November 10, 2014 Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, Edina, Minnesota OUR STAFF ED DUBOSE Senior Pastor PastorEd@good.org AMANDA LUNEMANN Associate Pastor PastorAmanda@good.org HEATHER MILLER Director of Families with Children heather@good.org JIM VERBOUT Director of Families with Youth jim@good.org PHILLIP SHOULTZ Director of Music and Arts phillip@good.org CAROL HIPPS Organist mandchipps@comcast.net SUE NISSEN Director of Chancel Chimes n.sue4408@gmail.com MARILEE STEVENS Youth Vocal Ensemble Director marilee@good.org MICHELLE SHOULTZ Children s Choirs Director michelle@good.org BRAD CARLIN Homeward Bound Coordinator band@good.org MARY PARSONS mary@good.org HELEN MCEVOY-FREESE helen@good.org Office Administration DAN GREEN DIANE MEISSNER Custodians DANDY LEWIS Media Specialist dandy@good.org RACHEL BRABAND Newsletter Editor rachel@good.org The Samaritan Inspiring Joyful Faith, Building a Loving Community, Serving Neighbors Near and Far Hanging of the Greens Sunday, November 30, 4:00 7:30 PM Mission Hour (4:00 PM) Fellowship Hall: Join us for fellowship and an opportunity to make sandwiches for the 363 Days Project. Children s Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (4:00 PM) : Children in the pageant gather in the Sanctuary and Fireside Room to practice. Dinner (4:30 5:15 PM) Fellowship Hall: $5/person suggested Orchestra Rehearsal (4:45 PM) Sanctuary: Pick up music in the office. All ages/all abilities welcome to join. Caroling (5:30 PM) Sanctuary: Join the orchestra and sing some of your favorite Christmas songs. Hanging of the Greens (6:00 PM) Sanctuary: Enjoy as children of all ages prepare our church for the beginning of Advent. Wassail (6:45 PM) Fellowship Hall: Join us for cookies and fellowship as we celebrate the beginning of Advent. Please bring an unwrapped toy for VEAP, new men s tube socks for the homeless, and one dozen cookies for the Wassail.
PAGE 2 November 10, 2014 A Journey of Faith Rainbows. They ve been on my mind ever since I saw the most vibrant one in memory while driving the country roads of my hometown a couple weeks ago. Rainbows capture our imagination every time we see one stretching across the sky after a rainstorm. They are one of the first images our children seem to draw and color. Our elementary schools use their images in a variety of places and contexts. We sing songs about them; write poetry about them; and dedicate science classes to them. But even though science tells us rainbows are nothing more than reflections and refractions of light on water droplets in the atmosphere, they still seem to maintain a place of mystical awe and wonder in our lives and imaginations. As Christians, an image of a rainbow connects us to the famous or infamous story in our Bible of Noah and the Ark and God s promise to Noah to never flood the earth again. Seeing a rainbow in the sky is meant to remind us of that promise. Or at least, that s what most of us were taught in Sunday School. But the Noah story is a dark and complex story that as adults leaves us with more questions and uneasy feelings than a rainbow and a simple promise can appease. Joys and Concerns We hold in our thoughts and prayers those with health concerns, including: Lois DeSantis, Ginger and Grant Gilderhus; Dave Knutson; Bruce Kramer; Dick Lund; Nancy and Deane Manolis; Barry McCool; and Evelyn Hyams, who is in hospice. We are mourning the recent loss of three Good Samaritan members. Please pray for their families during this difficult time. We remember Alexandra Hagen following the death of her father, Peter Hagen, on Oct. 28. We remember the family of Carroll Sigurdson following his death on Oct. 31. We remember the family of Bonnie and Paul Gehring following the death of Paul on Nov. 2. What if, instead of our Sunday School version of the Noah story, every time we see a rainbow showing off its magnificent splendor across the sky, we think of a different passage in the Bible? A passage that connects us back to the poetic and mystical experience of our encounter with the Holy; a passage that better captures our experience of rainbows and holy promises for today: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6 7). It was these words of Saint Paul that rang throughout my being a week and a half ago when that rainbow captured my imagination. Next time a rainbow captures your imagination, I invite you to hear this same holy promise, which is a promise of an abiding peace that transcends all thought, science, and rationale. It is a peace we experience to the very depth of our being in God. Pastor Amanda We are Good Samaritans Our Vision is: Inspiring joyful faith; Building a loving community; Serving neighbors near and far. If you have not already done so, you are invited to prayerfully consider how you can support the church and to return your pledge card to Good Samaritan soon. We have been abundantly blessed at Good Samaritan! Your generosity is appreciated. The next deadline for Samaritan articles is noon on Monday, November 17. That issue will be dated November 24. Please submit articles to rachel@good.org, mary@good.org, and marketing@good.org.
THE SAMARITAN PAGE 3 Happenings Out-to-Lunch Bunch On Wednesday, Nov. 19, we will tour Joan of Art Gallery on Franklin Ave. Kimber Fiebiger s home, studio, and gallery are in this one unique building which has the craziness and colors of Alice in Wonderland. She specializes in bronze sculptures of Humpty Dumpty but also does classic statues, furniture, and jesters. We will have lunch at Buster s on 28th at 11:30. Men are welcome to come. Meet in the lower parking lot at 9:30 to carpool. Contact JoAnn at 952.920.8265 or joannknutson@hotmail.com to join us. Sponsored by the UMW Out-to-Lunch Bunch. Samaritan Arts Council Meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 7 8:30 PM All are invited to join us as we discuss the logistics for our first art show and church-wide project. For more information, contact Phillip Shoultz (phillip@good.org). Milwaukee Children s Choir Special Guest Choir joining us in worship on Sunday, Nov. 23, 9 and 10:30 AM Our worship services on this Christ the King Sunday will be enhanced by selections from southeast Wisconsin s premiere professional children s choir. Wanted: Host Families for Milwaukee Children's Choir, Nov. 22 We still need 6 7 families to help us host the twenty-four 5th 9th graders who make up this choir. Please contact Phillip Shoultz (phillip@good.org) if you can help. [If you ve emailed before and did not receive a response, please email again. Recently, our church email accounts have experienced some problems.] Families Moving Forward Three extremely grateful families arrived Sunday, Nov. 2, for Good Samaritan s host week. With the help of many volunteers the hope is that these families will feel our love and compassion while they are experiencing homelessness. Please include these families in your prayers as they await housing. Thanksgiving Eve Service Nov. 26, 6:30 PM* with pie to follow Gather with our children, choirs, and friends from Edina Morningside Community Church as we celebrate a service of Thanksgiving. Note: This service will begin 30 minutes earlier than in the past. Hanging of the Greens All-Church Orchestra Sunday, Nov. 30, 4:45 PM Anyone with an instrument is welcome to join the Good Samaritan pick-up, all-church orchestra for Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, Nov. 30. Our service begins with a carol sing led by the orchestra at 5:30 in the sanctuary. Musicians of every age or level of experience who play a band or orchestra instrument are welcome to gather for practice at 4:45 PM. Please bring a music stand if you have one. Music can be picked up in advance in the church office. Birth of the Messiah Pastor Ed will be leading a December Bible study he has written about the Christmas stories. It will meet three times and look at everything the Bible has to say about Jesus birth. It is a great way to prepare yourself for Christmas. The class will be offered twice a week: Monday nights, 7:00 8:30 PM, Dec. 1, 8 & 15 Tuesday mornings, 9:30 11:30 AM, Dec. 2, 9 & 16 GIVE A LITTLE GIFT for Walker Every year Walker Methodist Health Center residents each receive a Christmas gift bag. We have been asked to help fill those bags with little gifts. Monetary gifts are also appreciated. Make checks out to Walker Methodist Health Center and note, Give a Little Gift. Please bring items/checks to the basket in the narthex by Sunday, Nov. 30. Suggested items: candy/diabetic candy, socks (men s/women s), small picture frames, covered mugs, soft hand towels, small calendars, scarves, baseball caps, large-print playing cards, small stuffed animals, large-print puzzle books, lotion, lip balm, pocket tissues, small packs crackers/cookies.
Advent & Christmas 2014: The Birth of the Messiah Have you ever been expecting a baby? Expecting a child to be born is one of the most exciting feelings in life. Waiting, hoping, praying, alert and anxious! Counting the days down until the baby is finally here! During the Sundays of Advent we will be exploring the Birth of the Messiah. Throughout history, the Church has used the Sundays leading up to Christmas as a time of great expectation. ( Advent comes from the Latin word that means coming. ) This Advent our Good Samaritan congregation will be talking about what it means to expect the Messiah in our own lives. In worship on Sunday mornings and in Bible Study during the week, we will unpack the meaning of the Christmas story for our lives. Nov. 30 Dec. 1 Dec. 2 Dec. 7 Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec 14 Dec. 15 Dec. 16 Dec. 21 Dec. 24 First Sunday of Advent: When Joseph Was Expecting, Sunday worship at 9:00 and 10:30 AM, Missions presentation: Opportunity International Hanging of the Greens: Mission Hour 4:00 PM, Carol Sing 5:30 PM, Celebratory Service 6:00 PM, Cookies and wassail following service (see front page article) Advent Bible Study, Birth of the Messiah, led by Pastor Ed, Monday night, 7:00 8:30 PM and Tuesday morning, 9:30 11:30 AM Second Sunday of Advent: When Mary Was Expecting, Sunday worship at 9:00 and 10:30 AM, Missions presentation: Appalachia Service Project (ASP) A Good Samaritan Christmas Concert, 4 PM: This festival will feature our all our choirs, the Chancel Chimes, Homeward Bound, and special guests in an extravaganza of music, drama, and dance that will leave a song on your lips as you prepare to celebrate Christmas. Advent Bible Study, Birth of the Messiah, led by Pastor Ed, Monday night, 7:00 8:30 PM and Tuesday morning, 9:30 11:30 AM Third Sunday of Advent: When We Expect Jesus, Sunday worship at 9:00 and 10:30 AM, Missions presentation: VEAP and Stonebridge World School Children s Christmas Pageant Live From Bethlehem 4:30 PM, followed by a spaghetti dinner. Advent Bible Study, Birth of the Messiah, led by Pastor Ed, Monday night, 7:00 8:30 PM and Tuesday morning, 9:30 11:30 AM Fourth Sunday of Advent: Chancel Choir presents Johann Christian Bach s Magnificat with orchestra and soloists, Sunday worship at 9:00 and 10:30 AM Blue Christmas: A Service of Remembrance 4:00 PM a quiet, reflective service for those who experience pain during the Christmas season Christmas Eve, The Birth of the Messiah, three services: 2 PM: Family-friendly afternoon service with familiar carols and candle lighting 4 PM: Child-led service with music provided by Children s choirs and Homeward Bound 10 PM: Candlelight service with familiar carols, the Chancel Choir, Youth Vocal Ensemble and Alumni Christmas Giving Opportunities: Give a Little Gift for Walker Methodist Health Center Residents by Nov. 30 VEAP Toy Store gifts for children and youth collected during the Hanging of the Greens service on Nov. 30 STEP Giving Tree gifts distributed by St. Louis Park Emergency Program, by Dec. 10 Christmas Offering recipients: Opportunity International, Appalachia Service Project (ASP), VEAP, and Stonebridge World School
THE SAMARITAN PAGE 5 Children s Corner INFANT THRU GR. 6 The Giving Tree What is the Giving Tree? Every November, the W.I.L.D. Ones and the Children s Council set up a Christmas Tree in the lower lobby. On the tree are tags with suggested gifts to purchase for the STEP (St. Louis Park Emergency Program) Toy Drive. In December, S.T.E.P. will invite St. Louis Park families who qualify in to select Christmas presents for their children. The tree will be up and ready to go starting on Nov. 13 and all unwrapped presents should be under the tree by Wednesday, Dec. 10. Children s Council members will take the presents to STEP, but we would love additional help. Please contact Heather, heather@good.org, if you can help transport presents. Thanks for your support! My Health Speaker, Nina Jonson On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6 7 PM, Nina Jonson will speak with parents on Learning to Speak Their Language: Texting, Social Networking and Cyber Safety. She will then meet with the W.I.L.D. Ones from 7 8 PM. The parent talk is set up to be for parents with 4th 6th graders, but all are welcome! Parents, please RSVP to Heather, heather@good.org, and see you there! Dir. of Families with Children: Heather Miller 952.929.0049 ext.226 or heather@good.org A HUGE Thank You to all of the kids, Sunday School teachers, and parents who helped to make our Sunday School Book Drive for BEST East School in Minneapolis successful! Our Good Sam kids brought in hundreds of books I honestly lost count and over $150 for the teachers to buy new books for their classrooms. This was such a successful book drive and it is all thanks to you for supporting this cause! The teachers of BEST East have an excellent start on their classroom libraries now, from Kindergarten to grade 5, and kids at the school can finally take books home to read! The teachers also offered their thanks and were overjoyed with the donation. Thanks, Good Sam kids, for making a difference! Christmas Pageant This year s Christmas Pageant will be, Live From Bethlehem! The Pageant will be performed on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4:30 PM, followed by a spaghetti supper. Come and support our kids as they act out the Christmas story! Youth Info BUZZ: GRADES 7 & 8 SYF: GRADES 9 12 Dir. of Families with Youth: Jim VerBout 952.929.0049 ext.229 or jim@good.org Buzz Mystery Tour recap: The 2014 Buzz Mystery Tour was a blast and a success! We had 14 Jr. High youth and 5 adults go on a blindfolded tour to Candyland in St. Paul, Vertical Endeavors, breakfast at Denny s, and tour the Hindu Mandir temple in Maple Grove. I d like to thank Mike Hoffman, Earl Kopriva, Catherine Groat, and Haley VerBout for helping out and making this tour happen! Open Arms Meal Delivery: On Saturday, Nov. 8, the youth delivered meals to homebound individuals who are suffering terminal illnesses. Feed My Starving Children: On Wednesday, Nov. 12, SYF (confirmands included) will be heading out to the Feed My Starving Children location in Eagan to pack meals. We will meet in the lower lot of Good Sam and will leave at 7:15 PM. We will be back at Good Sam later in the evening between 10-10:30 PM. Let me know if you d like to attend! We will need more adult drivers to make this happen! The van only holds 12 and it s a good problem to have more people attend than the van can hold!!! Volunteer at the Colony 11/23: The youth of Good Sam (grades 7 th 12 th ) will be helping out at the Colony assisted living center on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 1:30 3:30 PM. We will be assisting residents to and from the service as well as helping set up the service. Let me know if you d like to help us out!
The Samaritan Good Samaritan United Methodist Church 5730 Grove Street Edina, Minnesota 55436 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2518 Return Service Requested Our Vision: Inspiring Joyful Faith, Building a Loving Community, Serving Neighbors Near and Far on the Web at good.org Time Dated Material Sunday Worship Schedule Services at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM Nursery for infant age 3 offered during both services. Children s Sunday School at 9:00 and 10:30 AM for Preschool & K-6 Youth Sunday School at 10:30 AM Fellowship, coffee & lemonade after each service. xxx Sunday, November 16 Pastor Ed DuBose preaching Spiritual Gifts 9:00 Music leadership by Homeward Bound and Cherub and Alleluia Choirs 10:30 Music leadership by Chancel Choir and Choristers Choir Communion Prayer Shawl Blessing Sunday, November 23 Pastor Amanda Lunemann preaching Giving Thanks Music leadership by Chancel Chimes and Milwaukee Children s Choir A MOMENT OF REFLECTION Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God. RAY STANNARD BAKER INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Journey of Faith 2 Joys and Concerns 2 Happenings 3 Host Families Needed Thanksgiving Eve Service 3 3 Advent 2014 4 Children s Corner 5 Youth Info 5 Building Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday Friday Telephone: 952.929.0049