In Waldorf, Maryland, Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church is known for its motto, "Living God's Grace in Our Community," and for a shared life built around hospitality, communion, and discipleship. The congregation describes itself as a family of flawed people who experience God's grace in every aspect of life. God, the Creator, has called people to follow Jesus, rely on the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance, and love and glorify God in all they do.
Sunday Worship at 10:00
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School gathers at 9:00 a.m. during the school year, September through June, before the congregation comes together for worship. The 10:00 service is livestreamed, and the congregation can also watch it at any time on its YouTube channel.
The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. Good Samaritan's Communion table is open to everyone who has been baptized, including children. When a child understands the significance of the Lord's Table, parents may choose whether the child participates. Families who prefer to wait until a child is older or has completed confirmation classes may instead have the child come forward for a blessing. The pastor is glad to talk with parents and children about the meaning of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Children Are Welcome in the Sanctuary
Children are encouraged to be present during worship. A nursery serves infants through age five, while the "Children in Church" program gives grade-school children a place to participate when sitting still for the whole service is difficult. At a table in the rear of the sanctuary, children old enough to understand quiet can color, draw, or work on puzzles and activity sheets connected to the text for the week. An adult volunteer supervises the table, and materials can also accompany a child who would rather sit with parents.
This approach is designed to help children feel at home in the worship traditions of the church as they grow into teens and young adults. It expresses the church's commitment to hospitality and its statement that each person is a child of God. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs." - Matthew 19:14
Three Teams Put the Core Principles into Practice
The functions of the congregation are divided among three teams, each organized around one core principle. Several Ruling Elders serve on Session, the church's main governing body, and members of the congregation at large are involved in the work of every team.
- Hospitality Team: Leads and provides the space, time, and anything else needed for the congregation to love its neighbors. Its Ruling Elders are John Holmes, Jay Koehler, and Bill Wetmore.
- Communion Team: Helps provide paths of growth for the worshiping community in its relationships to God and one another. Its Ruling Elders are Charlotte Mandragos and Mindy Tracy.
- Discipleship Team: Challenges and encourages people as they follow Jesus and are formed by his example. Its Ruling Elders are Ron Banks, Sally Brandt, and Sandy Webb.
Sharing Good News Beyond Sunday Morning
Good Samaritan calls the Gospel "good news" and says the congregation is called to share what it has received. The church seeks to be the body of Christ in the world, wants to share the hope found in Christ with the people it meets, and says that being church is not limited to Sunday morning but extends everywhere the congregation goes.
The church also describes itself as an inclusive community of faith that welcomes all who come to worship and treats each person as a child of God. The Hospitality Team gives that welcome a practical shape by leading and providing the space, time, and support needed to love neighbors.
Learning and Fellowship Through the Week
Beyond Adult Sunday School, several small groups offer deeper connection. The weekly rhythm also includes Crafters every Monday at 10:30 a.m. and Women's Bible Study every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. These recurring gatherings sit alongside worship and the three team commitments: loving neighbors, growing in relationship with God and one another, and following Jesus as he forms disciples.
Quilts, Prayer Shawls, and Care for Neighbors
Good Samaritan's commitment to neighbors is visible in its work with quilts and prayer shawls. The church dedicated its quilts in honor of Anne Creveling, its late Clerk of Session and Treasurer. Talented quilters and knitters made the pieces, while prayer shawls are sent to anyone going through a tough time. Quilts made in Anne Creveling's honor go to St. Jude's Children's hospitals. This tangible work of care reflects the Hospitality Team's aim of loving neighbors and the mission to share hope in Christ.
Teaching Elder Rev. Mark Gaskill
Rev. Mark Gaskill has served as Good Samaritan's Teaching Elder since 2013. He earned his Master of Divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2003 and then served at the Presbyterian Church of Plumville in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, for nearly 10 years. After nearly a decade, Mark and his wife moved so he could continue ministry at Good Samaritan. He has a love for preaching, cooking, many varieties of music, and walking.
Giving Through the Presbyterian Foundation
Good Samaritan accepts online gifts by credit or debit card through a giving platform administered by the Presbyterian Foundation. The platform keeps the church's costs as low as possible, though a percentage fee still applies, and the church asks donors to consider adding the 2% fee to their gift.
The church is at 13025 Good Samaritan Dr, Waldorf, MD 20601, USA. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 925, Waldorf, MD 20601, USA. The church's telephone number is (301) 645-4134, and its email address is gspc@comcast.net.