OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Ministry News

JAM Jr. High Afterschool Program meets every
Thursday from 2:45 5:00pm. Information and
Permission Forms are available at www.esumc.net and in
the youth room.
Each week following the JAM program is a free
Fellowship Meal for all students (from 5-6pm), followed by
Jr. High Boys and Jr. High Girls Bible Studies (from 67:30pm).
Sports Ministry meets on Sundays 5:30 6:30pm:
Join with other boys and girls for a time of sports and
recreation. Games that will be played include dodgeball,
basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and kickball. Open to
all 6th 12th grade students.
Youth Praise Band meets Sunday, from 5:30 6:30pm in
the youth room.
Youth Worship meets every Sunday evening. Youth
will be gathering to fellowship, worship, and participate in
biblical teachings from 7:00 8:30pm every Sunday night.
Sr. High Bible Study meets every Monday Night from
6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. This is a bible study for Sr. High
students (9th-12th grade) who are looking to get deeper
into their faith, and grow stronger as a disciple of Christ.
We will have girls and guys combined bible study for three
weeks, followed by girls and guys separate discussions on
the fourth week of every month.
OKs ( Older Adults) Information Session
The OKs will meet on Wednesday, May 13th at 10:30 a.m.
(note time change) for coffee and cake, followed by an
information Session designed to provide information on
variety topics that Seniors may find useful. We will begin
with speakers at 11:00 am and 11:30 am, followed by
lunch; hoagie-type sandwich and beverages will be
served. (Please bring something simple to share. We will be
using paper and plastic, so please dont bring anything that
requires dishes). After lunch there will be two more

speakers at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm. The day should end by

2:30 p.m. You MUST register for this event. Deadline is
May 10th. For more information or to register, call Erma
Powell at 570-421-1422.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank You
I would like to thank the mission team from East
Stroudsburg UMC for their good work in helping me
recover from Hurricane Irene. They were a delight to work
with and they certainly made a lot of progress toward
making my retirement home livable. May God continue to
bless you in your ministry!I pray that you will be able to
continue helping those who have had to face a natural
disaster.
In Christ, Rev. Gayla Collins,
Belhaven, North Carolina
On Behalf of Family Promise and all the staff members at
the Day Center, we extend to the Pastor, Volunteers and
Coordinators of ESUMC, our grateful thanks for all your
efforts on behalf of families in need. With your help 211
homeless individuals found safe shelter, remained in a
home, or moved into a new home. What an
accomplishment! We could not have done it without you.
God Bless You All!!
Sincerely, Laurie Kozar & Lisa
Day,
Family Promise of Monroe County
New Member Class
Pastor Todd and Lay Leader Mike Ragonese will be hosting
a one day New Member's Class for all those wishing to
become members of East Stroudsburg UMC. Those
contemplating joining who would like more information are
also welcome to attend. The class will be on Saturday,
May 2, 9:00 am to Noon. Child care can be provided
upon request. This one class will cover all necessary
information to become a member. Please email Pastor Todd
if you have any questions: jtodd@esumc.net.
Blood Drive

Our first Blood Drive sponsored by the American Red Cross

is scheduled for Tuseday, May 5th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please visit www.redcrossblood.org
or call 1-800 RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment. We
also need volunteers to help unload and load the truck for
the Red Cross. We are seeking 2 helpers at 12 noon and 2
helpers at 6pm on May 5th. Please contact the church office
if you can help.

OUTREACH
Cards and Notes are always appreciated by members of
the church family who are no longer able to attend services.
Joyce Keiper, 1244 Sylvan Lane, East Stroudsburg, Pa.
18301 would enjoy hearing from you!
Stephen Ministry
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one
another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
All too often, men have no comfortable means to vent their
emotions or share their fears, doubts, and struggles. This
can be a significant deterrent to the healing process or to
personal or spiritual growth. Stephen Ministry provides a
place where men can express their feelings in a candid,
confidential environment, permitting the healing that is
necessary to move on to a more productive and satisfying
life.
For more information about Stephen Ministry, contact
Peggy Strack at the church office, 570-421-3280, ext. 1023.
Are You Getting to Know Each Others Names?
As we continue to wear our lanyard ESUMC name tags, we
are putting names with the faces of our congregation!
Please continue to wear your name tag whenever you
attend a church event. When you leave church, name tags
may be placed in the Name Tag Return baskets. If you
take your name tag home, please remember to wear it
each Sunday! If you would like a name tag and have not
received one, please sign the sheet on the name tag table
in Oberholtzer Hall.

2015 Organ Series concerts: Sundays at 3 pm. Free,

open to the public.
June 14: Our Andy, Joe, Doug, and Pauline in
sacred, folk/bluegrass, classic, and popular styles.
Guests are the Back Family Greg, Carlena, and
Gregory in Broadway show tunes. Benefit offering
for Family Promise.
October 18: Solo concert by guest artist
Christopher Johnson, Organist at Riverside Church in
New York City.

OPPORTUNITIES
Fundraiser for ESUMC Pocono Fight Relay for Life
Team
Many of our members and friends are involved in the
American Cancer Society's Relay for Life which will be held
the weekend of June 13-14. In the meantime, our team is
fundraising, and the next fundraiser is a night of dining at
Texas Roadhouse near the mall. On the evenings of April
28th and April 30th, from 4:00 9:00 p.m., anyone
bringing the Relay for Life flyer will have 10% of their
dinner purchase donated to the Relay. You must have the
flyer for the donation to be made, and the flyers are
available in Oberholtzer Hall, the Narthex, and from team
members who will hand them out the next few Sundays.
Thanks in advance for your support.
MS Walk Pray Pledge - Sunday, May 3nd at 12:20
pm
MS Walk Sign Ups are in Fellowship Hall for the next two
Sundays in April. We will walk from the church to and
through the ESU Campus and return to the church in one
hour. Your prayer support is critical for the success of this
endeavor. Please join Toms Trekies and get a Team T shirt
to wear on the walk. Pledge checks should be made out to
NMSS and given to Tom or Kathy Hinkey (570.426.1623)

May we continue to reach out with our prayers and financial

support for the building of Gods kingdom through our faithful
Partners. You may donate today with the envelope in the
Bulletin, in the weekly envelope section for Missions, or
anytime noting the donation is for Faith Promise or Missions.
FAITH PROMISE UPDATE
Latest News from FAITH PROMISE/MISSION Team: NINE
MEMBERS from ESUMC traveled to N.C. a week ago to make
additional repairs to a home damaged in 2011 from
Hurricane Irene. The United Methodist Churchs VIM
(Volunteers in Mission) told the Team that their are still 40
homes in the area that still need repair. However, theTeam
worked hard and believe that One- Home-at-a-time is well
worth the time, effort and blessings received from working
together to help others. The work of the Team is witness to
the ongoing commitment of ESUMC to serve in Christs
name.
Another commitment made in 2015 through FAITH PROMISE
is to help provide library books to a school in Malawi, Africa.
In 2014 funds were given to the same school for solar panels.
This school is a High School in a poor rural area which has an
after-school feeding program and offers HIV awareness and
much more. There is more information on Malawi on the
Bulletin Board in Oberholtzer Hall.
As you look over the Partners listed on the Bulletin Board,
you will notice that there are 5 organizations that serve in
the East Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg area (including Pocono
Plateau Camp & Retreat Center) and 7 organizations that
serve beyond our area. These Partners serve in many
different ways to give strength and hope and compassionate
caring because they know God loves and cares for each
person, no matter what their circumstances may be.
The Mission Statement from Spanish Health Ministries
exemplifies how each Partner reaches out to the people they
serve: God is molding the lives of these special children
[youth and adults] according to his plan. He loves them more
than we can imagine. We thank you for letting us be a part of
his plan in their lives.

Praise and Thanksgiving to God for all who serve him through
Christ.
FAITH PROMISE UPDATE
Latest News from FAITH PROMISE/MISSION Team: NINE
MEMBERS from ESUMC traveled to N.C. a week ago to make
additional repairs to a home damaged in 2011 from
Hurricane Irene. The United Methodist Churchs VIM
(Volunteers in Mission) told the Team that their are still 40
homes in the area that still need repair. However, theTeam
worked hard and believe that One- Home-at-a-time is well
worth the time, effort and blessings received from working
together to help others. The work of the Team is witness to
the ongoing commitment of ESUMC to serve in Christs
name.
Another commitment made in 2015 through FAITH PROMISE
is to help provide library books to a school in Malawi, Africa.
In 2014 funds were given to the same school for solar panels.
This school is a High School in a poor rural area which has an
after-school feeding program and offers HIV awareness and
much more. There is more information on Malawi on the
Bulletin Board in Oberholtzer Hall.
As you look over the Partners listed on the Bulletin Board,
you will notice that there are 5 organizations that serve in
the East Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg area (including Pocono
Plateau Camp & Retreat Center) and 7 organizations that
serve beyond our area. These Partners serve in many
different ways to give strength and hope and compassionate
caring because they know God loves and cares for each
person, no matter what their circumstances may be.
The Mission Statement from Spanish Health Ministries
exemplifies how each Partner reaches out to the people they
serve: God is molding the lives of these special children

[youth and adults] according to his plan. He loves them more

than we can imagine. We thank you for letting us be a part of
his plan in their lives.

Partners. You may donate today with the envelope in the

Bulletin, in the weekly envelope section for Missions, or
anytime noting the donation is for Faith Promise or Missions.

May we continue to reach out with our prayers and financial

support for the building of Gods kingdom through our faithful

Praise and Thanksgiving to God for all who serve him through
Christ.