Current Good Samaritan News
VEAP'S Back to School Drive 2021
Thank you to all who participated in the VEAP Back to School Drive with your donations. The Missions Team purchased over $500 in backpacks, calculators and flash drives. Good Samaritans and our Community also donated needed school supplies. The drive was extended to help meet the needs and we received more donations which have been delivered to VEAP. Teachers will distribute the school supplies to children as needed. Wishing all children and school staff a joyful, healthy, school year.
Good Samaritan on Instagram!
What you have all been waiting for: Good Sam is officially on Instagram. Please follow us @good_sam_umc ! Here, we hope to offer brief, inspiring reflections, mindful reminders, and invitations towards deeper spirit-alignment. You will also find information regarding upcoming events and news from Good Sam. Let us gather together in a new way in this virtual world!
Position Available: Organist/Accompanist (Part-Time)
Belated Memorial Services
We recognize that there have been many losses in our community since the start of the pandemic. We know that many of you had private services while others deferred services for the time being. Amidst all of this, there was a transition within Good Sam from Pastor Diane to Nikki as our Director of Congregational Care. In light of the above, we are asking that if you are interested in scheduling a memorial service for your loved one at Good Sam and haven't already contacted Nikki, to do so as you are ready. While we remain in the blue phase of the pandemic, we will continue to follow the recommendations and restrictions for such gatherings which includes refraining from indoor sharing of meals in large groups. Nonetheless, we are happy to discuss creative ideas for outdoor refreshments after either an indoor or an outdoor service. Nikki can be reached at nikki@good.org or 952-452-9396.
A Note From Pastor Carol
I’d like to take a moment to offer a sincere thank you to all who have helped during this time of transition – for those working behind the scenes on all sorts of administrative logistics; all who planned a meaningful farewell for Pastor Stephanie; the expanded SPRC committee who took part in the interview process with me; those who have been doing things like setting up an email account for me and issuing keys to the building; for Larry, Mary Ellen, Nikki and Christian providing worship leadership and preaching during the interim month; and for all the musicians who have spent additional hours not only practicing but also recording so that we would be blessed with your gifts in online worship.
The time has finally come for me to join you! I am excited about being with you for outdoor worship with communion on Sunday, August 1 at 10:00 am. Please invite a friend or neighbor – the forecast suggests a beautiful day. I also look forward to working with the worship transition team on the remaining decisions to be made about in-person worship at this point in the pandemic. Of course, we will want to do that while keeping all the current health and safety protocols in mind, despite an environment that continues to be ever-evolving with new information being learned about the Delta variant nearly every day. Given we are committed not only to returning to in-person worship, but also maintaining the momentum we’ve gained with our online worshipping community, we know we have a bit of planning work before us!
I would appreciate your prayers for the leaders, staff and congregation of Good Sam, as well as me, as we continue to navigate this transition together. Thanks again, and I look forward to meeting you this Sunday!