On The Way With Good Samaritan June 2013 - Clover...

On The Way With Good Samaritan

June 2013

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OUR SYMPATHY TO--

Arlene Mikolowski-Page and family for the loss of her sister, Dorothy Bartholomew on May 5, 2013.

Ann Sanchez and family for the loss of Ann’s husband, Guadalupe. May the good Lord hold you close and give you a peace that passes understanding during

these difficult times. In June, we will pray for Abiding Presence, 1550 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills, MI 48309. This is a continuation of offering prayers for all churches who are members of our North Oakland Cluster.

WHO: Children of all ages WHEN: Every Sunday morning TIME: Starting of communion WHERE: The room is in the back of the

Fellowship Hall.

LAST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL UNTIL THE FALL IS JUNE 2, 2013

Teachers: Grace Trapp & Deb Fahr

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WORSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE LECTORS June 2 Hope Dowdy June 9 Jan Nellett June 16 Marga Rotsel June 23 Merrill Paine June 30 Pat Cooper ALTAR GUILD

Hope Dowdy and Pat Sheeran USHERS Hope Dowdy and Jack Marshall ASSISTING MINISTER Marga Rotsel

CONGREGATION PICNIC—SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2013 The Congregation Picnic will be held here at church immediately following worship. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and table service will be provided. A sign-up sheet for potluck dishes is on the hall bulletin board.

BOOK CLUB FOR THE VISION IMPAIRED A meeting of the Talking Book Program will be held every other month at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church. Please invite family members, friends and neighbors who may be blind or have developing vision issues. The next meeting will be on June 3 at 1:00 p.m. It is a wonderful

time for fellowship, support, and discussion. Contact Richard Snoad for information and needs at 248-853-3238.

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Pastor Mary Fredricks

The season after Pentecost is the longest season of the church year. It begins in late spring or early summer and continues through Christ the King Sunday in late November. Because the seasonal color is green, it is often referred to as “the long green season,” with the emphasis on “long.” (FYI: The short green season is Epiphany.) It is also referred to as ordinary time. True, the time can seem rather flat and ordinary after the celebrations of Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, but the term actually refers to the numbering of the Sundays. Green, the color of leaves, is a good choice for the season’s color. We move from celebrating the highlights of Jesus’ life to looking more closely at his ministry and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Rather than spiritual vacation time, it is an opportunity to plant, nurture, and harvest spiritual fruit in ourselves and others. Starting with this article and continuing for several months, I will look briefly at each of these areas. SOWING The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward. Proverbs 11:18

When I think of sowing spiritual seeds, the parable recorded in Matthew 13:3-9, along with its interpretation (Matthew 13:18-23) comes immediately to mind. It tells of a farmer who uses the broadcast method to sow his seed. He does it quite irresponsibly; seed falls everywhere, on the hard path, on rocky soil, on thin soil, and among thorns. Seemingly by accident, some also falls on good soil. From our point of view, most of the seed is wasted. However, when the conditions are right, the yield is abundant. This is the way God works. God’s mercy and grace (God’s righteousness) falls on everyone. God doesn’t make a distinction between good soil and the hard path. God just flings love in all directions. We are called, as disciples of Jesus, to do that, too. And, again like God, we are expected to be persistent. We never know how conditions might change.

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NEWSLETTER ON WEB SITE

On The Way With Good Samaritan is published electronically on our Web site. Members will receive an e-mail from Good Samaritan ([email protected]) announcing that the newsletter is available. In the e-mail there will be a link that will take you directly to the page on our Web site that contains the newsletter. There may be a few minor changes to the content of the newsletter and those will be explained in the e-mail notification you receive.

Link to newsletter: http://www.goodsamaritanpontiac.org/#/connect/newsletter Link to the church Web site: www.goodsamaritanpontiac.org

DO YOU HAVE EXTRA YARN TO GIVE AWAY?

The Wolverine Resource Center in Vassar, Michigan is requesting donations of yarn. They teach life skills to residents of the Center--in this case, knitting and crocheting. This is the Center that receives the quilts made by our Charity Quilters. Wolverine Resource houses 450 foster children between the ages of 10 and 18. They have repeatedly expressed their thanks for the quilts that the children enjoy.

If you can spare some yarn, you may put it in the marked box at church, in the hall by the free cabinet. Thank you to those of you who have already brought in donations of yarn. PANTRY NEEDS

Our Food Pantry is open the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Volunteers interested in helping with Saturday distribution can sign up on the sheet posted just past the office door. If you would like to volunteer in another area or have questions, please contact Pantry Coordinators Denise Bristow at 248-623-2262, or Lee Stader at 248-698-1628. E-mail Lee at [email protected].

Thank you for your support.

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Our pastoral and spiritual leader, Mary Fredricks, Jan Nellett, and your President just returned from the Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly. Individually and together, over the coming weeks and months, we will express to you our interpretation of what transpired. Predictably there will be a variety of interpretations. For this writer, a response is positive. A wide range of interests and concerns were expressed including, but not limited to Missions, Worship, Music, Profound Change, and Current and New Ways of Ministry. We will address these at Council and to our wider Congregation throughout the coming period of time. In reviewing the total experience, it seemed as if the Bishop, the Assembly, and even each of the 300-plus attendees were verbally and also quietly looking into a mirror. As we gazed into the mirror, we were asking "Who are we? Why are we? What are we? What have we been doing for Jesus Christ?” and "What should we be doing for Jesus Christ?" And these questions were related not only to our synodical relationships, but also to our own congregational and personal relationships. Therefore, it is hoped that you and your Council will be thinking courageously, prayerfully, hopefully, and actively about the future of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church and your personal life. Currently we would like to report items of progress. 1. Repair of the entry sidewalk has been completed. Other short term property needs have been taken care of expeditiously by our Property Team. Contact is Bob Hammond. 2. Food Pantry continues to do an excellent job serving 60-plus families twice a month. Contact is Lee Stader. 3. Resolutions Team continues to meet. Contact is Charles Neumann. 4. A Community Garden is in progress. Your Council approved installation of a fence to protect the garden from wildlife (deer). Contact is Gerry Howard. 5. The Book Club for Visually Impaired continues to meet with 10-plus participants. Spread the word. Contact is Richard Snoad. 6. The Quilters continue to meet and can always use your assistance. Contact is Maxine Geiger. Yes, we are speaking to serve God and Jesus Christ through our Worship and our Ministries. But let's always keep our hearts and our minds and our intentions open to more bridges of support and communication. God Bless You,

Richard Snoad

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From Karen Hopp: It certainly was a day I will never forget. Four weeks later and I’m still speechless. What a surprise, and it was pulled off without my having any idea. I want to thank all of you who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday, especially my daughters Amy and Judi and granddaughter, Hayleigh. I feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful and caring extended family at Good Samaritan Lutheran. It truly is my home away from home. I thank God every day for all of you.

From Pat Cooper on behalf of Bob, Todd, and their family: I can’t begin to express the joy all of you gave to Todd on his birthday. He was happy the whole day. My three grandchildren spent an hour with Todd reading his cards to him. To all of you who gave him cards and gifts or just came to celebrate his big day--our thanks to you, our gratitude to you. Your kindness and caring meant so much to us. May the good Lord watch over you and keep you in his loving arms. A special thank you to Jan and Tim Nellett, Debbie Fahr, Marga Rotsel, Beth Shafer, Lorna Fischer, Gay Bumgardner, and Sheryll Smith. From Deb Fahr on behalf of Scott, Justin True, and “Duke” We would like to express our heartfelt thanks, and sincere gratitude to our church friends for their generous donations to MARL (the Michigan Animal Rescue League) “Tail-Wagger Two-Step” fundraiser Sunday, May 19, in which we participated. With very generous donations from our church friends, WOGS (Women of Good Samaritan) who donated $100, our families, and our coworkers, we were very humbled and proud to be able to turn over a total of $800 (which exceeded our collection of $500 last year). The MARL staff was VERY GRATEFUL to all of you for your continued kindness as they continue to care for God’s creatures in this, their 60th year. May God bless each and every one of you all for your kindness to God’s creatures. From Bev Lemaster Dear Good Samaritan Family, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful church family. I appreciate all of your good wishes, prayers, and cards. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love.

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MISSION MOMENT Annalisa Simmer, Guatemala My clock reads 8:30 am, but I know to add two hours because I am in Michigan. I have found the large jars of pickles waiting for

me in the cupboard, but can't seem to find cereal. I'm listening to the CD which I purchased from Amazon.com. At some point later today, I'll have to try to find my keys to the house and car which we keep in the same place. In some ways, it's strange to be in this place that I still call home when I'm here; I won't go into all of the ways, but let's just say that sometimes I pause and think, “Something isn't right. How/What do I..?” However, this post isn't about the United States. The past month has offered a wealth of experiences and has helped shape my future. May 13-15, I was delivering water filters with Iglesia del Camino (the church I attend in Guatemala) donated by Compassion International and provided by Sawyer. These filters cost Q400 (about $50 each), and I'm looking at providing some of them to the families with which I already work in Guatemala. I think that God is using Solola to provide me with an area that is in need of help both economically and spiritually. He has provided me clear needs which can be quantified and categorized. It's a structure which I appreciate and feel able to work with. Additionally, the political and legal structure in the indigenous community of Solola is, in a word, “fair.” I have heard and seen many examples of their judicial system in the area, and I'd like to share a couple of them with you. Story #1: A woman stole a chicken so that her children would have something to eat. The woman is caught, but the chicken is already dead. The woman has no money to pay for the chicken and it can't be returned as it was. The reason why the woman stole the chicken is because her husband is a drunk who works but doesn't provide for the family, instead spending his money on alcohol. Who is guilty? Well, the woman is guilty of robbery, but her husband is as well. Most of the country is rooted in the idea that the man needs to provide for the family, and if his provision is not enough then, and only then, should the woman take work outside of the home. The woman, whose job is not to earn money for her family, is sentenced to a half-day of washing clothes for the family whose chicken was robbed. The man, whose lack of care for his husbandly and fatherly duties caused the robbery, is sentenced to a week of work in the fields with part of his earnings going towards paying for the chicken and the other part going straight to his wife and he is also given a stern warning about responsibility. Should the situation occur again, the wife would serve the same “sentence” while that of the man would be heavier. Story #2: Juana is a woman I work with. She was abandoned by her husband when she was pregnant with their seventh son. He mortgaged the house and land to the bank and took off. 5 years later, the bank wants payment or the land. He isn't interested in paying off the mortgage because he lives somewhere else with another woman. Juana was able to raise some money to work on paying off the mortgage. I am unsure if she has completed that or not; however, her husband—having the mortgage paid—said that he now wanted to sell the house. Basically the indigenous legal system told him, “You can pay child support, including the five years in which

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you have not paid anything, and the property will stay yours. Otherwise, the deed is being transferred to Juana's name.” The plan is to move out to Solola sometime in September-November. This is still a recent decision, and I will of course be praying about it over the course of the next several months; I invite you to join me in prayer. The Care and Keeping of a Missionary I hope to see you all in church! I fly back to Guatemala on June 6. I look forward to this time of sharing with all of you

GOOD SAMARITAN FAMILY GRADUATES The following persons, who are members or relatives of the Good Samaritan family, are graduating this year: Andrew Acheson, grandson of Jan Nellett, will graduate from Lapeer West High School. Andrew plans to go to Diesel Mechanic School at Baker College in Owosso, Michigan Madeline Lois Boggs, granddaughter of Lois (Mohlman) Hooper, and daughter of Jennifer and Greg Boggs, will graduate from Mott High School. She was named Artist of the Year in her sophomore and junior years, and was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Art Society. Madeline plans to attend Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Richard Warner, grandson of Marie Roberts, graduated from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan with a degree in Finance. Grandma Marie reports that Richard is already working at his new job with Chrysler Corporation. If your family graduate is not listed, please contact Jan Nellett at 248-674-0718 and we will include them in our next newsletter.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Spc. Sienna Madurski, stationed at Fort Drum, N. Y., went before a review board of five

senior officers. The examination was a verbal one consisting of seventy-two questions. We just learned she passed the exam and is now a sargeant. She will receive her stripes at a ceremony in June.

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ATTENTION NEWSLETTER READERS

There will not be a July issue of the Good Samaritan Newsletter On the Way.

The newsletter staff and regular contributors will be taking a one-month break. The August newsletter will be available on Sunday, July 28.

Material for the August newsletter will be due on the regular schedule: material requiring retyping is due July 10; material that is ready to print is due July 15.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer break. SAY HELLO TO . . . LORNA AND CARL FISCHER

(Ed. Note: Lorna wrote most of this article. Some of our other members have also written most of their stories. We have some good writers among us.) Carl and Lorna Fischer started their married life together August 7, 1982 in Saginaw, Michigan. Pastor Gerald Abenth officiated at the ceremony at Our Saviour Lutheran Church. This was a very beautiful day but very hot since the temperature was 101.

Carl and Lorna lived in Canton, Michigan for six years, from 1982-1988. Adam and Ashley were born during that time. Carl was working for Merit Systems as a computer programmer. In 1988, when Carl went to work as a computer analyst for Perry Drugs in Waterford, Michigan, the Fischer family moved to Waterford. The family moved into Silver Lake Estates on Walton Boulevard, just down the street from Good Samaritan Church. After the move to Waterford, two more children joined the family—Kathryn and Jordan. The family joined Mount Hope Lutheran Church in October 1994 when Jordan was baptized. The family has been involved in many activities at the church and in the community: Building the prayer garden; Sunday school classes; vacation Bible school sessions; food pantry; confirmation programs; youth band; adult choir, SCSA classes (Spiritual Classes for Special Adults); funeral luncheons; youth night activities; creating the Easter cross; Boy Scouts; Brownies; 4-H; Campfire Boys and Girls; junior high and high school bands. Lorna has served as Acting President of the WOGS (Women of Good Samaritan) for the past two years. Favorite family activities are fishing and snowmobiling. Now that the family cottage has been sold, the family will need to find a new recreation. The Fischer children are now grown and the older two moved to Texas to start their own lives. Adam lives in Katy, Texas with wife Edith and their two little girls, identical twins Avery and Kayle, age 4 ½. Adam served in the Army from 2005-2009 and currently is attending college and working as sales manager selling American-made ambulances. Edith is an assistant manager and an esthetician at a spa and health clinic. Ashley married Tim Kinnamon in June 2011 and they also live in Katy, Texas. Ashley is manager of a Quick Weight Loss Clinic; Tim is a fireman and is involved in creating parts for oil rigs.

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Kathryn and Jordan live in Waterford. Kathryn works as a waitress at a restaurant in Commerce Township. Her boyfriend, Scott, has two children, Scottie and Nevaeh, and they occasionally come to church with the family. Jordan is still living at home and attends a special needs program called Life Tracks, which is held at the Crary Campus. He has been diagnosed with a serious vision issue called retinitis pigmentosa, but he won’t let this problem get in his way. Jordan works part-time at Canterbury-on-the-Lakes caring for residents’ animals, and part-time at Waterford Senior Center in the Meals on Wheels Program. The Fischer family has made a large impact on Mount Hope and Good Samaritan congregations and on the Waterford community. HEY GOOD COOKIN’ Lorna Fischer's Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients: 3 whole eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup raisins/dates/apricots--your choice 1 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp. each--salt and cinnamon 2 tsp. baking soda 2 cups oatmeal 3/4 cup nuts Directions: Combine all ingredients. Roll dough into balls with your hands, about 1 Tbsp. per ball. Keep all cookies the same size so they will bake evenly. Place on baking paper about two inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Begin watching cookies at 7 minutes and note when edges begin to brown evenly.

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PARISH NURSING / HEALTH MINISTRY Faith Community Nursing--St. Joseph Mercy Oakland

“Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ.” – Ephesians 5:2

It’s that time of year to bring out the sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves and sunscreen. Who needs sunscreen ? ? ? – Everyone. People of all skin colors get skin cancer. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use a sunscreen that has the following properties: Broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or greater and is water resistant. Sunscreen should be generously applied to dry skin 15 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. Reapply sunscreen approximately every 2 hours even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots, and can pass through window glass. UVB rays are primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass.

Seek shade when appropriate and remember the sun’s rays are the strongest between l0 a.m. and 2 p.m. Even on cloudy days, up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays that reach the earth – Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) are the harmful rays which cause skin cancer. UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots and can pass through window glass. UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass. Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn. Avoid tanning beds!

Sunscreen products are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has several safety and effectiveness regulations in place that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products, including safety data on its ingredients.

Wishing you God’s special blessings ! ! ! Be safe and protected with sunscreen and have “Fun in the Sun”.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him”. – Phillipians 2:13

--Phyllis Snoad RN BSN, Parish Nurse

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COUNCIL NOTES Sunday, May 5, 2013 -Charles Neumann, Secretary pro tem 1. Authorized the erection of a barrier as soon as possible to keep animals from entering the community garden. 2. Expressed appreciation for swift completion of the sidewalk to improve the safety and enhance the appearance of the entry to the church. Emphasized the need to fully comply with directions given by the council at its April 2013 meeting for the sidewalk project. 3. Adopted a plan recommended by the Continuing Resolution Committee, described below, that transitions the Council from nine elected members having three-year terms to eight elected members having two-year terms as required by the Good Samaritan Constitution. Will not fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Cass Andary. This leaves an eight member council and permits staggered two-year terms for the remaining eight positions. At the November 2013 Congregation Budget and Election meeting, eight officers and council members will be elected as follows: President and Treasurer -each for two-year terms Vice President and Secretary -each for one year term Two at-large council members -each for two-year terms Two at-large council members -each for one year term All terms will begin January 1, 2014. In future elections, officers and at-large council members will be elected for two-year terms. This will implement the staggering of two-year officer and council terms as required by the Constitution. To avoid length-of-term issues for current and newly-elected officers and council members, all elected members of the officers serving on the current 2013 Council will resign effective midnight December 31, 2013. This permits the officers and at-large council members elected in November 2013 to begin their terms on January 1, 2013 with a clean term limit slate. 4. Granted Pastor Fredericks permission to finalize arrangements for a May 10 memorial gathering for non-member business associate of a Good Samaritan family member. Cost and custodial issues are to be included in the completed arrangements. The building usage policy is to be placed on the June Council meeting agenda. 5. Other Council actions are included in the May 5, 2013 Council Minutes.

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Good Samaritan Lutheran Church

517 W. Walton Blvd. Pontiac, MI 48340

248.335.9881 Email: [email protected]

www.goodsamaritanpontiac.org

Office hours:

Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Good Samaritan Lutheran Church is called by Jesus Christ to be a diverse Congregation dedicated to serving the needs of families

and those who are hurting and most vulnerable in the Pontiac/ Waterford Community and the world.

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OUR COUNCIL LEADERS

(and term-end date*)

President – Richard Snoad (Jan 2017) Vice President – Gerry Howard (Jan 2015)

Secretary - TBD Treasurer - Karen Hopp (Jan 2015)

Bob Hammond (Jan 2014) Larry Mayse (Jan 2017)

Charles Neumann (Jan 2014) Marga Rotsel (Jan 2017) Marie Stader (Jan 2015)

*Terms will change under Amended Constitution in November 2013

OUR TEAM LIASONS

Worship Team – Marga Rotsel Finance/Stewardship Team – Karen Hopp

Education Team – Charles Neumann Outreach – Gerry Howard

Member Care Team – Marie Stader Mission Team – Larry Mayse

Property – Bob Hammond

OUR STAFF

Pastor - Mary Fredricks Office – 248-335-9881 Fax – 248-335-9818

Email: [email protected] Website: goodsamaritanpontiac.org

Choir Director – Wanda Watson Treasurer – Karen Hopp

Financial Secretary – Ruthie Howard Custodians – Scott and Debbie Fahr

June 2013 GOOD SAMARITAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

[email protected] …..Goodsamaritanpontiac.org 517 West Walton Blvd., Pontiac, Michigan 48340

Phone: 248 335-9881 Fax: 248 335-9818

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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3 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Sunday School

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6 Choir Practice 2-4 pm

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18 19 20 Choir Practice 2-4 pm

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11 12 13 14 15 16


18 19 20 Choir Practice 2-4 pm

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1 CR 10:30 a.m.

2 10:30 A.M. Worship Service Sunday School Church Council*

3 Vision Impaired Book Club 1:00 p.m.

4 Bible Study 10:00 am

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6 7 8 Food Pantry 8—10 a.m.

9 10:30 a.m. Worship Service

Church Picnic*

10 WOGS Meeting 10:30 a.m.

11 Bible Study 10:00 am

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14 15 TFAP 8-10 a.m. CR 10:30 a.m.


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22 Food Pantry 8—10:0 a.m.


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27 28 29 CR 10:30 a.m.


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