Good Samaritan Lutheran Church

Good Samaritan Lutheran Church began in January when a group of families gathered to share their vision and spread the good news of Jesus Christ following the traditions of the ELCA. They worshipped on Sunday evenings on Solomons Island. Worship was led by a variety of visiting pastors who offered their time to this fledgling congregation. The early members have fond memories of those pastors: the Rev. B. Nicki Parrish, the Rev. Marcia Cox, the Rev. Glen Sea, and the Rev. Michael Koch. After competing with the music from a local bar for many months, it was apparent that a new location was vital. Worship continued St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Sunday evenings.

Good Samaritan has been a fertile training site for would-be pastors. All four of their pastoral leaders awaiting calls received them as they were employed as Mission Developers. In February of 1995, the congregation welcomed Nancy Eggert as their pastoral leader. She was instrumental in the process of visioning and secured a new location for morning worship at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Nancy was later ordained and is now serving as the associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA. In August of 1995, Meredith Wilkins-Arnold joined the team on a part-time basis. With the advent of morning worship, the congregation began to see rapid growth. In May of 1996, the congregation moved into the basement of Millison Plaza, under a bar, next to a tattoo parlor! Though a precarious and sometime difficult location to find, the congregation continued flourish. It was agreed that Meredith would complete her year of internship while offering the congregation the opportunity for full-time pastoral support. At the end of her internship, the congregation was blessed with the ministry of Anne Dwiggins. She is now the pastor of St. Steven in Silver Spring, MD. Following Anne's tenure, the congregation received Jim Luedke as their next pastoral leader. Jim's work allowed the congregational leadership to grow and helped the process of chartering. Jim was the third pastor to be called and ordained from Good Samaritan. As the congregation continued the process of chartering and preparing to call a pastor, the Rev. David Deaderick offered worship leadership in April and May of 1998. On June 11, 1998, Good Samaritan was received as the seventy-fifth congregation of the Metropolitan DC Synod of the ELCA and was welcomed by Bishop Theodore Schnider at the Synod Assembly. On June 14, the charter members of Good Samaritan met with Pastor Judith Simonson, Assistant to the Bishop, and voted to call Reverend Meredith Wilkins-Arnold.

Also in June 1998, we purchased two buildings and seven acres on Langly Road, just off Great Mills Road. We made extensive renovations and moved into our new church home on November 14, 1999, with a Dedication Service led by Bishop Schneider.

Now, in 2005, we are eagerly awaiting the completion of our new church building. The new building will be on the grounds on Langley Road. Construction has begun. That means there is power equipment on the property! We hope to dedicate the new house of God’s in September.