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 V Issue 1 January 6, 2019

Pastor’s Corner
Once again, our ESUMC and community volunteers did an amazing job
between Christmas and New Years, offering generous hospitality and great
food to the community, and especially those with the least among us. Ana
Price, pictured here with a beautiful pole painted by her daughter, organized all
these volunteers and directed the cooking of the meals. Ana exclaimed to me:
“It was a great week!” She quoted one of our guests who said, “We just love coming and
spending time here.” In addition to the meals, guests were treated to comfy sofas and
Christmas movies on our 65” TV screen.
Ana reports that in 2018, we served approximately 13,000 meals to the community! This does
not include several thousand meals served at the summer block parties, nor the 9000-10,000
Wawa sandwiches distributed (graciously donated by our local Wawa
stores). Between Christmas and New Years, we averaged serving 55
breakfasts 78 lunches each day, and 145 dinners on New Year’s Eve. We
also know that many of our guests come very hungry and therefore come back for seconds!
Whenever I share numbers like these with friends not part of our church, they are
speechless; they simply can’t comprehend how one church is able to do so much.
The key is our volunteers. We are blessed to have so many volunteers who are not a part of
our church family but who come faithfully whenever we are open. Pictured is Brett Rubin
with his mother, Merle Turitz. Brett has been part of our Community Meal for many years,
and when he was joined by his mother this past week, she offered to say grace for the meal.
The ministry could not continue without the strong help of people who are part of our church family. The
“regulars” include: Mike and Debbie Wells, Dick and Mary Jane Lord, Don and Grace Paul, Dianne and Bob
Flower, Shirley Miller, Tom Balcik, Jan Rosenberger, Chich Wallie, Linda Johnson, Sue Werkheiser, and Jacob
and Luke Greene. In addition, we put meal bags together to be given out on New Year’s Eve to those of
marginal means (not homeless as they are cared for in other ways). One photo below shows the preparation of
those bags in Oberholtzer Hall the day after Christmas, and the other shows the bags ready for distribution this
past Monday afternoon. We want to thank the following for their participation: Brian Bensley, the Greene family,
Meghan Eppley, Stacy Young, Tony Young, the Price children, Arlene Hargrave and her children, the extended
family of Pat and Robin Braun, Rich and Jenni Poole, Christine and Nathan Uporsky, Ryan Lambert, Victoria
Zimmerman, Don and Grace Paul’s daughter, Susan, and her daughter, Kayleigh, Timothy and Nicholas Visser,
Kristin, Lauren, Karen Todd, and Scott Kuhnle and some of our youth.
If a name was mistakenly left out of that long
list, we apologize, and please let us know so
that we can correct the list in next week’s
Trumpet Call. Thank you one and all for the
commitment you have made to our church and
to the people God has blessed us with in our
community! If your name is not on the list,
please feel free to talk to Ana and volunteer
soon. New Year’s Blessings, Pastor Jim
 PRESCHOOL/TODDLER CLASS
The Preschool/Toddler Class learned about the Nativity Story
through the animals this December. They learned how the
donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem, how the sheep were there
to witness the shepherds seeing the angel and hearing the
Good News, and how the camels brought the 3 wise men
bearing gifts to the Baby Jesus. They did crafts, sang songs,
and played a “find the star” game. They also worked a little
every Sunday on a special Nativity gift for their families….a
mason jar with the silhouette of the Nativity (animals and all)
with a tea light inside to light up the scene. We hope all of the
families enjoyed their wonderful gift.
Mission Moment
Pregnancy Resource Center
of the Poconos
One year ago, several people from our church help the Pregnancy
Resource Center (PRC) move to their new location across the
street from our church and ESUMC provided some funding to help
them purchase new office furniture. During 2018 the PRC has
logged these ministry statistics: 22 babies born, 39 ultrasounds,
42 spiritual discussions with clients, 46 pregnancy tests, 253
parenting education sessions, 350 reached by abstinence
outreach, and 2 babies saved from abortion. Praise God for this
vibrant ministry happening right outside the doors of our church.
Please continue to pray for all of our mission partners, including
the PRC.

What a beautiful gift they shared

with their families and
our Pastor!

Thank you Preschool and

Toddlers staff!

New Drop In Study Starts

This Week
Come join us as we begin
Mark Batterson’s series called
“The Grave Robber”. You will love the
faith-building, life-giving message
found in this series as each week we
look at one the seven miraculous
signs of Jesus found in the Gospel of
John. Mark Batterson walks us
through the very spots where Jesus chose to reveal himself
through these miraculous events.
OK’s 55+
Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm January 22 – March 19
Oberholtzer Hall
Register: http://www.fpu.com/1076606
More info: fpu.esumc@gmail.com
Recovery Meetings Community Room of Office
Building Basement
NA: Mon-Sat, 12:00 to 1:30 PM Just for Today;
Wed, 6:00 to 7:30 PM New Beginnings (Women)
AA: Thurs & Sat, 8:00 to 9:00 PM Keep It Simple
Saturday, 5:30 to6:30 PM.
Sunday, 4:30 to 6:30 PM Serenity House

Join us in Fellowship Hall

January 9th at 11:30 a.m. for E S U M C Sunday Services and Studies
game day. Bring you favorite
Traditional 8:30 AM Contemporary 10:45 AM
game and finger food to share. Sunday School 9:45 AM
Let’s play on!! Discipleship 9:45 AM
 570-460-8423
February 10-16 at ESUMC.
March 3-9 at Wesleyan. Plan ahead, make your calendars!
Merry Marthas
The next meeting of Merry
Marthas will be on Saturday
January 12 at 9:00 AM. Craig
Gouger will be joining us and
showing us how to make some
roasted soups. Along with the roasted soups we will be making a few other
basic soups for the church's new casserole ministry. The soups we make
will be frozen in containers and donated to the congregational care team for
the casserole ministry. The cost of this event will be $5.00 and each will get
to take home a container of soup. Additional containers will be available for
purchase. Please RSVP by email to Sue Mertz mommamertz@gmail.com
or call and leave a message at 570-629-4069.

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Welcome Team Training
For all currently serving
Please be in prayer for our Russia Mission Team as we and new volunteers.

meet for the beginning of Orientation for our trip. We will When: Sunday, Jan. 13th
be meeting in the conference room on January 13th Where: In the Choir Room
from 12-2 pm.
Time: 9:45 - 10:30
& 11:45 - 12:30

Join in to brush up on practices for serving.

See Kathy Hinkey for details k_hinkey@hotmail.com

Save the date

 THIS WEEK AT ESUMC CHURCH CONTACT LIST
Office
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
Hours: 9am to 1pm
Monday thru Friday

Pastor
Jim Todd
jtodd@esumc.net
Ext. 1014

Church Administrator
Jill Teaford
jteaford@esumc.net
Ext. 1015

Administrative Assistant
Kathy Ravago
kravago@esumc.net
Ext. 1010

Director of Spiritual Life &

Congregational Care
Bethany Mills
bmills@esumc.net
Ext. 1023

Director of Student Ministries

Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
Ext. 1013

Director of Children & Family

Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
Ext. 1017

Director of Traditional Music/

Organist
Pauline Fox
foxes@esumc.net

Director of Contemporary
Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net

Director of Choir
Joe Dorsch
josephdorsch@gmail.com

Director of Bells
Chris Perfetti
perfetti3@ptd.net

Financial Secretary/IT Support

Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012

Audio/Visual Technician
Charles Rajnai
charlesrajnai@gmail.com

Facilities Manager
East Stroudsburg United Scan QR Rob Coyle
rcoyle@esumc.net
Methodist Church to ESUMC Ext. 1018
Website Sextons
83 S. Courtland St.
Weekday Sunday
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Bob Lee Craig Banner