Concordia Blog

With this being Clergy Appreciation Month during Concordia’s 140th Anniversary year, we wanted to take a look at our history through the lens of our Chaplaincy Department. This month especially, we recognize our spiritual care staff members and thank them for all they do to share the Lord’s love with our residents, patients and staff each day. Enjoy!

A century plus four decades – that’s a whole lot of history – a history that was initiated by pastors searching for a solution to care for children who had lost one or both parents. An orphanage was the obvious remedy, but “where” and “how” were the questions that troubled the Evangelical Lutheran churches located in Pittsburgh. That answer came through a couple who deeded their farm in Marwood to pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Synod of Pennsylvania and Other States - a document that included provisions for the care of “aged and indigent men and women.”

Concordia’s annual Oktoberfest made its full return on Saturday, October 2, after the event was modified last year and limited to a drive-in fireworks show on the Concordia at Cabot campus due to the pandemic. It was great to welcome families, friends and community members back to the Cabot campus to enjoy all of the festivities once again!

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a national health campaign coinciding with the first week of Fall each year that brings awareness to one of the leading causes of injuries and hospitalizations among senior adults. Regardless of our age, anyone can have a fall; however, according to the CDC, older adults – those 65 and older – fall at a higher frequency, with more than one in four older adults experiencing falls each year. This population also experiences the most hospitalizations after a fall, with an average of 800,000 per year, and accounts for 3 million annual visits to the emergency department due to fall-related injuries.

At Concordia Lutheran Ministries, our employees are at the heart and hands of our mission – they care for our residents and patients with their hard work, kindness and empathy and keep our organization running with their leadership, vision and dedication.

Watching our amazing staff handle the unprecedented challenges of 2020 that continue into this year has been truly inspiring, so we chose to highlight just a few in our 2021 Concordia Calendar as a proclamation of gratitude for their many contributions. Though we wish there could be 3,000 pages in the calendar to feature all of our employees, this small sampling is representative of our extraordinary staff as a whole. Each month, we’ll introduce you to the talented, compassionate team members featured in our calendar.

Over the month of August, our hospice service lines had the honor of hosting four special butterfly releases to celebrate the lives and memories of those who have passed before us. Concordia-IRMC hosted Hope Takes Flight, a drive-through pick-up for release at home event, on Sunday, Aug. 8 at Mack Park in Indiana, Pa., Good Samaritan Hospice hosted two releases, the first on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Franklin Township, Pa., and the second was held on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Concordia at Villa St. Joseph in Baden, Pa., and the most recent release was hosted by Concordia Hospice of Washington on Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Barn at Ike’s Place in Amity, Pa.

At Concordia Lutheran Ministries, our employees are at the heart and hands of our mission – they care for our residents and patients with their hard work, kindness and empathy and keep our organization running with their leadership, vision and dedication.

Watching our amazing staff handle the unprecedented challenges of 2020 that continue into this year has been truly inspiring, so we chose to highlight just a few in our 2021 Concordia Calendar as a proclamation of gratitude for their many contributions. Though we wish there could be 3,000 pages in the calendar to feature all of our employees, this small sampling is representative of our extraordinary staff as a whole. Each month, we’ll introduce you to the talented, compassionate team members featured in our calendar.

Concordia held a Grand Opening for Concordia at Villa St. Joseph’s personal care and memory care expansion on Aug. 7, and we enjoyed a beautiful summer day with residents, families and the local community to celebrate the milestone! This new blessing adds to the faithful legacy of caring, comfort and healing on the campus in Baden, PA.

Thanks to our amazing team and the Concordia at Cabot community – this year’s annual summer festival at Concordia at Cabot exceeded all of our expectations! (Read more for photos)

At Concordia Lutheran Ministries, our employees are the heart and hands of our mission – they care for our residents and patients with their hard work, kindness and empathy and keep our organization running with their leadership, vision and dedication.

Watching our amazing staff handle the unprecedented challenges of 2020 that continue into this year has been truly inspiring, so we chose to highlight just a few in our 2021 Concordia Calendar as a proclamation of gratitude for their many contributions. Though we wish there could be 3,000 pages in the calendar to feature all of our employees, this small sampling is representative of our extraordinary staff as a whole. Each month, we’ll introduce you to the talented, compassionate team members featured in our calendar.

This year marked our 17^th annual golf outing at the Treesdale Golf and Country Club. The day was one for the books thanks to the ideal weather - with rain holding out all day and sun beaming through the clouds – record-breaking golf games, wonderful fellowship, fabulous prizes and generous support for Concordia’s mission of caring. (Read more for photos)