Pastor Brian's Blog

Lent 2012

2012-02-09T08:17:00.001-06:00

Weall face difficulties from time to time. Where do you find hope in the midst of relationships, self-esteemstruggles, loss of work, temptation, money problems, or suffering?

Since Lent is just a few weeks away, I wantto invite you on A Journey to Hopeas we travel with Jesus to the cross. “Journey to Hope” is a new 7-week series that starts on Ash Wednesday,February 22. Along the way to Easter, wewill discover the Hope that can be found, even as we encounter some of life’smost difficult circumstances.

As a season of renewal, Lent is a perfecttime to prepare your heart and mind for the hope of Jesus Christ. To that end, I would encourage you to commityourself to spiritual disciplines, such as daily prayer, taking the Lord’ssupper weekly, Christian conversation with another person or a small group, generosity, and witness to others.

Here’s a checklist of items you mightconsider taking up as spiritual practices during this season of Lent:

_____ Worship the Lord every Sunday in Lent
(HolyCommunion will be offered weekly)

_____ Sign up for a Traveling Companion, someonewho will encourage you

_____ Attendthe special services in Lent:
+Ash Wednesday,Feb 22 (7:00 p.m.)
+ Seder &Kosher Potluck, Thurs., Apr. 5 (5:00 p.m.)
+Good Friday, Apr. 6 (7:00 p.m.)

_____ Read the Gospel of Mark
(the lessons for theseries come from Mark)

_____ Pray every day (for example, use the Upper Room)

_____ Tithe 10% of your income for the season ofLent

_____ Use the Journal pages in theweekly bulletin
(or use the links to pdf downloads here)

_____ Discuss 24 Hours That Changed the World
(groups meet on Monday nights or Thursday mornings)

_____ Practice an Alcohol-Free Lent and/or
contributeto the Spirit Fund for Serenity House in Addison

_____ Help with the Door-to-Door outreach onSat., March 31 (we’ll give out 100 Bibles)

_____ Make a Sin-offering with your Judas Bag

_____ Send "postcards" about your journey through Facebook, Twitter, or a blog

You can also get a special stamp on your Journey to Hope Passport for participating in weekly worship and other activities. Collect them all!

Comewith me on a Journey to Hope that can change everything –– your life, yourworld, your relationships.

Journey to Hope Weekly Journal Pages

2012-02-06T08:50:00.000-06:00

Each week during Lent, I want encourage you to make use of the journal pages designed for our Journey to Hope series. You can do them as a personal or family devotion time.

The journal pages will be available each week in worship. You can also access them from Google documents with the following links:

Journal Pages for Adults

Journal Pages for Children

Journal Pages for Youth

Journey to Hope Series 2012

2012-02-01T13:41:00.000-06:00

Where do you find hope? Starting February 22, I am starting a new sermon series called, "Journey to Hope."

Everyone goes through difficulties. Where is your hope in the midst of

Relationships
Self-esteem struggles
Loss of work
Temptation
Money problems
Suffering

On the road to Easter, we will look for the Hope that changes everything: your life, your world, your relationship with Jesus.

Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Good Samaritan United Methodist Church
960 W. Army Trail Blvd.

Addison, IL 60101

Phone #630-543-3725

24 Hours That Changed the World - A Study for Lent

2012-01-25T14:58:00.000-06:00

Take advantage of a 7-week study for Lent that you won’t want to miss: “24 Hours That Changed the World.”

Walk with Jesus onhis final day
Sit beside him at theLast Supper.
Pray with him in Gethsemane.
Follow him to thecross.
Desert him. Deny him.
Experience theResurrection

The study (offered on Monday nights as well as Thursday mornings) will guide you through the last24 hours of Jesus’ life to help you experience andunderstand the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death in a way you neverhave before.

The goal of this study is to help us better understand theevents that occurred during the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life, see more clearlythe theological significance of Christ’s suffering and death, and reflect uponthe meaning of these events for our own lives. To do this, we will look at thegeographical and historical setting of the events of that fateful day; reflecttheologically on Jesus’ death; and, ultimately, look to see ourselves in thestory, considering how we are like Pilate or Peter, Judas or John. The study includes on-site video presentations by Rev. Adam Hamilton from the Holy Land.

Whether you are a long-time Christian or simply curious about the story of Christ's crucifixion, you are invited to retrace the last 24 hours of Jesus' life with Rev. Brian Smith on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. or Karen Jeschke on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m.

Advance registration is required. Order your copy ($15/book) by Sun., Feb. 12. Here's a link to the Registration Form. Call the Church Office for more information (#630-543-3725).

Pray for Christians in Nigeria

2012-01-23T16:27:00.002-06:00

Bishop Arthur Kaluah
Nigeria Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church

Please pray for Christians around the world who are persecuted, especially those being targeted in Nigeria.

Ombaku Lomoto, one of our United Methodist missionaries has reported:

"They are killing in the church, they are killing in the mourning place, they are killing in a petrol station, they are killing in a bar, they are killing in the road, they are killing in individual houses, etc. People are traumatized and suffering."

Follow this link for more information.

Especially, keep the family and friends of our brother Sol Oduyale in Nigeria (Sol usually sits in the back pew on the pulpit side when his work schedule does not prevent him from worshiping).

Almighty God,
the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot;
the roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees:
the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints of antelope on a rock mass here on Earth.
You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
You are the cornerstone of peace. Amen.

Remember Your Baptism 2012

2012-01-05T10:52:00.000-06:00

I was baptized as an infant, so I don't actually remember the day of my baptism. But I know I was baptized, all the same. My parents told me who the pastor was into whose arms they handed me (The Rev. Dale Beck). I suspect that there was just enough water to get his fingers and my head a little wet.

Even though I wasn't old enough to have a picture of the memory, I can still remember that I am baptized. In eighth grade I was confirmed as a follower of Jesus Christ, and by faith I am awash in his gracious salvation and sealed with the Spirit for love and service.

I would suggest that the best way to remember your baptism is not to have a picture memory of something that happened in the past, but to keep alive your faith in Jesus and to practice that faith every day.

Renew your baptism covenant and commitment to Jesus Christ. It's no small task to repent of sin; to resist evil, injustice, and oppression; and to serve Christ as Lord with his church in the world. But if you don't have anything to show for your effort in those areas, then you have problably have fogotten your baptism!

Angels or Jesus?

2011-12-20T09:44:00.002-06:00

Just days before Christmas I was at the grocery store, and I saw a 6-inch acrylic ornament in the shape of an angel. How did I know it was an angel? Because it had a human body plus wings, of course! This got me thinking about angels and Jesus.
Angels are clearly involved in the story of Jesus' birth. As St. Luke tells it, an angel tells shepherds working the fields to go see the newborn King whose "royal" cradle is nothing but a food trough. Then a choir of angels bursts into song: "Glory to God and peace to those whom God favors." Although Luke doesn't tell us what these angels looked like, there are plenty of visual interpretations, almost always with wings.

Basically, angels are represented as people (women or children) with wings. This combination of human and non-human physicality makes me think of Jesus, who is both human and divine. Why doesn't Jesus get wings? (Do I dare mention that when I was a kid I wanted to be Hawkman or Pegasus?)

The Christian doctrine of Incarnation holds that the Word of God became flesh in Jesus Christ. He is fully human (and I don't know any people with wings), and he is fully divine. Usually he is portrayed very much like one of us humans. Often he has a halo, but even the saints have a halo.

I'm just wondering why the wings of angels give them a more heavenly appearance than Jesus Christ (you can take exception if you look at icons in which Jesus is enthroned in heaven either seated above or surrounded by angels). My point is that side-by-side, angels seem to have more power than Jesus.

But that's just the point. As the purest image of God's love, Jesus is more than meets the eye. He embodies God's love and power through solidarity with the poor and those who suffer. He comes to serve, not to be served. He can heal from a distance, or with a word. He can cast out a legion of demons, and feed thousands with two fish and five loaves. But the secret of his power is not in superpowers or feathery appendages. When beaten and mocked on the cross, Jesus shows us how God's love is seen in humble sacrifice for others.

Go ahead and decorate with angels this Christmas, if you like. But whose help would you rather have? An angel who hovers from above and occasionally swoops in, but doesn't look very tough, or a man who knows what you're going through, walks with you through every difficulty, and even offers to trade places with you?

Global AIDS Fund 2011

2011-12-01T04:18:00.000-06:00

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Every minute the disease kills 5 people and infects 9 more with HIV (learn about human immunodeficiency virus). This must make God very sad, since AIDS is a preventable disease.
The AIDS epidemic has shaped my ministry from the beginning. The very first funeral I did as a pastor was for a gay man who died from AIDS (no other pastor would officiate), and before I went to seminary I had an internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago visiting patients with HIV infection. A personal friend died from AIDS a few years ago, but 2 others are still living with HIV, thanks to advancements in treatment.
I grew up in a time of terrible fear and discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS. Gay men, drug addicts, prostitutes were said to be getting what they deserved, which always seemed like a cold-hearted, even hateful, attitude. But my belief in Jesus Christ leads me to the affirmation of God's unconditional love and compassion for all people.

You and I can show God's love and make a difference. Consider making a gift to the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund. A gift of $20 can save a life by preventing the transmission of HIV from a mother to a child or providing nursing care for an infant born with AIDS.

$20 can supply nutrients to 20 HIV+ children suffering from dehydration or feed an HIV+ person for a month, so they can take their medications. It can teach young people and adults how to prevent HIV or to share biblical readings and prayers to those infected and affected.

More than 33 million people are infected with HIV and AIDS, and more than 26 million individuals have died. About 15 million children are orphaned as a result. In the United States, more than 1.2 million persons suffer from HIV, and someone new is infected every nine and a half minutes.

So far, United Methodists have contributed more than $3 million for HIV/AIDS ministries. These gifts have funded 175 projects in 37 countries. 100% of your contribution to the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund goes directly to support HIV and AIDS programs.

Learn more about getting involved with―20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World at http://2020aidsfreeworld.org.

Imagine No Malaria

2011-11-23T18:03:00.000-06:00

Imagine if malaria went extinct. I mean, wiped out completely.

Imagine that malaria could no longer kill children and devastate communities.

The United Methodist Church's campaign "Imagine No Malaria" aims to do just that.

Here's how you can help. Make a donation of $10 to dedication of a Christmas poinsettia in honor or in memory of someone. We use the same artifical flowers every year so that 100% of your gift goes to help eradicate malaria.

Use this form to indicate your designations and place in the offering plate or send to the church office by December 18.

Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year. A continent. Entire nations…slipping away. Slipping through life’s precious net. Unless you hear the buzzing inside you.

Charge Conference 2011

2011-11-16T05:59:00.001-06:00

On Thurs., December 1 at 7:00 p.m., our District Superintendent Rev. Oscar Carrasco will preside over the annual Charge Conference of Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee will meet at 6:15 p.m.

To most people the word "conference" denotes a boring meeting. But from the beginning of Methodism, "conferencing" was a means of grace, a way of encouraging one another in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are held in the bonds of God's love by our practice of conferencing, whereby we renew our faith in Christ and take responsibility for our mission.

Here's a technical summary of a Charge Conference: It is the connecting link between the local church and the general Church and has general oversight of the Church Council. The primary purpose of a Charge Conference is to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church, receive reports, and adopt objectives and goals recommended by the Church Council that are in keeping with the objectives of The United Methodist Church. The Charge Conference also sets pastoral compensation and recommends candidates for ordained ministry and lay speaking certification (see The Book of Discipline 2008, ¶247.1,2,11,13).

Everyone is invited to attend the Charge Conference, but the elected leadership is especially needed for the meeting. Refreshments with Oscar will cap the evening.

Outside the Box Series

2011-11-15T09:03:00.001-06:00

What will you take out of the box this Christmas?

Starting Sun., Nov. 27, a new 4-week series on Christmas called "Outside the Box" will begin.

Each week I will explore a different theme that will help you take Christmas out of the box this year.

Open Up "Expectations" (Nov. 27)
Open Up "Acceptance" (Dec. 4)
Open Up "Family" (Dec. 11)
Open Up "Yourself" (Dec. 18)

Take Christmas out of the box this year.

You may even find yourself in the story!

Saying You're Sorry

2011-11-14T11:37:00.001-06:00

I recently watched the 1970 film "Love Story." I grew up with the theme song in my head, but I never saw the movie until 41 years after it was released.

On the surface, you would think that "Love Story" is about the romance between a rich guy (Oliver Barrett IV) and a working class girl (Jenny Cavelleri). But when Oliver's father disapproves of the relationship, the theme of the movie clearly becomes more about the refusal of a son to reconcile with his father.

After learning of Jenny's illness, the father shows up at the hospital to show his support only to learn that Jenny has just died. When the elder Oliver offers his heartfelt sympathy to the younger by saying that he's sorry for his son's loss, the son rebuffs the father: "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Then he walks off in a huff.

Since when does love mean never having to say you're sorry? How absurd! In fact, true love demands forbearance and forgiveness, which has the power to heal. It requires a commitment of loyalty to another person, even when there are disagreements and hurt feelings.

This (melodramatic) romance film from 1970 deliberately ignores the understanding of love from the most quoted passage of Scripture at weddings. As St. Paul states, "Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

In the end, Oliver shows that he is a tragic figure. The tragedy is that he is a stubborn, spoiled brat. He will accept his father's money, but not his father's love...all because he does not know how to give or receive an apology. He wouldn't even do it for Jenny, who begged him to try to reconcile with his father. The real story of love is never giving up on someone who is willing to to say, "I'm sorry."

Community Thanksgiving Service 2011

2011-11-08T11:24:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, November 20, 2011, a Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., hosted by Good Samaritan United Methodist Church located at 960 W. Army Trail Blvd. in Addison, IL.

The worship service will be led by clergy and laity from Good Samaritan United Methodist, Prince of Peace Lutheran, and St. Philip Roman Catholic churches.

An impromptu "pick-up" choir will meet for rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. for anyone who would like to sing with others.

You are invited to bring an offering of non-perishable food items or money for Addison Community Switchboard.

A "Pie Potluck" will follow the worship service, so bring your favorite pie to share with others.

All Saints' Sunday 2011

2011-10-26T08:32:00.000-05:00

All Saints' Sunday is October 30, 2011. Each year we take time during All Saints' Sunday to pray for those who passed during the last 12 months and beyond. We pray "for them" as an expression of our enduring love.

Bring a framed picture of a loved one, light a candle, or make a memorial gift to remember and honor those who have entered into God's glory.

As United Methodists we affirm "the communion of saints," as the Apostles' Creed states, which is the unbreakable connection we share with Christians of every time and place.

We have no formal process of canonization for the saints like the Roman Catholic Church, because we believe that all Christians are called to be saints in this life, striving to be perfected in love by God. Our hope is in the life and teaching of Jesus who was crucified and raised from the dead. Therefore...

Grace to you and peace from God

who is, and was, and is to come. Amen.

And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness,

the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings on earth. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

I Just Wrote My Letters

2011-09-28T12:37:00.003-05:00

I just wrote my letters to Senators Durbin and Kirk and Representative Roskam for our 2011 Offering of Letters on Sunday, October 2. If you are willing to send a letter, the church will pay for the postage on your behalf as part of our support for justice and mercy.

Below is a sample letter that you could use as a basis for your letters to Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, as well as your U.S. Representative. Click here to find out who is your Representative.

A Sample Letter

Date _________(October 2, 2011)

Dear Sen. ___________ or Rep. ____________,

I’m asking you to reform the way the United States delivers foreign assistance so it will help millions of people in poor countries move out of hunger and poverty. Streamlined and more efficient U.S. foreign aid programs will ensure that our tax dollars are used effectively and that the aid we give is what local people in poor countries such as Haiti and Liberia really need.
By focusing our aid dollars on moving people out of poverty, we help foster economic growth and opportunity. Fewer people struggling with poverty and stronger, growing economies in developing countries contribute to our own national security as well.
This is why I am asking you to support reforms in the ways we deliver and administer U.S foreign aid. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Address

Please take a few minutes to write your letters that could have a life-saving impact on millions of people. Here's one of mine....

Consecration Sunday 2011

2011-09-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

Rev. Lisa Kruse-Safford

Consecration Sunday is November 6, 2011. Our Guest Leader this year is Rev. Lisa Kruse-Safford, the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Elgin.

Besides being a personal friend in ministry, I have recently begun working with Lisa for the Elgin District Committee on Ordained Ministry. She is driven by a desire to help people to know the unconditional love of God and to help them live in a way that honors and glorifies God.

The Leadership Dinner was Sunday, October 30 at Casey's Restaurant in Lombard. Rev. Kruse-Safford gave a great message about not being chicken to talk about money. Jesus had a lot to say about money as part of the Christian life, she reminded us. She gave us encouragement to be bold and full of faith in giving. Perhaps this is the year you will commit to tithing.

Everyone is invited to the Celebration Meal after worship on Consecration Sunday, which will be a special prepared meal, not a potluck. Reservations for the meal are requested in advance, so that a place can be set for everyone. Please complete a Reservation Card in worship on Sunday or call the Church Office by November 3.

The Act of Consecration will be the high point of worship on Consecration Sunday, as each person or household will be given the opportunity to make a written estimate of his or her giving for 2012. Since giving is an essential spiritual part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, you should review how God has blessed you, and prepare to give in proportion to God's provision.

Happy Birthday, Michael!

2011-09-24T11:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Michael Romeo Fuertes, born on Tuesday, September 20 at 2:25 p.m, weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces. God bless you!

What Are Your Spiritual Gifts?

2011-09-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

You can see that the picture on the right is the picture of a gift, but the one thing that is wrong with this gift is that it is unopened. It remains bound and unappreciated behind all that packaging. The real gift is inside, meant to be discovered and shared.

The same is true of the gifts God has given you. If you want to open up a new understanding and appreciation for the gifts God has share with you, then follow the link to learn more about spiritual gifts and take the Spiritual Gifts Assessment (click here).

"A demonstration of the Spirit

is given to each person

for the common good."

-1 Corinthians 12:7

Blessing the Backpacks 2011

2011-09-08T07:36:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, September 11 during our outdoor worship, we'll kick off a new series "A Fresh Start" with a Blessing of the Backpacks.

ALL STUDENTS (any age) should bring the backpacks they use for school for a special ritual to carry God's blessing into the new school year.

"I’ll teach you well. Don’t abandon my instruction...

Get wisdom; get understanding.

Don’t forget and don’t turn away from my words."

-Proverbs 4:2, 5

Joplin Mission Trip 2011

2011-09-07T16:55:00.001-05:00

On May 22, 2011, a devastating tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. The storm killed 138 people and tore a swath of destruction across an entire community. Several United Methodist Churches are among the wreckage. It was one of the deadliest storms in American history.

Christians respond to tragedy with loving prayers, generous hearts, and a helping hand.

Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri Conference wrote:

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who grieve the loss of loved ones and who have suffered the destruction of homes and businesses following Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin. Several United Methodist churches have been directly affected. We pray for God’s comforting presence among those who feel completely overwhelmed. And we give God thanks for all those ready to help and serve and give and pray so that people can rebuild their lives. I invite United Methodists to respond prayerfully, courageously, and generously during these weeks to come. May God’s grace be known through our serving.”

Ed Luikaart is coordinating a mission trip for adults on October 15-22, 2011. It will be a shared project with volunteers from several congregations of the Northern Illinois Conference, including Addison: Good Samartian UMC, Wheaton: Gary Memorial UMC, and Glen Ellyn: First UMC. A kitchen team and several construction teams will be formed. The cost per volunteer will be between $350-400. Contact Ed Luikaart (630-832-8029, e-mail edwluikaart@sbcglobal.net) if you are interested in being part of the team.

If you want to make a contribution to support the mission team's work, you can make a check payable to Good Samartian Church with a memo of "Joplin Mission." Let's keep the people of Joplin and all the volunteers assisting with recovery effort in our prayers.

Good Samaritan United Methodist Church

960 W. Army Trail Blvd.

Addison, Il 60101

630-543-3725

www.goodsamaritanumc.com

Offering of Letters 2011

2011-09-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we can work with Bread for the World to provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities where we live.

Sun., October 2 is the date for the 2011 Offering of Letters at Good Samaritan Church. I want to encourage you to praticipate this year. Last year we sent 70 letters to our members of Congress.

I would ask you to bring letters on Oct. 2 that you have written in your own handwriting, because that is the most effective way to influence members of Congress. They pay attention to all correspondance from constituents, including phone calls and e-mail, but a hand-written still commands the greatest degree of attention.

Why should you contact your members of Congress? The United Methodist Book of Discipline lays out the duty of every Christian to engage in public politics:

Political Responsibility—The strength of a political system depends upon the full and willing participation of its citizens. The church should continually exert a strong ethical influence upon the state, supporting policies and programs deemed to be just and opposing policies and programs that are unjust. (Book of Discipline, ¶164 B).

EMPHASES for the 2011 Offering of Letters
Bread for the World is advocating for change in for areas:

A stronger U.S. government focus on reducing poverty.

Clearer accountability for how U.S. aid dollars are spent and their results.

A transformed U.S. development agency.

U.S. aid that meets the needs and wants of local people.

Reforms in U.S. foreign assistance will mean more help to millions of hungry and poor people for many years to come. Bread for the World believes the United States should be investing more in reducing poverty around the world. Improving the quality and efficacy of aid programs will strengthen the case for generosity and maximize the use of our current aid dollars.

More effective aid matters to poor countries. Haiti, for example, is struggling to recover from long-standing poverty made worse by the 2010 earthquake. Similarly, the people of Liberia are emerging from two devastating civil wars that left many more deeply impoverished. These problems cannot be overcome quickly. But more effective U.S. assistance will make a big difference as Haitians and Liberians—and people in many other developing countries—increase their capacity and infrastructure so they can become self-sufficient and build a better future for themselves.

More effective U.S. assistance can also achieve a rapid reduction in malnutrition among children worldwide. Recent studies demonstrate that the best way to reduce child deaths and disabilities from malnutrition is to focus on babies and pregnant women.

Advocacy for hungry and poor people is a matter of faith. We are moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ to help our neighbors—whether they are next door or on the other side of the world. We push for changes in laws and systems that enable hunger and poverty to persist.

If you are willing to send a letter, the church will pay for the postage on your behalf as part of our support for justice and mercy. Below is a sample letter that you could use as a basis for your letters to Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, as well as your U.S. Representative. Click here to find out who is your Representative.

A Sample Letter

Date _________(October 2, 2011)

Dear Sen. ___________ or Rep. ____________,

               I’m asking you to reform the way the United States delivers foreign assistance so it will help millions of people in poor countries move out of hunger and poverty. Streamlined and more efficient U.S. foreign aid programs will ensure that our tax dollars are used effectively and that the aid we give is what local people in poor countries such as Haiti and Liberia really need.
              By focusing our aid dollars on moving people out of poverty, we help foster economic growth and opportunity. Fewer people struggling with poverty and stronger, growing economies in developing countries contribute to our own national security as well.
             This is why I am asking you to support reforms in the ways we deliver and administer U.S foreign aid. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Address

CROP Hunger Walk 2011

2011-09-06T15:51:00.001-05:00

During the Great Recession the number of people suffering from hunger has increased.

We all care about hungry people, but what can one person do?

You can join the CROP Hunger Walk this fall and raise your voice against hunger and faise money to help hungry people around the world and in our own area. Addison Community Switchboard is able to help more people because of CROP Walk donations.

To find out more visit the Addison Good Samaritan Team page or sponsor me at Pastor Brian's page.

I started personally supporting the CROP Walk when I was in high school. Back in the 1980s, there was a famine in Ethopia. Famine is still devastating people of the Horn of Africa, but today it's in Kenya and Somalia.

In addition, there is an emerging hunger crisis in the United States. The problem is not a shortage of food due to agricultural disaster, as in drought-stricken Somalia. In our nation, it is an economic and moral problem. You can make a difference by offering real help to hungry people through the CROP Hunger Walk.

Labor Day

2011-08-31T15:02:00.001-05:00

Labor Day is more than a day off from work (if you're lucky to have a job). It became a national holiday in 1894, after 13 strikers were killed and 57 were wounded at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike.

I have personally benefited from the stability and security that unions help to provide. My father, a retired U.S. Postal worker, is a union member. And my late grandfather, a Caterpillar employee, was a union member. Our family has enjoyed a higher standard of living because of the unions.

Unfortunately, there is a vicious attack on union jobs in particular, and the American middle class in general, at a time when CEO pay is rising and unchallenged. The head of the Chicago Public Schools now makes more than the Mayor of Chicago, but CPS teachers are being asked to work 29% more hours for a 2% increase in pay...that's effectively more work for less pay!  Various members of my family and my congregation are in similar situations, but they do not have the benefit of collective bargaining, and are unable to negotiate for fairer pay and working conditions.

As I reflect on the state of affaris in the United States right now, I am increasingly aware of the struggles of working class people. (In case you didn't know, you are working class if you have to work for your income.) Since the early 1980s, wages have been falling or have stagnated. Workers are forced to work more hours and bear more of the cost of (for-profit) health insurance.  During the same period, the wealth of the richest Americans has increased exponentially (see Paul Solman's story at PBS.org).

The desparity between the wealth of the super rich and the standard of living for the other 95% of Americans falls short of the best ideals of American democratic society, such as equality and justice for all. I can tell you that such a gap is displeasing to God.

Gary Dorrien recently wrote in his essay "No Common Good?" for The Christian Century that Americans have come to believe that poverty can be alleviated by private charity, a belief "closely tied to the dominant American dream of becoming a 'star,' a dream assiduously promoted by commercial culture" (take the film the Pursuit of Happyness as one example). It's the rags-to-riches fantasy.

Dorrien notes two kinds of American dream. In the dominant dream, the individual attains enough success so as to stand apart from others. In the other dream, the individual lives in a society that is "really worth living in."

In light of the current situation, I am inspired by the original Methodist Social Creed adopted in 1908. It calls for very specific standards and conditions as part of a Christian vision for American society.  By the mid-20th Century, a strong middle class emerged in American society that embodied this creed. Since then, it seems that so much ground has been lost due to globalization and unrestrained corporate capitalism. Yet I believe these same social principles constitute a society that is "really worth living in."

1908 Methodist Social Creed

The Methodist Episcopal Church stands:

For equal rights and complete justice for all men in all stations of life.

For the principles of conciliation and arbitration in industrial dissensions.

For the protection of the worker from dangerous machinery, occupational diseases, injuries and mortality.

For the abolition of child labor.

For such regulation of the conditions of labor for women as shall safeguard the physical and moral health of the cummunity.

For the suppression of the "sweating system."

For the gradual and reasonable reduction of the hours of labor to the lowest practical point, with work for all; and for that degree of leisure for all which is the condition of the highest human life.

For a release for [from] employment one day in seven.

For a living wage in every industry.

For the highest wage that each industry can afford, and for the most equitable division of the products of industry that can ultimately be devised.

For the recognition of the Golden Rule and the mind of Christ as the supreme law of society and the sure remedy for all social ills.

Prisoner Release Ministry

2011-08-30T09:39:00.001-05:00

One day Jesus picked up the scroll of Isaiah and read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners..." (Luke 4:18, Common English Bible). As Lord and Savior, Jesus offers the promise of reconciliation and new life.

Yet for many people who have served their time, life after prison is full of serious challenges. As many as 70% return to prison within 30 months if they do not get a job and work. How can we help these people become a productive part of society and experience the reconiliation and new life Jesus offers?

Prisoner Release Ministry is making a difference.

Since 1976, this ministry of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church has found more than 14,000 jobs for men and women who have served their time. These clients have earned more than $50,000,000 dollars. And according to estimates, more than 65% of these people are still out and doing well!

As part of our Rainbow Covenant mission giving, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church supports the Prisoner Release Ministry, and we continue to lift up our brothers and sisters who need God's help in staying on the right path.

Happy Birthday, Julian!

2011-08-20T06:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Julian Lawrence Gonzalez, born on Mon., August 15 (7 lbs 12 oz). God bless you!

A Fresh Start Series

2011-08-18T10:47:00.003-05:00

Ever wish you could start all over again? Then make a fresh start! Starting September 11, 2011, I'm going to start a new 4-week series for all ages called, "A Fresh Start."

As students are going back to school, this is a time to leave behind the grades of the past and start with a clean slate. That new pencil or backpack can bring the feeling of new possibilities.

In fact, God gives us all a chance to start over. As One who forgives, renews, and gives purpose, God can transform our lives! A Fresh Start will leave you feeling inspired and connected.

Week #1(Sept. 11):

Backpack Blessings: facing fear, uncertainty and dreams

Week #2(Sept. 18):

Fitting In, or Becoming Fit: self-acceptance, peer pressure and self-worth

Week #3(Sept. 25):

When the Lead Breaks: dealing with disappointment

Week #4 (Oct. 2):

Each Day a New Beginning: learning how to begin again

Kids Club Week #4

2011-08-05T09:51:00.001-05:00

This was our last session of the Kids Club this summer. I hope all the kids and adults supporting them will have many great memories of faith and fun from the Shake It Up Cafe.

The Kichen Crew made chicken nuggets and "green" french fries. The Craft Team helped kids make "blessing cookies," and our Foodologist demonstrated how to be solid in faith with a hard-boiled egg, instead of wobbly like a raw egg.

Remember Jesus Often is the fourth special ingredient for the Master's Recipe for life. Our Bible story from Luke 22 takes place during Jesus' celebrating the Passover. But this time he tells the disciples to eat the bread and drink the cup at Holy Communion to remember his sacrficial love for us on the cross.

"Do this in remembrance of me"

(Luke 22:19b).

Here's a short video postcard from Week #4

Pet Blessing 2011

2011-08-05T07:13:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who brought their pets to Good Samaritan Church on Sun., September 4 at 3:00 p.m. I was especially glad that one person brought a friend, and a couple of people came from Montgomery--because they found out about the blessing on Facebook!

We blessed the following pets...
5 Dogs (Imagine, Bogey, Belle, Oliver, Lola)
2 Cats (Cecilia and Gizmo)
2 Ringed Turtle Doves (Prancer and Vixen).

It was a beautiful day and all the animals got along well, even after Gizmo the Cat had to swat at Lola the Dog.

Here's a short videopostcard from our Pet Blessing 2011:

Good Samaritan United Methodist Church

960 W. Army Trail Blvd.

Addison, Illinois 60101

#630-543-3725

Email: goodsamaritanumc@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.goodsamaritanumc.com

Chain O'Lakes Field Trip

2011-08-01T11:09:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, July 31 after worship, I led a field trip up to Chain O'Lakes State Park on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. The interconnected lakes of this beautiful part of northeastern Illinois are a living legacy of the Ice Age.

Chain O'Lakes State Park 2011

Although some people decided against going due to heat (93°F), Ruth and Duane Keegan and I made the trip anyway. Upon entering the park we saw Compass Plant, Gray-headed Coneflower, Prairie Blazing Star, and a host of other blooming prairie wildlflowers. After we ate a picnic lunch, Duane and I rented a canoe for 2 hours and paddled up the Fox River for an hour and then back.

For me, the highlight was seeing at least 30 adult and immature Black Terns, which are an Illinois state-endangered species. But no less excellent was seeing 4 Sandhill Cranes, 2 Green Herons, a single Great Blue Heron, 6-8 Great Egrets, a family of Wood Ducks, and hearing the Marsh Wrens calling from the reeds. Duane and I paddled into one of the sloughs to get a close up of some Yellow Lotus that were blooming.

Here's a video postcard from the trip to Chain O'Lakes State Park.

Kids Club Week #3

2011-07-28T09:28:00.000-05:00

Week #3 of our summer Kids Club was packed with music, games, and creative learning. Thankfully the weather was not as hot as last week.

Believe Fully in Jesus is the third special ingredient for the Master's Recipe for life. Our Bible story was about Jesus' encouragement to trust in him and the Father, no matter what happens.

"Believe in God,

believe also in me"

(John 14:1).

The Kitchen Crew delivered cheese ravioli for lunch. The Craft Team helped the kids how to make their own picture frame, and our Foodologist demonstrated how oil and water can be combined if you keep shaking it up...just as keeping active with God requires constant attention.

Here's a short video postcard from Week #3:

The Good Samaritan Kids Club is free and open to any kids under 9th Grade. Click this link for more information or to register. Shake It Up with God!

Worthless Things

2011-07-26T10:32:00.000-05:00

"Turn my heart to your laws, not to greedy gain.
Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.

Make me live by your way."

-Psalm 119:36-37

Greedy gain and worthless things?! This is a time of high unemployment, rising costs, and falling wages. A recent AP-Gfk poll showed that household debt is causing stress for half of Americans. Have we been too greedy? Too preoccupied with worthless things?

These questions may seem harsh, epsecially for someone struggling to make ends meet. Yet honest answers may reveal a core problem. In American society, we are encouraged to be acquisitive. We're told that the strength of our national economy depends on consumer spending. Advertisers try to erase the line between "need" and "want." And now more than ever, it is easier to spend money on things that don't last.

According to the ancient psalmist, the better focus is learning God's laws and living by God's way, which is found in a thankful heart and a generous spirit.

One of the ways I express gratitude is tithing. I give back to God 10% of my income (after my pension contribution, which is savings for future income). The first check I write after I deposit my monthly paycheck is to Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. Tithing is a discipline that reminds me to show gratitude that God has given me 100% of what I have.

Generosity, however, is a growth area in my life. I can be guarded about how I spend my time and give my money. I tend to share my talents when I am fairly sure they will be appreciated. If I want to live more fully in God's way, I need to be willing to give with less hesitation. The song Freely, Freely sets out the challenge:

"Freely, freely, you have received.
Freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe
others will know that I live."

I know people who are more generous than I. It's not that they give more money (though some do). It's that they understand the connection between giving and God. They share what they have just as freely as Jesus shared himself--even when it is a sacrifice.

Greed and worthless things have the potential to rob anyone of the joy of living God's way. They breed a spirit of discontent and waste God's precious gifts to us. A focus on gratitude for what God has gvien and a spirit of generosity are the best insurance for a heart in love with God.

Kids Club Week #2

2011-07-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

Week #2 was really hot, but we had a lot of fun at church! The kids remembered their moves for "Shake It Up," and we learned "Give Thanks," and "Give It Away."

The second special ingredient in the Master's Recipe for life is "Give Happily to God." Leviticus 23 describes various festivals that teach us to give God our first and best effort, and to show mercy to our neighbors, including the poor and immigrants.

"Do not forget to do good and to share what you have,

for God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices"

(Hebrews 13:16).

The Kitchen Crew prepared yummy sandwiches "like McDonald's," according to one of the kids. The Craft Team showed the kids how to make milkshake banks, and our Foodologist gave an explosive demonstration!

Here's a short video postcard from Week #2:

The Good Samaritan Kids Club is free and open to any kids under 9th Grade. Click this link for more information or to register. Shake It Up with God!

Kids Club Week #1

2011-07-13T08:59:00.000-05:00

Week #1 of our Summer Kids Club was great fun! At the "Shake It Up Cafe" the kids learned how to shake up their lives with faith in God. The music got them really moving, and they even made up some of their own moves.

Thanks to the Kitchen Crew for a delicious healthy lunch. More than one of the kids said they liked the vegetables! The Craft Team helped the kids make their own chef's hats. And our Foodologist taught them how to make BUTTER!

During Week #1 the Bible lesson was about God delivering the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, and we learned that the first ingredient for the Master's Recipe for life is Be Ready for God.

"Wait for the Lord.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage.

Wait for the Lord"

(Psalm 27:14).

Here's a short video postcard from Kids Club Week #1:

The Good Samaritan Kids Club is free and open to any kids under 9th Grade. Check this link for more information or to register. Shake It Up with God!