Good Samaritan Anglican Church

2020-03-08 - Year A - Lent 2 - Agape Year Agape Year is a 9-month program (September to May) for recent high school graduates who seek to grow in their love and knowledge of Jesus Christ while engaging in His mission for the lost, the poor, and the uninvited both locally and globally. On March 8, Nathan Twichell, co-Director of Agape Year, visited Good Samaritan Anglican Church with two Agape Year Fellows to share about what God has been doing in their lives, both in Pittsburgh as well as in Thailand. For more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: www.goodsamaritananglican.org.

2020-02-23 - Year A - Last Sunday of Epiphany (Transfiguration) - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; Philippians 3:7-14; Matthew 17:1-9 Epiphany “a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something” or “an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being.” The Transfiguration reveals, yet again the fullness of who Jesus really is, and it points the way towards what he came to do. The readings this morning show us two very different but connected encounters with God on mountain tops and they show us what these two things mean for our lives. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/a-tale-of-two-mountains/

2020-02-16 - Year A - World Mission Sunday - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 67; Acts 1:1-8; Matthew 9:35-38 God is a missionary God. All mission is first and foremost God’s mission (or Missio Dei in Latin). We see this in Matthew 9:35 where Jesus, God himself, goes on mission. God invites us to participate in his mission reconcile the world to himself through prayer, sending, and going. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/participating-in-the-mission-of-god/

2020-02-07 - Year A - Epiphany 5 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas 2 Kings 22:8-20; Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20 In the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus explains to his followers how he wants them (and now us) to behave in the world by using two metaphors: salt and light. He is indicating that we should be people who do good in the world. Many of us have taken this to heart and try to do good things as we are able to, but have you ever considered why we do good things? The whys (motives) behind our good deeds are just as important as the whats (our actual good actions). I can think of four basic motives, some good, some not. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/why-do-good/

2020-02-02 - Year A - Presentation - The Rev. Carrie Klukas Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2:14-18; Matthew 2:22-40 The Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas is meant to be a time for us to present ourselves to the Lord. As the month of January has ended I am sure many of your New Year’s resolutions may have ended as well. Perhaps that is okay and perhaps God has a different plan for you this year. What would it look like for you to present yourself as you are right now to the Lord? For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/the-feast-of-the-presentation/

2020-01-26 - Year A - Epiphany 3 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Amos 3:1-11; Psalm 139:1-18; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Matthew 4:12-22 It can be widely assumed that most everything we do online can be tracked. You will know this if you have ever searched for something in a search engine and then you begin to see advertisements for the same kinds of products. Companies can track your purchases, location, and your digital history if you let them. Some think that they will track you even if you don’t let them! If that feels creepy to you, you can take comfort in the fact that there are some things that cannot be tracked: like your thoughts. On the other hand, there is someone who can even track your thoughts: God. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/exposed/

2020-01-19 - Year A - Epiphany 2 - The Rev. Steven Edwards Exodus 12:21-28; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Our Lord, Jesus, has so much love for us, and hope for our lives, that He offered His own, to save ours. He who created us, who called us into being, is Himself the greatest respecter and investor for the sacredness of human life. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He suffered and gave life so that no other substitutional sacrifice would need to be offered to sustain us in life before God. We are called to take joy in the gift and blessing of life in Him. We are called to defend and protect the sanctity of life of others. Those living in our midst, and for the unborn, and for all those dependent or defenseless, upon grace for the hope and fullness of life. We are to extend hope and mercy to each one. Let us take courage in the word of God through the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 1: 4-8: "Let us give thanks for one another to the Lord, because of the grace given in Jesus Christ, that in every way you are enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/life-in-the-lamb/

2020-01-12 - Year A - Epiphany 1 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 89:20-29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 When Jesus comes to be baptized by John, John is confused (Matthew 3:14). Perhaps this passage confuses you as well. John’s job was to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah, and now Jesus was standing right there in front of him. Shouldn't Jesus have baptized John? Also, John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:11-12). Jesus was without sin, so why would Jesus need to be Baptized? Listen to hear more about what Jesus' Baptism was all about. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/jesus-baptized-for-us/

2020-01-05 - Year A - Christmas 2 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-14; Matthew 2:1-12 It is possible that the Magi may have heard of a Jewish prophesy about a king whose birth was to be marked by a star (see Numbers 24:17). But how would a normal sign in the sky come to rest over the place where the child was. Jerusalem is only about 5 miles from Bethlehem. They could have walked there in about an hour and 45 minutes. It would be hard to tell the difference from an astronomer’s POV. I like to think that this sign was something that God specifically created to celebrate the birth of his Son! Kind of like the “it’s a boy” signs you sometimes see in a front yard! A special sign for a special birth. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/a-special-star-for-a-special-birth/

2019-12-29 - Year A - Christmas 1 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 61:10-62:5; Psalm 147:12-20; Galatians 3:23-4:7; John 1:1-18 For those of you who are married, can you remember what you wore on your wedding day? If you are not married, think about another significant event in your life. We tend to wear special clothes for special occasions. In Isaiah 61:10, the speaker seems to be the servant of the Lord, the Messiah (see 61:1). Earlier in the chapter, God’s people were given “garments of praise” (61:3). Now the Servant himself is given special garments for a special purpose, Salvation and Righteousness. He is getting prepared to save his people. He is getting ready to visit us! For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/dressed-for-salvation/

2019-12-24 - Christmas Eve - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20 "Hope," "Peace," and "Joy:" this time of year we see these words written everywhere: yard decorations, television commercials, wrapping paper, and Christmas cards. These words make us feel good, like a warm blanket and a steaming peppermint latte, but what do they really mean? Imagine for a moment receiving a gift in beautiful packaging, but when you open it there is nothing inside. The words “Hope, Peace, and Joy” can be like that. We hear them, and they make us smile, but a few moments later it is as if they meant nothing. These words can also be some of the best gifts you have ever received, which fill the deepest needs and desires of your heart. Ultimately, it is your choice. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/hope-peace-and-joy/

2019-12-22 - Year A - Advent 4 - The Rev. Carrie Klukas Isaiah 7:10-17; Psalm 24; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph and Mary’s story at first is messy, difficult, and oh so similar to life as we know it. How many people have gotten married under difficult circumstances? How many people continue to live in difficult marriages and circumstances? How many people remain in difficult relationships in general? Both Mary and Joseph give us a deeper understanding of what it means to be a godly woman or a godly man in this world. They give us a pathway to the Father and a way to follow in this life. Today I want to look at how their lives, choices, and attitudes can shape our lives. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/risk-sacrifice-and-trust/

2019-12-15 - Year A - Advent 3 (Learning Tree Sunday)- The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-20; Matthew 11:2-19 In business, it is important to underpromise and overdeliver. Sometimes this is referred to as “managing expectations.” It is important to be mindful of expectations in all of our relationships, whether business or personal. Especially in marriage. Unspoken expectations lead to lots of conflict and resentment. In the Gospel passage today, John the Baptist is in prison for speaking truth to power. John’s role was to prepare the way for the Lord. The Messiah was coming, the time was imminent. John was sure that Jesus was the Messiah, he knew it even while he was still in his mother’s womb, and this truth was confirmed at Jesus’ Baptism. But now John was not so sure. His expectations were not lining up with what he was seeing. Why? For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/expectations/

2019-12-08 - Year A - Advent 2 (altered for 10th anniversary) - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 84; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12 For the sons of Korah, the authors of Psalm 84, there was no better place to be than the Temple. The temple was intended by God to be an earthly representation of God’s heavenly courts. A place where heaven and earth met. Even today, when we worship it gives us a foretaste of heaven. Today, we give God thanks for this house of worship as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the consecration of this building. Since that day there have been approximately 520 Sundays and probably at least 2000 opportunities for corporate worship! At the same time, we remember that the church is not a building, it is people! For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/the-place-where-god-dwells/

2019-12-01 - Year A - Advent 1 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:29-44 Your car may not have an autopilot mode, but I bet you have had the experience of intending to go to a particular destination, getting lost in a conversation, and taking wrong turns because of it! Similarly, sometimes we move through life as if we have an autopilot for our lives. We can pick up sin in our lives without even realizing it. This is what happens when we are in autopilot mode. It is as if we are sleeping. We move passively through life, uncritically accepting patterns of speech, behaviors, and concepts from our culture. In Romans 13:11 Saint Paul tells us that it is time to wake up! For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/wake-up/

2019-11-26 - Thanksgiving Service - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas James 1:17-27; Psalm 65:1-8; Matthew 6:25-33 Our contemporary celebration of Thanksgiving arises from a European tradition with deep Christian roots, recognizing the blessings and provision of Almighty God either at harvest time or after deliverance from significant trouble. And yet, we forget this sometimes. We forget that God is the one who provides, and we take that burden upon ourselves. We strive after the things of this world, searching for happiness, searching for meaning, searching for peace. Jesus’ words remind us to set our anxieties aside. He tells us that when we focus on the things of this world, we will find anxiety. But, when we focus on God and his Kingdom instead, everything else falls into its own right place. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/count-your-blessings/

2019-11-22 - Year C - Christ the King - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:35-43 As Americans, we don't have much of an appreciation for the role of a King. In fact, you might say that the roots of our nations are decidedly anti-king. Our constitution was set up with a system of checks and balances to make sure that no one person could hold all the power at one time. We have a right to be afraid of earthly kings, but Jesus is a king that will never fail us. His rule is just and perfect, he always has our best interests and the best interests of his kingdom in mind. And one day he will make right all that is broken in this world. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/the-crucified-king/

2019-11-17 - Year C - Proper 28 - The Rev. Carrie Klukas Malachi 3:13-4:6; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16; Luke 21:5-19 Once when my son was about three years old he had spent about an hour building an incredible duplo block creation. His little sister crawled over and began to pull at his buildings. He exploded with anger and frustration. When I mentioned that it was time for lunch and therefore clean up time which meant taking his building down and putting it away he was beside himself with anger and rage. I sat on the floor with my son trying to help him understand that God desires for us to give ourselves to work and creativity, and to also let go of that which we create. It is so tempting in this life to cling to physical things we can see, touch, and experience. God longs to give us a godly perspective of our life. If we come to him we will have right thinking in regards to the way we invest ourselves. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/letting-go-of-our-creations/

2019-11-10 - Year C - Proper 27 - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Job 19:23-27a; Psalm 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5; Luke 20:27-38 There is meaning in our suffering. When we suffer and continue to trust God, it gives us an opportunity to rely on God for the strength to make it through. It gives us an opportunity to identify with the suffering of Christ himself. There is work yet to do. There are people who rely on you, but even more important than that, you are the image of God in this world. There are people whom God has uniquely positioned you to reach, both by your words and examples. There are people who may not make it safely home to God without your influence in their lives. Remember, “he is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (luke 20:38). He wants us to live for him now, and we all look forward to seeing God, in our flesh, face to face. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/in-my-flesh-i-shall-see-god/

2019-11-03 - Year C - All Saints Sunday - The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 6:20-36 If you golf, you may have golf heroes. Woodworkers have woodworking heroes. Cooks have cooking heroes. As Christians, we have Christian heroes that we call "saints." The point is not that Saints are so much holier than us and therefore must be much closer to God. All Saints were also sinners. Not perfect. The point is that they give us real, concrete examples of what it looks like to live out the Christian faith. For sermon notes and more information about Good Samaritan Anglican Church, please visit our website: https://www.goodsamaritananglican.org/sermons/saints-today-with-hope-for-tomorrow/