THE TRUMPET CALL

Our Mission: To love Jesus Christ and to share His Love

Our Vision: To be a Christian community where Christ is transforming lives
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church Volume IV Issue 8 February 25, 2018

Journey to Resurrection

Join us as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, beginning with

His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His
crucifixion, and finally His resurrection.
Sunday, March 12: 12pm-2pm
Thursday, March 29: 4pm-5:30pm
Friday, March 30: 4pm-6pm

Pastor’s Corner
For those not able to come to our Mission Connexion Lenten service this past
Wednesday evening at ESUMC, a unique and different sermon was offered by the Rev.
Bill Kuntze, pastor of Cherry Lane UMC near Tannersville. While we normally expect
people to mute and put away their phones for a worship service, during Bill’s message
we wanted people to pull out their phones and use them. Use them, they did! During the
sermon, a total of 22 people texted me, and I read the questions and comments to Bill in
real time as he preached. Since people were anonymous and didn’t need to stand up in
the crowd to ask their questions, it was a freeing experience for those who would
otherwise be loathe to get up and say something. The questions and comments were thoughtful and helped
Bill to know where he needed to go in his comments about the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard to
achieve the best understanding and outcome. I may try this sometime, so be ready!
Give and take dialogue is important not just with sermons, but in many aspects of church life. In December,
we had a joint meeting of Steering Team and Vision Team, and the congregation was invited to share in that
experience. Many came out to the meeting, but the downside was that there was not time in the schedule for
questions. We had the “give” part of the dialogue, but not the “take.” The leadership of the church would like
to change the equation and have a true dialogue with the congregation over several congregational
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(Continued from page 1)

meetings. There have been, and will continue to be, many changes in our church, and it is important that we are all
on the same page and fully informed about what is going on. It is important that the leadership hears from members
and friends of the congregation about what can be improved. We see this as another way we can help build
congregational unity as we seek to fulfill our vision, “To be a Christian Community Where Christ is Transforming
Lives.”
To that end, we’re going to have “What’s the Scoop?” the end of March. This is a fun ice cream social together with
helping everyone “get the scoop” on the latest with the direction of our church. You have my word that this time, we
will keep the presentation part of things limited and have plenty of time to answer your questions. We are asking
you to submit questions ahead of time (before our next Steering Team meeting on March 12) so that we can assign
people to answer your questions. If all the questions don’t get answered this time around, we already have plans for
several more congregational meetings throughout the year. So, please put this on your calendar now: Sunday,
March 25, 6:00-7:30 pm, What’s the Scoop? Childcare will be provided. Plan to eat dinner first and save lots of
room for ice cream and good conversation!
Blessings, Pastor Jim

The mission team recently

met with Ryan Moyer to hear
about the exciting Intervarsity
Program that he manages
each summer in inner city
Philadelphia called Gateway Philadelphia. Each summer
10-15 students come from different universities around the
country to participate in the 6-week program. The
students learn leadership skills with a focus on bringing Stephen Ministry
the transforming gospel of hope and peace to North
Philadelphia while they serve alongside their neighbors in Support
several local organizations. Our church is providing “When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
$5000 toward scholarships for the program this summer.
your love, O Lord, supported me.”
For more information on the program check out
https://gatewayphilly.com/ Psalm 94:18

Support is something we all need. God gives

This week’s Lenten Service
will be at Cherry Lane UMC
Wednesday the 28th at 7pm
Healing and Anointing service.
Teacher of Parables, Healer of
Diseases (Matthew 9:35-38),
Pastor Paul Crikelair
us support through Christian brothers and
sisters. Let us all be sensitive to one
another's needs and take time to support
each other through prayers, phone calls,
encouraging chats after church, visits.
For those experiencing life struggles that
seem to be overwhelming, please consider
a Stephen Minister to walk beside you!
For more information about Stephen Ministry,
please contact Peggy Strack, 570-856-2131

As Kathy Ravago is our new editor, please send all ESUMC

future articles to Trumpetcall@ESUMC.net. Note, if
requested, we will run your article in consecutive Sunday Services and Studies
issues as room allows. A new article may take Traditional 8:30 am
priority over repeats. If you have any questions, or Contemporary 10:45 am
need special assistance with your article, please Sunday School 9:45 am
contact Kathy at the church office 570-421-3280.
Discipleship Groups 9:45 am
 STORE CLOSING
Sadly, after 70 years as a family business,
Joe and Marcia Hackman are retiring. The
store will close April 28, 2018.
OK’s (Older Kids 50+) will be taking a trip
to Hackman's Bible-Bookstore on March
15th leaving at 9 AM. Lunch will be at the
Country Buffet, and we plan to be back at
the church by 2 PM. If you have Bibles
you do not use, bring these with you, as,
they are collecting Bibles to send to India.
Call Linda Drake at 570-856-9395 by
March 12 to schedule a reservation, as we
will travel by church van(s) and need a final
count.
ADULT MISSION TRIP
This year we will be travelling to North
Carolina to repair homes damaged by
Hurricane Matthew in 2016. We will leave
from church on Sunday, April 22 and will
drive ~7.5 hr to Tarboro, where we will
work for the week. We'll head home on
Saturday, April 28.
If you are interested in joining us Please
contact Pat Braun at 570-269-5043
by March 30
YOUNG
ADULT
YOUNG
FAMILY
St. Patty’s Day Kings of Queen Street
Gig Will be on Saturday, March 17th,
7pm, at Newberry’s
For more information please visit our YAYF
Facebook Group Page or
text Bethany Mills at 434.944.4641
Dear Friends,
Have you been wondering about the next joint Vision-
Steering Team meeting? Have you been holding on to a
question and would really love to have it answered? Join
us Sunday, March 25th at 6:00pm for our “WHAT’S THE
SCOOP?” Ice Cream Social directly followed by a Church-
Wide meeting (6:30-7:30pm)!
At this meeting, we intend to cover three primary topics:
1) Our NEW Church structure and organization chart,
2) the introduction of our NEW Ministry Teams and their
NEW Chairs/Co-Chairs, and finally 3) the approved 2018
budget! This 20 minute presentation will be followed by a
brief Q&A session (based on the 5 “most frequently
asked questions” we receive to our survey), with some
”table talk” time facilitated just after that.
Text your question to 570-580-4343 or ask your question
via an index card and drop it in the question box, located
in Oberholtzer hall.
Not sure you can make both the social and the meeting?
Come on out for just Ice Cream and fellowship from 6:00-
6:30pm! Our Fun & Fellowship Team, along with many
other helpers are working together to pull off a sweet-treat
for all of us to enjoy! And you don’t want to miss that! So
bring the family, have some ice cream and stay a while!
Infant Childcare and an exciting game, relay and activity
time for kids will be hosted during the Church Wide
meeting.
Come find out what the scoop is. You’ll be glad you did!
Bethany Mills
 After 40: Ready for Action Contact Us
Is a Discipleship Study Church Office
offering a fresh perspective (570) 421-3280
of familiar Bible Stories where church@esumc.net
God used the number, 40, Hours: 9am to 1pm
Monday thru Friday
with significance, such as: the
Pastor
40 days and 40 nights of rain in the story of Noah and great flood; the Jim Todd
Israelite people who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years; and the jtodd@esumc.net
Ext. 1014
resurrected Jesus alive and on the earth for 40 days. In each story, the
Church Administrator
curriculum examines periods of testing, temptation or rigorous effort, Jill Teaford
which challenged and equipped God’s people for something greater! jteaford@esumc.net
Ext. 1015

Join us THIS Sunday to explore how we can likewise be encouraged on Administrative Assistant
Kathy Ravago
our faith journey towards the new adventures Christ has set for us. After kravago@esumc.net
40 will meet in Classrooms 8 and 9, located next to the Youth Room, Ext. 1010
Spiritual Life &
beneath the Fellowship Hall. Congregational Care
Bethany Mills
bmills@esumc.net
Ext. 1023
Annual Cantata Sunday April 22 Student Ministries
Scott Kuhnle
Music, Motion, + Math skuhnle@esumc.net
(U+I)G = UNITY Ext. 1013
You and I in God’s power is UNITY! Children & Family Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
February 28th – Deadline Day! Ext. 1017
Financial Secretary
Time is running out to register and pay for the Michael Corey
March 10th Spiritual Life Retreat at Pocono mcorey@esumc.net
Plateau! The entire church family is invited to Ext. 1012
participate in a day of spiritual refreshment, Maintenance
fellowship, and fun in this beautiful mountain William Mack
wmack@esumc.net
setting! Sunday, February 25th is the final Ext. 1018
day to register and submit payment in
Organist/Traditional Music
Fellowship Hall. All registration forms and Pauline Fox
payment must be received in the church office no later than foxes@esumc.net
Wednesday, February 28th. Visit the church website, Contemporary Music
www.esumc.net for complete information. “How beautiful on the Doug Malefyt
mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim dmalefyt@esumc.net
peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Choir Director
Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7. Join your brothers and sisters in Julie Searle
Christ in worshipping our Lord in this beautiful mountain setting! choir@esumc.net
Audio//Visual Technician
Tristen Gearhart
tgearhart@esumc.net
Scan QR to ESUMC Website
Technology Support
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church Michael Corey
83 S. Courtland St. mcorey@esumc.net
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Ext. 1012
www.esumc.net