The Good Samaritan Story
As The Good Samaritan Church, we draw our understanding of who God is and our role as God’s people from the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10: 23-37). In the “The Great Commandment” (Luke 10:26-28) Jesus instructs that for us to truly live, we must love in radical and God-sized ways. We believe that love is central to God’s action in the world, and our faith response arises in response to this love.
23Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a lawyer/judge was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But the Outsider while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Our Response to God’s Call
The story of the Good Samaritan beckons us to reach out beyond our own comfort to those who need our care and advocacy. We look to our broader community to find how we can serve. Our church becomes the hands of God through small groups and ministries.
Since the mid 1990’s, we have provided English Language classes to thousands of non-native speakers as well as helped over 1,500 permanent residents successfully prepare for American Citizenship. Some of these people have become part of our community and continue to share their gifts and talents. In our efforts to bless these new residents, we, have been blessed by gratitude, friendship, and love. Newcomers continue to relocate to the Bay Area in large numbers from many different states, countries, and cultures seeking to establish new homes, care for families, and belonging to their new neighborhoods in meaningful ways. Good Samaritan continues to invite all people into our community to engage and serve in ways that empower everyone.
People need to know there are communities of faith willing to support their journey back to wholeness. For over 25 years, Good Samaritan has supported women in recovery from addiction through a program called Adopt-a-Miracle. We host monthly evenings of clean and sober fun by providing opportunities for women to experience laughter, food, games, connection and God’s unconditional love.
These are some of the ways we answer our God’s call. We continue to prayerfully consider how to reach out to a world in need of God’s love by using the gifts and talents of our community. Won’t you help us discover how we can continue to be God’s miracle in someone’s life?
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” ― Frederick Buechner
Founded in 1958, the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church began as an Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church that met at the De Oro Club in Cupertino and shortly after that, established our church at its present location. In 1968 we became a United Methodist Church. We are a part of the El Camino Real District and participate actively in our California Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church.
