THE TRUMPET CALL

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 and Studies

Traditional 8:30 am
Contemporary 10:45 am
Sunday School 9:45 am
Discipleship Groups 9:45 am

Volume III, Issue 3

January 15, 2017

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Pastors Corner
The Rev. C. Anthony Hunt recently wrote a reflection about what it means to live out Martin
Luther King, Jrs idea of the Beloved Community. Anthony Hunt is a United Methodist Pastor
in inner city Baltimore, Maryland. The Beloved Community is a term that was first coined in
the early days of the 20th Century by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who founded
the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a member of the Fellowship of
Reconciliation, and was the one who popularized and expanded the understanding of what
was meant by Beloved Community.
Kings understanding of Beloved Community was not a utopian world where the lion lays down with the lamb.
King believed that human sin will always prevent us from being the people God created us to fully be here on
earth, and that conflict would always exist among peoples. However, King also believed that God gave us the
tools to live in a more peaceable and just way. King asserted that all life is interrelated. This interrelatedness
was rooted, for King, in the fundamental belief in the kinship of all persons. He believed that all life is part of a
single process; all persons are sisters and brothers, and we all have a place in the Beloved Community.
Because all of us are interrelated, one cannot harm another without harming oneself.
King also said everyone could be great because everyone could serve. In these uncertain times, churches
and our broader society must make a sincere commitment to engaging in acts of compassion and justice as
means of living out our faith and loving our neighbors. Individuals, churches, groups, organizations, institutions
and even governments can continue to pursue Dr. Kings vision of the Beloved Community by making a
sincere commitment to community-building and social engagement.
Last Sunday, while I was preaching here at ESUMC, Zachery Uporsky was preaching to 4000 youth and adults
in Ocean City, MD. His eight minute message had to do with how the church engages in the community for the
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sake of Jesus Christ. It was an AMAZING message, and if you havent

seen it, we can give you the tools to be able to view the video. In the
spirit of Zachs message, and in paraphrasing the ten things lifted up by
Pastor Hunt regarding the Beloved Community, here are ten ways that
individuals, churches, and other organizations can promote peace with
justice.

Stephen Ministry:
The Missing Piece

1. Support and develop community-wide plans aimed at expanding

economic opportunities for racial-ethnic persons and women specifically

in the areas of housing, banking, and employment practices.
2. Actively participate in programs that reach out to help those in the
most need the hungry, the homeless, and the unemployed.
3. Do our part to assure that every inner city and rural young person
can look forward to an adequate education. Adopt an inner-city or rural
school. Offer our skills where appropriate.
4. Encourage schools, colleges, and universities in our area to include
the teachings of Dr. King and other freedom fighters in their curricula and
programs.
5. Take specific actions to deal with the problems of drugs, alcohol
dependency, teenage pregnancy, and family violence in our
communities.
6. Advocate for the removal of all weapons from our streets and
schools. Support causes that promote freedom, justice, and peace
abroad.
7. Help extend human rights, dignity, health, and economic well-being
to all persons.
8. Actively oppose groups that promote hatred and violence. Vigilantly
oppose racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of hatred in
our communities.
9. Sponsor and participate in programs that encourage interracial,
intercultural, and inter-religious goodwill and unity.
Read the Social Principles of our denomination, and strive to make them
an integral part of our lives and the life of our church and community.
Many of these we are already doing; others, we need to be intentional
about. We do it not as a bunch of do-gooders, but because we believe,
witness to, and seek to live out the example of Jesus Christ. As we honor
the memory and the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., who would have
been 88 this coming Sunday, let us strive to be a part of the Beloved
Community of Christ in all our ways!
Pastor Jim

Dollar ChallengeUnited Methodist Women will

continue the Dollar Challenge. In 2016 we collected over

900 items for such ministries and charities as our own
Community Meal (non-perishable food items, school supplies, winter
outerwear), JAM, PATH, Cherry Lane UMC Friday backpacks, Operation
Christmas Child, Christmas stockings for nursing homes (Monroe County
Church Women United), and VBS. We will continue with the same items
as last year. Pick up a new checklist at the welcome desk. For those who
are new, all you need to do is purchase 1 item ($1) per family member
each month. This is a great way for young children to learn how to give
back to the less fortunate.
Januarys items are non-perishable food items. Shoprite's CanCan sale is a good place to shop this month. All other months could be a
monthly family trip to the Dollar Tree. I hope everyone who has been
participating continues, and that new people join this great and easy
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mission.

By Peggy Strack, Stephen Leader

When I was hired as the Director of
Congregational Care at ESUMC,
one of my job expectations was to
resurrect the defunct care team.
After doing my homework, our
church created several ministries
that allowed church members to
serve the Lord and to care for each
other using their talents, passions,
and spiritual gifts.
Stephen Ministry was the missing
piece in our care team!
We
provided
for
many
needs:
transportation to church for those
who needed a ride, casseroles
during times of need, visitation to
those who were hospitalized or no
longer able to attend church, home
communion, and more. But we did
not have one-on-one care for
people who needed more support
during crisis situations.
God provided the vision and
resources for Stephen Ministry to
become an integral ministry in our
church. It has changed the lives of
those who have trained to become
Stephen Ministers as well as the
lives of those who have been their
care receivers! I personally have
learned so much. I wish I had
known 35 years ago what I know
now! All my relationships would
have benefitted!
Jesus told his disciples he had
come that they might have life, and
have it abundantly. (John 10:10) I
believe that Stephen Ministry is
one of the tools that our Lord
uses to bring His abundant life to
a hurting world!
For more info visit our web page
http://www.esumc.net/stephen-ministry/
Or callPeggy Strack
(570) 421-3280 Ext 1023

Trudy Blitz has been placed on hospice

care at home. Cards and notes may be
sent to her:
Gertrude Blitz
351 Inverness Ave.
Pahrump, NV 89048
Thank You!
Hearing Assistance
Devices are Here!
ESUMC now owns several hearing
assistance devices which can be worn to
improve your ability to hear our worship
services. Please contact an usher to pick up
your hearing assistance device and return to
an usher after use.
Healthcare Equipment available:
Canes, crutches, walkers, adult potty chairs,
shower stools, Depends and more!
Prayer Shawls Available
Several ladies from our church share their
knitting and crocheting talents by making
prayer shawls for folks who are experiencing
a challenging time. These shawls are made
with love and prayer, hoping that their warm,
soft presence will be a reminder of Gods
comfort and presence to those who are
seriously ill, grieving, or suffering in any
way. If you would like a prayer shawl for
yourself or someone you are concerned
about, please stop by the church office or
give Peggy a call:

January 15thFebruary 26th

Oneness Embraced by Tony Evans
9:4510:45 a.m.
Classroom 8 &9
Ken Brown & Bob Rosenberger
Black/white relations in the culture at large and in the church in
particular continue to be a stain on America's respectable reputation.
The church has clearly failed and must seek to function by God's
kingdom perspective. In this legacy message, Tony Evans seeks to
promote a biblical understanding of the kingdom foundation of
oneness by detailing why we don't have it, what we need to do to get
it, and what it will look like when we live it.

Grace by Max Lucado

9:45 a.m.
Classroom 7
Justin Searle
We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a
grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak
of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as
graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and
premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

Ephesians by J.D. Greear

9:45 a.m.
Stephen Ministry Room
Deanna Mayers
Has it ever dawned on you that nothing has ever dawned on
God? He knew before the world began that His people would
face hardship, so He gave us His Word. The Book of Ephesians is a
survival manualit equips believers to thrive in a world that hates the
message of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle writes to encourage
believers to live wellwe've been lifted from the graveyard of sin and
called to shout the gospel into the darkened world.

January 29thFebruary 26th

New Members Class
9:45 a.m. Classroom 2 (Bridal Lounge)
Pastor Todd et. al.
There are five sessions for those wishing to become a member of
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church. Those attending will be
given a book, I Am a Church Member, by Thom Rainer, and the book
will be our guide to explore different aspects of the Christian faith and
church membership. We will look at the basics of our faith, gain a
thumbnail sketch of church history, look at the structure of our
denomination and our own local church, and explore different areas
of ministry involvement based on spiritual giftedness. Finally, we will
take a good look at the five commitments made when a person
becomes a member of a United Methodist Church. Please note: this
class does not begin until January 29, 2017.
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Events

Prayer Ministry Review & Planning Meeting

Thursday Evening, January 26th
5:30 p. m. (Note change from original time.)
Conference Room in Church Office Building.

All members interested in the prayer life of our congregation, are invited to
attend. We will look at the current ministry and the way forward.

Church Wide Discipleship

Study

March 12, 2017 May 7, 2017

Members interested in facilitating a group for this study
Should call the church office (570) 421-3280 or
e-mail church@esumc.net

Contact Us
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
Church Administrator
Jill Teaford
jteaford@esumc.net
Ext. 1015
Secretary
Maria Ragonese
mragonese@esumc.net
Ext. 1010
Congregational Care
Peggy Strack
pstrack@esumc.net
Ext. 1023

On Sunday, January 29, following the conclusion of the 10:45 am worship

service, there will be a specially-called church conference, authorized and
led by District Superintendent, Dr. Irving Cotto. The three-fold purpose of
the Church Conference is to:
1. Formally approve the 2017 pastoral compensation package.
2. Elect persons to leadership positions, who though nominated, are not
yet elected.
3. Vote on a new vision statement and statement of beliefs for our church
(which will be provided to the congregation ahead of time).
In addition to our Superintendent leading the church conference, he will
also preach at both services that Sunday. A reminder about voting in our
system: all who are members of our church have voting privileges at a
church conference. Non-members are welcome and have a voice but no
vote.
Recovery Meetings Available in The Community Room of Office
Building Basement
NA: Monday through Saturday 12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.

Just for Today

Wednesday 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. New Beginnings (Womens Group)

AA: Thursday & Saturday 8:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Keep It Simple

Scan QR to ESUMC Website

East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church

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

Student Ministries
Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
Ext. 1013
Childrens Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
Ext. 1017
Financial Secretary
Cyndie Faunce
cfaunce@esumc.net
Ext. 1025
Maintenance
William Mack
wmack@esumc.net
Ext. 1018
SextonsJude Porter
jporter@esumc.net
Kenny Fenston
fenstonkenny@yahoo.com
Organist/Traditional Music
Pauline Fox
foxes@esumc.net
Contemporary Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net
Audio/Visual
Joe Dorsch
josephdorsch@gmail.com
Technology Support
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012