At Good Samaritan UMC

Please take a few minutes to fill out our Good Samaritan Online - Time and Talent Checklist. 

This past holiday STEP’s Holiday Program served over 600 families including 962 children who received holiday toys and gifts cards. This was no small task given that the number of families and children registered and ultimately served was at the highest it has ever been. Despite the increase in need, STEP was still able to serve each family and child with no change in programming. We simply have you to thank for that as once again St. Louis Park and neighboring communities donated in extreme generosity to provide an amazing collection of toys and gift cards for each family to select from as they walked through the toy shop.

Being an office volunteer at Good Samaritan is time well spent by answering the phone, preparing mailings, and helping staff members with tasks. You serve one half day, about 3 hours, morning or afternoon. You get to work with fun people and learn about the church as well as get acquainted with staff and church members. Men and women are welcome! Please contact Mary Parsons or Judy Hillger if you'd like to volunteer.

Good Samaritan needs someone to make a calendar of the office volunteers for the office staff each month; and to find substitutes when needed. There is a very loyal group of people who volunteer on a regular basis and a group who are willing to fill in. It would be helpful to be a volunteer yourself. The job does not take very much time and is a wonderful way to become more familiar with the staff, the people and the workings of the church. Position open to both women and men.  Please contact Mary Parsons or Judy Hillger if you'd like to volunteer.

Being Present and Listening Quietly.

Interested in going on ASP 2008? Our ASP trip will be June 14-22, 2008. If you have questions, contact Eric Leill, 952.922.8261 (home) or 612.670.9864 (cell).

Our Toddlers and Twos Sunday School class is in need of 8 volunteers who would enjoy sharing Bible stories and leading simple activities for our 18 month-2 yr. olds during Sunday morning nursery time. Each leader would sign up for one Sunday per month (either 9:00 or 10:30) to share a Bible story and engage children in age appropriate creative activities using our fun and easy to use Toddlers and Twos curriculum. Each Sunday, our Toddler teachers are supported by several nursery volunteers. If you would be interested in serving in this special role, please contact Deb Johnson.

Come join the TWEEN team! We’re looking for 3-4 volunteer adults who would enjoy planning for and meeting with our 5th -6th grade Fellowship Group. The TWEEN Fellowship group meets two Sunday evenings per month beginning Sunday, October 14 from 6:30-8:00 pm. If this is an opportunity that lies within your interest area, please contact Deb Johnson.

Last spring the youth in Good Samaritan’s Confirmation and Senior High Youth Group were offered an opportunity to make a difference in their world. In a project call LightQuest, those who chose to participate were challenged to identify a cause that they were passionate about, where they felt they wanted to make a difference, where they could shine their light into the world. Then, with a plan of action in hand, they were each funded with $100, the monies made available through a private investment. One of the rules of this project called for them to make their donation in person. The kids were also encouraged to volunteer some time if that was appropriate to their project. Seventeen Good Samaritan young people decided to take up the challenge!

Acolytes help with the Sunday morning worship services by bringing in the light which represents God’s presence in the service. Acolytes wear robes and carry a candlelighter down the aisle and light the candles on the holy table at the beginning of the worship service. Then as the service ends, acolytes take the light from the candles and carry it out of the sanctuary on the candlelighter symbolizing that the light of God goes with us out of the sanctuary and into the world.

Two acolytes are needed each week, one for each service. If you are interested in serving as an acolyte, please contact Jean@good.org.

Do you know how to use or are you willing to learn how to use Microsoft Publisher and Word to help prepare the Samaritan newsletter on a substitute basis? Your help is needed. If interested, please contact Rachel Hause at Rachel@good.org.