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By The Way

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By the Way

The Weekly Newsletter of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church                                                        April 13, 2008



The Junior and Senior High School Youth and their families would like to thank everyone for their support at the Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show last week!  We raised $973.10 for our youth!  Many thanks to the children and parents who volunteered their time.  Thank you to Sandy B and Sue W for coordinating the event!  Thank you to Arby’s and Margi K for the donation of yummy meatballs.  Thank you God for giving us this time together to celebrate You, each other, and our youth.

Cookbooks are on sale now for $10!  Remember the recipes you submitted awhile back?  Well, grab your copy of the cookbook and check out those and all the other great recipes submitted!  The cookbooks also make a great Mother’s Day gift!

Nursery Notes The nursery at GSLC is in need of loving and caring volunteers for both the 8:30 and 11:00 AM services.  There is a NEW sign up sheet located next to the nursery door for the months of April, May, June and July.  Please add your name if you would like to assist with caring for our beautiful GSLC children ages 4 and under.  FYI: There is speaker located in the nursery so that volunteers and children can listen to the worship service and we can arrange for volunteers to receive communion as well.  Please feel free to email me if you have any questions:  Thanks for helping!  Amanda P.

Christmas in April St. Mary’s County 2008

Do you have an urge to help someone in need?  There is no better way of doing this than by helping out someone who is less fortunate than us on Christmas in April day.  Christmas in April is a national organization that assists homeowners who do not have the ways or means to maintain their homes.  For one day, we fix, repair, paint, clean up and make an elderly, handicapped, or less fortunate homeowner’s life a little easier.  Christmas in April day is Saturday, April 26 and we need your help.  You can do this, no special skills required.  For the past 11 years, a group of Good Samaritan volunteers has helped out on Christmas in April day.  Ken & Pat R and Tiffany S are the house captains for one of the 23 homes that will be worked on this year in St. Mary’s County.  We will be working on a 70 year old woman’s home, who has three handicapped adults living with her.  We will be replacing the roof, painting and lots of yard work.  If you would like to volunteer, give one of us a call, talk to us at church, or sign up on the sheet located in the Fellowship Hall.  Sign up your whole family (children have to be 14 years old to help), relatives, friends, civic organization, or office to help.  The more, the merrier!  Please don’t wait.  Mark your calendars now and reserve your space for one of the most fulfilling days of your life.  For more info, please contact Ken R at home, work, or by email.  Thanks.

Girl Scout Troop 476 will be serving lunch for the Christmas in April crew this year.  Karol C and Mary M are members of this troop.  We would really appreciate it if the members of Good Samaritan would help us by providing the food for this wonderful service.  There is a sign-up sheet for food in the Fellowship Hall, so please sign up.  This is a great opportunity for the girls to be involved in a great service project.  If you have any questions, please see Jennifer N or Kami C.



Good Samaritan Lutheran Church                                                                                                                                                                Pastor Ray

20850 Langley Road, Lexington Park, MD  20653                                                                                                                            

office@goodsamlutheran.com                                                                                                                                                  

Office Hours:  Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM

Council Corner

As you may already know, we have been running negative numbers on our weekly offering for most weeks thus far in 2008.  This is following the minimum budget passed for 2008 at the last 2007 congregational meeting. 

As a result, we need to delay as many purchases as possible so that we can cover critical expenditures, like our monthly mortgage.  Effective immediately, everyone must submit a request to the Treasurer before purchasing ANYTHING intended to be covered by the 2008 GSLC budget.  With God’s blessing, we’ll soon be back on budgetary track for 2008.

Treasurer’s Report

Offerings (March 24-30):

Prayerfully Given:                     $3550.52         Total March Offering:              $25361.87

Weekly Budgeted Offering:      $7114.01           Budgeted March Offering:        $31504.90

Surplus/Shortfall:                  ($3563.49)                                                       ($  6143.03)

Year-To-Date (January 1-March 31):

Prayerfully Given:                     $61847.30

Budgeted Offering:                  $82528.12

Surplus/Shortfall:                  ($20680.82)

Offerings (March 31-April 6):

Prayerfully Given:                     $4081.44          Total April Offering:                $3661.44

Weekly Budgeted Offering:      $6195.54          Budgeted April Offering:          $5179.25

Surplus/Shortfall:                  ($2114.10)                                                        ($1517.81)

Wow, the first quarter went by fast!  Quarterly statements for your prayerful offerings are in the Narthex for you to pick up.  I hope you will keep on prayerfully considering your giving to your Good Sam family.  If you happen to get behind in your giving, no worries!  If you are so blessed, take a moment to catch up on it.  We are growing on God's time.  Needless to say, I'm praying for God's time and our budget to sync up.  We certainly have seen the blessings of prayers answered.  God's Peace – Lynda F

First Quarter Financial Statements are available in the Narthex—pick up yours today!  Thanks to Rich S for preparing the reports.

Ten Stewardship Principles #3

As baptized members of the body of Christ, we gratefully confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We boldly proclaim the gospel as the Word of God.  We clearly recognize the gifts that God has first given us through grace, and we joyfully accept our role and responsibility as stewards.  Over the next several weeks, we will share the Ten Stewardship Principles in By the Way.  These principles provide a foundation for the life of a faithful and generous steward.

1.          Respond gratefully – 2 Corinthians 8:5

2.         Obey responsibly – to glorify God as a faithful proclamation of God’s Word.  We acknowledge our faith and show our faith in the gospel for the glory of God and for the building up of the body of Christ.  This takes courage.  It involves our life-long obedience, including the ways we treat our families, others, and ourselves.

            “…you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 9:13

3.      Sacrifice proportionately – as Christ sacrificed for us.  For our sake Jesus gave up everything to make us rich through the cross and the resurrection.  We are called to sacrifice so others may share in God’s word and blessings.     “…gave according to their means, and even beyond their means.”  2 Corinthians 8:3

Stewardship Team meeting today at 12:30 PM

Ventures Stewardship Workshop #3—August 4, 4:30 PM

2nd Notice - Nomination Committee/Team Needed for Outgoing Members of the Congregational Council (not to be confused with a Pastoral Call Committee)

The Church Council would like you to prayerfully consider serving on our Nominating Committee/Team, which is made up of two (2), if possible, previous Council members and four (4) voting members of the congregation.  Currently, we have confirmed one (1) previous Council member, and one (1) voting member.  Our church constitution requires Council members to be elected by written ballot and serve for two (2) years or until their successors are elected.  Council members can serve no more than two (2) full terms consecutively. Their terms shall begin January 1 of the year following the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.  This committee will work on filling these upcoming Council vacancies.  If you feel you are called to this service, please contact anyone on the Church Council.   For more detailed information on this process, you can go to http://www.goodsamlutheran.com/

aboutus.php,and click on Constitution.

Revised DRAFT Agenda for Good Sam Council Meeting,  April 14, 2008.

7:00 PM  Opening Prayer

15-minute Open Floor for any issues that any Good Sam member wants to present.

Jake:  Church events ....

Other?

Roll call of members - quorum?

Opening Remarks - President - brevity ..... please try to limit information-reports to less than 5 minutes, hand-outs are good.

Approval of minutes from March Council meeting - Council members expected to have read them.

Officer's Reports

Lynda:  Treasurer's Report - staff gifts. 

Laurie:  Secretary - ???

John:  VP - Mutual Ministry status, Office staff position description / contract, Finance Team - spending policy for Ken, other?

Jake:  Pres - Communications, Fellowship – covenant.

Facility Report:  Ken 

House - plans for downstairs, kiln. 

Other? 

Nom. Committee Report:  Lynn – status.

Old Business

 Constitution changes and Q1 Report

Notify Congregation, schedule meeting - late April?

Hand-out changes at meeting, vote at Nov meeting.

Meeting prep?

AA - any outstanding issues?

Jake:  Discernment of our readiness for calling a new pastor, membership report.

Laurie S:  Security checks - what next?

Heather:  Good Sam Fund status.

Fred:  BTW on web-site?

Laurie / Heather:  Policy for Protecting Our Children status

Jake:  Roman's Room and Resource Room.

New Business

 Jake: Two (2) delegates needed for Synod Assembly (June 12-14) in Roanoke.  Registrations due soon.

Calendar - near-term events.

8:55 PM  Closing Prayer.


This week at Good Sam…

Today               Baptism of Shemira T.

                        Stewardship Team meeting, 12:30 PM.

                        Scouts God and Family Religious Emblem Program, 3:30 PM.

Monday                        Church Council Meeting, 7:00 PM.

Wednesday       Women’s Wake-Up Call, 7 AM at Panera.

                        Spoke’N For Biking and Fellowship, 4:45 PM, behind the Post Office on Base.

                        Choir Rehearsal, 6:30 PM.

Thursday          Men’s Word and Prayer Group, 6:00 AM, Panera.

                        Praise Team rehearsal, 6:30 PM.

Saturday          13th Annual Run & Fun Walk for Hospice.

Worship Volunteer Assignments for April 20:  Altar Care: Team C

8:30:  Worship Assistant: John S, Communion Assistants: Sue V & Corinne M, Acolyte: Paige M, Crucifer: Robbie O, Lector: Joanie J, Ushers: Bob J & David P, Fellowship: Ginger L & Sue V, Welcome Greeter: Cyndi S, Counters: Laurie d & Jackie H.

11:00:  Communion Assistant: Rick T, Communion Helper: JD K, Lector: Casey N, Usher: Jim K, Welcome Greeter: Sue W, Video Technician: Christy C.

Thanks to our incredible crew of cleaners.

This week our cleaners include…The L Family, Debbie U, Margi K and Lynda F.

Thanks for your help to be good stewards of what God has given us.

A look ahead…

April 21            Nooma Bible Study, 7:30 PM, M’s House.

April 24            Son Up! for men, 6:00 AM.

                        Women of Faith, 9:30-11:30 AM.

April 26            Christmas in April day.

April 28            Leadership meeting, 7:00 PM.

In May:                        Hunger Awareness meal.

May 8               Bibli-Ophelia Women’s Book Club, 7:00 PM, at Sue V’s.

May 11              Confirmation of Sarah D and Breana B.

In June:           Good Sam 10th Anniversary Cantata.

June 5              Bibli-Ophelia Women’s Book Club, 6:00 PM, at Panera.

June 7              Good Sam SPLASH, 12:00 PM.

June 21            BBQ Cook-off, 4:00 PM.

June 23-27      VBS, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

June 25-28      Creation Music Festival 2008.


Home Health Aide needed…

3-4 days/week in Solomons.  Times and days flexible.  Some experience preferred, but will train.  Please see Pastor Ray, or call.

***IMPORTANT REMINDER***

When leaving our church parking lot, please remember to exit our driveway carefully, looking left and yielding to any traffic before turning right toward Great Mills Road.  We want to be good neighbors to our friends who live off Langley Road and share the road with us.

It’s lawn mowing season again…Spring has sprung, and so has the grass!  We need YOU to help maintain our grounds.  Please sign up on the kiosk in the Narthex to help with the lawn mowing.

“The family of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church welcomes all to gather and grow, give of themselves and go into the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Part two in a multipart mission series


Last time we gave a succinct overall on the mission of GSLC.  We ended up summing things up with the reason there is a GSLC:  For Jesus (aka “4 G’s us”).  This time, let’s look at our first of the four G’s:  Gather.

At the beginning of the second chapter of Luke, gathering erupts:  First, the Caesar orders a decree that requires everyone to gather in their hometown (so many gathered in fact, that there weren’t even rooms to be had).  Then, after the baby Jesus is born and the angelic announcement is made, heaven gathers to glorify God; after that, the shepherds go and gather around the baby and start spreadin’ the word.

Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

Matthew 4:25-5:1

Jesus must enjoy gathering.  He performed his first miracle at a marriage gathering.  People gathered, sometimes in huge crowds, to hang out with Jesus.  He welcomed them, taught them and fed them by the thousands, making today’s concession stands pale in comparison.  Crowds gathered so much that in order to speak to so many of the gathered, Jesus had to go up on the side of a mountain, perhaps so that He could be heard by the large crowd that followed Him from towns all over the area.  When it was time to name The Twelve, do you know what Jesus did?  He called them to him… He gathered them.

All through the Gospels Jesus and the disciples gather.  Take a look for yourself, every time you turn around there is a gathering.  They gather in small groups of three or four, they gather by the dozen, they gather in small towns, in a boat, on the shore, in synagogues, even out in the streets.  Jesus spent a lot of time gathering with people; so much in fact, he was accused of hanging out with the wrong crowd and partying too much (Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34).

Jesus must have really loved being with His disciples.  He hung out with them for nearly His entire three year ministry.  He spent the last few hours of His human life with them.  The last meal they would share together, we remember as one of the sacraments.  We celebrate this with one another nearly each week as we gather, represented in the bread and wine.  When Jesus was under His greatest stress, I mean literally sweating blood (Luke 22:44), He brought His closest friends to be gathered with Him.

After Jesus was crucified and ascended to heaven, the disciples carried on the tradition of gathering together.  We find all through the book of Acts believers gathering together spreading out from Jerusalem.  We can trace many of the new places of gathering through the letters of the apostle Paul, places like Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, Thessalonica, and even Rome.  As this new church spread across countries, some difficult issues were brought up.  The way to the solution for the believers was to gather (Acts 16:6-30)!  The Scriptures instruct and enlighten us not to give up in gathering together (Hebrews 10:25). 

If you can’t recall all the times of gathering together, what takes place or who said what about gathering, then remember in whose Name it is that we gather.  For when we do, He is with us (Matthew 18:20).

As followers of Jesus, we gather.  Not too difficult, as the summation of our mission is for Jesus, then, when we gather we gather in Jesus’ name.  Next week, I invite you to come with me on this journey as we maintain our Focus On Discipleship and delve into some of what we do as we gather.  Until then, God bless.



OUT AND ABOUT


Spiritfest—an evening of Praise, Worship and Fellowship with TNL Praise Band and Uprising.  A special benefit concert for Mark L, a member of Grace Chapel Ministries, who is receiving treatments for leukemia.  Saturday, April 26, 7:00 PM, at My Brother’s Place, 3081 Old Washington Road, Waldorf.  Admission: $10.  For more info, contact Cindy B.

Unity in the Community Faith Festival:  sponsored by the Unity Day Committee of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church.  Good Old Southern Fish Fry and Horseshoe Tournament.  Saturday, May 3.  Food at 11:00 AM, tournament at 12:00.  At Mills-Parole Elementary School, 103 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis.


Prayer Card Ministry Good Sam’s way of saying we care with a personal note to anyone who needs it.  To have a card sent to someone you know in need of an encouraging word, please either put it on a blue card or contact the office and it will be sent to our Prayer Card Ministry team. 

GOOD SAM MINISTRIES

NOOMA Small Group continues, April 21. The Nooma video series is short films which spark small group discussions.  Concise and to the point, 10 to 14 minute DVDs tackle topics like forgiveness, discipleship, and unconditional love, making biblical truths vivid and relevant for today's generation. This Bible study will be offered at the M's house at 7:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (opposite Council meetings). The Bible study will last between and 1 and 1-1/2 hours, depending on discussion. There will be no childcare offered.  Please see Corinne M or Rick T with any questions, or for directions.

Spoke’N For  Our group for cycling lovers—the basic theme for this ministry is:  “Spoke’N For - Miles & Miles of Fellowship.”  Join us for rides on Wednesday afternoons at 4:45.  We meet behind the Post Office on base - For more information, please contact Ron S.

Good Sam “Misfits” Softball We welcome members of Trinity Lutheran Church this year!  Let’s show them how Good Sam does “Just for Fun” softball!!!  Games will begin on May 12 (yes, that’s a Council Monday) on Field 3 at 6:15 PM.  We are asking that all players (remember, you must be 13 and older to play) donate $10 to help pay for the $250 registration fee and any extra money left over will go to fellowship (prize for crazy shirt day? pizzas after the last game?).  Please put your money in the collection plate, CLEARLY MARKED “Softball”, or hand it to Sue W.  Game schedules are available in the Fellowship Hall.

Men’s News

Word & prayer group On the first, third and fifth Thursdays of the month, the men are gathering from 6:00-6:45 AM at Panera’s.  Our next meeting is April 17.  This Word & Prayer group uses the daily devotion for the day from ‘Our Daily Bread’. 

The devotion can be found at: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml.

Son Up! The men of Son Up! are on a journey to discover their hearts.  During this journey, John Eldredge is challenging men to abandon passivity and actively pursue God.  The topic next Son Up! is A Beauty to Rescue: April 24, and concludes with A Band of Brothers: May 8.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another  - Proverbs 27:17


Children & Youth News

Youth BBQ Cook-Off - June 21, 4:00-6:00 PM.  The Good Samaritan Youth are holding our 2nd BBQ Cook-off.  There will be judges and awards given to the winners.  There are 3 categories in which you can enter: Pork, Beef, and Other.  We hope all of you will start your smokers and grills and enter in this fun family event.  We will need those to enter their fabulous BBQ, as well as 5 judges to taste the BBQ.  Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall if you wish to enter your BBQ or be a judge.  There is only room for 5 judges, we are asking for a $25 donation to be a judge.   We will have activities for children, a dunk tank, silent auction items, and baskets being raffled off.  The money raised will be going to help offset the expense of the youth and chaperones traveling to New Orleans, for the National ELCA Youth Gathering next July.   Silent Auction items needed: So far we have a round of golf at >>> and a prize package from the Maryland Bluecrabs Baseball team!  If you have a special talent, gift or a business that can make a contribution to the youth BBQ, that would also be greatly appreciated.  If you are able to donate a fishing trip, boating excursion, homemade brew, airplane ride, kayaking adventure or something else, please sign up in the Fellowship Hall with name and what you are donating.  Thank you!

Vacation Bible School

Registration is now OPEN.  This year, we will be preparing for the SonHarvest County Fair.  We’ll be growing the Fruits of the Spirit.  VBS will take place June 23-27, from 9:00 AM- Noon each day.  The cost is $15 per child, maximum $40 per family.  Registration is open to children 3 years old and potty trained through entering 6th grade in the Fall of 2008.  Sign up today and reserve your space.  Students will receive a music CD (one per family, please), a T-shirt, snacks, crafts, Bible stories, games and much, much more!  Don’t miss the fun!

VBS volunteers needed—we need lots of help before, during, and after VBS.  Please sign up today.  There are volunteer forms in the Narthex, or talk to Diane G.

Middle School Youth Group is for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.  Our main focus is to help these young adults establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to develop an understanding of what it means and how to live life as a disciple.  This is done through fun, community building activities such as icebreakers, skits, group discussions and socializing with their peers.  Also planned are community service projects, fundraisers, mission trips, and other adventures.  We welcome all students in these grades and their friends (Lutheran or not!).

Meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:30 PM.  The next meeting is on May 7. Please contact Jennifer N with any questions, comments, or concerns.

STOMPPP for the LORD CAMP:  Corinne M, Jennifer N and Sue W are planning this year’s summer STOMPPP camp for students who will be entering Grades 6 through 8 in the fall.  Current brainstorming has us having camp every other Wednesday evening in coordination with the Middle School Youth Group this summer.  We will be seeking artistic individuals who can commit to one or more Wednesday evenings.  In the past, STOMPPP has featured art mediums such as painting, puppets, pottery, and tie dying.  As we’re still in the planning stages, we’re looking for all input!  Please see Corinne, Jennifer or Sue with ideas, or call the office.

Women’s News

Wake-Up Call is a women’s Bible study held at Panera restaurant from 7:00-8:00 AM on Wednesdays.  We are currently reading, “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.”  We read a chapter a week and discuss it together on Wednesday morning.  Sometimes we spend a few weeks on one chapter.  If you would like to join us for a bagel and Bible study, please do.  And if you have any questions, contact Margi K, Pat R, or Jackie H for more info.

Bibli-Ophelia, our women’s book club—we are currently reading “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen.  Next meeting is May 8 at 7:00 PM at Sue V’s home.  Reading the book is optional as we like to have a lot of fellowship along with a good read.  Our next book selection is “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel, which we will discuss on June 5 at 6:00 PM at Panera Restaurant.  June is our last meeting—we will take a summer break and pick back up in September.  Happy Reading!

2008 Women of Faith Conference, Infinite Grace, July 11 & 12 in Washington, DC.  The price is $109.  This journey for women is Boundless…Unequaled...Amazing!  Make your check payable to Good Samaritan Lutheran Church and drop it in the pretty Christmas gift box in the Narthex, marked for Women of Faith Conference 2008 – Infinite Grace.  I am starting to work on hotel accommodations as well.  We have some rooms reserved at Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport.  (Phone # is 1-703-413-5500 if you would like to get your own room, AAA rate seems to be the lowest available.)  We have rooms reserved for the 10th and 11th.  Rate for hotel is $75 per person for two nights, with four in your room.  The sooner I know how many, the better we can plan, and define total cost.  Questions?  Call Corinne M or send an email and tell me your needs!    Friends are welcome to attend with us!

Women of Faith meet the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the church from 9:30-11:30 AM.  Our Bible study is “Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life,” based on Isaiah 61:1-4. 

Stitching Sisters make the Prayer Shawls you see on some of the pews in the Sanctuary, also for our Confirmands and others in need of prayer.  If you know of anyone who is in need of a prayer shawl, let one of us know—Colleen C, Edna A, Ginger L, Kathy B, Lou D, Marie E. They also work on banners, making new ones & keeping our favorites in great shape and there is a beginner’s class, so you can learn how to crochet or knit.  They have great field trips and lots of fun!  Every age is welcome, so if you want to stitch, or learn, this group is for you.  For more information, talk with Colleen C.

Our Prayers

We thank You Lord for…

We pray for…

If you have a prayer request or would like to let us know of an answered prayer, please either email, call or write it on your blue card.

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