East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church // Volume 5 // Issue 48 // 15 December 2019

THE Don’t miss this

1

TRUMPET
important article
from Pastor Jim
about ESUMC’s

CALL upcoming staff &

position changes!

Scott Kuhnle has been attending seminary part-time (Evangelical in Myerstown,

Lebanon County) for the past several years and has been making steady progress
through the ordination process of the United Methodist Church. He was recently
approved as a Certified Candidate on the North District of the Eastern PA Conference.
This represents a major milestone on the way to ordination. Once certified, a candidate
can seek licensure as a local pastor, and that process is underway right now with the
Bishop and Cabinet.

The Staff Parish Relations Team (SPR) is hoping that Scott can be licensed, then can
receive an appointment from the Bishop to be a half-time licensed local pastor to
ESUMC. Scott will still be full-time, and the other half of his duties will continue in the
area of youth ministry, where he has faithfully worked for more than ten years. We have
been so blessed by his ministry and want to do all we can to support his continued
Dear Church, journey on the way to ordination! We will keep you informed of his licensure, because this
will mean he is able to consecrate Holy Communion, perform baptisms and weddings and
other functions reserved for licensed and ordained clergy. As part of his local pastor role,
As we look beyond Scott will also be overseeing the evangelism and outreach part of what was formally in
Advent and Bethany Mills’ job description and will become the staff liaison for that team.

Christmas to the As Bethany Mills is expecting her second child (a baby girl) on February 10th, and has
requested to transition to part-time (20 hours) effective January 1st. Bethany will continue
New Year, we’ll be working for us until early February, and then go on maternity to welcome their new baby.
seeing some staff As she’s proved to be passionate and skilled in the area of Communications, she’ll
continue in Communications as her sole focus beginning in 2020. In the two-and-a-half
changes coming to years Bethany’s been with us, she’s certainly helped us recognize the importance of
effective communication, both externally to the community and internally amongst our
our congregation. church family. We so appreciate the great job she’s already done wearing multiple hats,
and look forward to the progress she’ll continue to help us make in 2020.
By now you know
about the pastoral Rachel Thompson will be increasing her hours somewhat to take on added
responsibilities in discipleship. Rachel has a passion for discipleship and this fits well in
change coming mid her area of giftedness. She will continue the excellent job she’s doing in congregational
care and will be the staff liaison for our Discipleship Team. She has just celebrated her
-year, and I’ll have first anniversary as a staff member at ESUMC, and we couldn’t be happier with the loving
a bit more to say care and sensitivity she brings to her work with those hospitalized, in care facilities,
homebound, and others who just need someone to talk to and pray with.
about that at the
In our United Methodist system, different from most other Protestant churches, the
end of this writing. Bishop in consultation with the Cabinet (district superintendents) makes appointments of
But we’ll also have pastors to churches, and that process will start within the first two weeks of the new year.
With that in mind, our SPR will be meeting with District Superintendent Steve Morton on
a few other December 29 to discuss with him attributes the church is seeking in the next appointed
senior pastor to follow me. SPR is putting together a list of those attributes, and if you’d
changes coming like to contribute your thoughts, you may speak between now and the end of the month to
our way with three any member of the team. The team is chaired by Paul Grimes, and other members are:
Nancy Carlson, Bruce Johnson, Dave Keenhold, Betty Ladlee, Tim Malefyt, Paul
current staff Meserole, Phil Stokes, and Peggy Strack. Please call the church office if you need
contact information.
members, which I’d
like to briefly bring If you want to contact a team member, I encourage you to NOT do so on a Sunday
morning. Even though it may be convenient for you, they need to focus on worship and
to you at this time. discipleship, so you may1want to set up an appointment with a team member at another
time and place. Please keep all of these changes and the appointment process in your
prayers, and remember the theme this year for Advent and Christmas is HOPE!

Advent Blessings, Pastor Jim

 Silent Auction of
Linda Drake’s Nativity Scene
2
This Sunday, December 15th, in Oberholtzer Hall,
there will also be a small, silent auction from 8:00AM-
1:00PM for the late Linda Drake’s Christmas Nativity
Scene. All proceeds collected will be given to benefit
our Faith Promise, one of ESUMC’s mission partners.

Soul Sisters’
Ugly Sweater Party
Olsen Christmas Wish Breakfast Fundraiser Join the Soul Sisters for some
Sunday, December 15th, 2019 fellowship and lots of holiday
Friends, don’t forget: this Sunday is our Olsen cheer at the Beer House Café
Christmas Wish Breakfast Fundraiser following both Monday, December 16th from
services in the Fellowship Hall! If you’re interested in 6:30-8:30pm!!! Wear your best
helping us continue to support the Olsen’s Christmas Ugly Christmas Sweater and
Wish Outreach this year, we invite you to come to come ready to laugh and smile!
Church HUNGRY on Sunday! Breakfast will be served
immediately after both services, and all donations
received will benefit the charity! Please join us!
Help us adorn
the Sanctuary
with
Poinsettias this
Christmas.

$8 per 6” plant

Does Your Family Usually Remember

A Loved One with a Poinsettia?

ESUMC Apparel Available
Sunday, December 15th
Did you happen to notice all that beautiful ESUMC
logo apparel in Oberholtzer Hall the last two
Sundays? While sizes last, will ESUMC apparel will
continue to be sold this Sunday surrounding our two
services!
The Communications Team is excited to now receive
payment via debit or credit cards, using our new
Vanco card reader, however, cash and check
payment will continue to be accepted. Apparel casts
are as listed: Short Sleeve T-Shirts: $10, Long Sleeve
T-Shirts: $10, Sweatshirts $25.
2
If you’re still looking for a gift for someone in our
Church family, be sure to stop by this Sunday!
Poinsettia plants are now available for purchase at
$8.00 a plant until Wednesday, December 19th!
To order, please use the poinsettia order form located
in this week’s bulletin (or at the Welcome Desk).
Order forms may be returned via the collection plate
or to the Church Office. Please note: Poinsettia
dedications will be published in the Christmas Eve
Service Bulletins. Plants may be taken home
following the final Christmas Eve service (10:00pm),
or on Sunday, December 29th. All purchases benefit
the Family Promise Mission.
!!! Attention Readers !!!
There will not be a Trumpet Call for Sundays, 12/29
and 01/05 due the holidays. Also, following 01/12,
the TC’s publication schedule will change to a bi-
weekly schedule. More information coming soon.
T H I S W E E K AT E S U M C Recovery
Meetings
3

at ESUMC
All meetings are
held downstairs in
the Community Room of
the Education Building
*excluding GriefShare*

AA
Keep It Simple
Thursdays & Saturdays
8:00pm-9:00pm

Serenity House
Saturdays
5:30pm-6:30pm
Sundays
4:30pm-6:30pm

NA
Just For Today
Monday-Saturday
12:00pm-1:30pm

New Beginnings
(Women’s Group)
Wednesdays
6:00-7:30pm

GRIEF
SHARE
Special Event
Surviving the Holidays
Thursday, 11/14/19
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES at 6:30pm
church@esumc.net Official Church email
communications@esumc.net Communications requests Weekly Seminars
3 01/09/20-04/02/20
prayer@esumc.net Prayer requests (for our phone, text, or email prayer chains) Thursday Evenings
trumpetcall@esumc.net TC articles DEADLINE: Wednesdays, 12pm 6:30-8:00pm
 The Longest Night Service
On Friday, December 20, 2019 at 7:30 PM, St. John’s
Lutheran Church (of Stroudsburg) will hold a service of
encouragement for those struggling with grief and grief
during the holiday season. Admission is FREE, but all
donations benefit Hospice House of Monroe County.
Ushers & Greeters Needed
Are you planning to attend any of or Christmas Eve
Services? If so, please consider serving as an
individual, a couple, or as a family to greet and seat
our church family & guests! Many first time visitors
seeking the real meaning of Christmas come to our
Church for these special services, so please help us
share ESUMC's hospitality! To volunteer, contact
Kathy Hinkey: k_hinkey@hotmail.com (570)236-8183
New GriefShare Sessions Approaching
ESUMC is pleased to announce a second round
GriefShare seminars to be offered on Thursday
evenings from 6:30-8:00PM, January 9th–April 2nd,
2020. Please contact GriefShare facilitators: Ginny
Levanowitz at (570) 992-7290, or Dick & Mary Jane
Lord at (570) 421-1188. As always, thank you for
helping us promote and share this vital ministry with
those that are grieving.
2020 Greeter Training
Whether you’ve newly joined the team or have been an
usher/greeter for years, please join us on Sunday,
January 19th in the Choir Room from 9:45AM-
10:30AM for an informative session to review our 2020
service description and share experiences that have
enhanced ESUMC's welcoming practices. Looking
forward to seeing you there!
Whether you’re a Senior High girl, or a girl in her
senior years, ESUMC’s Women’s Ministries invites
you to our annual Women’s Retreat on
Saturday, January 25th, 2020!
This casual day of fun, fellowship and encouragement
includes: A continental breakfast, a lite family style
lunch & childcare for those registered on or
before Sunday, January 12th.
Our theme this year, Come to the Table: Everyone
Has a Seat, is inspired by keynote speaker
Heather Holman’s book: Seated with Christ:
Living in a Culture of Comparison
Each lady registered will be joyfully gifted a copy of
Heather‘s book at our Women’s Retreat. So please,
bring a friend—or two! Everyone has a seat at the
table! Register on Sundays in Oberholtzer Hall. Or,
online at: esumc.net/womens-retreat
 Save on Your Income Taxes
by Donating Stock

ESUMC has established a brokerage account to

receive donations of stock. Stock donations are not
only for the rich. Anyone could see tax benefits.
The Dow is up about 20% through November this
year. When you donate stock that has grown in
value, you will likely bypass taxes on the gain, while
you may also be able to deduct the full value of the
donation.
A few years ago I worshipped at a church in the South
as a first time visitor and of course “tested” their If you are taking a Required Minimum Distribution
welcoming skills. I introduced myself to the Usher and (RMD) from retirement savings, the stock donation
explained that this was my first time in the church. He from that account can count toward the RMD. That
greeted me and told me I could sit anywhere. OK…So I could lower taxable income, and associated taxes. It
sat down and looked around. No one sitting by me could also potentially provide a deduction if you
greeted or said anything to me. Then a gentleman itemize deductions.
walked up the aisle (who I later discovered was the
Everyone's situation is different, so please check
minister) spoke to me and introduced me to the people
details with your investment or tax adviser. Detailed
sitting behind me. They smiled and said, “Welcome.” No
further discussion. The service was wonderful and full instructions for making these donations are available
of the Holy Spirit’s giftedness to this church and beyond from the church office.
its doors. When the service concluded the people
sitting behind me said that they hoped I had enjoyed the
service. I asked them where the church hall was as I
wanted to get more information about their
congregation. They pointed to a door a distance across
from where we were and said to go through there and
walk down the hallway. I walked by myself and had that
“visitor’s look” but no one talked to me, offered
assistance or greeted me. I came “alone” and left
“alone”.
How often do we miss the opportunity to talk to
someone we do not know who may be seeking? Do we
introduce ourselves and offer to lead them to the
elevator, or invite them to the Holy Grounds Café or a 2020 Stephen Ministry Leader Training
Course Dates & Locations
walk-in study? Do we introduce them to others we know
sitting near us and expand the conversation to where June 7th-13th, 2020 || Orlando, FL
we live, what the church does beyond its walls and Registration needed before 04/28/20
invite them to return. Do we feel confident enough to
ask them what they are seeking?
August 16th–22nd, 2020 || Pittsburgh, PA
During this season of giving, let’s give of ourselves in Registration needed before 07/07/20
ensuring that everyone who comes into our facility is
greeted with exceptional hospitality! So how do we “Lord, stir the hearts of those whom you desire
“Prepare the Way of the Lord?” Smile at people you serve you as a Stephen Ministry Leader.”
don’t know; engage them in conversation; listen to them;
invite them to activities you are attending and walk with Stephen Minister Training is not required to become
them. We need to prepare ourselves to offer God’s love a Stephen Ministry Leader. Please contact Peggy
to everyone who enters our doors so that no one who Strack at (570) 856-2131 with any questions.
comes alone will feel “alone” when they leave!
 Tape Here
Postage
Here

EAST STROUDSBURG
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
83 SOUTH COURTLAND STREET
EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301

Esumc.net East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church EastStroudsburgUMC @ESUMC ESUMC

S U N DAY S E R V I C E S & T I M E S
8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:40-10:40 AM Equipping Hour 10:45 AM Contemporary Worship

Church Office Director of Student Ministries Director of Congregational Care

Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm Scott Kuhnle Rachel Thompson
church@esumc.net skuhnle@esumc.net rthompson@esumc.net
(570) 421-3280 Ext. 1013 Ext. 1011

Pastor Director of Children & Family Ministries Audio/Visual Technician

Jim Todd Erica Dorsch Charles Rajnai
jtodd@esumc.net edorsch@esumc.net charlesrajnai@gmail.com
Ext. 1014 Ext. 1017
Financial Secretary, Accts. Receivable
Church Administrator Director of Traditional Music (Volunteer) Christine Uporsky
Rich Poole Jenni Poole cuporsky@esumc.net
rpoole@esumc.net jhpoole@ptd.net Ext. 1012
Ext. 1015
Director of Contemporary Music Financial Secretary, Accts. Payable
Administrative Assistant Doug Malefyt Bruce Osbun
Kathy Ravago dmalefyt@esumc.net bosbun@esumc.net
kravago@esumc.net Ext. 1012
Ext. 1010 Organist
Jonathan Strack Weekday Sexton
Director of Communications jstrack@esumc.net Bob Lee
& Spiritual Life Development rlee@esumc.net
Bethany Mills Director of Bells
bmills@esumc.net Chris Perfetti Sunday Sexton
Ext. 1023 perfetti3@ptd.net Craig Banner