Expect To Be Welcomed: On Sunday mornings as you come through the door there will ushers and greeters offering you a worship bulletin and saying "Good morning" with a firm handshake. During the serve there is a portion called "Sharing the Peace" where worshippers shake hands or embrace saying to each other saying "Peace be with you" or similar words. Usually the pastor also greets worshippers before or after the service. We strive to be a friendly, welcoming church.
Expect Diversity: We are an inclusive church. In our pews and on our membership roles you will find men and woman of all ages, all walks of life, and all ethnic backgrounds. There are individuals and families of all types, and both single and married people. The church does not discriminate on the basis of race or socio-economic status. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, so come as you are (dress casual, or in your work clothes, or in your "Sunday Best") to worship with us and hear the Good News that breaks down the human barriers that divide us.
Expect A Lot of Music and to Sing: Lutherans love music and especially they love to sing. The services usually begin and end with organ music. There are hymns the congregation sings near the beginning, in the middle, and near the end of the service. We also sing hymns while Holy Communion is distributed. Additionally, many of the regular parts of the service are sung. Often there are musical offerings presented by our vocal and bell choirs and our Youth Band during worship. If you love to hear or make music, you will enjoy participating in our worship.
Expect To Stand Up, Sit Down, and Move Around: Normally in worship we stand when we speak or sing, sit down when we listen, and walk up to the altar and kneel to receive Holy Communion. In prayer we may fold our hands, close our eyes, and bow our heads. Some Lutherans make the sign of the cross in remembrance of their baptism whenever God's name (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is said. Lutheran worship involves the whole body and all the senses, not just our heads.
Expect Tradition: Lutherans believe that the ancient worship traditions of the church are still a good vehicle for communicating the Gospel. Our pastor and other worship leaders wear traditional clothing called "vestments" that date back to the time of the Apostles, reminding us that we proclaim the same faith they did 2000 years ago. These vestments can be quite colorful and elaborate on special occasions. We burn candles to remind of us our roots that go back to underground worship when Christianity was illegal centuries ago (and still is parts of the world today). We sing and chant parts of our worship as has been done throughout Christian history. Our traditional worship reminds that we are not alone in our faith; a great cloud of Christian witnesses stretches backward and forward in time and space surrounds us.
Expect to Commune (if you want to): The Holy Communion is the center of the worship. We believe and teach that the Holy Communion truly is Jesus' body and blood, given and shed for us, in, under, and above the forms of bread and wine. All baptized believers are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We use real wine, not grape juice, in our celebration of Holy Communion; so if you cannot take wine for any reason, feel free to receive the bread only.
Expect Diversity: We are an inclusive church. In our pews and on our membership roles you will find men and woman of all ages, all walks of life, and all ethnic backgrounds. There are individuals and families of all types, and both single and married people. The church does not discriminate on the basis of race or socio-economic status. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, so come as you are (dress casual, or in your work clothes, or in your "Sunday Best") to worship with us and hear the Good News that breaks down the human barriers that divide us.
Expect A Lot of Music and to Sing: Lutherans love music and especially they love to sing. The services usually begin and end with organ music. There are hymns the congregation sings near the beginning, in the middle, and near the end of the service. We also sing hymns while Holy Communion is distributed. Additionally, many of the regular parts of the service are sung. Often there are musical offerings presented by our vocal and bell choirs and our Youth Band during worship. If you love to hear or make music, you will enjoy participating in our worship.
Expect To Stand Up, Sit Down, and Move Around: Normally in worship we stand when we speak or sing, sit down when we listen, and walk up to the altar and kneel to receive Holy Communion. In prayer we may fold our hands, close our eyes, and bow our heads. Some Lutherans make the sign of the cross in remembrance of their baptism whenever God's name (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is said. Lutheran worship involves the whole body and all the senses, not just our heads.
Expect Tradition: Lutherans believe that the ancient worship traditions of the church are still a good vehicle for communicating the Gospel. Our pastor and other worship leaders wear traditional clothing called "vestments" that date back to the time of the Apostles, reminding us that we proclaim the same faith they did 2000 years ago. These vestments can be quite colorful and elaborate on special occasions. We burn candles to remind of us our roots that go back to underground worship when Christianity was illegal centuries ago (and still is parts of the world today). We sing and chant parts of our worship as has been done throughout Christian history. Our traditional worship reminds that we are not alone in our faith; a great cloud of Christian witnesses stretches backward and forward in time and space surrounds us.
Expect to Commune (if you want to): The Holy Communion is the center of the worship. We believe and teach that the Holy Communion truly is Jesus' body and blood, given and shed for us, in, under, and above the forms of bread and wine. All baptized believers are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We use real wine, not grape juice, in our celebration of Holy Communion; so if you cannot take wine for any reason, feel free to receive the bread only.
What to Expect
4503 Old William Penn Hwy.
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-2934
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-2934
