Bishop Kevin Shock

09/11/2026

Words I was thinking about a young adult friend this morning I ended up saying to her out loud: “You weren’t born until after 9/11.” And then: “I’m sorry you didn’t experience life before it.”

May God continue to turn us away from evil, violence, and enmity toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. For all who mourn and for all who suffer still: Lord, have mercy.

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we remember the lives lost and hold all who mourn in prayer.

In the days following 9/11, our global Lutheran partners shared words of prayer and solidarity:

"We join you in the spiritual battle and prayer for forgiveness and love knowing that the battle is not ours but God's, and that the truth and God's victory will always prevail." —LWF Regional Office for Africa (Kenya)

"May there be ways to comfort the mourners as well as the survivors, and may the church be part of that work. May all the deceased rest in peace." —Church of Sweden

"Your pain is our pain. We were shocked to watch this unprecedented act of violence and terrorism. We therefore share your sadness and sorrow for the loss of so many innocent lives." —Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan

"May God help us resist the forces of evil and spread peace in the world." —Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine

08/31/2026

It was a full and wonderful morning as the people of the new Abiding Faith Lutheran Cooperative (Clearfield Conference) gathered for shared worship and a meal at Grace Curwensville. The Spirit is gathering them in unity and guiding them in ministry!

08/30/2026

What a blessing to ordain Pastor Jen yesterday. I served as her internship supervisor. She brings many gifts to the church. Thanks be to God!

08/26/2026

Members of the various Go Tell It IN the Mountains committees gathered in Hollidaysburg this past Friday and Saturday to share fellowship, discussion, and work with our partner from the Lilly Foundation around the sustainability of this ministry. People from all three participating Synods were present for this engaging and hopeful work: Allegheny Synod 8C; Northwestern PA Synod, ELCA; and Upper Susquehanna Synod, ELCA.

08/25/2026

Last Wednesday people from the Office of the Bishop, Synod Council, the Conference of Deans, and neighboring congregations gathered with the people of Trinity Confluence (Laurel Highlands) for a liturgy of Holy Closure. When a congregation closes, it can appear to be, or feel like, failure; but I see Holy Closure as a sign of faithfulness. God remains faithful to us beyond the chapters of life that human beings design. Even we can sometimes live more faithfully in the new life Jesus promises us after the death of a congregation.

Lutherans are theologians of the cross, meaning we are realistic about sin, death, and human limitation. Being a theologian of the cross means we also lean into hope and rely on the saving work that only Christ can do. The people of Trinity Confluence have done a faithful thing and will continue to serve faithfully in different ways. Above all, God will continue to do new and faithful things in and among them. Thanks be to God!

08/24/2026

It was a joy to return to the congregation where I was brought up and that nurtured a call to ministry for me. Thank you Zion Lutheran Church - Hollidaysburg, PA for your ministry with me this weekend, and thank you for sharing your pastor with the whole Allegheny Synod 8C, so that he could minister to another congregation this morning.

08/20/2026

Friends, thank you for your prayers. I am indeed improving after my health issue on Sunday. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor next week. Ministry has continued to happen. Stay tuned for more posts about that soon.

08/17/2026

UPDATE: Thank you for your prayers. I am indeed improving after my health issue on Sunday. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor next week and am hopeful about maintaining good health moving forward.

*This is a long post about a hopefully manageable health issue, for the sake of transparency.*

Yesterday I woke up excited to be visiting my former congregation, St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church (Nittany Conference), to visit and dedicate a piece of stained glass in memory of a beloved parishioner and friend. By the time I was in the car I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Instead I went to urgent care. Earlier this summer I started to have swelling in my eyes and face that subsided over the course of the day. I wrote it off to a new allergen. On two separate occasions the swelling got so bad that it extended to my throat and made breathing difficult. Once was on the way to the office where someone gave me an antihistamine and it calmed down. The second time was on a long drive to a congregation where, by the time I arrived, my breathing had rebounded enough to lead worship. I made a doctor appointment the morning after that second bout with asthma, which was completely bew to me. The doctor told me I had classic symptoms of having developed a sensitivity to a maintenance drug I had been on for 20 years. Uncommon, but not unheard of. I immediately went off the drug, and things started to gradually improve, until yesterday. It made me nervous that I was having another reaction—and a bad one—after having been off the medication for three weeks. There was only one difference in yesterday morning’s routine. The day before was spent outside doing heavy duty yard work, so I took some ibuprofen early yesterday morning, to which I’m also now apparently sensitive. I arrived at urgent care with bad facial swelling (pic in comments), some mild breathing difficulty, and borderline low blood pressure. They intervened how they could, with a steroid shot and antihistamines, but told me an ambulance ride was still a possibility. Thankfully, after some observation the progression of the symptoms stopped, and my blood pressure started to rebound. I still have some swelling this morning and am on oral steroids and antihistamines until I see my regular doctor next week.

I am grateful for the gifts and skills of medical professionals and researchers who figure out what our bodies are doing; for my primary care doctors, Drs. McCaleb and Wagner; for Jennifer and Kelsey, the NP and nurse at Geisinger Convenient Care yesterday morning; for my understanding friends at St. Mark; and for a gifted and compassionate staff in the Office of the Bishop. I’m also grateful for your prayers for me and for our shared ministry. I’m going to take it a little bit easier for a couple of days, but I’ll see you back out and around Allegheny Synod 8C soon!

08/08/2026

This weekend the Allegheny Synod Council met in retreat. In addition to our regular meeting agenda, we welcomed new members and gathered in worship, Bible study, and conversation around our Mission and Vision statements.