Inspiring joyful faith; Building a loving community; Serving Neighbors Near and Far
Good Sam’s youth programs provide an all welcoming, safe place for middle & high school students to gather, explore their faith, ask questions, form friendships and serve the community.
GOOD SAMARITAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 8, 2023

Youth Sunday School
Sundays, 10:15am
Sunday School is available for children and youth age 4 through grade 12.
Sunday School
- This Sunday, Dec. 10: “The Shepherds”
W.I.L.D. Ones, Buzz, and High School Youth – Wednesdays, 7pm
- Wednesday Dec. 6 – come learn to bake an apple pie!
- Youth group will go on winter break for the rest of December
Confirmation Class 2024
- Classes are complete. We will meet in January for next steps!
Upcoming Events
- STEP Toy drive continues through Sunday, December 10.
- Christmas Pageant – Sunday, December 17, 10 a.m. Worship
- Family Christmas Eve Service – Sunday, December 24, 4 p.m.
- 2nd Annual Family Movie Night – Wednesday, December 27, 5 p.m. Light supper followed by The Muppets Christmas Carol in the Sanctuary. Bring your pillow, blanket, and stuffed animal! We will take donations of socks and/or canned soup for our shelter and food shelf partners.

Wednesday Night Youth Gatherings
Wednesday's @ 7pm
W.I.L.D. Ones, Buzz, and High School Youth Group
- Youth Group Kickoff! (Grades 6-12)
- August 26 – meet at Good Sam at 10:00am to go to the Mall of America. Play mini-golf, ride rides, have lunch, and do a scavenger hunt! We will be back at Good Sam around 5:00 pm.
- August 26 – meet at Good Sam at 10:00am to go to the Mall of America. Play mini-golf, ride rides, have lunch, and do a scavenger hunt! We will be back at Good Sam around 5:00 pm.

Appalachia Service Project (ASP)
Making Homes Warmer, Safer, Drier, Transforming Lives
2024 will mark Good Samaritan’s 43rd year of participation in ASP. The need in the Appalachia area has not diminished and neither has our commitment to serving the wonderful people in that area.
According to the ASP website, “each year, more than 15,000 volunteers serve with ASP, providing critical repairs for more than 350 families.” Projects can include roofing, flooring, shoring up foundations, digging drainage ditches, making rooms or homes wheel-chair accessible, or other projects that help make homes warmer, safer, and drier. In addition to building and improving homes, ASP is also a relational ministry for both the families we serve as well as those serving.
This ministry is about lifting the spirits of Appalachian families and reminding them that God’s love knows no boundaries. In the process of putting your faith in action, God acts in your heart. And when you change the lives of others, they have a way of changing you.
All students who have completed the 8th grade or higher are invited to serve with families in Central Appalachia. Students who are not members of or otherwise affiliated with Good Samaritan church are also invited to participate in the ASP trip. Bring a friend.
For more information contact Amy Manolis at AMANOLIS@MAC.COM or Jan Russell at JAN@GOOD.ORG.

Confirmation: 9th Grade
Confirmation Class 2024
- Historically Confirmation was for students in 9th grade. We are now going to open it up to anyone 8th grade and older. When a student enters 8th grade they will be eligible to register for Confirmation, and they will remain eligible all the way through High school. This way you can choose when the right time for your family is to participate in Confirmation. Maybe that means waiting in order to allow siblings to attend together, maybe that means waiting for an academic year that is less demanding, maybe your student isn’t interested as an 8th grader but will become interested as they get older. Whatever the case may be, we want to make this program more accessible! Jan will be calling families this week to check in. If you know of a family that would be interested in this program, let Jan know!