SERVICE

Faith in Action

The people of Good Samaritan serve the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community.

More than anything, Jesus taught us to love—love God wholeheartedly and love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus was especially concerned with the poor, the marginalized, the troubled, and the oppressed, and taught us that whenever we serve them we are serving Christ himself. The people of Good Samaritan serve the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world through local initiatives and by supporting financially other faith-based and Episcopal/Anglican organizations. Currently we serve our community and the world in the following ways:

Good Samaritan Education Scholarship Fund
Issaquah Meals Program
The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank
Disaster Relief

Hospitality Team: We are looking for six to eight people to join this team responsible for coordination of our coffee hour and other fellowship events. See full job description here.

Office Volunteers: Three volunteers needed to serve from 10 am to 2 pm Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Answer phones and light clerical duties.

For more information contact Tom Ehlers or The Rev. Dr. Steve Danzey.

EDUCATION FUND

ISSAQUAH FOOD BANK

ISSAQUAH MEALS

LA IGLESIA DE LA RESURRECION

DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM

DISASTER RELIEF

REFUGEE ASSISTANCE

RACIAL RECONCILIATION

SENIOR CENTER

PHOTOS

Good Samaritan
Education Fund

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In the summer of 2020, the Good Samaritan Faith-in-Action Committee set out to identify how we might help address inequities in our community, many of which are particularly acute in this time of unsettled and changing social dynamics. Our focus was sharpened by the events surrounding the deaths of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, and others, and the renewed national conversation about racism and, in particular, its economic injustice component. We found ourselves increasingly drawn to creating opportunities to positively impact the lives of youth who are struggling to better themselves with limited available resources.

Working with The Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Friends of Youth we established a scholarship focused on disadvantaged youth of color who are ready to take a step toward advancing their learning and furthering vocational skills.

Jane Harrell, who spent a lifetime contributing to the betterment of those less fortunate in her community, was a member of the vestry work group focusing on mission and was instrumental in helping us understand the need among disadvantaged youth of color, and how even a small contribution can profoundly change lives. It is in this spirit that we have created the Good Samaritan Church Faith-in-Action Education Scholarship Fund, with our 2020–2022 grants in memory of our friend, Jane Harrell.

Two scholarships have been awarded in 2021, and plans are to award two or more in 2022. You can donate to the fund online or by sending a check to the church with “Education Fund” in the memo line. For more information contact Tom Ehlers or the clergy.

Issaquah Food
& Clothing Bank

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The mission of the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank is to provide basic needs (in the form of quality, wholesome food, clothing and other items) to our community members to promote self-sufficiency. They have a special emphasis on healthy foods and work to get access to fresh, local produce. The Clothing Bank provides clothing, household items, toiletries and diapers.

Importantly, IFCB recently transitioned from self-serve to a pick-up distribution model to reduce the number of staff and volunteers needed to sustain operations. They have also restarted home-delivery service for those who can’t get to our location. They have had to suspend accepting individual in-person food and clothing donations because sorting required up to 100 people in the building. The new model requires just 10 staff/volunteers at any one time. They also have National Guard help for distribution.

Here are a few things the community can do to help:

Financial gifts for purchasing food/other supplies needed for the emergency distribution model.
Amazon wish list items shipped directly to the Food Bank building.
Online orders of items off the Emergency Needs List to be shipped directly from the vendor.
$25 gift cards to grocery stores that offer online shopping can be mailed to the Food Bank.
Visit the website to sign-up for volunteer shifts

Issaquah
Meals

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On the second Saturday of each month we join together and provide dinner for those in need at the Issaquah Community Center. Volunteers can sign up for monthly assignments in MyGoodSam to supply food, cook, or serve. For more information about or to join our Issaquah Meals team, Lisa Treadway or Steve Angelo.

La Iglesia de la Resurrección

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We believe it is the work of the Church to engage in the work of reconciliation and build bridges between different races and cultures. La Iglesia Episcopal de la Resurrección in Mt. Vernon serves a predominantly Hispanic and migrant worker congregation in the Skagit Valley. By worshiping together, participating in cultural events, and listening to their stories, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how we can build a sustainable relationship and serve the people of the Skagit Valley together.

Episcopal Diocese
of Jerusalem

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The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem encompasses are large area of the Middle East, including Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Jordan. We support the work of this part of the Anglican Communion through financial gifts and making pilgrimages to the Land of the Holy One. The Good Friday offering goes to support the many ministries of the diocese, and special appeals are made based on current needs. Recently, the parish raised funds for an ambulance for St. Luke’s Hospital in Neblus and the hospital in the Gaza Strip. You can find out more about the work of the diocese here.

Disaster
Relief

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Our parish supports the work of Episcopal Relief and Development. This ministry of The Episcopal Church sends funding and support staff to areas of the world where help is needed in response to natural disasters and other catastrophic events. You can find out more about Episcopal Relief and Development ministries and donate here.

Refugee
Assistance

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The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures are clear that God’s people are to welcome “aliens and strangers” who come to live among us. Jesus explicitly charged his followers to welcome and care for the stranger. Refugees coming to and through our borders deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and met with generous hospitality. Our Faith in Action Commission is currently discussing ways the parish can support and assist refugees coming to our part of the country. We also endorse the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia’s Refugee Resettlement Office.

October 14, 2021 Update – We are working and organizing as we prepare to act QUICKLY once we are assigned an Afghani family. There will be many opportunities for you to help out in big and small ways. Here’s a BIG way you can help! Are you able to help with move in? This may include the actual move in process as well and putting furniture ie: beds, etc together. If you are willing to serve in this way, please contact Terry Foster. Be looking for an Amazon Wish List for household needs, etc. coming to your inbox very soon! You will be able to shop and have your purchases sent straight to us. In the meantime, please keep this family in your prayers as they make these dramatic transitions.

Thank you,
Terry Foster and Lorene Ehlers

Racial
Reconciliation

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St. Paul taught that in the Christian community there is “neither Jew or nor Greek, male or female, slave or free, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.” Our Baptismal Covenant requires that we seek and serve Christ in all persons and strive for justice and peace among all people. We are keenly aware of the racial disparity and injustice that continues to plague our nation and the world. As followers of Jesus, our parish prays and works for racial reconciliation. One of the ways we go about this work is by learning more about racism in our own country and asking the hard questions of ourselves and our community. This fall we will devote our adult formation time on Sundays to read and discuss the new book by The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and Hope for Beloved Community. You can join us in person or on Zoom for the discussion on Sunday mornings, 9:15am, beginning September 19. Another way we choose to address racial inequity is through our Good Samaritan Education Fund. For more information contact the clergy.

Sammamish Senior Center

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Overall, the Sammamish age 60+ population is about 8,450 (13%), with another 12% of population 50-59. Seniors over time can feel isolated, lonely, and not included in the very community they often helped to build. It has been proven that social engagement and fellowship helps both mental and physical well-being across all age groups. The Sammamish Senior Center is an all-volunteer endeavor that has been providing activities, games, speakers, discussion, and fellowship for area residents ages 55+. During the suspension of in-person meetings due to Covid-19 a bi-weekly email is sent out including helpful resources and fun/engaging ‘shelter-in-place’ things to do for Seniors. Most recently, a book club was formed.

You are invited to actively participate in our sessions or as a volunteer. And of course, if you have content ideas for the newsletters please send it along. To get connected, contact Joyce Bottenberg or Tom Ehlers. Note: The Sammamish Senior Center is not a direct ministry of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, but we do endorse its work and have many parishioners involved in leadership and participation.