new appointments to its registration system at midnight – this is both when you’ll have the greatest chance of finding available times, and also when there are the most people trying to claim those times.

Try Giant Eagle and CVS

The local grocery chain has been sponsoring vaccination drives at Heinz Field, as well as having appointments in-store. Their registration system has a waiting list to access it, and you’re not guaranteed an appointment once you get in, but it’s another option..

Another option is to check with CVS.

Check with a local pharmacy

Smaller, local pharmacies are often overlooked in the quest for vaccination doses. People using the internet to search will often overlook these providers, since each one has its own procedures and registration systems. You might find that they have doses available. Local pharmacies may also offer a simple waiting list to their eligible customers – something that’s not available at the bigger chains.

It Will Get Better… Quickly

If this all sounds chaotic and like a lot of effort, you’re not wrong. But the good news is that all three vaccines are being manufactured at quantity now. Each week more doses hit the market. In the next few months it’s likely that all of the vaccine hustle is a distant memory, and anyone who wants the shot will be able to easily get it.

In the meanwhile, continue to practice social distancing, wearing face coverings and playing it safe when it comes to trips out into the world. We’re in the home stretch now – keep hanging in there, and let us know if you’ve got any great tips for getting the vaccine!

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Announcements

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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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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Announcements

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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Announcements

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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Announcements

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.