Social Outreach

As members of the ELCA, we believe we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, our direct service work and our voices, and our advocacy efforts to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA maintains our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.

At PHLC, the Social Outreach Ministry team leads our congregation in these endeavors to address the social, economic, and emotional needs of people within the congregation, our community, and our world. The team aims to transform us into a more caring and prayerful church.

  • Support of the Agency of the year

  • ELCA Advocacy – support of our synods efforts

  • Peace and Social Justice Advocacy

  • Welcoming and accepting all God’s people regardless of their societal background

Agency of the year – Glade Run Lutheran Services

Glade Run Lutheran Services offers a comprehensive range of mental health services to support individuals and families facing mental health challenges.

These services include Blended Case Management, where case managers assist clients in managing their daily lives and coordinating care; Intensive Behavioral Health provides highly individualized support for those with significant behavioral health needs.

Family Based Services offer therapeutic interventions to strengthen family relationships. Additionally, Psychiatric Rehabilitation focuses on building skills for greater independence, while School-Based Mental Health services support the well-being of students within the school setting.

The organization also offers Psychiatric Mobile Medication services to improve medication adherence through home visits and Acute Partial Hospitalization for those needing short-term, intensive care in a structured environment.

These services demonstrate Glade Run Lutheran Services’ commitment to empowering individuals and promoting personal wellness and growth.

Other Activities

Perry Highway Lutheran Church actively engages in seasonal initiatives to benefit various organizations and communities. In March, the church hosts a Spring Cleaning Drive to support North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO). In May, they provide Mother’s Day Blankets for World Church Services and create Father’s Day Cards to benefit the selected Agency of the Year. During July and August, a School Supplies Drive assists agencies such as Lighthouse of Life (LOL), NHCO, and Mars Home for Youth (MHY). In the fall, a Winter Coat Drive is held in September and October for NHCO, while the Thanksgiving on Every Table Food Drive in October and November benefits LOL. The holiday season includes the Christmas Giving Tree initiative, which supports MHY and other local agencies, and Care Packages for Pittsburgh Lutheran United Ministries (PHLC) College Students. A Baby Shower for Baby Jesus event is organized in November and December to benefit LOL. These initiatives exemplify Perry Highway Lutheran Church’s service and community outreach commitment.

Lutheran Advocacy

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is the state public policy office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LAMPa serves the congregations, synods and Lutheran institutions in Pennsylvania, providing resources, training, and information in the work of being a public church.

As members of the ELCA, we believe we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, our direct service work and our voices, and our advocacy efforts to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA maintains our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.

ELCA advocacy works for change in public policy based on the experience of Lutheran ministries, programs, and projects worldwide and in communities across the United States. We work through political channels on behalf of the following biblical values: peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, care for creation, and concern for people living in poverty and struggling with hunger and disease.

What can you do to overcome Social Media Addiction?

Over the last year especially it is becoming more and more common for people to escape into the online world.  As our world finds a new normal there are some things we can implement to help overcome our overuse of technology in general and social media in particular:

  • Spend time talking to the person in front of you, not checking your newsfeed.
  • Stop worrying about people liking your tweets, realize we all have different opinions and points of view.
  • Enjoy a romantic walk in the park detached from the drama of your friend’s rants, or their suggestions for how to spend your date.
  • Sleep in a room without your smartphone and get the restful night you deserve.

Why Alyssa?

Alyssa has experience with leading social media addiction workshops and groups. She uses several treatment modalities to treat Social Media Addiction including strong Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills. Her genuine care and nonjudgmental approach will make you feel comfortable working through any difficult areas. We have several other therapists with this training – our intake advisor can help you decide who to schedule with.

Why Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

  • Short-term and goal orientated
  • It changes your thinking about your problem area – in this case Social Media
  • It changes the way that you feel – so the change is long term