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Chancel Choir joins A Thousand Tongues Concert

Saturday, October 12, 7:00 p.m. at
Hennepin Avenue UMC (511 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis)

A Thousand Tongues is an arts organization dedicated to uplifting Asian-American voices through music and stories. It was founded by our former Chancel Choir Director, Paolo Debuque, here at Good Samaritan. This first concert of the 2024-25 Music at Hennepin season will feature a professional ensemble of four Asian-American musicians/storytellers, Hennepin’s Sanctuary Choir, and the Good Samaritan Chancel Choir. Each featured artist will reflect on their own identity and lived experiences through their musical selections, varying in style, genre, and musical forces. A reception will follow the concert and a freewill offering will be collected.

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Election Hospitality November 5

Sign-up is available to help greet voters and provide meals for election judges in our final election in 2024.  You can sign up by going to the Volunteer Signup page and selecting the Sign-up Genius button for Election Day Volunteers, or go directly to the sign-up page here.

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Let the Play Begin!

The Good Sam Pickleball Club invites interested adult Good Samaritan members to join in the newly added introduction/beginners pickleball sessions. The sessions will be held in the church Gym each Saturday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. No previous experience is necessary. Paddle equipment will be available. Regular pickleball play time is Mondays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration is required for ANY/ALL sessions. Registration forms are available outside the church office or at the Gym.

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Welcoming LGBTQ+ Congregants

On Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m., Minnesota Reconciling Congregations will host a Zoom event, “Welcoming LGBTQ+ Congregants” with Dr. Ellie Krug. Ellie brings her personal experience of transitioning from a straight, cisgender male to a member of the LGBTQi2+ community at age 52. She will share tips on how churches can be more welcoming and talk about challenges that queer people face, including the idea that one’s gender or sexual identity is a “choice”. To learn more about Ellie, visit her website www.elliekrug.com. Go to ttsu.me/zvdbr3 to register. Contact Brian Boysen for more information at bteambackup@earthlink.net

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Appalachia Service Project 2025

Information Night - Thursday, October 23,
6:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall

2025 will mark Good Samaritan’s 44th year of participation in ASP, traveling to a location in Appalachia to help make critical repairs to a family’s home. We welcome youth who have completed 8th grade on up, college students/young adults, and any other interested adults. Church membership or construction experience are not requirements. Gather friends and family and join us as we repair homes, develop relationships, and build hope. If interested, please email Jan at jan@good.org so we can add you to our email list. Our 2025 trip dates are to be determined.

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Care Package Season!

We would like to send care packages to the young adults in our lives. Whether in college, the military, working, taking a gap year, or whatever, we want to let our 18 to 24 year-olds know we care and are thinking of them. Please email Jan at jan@good.org with their mailing address.

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Give A Book - Read a Book!

We once again have an opportunity to donate new books to the Good Samaritan Library. The Library Group - Vicki Dunn, Joan Hursh, Mary Lewis, and Marcia Willett - have established a list of books that would be good for the library to have available for the congregation for checkout.

The list of books to choose from is online – www.tinyurl.com/GSLibraryDonate - and displayed in the library. If you would like to donate and have purchased the new book, it can be dropped off in the reception area by the Church Office.

Please include a note with your name and contact information so we may send you a donation receipt and a thank you. If you have questions, please contact anyone on the library group. Thanks for your help as we try to stretch out the budget with new and current books.

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Memorial Service Help

We are looking for people who are interested in occasionally helping with memorial services held at Good Samaritan. This is something we used to do years ago and are exploring restarting it. The areas we could use help with are baking cookies, making coffee, washing tablecloths, and coordinating. You would be contacted when a memorial service is planned at Good Samaritan where the bereaved would appreciate cookies and bars provided by the church. If you are interested in being on the list, please contact Kathy Clark at kjcclark@icloud.com. Thank you for your time.

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Chancel Chimes Needs You!

Chancel Chimes handbell ensemble is looking for new members. If you are interested in ringing handbells or even just trying them, now is the time. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:15 pm and we participate in worship approximately once a month. The ability to read music and a can-do attitude are helpful. Contact Kate Graber, kate@good.org, for details. The Bell Room 153 is on the lower level in the Music Wing..

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Honoring Those Who Serve

Good Samaritan has a bulletin board in our Fellowship Hall highlighting military members with ties to our congregation. We need someone to take on keeping this current, or at least updating it for now. Monday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day and we would love to have it looking good for that day. Please contact Cindy in the church office if you are willing to take this on - cindy@good.org, 952-929-0049. Thanks!

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Everybody Smile!

Our photography course has started but you are still welcome to signup and participate.  Classes cover various topics so you can learn good information by attending any of the classes. We are focusing on using your smartphone camera. Register today, for the remaining weeks. Go to tinyurl.com/GSHotShots for the details of what, when, where, etc. and register today. You can attend classes on Sundays or Wednesdays. Classes are open to anyone in the community. Bring your smartphone, bring your creative eye and get ready to take better pictures and generate bigger smiles! Hot Shots are just a click away!

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Thursday Afternoon Book Group

Our next meeting is on Thursday, October 10th at 1:00 in the Good Samaritan Fireside Room. The discussion title is The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, the story of four senior citizens who find themselves at the center of a murder investigation. Please join us for discussion, refreshments and fellowship.  Questions: Contact Vicki Dunn, victoria.dunn@q.com.

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Tuesday Bible Study Resumes

Welcome to all! Tuesday Bible study meets on Tuesday's, 9:30-11:30 am. They meet in the Fireside Room with refreshments, friendship, community, and a love for learning and discussing faith topics.

For the first part of the Fall season, they will be reading a recommended book, How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment, and Unmet Expectations by Max Lucado, "based on the teachings of Jesus and backed by modern research." You will find the book in paperback, hardcover, audiobook, and Kindle. It's also available through Hennepin County Library as a book, downloadable audiobook, or ebook. For further information, contact Carol Smith, carolsden@gmail.com.

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Faithful Conversations on Tough Topics

How to bring faith into the hard conversations with your children
By Traci Smith, shared with permission

As parents, we're faced with the sacred responsibility of helping our children navigate the world around them. There are days filled with joy and laughter, but there are also moments when tough questions arise — questions about loss, fear, injustice, or even doubt. How do we guide our children through these difficult topics while also nurturing their faith? How can we be a source of both truth and comfort when the world feels uncertain? The key lies in creating space for faithful conversations. These are conversations where faith is not just a backdrop, but a tool to engage with life's big questions. In these moments, we're called to offer both vulnerability and hope, showing our children that God's love is present, even in the most challenging times.

1. Begin with Honesty and Vulnerability
When our children ask tough questions — about death, injustice, or fear — it’s tempting to shield them from the complexity of it all. Yet one of the most powerful things we can do is show them that we, too, are grappling with these questions. There’s a deep holiness in admitting that we don’t have all the answers. Rather than offering quick solutions, start by creating a safe space for the conversation. You might say, "That's a really important question," or "I've thought about that, too." By sharing your vulnerability, you show your children that it's okay to feel unsure or sad, and that faith can be a companion in that uncertainty. When your child knows it's okay to ask hard questions and express tough emotions, you build a foundation of trust and openness. And from there, you can begin to weave into your faith a faith that doesn't promise easy answers, but one that is present in every question.

2. Use Simple, Grounding Rituals
During these conversations, creating a small ritual can be a comforting way to ground your child. For example, you could light a candle as a symbol of God's presence with you during the conversation. Lighting that candle every time you talk about something difficult could be- come a family practice, a way to physically remind your children that even in tough times, God is near.
Rituals give children something to hold onto in a world that often feels chaotic. A short prayer, a moment of silence, or even holding hands together can make difficult conversations feel sacred. They serve as a tangible reminder that God’s love surrounds your family, even in the hardest moments.

3. Lean into Scripture Stories and Faith Practices
Rather than treating faith as an afterthought in difficult conversations, weave it into the heart of your discussions. Use scripture stories to offer comfort and context. Stories like Jesus calming the storm or God’s promise to be with us in Isai- ah 41:10 can be powerful tools to remind your children that faith doesn’t ignore the tough parts of life — it embraces them. Instead of saying, “Don’t worry, everything will be okay,” you might say, “I know this is hard, but do you remember when Jesus’ friends were scared in the storm? They called on Jesus, and Jesus was there with them. We can do that too.” This approach shows your child that faith is an active, living part of their lives — not just something they do at church, but something that walks with them through the tough questions.

4. Don't Be Afraid of Silence
Sometimes, after a difficult question, the best thing you can do is pause and sit in the silence together. You don't need to rush to offer an answer. Silence can be deeply holy — it can be a space where God speaks in ways we can't anticipate. You can tell your child,
Let's sit with that for a minute," or “Let’s take a moment to breathe and listen.” This practice teaches them that silence isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace. It also shows that faith isn’t just about talking — it’s about listening for God’s voice in the quiet.

5. Offer Hope, Not Certainty
When your child is struggling with big, tough questions, resist the urge to offer certainty. Instead, offer hope. Rather than saying, “This will get better,” you might say, “God is with us, even when things feel hard.” Instead of promising that bad things won’t happen, affirm that love and faith remain. Hope reminds your children that even when the world feels shaky, there is something steady to hold onto. Faithful conversations are less about giving the “right” answers and more about offering the truth that God is always with us, loving us through every doubt, every fear, and every question.

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Online Worship on SW Community Television!

Our Online Worship is now on Southwest Community Television, accessible to cable subscribers in Edina and surrounding communities on Channel 15 (Standard Definition) 799 (High Definition). Having our worship on cable will make it more accessible for those with limited technology access or knowledge and we hope it will increase our visibility in the area. Online Worship will also be available on demand from their website http://edinamn.gov/swtv and through their “Cablecast” streaming app for iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV users.  Our schedule on channel 15 & 799 is:

• Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 pm
• Fridays 9-10 am
• Saturdays 7 - 8 pm
• Sundays 10 am (airs one week behind due to our production schedule)

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Help Beautify our Worship

Our altar flower signup sheet for Sunday morning worship is looking very empty. Consider signing up! You can acknowledge an anniversary, honor someone, or provide flowers just because! There are several ways to provide flowers for the altar for all different budgets, including:

• Have Cindy in the office order an arrangement from Bachman’s for a cost of $65 (or more for a larger arrangement).
• To avoid the $18 delivery fee, order your own arrangement and pick it up yourself.
• Grab a bouquet from your local grocery store (Trader Joe’s has a great selection for lower cost) or farmers market (Fulton Farmers Market meets at Lake Harriet UMC on Saturday mornings).
• Cut flowers and foliage from your own yard.

When you sign up on the Altar Flowers chart on the Narthex kiosk, Cindy will be in touch with you to discuss what you would like to do. Contact her with questions - cindy@good.org or 952-929-0049.

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Helping Migrants

Here is an update from Charisse Litteken on the Equidorian family seeking asylum in the Twin Cities:

“Brian Boisen and I set up three donated wooden beds (including an awe-inducing bunk bed) for a husband (21), wife (22), wife's brother (19) and daughter (3) who have secured a room in the main house of the "Ecuadorian" residence. We are happy that they are no longer sleeping on the garage floor. We secured an additional mattress, and required bed parts for this young family's sleeping needs. Ten English-language learning books are on order. Pat Deckas Becerra and Charisse will conduct their first English lesson for interested adults in the home tonight at 7:00pm. We would love for more people to join us in the English efforts. We received a generous $500 donation that the Missions Committee will use for other supplies. We are still looking for two working cell phones, Boost Mobile cards and Metro transit cards.”

If you have items on the list or questions, please contact Charisse directly at charisse.litteken@gmail.com. Thank you on behalf of the Missions Team.