You are welcome here with no exceptions.
Why? The Holy Bible teaches and we believe that all people are made in God’s image and that Jesus Christ died to save us all.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. – John 3:16-17
God loves you and wants to be in a closer relationship with you no matter who you are, what you have done, or what has been done to you. We are imperfect people so we love other imperfectly. We believe God loves us perfectly. We believe that love was manifest in the person of Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human. Jesus welcomed everyone, especially those society pushed to the sides. Jesus stretched out his arms of love on the hard wood of the cross to embrace the whole world.
As a part of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement we welcome everyone. We do not care where you came from, how you live, or who you love. Our inclusivity is not an attempt to be trendy or a political statement. It is living out the promises we made at our Baptisms. It is being the Church of Jesus Christ. You are welcome here because of, not despite, who you are: a beloved child of God.
If you do not have a church home, see if we may be what you are looking for!
Who we are
Planted here in 1888, before Parkside took shape, we have served God and this community for over 130 years. Merging with Ascension Episcopal Church in 2018, together we continue to seek and serve Christ in all people. We are part of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and the Episcopal Church; the sole US branch of the world-wide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is a collection of 39 national or regional churches who take themselves back to Jesus Christ through the Church of England. For that reason, we can either be called Episcopalians or Anglicans. We strive to live by the message of Christ, in which there are no outcasts, and all are welcome. We are both Catholic and Protestant and rely on Scripture, tradition, and reason to encounter God in our lives.
At Good Shepherd
We have several outreach ministries including a Food Pantry: Wednesdays 10 AM – 2 PM and Pete’s Pet Food Pantry: first Sunday of the month 3 PM – 4 PM. During the school year we have Sunday School from 9:30 AM –10:15 AM and Adult Christian Education on Wednesdays at 7 PM.
Our buildings are centers for other ministries as well. We host two AA meetings (on Sunday and Wednesday nights), house the Festival School of Ballet, and work closely with our neighbors in the Parkside Community Association. We see these not simply as community events, but as a part of our reaching out with the love of Christ for the world.
