Youth Ministry

Confirmation Class 2024

• Our retreat is scheduled for April 19-21, 2024, at the St. Croix YMCA Camp. We will leave from Good Sam at 5:30 pm on Friday, have dinner at Hennepin Avenue, go to the retreat center, and be back to Good Sam on Sunday at 1:30pm.
• Serving Dinner at Simpson Shelter. Saturday, April 27, 5:30 pm. Sign up to help serve an evening meal at Simpson Shelter! Kids who have a bit of kitchen experience are welcome to join (their grownups can decide if they are ready to help). The shelter is now temporarily located at 128 W 33rd St at Zion Lutheran Church (Lyndale Neighborhood.) We start cooking at 5:30pm, dinner is served at 7:00 pm, and we should be done by 8:15 pm. We are cooking for 50 people, plus enough for our group members. Sign up here.

Parent Book Study– The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour. Sundays, April 14 and 28, 11:15 am to Noon. This is a great book that Jan read and wants to share with you. The first session will cover chapters 1 to 3 and the second session will cover chapters 5 and 6. Dr. Damour dives deep into the changing emotional landscape of kids growing into their teen emotions. She offers great tools for both parents and their kids. Click here to sign up!

Parent Check-In: Jan is still calling families! She is looking forward to speaking with you. It will be a short 10 to 15-minute conversation. Thanks for your insight!

Planning ahead! 

• • High School Senior Recognition Sunday, June 9: Parents – Jan will be reaching out to get a baby photo, a senior photo, and what future plans your grad has. Check your email inbox for details.
  • Vacation Bible School, June 24-28, 2024. We welcome kids 5th grade and older as youth leaders, and we also need adult helpers!
  • Adaptive Bible Camp July 29 – August 1 2024

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 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!