The Samaritan / Fall 2024

The Samaritan

OUR SHARED LIFE

212 West Lancaster Avenue | Paoli, PA 19301

info@good-samaritan.org

good-samaritan.org

CLERGY

Rector

The Rev’d Phillip Channing Ellsworth Jr

Assisting Priest

The Rev’d Marcia

Wilkinson

VESTRY

Andy Balsan

Tom Connett

Mark Dixon

Mary Ernst

Whitney T. Kuniholm

Angela Linden

Ian MacDonald

Jim McGuire

Jonathan Purifoy

Amber Skinner

Rusty Smith

Richard Toland

Mary Anne Weightman

Louise B. Wennberg

WEEKLY SERVICES

The Service of

Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 7:30 am

Rite 1, Chapel

Sunday, 9 am

Rite 11, Church

Sunday, 11:15 am

New Chapel, Church

Adult Christian

Formation Class

Sunday, 10:15 am

Ashton Hall or Choir Room

STAFF

Director of

Student Ministry

Jessica Campbell

Day School Director

Barb Condit

College / CCO

Campus Minister

Dan Garrison Edwards

Creative Specialist

Elrena Evans

Executive Assistant to the Rector

Missy Freiling

Maintenance Director

Connor Gisel

Organist

Gary Gress

Associate for Contemporary Liturgy & Discipleship

Josh Guenther

Theologian-in-Residence

Christopher A. Hall

Director of Family Ministries

Kimberly Lindquist

Photographer-in-Residence

Larry McGill

Technical Director

Jarrett Moses

Writer-in-Residence

Christie Purifoy

Creative Director

Melodee Dill Stephens

Director of Dance Ministry

Karen Watkins

Financial Administrator

Betsy Wolford

Director of Music & Parish Administrator

Richard Zuch

Maintenance Team

Alphonse Campanese

Beau McFetridge

Mayrel Vargas

Not Just on the Team, But on the Field

The Rev’d Phillip Channing Ellsworth Jr

New Season of Stewardship Whitney T. Kuniholm

Guenther

as Worship Josh Guenther

& Taste Delight in the Glory of God Stephanie Rousselle

Back— David & God: A Love Story

is Pastoral Care?

The Rev’d Marcia Wilkinson

Closet / HELPS Ministry

George & Maria Gumas / Rose Dodd

Not Just on the Team, But on the Field

BY THE REV’D PHILLIP CHANNING ELLSWORTH JR

Earl Weaver, the tempest in a teapot manager of the Baltimore Orioles, asked what he thought of the fact that the NFL had surpassed baseball as America’s pastime, replied. “Football? They do that once a week. This is baseball. We do this every day!”

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Christianity is more like baseball than football. It’s not once a week. It’s daily. That said, this edition of The Samaritan focuses on the many powerful ministries of our growing church, so I do well to quote Elton Trueblood, the foremost Quaker theologian of the 20th century. He wrote: “The Church is too much like a football game where twenty-two professionals are on the field in the heat of battle desperately in need of rest, while a hundred thousand spectators sit in the stands cheering and yet are desperately in need of exercise.”

The comparison is apt. If Trueblood were an exhausted priest we might hear it as self-serving if not a little self-pitying, a bit like Martha complaining to Jesus and asking him to rebuke her sister Mary for not helping with the dishes. But he wasn’t a priest looking for more volunteer help with the church’s Sunday School or with preaching or with serving on the Missions Committee. He was a layman, a prolific author, and a professor of philosophy. He was writing from the standpoint of a man convinced that too many lay people were sidelined, sitting in the stadium seats, frustrated at the barriers preventing active engagement in Spirit-empowered ministry.

The comparison to professional football is telling because, though it’s true the players appear to be exhausted and they certainly welcome our attendance, our applause, and occasionally our sympathy, they do not welcome our participation on the field to help them move the ball from one end to the other. And in Christ’s Body, despite an allegiance particularly within the Protestant Church to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, there does seem to be an endless number of invisible barriers that prevent God’s people from exercising their natural and spiritual gifts.

It’s not just a problem of the Rector and the clergy mindlessly getting in the way, though there is that. It’s also a problem of those who have recognized positions of authority, Directors of Family Ministry, Youth Ministry, Music, Finance, Day School, Dance, and the Vestry—all of us need to exercise the discipline of letting the Spirit work with not just our natural talent but also with the new talent that presents itself.

We’re seeing remarkable growth at Good Samaritan in part because we’re constantly auditing the barriers in order to reduce them. And as we continue to bring ourselves and others deeper into contact with God, rookies and veterans alike will use their spiritual gifts beautifully and powerfully to build up Christ’s Body, starting with our church.

I think in this respect of Martin Luther’s thrilling hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God, an example of this commitment. Luther was a real advocate for congregational singing. He couldn’t bear the thought that God’s people would come into a church and simply experience worship as spectators or

consumers listening to clergy who were singing God’s praise. Notice the climactic stanza, “the Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.”

“Now to each, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good,” the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12. What does God want to do with us and for us, Good Sam? What is our strategic vision? Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12 which is the Magna Carta of the Church. We’ll focus on it as we approach and celebrate our sesquicentennial, 150 years of faithful Christian witness (see page 9).

To each. Paul is not setting out here a kind of romantic ideal of what the Church ought to be like. He is talking about what actually is already the case. This is not a letter written for all mankind, though the Bible elsewhere does not hesitate to endorse the reality of God’s marvelous endowments, capacities, and creativity which he has given to all human beings created in his image. Genesis 4 would be one example where the descendants of Cain even in their rebellion against God are marvelously creative as they invent musical instruments, devise metallurgy, begin the whole practice of nomadism, or the development of architecture.

But what Paul is talking about are these fleshand-blood gifts that are to be operating within

COVER PHOTO—VBS 2024

My Lighthouse, my Lighthouse, I will trust the promise, you will carry me safe to shore! Few things stir hope in my heart for the next generation quite like a sanctuary full of over 100 children, singing and dancing in praise of our Lord. During VBS SCUBA this year, participants (and volunteers!) explored what it means to have a deep friendship with God. And if one of the signs of a dying church is a silent church, our experience with VBS tells me that Good Sam is very much alive. Read more on page 16.

the Body of Christ and through the Body to those in need of hearing the good news of God in Christ. He goes on, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12. 3). If you say “Jesus is Lord” then the work of the Holy Spirit is already in evidence in your life! Jesus said. “If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. And my Father will then love him and we will come and make our home with him” (Jn. 14. 23). Baptism is the determinative proof of the Spirit’s involvement in your life.

Paul says, “We were all baptized by one Spirit into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (I Cor. 12. 13). And “Now you are the Body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12. 27). There aren’t some that aren’t fully part of it, the ones that didn’t go through the membership class or whatever. The call to follow Christ is a call to ministry. Jesus never said to those in trouble in their lives and dealing with sin, “Come, and I’ll help you with your sin problem and once we deal with that then you can sit on the bench or up in the stands.” Instead, he says, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4. 19). From the very beginning Jesus crowns our dignity with a high and holy calling of offering back our lives as living sacrifices to be used by him, with his commissioning and according to his will.

In 1958 the Green Bay Packers recorded one win, ten losses, and one tie. For the previous ten years they won only 34 games while losing 84. In 1959 they restructured. They reassessed strategy. They sold off non-productive assets and acquired key new ones. They concentrated on their core business— blocking and tackling. They assembled a new management team made up of old timers and newcomers, got a firm grip on their pride and determination, and made one of the great turnarounds in the history of sports.

Bart Starr remembered word for word what his new coach, Vince Lombardi, a devout man who went to Mass daily, told the players in their first team meeting with him that day in 1959. “Gentlemen,” he said, “we’re going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good.” When the meeting ended, Starr ran down the hall to telephone his wife. “Cherry, honey,” he said. “We’re going to win!”

Over the next nine seasons, the Packers won more than 75 percent of their games. The Packers narrowly lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. The game marked the lone playoff defeat for Packers coach Vince Lombardi before his Packers team established a dynasty that won five NFL championships, as well as the first two Super Bowls, in a span of seven seasons. The crowning achievement was winning three straight championships from 1965 to 1967, something no other NFL team has done since postseason play began in 1933.

What would a change of mind, a restructuring of strategy be for you? What would it look like for The Church of the Good Samaritan?

To do what those first followers of Jesus did—to give up their livelihood, to turn their backs on their lives, to change their minds and directions—must have connected with a sense that they were called to do something more in life than go fishing. What would such a turnaround, such a change of mind and strategy look like for you? If not “getting it” in life, not hearing a call, not able to respond honestly to the possibilities of life, or creatively to its setbacks—what would you have to do? What would a change of mind, a restructuring of strategy be for you? What would it look like for The Church of the Good Samaritan?

Now I’m about to discuss the National Football League. This violates the belief sacred among some in the holy primacy of baseball. But there you have it; everything relates to football.

Analogies are useful because they break down, and I’m about to extend this one, but bear with me. If Good Sam is like a football team, what is my role as Rector? I am a player on the field blocking and tackling with you, throwing passes to you, we might say, so you can score. I am a coach, a teacher but not the only one. I recruit assistant coaches—other clergy who have to be good teachers themselves, and other teachers beyond the clergy. And this church is full of them: the Theologian-in-Residence, Chris Hall, and the Writer-in-Residence, Christie Purifoy, being two examples of tremendously gifted teachers. “It doesn’t matter what you know if you can’t teach it,” Mike Holmgren said, who coached the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI. Teaching is but one of the many talents on Team Good Sam. God gives a variety of gifts to his people to have us, in the power of the Spirit, put them in play on the field for his Body the Church. Some of you are gifted in giving generously, others in greeting and hospitality, others in cooking and in serving, others in music, others in healing ministry, others in encouragement, and others in intercessory prayer. Whatever your particular gift or gifts, as Rector I ask you to assist me and other members of the clergy and professional staff in helping you find your role on the team. I love watching you—I get a huge kick out of watching you—use the gifts for ministry given to you by the Holy Spirit at your baptism. Because Jesus is our champion. He has come onto the field and won the victory for us in combat stupendous, in a contest more important than what’s at stake in the outcome of a football game. O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life. Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FROM THE RECTOR’S WARDEN

A New Season of Stewardship

BY WHITNEY T. KUNIHOLM, RECTOR’S WARDEN

One thing I like about the Episcopal Church is that we follow the liturgical calendar—Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. But if it were up to me, I’d add a new season. Let me explain. I’ve always been intrigued that the longest period in the church calendar is simply called “Ordinary Time.”

From June to November, we reflect on living out the Christian faith and the meaning of Christ’s resurrection in ordinary life. That covers a lot! And one of the biggest aspects of ordinary life, one we often neglect in our teaching, is money.

So, the change I’d make is to use some of that ordinary time for a new season called “Stewardship.” And that’s not a trick to set up the annual pledge appeal! You see, the way we think about and use money is a barometer on the spiritual health of the church. As Billy Graham once said, “Your checkbook is a theological document, it will tell you who and what you worship.” Ouch! Let’s take a look of what the Bible teaches on this important topic.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES ON MONEY AND POSSESSIONS

God owns everything. God is the creator of all that exists, and he retains ownership of his creation.1 The psalmist emphasized this by saying, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”2 Not just a tithe belongs to God—everything does!

We are stewards. In the beginning, God made human beings responsible for his creation: “Let us make mankind in our image... so that they may rule” over all the earth.3 That means creation care is not a new idea, it’s a biblical principle. And in the parable of the talents, Jesus made clear that, however small or great the gifts we’ve been given, he expects us to use them for his glory.4 This includes not only our treasure, but also our time and talents.

Money is a powerful temptation. Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”5 Paul warned, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”6

The way we think about and use money is a barometer on the spiritual health of the church.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING God intends for us to give. In the Old Testament the standard was ten percent. “A tithe of everything from the land… belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”7 God also said that not giving is like “robbing” him.8 In the New Testament, instead of emphasizing a tithe, Jesus praised the widow for making a sacrificial gift of “everything—all she had to live on.”9 On another occasion he said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”10

God loves a cheerful giver. Paul said, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”11

Giving demonstrates our faith. Paul wrote to the Corinthians with a glowing account of the Macedonian church’s commitment to giving. Although they were in “extreme poverty,” the Macedonians demonstrated the reality of their faith by contributing generously to the needs of others.12

Part of what it means to be a church that is “solid at the core,” as Fr Ellsworth has said, is to develop a biblical understanding of money, possessions and giving. So, even if the liturgical calendar doesn’t officially change, you may want to use some of your ordinary time to reflect on what a new season of stewardship means for you.

TOGETHER Church is Our Forever Family

BY CHRISTIE PURIFOY, WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

“Did I take your seat in the pew?” someone asked as I slid in beside them one recent Sunday morning. I laughed, “Of course not!” though I realized immediately my answer was true and also not-true. We have no assigned seats at Church of the Good Samaritan, and yet like any family table we know which way to turn our heads in order to find certain familiar faces. You will generally find me in that north-side pew, and you will almost always see me near the aisle, but there are few things better than a new face at church even if it means making yourself at home in a slightly different spot.

I can’t remember consciously choosing “my” spot at church, but the thing I now love most about the pew I usually occupy is that if I arrive early enough I am completely unaware of how the church has filled in behind me until the moment when everyone streams up for Communion. Every Sunday—even the quietest Sunday in summer—I catch my breath a little to see how many have gathered for worship. The people flow, and I marvel, and it always reminds me of those words from Psalm 46: “There is a river that makes glad the city of God.”

Another moment I love to watch from my pew near the front comes just after Communion when the river of people has ceased to trickle forward. From where I sit down below, it looks a lot like the tidying up we do after a meal in our own homes: a bit of wiping, sweeping, folding, and carrying away. It is a quiet but bustling moment of sacred housekeeping, and I always half expect our celebrant to roll up his or her sleeves and pull

on a pair of yellow, rubber gloves like the ones my own mother wore when she nightly plunged her hands into a soapy sink in the days before automatic dishwashers. Perhaps I now hear murmurs: What will she write next? That she expects to see a child’s yellow rubber ducky floating in the baptismal font? But what might seem like sacrilege is merely my roundabout way of saying this: we are the church, and the church is a house for God’s name. Our table, our font: these are sacred yet homely things.

Our whole life together as the Church is a sacred and a homely thing. It is bread and wine. It is hot coffee in an urn. It is grand as the swelling sound of our organ and as intimate as one woman scrubbing a stain from the altar cloth. Our life together has a life of its own just as a marriage of two people becomes in itself a life distinct from the life that resides in either husband or wife. Perhaps you know this from your own marriage, perhaps you witnessed this in your family of origin, or perhaps you’ve seen it in the marriage of a friend, but the life that can be created over years of marriage isn’t one plus one equals two. It is more like one plus one equals four and three quarters. Witnessing or experiencing marriage in our daily lives gives many of us a picture of how one life can be joined to another in order to create new life, but it is a picture that should point us beyond the temporary and temporal life of the nuclear family toward the eternal life of a church wed to God.

The church is not a club. The church is not a business. The church is a family, but it is a new kind of family. It begins when Jesus on the cross sees his mother and the disciple whom he loves and charges them to care for one another: “Woman, behold, your son!” and to John, “Behold, your mother!” This new family turns our proverb “blood is thicker than water” upside down and inside out because this family is forged through the blood of Christ and carried forward on the waters of our baptism. What if God is always inviting us into a life bigger than the solitary one that is ours alone? And what if this life grows through shared experiences? We understand how ordinary families are forged through a thousand acts of giving and receiving and being together. From family dinners to family vacations to the daily life of chores and care and celebrations, families don’t make sense as a business model. They are not productive or efficient. They are messy and complicated. There is laughter and tears. But in all of it—from toddler bathtime to hard conversations—the life of a family is formed. Given the culture we live in, we could be forgiven for thinking that the life of the nuclear family matters most. That it is somehow the “real” thing, but Jesus said so much to undermine that assumption. “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” he asked. “... whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12. 48, 50). We know also from Jesus that there will be no marriage as we currently experience it in heaven. But there will be a wedding feast.

When we gather as the church, a new life becomes present. That new life may be rooted in a solid place of cushioned kneelers and glowing candles, but it is not possible to hold this life in our hands. It is real in the way that language is real. The life of the church must be absorbed through exposure, then spoken with others. The church is a conversation and a chorus. When we join in, we are changed. And in some sense, so is the song. Together, we are Christ’s body, and we will be his Bride. Church can sometimes feel hard because, like ordinary marriage and family, it is all about the bridging of differences. Thankfully, becoming one with God and with one another is a grace. It is God’s work and God’s gift. It is not something we do, but something God does in us. It is the language he puts in our mouths so that together we speak peace, together we speak forgiveness, together we speak love, and together we speak new life.

reality. Though our programs and ministries are not in themselves unique (there may be civic clubs and nonprofit organizations feeding the hungry or mentoring youth more efficiently than we), without them we have no way to speak the truth of God’s reign to a world lost in lies. When we feed the hungry, we feed the hungry and testify to the Bread of Life. When we mentor youth, we mentor youth and a new generation rises to join the chorus of praise. When we break bread, bodies are fed by God as they always are, but spirits are nourished, too.

With every gift we share with the church and every gift we receive from it, we are being formed into the people of God and are becoming a house for God’s name.

When we participate in the life of the church, activities like studying the Bible, sharing food with our neighbors, or mentoring youth become expressions of the utterly unique language of the church. Our programs and ministries are the outward, visible forms of an inward, invisible

Certain words from the book of Ruth are often invoked in the context of marriage, but this says more about how we privilege marriage than the meaning of these verses. We would do well to remember that they are included in Scriptures that are consistently—from Genesis to Revelation—concerned with God making a people for himself who will witness to his reign and his glory. In Ruth’s promise to Naomi, I hear my voice and the voice of so many here at Good Sam proclaiming to the holy, catholic church: “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” With every gift we share with the church and every gift we receive from it, we are being formed into the people of God and are becoming a house for God’s name. In our worship, in our teaching, in our service, in our outreach, we proclaim “glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3. 20 – 21).

You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but citizens together with the saints and members of the household of God. EPHESIANS 2. 19

TOGETHER Community Will Change the World

BY JOSH GUENTHER, ASSOCIATE FOR CONTEMPORARY LITURGY & DISCIPLESHIP

Let’s start by stating the obvious: Jesus chose to live with people. He didn’t live alone—he intentionally chose to live with his disciples. At least twelve people (probably more) followed him around for three years. They learned, ate, and worked together, experiencing everything that life throws its way at human beings. The disciples witnessed Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead. Jesus developed and taught his disciples through communal living. At the center of Jesus’ teachings is a vision of radical hospitality. Christ’s gospel is for all, transforming hearts and minds as it invites everyone to sit at the table— together.

So what can we learn from how Jesus lived in community? The first thing I notice is that the communal way of Jesus is formative. When we first meet Peter in the gospels, he is an unkempt, rough-and-ready fisherman. In Acts 15, Peter is a well-seasoned, mature apostle leading the church at the Council of Jerusalem. This transformation did not follow a straight path. Throughout the gospels, Peter shows glimpses of his innate giftings (“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”1), but also areas where he needs to grow. Chopping off a guard’s ear and denying Jesus aren’t exactly great looks for Peter, the rock upon which Christ will build his Church. But Jesus’ teachings were still sinking in. The Peter we meet in Acts is very different. He boldly proclaims the gospel, confidently shepherds the church through persecution, and exemplifies maturity as he welcomes the Gentiles into the way of Jesus. How did this happen? Because he was formed by the time he spent with Jesus and the other disciples. There is no other recipe.

When I was a teenager, my youth pastor led a small group that deeply impacted my spiritual formation. There were four high-school boys in this group, and our youth pastor. We met for dinner at his house before youth group, and then we talked. It wasn’t long, and it wasn’t complicated. We read a portion of scripture throughout the week, and then shared what we learned with each other. We had three questions we asked each other every time to check-in and see how everyone was doing. And then we ate whatever Pastor Matt had made—we had a LOT of sloppy joes and hard-shell tacos. Spiritual formation doesn’t require special knowledge or innate talent; all it requires is time and intentionality. And maybe a slow-cooker.

The communal way of Jesus also challenges us to grow. Throughout the gospels, we see glimpses of the disciples trying to determine their

value to Jesus. Without fail, Jesus reminds his disciples that in his upside-down kingdom, the last shall be first and the least is the greatest. The first instance of this question occurs after the Transfiguration, when they directly ask him, “Who is the greatest?”2 Jesus puts a child on his lap and says that his disciples must become like little children just to enter his kingdom. In Mark 10, James and John (the Sons of Thunder) ask for a position of honor within Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus asks if they’re willing to drink his cup and receive his baptism, an allusion to Christ’s impending death on the cross. The gospel of Luke shows the disciples are still trying to settle this debate at the Last Supper. Jesus responds by telling them to wash each other’s feet. What we learn from these stories is that the communal way of Jesus produces humility, self-sacrifice and service.

I attended Hillsong College in Australia for two years after high school. During my time there, I had thirteen flatmates from six different countries. Finding common ground and understanding amid differing perspectives, lifestyles, and experiences is an inspiring challenge. In my first flat, I lived with a 55-year-old student as an 18-year-old. Living in community with people reveals the imperfections within yourself and others. I quickly learned that my habits and preferences needed to change and bend. My pride was challenged and broken down as others pointed out my shortcomings. I didn’t like it then, and I’m far from perfect now, but learning to accept loving correction and challenge is integral to our spiritual growth.

The communal way of Jesus is marked by its radical hospitality. Throughout the gospels, tax collectors, “sinners,” and other social outcasts

were welcomed to sit at the table with Jesus. This shocked and alarmed the Pharisees, who sought to rebuke Jesus.3 Jesus responds, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” To be clear, Jesus’ intent is for all people to receive healing and forgiveness from sin. But Jesus’ gospel is not primarily about behavior modification; it’s about Christ’s sacrificial love, empowering his people to live in abundant relationship with the Father. Those tax collectors and sinners stayed at the table because they were seen, heard and understood by Jesus. And, over time, they were transformed because they spent time with the one who loved them with an everlasting love.

A few months after we were engaged, Neeka and I were looking for a church to attend together after we married. We “church-hopped” for a few weeks, until a friend invited us to Redemption City Church, a church plant in Philadelphia. We arrived five minutes before the service started. Our friend was late, but someone immediately welcomed us and asked intentional questions that ran deeper than the superficial. After the service, we connected with another family. They invited us over for dinner later that week. Neeka and I walked out the church doors, turned to each other, and said, “This feels like coming home.” And for the next few years, it was where we belonged. RCC was a church plant, and came with all the associated quirks; the sermons sometimes went long, the music wasn’t perfect, and truth be told, it wasn’t the best theological fit for our family. But RCC embodied the hospitality and intentionality Jesus modeled, ensuring that each new person is welcomed and invited to join their community.

2 Corinthians 8, Paul challenges the Corinthians to give in light of the “generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” The early church cared for its own, and for others. It valued sacrificial giving. That legacy of care and giving continues within the church today.

In early 2021, Neeka was diagnosed with a concussion. She had to go on disability leave from work. It took her two months to fully recover, and it was difficult to be in public places with loud noises. I was still a student, and Neeka was the primary earner for our family. One Sunday, a family by the name of Turner asked how she was doing, and I offhandedly mentioned that Neeka couldn’t work. When I got home, Neeka asked if I had talked to this family. Yes, why?, I asked. She answered, Because they just Venmoed us $1,000! We were shocked by this immediate, unbridled example of generosity. I asked the Turners later if this was a loan. Their response? No, just pay it forward to someone else. The communal way of Jesus compels us to care for those around us in need, without any strings attached.

This way of living runs counter to our current cultural expression. Our society principally values the individual over the communal. As I write this article, I am watching Yseult perform (an absolutely beautiful rendition of) I Did It My Way at the Olympic Closing Ceremonies in Paris. That song encapsulates the triumph of the modern, individual self. Yet, we face an epidemic of loneliness, particularly amongst our young people. Before coming to Good Sam, I worked at Eastern University. My students often expressed how difficult it was to forge meaningful relationships while at college. I’d venture this experience isn’t limited to Gen Z college students. The pressure our individualized society exerts to “have it all together all the time” fosters inauthentic portrayals of self, and inaccurate perceptions of others’ success. It’s easy to feel alone when you’re trapped behind a mask of perfection and all you’re craving is true acceptance and human connection.

The Church of the Good Samaritan has an exciting opportunity to address this epidemic of loneliness by emphasizing the antidote: real community.

The Church of the Good Samaritan has an exciting opportunity to address this epidemic of loneliness by emphasizing the antidote: real community. The Way of Jesus calls us to embrace this countercultural lifestyle. So how do we do it? The answer is surprisingly simple. Eat together. Pray together. Live your life with one another. The challenge is the sacrifice it requires. Will you make space to gather with one another? Will you build margin into your budget to give more generously? Are you willing to fully embrace others into your life, allowing them to see the imperfections behind the mask? That’s the call—are you willing to answer?

In Acts 2, we see that this communal way is sacrificially supportive of one another. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” We see the Philippian church supporting Paul’s work in Macedonia and Thessalonica. In

This fall, The Church of the Good Samaritan wants to encourage its parishioners to embrace that call by joining a small group. The model will be simple: Gather together. Eat together. Pray together. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN JOINING (OR LEADING!) A SMALL GROUP, PLEASE REACH OUT TO JOSH AT

Good Sam News

Altar Guild

We begin our services every Sunday morning surrounded in beauty. From the soaring beams of the sanctuary ceiling to the beautiful colors of the altar cloths, from the sacred vessels for communion to the joyful arrangements of flowers… God speaks to us in beauty.

And, God uses our hands and feet to prepare this beautiful place for worship.

Have you ever looked at the altar during communion and wondered how this holy table gets set? How this “sacred housekeeping,” as Christie writes, takes place?

Our Altar Guild is responsible for set-up and clean-up on Sunday mornings, and for special services. From altar cloths to kneelers, from chalices to flowers, every time we worship we see the work of dedicated hands that often are invisible to us. If, as you approach this table, you feel God’s tug on your heart to join in this sacred housekeeping, we have a place for you.

AN ALTAR GUILD PRAYER

As Martha served thee, Lord, So too may we With faithful hearts And loving care Prepare

All things in fitting fashion For thy feast.

But grant us more, O Lord, That as we work We may be tuned With Mary’s ear To hear

In all we do, the lessons Thou wouldst teach.

LUCY MASON NUESSE

“Altar Guild is not scary!” coordinator Betsy Williams promises. “And we will train you.” If you like setting a table, washing dishes, ironing linens, arranging flowers, and serving behind the scenes, the Altar Guild could benefit from your God-given talents. No previous experience is needed, and not everyone has to do every task! The greatest need at the moment is for Sunday morning set-up, and flower arranging.

“You’re setting the table for worship,” Betsy says. What a beautiful, holy task. So if you have twenty minutes or so to spare on a Sunday morning, please reach out! The Altar Guild would love to welcome you. CONTACT BETSY WILLIAMS AT ALTARGUILD@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

FALL 2024

Alpha begins September 11!

Mark your calendars, invite a friend or three, and join us for the 11-week Alpha series on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in Ashton Hall. If you’ve always wanted to attend Alpha but you’ve never had the chance, perhaps now is the time. If you’re scared to invite a friend, (no shame there!) rest assured that Alpha prioritizes relationship over proselytization. We want to get to know our guests, over dinner and conversation; we emphasize asking questions over insisting on answers.

At Alpha we quite literally set the table for our friends and newcomers to meet Jesus. Every Alpha session begins with a meal, because conversation happens best when we’re around the table. At Alpha we have conversations about life, family, and work before we begin sharing about faith. Listening to one another around the table demonstrates our love and sincere welcome of everyone. When listening precedes gospel sharing, guests have a safe space in which to hear the gospel message.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, VISIT GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG/ALPHA

Sunday Lunches are Returning!

Sunday Lunches are a wonderful time of food and fellowship and yet another way we set a table here at Good Samaritan: offering hospitality to newcomers; providing a space to connect with friends both old and new. If you love to cook (or clean, or even just set up chairs!) we’d love for you to come help us set this table. This is a great ministry for families to be able to serve together!

CONTACT DAN GARRISON EDWARDS AT DAN.EDWARDS@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

GOOD SAM NEWS

Celebration of New Ministry

On Saturday, November 9, we will hold a Celebration of New Ministry for Fr Ellsworth at 10 am, followed by a catered luncheon. All are welcome! The Celebration of New Ministry is an opportunity to not only express our joy and gratitude for Fr Ellsworth and Victoria, but to celebrate, as a parish, all that God is doing for us and with us in this season. This is a celebration you won’t want to miss!

Everliving God, strengthen and sustain Fr Ellsworth, that with patience and understanding he may love and care for your people; and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ, offering to you their gifts and talents; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sesquicentennial Celebration

In 2026, The Church of the Good Samaritan will celebrate one hundred fifty years of loving and serving the Lord here in Paoli. Plans are already underway for this sesquicentennial celebration of what God has done for us throughout our history, what God is doing with us now, and what God will continue to do for us and with us in the next 150 years and beyond.

Kicking off the celebration, in November of 2025 Good Sam will host a conference on the theme of The Good, the True, and the Beautiful. Other special projects will focus on serving the wider church and community, as we continue to grow The Church of the Good Samaritan and celebrate God’s faithfulness to us and our parish.

Our sesquicentennial planning team (affectionately known as Team 150) is actively recruiting volunteers, and we have space for any and all talents! Are you an archivist? An event planner? A table-setter? Someone who just likes a good party? We’d love to have you reach out to Amber Skinner, our Team 150 chair. God is creating more opportunities for ministry here at Good Sam… we’d love to have you on board!

TO GET INVOLVED WITH TEAM 150, CONTACT AMBER SKINNER, TEAM 150 CHAIR, AT ABHUDDELL@GMAIL.COM

FUN FACT!

The first Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal church in America was printed in 1789, and was largely used until 1892. During that era, The Book of Common Prayer underwent minor revisions during each General Convention, which were published in the next “Standard Edition.” But they weren’t “standard” in the way we think now—different printings from different publishers were unique in appearance, despite sharing the same words. The 1825 edition, which would have been in use at Good Sam’s founding, includes a prayer for “The Thanksgiving of Women After Child-Birth.”

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE FUN FACTS LEADING UP TO OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION!

TELL US YOUR STORY!

Where do you see yourself within the community here at Good Sam? How are you a part of our family life together? We’d love to hear your story! Scan the QR code below to share it with us.

MUSIC IN LITURGY

BY RICHARD ZUCH, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC / PARISH ADMINISTRATOR

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Music has historically been an integral part of our worship together. We sing hymns and canticles, listen and pray to choral anthems, and pray during preludes and postludes.

Our purpose is, of course, to glorify God. “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore” (Ps. 86. 12).

But why do we worship using “liturgy”? The use of liturgy is frequently dated back to the 4th century; however, part of the liturgy includes the Words of Institution during the Eucharist which goes back to Jesus himself. “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

“The Ordinary of the Mass” refers those elements of the service which remain the same throughout the year: the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Benedictus, and the Agnus Dei. While these titles may sound strange to some, they are simply the first word of each part in Latin—except Kyrie which is Greek. So, let’s look at these sections.

Kyrie is Greek for “Lord” and traditionally comes at the beginning of a service. The full text is “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.” Although it was used in the Eastern church earlier, the Kyrie was adopted by the Western church around the 5th century.

Gloria is Latin for “Glory.” Every week we sing “Glory to God in the Highest.” The Gloria really became standard in Christian worship around the 7th century. It is a prayer of praise extolling the triune God.

Credo is Latin for “Creed.” It is the Nicene Creed and here at Good Samaritan it is said rather than sung. It dates to the 4th century and is the product of two ecumenical councils—one in Nicaea in AD 325, and one in Constantinople in AD 381—and a century of debate over the nature of the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Sanctus is Latin for “Holy.” The Sanctus is really an ecstatic hymn of praise to God. The first part comes from Isaiah 6. 3. The second part echoes the end of Psalm 118. Benedictus, means “Blessed.” Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Agnus Dei is Latin for “Lamb of God” and most likely dates back to the 5th century.

Christians throughout the world and throughout the ages have been worshipping our God using the same words of praise and we continue to join with saints and angels and all the company of heaven singing his praise!

CHOIR & BELL CHOIR (9 AM SERVICE)

Adult Choir begins rehearsals again on Thursday, September 5 from 7 – 9 pm. We sing music ranging from the Renaissance to newly written works. We sing, pray, and laugh together. Best of all—we get to wear those very stylish blue and white robes!

The Bell Choir will also resume in September. Under the direction of Judy Jones, we learn various handbell techniques while working on pieces for the service. All are welcome!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHOIR OR BELL CHOIR CONTACT RICK AT 610.420.3119 OR RICHARD.ZUCH@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

WORSHIP TEAM (11:15 AM SERVICE) OR TECH TEAM (BOTH SERVICES)

The New Chapel Worship Team is looking to grow! If you are a musician or vocalist, we would love to have you audition for our team. Our tech team is also expanding. There are opportunities to project lyrics and operate cameras at both the 9 am and 11:15 am services.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JOSH AT JOSH@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

MUSIC MINISTRY

Music as Worship

BY JOSH GUENTHER, ASSOCIATE FOR CONTEMPORARY LITURGY & DISCIPLESHIP

Why do we sing together every week in church?

Singing with others is not a common experience. Unless you’re a karaoke aficionado, it’s unlikely that you regularly sing with strangers. There are a few notable exceptions. We sing with our family, where we can comfortably sing Happy Birthday or a lullaby. We sing national anthems and Fly, Eagles, Fly, where we’re connected to a body of people bigger than ourselves. And we might even join 50,000 other people to sing our favorite songs at a concert, where we’re acknowledging shared truths, experiences, and emotions, even though these songs are written by someone else. At first glance, singing in church may not seem like a clear parallel to these experiences. Yet congregational singing encapsulates all these ideas. In corporate worship, we bond together with Christ’s Church, affirm our citizenship to His kingdom, and realign ourselves with His truth.

raising our hands and saying, “Yes, I believe this is true!” When I am discouraged or overwhelmed, there’s great power in singing a lyric like the refrain to Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Great is Thy faithfulness!/Great is Thy faithfulness!/Morning by morning new mercies I see;/all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:/great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Despite our circumstances, we can recognize the validity of these words and pull them deep within ourselves.

Singing also teaches truth accessibly. … teaching and admonishing one another… Well-written congregational hymns succinctly teach theological truths in ways that preachers can only dream of. Good preaching is important, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard a four-minute sermon capture the wonder and deep love of Christ’s sacrificial death like Charles Wesley’s And Can It Be, particularly his second stanza: Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!/Who can explore His strange design?/In vain the firstborn seraph tries/To sound the depths of love divine!/’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,/Let angel minds inquire no more.

In corporate worship, we bond together with Christ’s Church, affirm our citizenship to His kingdom, and realign ourselves with His truth.

If I had to pick one verse that elucidates why we should sing together on Sunday morning, it would be Colossians 3. 16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Here are a few thoughts about corporate singing we can glean from this verse:

Singing helps us affirm God’s truth. Let the word of Christ… The songs we sing at Good Sam (at all of our services) are deeply rooted in scripture. When we sing, we are responding to the truth that God has revealed to us. Through both his teachings and his incarnate presence, Jesus showed us the Father (Jn 14. 9). When we take these revealed truths and sing them together, it’s like we’re collectively

Singing engages our entire being. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… When we sing, our minds, emotions and bodies are connected together. There are few expressions of Christian worship that connect all three. Partaking in the Eucharist certainly comes to mind, but singing creates space for emotional response to God’s work in our lives and world. I almost start to cry when Fr Ellsworth breaks the host in two at communion. But my heart is also stirred when our church sings Hillsong’s King of Kings, culminating in verse 4: And the church of Christ was born/ Then the Spirit lit the flame/Now this gospel truth of old/Shall not kneel, shall not faint/By His blood and in His name/In His freedom I am free/For the love of Jesus Christ/Who has resurrected me. As we sing these word, they sink into our hearts and we are fully transformed—body, mind and spirit—by their message of truth.

Singing unites us together with the rest of Christ’s church. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… Paul isn’t referring to the Colossians individually, he’s collectively referring to the Colossian church. When we teach and admonish one another through song, we are encouraging one another to hold onto truth and each other. I’m reminded of a hymn that borrows its tune from a spiritual written by African-American composer H.T. Burleigh: In Christ there is no east or west,/in him no south or north,/ but one great fellowship of love/throughout the whole wide earth. Singing together reinforces the bond we share with our Christian family members.

“O come let us sing unto the Lord, let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.” Found towards the beginning of Morning Prayer, Psalm 95 encourages us to respond to the revealed goodness of God. May we respond to this encouragement with one voice, joyfully proclaiming the truth, grace, beauty, and peace we find in the strength of our salvation.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Come & Taste Delight in the Glory of God

BY STEPHANIE ROUSSELLE

Stephanie will be teaching a four-class series God’s Glory—Our Delight on September 8, 15, 29, and October 6

Have you ever met Christfollowers so captivated by their love for God, that they seem to exude an irresistible scent of warm spice straight from heaven? I remember being a brand-new Christian, attending a church service in Paris where my husband and I lived at the time. The love that emanated from believers around me was intriguing, but foreign—a complex spice mix that enthralled my spiritual senses but felt just outside my reach. They delighted deeply in the presence of the Lord through their worship, their intake of the Word of God, and their interactions with one another. Could I, too, become so intimate with God, that I would taste and see him as they did?

Do you, too, seek to spice up your experience of God with deeper delight, but wonder if there a secret ingredient you’re missing? Does it feel more like a highfalutin quest for the hyper-spiritual, than a practical reality for the daily grind?

A famous, powerful curriculum for the committed Christ-follower, the Westminster Catechism, asks, “What is the chief end of man?” and answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” You may have heard before that we are created to delight in the glory of God, or this may be news to you. You may have spent the better part of your life seeking fresh ways to delight in him, so much so that he has truly become the desire of your heart. Or you may have no idea what this even means.

It’s usually not enough to be told that spice is good for us; sometimes we first need to understand why, engaging our minds in a way that transforms us and makes us desire deeply what God invites us into. Then we will truly taste.

God’s glory, our delight. What would happen if we dared to ponder and embrace the truth that we are created to be enthralled by the beauty of his presence? I want to taste and see the spice of these verses as my daily reality:

You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures. (Psalm 16. 11)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10. 31)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4. 4)

One day, I finally dared to ask God to make me delight in his glory so much, it would redefine my identity. I wanted to taste the full buffet of spiritual flavors my Parisian brothers and sisters obviously enjoyed. Almost 25 years later, while I am still very much a junior sous-chef in this spiritual kitchen, I know that he is answering that prayer. It is his gift to me. I bow in humble worship, overwhelmed with gratitude, and awestruck by his goodness and faithfulness.

What would happen if we dared to ponder and embrace the truth that we are created to be enthralled by the beauty of his presence?

Together we are going to learn to see God as he is, and ourselves as we are. We will first ponder why it is good for us to delight in his glory. We will then discover that, under the Holy Spirit’s gentle guidance, Jesus Christ is poised to become our utmost delight. We will finally unveil the perspective of heaven because it will revolutionize how we approach God, ourselves, and the world around us.

The abandon of my Parisian fellow congregants seemed a little scary, maybe even suspicious—at least for yours truly, a 20-year-old control-freak. Do you suspect he might require more surrender than you are comfortable embracing?

This quest is anchored in Christ, because he is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1. 2). In him, we will taste delight in God’s glory through our identity, choices, circumstances, relationships, and even our thoughts and emotions. In Christ, we will eradicate toxic herbs— misconceptions about God, his heart for us, our need for him, his utter ability and desire to come for us.

We are about to sit down to a banquet of delight in him, but the feast won’t end once we reach the end of our time together. These spiritual spices will only kindle a heavenly taste for unending delight in the glory of God. Together, let’s cultivate a hunger that only he can satisfy.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Learning and Living the Nicene Creed

BY CHRISTOPHER A. HALL, THEOLOGIAN-IN=RESIDENCE

Chris will be teaching an eight-class series Learning and Living the Nicene Creed beginning October 13

Many of us at Good Sam have been reciting the Nicene Creed for years. Yet what each sentence in the Creed actually means might be a struggle for us to answer.

No problem. In my upcoming class on the Nicene Creed, we’ll look at each line carefully. I’ll be dealing with questions such as these:

• Why should we devote our time and attention to the Nicene Creed?

• When we recite and affirm the word of a credal statement such as the “We believe” of the Nicene Creed, what exactly are we doing? What are we affirming and denying?

• How did the Christian community reach these specific doctrinal affirmations, each of which is logically connected to each other in theologically and spiritually enriching ways?

• What characterizes the relationship between a creed like that of Nicaea and the Bible?

• How can the Nicene Creed help us to understand the Bible and vice versa?

• What kind of person am I called to be if I am to understand, be nourished by, and be educated in Christian thinking and living by the Nicene Creed?

• What are we saying and doing when we recited the Nicene Creed as members of Christ’s body, the church?

We’ll be discussing these questions and more. See you then!

LOOKING BACK

David & God: A Love Story

David & God: A Love Story ran for ten weeks during our Adult Christian Formation hour and featured a wonderful line-up of teachers: Alexandra Burns, Jeff Dill, Fr Ellsworth, Chris Hall, Jonathan Purifoy, Jonah Rouizem, and Marcia Wilkinson.

David is perhaps one of the best-known characters in the Bible. Jesus is called the Son of David six times in Matthew’s Gospel. The lectionary gives us stories from the time David enters the biblical narrative to when he dies—stories that are worthy of our attention.

As we began our study, we asked: What does God see in us? Does God always pursue us? How does God show in His pursuit? We pondered together God’s great and gentle hand, active in our lives.

Throughout the series, we also asked such questions as, How did a man after God’s own heart get to the point of committing adultery and murder? How does sin entrap us through pleasure or fear? We looked at ways the stories of David could hold up a mirror for our own lives.

And finally, we concluded the series by asking, How could our life impact those that follow us? What space does God give us to make choices? We hope all who attended were strengthened by this love story! And if you missed a week, all of the videos are available on our website under the Resources tab.

Jonathan Purifoy

Fr Ellsworth

Jeff Dill Marcia Wilkinson

Jonah Rouizem

Alexandra Burns Chris Hall

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

InSight

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

BY BONNIE O’NEIL, INSIGHT CO-LEAD

InSight Women’s Ministry is re-launching this fall. A new team has formed under the leadership of Pam Bennett and Bonnie O’Neil, and the team is excited about what the Lord will do in this new season.

InSight

SPIRITUAL formation

InSight

WOMEN’S retreats

As we envisioned this new InSight Women’s Ministry, we thought deeply about the ways in which we seek to grow in insight. We want to grow up in insight into the way of Jesus. We desire to grow in spiritual practices that take us deeper in to our true self. We aim to develop our relationships throughout the parish, that we may be united in love for one another. And because Jesus never wants us to keep the gospel to ourselves, we will aim to provide opportunities to reach out to women who are not yet a part of our community.

Discovering these four pillars of InSight led us to our theme verses: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3. 12 – 13).

We love how these verses express so much of who and what we hope to be as InSight Women’s Ministry: full of love for each other, and love that overflows to those who aren’t yet a part of our community, growing in Godliness, deepening our ways of experiencing the presence of God, and always looking expectantly to our future hope in Jesus.

INSIGHT LEADERSHIP

InSight Women’s Ministry will have five main parts, each co-led by two women from our parish.

InSight Team Leads and Retreat Team.

Pam Bennett and Bonnie O’Neil

This team will organize our annual off-campus spring retreat for fellowship, teaching, and worship.

Reunion Team.

Neeka Guenther and Becky Bowersox

This team will organize an annual fall event for women of Good Sam for a time of fellowship, meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends, and growing in faith.

InSight

Save these dates!

Fall 2024

Here are all the dates you need to know for this fall… at least so far!

September 10 / 12

Insight Bible Study

7 – 8:30 pm (Zoom) 9:30 – 11:30 am (in person)

Join us for a 10-week study of 2 Corinthians. All are welcome!

September 21

Come Together

9 – 11:30 am

WOMEN’S outreach

Bible Study Team. Jane Balsan and Terri Connelly

The Insight Bible Study has been meeting since 2017, both in-person on Thursday mornings and online on Tuesday evenings. This is a great opportunity to dive deep into Scripture, and for all of us to share our gifts of teaching, leading worship, communications, hospitality, and small group facilitation with one another.

Spiritual Formation Team.

InSight

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Melodee Stephens and Diana Mallory

This team will introduce the women of Good Sam to contemplative spiritual practices that help us grow deeper in our faith by opening us more deeply to the presence of God. We look forward to incorporating spiritual practices at some of our events, while also holding events, like the Advent Quiet Morning, specifically geared toward spiritual practices.

The WOW Team (Welcome, Outreach, Women). Sheila Oyugi and Kristi Boettcher

This team will welcome women who are new and not-so-new on Sundays, helping us better connect them into the life of the parish. They will also help envision outreach events geared to draw women from outside the parish.

Clergy / Communications. Also on the leadership team are Marcia Wilkinson as our Clergy partner and Allison Connett who will also oversee communications.

Each of these women listed above will be forming teams, so if there are areas that are particularly appealing to you, please reach out to one of the leaders and get on the team!

All women of the parish are invited to Come Together for breakfast, fellowship, a time of worship, and a great talk by Marcia Wilkinson on Life Together in the Spirit. We hope you’ll all join us!

October 19

Autumn Walk and Spiritual Practice

9 – 11 am

Valley Forge Park

December 7

Advent Quiet Morning 8:30 – 11:30 am

Join us for this women-only quiet space in the Chapel as we spend time together in worship, reflecting on a word from the Lord, enjoy quiet space for reflecting and journaling, and as we come together to share how the Lord met us. A must-do as you begin the busy Advent season!

Men’s Ministry Connecting and Serving Together

BY GEORGE SCHEFFEY, MEN’S MINISTRY CO-LEAD

Men’s Ministry supports men in their ongoing walk with Christ by providing opportunities to grow in faith, serve others, and deepen their relationship with Jesus and one another.

BREAKFAST/DINNER GATHERINGS

Breakfast with Jeff Dill. In January, Jeff gave a compelling talk entitled Are the Kids Alright? George Scheffey shared some of his story, highlighting a special encounter at a men’s retreat and how he has learned to trust God.

Dinner with RJ Snell. RJ followed up with his talk Kids & Grandkids: Anxiety, Ambition and the Role of the Father. A heart-felt sharing by Keith Dodd chronicled his yearning for guidance from God at critical times in his life and how he has learned to listen for God’s direction.

Dinner with Bishop Greg Brewer. Bishop Brewer spoke on The Importance of Developing Trusted Relationships. Josh Guenther shared about several key relationships that have had significant impacts in his life. Several dads with teenaged/college-aged sons were in attendance.

SMALL GROUPS

We currently have four men’s small groups meeting on a weekly basis. We’re always looking for more men to join these groups or to start a new group! Along with the benefits of in-depth Bible study, the weekly contact also fosters deeper personal relationships.

SERVICE TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY

Café Good Sam. Four teams provide coffee and bagels between the 9 and 11:15 am services.

Vacation Bible School. We join with others to cook for VBS Family Day—this year over 200 kids, parents, and volunteers were served!

Pancake Breakfast. We cook and serve a parish-wide breakfast in late August, partnering with Student Ministry to feed all that stop by for a meal together between services.

Upcoming St Nicholas Brunch on December 7. We look forward to serving breakfast each year for Family Ministry’s St. Nicholas Brunch.

Upcoming Christmas Tree Sale to benefit the HELPS Ministry. With Bruce Ackerman taking the lead, we are planning the annual Christmas Tree Sale. In 2023, the sale of trees, wreaths, ornaments, and jams netted over $10,000 to support the HELPS ministry. We are looking for more volunteers to serve—please join us!

SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

This summer we sponsored a Men’s Picnic in July, and together with Student Ministry we organized an outing to the Reading Phillies as well as a Family Bowling Night

Upcoming Chili Cook-Off and Game Night on November 23. Get your chili recipes ready! Will David Weightman be able to defend his “championship”?

Men’s Card Group. On the second Friday of each month, a group gets together to play Hearts. Bring-your-own dinner begins at 5 pm, with card playing at 5:30 pm. Please join us! Contact Ron at ronmiros1@gmail.com.

UPCOMING FALL RETREAT

October 11 – 12, Daylesford Abbey

Dr. Fred Putnam, a retired professor from Eastern University’s Templeton Honors College, will be teaching on Ecclesiastes at our retreat.

“As a new member to Good Sam, I have found the Men’s Ministry to be a great place to get to know Good Sam on a more personal level. The ministry is very welcoming, and it has been a great way to get “plugged in.” I have made friends and I have found many opportunities to connect and serve. Men’s Ministry is just one of the many reasons that Good Sam is a growing and vibrant church. Give it a shot, you will not be disappointed.”

RANDY YOCUM

“Friday mornings are special... and protected on my calendar. That’s when the guys get together to look at the scriptures and listen to each other. Some guys are regular, and others come when they can. Some bring questions and others share insights or observations. All share and all listen. In listening, to the scriptures and to our brothers, there is a real sense that something profound is happening. New angles and connections in the Word present themselves. The Bible becomes alive... More accurately, we become aware that God’s Word is indeed living and active. It’s almost as if it were meant to be read and discussed in a community like this! As we wrestle with the Word, we also get glimpses into each other’s lives. The conversations are sprinkled with personal trials, losses, successes, struggles, anxieties, joys, etc. Over time, the sense we are fellow travelers on this journey becomes real and we walk together.

ANDY KRIDER

Nurturing Growth

CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR EVERY AGE

VBS: An Amazing Week

BY KIMBERLY LINDQUIST, DIRECTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRIES

In June, we welcomed over 100 children (Preschool – Grade 5) to our SCUBA VBS! We had an amazing week learning about what it means to have a deep friendship with God. Children heard Bible stories to help them understand that God is a friend who is real, who they can trust, who loves them, and whose love is forever! We sang and danced together, played games, learned memory verses, and kids had meaningful conversations with their peers and group leaders.

Here’s what some of the kids had to say: “I know Jesus is in my life already, but now I know I can always learn more about Him!” and “Three hours might be too many hours for VBS every day, because I was having too much fun!” And what some parents had to say: “My kids had so much fun and didn’t want it to end!” and “My daughter came home each day excited about what she did and learned. It was her first ‘camp’ experience and it was a great one for her! Thanks again for everything!”

We heard from other parents about their amazement at the growth of their kids’ knowledge of God during the week. “Thank you for such a fun week! Today, out of nowhere, my son pulled out two pieces of cloth. He was so excited to tell me about how they were like the burial cloths that were found in the empty tomb. It is such a great ‘drip, drip, drip’ of learning more about our faith. So special to be able to send him to this type of camp! Thank you so much for putting it all together.”

During this powerful week of VBS, I get the opportunity to witness what happens when so many members of our church and ministries work together. We could never achieve a successful VBS without such a dedicated group of volunteers. Our group and station leaders, both youth and adults, brought the best energy and enthusiasm all week! We closed our week with a Family Day which allowed parents and families to hear about what we learned, worship together, and enjoy activities, games, lunch, and connection. Men’s Ministry provided us with an amazing grilled lunch! We know we are also supported by members of the church who aren’t in the building during VBS with generous scholarship and supply donations, and prayers for our time together—thank you!

Fifty parents and kids gathered for a family picnic during the summer. The afternoon was filled with conversation, games, and plenty of delicious food.

For a list of upcoming Kids events see the back cover.

What is the biggest influence on a child’s faith?

In her book, Little Habits, Big Faith, Christie Thomas outlines who has the biggest impact on a child’s faith. Is going to Sunday school once a week enough to pass faith in Jesus on to the next generation of kids?

Well, as much as we love spending time with your children on Sunday mornings, the overwhelming answer to that question is, no! Now that’s not to say taking your children to church on Sundays isn’t important or valuable, but rather that it’s just one piece of a much larger picture.

Thomas explains that if a child spends one hour a week at church, they would need to attend for 421 years to equal the amount of time they spend with a parent before they are 10 years old. Parents hold the most influence on their children and their faith development.

So what does that mean for us at The Church of the Good Samaritan? We know that we work best together!

Our family ministry hopes to equip and empower parents and families as we work together to lead our kids to a lasting, personal faith in Jesus.

We will continue to provide a Sunday morning experience that allows kids to discover and grow in God’s love, and know that they are important members of our church. We also know that we do best with community, so we will continue to offer parents ways not only to engage with their children, but to grow in friendship and community with other parents in the church.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Full Speed Summer

BY JESSICA CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRY

While many organizations encourage their staff to make the most of the slower pace of summer months by keeping a lighter schedule and taking some time off, that is definitely not true for youth ministry. We get the anomalous privilege of being able to leverage others’ lighter schedules into our busiest and possibly most fruitful season of the year. When our access to students is not inhibited by school and sports schedules we have the opportunity to dig deeper in our discipleship. From weekly Bible Study to mission trips to lots of coffee dates and park hangs, this summer was truly a gift to both students and leaders.

SUMMER BIBLE STUDY

Fifteen students participated in our Summer Bible Study on Tuesday nights. In addition to lots of fun in the pool, we discussed some key figures from the genealogy of Jesus (Salmon became the quick favorite). It was awesome to hear students connect with the overarching theme of God choosing to use flawed people to achieve his plans.

MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEK ON MISSION

What happens when you pair serving at VBS with serving other local ministries, and sprinkle it with team building, devotional reading, and journaling? You get students who grow deeper in their faith and understanding of what it means to serve God and others. The second annual Middle School Week on Mission included assembling care packages for the Pastoral Care team to take to homebound church members, picking up trash in Norristown, packing diapers for a pregnancy support center, support for VBS, a door-to-door canned food drive, making packages for kids with food or housing insecurity through the Giving Tree organization, baking for our fundraiser efforts, and finally a

fun day at Dorney Park. Our students worked hard, almost 12-hour days, which made it feel like an out of town trip even though we went home each night!

HIGH SCHOOL STANDING ROCK

If I had to identify the single most impactful part of my teenage years on my faith formation, it would be the mission partnership with the Standing Rock Episcopal Community in North Dakota. In addition to a changed perspective on my life and faith, I formed lifelong friendships and discovered my call to youth ministry. This truth, coupled with my experience working on Standing Rock for 10 years contributed greatly to my decision to take students to North Dakota this summer.

Eight students and four leaders traveled to the Standing Rock Reservation for a week of service to their youth ministry. We got off to a great start when several of our students engaged with the intertribal dancing at the powwow we attended, where we also saw Deacon Angela Goodhouse’s daughter Terri win the girl’s Fancy Shawl Special. We then dove into work, deep cleaning and de-winterizing Camp Gabriel in preparation for the three-day youth camp we helped orchestrate. We capped off our week with a family fun night at our former partner parish, St Luke’s in Fort Yates, where we also helped with worship on Sunday. This week was unbelievably valuable and impactful!

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Liv Connett

The Standing Rock mission trip truly exceeded my expectations in a way that changed my life for the better. I wholeheartedly love the experience I had and the people I met along the way. I will forever cherish the time I had, which leads me to believe God’s plan is to have me back there next year.

Jonathan Clipston

The trip was great because I made a lot of new friends and can’t wait to go back

Lucy Morin

I think the Standing Rock mission trip is an unbelievable experience because you have the choice to connect with kids from your community, and kids who aren’t. It truly opens your eyes to see a bigger picture of what God’s plan is through many different perspectives.

Matt Thompson

This trip was great because I got to meet new people and working with them bonded us closer. It was the best trip because everyone got together to help one another.

Josh Guenther, Leader

The Standing Rock trip highlighted the reality of generational impact—both negative and positive. We saw the influence of inherited trauma, but also the legacy of sustained, contextualized ministry within a community.

LEADER HIGHLIGHT

The extremely hysterical, talented, and committed Good Sam Youth leader, Neeka Guenther, stepped into the role of “Sydney Shores” at Vacation Bible School this year. Her willingness to be a “fool for Christ” is just one of the things that makes her an amazing middle school leader. Our students love spending time with her and truly appreciate how she answers their questions with empathy and thoughtfulness.

A Look to the Fall

In the summer edition of The Samaritan, I wrote that we are deeply committed to supporting all “One Hundred Five” of our youth listed as attendees of Good Sam, not just a crew that can attend an evening program. With that in mind, and after prayer and conversation, we are trying out some new things this fall with Good Sam Youth.

Club 56, previously offered year round on Sundays for students in grades 5 – 6, is shifting to the summer months only. Students entering grade 5 this fall will continue with Good Sam Kids programming on Sunday mornings, while students entering grades 6 – 12 are encouraged to engage in the entire worship service with their families and join us for Core Group discussions during Christian Formation.

Core Group discussions will take place during Christian Formation between the 9 and 11:15 am services for students in middle school (grades 6 – 8) and high school (grades 9 – 12). We are really encouraging students (and parents) from both of these services to make use of this time by either staying later or coming a little earlier. In addition to offering opportunities for families from different services to be in community together, this is a time that least competes with outside activities and simply expands on times students are already in the building.

Youth Nights will now be Tuesday evenings from 6 – 8 pm at church. We will start by hanging out and having dinner from 6 – 6:30 pm, which will provide for a rolling start as students finish other activities, then we will meet from 6:30 – 8 pm. While this may feel like a big change, we are hopeful that a touch point during the week will greatly help the program and our students.

Once-monthly fun events or hangouts will now be able to be scheduled on a Sunday afternoon immediately following church services. This will provide more opportunities for attendance from some of our families who live further away and would like to piggyback off of their journey to church on a Sunday morning, but have not been able to engage on Sunday evenings due to distance. Retreats and events will also happen throughout the semester, and we hope that students who engage in any (or none) of the other programmed activities will join us for these fun experiences.

Finally, since schedules can be hard to coordinate with our students having so many opportunities in front of them with sports, arts, and school, we would like to pilot a DNA (Discipleship, Nurture, & Action) Group program for any students who are interested. The goal will be to pair two to four students with a leader who coordinates with them the best time to meet each month for a smaller group time.

Changes are both exciting and hard, so please continue to pray for our youth ministry program and its leaders, as we continue to pray for your youth and your families!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT JESSICA CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRY, AT JESSICA@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

For a list of upcoming Youth events see the back cover.

COLLEGE / YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Campus Minister in a Secular Age

BY DAN GARRISON EDWARDS, COLLEGE / CCO CAMPUS MINISTER

In the spring edition of The Samaritan, I wrote a piece titled Gen Z and the Lonely Quest: Thoughts on Communicating with Young People. In it, I described the isolation experienced by many members of Gen Z as they, amidst our secular age, search for an identity derived from their own interior life. I also referenced the Surgeon General’s 2023 declaration that as a nation, we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness.

As I reflect on the past academic year and look towards the 2024/2025 year, I am struck by how often students jump at the opportunity to meet for coffee and have a conversation. Students want to share. They are looking for folks who are farther along the pilgrimage of life who will listen to them.

Last fall, I spoke with a junior at Eastern University who told me that he and several of his friends were excited to know that I, a campus minister, was regularly coming to campus. “We had been asking ourselves ‘Where are all the pastors? Why don’t they come here?’” I was amazed. This was not a question I had when I was a student at Eastern in the early 2000s. But now, not quite twenty years later, a student was expressing a desire to have a pastoral presence. He continued to explain that his professors were very compassionate and caring, and that he cherished being in prayer and worship with his fellow students. “But it is something very different to have someone around who has more life experience, but is a pastor first and foremost. We need more pastors.”

I believe that the priesthood of all believers entails that we as Christians are called to be pastors. Not all are called to be pastors vocationally, and many are only called to act as pastors in particular settings or seasons. But we are all called to serve with the compassionate heart of Jesus.

In his work The Pastor in a Secular Age, Andrew Root explains that in a secular age the greatest gift, perhaps even the call, of the pastor is to pray and teach others how to pray. The pastor gets to teach others how to express their deepest longings and joys to a God that they may not even think exists. Friends, regardless of a student’s spirituality, I have never had a college student refuse my offer to pray for them and over them on the spot, in the name of Jesus.

This fall semester, our college ministry endeavors will focus on Eastern University. The need for compassionate ears to listen and discerning hearts to pray is great. I am looking for several individuals who will join me on campus, committed to listening to, and praying for, students. If this stirs something in you that says “I can listen, and I can pray,” I would love to speak with you. Please reach out to me.

And if you would like to contribute financially to ministry at Eastern University, you give at ccojubilee.org/staff/dgarrisonedwards.

Together, we can do our part to fight the tide of loneliness among Gen Z.

“I believe that the priesthood of all believers entails that we as Christians are called to be pastors. Not all are called to be pastors vocationally, and many are only called to act as pastors in particular settings or seasons. But we are all called to serve with the compassionate heart of Jesus.”

DAN GARRISON EDWARDS

What is Pastoral Care All About?

BY THE REV’D MARCIA C. WILKINSON

For The Church of the Good Samaritan people, pastoral care is sharing the love of Christ with compassion and active attention to all who keep company with us. We join hands in times of practical needs and spiritual matters to support and encourage one another. Our baptismal vows include that we are sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. God’s Holy Spirit is the name we use for the invisible God visibly working among us to be a blessing as we serve one another. “The Holy Spirit is God’s way of being present with us, making us participants in his being and work” (Eugene Peterson). When Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him, Peter answered: “Yes. Lord, I love you. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied: “Then feed my sheep… Tend to my flock.”

We at Good Sam tend to our flock with friendly visits and sharing the sacrament of Holy Communion. What a pleasure to enter a home, to sit and have conversation, pray together for our needs, and acknowledge together that Jesus is present in our small gathering. When our dear ones cannot attend regular church worship, Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion, blessed during worship, along with the Wrapper and key points of the sermon. Inner strength and joy come in such fellowship.

Follow-up calls after hospitalization remind our people that we are supporting them with prayer until they can join the Body once again. Daughters of the King pray over every prayer request that comes in from our pew prayer cards, through email, or simply shared verbally, bringing the needs of our dear ones before the Father. They also send cards to those who are ill (at home and in hospital), those in care facilities, those who are experiencing grief, and words of congratulations for special moments in our members’ lives. There is nothing like the real thing, a note handwritten to say you are important, we care, we are here to help.

During our calls and visits, the pastoral care team inquires if there are other needs to be met such as meals or rides to worship services. We remind them that Good Samaritan has a lending closet for their use of medical equipment; walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc. The pastoral care team is interested in total care, body, mind, and spirit.

Not all pastoral care ministry revolves around practical and spiritual care. There are seasons for surprises and fun ways to brighten our lives. On holy days and additional spontaneous times of the year, volunteers deliver plants, cards, and small gift bags (provided by Good Sam Youth and Good Sam Kids) to say “We are thinking of you” and “God loves you.” Those who receive are grateful.

Pastoral care reaches out to those who are caregivers, or working with family in situations of mental distress. Support groups are offered with regular, confidential meetings. The Mourners Path has meant a great deal to those who have lost loved ones. For those who suffer and are in grief, we want to walk alongside with listening, understanding. Our military and their families are also remembered in prayer and with notes of support.

Prayer is an essential part of pastoral care. Prayers of the People during worship services reminds the congregation to participate in daily prayers. Jesus taught his disciples and teaches us to come to His Father, our Father, the Holy One who listens and comes to his beloved. After the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the presence of Christ is received, in that same Spirit, prayer with anointing of oil is available by the healing prayer ministers (in the rear of the church). This is a sacred time with the Lord on behalf of our people, God’s people.

Pastoral care is the love of Christ put into action for our brothers and sisters. Love is meant to be shared. Life holds suffering and joy and we have been created to live as Christ-bearers, to receive God’s zest and vitality, and to pour what we have received into the lives of others. “From beginning to end, the strong current of God’s blessing carries us through everything life can throw at us. We are not only extravagantly blessed, we are now able to bless others in this God-blessed world” (Eugene Peterson).

As laity of all ages from youngsters, seniors, staff, and clergy, we come together as God’s beloved. We live in faith—boldly and with joy—into the new Kingdom until Christ comes again.

GOOD SAM MINISTRIES

Food Closet

BY GEORGE & MARIA GUMAS, FOOD CLOSET LEADS

The Good Samaritan Food Closet is committed to feeding bodies and souls through the love of Christ with sustenance, respect, compassion, and prayer. The Food Closet Distribution is held every Thursday and currently serves 50-60 families every week. As a partner organization with the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB) and Philabundance, the Food Closet receives supplies from a variety of sources, including the CCFB, Acme, Wegmans, Wawa, and Target. In addition, generous donations from our church family allow us to offer an exceptional quality of foods.

Just like the Sunday church service, weekly distributions require much preparation and planning. Behind the scenes, nearly 50 volunteers work throughout the week: ordering, receiving, stocking, resetting, cleaning, prepping, and finally, distributing healthy and plentiful supplies to our dear neighbors. Everyone does their part to make the Food Closet run like a well-oiled machine. One of our volunteers said, “We put a lot of time and attention into making sure we provide our neighbors the highest quality of groceries. We really want folks to know that God is for them, that he cares about what they are going through. We pray that our work expresses his love to them in whatever circumstances they find themselves in life.”

When asked about the Food Closet, a neighbor who has been coming for over two years said she appreciates the excellent quality and supply of food that is provided and how well organized the distribution is. She loves the feeling of community and how everyone works together and looks out for each other. As the Food Closet looks to the future, we pray we can continue to bless our dear neighbors with food for their bodies and souls.

HELPS Ministry

BY ROSE DODD, HELPS MINISTRY LEAD

The Good Samaritan HELPS Ministry provides funding for practical, short-term relief to our neighbors in Chester County who need a one-time assistance to pay rent, a utility bill, prescriptions, car repair, or other immediate needs. The ministry focuses on temporary problems and giving our neighbors a helping hand during a difficult time. Currently Angela Linden, Rose Dodd, and Tracy McGuire are HELPS counselors who deal directly with those in need.

The number of HELPS calls has increased significantly in 2024. From January to the end of June, we entered 290 requests and helped 133 clients, distributing $39,049. By comparison, for the same period in 2023, we entered 133 requests, helped 90 clients, distributing $25,556 (an increase of approximately 53% of funds distributed).

Due to the large number of requests received, periodically we have had to temporarily discontinue taking new calls as HELPS counselors simply cannot respond to so many requests. Being a HELPS counselor can be a timeconsuming process.

A significant number of our recent requests for rental assistance are from people who are facing eviction. Since 2019, rental rates in Chester County have increased by nearly 17 percent. However, Chester County has a unique Eviction Prevention Program that has reduced the rate of eviction for low-income families by 70 percent. The program works with landlords and the court to arrive at workable payment agreements. Working with this program, HELPS has been able to join with other churches and agencies to enable families to remain in their homes. HELPS considers it a privilege to be part of an effort to keep people in their homes. Hearing the gratitude of the people that we have helped in these kinds of situations has truly been a blessing—we feel we are living out being a Good Samaritan in helping strangers. Everyone is Chester County is our neighbor.

Although our funds and spending are significant, HELPS is not a line item in the church budget. The ministry is completely funded through donations: from the Christmas Tree sale, trust funds, other designated gifts or donations earmarked for the HELPS Ministry. If you would like to contribute, visit good-samaritan.org/give and designate HELPS as the selected fund for your donation.

MISSIONS

BY DEBBIE VOLK, CHAIR OF THE MISSIONS COMMITTEE

The Missions Committee is tasked with tithing our church’s money to serve and spread the gospel to those outside our church community. In 2024 we awarded $230,400 to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. For 2023, the New Life Thrift Shop generated $91,421 towards these efforts. Many thanks to Rose Smith and her dedicated team at the Thrift Shop for allowing our church to have an even greater impact.

MISSIONS SUPPORTED BY GOOD SAM

Local ministries that are open to volunteers are indicated with an asterisk.

EVANGELIZATION

Alpha* A program that offers courses for people to come to know Christ

Frank Bernardi

A priest serving in Tunisia, a Muslim majority nation

Bolivian Diocese

A missionary diocese led by Bishop Walter Toro

FOCUS* A program run in local private schools leading students to Christ

Ron Irene Bishopelect of the diocese of Paraguay

Neighborhood Church A church plant near Salt Lake City started by David Henderson

Jeff Potts (Intervarsity)

A ministry to international students

Scripture Union* Creates resources to help people of all ages deepen their faith

Phil and Julie Steiner Ministry to communities in Central Asia

Young Life* Ministry that reaches students in local public middle and high schools

Dan Edwards (CCO/ Coalition for Christian Outreach)* Ministry to local college students

SERVING THE POOR

City Team Ministries*

Residential program for the homeless and those struggling with addiction

Good Sam Services*

Provides resources for homeless and the poor

Ninos Con Valor

An orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Philly Project* Ministry that helps to revitalize churches and serve the poor in northwest Philly Water Missions Providing clean water to developing nations and those affected by disaster

EDUCATION

Mwamba Foundation Provides scholarships for highschoolers and seminarians in Kenya

St. James School* Episcopal school for grades 4 – 8 in an underserved part of Philadelphia

CRISIS PREGNANCY SUPPORT

The two organizations that receive the highest level of funding and have had long-term relationships with Good Sam are Ninos Con Valor and Water Mission International.

WATER MISSION

Ninos Con Valor (“Children with Value”) is an orphanage based in Bolivia. In 2023, NCV supported 59 children and teens and operated three homes (boys, girls, and youth). NCV provides a safe, stable, and loving environment for children who are orphaned, abandoned, or abused/neglected. Some of the children have serious health conditions requiring significant medical care. Therapy is provided due to the trauma these children have experienced. They also attend a local church regularly, have morning reflection, learn Bible verses, and perform community service. The children receive an education at local schools and are taught life skills such as cooking and gardening.

“I was blessed to know Endel Liias who started NCV, and to serve as a volunteer for over 10 years. The greatest blessing, however, is the outpouring of love and affection I received when visiting and to be able to see the children grow up in a safe, encouraging, and godly home.”

KEVIN HICKS, FORMER BOARD MEMBER AND FORMER SPONSORSHIP CHAIR

Water Mission builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing nations, those affected by natural and man-made disasters, and refugee camps for those that have fled due to conflict, violence, or persecution (currently serving in East Africa, Ukraine, Gaza and the Middle East). There continues to be a global water crisis—829,000 people die every year due to waterrelated illnesses, and there are over 43 million refugees worldwide. In 2023, Water Mission provided safe water to 1.6 million people. Another aspect of their mission is to share the gospel and show God’s love by strengthening and equipping local church leaders around the world with biblical knowledge and discipleship tools.

Amnion* Offers medical services, counseling, parent training, and postabortion counseling YoungLives* Provides faith-based support for teen moms in 13 Delaware Valley locations WHERE MIGHT GOD BE CALLING YOU TO SERVE? WHAT BLESSING MIGHT HE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU? FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MISSIONS AT GOOD SAM CONTACT DEBBIE VOLK AT MISSIONSOUTREACH@GOOD-SAMARITAN.ORG

“Robin and I began volunteering with Water Mission 20 years ago and God has used this ministry to grow our faith. We have served in disaster relief globally and community development in East Africa, and I now understand a greater world-view that reveals God’s hand in human lives, including my own.”

RUSTY SMITH, BOARD MEMBER

NINOS CON VALOR

The School Year Begins!

BY BARB CONDIT, DAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR

The Day School kicks off the new school year with our Parent’s Night September 5! Our verse for this year is, “With God, all things are possible” (Mark 10. 27). This will be incorporated into our curriculum on a daily basis as we celebrate God’s love, kindness and devotion.

From our Parent/Toddler class to our fun-filled PreK classes, over 200 students are served by 37 teachers and three full-time administrative staff. Working together with 180 families, we provide a loving atmosphere for students and families.

Entering its 69th year, the Day School continues to provide a nurturing environment, with a play-based hands-on curriculum. We foster diversity with families from all over the world, and are especially proud of the inclusion of students that may need support services. We work closely with public and private service providers to offer the best personalized experience for each child.

We’ve got a new look this year! In keeping with Good Samaritan deeds of love, generosity, and service, we’ve developed a new logo that joins together growth in education and our devotion to teaching young children to use their hands and hearts in developing a lifetime in the service of others.

Phase II of our playground renovations will take place this year. We plan to remove some older wooden pieces, replace our storage closet, reconstruct some sitting areas, expand the sandbox, create sun shade and replace the poured in place safety surface. If you have any expertise in these areas, please let us know.

We chose to send our oldest child to the Good Samaritan Day School because of the tremendous reputation and long history. During her first year at the Day School, our family was looking for a church to attend. We were very happy with the Day School and thought it would be nice to try Good Samaritan, the Church. It wasn’t long after attending the first service that Good Samaritan became our Church. The people, music and sermons are just a few of the reasons that kept us coming back. The Day School and Church share two foundational characteristics, a Christ-centered focus and strong community. We tell our girls, they get to be at Good Samaritan six days a week during the year, which is hard to beat.

SHAUN AND PARKER GALLAGHER

We have been parents of children at Good Samaritan Day School since 2018 and we couldn’t be happier. The teachers at Good Sam are amazing—they truly care about each child and make learning fun. We also love how they blend church values into everyday lessons. Being parishioners of the Church of the Good Samaritan, it is so special to see our children attend chapel, sing songs in the church, and see familiar faces from the church around the school. It really feels like one big family and a place where our kids feel safe and happy every day. Good Samaritan Day School mixes fun and excellent learning with strong values. It’s been perfect for our little ones and I always look forward to seeing my children learn and grow each year!

DREW AND KRISTEN HAGER

Dancing Together

BY ELRENA EVANS, CREATIVE SPECIALIST

The Dance Ministry continues to keep us on our toes here at The Church of the Good Samaritan! This fall, we added four new classes to our roster, to keep up with growing demand. We now offer classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, as well as Saturday mornings, for dancers ages three and up. If you’ve ever wanted to try a class, we have an Open Ballet class on Saturdays for adult beginners of all ages. Come and check us out!

Part of the heart of the dance ministry is the education and mentorship of our students. For our spring concert, our youngest dancers (ages 3 – 6) learned several of the names of God, alongside their dance for the concert. If you happened to walk by as they were rehearsing, you might have heard, in addition to “plie” and “tendu,” “Adonai means My Lord!” “Elohim means God the Creator!”

“El Shaddai means God Almighty!”

We had the opportunity to take several of our dancers to minister in a local nursing home this past year. During one of the pieces, a woman in a wheelchair lifted her hand, as if to join us in the dance. One of our adult

dancers spotted her, and realized that she had once been a dancer as well, and then modified the choreography so that what was once a solo became a duet. We were truly blessed both to minister, and be ministered to, by the residents.

In early June, our older teens and adults did a one-night retreat at the Girls’ Friendly Society in Cape May, where we explored what it means to be “Rooted and Grounded to Grasp Christ’s Love.” It was a wonderful time of prayer, fellowship, and fun… and playing in the frigid ocean!

Dancer Miriam Fulton observed, about the importance of time spent on retreat, “A new context is important even if you already spend a lot of time together. We all know each other pretty well, but going somewhere totally different with the same group of people changes the dynamic.”

And, with three generations of dancers present on the retreat, several observed how it is always a blessing to see our younger dancers—many of whom have danced with us since they were tiny—grow in their faith and in their friendships with each other.

As we finish out the liturgical year and look forward to dancing through the next one, we are grateful as always to be part of a church that encourages and supports the arts. God made flesh dwells in us… what a privilege to show that indwelling through dance.

212 West Lancaster Avenue | Paoli, PA 19301

info@good-samaritan.org | 610.644.4040 good-samaritan.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 1 | 10:15 am

Adult Christian Formation:

The Magna Carta of the Church: 1 Corinthians, Part One

September 7 | 5 – 8 pm

Good Sam Parish Picnic

September 8 | 10:15 am Youth Core Groups Launch

September 8 | 10:15 am

Adult Christian Formation: God’s Glory—Our Delight Series Begins

September 10 / 12 | see page 14

Fall InSight Women’s Bible Study Begins

September 11 – November 20

Alpha: A Conversation About Faith

September 11 | 7 pm

Prayer & Praise

September 14 | 9:15 am – 2:45 pm, With optional one-hour Q&A to follow Mending Broken Minds: A Mental Health Conference

September 17 | 6 – 8 pm

Men’s Dinner with Dr Fred Putnam

September 21 | 9 – 11:30 am

InSight Women’s Ministry Fall Kick-off Event: Come Together

September 22 | 10:15 am

Adult Christian Formation:

The Magna Carta of the Church: 1 Corinthians, Part Two

September 25 | 9 am – 8 pm

September 26 | 9 am – 1 pm Twice is Nice Consignment Sale

September 27 – 29

Breakaway Middle School Retreat

September 28 | 9 am – noon

CPR / First Aid Training

Open to those willing to take on CPR/First Aid reponsibility while on the church campus

October 9 | 7 pm

Prayer & Praise

October 11 – 12 | see page 15

Men’s Ministry Fall Retreat

October 13 | 10:15 am

Adult Christian Formation: Learning and Living the Nicene Creed Series Begins

October 19 | 9 – 11 am

InSight Women’s Ministry: Autumn Walk & Spiritual Practice

October 19 | 1 – 4 pm Fall Fest / Trunk or Treat

November 1 | 5 pm – 12 am

High School Long Night Event

November 3

All Saints Sunday Baptism

SAVE THE DATE!

November 9 | 10 am

With luncheon to follow

Celebration of New Ministry Institution of Fr Ellsworth as Rector with Bishop Gutiérrez presiding

November 13 | 7 pm

Prayer & Praise

November 23 | 5 – 9 pm

Men’s Ministry Chili Cook Off and Game Night

November 24 | 8 am – 1 pm

Advent Wreath Making

November 28

Thanksgiving Service

November 29

Christmas Tree Sale Begins

December 7 | 8:30 – 11:30 am

InSight Women’s Ministry: Advent Quiet Morning

December 7 | 11 am – 1 pm

St Nicholas Brunch

December 13 | 6:30 pm

Good Samaritan Dance Ministry

Christmas Concert

December 17 | 6 – 8 pm

Youth Christmas Party

December 24

Christmas Eve Family Service and Evening Services