No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
At Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, we gather together to find strength through our common belief in One God, who is the Creator, the Christ the Spirit. Together teaching us how to live and love each other and work for a world where justice abounds.
Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is a member in good standing of the Covenant Association of the UCC, the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, and the United Church of Christ at the national setting. We have also been recognized as a 5 for 5 church. According to the PA Southeast Conference, “5 for 5 is the designation that we give churches who give to OCWM Basic Support and all 4 of the UCC’s other special offerings. Those 5 offerings are OCWM Basic Support (the money that goes to support the 4 covenanted ministry partners and the Conference office), Neighbors in Need (helps UCC churches across the United State who are developing justice projects), One Great Hour of Sharing (supports emergency and disaster relief, refugee ministries, and human development projects in the US and across the globe), Strengthen the Church (provides funding for new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and leadership formation), and The Christmas Fund (which supports retired clergy in need as well as pension supplements to low-income, retired church workers).” We are also an open baptism church (recognizing baptisms from outside our religious tradition) and welcome people of faith to be part of our church family.
The mission of the church is to reach out and touch the lives of others with the love of Jesus Christ. To that end we are directly involved in a number of mission endeavors. On the last Friday of each month we prepare and serve dinner at Opportunity House in the city of Reading. On the third Thursday of the month we participate with six other congregations to distribute food at the Muhlenberg Churches Food Pantry. The distribution is held at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church at the intersection of Tuckerton Rd and Stoudts Ferry Bridge Rd.
We host Scout Troop 155 and Pack 155 as an extension of our ministry to youth. In October we walk in the CROP Walk sponsored by Church World Service to aid in their efforts to alleviate hunger worldwide. 25% of the proceeds raised at the walk are given to the Greater Berks Food Bank.
Many still donate blood through the Miller-Keystone Blood Bank. This mission effort is hosted by the church a few times each year. We remain Focused to share Gods Love, providing support to many wonderful organizations. Heiffer International, Puttur of India, One Great Hour of Sharing, Jared Boxes, Stuff the Bus for Education, UCC Disaster Relief and many more. Love thy Neighbor!
