THE TRUMPET CALL

East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church

December 18, 2015

Military Ministry

Our Vision
To challenge and encourage everyone in our congregation to know and follow
Christ by:
Growing as disciples through Christs teachings
Connecting with one another in Christian community
Serving Christ by serving others
Praising God as we worship Christ

Sunday Services
Traditional 8:30 am
Contemporary 10:45 am
Sunday School/Discipleship Classes 9:45 am

Please keep our military

personnel and their families in
your prayers. Many soldiers
are overseas and/or cannot get
leave and will be spending
Christmas defending our
freedom.
If you know a soldier, please
contact Randy Johns at 570476-5639 or
superuncle113@yahoo.com
with name and address and the
ministry will send cards and
notes of encouragement on
behalf of ESUMC.
Thank you and Merry
Christmas,
Dawn & Randy

Pastors Corner
For those of you reading this on Thursday afternoon, there is still time to make plans to attend
our third Advent Study this evening, Sent. Its been a great study thus far, and I find the
examples provided by the participants in the video to be very down to earth and easily
relatable to all of our lives. Even if you havent been to either of the first two, please come to
the last two! A reminder: the third study is tonight and the fourth and final is on Sunday night,
since next Thursday is Christmas Eve and God has other plans for us then. We enjoy a great
simple meal at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall, served by Ana Price and her volunteers, then
move into Oberholtzer for a brief video and small group sharing. Were on our way home by
8:00 pm. Its a great way to center our devotional life during Advent and prepare us spiritually
for Christmas. The third study (Thurs. night) will even prepare us for our upcoming sermon
series starting January 3, entitled, Where is God When it Hurts?
Owing to the success of our red postcard distribution the last few weeks, whereby you have been challenged
to give out informational postcards to family, friends, and co-workers to invite them to our church, were doing it
again for our January sermon series. We have ordered 500 glossy postcards to be distributed at all three
services on Christmas Eve to get people -- especially those who might only show up in worship on Christmas
Eve and Easter -- to think about coming back to worship in the January when attendance can dip owing to the
weather. If we run out of cards on Christmas Eve or need more to hand out later, we will certainly order more. I
want to thank all of you who have been inviting people with our red postcards during Advent!
I will be participating in a Blue Christmas service on Monday night, December 21, 7:00 pm, at Cherry Lane
UMC. A Blue Christmas service (also sometimes called a Longest Night Service since it is held on the winter
solstice) is especially for those who have been affected by loss: loss of a loved one or other loss in ones life, or
for those who struggle to be filled with Christmas joy no matter what the cause. If this sounds like something
youd like to attend or know of someone who is struggling this time of year, please invite them to go directly to
Cherry Lane Church for the service, or meet me in the rear parking lot of our church at 6:20 pm on Monday
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night, when I will be driving one of our church vans to the church for the
service. This service can provide a strong, faithful answer to the question,
Where is God when it hurts? The church is located on Cherry Lane Rd.
in Tannersville.
Of course, the big event within the next
week is Christmas Eve, when we will have
three very different services offered at
4:00, 7:00, and 10:00 pm. The first is the
Childrens service, a brief service geared
toward younger children and which will
feature LED candles which they can each
take home. It will be an interactive service
with children invited to participate in a
spontaneous Christmas pageant. The
7:00 pm service is a more traditional family service which will feature
much music and a brief Christmas message focused on the Love
Revealed theme weve been exploring during Advent. LED candles will
be given to children and wax candles given to youth and adults for the
culmination of the service in the singing of Silent Night. The 10:00 pm
service will feature lessons and carols and Holy Communion at the end of
the service. This service will also culminate in the singing of Silent Night
with candlelight. I hope and pray that one of these services fits your family
for Christmas Eve, and remember, it is never too late to invite someone
new! This Sunday, the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we will explore
the theme of Humility: the humility of Mary foreshadowed the humility
her son would show later as he gave himself to us on the cross. I hope to
see you in worship!
Pastor Jim

Blue Christmas Service

Cherry Lane UMCMonday December 21, 2015, 7 PM

Pastor Todd will be taking a vanleaving church at 6:30 P.M.

The Blue Christmas Service is an annual service of worship held on or close

to the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice. It is designed to be a quiet, reflective service for those who have experienced loss in their lives and are
grieving or are remembering a loved one around the holidays. All are invited!

(Extended through Sunday, December 20)

Photo Caption
Stephen Ministry

Struggling?
Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15
Its Christmas! So many happy
memories: family gathered together, a
beautiful tree, special worship services.
It isnt that way this year and your heart
aches. A Stephen Minister would like to
be there for you! Your Stephen Minister
will listen to you, care for you, pray for
you, and help you through this time of
pain.
For more information about Stephen
Ministry, please contact Peggy Strack,
570-421-3280, ext. 1023.
Members of ESUMC who are no longer
able to attend church, always enjoy
hearing from you! Cards and notes of
encouragement may be sent to:
Betty Smith
4 S Kistler St. Apt 225
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Thank you!
45 members of the church family who are
no longer able to attend church received
plates of Christmas cookies and a small
wreath to remind them of the Saviors love
at Christmas. Thank you to everyone who
made the crafts, baked cookies, packaged
the cookies and delivered the cookies and
crafts! It was a wonderful team effort that
truly blessed those who sometimes feel
forgotten! Well done thou good and
faithful servants, and may you have a
very blessed Christmas!

Last Chance to
Order Poinsettias
for Christmas
2

Church-Wide Study

Childrens Ministry Upcoming Events

Family Minute To Win It Game Night
Saturday, January 9, 2016 - 5:30-7:00 pm

January 10th - 31st

Love Boxes
Saturday, February 6, 2016 - 12:30-2:00 pm

Classes to be held on Sundays and

throughout the week at various times/places

Weekly Childrens Ministry Events

Sunday School
Sundays @ 9:45-10:35 am

Childrens Church
Sundays @ 11:00-11:45 am

Sign-up in Oberholtzer Hall

The Gospel. Four words: JESUS IN MY PLACE. Jesus lived the life I

should have lived and died the death I was condemned to die. John 3:16
says, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) This is
truly great news, is it not? So why arent people running to our doorstep to
Weekly Youth Ministry Schedule
receive this wonderful message of grace?
Sr. High Bible Study
The gospel message never changes, but what has drastically changed is our
Mondays @ 6:30-8:30 pm
cultural climate. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, it was the norm to attend
church each Sunday, at least where I lived. Now, that is not the case. In fact,
Youth Praise Band Practice
many people dont consider it an option, even in times of crisis. Many
Wednesdays @ 6:00-7:00 pm
millennials, ages 18-34, identify themselves as nonreligious and do not see
JAM Jr. High Afterschool Program and
the church and its message as relevant. (see Pocono Record article on
Fellowship Meal @ 2:45-6:00 pm
unchurched millennials 12/13/15)
So what can we do? How are we to reach the unchurched and the nominally
JAM Jr. High Boys & Girls Study Groups Christian folks in our community? Adam Hamilton, co-creator of the CATCH
@ 6:45-8:00 pm
program, says before we begin to invite people to our worship services, we
need to answer three important questions.
Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School and
Fellowship @ 9:45-10:35 am
Why do people need Jesus Christ?
Contact: Scott Kuhnle, skuhnle@esumc.net
Why do people need the church?
Phone: 570-421-3280 Ext. 1013
Why do people need your particular church?
Contact Erica Dorsch, edorsch@esumc.net
Phone: 570-421-3280 Ext. 1017

Partially furnished 23 Bedroom, 1 1/2

bath apartment
above church offices
for rent. Electric,
heat, water & sewer and sanitation
provided. $1,000 per month. Washer &
Dryer, stove and refrigerator.
Applicants must include 2 past rental
references & 2014 tax return.
Contact church office for information
(570) 421-3280

Great questions! Talk amongst yourselves now and be prepared to share

your thoughts. Make it a New Years Resolution to get involved in the CATCH
study. Weve been saved by grace and we want to extend that grace and the
gospel message to our community. See you on January 10th! Sign up
today!
Lynn Pappalardo

Two Positions

Weekday sexton to work 20 hours per

week.
Administrator of finances.
Background in accounting and strong
administration skills required.
Contact Jill Malefyt, SPR chairman, at
jillb@ptd.net or Pastor Jim for more
information.

Events

Contact Us

Christmas Music Opportunities

For details, contact Pauline Fox at 570-223-9889 or foxes@esumc.net
Sunday Dec. 20 Winds and strings play familiar carols in Oberholtzer
Hall balcony between morning sessions, 9:30-9:45 and 10:30-10:45. From
5th grade students in a school band, through adult. Players should arrive at
9:20. Music will be available. This is a favorite event for many listeners and
players!
Christmas Eve Prelude for 7:00 service starts at 6:40, with a variety of
carols by piano, violin, and bells. The Choir sings at 10 p.m. service.

Rehearsals resume Tuesday January 5 for bells, Thursday January 7 for

vocal choir.

SWAT and HIKING: No SWAT or hiking in the month of December.

SWAT will resume the 4th Monday of January. Hiking will also resume in
January (date to be announced.)

The Joyful Noises Quartet still has CDs for sale. Donation is $10 and $3 goes
back to the ESUMC Missions. These would make wonderful stocking stuffers. See Doug,
Pete, or Bob, and dont wait too longthere are not many left.

Christmas Eve Candlelight

Services
4:00 PM Childrens
7:00 PM Family
10:00 PM Communion

Church Office
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Mon thru Fri
Pastor
Jim Todd
jtodd@esumc.net
Ext. 1014
Secretary
Maria Ragonese
mragonese@esumc.net
Ext. 1010
Congregational Care
Peggy Strack
pstrack@esumc.net
Ext. 1023
Youth Ministries
Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
Ext. 1013

Childrens Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
Ext. 1017
Finances
Sue Mertz
smertz@esumc.net
Ext. 1015
Financial Secretary
Cyndie Faunce
cfaunce@esumc.net
Ext. 1025
Maintenance
William Mack
wmack@esumc.net
Ext. 1018

Christmas Eve Office Closing at Noon

Monday 12/28 11 a.m. 2 p.m.
Tuesday 12/29 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
Wednesday 12/30 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
Thursday 12/31 9 a.m. Noon.

Scan QR to ESUMC Website

East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church

83 S. Courtland St.
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
www.esumc.net

Organist/Traditional
Music
Pauline Fox
foxes@esumc.net
Audio/Visual
Joe Dorsch
josephdorsch@gmail.com
Contemporary Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net
Technology Support
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012