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We invite all participants in our Church family to consider offering your gifts and talents to the service of Jesus Christ through spreading the good word.
Our unique contributions are required
to support our Church's ministry in the world.
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Envangelism/Newcomer Activities
Greeters: While we are all our own best representatives to newcomers, greeters make intentional efforts to welcome new people. They arrive before church and greet everyone, with special attention to unfamiliar faces. The greeters can also provide information and articles of interest about Good Samaritan and the Episcopal Church.
Cookie Sunday: Cookie Sunday takes place once each month to honor a group of people who have provided service or are in need of recognition. This activity also provides an opportunity for fellowship after the worship services, and newcomers are encouraged to attend.
Newcomer Fellowship Dinners: Newcomer dinners are special means of letting newcomers learn the faces and names and soul of the church, through food shared with the members and vestry of the church. Dinners are held at regular intervals and by invitation, either at the church or at the home of a parishioner.
Outreach Activities
Good Samaritan began two new ministries in 2008. One is the Second Chance Ministry, which is collecting donations to fully furnish one of the new apartments at the Mini Villa, formerly the Fifth Avenue Motel. An offshoot of this ministry is a mentoring progam whereby women from the church volunteer to mentor the formerly homeless women in the new Minville apartments. Training in life skills is the main thrust of this endeavor.
Good Samaritan also continues to support our two main outreach functions: The Volunteer Ministry Center and the FISH program.
Volunteer Ministry Center: VMC exists to serve the poor and homeless in our community. It is a community effort supported by the volunteers and the financial generosity of many area individuals, congregations, and businesses. VMC is a grass roots effort of people reaching out to those in need, without the backing of a large national organization. Good Samaritan has provided food and service for luncheon meals to those in need in the Knoxville area for the past several years. We are committed to two luncheon meals monthly, provided on the first and fourth Wednesday. We need more volunteers to help prepare and serve these luncheons.
FISH: Good Samaritan maintains a food pantry, takes phone requests, and delivers food on the fourth Monday of every month to families who are in need of emergency food. We need more volunteers to help deliver the bags of groceries. Maps are provided and volunteers travel in pairs to deliver the food. Deliveries take roughly two hours.
Habitat for Humanity: Good Samaritan built and dedicated a Habitat House in early 2007. In the tradition of the Church of the Good Samaritan, we are saving to build a new Habitat home in the future.
