Newsletters
2024 Newsletters
October
“Community.” It's not a word that we throw around very often, but whether we realize it or not it is something we need. We are not meant to be alone and need others to flourish. Whether we consider ourselves to be introverts or extroverts, we all need a sense of belonging. We need to know that we are accepted for who we are. Even psychologists tell us that a need to belong is a universal human need.
September
I can’t believe Fall is just around the corner! I have mixed feelings about the coming of Fall. On the negative side, for me it means that winter will be next and I will miss being outdoors. On the positive side it also means the kids are back in school! It’s not that I don't love having them more available, but it is also nice to be able to get back into some sort of routine and rhythm in our weekly lives.
August
I can’t believe that July is over! To be honest I am not a fan of the heat. Don’t hold me to this, but I’m pretty sure that in heaven it’s always an even 72 degrees. But I am still sad to see that we are about halfway through the summer. Because the summer provides so many additional opportunities to connect with others. Through walks in the neighborhood, barbeques, concerts, parades and festivals, the summer weather gives us an opportunity to be
July
Greetings Good Samaritan!
As I write this greeting to you, I am also in the process of saying goodbye to my current congregation. One that I have come to know and love. Over the past seven years I have been blessed to create bonds and be able to minister among some very special people. Saying goodbye to them has proven to be quite difficult.
June
Dear Good Samaritan UMC families and friends,
It is always hard to say goodbye. I have cherished every moment of being your pastor these last two years! As I prepare to embark on a new journey in another church, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the countless ways you have shown your love and support. Your warm welcome and open hearts have made my time here truly special. I am thrilled to see the intentional preparations you are making to welcome your new pastor, Ashish, and his family.
May
Dear Good Samaritan UMC families and friends,
As we enter the month of May, we step into a period of significance and celebration. Just as Jesus was busy during the forty days before Ascension Day, meeting his disciples and giving them final instructions, we too have many opportunities to gather, celebrate, and strengthen our faith.Our worship team has decided to celebrate Heritage Sunday on the first Sunday of May. We would like to honor and respect every heritage of our congregation and community so that we will have a potluck lunch after worship.
April
Dear Good Samaritan UMC families and friends,
Spring is finally here. We begin to see flowers, blooms, and green leaves sprouting from trees and bushes. I hear many birds singing and pairing up, ready for a new life. We had a very unusual winter, with storms, tornado warnings, and the coldest weather we hadn’t seen for a while. Yet, we have made it through, and here we welcome spring. I think that is what spring brings to us: a new life, a new beginning, a new start.
March
Dear families and friends of Good Samaritan UMC,
Spring is here, and a new life is starting to form. The weather was so nice the other day, and it motivated me to clear the front and back yards. As I racked the old leaves that piled in the front yard, I noted a green leaf from daffodil coming up. What a marvel to see that after a cold winter like the one we had this winter; new life came up again and again. This reminds me of what Lent is all about and our faith circles. We all have four seasons of spiritual journey, and our faith goes ups and downs.
February
Greetings to all the families and friends of the Good Samaritan UMC,
We are almost at Lenten season. It always starts somewhere in February, but this year, it starts early. Lent always lasts 40 days, but those 40 days occur on different dates from one year to the next. The 40 days occur immediately be-fore Easter, but because Sundays are excluded from the count, the days of this season are not consecutive. Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting to grow closer to God.
January
Greetings to all the families and friends of the Good Samaritan UMC,
Happy New Year! Another year has passed, and a new year has come to us. As I look back on the year 2023, I thank God for blessing us to be members of Christ's body and serve God and each other. You are an important part of this church. We have prayed together for our church and worked together, and God has blessed our church abundantly. I am especially grateful for all the commitment that you have made during our “Committed to Christ” stewardship program.