East Stroudsburg

United Methodist Church

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
8:30 a.m. Traditional

9:45 a.m. Contemporary

(10:45 a.m. starting Sept. 13)
11:00 a.m. Traditional
(ending Sept. 6)

East Stroudsburg United

Methodist Church
83 S. Courtland St.
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
www.esumc.net

August 23, 2015

The Trumpet Call

Pastors Corner

Members of the Vision and Discernment Teams did a

fantastic job last Sunday, August 16, in explaining the
background, process, conclusions, and decisions for
our new Sunday morning schedule to members and
friends of the church at the congregational meeting
held after the 11:00 a.m. service. I want to thank all of
those who spoke, and for the many others who were
behind the scenes and who played important parts in
the whole process. Thank yous go to Mike Ragonese, Kurt Visser, Jeff
Durney, Nickey Baxter, Kelli Mercurio, Doug Malefyt, and Homer Lee for
each of your important presentations. Special thanks also to Rich Mayers
who was vacationing with his family. Rich did so much to quantify and
make sense out of all the data received by the Discernment Team and to
assemble the presentation for Sunday.
I appreciated how the congregation received the news that for the time
being, we are moving from three to two services on Sunday morning, with
the plan to add back a third service about a year from now, which would
be at a time other than Sunday morning. There were great comments and
questions from the congregation, and a general sense that the entire
process, from the beginning to where we are right now, has been bathed
in prayer and all participants have been seeking the direction of the Spirit.
Whats next? Now that the decision has been made to have an 8:30 a.m.
traditional service and a 10:45 a.m. contemporary service each Sunday
morning beginning September 13, we have much work to do! There may
be some minor tweaks to the services, but the huge opportunity before us
is how to best use the time period between the services to enrich our
fellowship and discipleship. Our Discipleship Team is working on plans
which we will announce ahead of time regarding the 10:00-10:45 a.m.
time frame designated for discipleship and study options for children,
youth, and adults. Already, the Rev. Bob Hachtman has stepped forward
to lead a study on CATCH, which comes out of the Church of the
Resurrection in Kansas City to help congregations connect with and
attract new people in their communities.
Though the new schedule begins on September 13, we will not formally
launch our new studies until September 27. On September 13, we will
celebrate our Sunday School program and enjoy refreshments and
fellowship together, and this will be a special time to welcome back those
who have been gone many Sundays this summer, and to unite the entire
congregation who will be able to come for fellowship after they have
worshiped at 8:30 a.m., or who will be preparing to attend the 10:45 a.m.
worship service. This will be the first of many opportunities we will have to
spend time as one congregation on Sunday mornings in the future. On
September 20, we will host a ministry fair between services, to help
people find ways they can serve Christ in the church and community
which address their interests and spiritual gifts. I hope to see you this
Sunday, August 23, as we have a little fun thinking about how our faith is
like rock-climbing: a modern day parable. Blessings, Pastor Jim

Outreach/Opportunities
Childrens Ministry

Stephen Ministry

It is love then that you should strive for;

set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming Gods message. Those who proclaim Gods message speak to people and give them
help, encouragement and comfort. 1
Corinthians 14:1,3
Stephen Ministers communicate the love, hope, and
new life of the Gospel through their actions, words, and
care. Stephen Ministers are caregivers who treasure
the Gospel message and have experienced God at
work in their own lives. They are in the position to help
others find the Gospels powerful foundation when dealing with lifes struggles.
For more information about Stephen Ministry, 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 Ella Hovey, 238
Amber Lane, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18301.
Two Sided Name Tags
Additional cards have been printed and placed in our
lanyard name tags to enable them to be read from both
sides. If you keep your name tag at home, please stop
by the white tables in Oberholtzer Hall to pick up your
second card.

We here at Childrens Ministry are

so glad to see the great turnout of
children for our Sonday Summer
Seekers. Not only from our church
family, but many visitors also. Our
focus for the rest of August will be
setting a firm foundation through
prayer, the Bible and following in
the footsteps of the disciples. Remember this is all
done through a fun, relaxed and loving way. Its
never to late to join us, so please come on down. If
not now, coming for the new school year we will be
looking for many volunteers. If you can donate one
or two Sundays a year. That would be great.
Also, something exciting for the holidays. We are
planning a bus trip to Koziars Christmas Village.
November 28th, 2015.

Our Mission is to love Jesus

Christ and share His Love.

What can give the Christian Church hope in these days when every
Newscast tells us of all the disasters and violence taking place? Our faith
in Jesus as our Savior is the most profound assurance of hope. However, there are many times we feel overwhelmed and we may wonder why
God doesnt intervene and provide solutions for the worlds extreme
problems. This is not unique to the 21st century. There are many times
throughout Biblical history when people cry out to the Lord for help:
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or
cry to you Violence! and you will not save. Habakkuk 1:2
We will seldom find hope in Newscasts, so keep tuned to what many churches in many denominations are doing to
bring hope by providing education, sustainable agricultural aid, healthy alternatives, much more as well as witness
to Gods loving care and salvation.
In correspondence from our FAITH PROMISE PARTNERS, we find that witness alive and speaking to the disasters
and violence being experienced. In Ryan Moyers email from IVCF (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) at Temple he
tells of such a witness. During his summer program of Gateway Philadelphia, a group was in a tough discussion of
how to make positive changes in their group when Shots rang out.
There was a series of 9-10 shots that echoed down the block. Everyone knew what it was. A short lived discussion
for us was a reality of life for someone else. Screams and howling followed. The group dropped to their knees in
prayer and joined with the cries and pain from the street. Ryans prayer is that we learn to celebrate the joys and
mourn the sorrows of living in the already, but not yet.
Ryans complete email is on the Bulletin Board in Oberholtzer Hall.
Donations for Faith Promise Partners may be placed in the envelope in the Bulletin today or given anytime noting it
is for Missions or Faith Promise.

Opportunities/News
Devotional Corner
"During commitment campaigns of the past, church
members were encouraged to write and submit brief
devotionals to be read each day by the congregation.
Below is a sample devotional written by Jackie Durney
from the 2001 commitment campaign. Please prayerfully
consider writing a devotional for our 2015 campaign, and
submit it to Gloria Ladlee at: (570) 595-2582."

Luke 11: 9-10

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks, receives; he who
seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be
opened.
When we began praying for a child eight years
ago, we never imagined that our quest would lead us
to where we are now. Like most couples we thought
all we had to do was decide we were ready to start
our family and everything would just fall into place.
We really struggled with the fact that it just did not
happen that way. We prayed and sought treatment
from specialists. The treatment was both costly and
disappointing. as we did not have any success. As
time moved on, we became very depressed and
frustrated with the thought that God was ignoring our
pleas for a child.
Just as we began to fall into despair, God got our
attention by placing people in our lives who had just
adopted a beautiful little girl from Russia. It then
became very clear that God's plan for us was to
adopt a Russian child. We made the necessary
arrangements and headed off to get our little boy. It
was very .evident that God's handiwork was woven
throughout this situation, since we ended up with a
son who resembles his daddy right down to a cleft in
his chin. What a wonderful blessing we received
because we continued to pray and rely upon God's
timing in our lives. Through this experience, we have
learned that we must be good stewards of God's
precious gifts. We must share our story so people
will see God at work in our lives and know that he
will work in their lives as well, if only they ask..
Jackie Durney
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always
answering our prayers. Sometimes we .become
anxious waiting for your reply. However, we know
that you hear our pleas and will answer us in your
time. We praise you for always knowing what is best
for your children. We ask that you help us to be good
stewards of the many blessings that you bestow
upon us. Amen.

From Our Vision Team

It is amazing how much our perception of the world
changes through new experiences. When I was a child,
my mother would tell us we had to try every new food
she made, but if we didn't like it, we didn't have to eat it.
Every once in a while, she would encourage us to try
things we thought we didn't like again, as our tastes may
change as we grow. I am so glad I listened to her
advice, for many of the foods I started out not liking,
such as eggplant parmigiana, asparagus, and brussel
sprouts, are now among my favorite foods. The same
can be true of other changes in our lives. We may be
reluctant to try new things, but unless we do, we will
never really experience life at its best. Furthermore, as
Christians we are told ...not to be conformed to this
world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your
minds, so that you may discern what is the will of
God..." (Romans 12:2) which requires that we
continually follow where the Holy Spirit leads. The Vision
Team asks that you please pray for a smooth transition.
There will be bumps in the road ahead, but we know
that the Holy Spirit will guide us every step of the way.
We serve an awesome God who has led His children
throughout history, through storms, through deserts,
through the mountains, and through the valleys. I for
one believe that these changes will bring us closer
together as a body, providing opportunities to grow
together in our faith. So with the risk of sounding like my
mother, who happens to be right most of the time,
embrace the change; you may find out that you like the
new way even better.
Thank you once again for your continued prayers.
Cathy Saunders / Vision Team Member

Were sending our students and

school system staff back to school with
our prayers and blessings.
On August 30th, in each worship
service, we will have a ttine of prayer.
Students and school staff are encouraged to bring their backpacks, briefcases, and tool belts to the service to be
blessed.

Organ Scholarship
Since 2005, an Organ Scholarship has been
budgeted annually to provide introductory lessons for our in-house pianists on how to operate the organ and serve as substitute organists. Applicants must agree to donate a comparable value of organ-playing as substitute in
church services, repaying an in-kind exchange for the lessons. Kaitlyn OBrien is now
beginning organ lessons, while Nikki Weaver
has continued lessons at college and is gaining
experience.. For more information, contact
foxes@esumc.net.
We are blessed to have a fine instrument that
enhances the worship of God. To hear it in
concert, come on Oct. 18 at 3 pm to hear virtuoso Christopher Johnson from NYC Riverside
Church!

August Dollar
Challenge

The Joyful Noises

Quartet
will perform on the lawn of
Dansbury Depot on Monday
night at 7:00 p.m. on August
31. Bring a lawn chair or
blanket and enjoy the last
concert of the East
Stroudsburg
Boroughs Monday night
series. A free will offering will be taken.

The American Cancer Society needs

your help on Monday, August 24th to help create

Grocer Bags at the Monroe County Headquarters
on Rt. 209. Adults, youth and families are
welcome to participate. They begin at 10:00 a.m.
and lunch will be provided. Please contact Ana
Price for more details 570-460-8423.
Staff Contact Information Main Office: 570-421-3280
Pastor: Jim Todd
Secretary: Maria Ragonese
Congregational Care: Peggy Strack
Music & Worship:
Youth Ministry: Scott Kuhnle
Childrens Ministry: Pam OBrien
Technology Support: Michael Corey
Finances: Sue Mertz
Financial Secretary: Cyndie Faunce
Maintenance: William Mack
Fellowship Hall Kitchen
Church (Inside Breezeway)
Organist: Pauline Fox
Audio-visuals: Joe Dorsch

jtodd@esumc.net
mragonese@esumc.net
pstrack@esumc.net

1014
1010
1023

skuhnle@esumc.net
pobrien@esumc.net
mcorey@esumc.net
smertz@esumc.net
cfaunce@esumc.net
wmack@esumc.net

1013
1017
1012
1015
1025
1018
1030
1031
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foxes@esumc.net
josephdorsch@gmail.com

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School supplies are needed

for Church Women United
backpacks, soup kitchen and
Operation Santa boxes. Place items in
box in Oberholtzer Hall.
Thanks and Blessings, Linda.

Traditions are important to

us, especially during the holidays. And Children's Ministry
would like to start one or add
one to your family's.
On Saturday November, 28th
we are planning a bus trip to
Koziars Christmas Village in Bernville Pa.
We will be leaving ESUMC at 2:45 p.m. and
returning 10:00. The cost will be $29.00 for
adults, $27.00 for children. This price includes
round trip bus and admission.
This is a walking event, with both inside and
outside displays.
You may bring a bag lunch, snacks etc, or purchase food there. Visit their website for more
info

http://www.koziarschristmasvillage.com/ho
me/
If interested contact Pam OBrien or Michael
Corey at (570) 421-3280 or
pobrien@esumc.net or mcorey@esumc.net