The Calendar

Saturday, January 3

• 4:00 pm - Worship E-mail Sent

Sunday, January 4 - The Second Sunday of Christmas

• 8:15 am - Holy Eucharist Rite I
• 9:45 am - Adult Choir Rehearsal
• 10:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II with Feast of Lights - also live-streamed
• 11:45 am - Social Lights - Newk's Eatery, Kingston Pike

Monday, January 5



• 5:45 pm - Stewardship Team

Tuesday, January 6

• 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist and Healing Service
• 11:00 am - Book and Bible Study

Wednesday, January 7



• 9:45 am - Staff Meeting
• 12:00 pm - VMC Lunch
• 7:00 pm - Adult Choir Rehearsal

FEAST OF LIGHTS

Sunday, January 4, is Epiphany Sunday! We will enjoy a breakfast feast between services and then celebrate the Feast of Lights during the 10:30 am service. The Feast of Lights is a service of scripture and song that tells the story of Christ’s incarnation and epiphany and the spreading of the good news of Christ to the church and the world. The festival liturgy concludes our Christmas celebration by honoring the light of Christ in our midst and reminding us that we too are called to make Christ’s light manifest in our world today.

ATTENTION TREE TEAM!

Good Samaritans:

It is time to take down the Christmas decorations in the church! If you are able, please stay after the 10:30 service for about 30 minutes to help with this task. The more people we have to help, the faster the take-down!

Poinsettias:

8:15 Service Attendees: If you would like to take a poinsettia, please see Michelle Bales and she will retrieve one for you.

10:30 Service Attendees: PLEASE take as many poinsettias as you would like. Feel free to find them good homes!

ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASS

Begins on January 11

9:30 - Henslee Hall

The Adult Confirmation - or Inquirer's Class - will begin on Sunday, January 11 during the Sunday School hour at 9:30 am. The sacrament of Confirmation is the adult confirmation, or acceptance, of our baptismal vows that were made on our behalf if we were baptized as an infant or a child. It is also the class or method by which adults, baptized or confirmed in another denomination or tradition, join the Episcopal Church. We also highly recommend those life-long Episcopalians who were confirmed when they were 12 or 13 to attend and learn all the stuff they didn't learn the first time! For more information, please contact Father Cal.

TAKING A SHORT BREAK

A few groups are taking a short break through the Christmas season.

*Fiber Friends will resume on Sunday, Jan 4, 2026.

*The Tuesday Women’s Bible Study will take a break until January 13th.

*The Episcopal Church Women's Group will also take a break in the month of January. Meetings will resume in February.

HELP NEEDED

Do you have some extra time throughout the week? We have a number of older adults needing extra support with tasks such as house/yard cleaning and/ or grocery shopping. The Care Committee was asked if there were any people who might be interested in helping out a little for some of these parishioners. If you are interested, call Greg Phelps, the committee chair, at 865-919-5504, or notify the church office.

CHRISTMAS EVE AT GOOD SAM

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the Christmas Eve services at Good Sam. It was a beautiful night. (More pictures are available on the Good Sam social media pages.)

2025 in Review



Good Sam had a wonderful 2025, which saw one priest reach 20 years and another start his ministry journey. We celebrated and commemorated, welcomed new people and said goodbye to saints, and grew as a community of faith. We give thanks for 2025, and we look ahead with anticipation. Thank you, Good Samaritans, for all that you are.

GRACE MOMENT AT GOOD SAM

Cash in the Plate

Fig Tree, sponsored by Cokesbury United Methodist Church, is "a place to be seen and known." In addition to a variety of services, it is a gathering place for friendship and community. While striving to create a safe community for everyone, Fig Tree prioritizes our most vulnerable neighbors. Their services include showers, laundry, computers, hot meals, microwaves, and other commuity resources.

You can make an online gift to the cash in the plate on the Good Sam online giving page. There is an option on the giving page to give to the "Cash in Plate". As always, you may also send a check to Good Samaritan. Please put "Fig Tree" in the memo line.