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THE MESSENGER GOOD SAMARITAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER VOLUME 111 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2021 FROM THE PASTOR S DESK GOOD SAM MOVES TO HYBRID WORSHIP ON JUNE 27TH Session voted at their April meeting to reopen our church building at the end of June Make no mistake the church is the people and the church never closed so this isn t really a re opening or even a re gathering We have continued to be the church alive and active through this pandemic but our building and physical gathering place closed as we moved into primarily a virtual space out of love for our neighbors and ourselves Now those of us who feel safe doing so will re gather in person in that physical space while others of us will continue to worship and part of our community through our now familiar virtual space This will be a new thing for us and it will feel new for everyone those worshipping virtually and those in person We won t simply be going back to what we have always done When the pandemic began we all made the shift out of one space and into another together There was a learning curve in that first transition it wasn t super graceful because we had to make the shift abruptly and unexpectantly and a small number in our congregation didn t or couldn t find their way into our new space Still we managed to hold our community together fairly well all things considered as we shifted together Now with this next transition comes another challenge how to worship together in multiple spaces virtual and in person not leave anyone out or behind and perhaps make space for some new folks As we do this we will have to continue operating out of love for our neighbor just as we did during the pandemic 1 With that in mind here are some things to consider Some people will never return to in person worship For a variety of reasons we have a new group of visitors members in our congregation virtual participants Some will choose not to come back in person for quite some time due to medical conditions or vulnerabilities Others have not yet been vaccinated and will stay away out of love and respect for the rest of the congregation Still others have moved out of state or are snowbirds who don t know when they ll make their migration back to Florida again Now that the pandemic has given us the opportunity to learn these amazing ways of being connectional virtually these folks don t continued on page 12 have to stop
STAY INVOLVED BE A PART OF SUNDAY WORSHIP EACH WEEK 2
FAST FAITH AND ACTION FOR STRENGTH TOGETHER You have probably felt helpless many times when confronted with injustices in our community If we only had affordable housing accessible medical care a way to avoid getting a criminal record better school opportunities etc etc At the JOSHUA ASSEMBLY on May 10th our network members of FAST celebrated many victories achieved in recent years by this coalition of faith communities whose power comes from bringing out large numbers of concerned citizens to influence those in authority Here s a brief summary of concrete results EDUCATION FAST convinced Pinellas Early Learning Coalition to provide funds for a full day pre k program for low income children From 2005 2018 12 794 four year olds have benefited a 19 million value We continue to pressure the school district to reduce school based arrests and suspensions by implementing Restorative Practices Last year we requested they provide coaching training and evaluation of the practices The School Board signed a contract with HRP to provide these services with 20 schools serving as a pilot program designed to eventually improve implementation in all Pinellas public schools AFFORDABLE HOUSING Initially FAST won an affordable housing trust from the County Commission which created 1 469 new units of housing for families making less than 40 000 In 2015 we secured an additional 14 million which has already created 800 units with more under construction In 2018 we got the Commission to commit 4 15 of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax and the City of St Petersburg to commit 15 million from sales tax for affordable housing So far 296 units have been built Unfortunately in 2020 the Commission spent 9 6 million of these funds to subsidize 586 housing units of which only 77 are for those making less than 59 000 FAST has been told by county staff that the next round of housing has 57 of its units for families making 59 000 or less FAST will continues to monitor the meetings as we ve seen nothing in writing JOBS In 2011 St Petersburg College responded to FAST s concerns by creating the Workforce Institute to provide affordable short term training opportunities Since 2011 the Institute has served over 30 000 students and as of March 2019 over 9 000 industry certifications and licensure have been awarded In 2015 FAST convinced St Petersburg to pass the Disadvantaged Worker Ordinance which requires all contracts over 2 million to ensure 10 of its work hours go to exoffenders or people on public assistance in the last 12 months As of May 2021 32 467 work hours have gone to disadvantaged workers DRUGS AND CRIME FAST Hot Spots campaign resulted in County and City law enforcement cleaning up over 76 hot spots of drug and crime in our communities We got the State legislature to pass a bill to allow 4 000 non violent offenders to attend locally based drug treatment programs rather than prison estimating a saving of 92 million in prison costs Along with our sister organizations we ve encouraged law enforcement to issue civil citations rather than arresting children for nonviolent misdemeanors So far 33 000 children avoided a permanent criminal record saving the state over 104 million In 2018 we got a bill passed for adult civil citation programs At our Nehemiah Action this year Law Enforcement leaders the Public Defender and Clerk of Courts all agreed to work with us over the next year to identify ways to expand and improve this diversion program 3 HEALTH CARE Through FAST efforts in 2013 three county dental clinics were added and in 2015 we got the County Commission to allocated 900 000 of reoccurring funding for dental care In total 3 500 more people are getting access to dental care in Pinellas County each year We also convinced the Commission to fund a new mental health pilot project expected to save the county over 2 million and was awarded by the White House for its success and effectiveness FAST is currently working with the County and Mental Health providers to establish one central pathway for addiction and mental health services Last year because of our work the local mental health services initiated Wellness Connection a one stop phone number 727 791 3131 for individuals to access services The County Commission continues to drag its feet Everyone at the Nehemiah Action was asked to sign a letter to County Administrator Barry Burton for clarification Over 500 letters and testimonies were presented to him but we ve had no response The Behavioral Health Committee will continue working all summer to get everyone on the same page CARE FOR CREATION The FAST board voted to be a part of a sponsoring committee with other DART organizations to explore issues of climate and environmental justice FAST has named two network members to represent us on the national sponsoring committee CHALLENGE If you have taken the time to read this lengthy report you should be aware that we are not helpless to right the injustice we see in our community FAST is a well organized faith based movement that has been making amazing improvements in Pinellas County So we challenge you this fall to attend one of our house meetings that will kick off our justice work for the coming year Be part of the solution Our impact is a result of the number of people involved FAST NEEDS YOU Submitted by Bev Kelly
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE JOY OF READING AND GIVING THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY 4
ARE YOU READY FOR THE 2021 HURRICANE SEASON WE MAY BE IN FOR ANOTHER BUSY SEASON Last year saw a record of 30 named storms The 2021 season may not be that dramatic but it will be active according to forecasters The first major forecast from Colorado State University calls for 17 named storms with 8 of them being hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes It is the sixth year in a row that what forecasters call an above average season has been predicted for the Atlantic The 30 year average is 2 named storms and six hurricanes There is a 69 chance one could strike Florida or the east coast and a 44 of landfall anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to Texas along the Gulf Coast The hurricane season is June 1 to November 30 Beginning this year the National Weather Service and NOAA will start May 15th in tracking storms that have the potential to become hurricanes Climate scientists are studying the effects of climate change on early hurricane formation Florida faces a heightened risk this year because of the weakening of the Bermuda high Last year that high pressure zone pushed many storms south of the state delaying their turn north until they were past the peninsula and in the southern Gulf of Mexico The Bermuda high helped Florida avoid a direct hit from a hurricane in 2020 Six hurricanes made landfall in the U S and four actually took aim at Florida but none reached the Sunshine State The state though may no longer be shielded Forecasts call for more of the storms to be curving towards the east coast of Florida as well as the rest of eastern seaboard of the U S HURRICANE NAMES FOR THE 2021 ATLANTIC SEASON Ana Henri Odette Bill Ida Peter Claudette Julian Rose Danny Kate Sam Elsa Larry Teresa Fred Mindy Victor Grace Nicholas Wanda If there are more than 21 named storms there will be additional names provided by the World Meteorology Organization Other concerning signs that scientists will watch in 2021 are slightly above normal sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and projected low levels of wind shear Storms are also expected to form earlier this year before and around the traditional June 1 start in part because of the La Nina cycle a Pacific phenomenon that affects Atlantic weather will still be in effect in June and July That means less Atlantic wind shear to disrupt storm formation Weak wind shear allowed a record number of storms to form last year But this year some models show La Nina could go into a neutral pattern starting in August resulting in more wind shear that could make conditions less favorable for storms to form In June another storm forecast will be issued by NOAA This forecast is a little more accurate than earlier ones made in the year Regardless of how many storms that we have it only takes one major storm making landfall in our region to make the season a bad one Good Samaritan Hurricane Information for 2021 The Pinellas County Hurricane Preparation Guide for 2021 will be available in a print format in June There also will be a web version of the guide We will distribute the printed guide to the Good Samaritan family method is to be TBD Be on the lookout for tax free holidays for certain storm preparation items The State of Florida does this on an annual basis during the summer TREASURER S REPORT In April the total of pledges received was under the budget by only 1 161 TheTotal Income for April was under budget by 1 292 Overall expenses remain below budget mainly due to lower utility repair and payroll costs The 2nd quarter Multi peril Insurance premium was paid April 1st The quarterly amount is 1 350 more than we had budgeted for In the near future we will be incurring significant repair expenses Clarence Wilkinson contacted our air conditioning contractor to set up servicing our A C equipment Pastor Jen and Rebecca had reported problems with lack of cooling while setting up the Worship Center for live streaming The contractor spent a whole day working on that system and came back later in May to check out the 5 remaining equipment Clarence is also working to have the water damage to the ceiling in the Worship Center repaired and painted before we return to in person worship at the end of June The painting contractor will need to bring in a lift to get up to the area around the skylights We will have light bulbs replaced while the lift is on site Submitted by Kate Hall
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HOLD UP EACH OTHER S ARMS By Chance Martinez Colon Good Samaritan Parish Ministry Intern Yesterday I was thinking about the last year the pandemic the election the murders of people of color by those sworn to serve and protect a potential gas shortage rising unemployment harmful legislation being passed by those who are allegedly our representatives increased gun violence just to name a few and as I thought about all these things I could not help but think about how exhausting this past year or year and a half has been I do not know about you but I am tired So tired that I find myself wondering if there is anything that I can do to help those around me who are also tired I was thinking about these things in my quiet time God reminded me of a beautiful story found in the Hebrew Bible specifically in Exodus 17 1 13 In this passage Joshua is fighting the Amalekites and Moses tells Joshua to form an army and to go and fight the Amalekites Moses also said that while Joshua is fighting the Amalekites he would stand on top of a hill with the staff of God in his hands Joshua did what was asked and Moses along with Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill and if Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning but whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning Now Moses is no young person and like all of us his hands eventually grew tired Luckily he had two amazing supporters Aaron and Hur who realized that he was tired and they put a stone under each arm and they each sat on a stone and they held Moses arms up for him when he could no longer do it and the Israelites won the war Each day we meet people who are simply trying their best just to make it through the day and I believe the world needs more people like Aaron and Hur who are willing to hold up the arms of those who are too tired to do it alone And the beauty of this is that oftentimes the smallest act of kindness a smile kind word or saying a prayer for someone is all that it takes to hold up someone s weary arms giving them the strength needed to continue the work that they are called to do I pray that we all look for ways to encourage each other there is always something that we can do hold up each other s arms May it be so qAnita Cape recieved this photo from our former congregant Vanessa Reed This is outside Vanessa s window of Spring in the Colorado Rockies AN INVITATION TO SHARE All of us have epiphanies and moments when we have a spiritual awakening I ve shared one of mine below I would love to hear from some of you willing to write down an experience that meant a lot to you where you felt especially touched by God or felt that you received a special spiritual message that lifted your spirits If you don t feel comfortable writing it down call me and share the experience and I will try to write it for you Submitted by Carolyn Woodard A SUMMER OF PLAY IN WORSHIP It has been a heavy year We all could use a little light hearted fun Look forward to playing together in worship this summer as we explore Jesus teachings and parables We are doing this in part because kids will be with us in worship but also because we adults need this too Submitted by Pastor Jen 7 SMILE
BE SURE TO STAY CONNECTED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH PHONE OR COMPUTER ARE AVAILABLE 8
JUNE EVENTS SEE FILM AND DOCUMENTARY LIST ON PAGES 10 11 9
FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES SUGGESTED FOR VIEWING BEFORE THE JUNETEETH POP UP EVENT ON SATURDAY JUNE 19 AT 7 PM SEE INFO ON PAGE 9 Here is a list of great films to watch all month long to honor and celebrate Juneteenth and Black Lives Matter a collection of films about black men and black women made by black men and black women in just about every genre and from a variety of decades Hope you find some films here that you haven t seen before and give them a look and enjoy The Color Purple 1985 This coming ofage period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg is based on the Pulitzer Pricewinning 1982 novel by Alice Walker The film tells the story of a young African American girl named Celie Harris and shows the problems African American women faced during the early 20th century Through life struggles Celie is transformed as she finds her selfworth through the help of two strong female companions Between powerful acting including Whoopi Goldberg s first performance and a beautiful musical score by Quincy Jones this film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards but won 0 Where to watch hulu or HBOMAX Selma 2014 Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South discrimination was still rampant in certain areas making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote In 1965 an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage Despite violent opposition Dr Martin Luther King Jr David Oyelowo and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Picture and wining best song for Glory by John Legend and Common Where to watch Amazon Prime Hidden Figures 2017 Three brilliant African American women at NASA Katherine Johnson Taraji P Henson Dorothy Vaughan Octavia Spencer and Mary Jackson Janelle Mon e serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history the launch of astronaut John Glenn Glen Powell into orbit a stunning achievement that restored the nation s confidence turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world Where to watch Disney Amazon Prime The Help 2011 In 1960s Mississippi Southern society girl Skeeter Emma Stone returns from college with dreams of being a writer She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families Only Aibileen Viola Davis the housekeeper of Skeeter s best friend will talk at first But as the pair continue the collaboration more women decide to come forward and as it turns out they have quite a lot to say Where to watch NETFLIX Guess Who s Coming To Dinner 1967 When Joanna Drayton Katharine Houghton a free thinking white woman and black doctor John Prentice Sidney Poitier become engaged 10 they travel to San Francisco to meet her parents Matt Drayton Spencer Tracy and his wife Christina Katharine Hepburn are wealthy liberals who must confront the latent racism the coming marriage arouses Also attending the Draytons dinner are Prentice s parents Roy E Glenn Sr Beah Richards who vehemently disapprove of the relationship Nominated for 10 Academy Awards Where to watch Amazon Prime Moonlight 2016 A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron a young black man growing up in Miami His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness support and love of the community that helps raise him Nominated for 8 Academy Awards wining 3 for Best Picture Supporting Actor Adapted Screenplay Also features a haunting gorgeous musical score Where to watch Showtime Amazon Prime 12 Years a Slave 2013 In the years before the Civil War Solomon Northup Chiwetel Ejiofor a free black man from upstate New York is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner Michael Fassbender he also finds unexpected kindness from another as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity Then in the 12th year of the disheartening
ordeal a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon s life forever Nominated for 9 Academy Awards wining 3 for Best Picture Supporting Actress Adapted Screenplay Where to watch Hulu Amazon Prime If Beale Street Could talk 2019 In early 1970s Harlem daughter and wife to be Tish vividly recalls the passion respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fianc Alonzo Hunt who goes by the nickname Fonny Friends since childhood the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit Another film that features a beautiful musical score and cinematography Regina King won an Academy Award Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film Where to watch Hulu Soul 2020 This Disney Pixar animated film Soul is about a jazz pianist who has a neardeath experience and gets stuck in the afterlife contemplating his choices and regretting the existence that he mostly took for granted A little deeper than your typical family movie that features an inspiring story about the meaning of life Where to watch Disney The BlacKKKlansman 2018 Pulled from Ron Stallworth s memoir of a similar name the first Black detective in the Colorado Springs police department hopes to make an immediate impact by going after the KKK by impersonating a white man Spike Lee s most overtly funny film and possibly one of his most impactful too it won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay John David Washington Denzel Washington s son and awesome in his own right has pitch perfect chemistry with Adam Driver as the white detective who infiltrates the Klan in person Where to watch Amazon Prime Green Book 2018 Dr Don Shirley is a world class African American pianist who is about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962 In need of a driver and protection Shirley recruits Tony Lip a tough talking bouncer from an Italian American neighborhood in the Bronx Despite their differences the two men soon develop an unexpected bond while confronting racism and danger in an era of segregation Where to watch Amazon Prime Loving 2016 Loving is a 2016 American biographical romantic drama film which tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving the plaintiffs in the 1967 U S Supreme Court the Warren Court decision Loving v Virginia which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage Where to watch NETFLIX Rent from redbox AppleTV I m Not Your Negro 2016 In this documentary the novelist activist and playwright James Baldwin breaks down race relations in a way that s easy to understand and difficult to deny I Am Not Your Negro is based 11 on Baldwin s unfinished manuscript Remember This House and will take viewers through the history of what it means to be Black in America and how that s evolved over time Where to watch Amazon Prime hulu NETFLIX One Night In Miami 2020 Imagine a night in which Malcolm X Muhammad Ali Jim Brown and Sam Cooke get together and discuss their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and the cultural fabric of the time It s full of rich conversation tense moments and even a few laughs Directed by Regina King Where to watch Amazon Prime Harriet 2019 The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America s greatest heroes whose courage ingenuity and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history Where to watch Amazon Prime Get Out 2017 A young AfricanAmerican visits his white girlfriend s parents for the weekend where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point A new modern day horror thriller from film maker Jordan Peele Where to watch Amazon Prime DEADLINE FOR JUNE 2021 MESSENGER IS MAY 15 Send all information for submissions to carolyn woodard 130 gmail com
FROM THE PASTOR S DESK continued from page 1 worshipping with us or being part of our community but it will take work on each of our parts to make that happen Now that we won t all be equal sized video bricks on a screen with the same ability to interact as anyone else we will have to be very intentional and thoughtful about including our virtual community members Your Good Sam staff with the help of a Presbytery Grant have worked super hard to ensure that those who want an interactive virtual worship experience with us will be able to still have that an experience where they are seen and heard and the wider congregation is aware of their presence with us We Must Still Put The Most Vulnerable Among Us First Children still cannot be vaccinated Others cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions Vaccines are not full proof AND Some of us remain more vulnerable and susceptible to the Covid 19 virus than others Our leadership have taken steps to make our physical worship space as safe as possible We are in the process of installing an air purification system that will lower the chances of air born transmission as well as several hand sanitizing stations What will this mean for how we gather and worship We will wear masks and physically distance indoors except for worship leaders who will only remove their masks when at a significant distance from others We will have fellowship time masked outdoors and for the time being without food or beverage Only the music leader or soloist will sing Our worship service will be shorter 45 50 minutes and doors to the sanctuary will not open until 10 minutes before worship Our worship will follow a new order Sharing joys and concerns and praying together will move to the end of worship after we have cut off the live stream to protect privacy Ushers will show you to your seat and excuse you from your seat Communion elements and anything else being used in worship will be individually packaged and handed out as you enter or exit the worship space A collection plate for the offering will also be available as you exit rather than a plate passed during worship We won t be chatting in the entry or conference room This is A Transition and Change is Hard Some of us will struggle more than we expect with the changes We may get edgy with one another find ourselves overly critical or feel off balance in the new rhythm and routine We will need to show ourselves and each other grace and patience as we learn how to do this new thing So you have some questions about all of this Why did this take so long I see other churches who have been back to in person worship for awhile Your Good Sam leadership has agonized over these decisions since the start of the pandemic and if you see them in person when we regather please thank them for all the prayer discernment and wisdom that went into these decisions We believe in putting the vulnerable first and on the advice of wonderfully informed wise folks like Dr Beryl Fruth one of our elders we have waited until it felt safe to regather At our April meeting we felt we would finally be at that point come June Thank you to all of you who have submitted surveys through out this pandemic so we could always way these decisions with input from you in mind If I want to continue to worship virtually how will I do it on June 27th You will have two options A Zoom You can continue to come to worship through zoom ID 727 5448558 At various points during the service we will put your video up on the big screen you can turn off your camera if you don t want to be seen The congregation and those joining us virtually will be able to see and hear you if you choose B Youtube Live You can watch the service on our youtube channel We will send out links each week in our announcement emails This will feel a bit more like eaves dropping on worship No one will know you are there and you won t be able to 12 interact with us What is expected of me in person Follow the rule of 2 out of 3 Please make sure at all times that you ensure you are doing at least two of the following masking distancing and outdoors Consider not attending in person until you have been vaccinated Continue to be a people of extravagant hospitality despite the limitations Listen and be respectful of leadership and things they may request of you What about kids Children still cannot be vaccinated so we do not feel we can safely offer children s programming this summer Instead we encourage children and their grown ups to attend worship together or continue virtually We are working to ensure that the worship we design is meant for an intergenerational group with something for everyone Music messages etc will all be geared for an all ages group to be able to participate What about meetings and other events Will we be in person for everything now The short answer is no Many of us have discovered a greater ease to participation by having the option to meet virtually so virtual meetings are not going away Plus Dr Beryl Fruth has advised against indoor gatherings of more than 45 50 minutes for the time being So most of our ministry team meetings will remain virtual for time being with ministry teams eventually able to decide for themselves how they would like to meet We will also continue to offer two virtual small groups and some virtual community building pop up events There will also be some outdoor in person events this summer What if I don t like it Tell us We encourage you to keep giving me and the leadership feedback about your experience of worship and all we do together as a church We are always look for ways we can improve as a community Please also tell us when you love it That is helpful too Pastor Jen
COMING OUT AS SACRED GIFT A wise teacher once told me that the pastor and congregation together make worship for which God is the audience That has always stuck with me During the Easter season and culminating on Pentecost congregation members collaborated with me and our interns to make beautiful worship together and I hope it delighted God These brave individuals shared deep vulnerable from the heart messages of coming out No these weren t all about coming out of the closet to a certain sexual orientation or gender identity but that is not so far off the mark When someone comes out they lean into authenticity and love they share themselves and they choose to live more fully into the person God made them to be Many notice a shift in their life a transformation a radiance a freedom and a lightness That is what happens when you cast off what is not life giving and live into what does bring life At Easter and Pentecost we read stories about resurrection and being filled empowered by the Holy Spirit In so many ways these are coming out stories We see a transformation occur as God moves through the stories and pulls people out of closets graves and their own death dealing ways into something new The biblical characters aren t left where they are Those with the boldness to do so step out into the light of the new thing God is doing and they are welcomed into a beloved community of love promise and hope Well several brave Good Sam members did just what these biblical characters did They showed us how our resurrection God wasn t just moving and speaking 2 000 years ago but continues to pull life out of death here and now Submitted by Pastor Jen r Jeremy Wallace shares on Easter Sunday about Coming Out of the Tomb r Steve Crist shares about Coming Out to Love r Linda Rupp shares about Coming Out to a Calling r Eric Johnson shares about Coming out of Grief r Liana Bardin shares about Coming Out to Nurture r Chance MartinezColon shares on Pentecost Sunday about Coming Out to the Spirit r Martha Taylor shares about Coming out of Fear q Gretchen Ackerson and Katie Fullerton share about Coming Out to Faith 13
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CLUBS As part of Stewardship we ask that those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries donate to Good Sam a dollar per year The following are the names of those in the Birthday and Anniversary Club for 2021 The total collected so far this year is 469 BIRTHDAY CLUB Jane Gaylord Barb Steger Jean Cooley Kate Hall Judy Friend Martha Taylor Thank you to all who participate Submitted by Kate Hall PACK A SNACK The Pack a Snack program has been in place for three years and still providing healthy snacks to the students at the Head Start program The program proved successful so we continued Two years ago we continued packing 44 bags for students weekly and then Covid hit School was closed for the rest of the year But the need for healthy snacks were still evident by the families of our students So we started distributing the bags through the food pantry The fall of 2020 the school reopened to only 50 capacity We had the funds and people willing to pack the bags We continued to pack 44 bags weekly 20 for the students and 24 for the Food Pantry families with children ages 1 11 This 20 21 school year 1620 bags were packed by Jim and Mickey Moore Beverly Finn and Robin Becker Thank you for your consistent volunteerism The matching grant from the Presbytery was designed for one year With the kindness of several donors careful shopping free milk from St Pete Free Clinic s Care Project we are starting the 2021 22 school year with 5000 in the budget It is still a joy to watch the students proudly carry their bag of snacks to the car as if it is a treasure We are blessed to be able to make those smiles Submitted by Judy Friend FOOD PANTRY REPORT APRIL 2021 Number of days open to serve clients 13 Number of clients served Adults 845 Children 243 Total 1 088 Volunteers during April were Bev Kelly Ginnie Thompson Ginger Breitkreutz Kate Hall Carole Diehm Tom Fauquet Linda Rupp Sarah Butz Beryl Fruth Judy Friend Joni and John Melville Jean Krauss Lewis Hill Robin Becker Beverly Finn Kay Snyder and Jane Gaylord Also helping to pack the Pack a Snack bags were Mickey and Jim Moore The number of households served in April was 374 That means that 374 bags of groceries were given out in the 13 days we were open in April We are beginning to see a reduction in the number of individuals and families coming to the pantry We have heard from some that they have been hired or have been receiving more hours in existing jobs Also as part of the CARES Act SNAP benefits have been increased and Stimulus checks have been received Our second delivery from Hope Village formerly RCS arrived on Monday April 5 2021 The driver backed the truck to the cement slab behind the kitchen of the pantry building Lewis Hill John Melville and Mirko brought the food into the pantry from the pallets that the driver unloads the cases of food on The delivery included spaghetti sauce canned fruit mash potato mix hazelnuts cream of chicken soup and 5 pound frozen cooked turkey breast loaves There were 286 bags packed by volunteers from the USDA food and they were all given out by the end of the month Oakhurst United Methodist Church in Seminole continues to hold monthly Pop the Trunk food drives for our pantry on the third Saturday of each month Other outside groups and individuals have been bringing food to the Donations door I was contacted by an employee of the City of Pinellas Park who let me know that various departments of the city government were having Fitness Challenges to raise money for purchase of foods for local food Pantries Good Sam had been selected to receive at least 1 delivery As always thanks to all who keep this important mission running Submitted by Kate Hall 2021 FOOD PANTRY CLIENTS 1400 1075 750 425 100 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec CURRENT FOOD PANTRY NEEDS SALTINE CRACKERS CANNED SOUPS CANNED VEGETABLES AND RAMEN NOODLES 14
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THE MESSENGER of Good Samaritan Church 6085 Park Boulevard Pinellas Park FL 33781 727 544 8558 Email office goodsam church org Web Site discovergoodsam org Our Mission To Build The Beloved Community A Ministry of Hospitality Vision and Justice A Global Mission Church Check out Good Sam on FACEBOOK SESSION Katie Fullerton Clerk Kate Hall Treasurer CLASS OF 2021 Lisa Ware Carolyn Woodard Vacant CLASS OF 2022 Beverly Finn Linda Rupp Clarence Wilkinson CLASS OF 2023 Sarah Butz Beryl Fruth Chris Osberg ST JAMES LIST Pray for one another that you may be healed James 5 16 Let us remember those members and friends who have asked for our prayers and those who are unable to attend worship Vicky VanDien wife of Ferris VanDien Dawn Johnson Sophia Stringer Shaddai Simmons Drew Taylor and family Martha Taylor s son Jo Jo and Amanda Byrd the Brockus family Dottie Boake Nancy Rudasill Eddie Kosinski Sandy Badger Donna Knight Harry Miller all the families in our community affected by COVID 19 whether through sickness or financial stress and Good Samaritan Church Jesus didn t reject people Neither do we CELEBRATING OVER 100 YEARS THE MESSENGER Newsletter of Good Samaritan Church Presbyterian Church USA More Light and United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Sunday Worship 10 30 a m Fellowship Coffee Hour Following Worship GOOD SAMARITAN CHURCH STAFF Rev Jen Daysa Pastor Rev Jean Cooley Parish Associate Position to be Filled Director of Music Ministries Rebecca Kessel Office Administrator Position to be Filled Bookkeeper Shelby Lamb Nursery Assistant Mirko Bratic Custodian Rev Dr Harold M Brockus Pastor Emeritus GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRY TEAMS Resource Development Team Clarence Wilkinson Moderator Gretchen Ackerson Celeste Behret Beverly Finn Beryl Fruth Kate Hall Treasurer Liaison Care Team Ginger Breitkreutz Moderator Beverly Finn Jane Gaylord Jim Moore Mickey Moore Clarence Wilkinson Disaster Preparedness Liaison Justice and Mercy Team Rev Jean Cooley Moderator Gretchen Ackerson Sarah Butz Judy Friend Lewis Hill Linda Rupp Rachael Wells Clarence Wilkinson Kate Hall Food Pantry Liaison Bev Kelly FAST Liaison Spiritual Formation Team Chance Martinez Colon Moderator Jean Adams Sarah Butz Steve Crist Rev Bill Cooley Judy Friend Chris Osberg Debbie Rasmussin Carolyn Woodard Fellowship and Outreach Team Eric Johnson Moderator Sandy Badger Robin Becker Annie Gambino Barb Steger Suzie Steger Martha Taylor Personnel Committee Gretchen Ackerson Robin Becker Kate Hall Clarence Wilkinson Pastor Relations Committee Carolyn Woodard Moderator Ginger Breitkreutz Bev Kelly Chris Osberg Lisa Ware Clarence Wilkinson