Change is Hard

by Verdery Kassebaum

When Arthur and I came to Good Samaritan in 1973, Good Samaritan was so small that the Christmas party was held someone’s house.

That’s what you call a small church!

When the “multipurpose building”—now Roetter Hall—was built, we had a place to gather during the week. You could get together with a few other folks without thinking about it.  If you wanted to talk to the priest, you just bopped in and chatted. 

We were still a small church.

And then we grew.  And other groups wanted to meet in our lovely buildings. And first the Antiochean church and then the Newman Community came and shared our space. And even though we weren’t as large as we wanted to be, we were really too large to be just dropping in, either as a group or individually to chat with the priest.

We weren’t really a small church anymore.

To grow further, we had make changes, mainly changes of structure and process and procedure. Instead of just showing up to talk with our rector, we had to ask the Administrative Assistant to schedule us an appointment. Instead of just gathering somewhere in the Worship Center or Roetter Hall, we had to get in touch with the Facilities Manager to make sure there was a space for us.

We weren’t a small church anymore.

And it was hard.  It was really hard for me to have to e-mail Leanne and say, “Hey, I’d like to talk with Chris. Can you make me an appointment?” And after a day or two she’d e-mail back, “How two weeks from now at 2:30?” It was really hard not to be able to have easy, ready access to someone so important to me. 

It still is.  Even though I’m working in the office five hours a day, five days a week, I don’t get to stick my head in the door and say, “Do you have a few minutes? I need your guidance on something.”  Either he’s working on something to make Good Sam an even better place, or counseling someone who needs it even more than I, or conferring with someone who’s crucial in making this parish work.

Change is hard.

As the keeper of the schedule, it’s hard for me to tell people, “I’m sorry, your group can’t meet tomorrow because all the spaces are full.”  It’s really embarrassing for us when folks show up for a meeting and find someone else already in “their” spot.  I don’t like to disappoint people, even if they haven’t done the planning we need to do nowadays.

We do want to grow. We do want to share the love of God and the friendship of our fellow Good Sammers. We’ve found something –someplace—wonderful and we want others to experience it.  And we forget—I forget—that I can’t just show up and do something or have something happen or be able to meet with someone. I have to plan ahead; I have to make an appointment; I have to make sure there’s a space for my gathering to happen. 

We’re not a small church anymore.

Change is often necessary in order for an organism to grow, to adapt, and the same is true for a church. Even as I had to let my beloved sons change and grow up into wonderful young men, I need to let my beloved church change and grow up into what God intends it to be; I need to be willing to change in order to keep up with it.

But it sometimes it is so hard. 

How are you finding the changes at Good Sam? What’s been hard? What’s been a blessing?

Has God Ever Talked to You?

by Dan Shawler

In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruah Elohim was hovering upon the face of the waters.  Genesis 1:1-2.

Has God ever spoken directly to you? It’s a transforming experience.  

Here is my story about the time God talked to me.

I spent my career doing cancer research. It’s a vocation I gravitated to after my sister died from glioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. About 2 years ago the company I worked for ran out of money and it looked like it might go out of business. For the last 20 years my colleagues and I have been working on a technology that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.  

For me, this was more than a job, it was the continuation of work I had been doing for 20 years. For those 20 years, my life’s goal had been focused on developing a highly effective treatment for cancer; a treatment that our tests suggest would triple the life expectancy of patients with lung cancer and has no side effects, unlike all of the current treatments. In fact, as I thought this through and prayed on it, I discerned that this wasn’t just a job or a career, but that I was actively engaged in a ministry of healing.

So, when the company was in financial trouble and there was a possibility that the company would close in the middle of the final clinical trial that was needed before the treatment would be approved, it was difficult for me to handle. I had outstanding support, especially from my wife and rector, but the anxiety and stress levels were really high and I was having trouble coping with them.

It is my practice to take one or two short prayer breaks at work every day. I simply stop what I am doing, go outside, and walk around the building while talking to God about what is happening. More importantly, I try to listen to what God has to say. It takes only five minutes and it helps keep me focused on what is important.

On this particular day after some weeks of stress and uncertainty, I had given up on asking God to fix the problem and was simply praying to God for comfort. 

In the midst of this prayer I suddenly felt a strong, warm breeze blowing over me. Now the Hebrew word for Spirit, which is ruah, is also the word for wind or breeze. Through this ruah I immediately felt God’s comfort permeating me. As I realized God was actually talking to me the wind grew stronger and more intense. I was being hugged by God and it felt like it lasted forever, although I’m sure it lasted only a half a minute or so.

God told me that everything was in His hands and that I didn’t have to worry. After the encounter, I was able to let go of my stress and anxiety. I focused my energy on positive action and not on worry. Whether the company survived (which it did) or not was not important. What was important was the God directly told me that he had a plan for me and that I didn’t have to worry about it, I just had to follow the plan.

When we still our hearts and listen intently, God will talk to us and we will hear the word of God. And just as ruah hovering over the face of the waters transformed the darkness into light we will be transformed from darkness into light.

Has God ever spoken directly to you? 

Meet Our New Vestry Members: Bill Lacey

by Bill Lacey

Professional Background: For the last 23 years I have been employed by Employment and Community Options, (a non profit organization that assists individuals with developmental disabilities) in a variety of capacities but currently as their Southern California Regional Director. As a Regional Director I direct various programs and their teams on the service delivery to individuals with developmental disabilities and their pursuit for quality outcomes in the areas of employment, community inclusion, and independent living. Also currently, I instruct a workshop for SDSU six times annually on mental illness and co-occurring disorders in employment. Lastly, I have also proudly served as a United States Naval Reservist for 8 years, stationed at the Point Loma Subase.

Personal: Initially from Huntington, NY. Now live in Clairemont, married to Clare Lacey. Three children: Anna, a senior at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, Billy, a fourth grader at Holmes Elementary, and Benjamin, a first grader at Holmes Elementary.

Interest/Hobbies: Coached High School football for over 10 years at local east county high school. Coached youth soccer for three years, and currently coaching youth baseball in Clairemont. Enjoy being with my family, exercising, coaching/teaching, and worshiping Christ as my savior.

Church History: Began life as a Christian initially at Good Sam with Father Fred as rector (located at old elementary school on Governor Drive). As a child, my family left for St. David’s in Clairemont and I remained there until 2 years ago. While at St. David’s, I was active with various youth group activities and served on the vestry as junior warden for two years. The son of a priest, I spent most of my life in the church but not really understanding and reaching out to God until adulthood. 

I believe I have found a genuine home at Good Sam, where I can worship freely and be with others with similar interests, views, and passions. I have finally found Christ at Good Sam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meet Our New Vestry Members: Janet Herrman

by Janet Herrman

My husband Jerry, daughters Katie and Sarah, and I have been members at Good Samaritan for about 12 years. I previously served on the vestry and was part of the team that coordinated the renovation of Roetter Hall. Last year I took the big step of retiring from my job as the Administrative Services Manager for a local government agency after more than 34 years in public service. Throughout my career I developed expertise in administration—human resources, purchasing, facilities management, budget and financial management—which is very helpful as a member of the vestry. 

Although my skill set is in operations, I also have a passion for finding innovative and creative ways of solving problems. I want to continue to work to increase the visibility of Good Samaritan in our community, expand our outreach ministry, and look for new opportunities to develop programs to meet the spiritual needs of our members and the community at large.

Ordination of Rev. Rebecca Edwards

 

On Saturday, January 7, Rev. Rebecca Edwards was ordained to the priesthood. With family and friends coming out from back East, it was truly a festive affair, with moon pies being handed out at the reception afterward.

Rebecca designated the offering plate at her ordination to go to Rebuilding the Church in Haiti. Haiti’s cathedral was destroyed in the massive earthquake two years ago.

The beautiful music by Fran McKendree lifted us into the Holy Spirit, and Lynn Schmissrauter’s sermon reminded us to be the light, see the light, and to lighten up.

All in all, it was an amazing day.

Revbecca writes: "I can't thank the Good Sam family enough for everything you did to make my ordination so amazing. So many of you participated in the ceremony and behind the scenes: singing in the choir, arranging flowers, bringing your kids to the rehearsal, providing food and decorations for the reception, serving Moon Pies, and on and on. Thank you for surrounding my family with your characteristic love and for celebrating with Josh and me on such a wonderful day!"

(Thanks to Ruth Lim and Donna Nelson for the photos and Ann Fuerst for the video.)

What are your favorite memories of Rebecca's ordination?

Meet Our New Vestry Members: Eddie Gibb

by Eddie Gibb

I am a 4th year Bioengineering/Biotechnology student at UCSD. I have grown up in the Episcopal Church, attending St. Patrick's in Kenwood, CA since birth. I served as an acolyte for ten years, and I was an active part of the youth group. I went on two mission trips with the youth group to Tijuana to build houses through Amor Ministries.

I also helped organize a youth diocesan convention for the Diocese of Northern California. I was also a youth representative at the 2006 General Convention through E3: Educate, Experience, and Empower.

I worked in elder care for three years, which stemmed from a senior service project through my Catholic high school, Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa.

In 2009, I became a member of the United Campus Ministry at UCSD. The campus ministry has been everything I ever hoped for and more. I have been supported both spiritually and emotionally by the community, and it has facilitated further service work, such as a mission trip to El Salvador in 2010. United Campus Ministry has also presented me with an opportunity to become one of the founding members of the Interfaith Student Council at UCSD.

I would like to become a member of the vestry at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church to help grow the campus ministry at UCSD and integrate it better with with the physical community of Good Samaritan.

It was encouraging to see how the joint efforts of Good Samaritan and the Newman Center Catholic Community at UCSD could come together and produce such an amazing Advent Choral Celebration. I hope to expand the United Campus Ministry's relationship with the Newman Community by working with Kieu Tran through the Interfaith Council.

I would also like to help support other ministries, such as  the Vi Care worship service and organizing mission trips for the youth group. Although my immediate future after graduation is uncertain, I am excited by the possibility of being on the vestry.

Praying for Birthdays and Anniversaries in a New Way

by Chris Chase

So, this past Sunday, the first in 2012, actually the first day in the new year, I changed the little prayer we say on “Birthday Sunday.” 

As you know on the first Sunday of the month we call forward to the altar all those who celebrate birthdays during the month. We also call forward those who celebrate anniversaries of their marriages or those who want to celebrate relationships in their lives. 

What has confused me over the years is that we end this blessing with a prayer that only recognizes those who have come forward to celebrate the anniversary of their birth, and not those who come forward to celebrate their love. Kinda leaves them out of the communal well wishes.

Well, it bugged me enough that I finally felt compelled to change the prayer to be more inclusive. I used a prayer that comes from the Book of Common Prayer that is entitled “For Those We Love” (which seems appropriate for a christian community that purports to “love and beloved”), and reads; 

“Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Granted it does not have the rhyme and rhythm of the old prayer but it does include all who come forward. 

BUT, I am not wedded (no pun intended) to this prayer. And, as it is a prayer that we all say as a community to offer thanks and gratitude for those in our community who worship along side of us in a spirit of being loved and beloved, I want to invite your suggestions. 

So, if you have a favorite prayer that celebrates and blesses those celebrating birthdays and marriages and loving relationships, please feel free to submit. Feel free to write one. Submit and if appropriate we will use it this year. 

By appropriate I mean be respectful expressing gratitude for all blessing and love and not for the specific. For example, this would be an inappropriate prayer: “Gracious God, we give you praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life, especially for the New York Yankees and their World Series victories of yore...” It would not surprise you to receive a reply from me asking if I could help reword some of the prayer.

You get the idea :)

Have fun.

Peace,

Chris

Has Calling Yourself A 'Christian' Ever Felt Like a Lie?

by Leanne Shawler

When I joined Good Sam, I was a lifelong Christian, an active Christian for good chunks of it, but I hadn’t forgiven myself or allowed God to forgive me for my past actions. So the identity tag of “Christian” felt like a lie to me.

Before I joined Good Sam, I was active in another church and could “do” church to a tee: be the sole Sunday School teacher, create and print the Sunday bulletins, the newsletter, serve on vestry, lead the way in inviting the local community to come to church. I was so busy “doing” church that the sum total I experienced in a typical Sunday service was the couple of minutes of communion.

In short, I was working my arse off trying to belong, all the while believing that I didn’t.

Because I had done some things I was ashamed of. That time in my life wasn’t pretty. Or healthy.

It wasn’t until I burnt out at “doing church” that we church-shopped for a new church home and found Good Sam. Dan and I vowed not to get involved for a while, maybe six months. We lasted three, and joined the choir. The end of the year rolled around and I ran for vestry.

I was well on the path of “doing church” again. 

But that was the moment God, through Good Sam, transformed my life. While on vestry retreat at Mt. Calvary in Santa Barbara, I walked the labyrinth in the early morning before breakfast. I was on vestry with Thelma, who taught me how to pray and who knew how to pray a labyrinth.

This isn't the labyrinth I walked, but is the one at St. Mary's
Retreat House where the brothers from Mt. Calvary are
now located since the fire a few years ago.

I used the method she told me about where I reflected on my life, from birth to present time. I was approaching the center of the labyrinth, and realized that what I colloquially call the “dark time” in my life would be what I was reflecting on as I reached the center. Where God was.

Waiting.

I could quit the labyrinth or take the leap and step into the center and take whatever God was going to deliver. Think lightning strike.

I took the leap, and laid it all out there: the betrayal, the smashed relationships, the guilt.

And God loved me. There’s really no other way to express the warmth, the overpowering sense of love, the embrace and the gentle voice that said: “I was there. I loved you then. If only you’d seen Me.”

Since then, I’ve done my best to honor God’s gift of mercy, love and forgiveness to me. It took me a little while to figure out how and there have been some backward steps, but by continuing to lean in toward God and His love, by getting help in learning how to let my baggage go, by learning more about my faith through Education for Ministry, discovering the depths of my role at Good Sam, I think I am finally at the place for what God has called me to do next: to share God’s gift of mercy, love and forgiveness with someone else.

I see it happening through communicating the transformative place that Good Sam is to the outside world via this blog, and somehow, personally making an impact on someone who needs to hear what I refused to hear for so long.

Has calling yourself a ‘Christian’ ever felt like a lie? Why?