On Beaver Grade Road, just minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport, St. Andrew Lutheran Church has been a steady presence in Moon Township for generations. The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and its motto, "Friendship, Family, and Faith," captures the way the church welcomes everyone who wants to serve God and share His love and grace with others.
The church gathers around a vision "to celebrate and worship God as an inclusive family; serving Him and inspiring others to know God's love and grace," and a mission that begins at the font: "Baptized in Christ, we spread the Word of God and share His love." That two-fold rhythm of worship and service runs through everything that happens at St. Andrew.
Worship on Beaver Grade Road
Worship at St. Andrew happens twice each weekend. Saturday worship is held at 6 p.m., and Sunday worship is at 9:30 a.m. Both services are open to worshippers of all ages and backgrounds, and visitors are invited to "join our family." For those who cannot be present in person, services are livestreamed on Facebook. A Facebook account is not required, and any prompts asking viewers to sign in can be ignored.
The sanctuary is connected to a Fellowship Hall - now known as Hower Hall - and a Picnic Pavilion on the same property, where Sunday mornings often spill over into shared meals and conversation.
A Pastoral Story
St. Andrew is currently shepherded by two interim pastors, Martin Galbraith and Margarethe Galbraith-Cordes. They follow a long line of leaders who have shaped the church's identity. William Hower, now Pastor Emeritus, was installed in May 1983 and served for nearly twenty years. During his tenure the contemporary music service began, the Fellowship Hall was built, the sanctuary was expanded to add seating, and the Picnic Pavilion project was launched. The church's work with what is now the Neville Island food bank also grew significantly under his leadership. In May 2008 the congregation honored him with the title of Pastor Emeritus and renamed the Fellowship Hall in his honor. A later pastor, Larry Mort, also served the congregation.
Christian Education for All Ages
Christian education at St. Andrew is described as a lifelong journey that begins at Baptism and continues through adulthood. The church offers a number of structured programs:
- Sunday School runs every Sunday from September through May, 10:45 to 11:15 a.m., for all ages. It meets right after the 9:30 service, making it easy for families to attend worship and Sunday School on the same morning.
- Vacation Bible School fills one week each summer with learning, crafts, food and fun for children age 3 through 5th grade.
- Confirmation begins with catechesis in the second grade, when children are first instructed in the meaning of the sacrament. Formal Confirmation instruction begins in seventh grade and lasts two years, combining classroom learning with service to the congregation and the wider community. The Rite of Confirmation is celebrated on All Saints' Sunday at the close of the two years.
- Youth Ministry and Adult Bible Study round out the offerings for older children and adults.
The Christian Education coordinator, Michal Chlebowski, is the point of contact for VBS and other learning programs.
St. Andrew Day School
St. Andrew's ministry to young children extends well beyond Sunday mornings through St. Andrew Day School, a preschool program founded in 1972 that has operated continuously for more than four decades. The school is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare and currently enrolls more than 90 children in classes for ages 2 through pre-K. It operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with day care available until 3 p.m., and runs from September through May. The curriculum emphasizes social and interpersonal skills, early academics, language and literacy, character development, music and arts, and independence. Four-year-olds and pre-K classes also receive music, art, and Spanish instruction. Directors Kristen Zito and Alison Erhard lead the program, and inquiries can be directed to standrewdayschool@gmail.com or 412-262-5525.
Serving the Wider Community
St. Andrew's social ministry follows the example of Jesus reaching out to the sick, the lonely, and the outcast. The most visible piece of that work is the Coraopolis Food Pantry, which St. Andrew helped to organize in the mid-1990s. In 2006 the church joined with the Coraopolis Community Development Foundation, Robert Morris University, and the Salvation Army to relaunch the pantry in its present form. The pantry now provides food twice a month to more than 175 families in Moon Township, Crescent, Groveton, Coraopolis, and Neville Island. In partnership with the pantry, St. Andrew also supplies fresh fruit weekly to a snack pack program serving students in the Moon Area and Cornell school districts.
Inside the congregation, the Caring Committee provides meals to members recovering from surgery, illness, or family difficulties. The Prayer Warriors lift up those who are ill, grieving, or facing other physical, emotional, or spiritual needs.
Walking the Church Year
Beyond the weekly schedule, St. Andrew marks the seasons of the Christian year with a rich set of traditions. Rally Day on the second Sunday in September launches the fall program and collects school supplies for children in need. Reformation Sunday at the end of October commemorates Martin Luther's 1517 posting of the Ninety-Five Theses and invites reflection on how the Church can continue to grow. All Saints' Sunday and Confirmation Sunday are observed together on the first Sunday of November, when the congregation honors those who have passed and welcomes the newest class of confirmands. Advent brings a Nativity dinner and a special choir performance in December, and Christmas Eve is marked with candlelight services. Shrove Tuesday pancakes, Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week services - including two Good Friday services and the Vigil of Easter - lead into Easter Sunday, which begins with a sunrise service and breakfast before the 9:30 a.m. worship.
A pumpkin carving event in late October and a late-summer ice cream social that welcomes new Day School families round out a calendar that keeps the congregation connected across the year.
Giving and Staying in Touch
St. Andrew partners with Vanco to offer online giving, with options for one-time and recurring gifts. The church can be reached at 412-264-4551 or standrewmoon@gmail.com, and is located at 987 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108.