Please Register by March 21

Our theme for the day is Compassion in the Wilderness. Please register HERE by March 21. Lunch (optional) will be served for $15 dollars and can be paid the day of at Good Sam. See the registration form for food options.

This event will be facilitated by The Rev. Elizabeth Farr (Good Samaritan) and The Rev. Caroline Vogel (Ascension).

In This Issue...

Adult Formation in Lent: JOY

Readings: Sundays, March 20 & 27 - Days 2 & 3 (Pages 79-188)

Please join us this Sunday, March 20, in Henslee Hall or on Zoom as we prepare for Easter by practicing joy.

At first glance, "Joy" may seem an out-of-place focus for Lent. This is the season where we put our "Alleluias" away and remember that we will one day return to the dust. What place does "Joy" have in the midst of the ashes?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu would say that "Joy's" place is in the center of the ashes - right in the mix - play and laughter right alongside struggle, loss, and grief. These holy and spiritual leaders invite us to practice joy, and after a pandemic season which has felt like an extended Lent - perhaps now more than ever, we need to practice joy. Only then will we arrive at Easter Day with the fullest "Alleluia!" we can proclaim.

This week's story is a European folktale that has been told and retold for centuries. This contemporary version of Stone Soup takes place in a village located anywhere that people learn about the pleasures of sharing. If everyone does a small part good things will happen.

We are excited that Peter Green, Volunteer and Co-Sponsorship Manager at Bridge Refugee Services, will join us again on Sunday, March 27 at 12.15pm, after Adult Formation, in Henslee Hall for training about our hosting a refugee family.

If you have already expressed an interest to either Darla Miller or Malinda Lewis about being on Good Sam’s “good neighbor” team with Bridge, or you’ve been thinking about being on our team but haven’t made it to the other meetings, it’s not too late.

In person attendance is preferred, but a Zoom link will also be available. Look for the Zoom link in the worship email on Saturday, March 26.

A light lunch will be served.

Please join us on March 27 at 5:30 pm in Henslee Hall to hear updates on all of the Justice Knox campaigns (Affordable Housing, Education, Gun Violence, Mental Health, and Transportation) and to get ready for the Nehemiah Action. This meeting is for all Justice Knox Network Members and for anyone interested or curious about getting involved. Join us!

*There will also be the option to join this meeting via Zoom.

12:00 pm (after the Sunday School hour)

The Protecting God's Children Training is required for anyone with a key to the church, vestry members, all employees, and all adults who work with children or youth. It must be retaken every 3 years and after the second time you can take it online. Ann Backus will be offering a training on Sunday, April 3 after the Sunday School hour.

Training generally lasts about 3 hours and a light lunch will be provided. Please let Ann know ([email protected]) if you plan to attend so I can have enough materials prepared for you.

We'll gather at the Good Samaritan church sign on Cedar Bluff Rd. at 1:00 PM. Our prayer walk will make its way down Cedar Bluff Rd. to Peace Lutheran Church (621 N. Cedar Bluff Rd.) for an Affirmation of Baptism before returning to Good Samaritan for Holy Eucharist.

We are so excited to be able to hold our Easter Egg Hunt again!

The fun will begin after the 10:00 church service on Palm Sunday. We ask that children join Ms Ann on the altar at the conclusion of the service, for a short lesson, and directions. That said, we will need fillers for the eggs. Please see the article below. 

The Easter Egg Hunt is Palm Sunday, April 10, immediately following the 10:00 AM service. It takes a lot of candy and small toys to fill all the eggs we hide! Any donations are very much appreciated.

Please be sure the items will fit into a small egg. There will be a basket in Henslee Hall to collect any donations.

NOTE: All donations need to be in ON or BEFORE April 3 so that we have time to fill the eggs. Thank you!

To register, contact Sinead Doherty [email protected]

Mark Your Calendars Now for Vacation Bible School! The theme this year is "KIDS LIKE ME" - Bible stories of amazing kids doing amazing things!"

Vacation Bible School will be held this summer, July 11-15, from 9:00-12:00 every day except Friday when it will end at 11:00. Put this on your calendar now so you do not sign up for any other camps and your children can attend this fun week of fellowship and learning.

The Cash in the Plate for Sunday, March 20 will go to Fig Tree

You can make an online cash plate gift to the cash in the plate on the Good Sam online giving page. There is an option on the giving page to give to the "Cash in Plate". As always, you may also send a check to Good Samaritan. (Please designate that it is for "Fig Tree" in the memo line).