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
10:45 a.m. Contemporary

Discipleship &
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.10:45 a.m.

East Stroudsburg United

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

September 27, 2015

The Trumpet Call

Pastors Corner

It is with sadness I announce that I have accepted the

resignation of Mrs. Pam OBrien as our Director of Childrens
Ministry, effective October 19, 2015. Pam has made this
difficult decision in order to devote more time to her own
children and family. Pam has served our church well these
past two years, and the really good news is that we are not
losing Pam nor her family from our church. We have
appreciated all the time and effort Pam and her entire family
have given to this position. I say family, because it was quite common to see
the entire OBrien family putting up props and decorations in preparation for
Vacation Bible School and Sunday School here at ESUMC. Thank you, Pam!
Pam also headed our pre-school which has now gone on hiatus for the 2015-16
educational year. Pam has been assisted by Gail Corey for the past several
months, and Gail will stay on in her capacity at least until someone new is hired
for the position. We have added yet another position to our job posting column
on page 2. Please do let Jill or me know if you are aware of a qualified and
interested candidate for this or any of the positions listed on page 2.
In a previous Trumpet Call, I announced that Church Conference would be held
on Saturday, October 24, at 3:30 p.m., and this date and time remain valid. Since
this is not the most opportune time for a church meeting with sports, college
football, family activities, and other things going on in all of our lives, we have
decided that good food may be the ticket to get people out to the church that
afternoon. Ana Price has agreed to coordinate a special meal starting at 5:00
p.m. at the conclusion of the church conference. More information will be forthcoming, and we hope to see many from our congregation both for the conference
and the meal.
A word about our new schedule on Sunday morning. Many of those who had
previously attended the 11 a.m. service have made their way to the 8:30 a.m.
service. Some, however, perhaps because of the much earlier hour, have tried
out the 10:45 a.m. contemporary service instead. They have discovered that
there is a great deal of standing in the early part of the service. If they choose to
sit during this extended singing, they cant see the words on the screen. Or, even
if they do stand, they might not be able to read the words far away on the screen.
Let me offer a word of grace. Our 10:45 service is informal, so please dont feel
self-conscious if you need to sit for all or part of the stand-up singing. Of course,
if you sit, you wont be able to see the screen. Therefore, starting this Sunday,
we will have printed lyrics available for all who feel more comfortable reading
them off a page than the screen. Please see an usher for the lyric page to go
along with your Sunday bulletin. Please let us know if there are other things we
can do to help ease this transition to the new schedule.
Finally, Sharon Hachtman wants us to know that one more person is needed for
the October 23-24 Safe and Healthy Churches Training: Healing Family
Violence. ESUMC will field a team of four to attend this two-day event in King of
Prussia facilitated by FaithTrust Institute. The training is designed to help
Christian pastors and lay leaders develop protocols to respond effectively and
sensitively in their communities. All expenses (including one nights stay at the
Doubletree Hotel) are fully covered. Are you the one God is calling? Please
contact Sharon (570-460-7301 or shhooma@live.com) as soon as possible.
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday, as we consider the theme, Hospitality
Pastor Jim Todd (jtodd@esumc.net)

Outreach/Opportunities
Stephen Ministry
Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed,
save me and I will be saved, for you are
the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14.

PERMISSION
(FROM GOD)
TO REST

Many people face a tough time every

day of their lives. Whether they are caring for a sick family member, going
through a long period of unemployment, or experiencing
incurable pain, they may benefit from the support and
care of a Stephen Minister. Our congregation is committed to providing care to those who need it. For more information about Stephen Ministry, please contact Peggy
Strack at the church, 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:
Doris Rodriguez, 3274 Trafalgar Ave., East Stroudsburg,
Pa. 18301.

Discipleship For Youth and Adults

Here is a great lineup for the first part of the Fall; seven
opportunities for you to deepen your faith:
The Stine class is using a study on the Book of Acts,
which includes these themes: Seeds of New Growth,
Giving Bold Testimony, Spreading the Gospel. Meets in
Rm. 10, downstairs in the main building.
The Brown/Rosenberger class which has been meeting in
the youth room is continuing a study on prayer. Now
meets in Rms. 8-9, downstairs in main building.
Arlene Staples leads a study for women based on the
book, Discovering God's Will for Your Life, from Women of
Faith (Study Guide Series). Meets in Choir Room, downstairs in main building.
Tim Malefyt leads a series on Christians and finances,
called, Life, Money, Legacy by Dave Ramsey. Meets in
office building, Conference Room on 1st Floor.
Cathy Saunders leads a video study called, Believe as
Jesus Believed; the Transformed Mind by Rev. Bill Hull.
Meets in office building, Stephen Ministry Rm., 2nd floor.
Sharon Hachtman leads, Face to Face, about discovering
the true richness of God's intention for persons in romantic
relationships. Meets in Mens Classroom off of Oberholtzer Hall.
Retired pastor Bob Hachtman leads a study for leaders of
CATCH, an evangelism program designed to attract and
connect visitors to our church. Persons signing up for this
must be willing and able to lead a small group in the principles of CATCH. Meets in Bridal Lounge off of Oberholtzer
Hall.
Since classes have already started, there is no need to sign
up: just find the class you want to attend and go! Everyone will
be accommodated!

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2015
8:30 AM4:00 PM
Details and Sign-up Info Coming Soon!
Open Positions at ESUMC
Due to the recent restructuring of
our music ministry and a staff
resignation, we have some open
positions for the congregation to
consider. These are positions
which can be either paid or
volunteer, and you are welcome
to share them with your friends who may be interested and
qualified.

Director of Contemporary Worship. This person

works with the pastor and Worship Design Team to
coordinate and direct all worship elements connected to the 10:45 a.m. service on Sunday mornings.

Director of Bell Choirs & Childrens Chimers.

This person selects and arranges music for bells in
conjunction with the Director of Traditional Worship,
and rehearses and directs the bell choirs and chimers on a regular basis.

Director of Chancel Choir. This person rehearses and directs the chancel choir at weekly rehearsals and in Sunday morning traditional worship. The
director works with the Director of Traditional Worship/Organist.

Director of Childrens Choir. This person will

work with the Worship Design Team and both worship directors to develop a childrens choir. They
will rehearse the choir on a regular basis and direct
them at both services on Sunday morning.

Director of Childrens Ministries. This person

directs all areas of childrens ministry, including
Sunday School, VBS, Junior Church, and special
activities for children.

If you or people you know are interested in any of these

positions, please see or email the Chairperson of SPR, Jill
Malefyt. Her email address is: jillb@ptd.net. Please
prayerfully consider if God is calling YOU to serve him in
any of these ways!

Opportunities/News
Childrens
Ministry News
Childrens Workshop
Rotation which started
September 20th
JESUS IS SWEET
Psalms 104:34 My
meditation of him shall
be sweet: I will be glad
in the Lord.
Please note that classes start in the large group
Sunday School area at 10 a.m. and ends at 10:45.
Children need to be picked up by a parent/guardian at
10:45. Registration for Workshop Rotation will be sent
to you via email. Please fill out the registration form
promptly so we can plan accordingly.
The theme of this years workshop rotation is Healing,
Miracles, Compassion and Power
Here are the stories/topics that will be learned:
Four Friends (Luke 5: 17-26)
The Widows Mite (Mark 12: 38-44)
Advent and Christmas (Matthew 1:18-25; 2: 1-12)
The Call of Moses - The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:
1-15)
Moses, Plagues and Passover (Exodus 7: 14-12:32)
Easter- Trial and Crucifixion (Luke 19: 28-40; 22:1423:56; 24: 1-12)
The Resurrection (Matthew 21: 1-11, 27:32-66, and 28: 1
-10)

Childrens Church for Children in Grades K-3

We need 2 volunteers each week. It will begin at about 11
a.m. when the children in grades K-3 are dismissed from the
Contemporary Service and concludes at the end of the
service. Material will be provided to conduct Childrens
Church. Please pray and think about volunteering for this
important ministry. Email Pam OBrien pobrien@esumc.net.

We are calling all artists to share their fine art pieces in our
annual art exhibition on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Share
the beauty and light of your creations in Fellowship Hall from
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
In conjunction with the Organ Concert Series, our fine art
exhibition will allow our church family, as well as general
public, the opportunity to
appreciate your talent. If
you would like to exhibit a
painting, drawing,
sculpture, needlework,
photography or other fine
art piece, please contact
Liz Green at
hulswitgreen@aol.com or Pauline Fox: foxes@esumc.net.

FAITH PROMISE UPDATE:

ESUMC is a strong supporter of Family Promise of

Monroe County by hosting families and donating
$1500 toward their expenses each quarter. According to
our ESUMC coordinator, Jenn Dunne, there is a need for
volunteers for evening and night supervisors and
providers for meals when the church is hosting the families. This is a meaningful commitment in serving others
because of our Christian faith. Please contact Jenn if you
have questions or can help with this ministry at
dunnejl2@gmail.com or Business phone: 570-424-2093.
Our Faith Promise Partner, Pregnancy Resource
Center, is going to be out for a walk. On Saturday,
Oct. 3 from 9:00 a.m. to about 10:30, the annual Walk
for Life will be taking place. This 2 mile walk starts at the
Shiloh Pocono Church behind the Ribbon Factory store.
It helps fund the needs for many facing crisis pregnancies. Baby clothes, bedding, baby supplies are some of
the needs these funds help provide. For any questions
contact Lori at 908-362-1688.
IVCF (Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship) at Temple
had a huge challenge as school opened in early September. Ryan Moyer, coordinator, wrote: In the first day of
being on campus we had more students sign up than all
of the first two weeks last year. This occurred after many
preparations for informing new students about IVCF had
taken place as signs, displays, candy, cookies and flyers
were set up. They had already heard back from 25 new
students. Ryan also wrote, Will you join me in praising
God for what hes doing this year. And pray for the relationships that are beginning to form for this freshman
class. May they find and continue to seek Jesus in their
lives.
May our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the
ministries of all our FAITH PROMISE PARTNERS. Financial donations may be placed in the envelopes today
or at any time with a note designating it for Faith Promise
or Missions.
The OKs (55+ group) will be
going to the Pocono Environmental Education Center
(PEEC) on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. The group
will leave the church at 9:30
a.m. and return by about 3:30 p.m. The cost is $14.00 per person,
which includes admission, tour, and lunch. Following the tour upon arrival, lunch will be served, and the day will end with a walk
on an easy 1/3 mile trail which can accommodate wheelchairs.
Those wishing to go will need to prepay the entire amount of
$14.00 by September 29. Please put cash in an envelope separate from your weekly contribution, clearly marked OKs Trip and
your name and phone number, and put it in the offering plate on
September 27. Or, bring an envelope with the cash to the church
office by Sept. 29 to reserve your place on the trip (please note:
this cannot be designated as a tax deductible contribution to the
church). If you have any questions, please call Erma Powell
at 570-421-1422.

On Saturday, October 3, 2015 the Pregnancy

Resource Center of the Poconos will be holding
its annual Walk for Lifea fundraiser for the center
that helps many facing crisis pregnancies. It is a
wonderful opportunity to take a stand for life with
other churches in the area and support the ministry.
Anyone can participate! You may call Lori at 908362-1688 for more information.

UMW NEWS:
September Dollar
Challenge:
Snacks for children and
youth outreach (JAM).
Chips, pretzels, crackers, cookies (all available at the Dollar Tree).

October 18, 3:00 pm Organ Concert by Christo-

pher Johnson of Riverside Church in NYC,

with sacred, classic, spirituals, popular styles,
plus our own bell choir, sax, timpani, and piano, and our annual Fine Art Exhibit. Sign up
in Fellowship Hall to help set up, clean up or
donate refreshments for the reception. Fliers
and Friend/sponsor forms are also
available today, or visit:
http://www.esumc.net/organ-events/

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
----

foxes@esumc.net
josephdorsch@gmail.com

----

UMW Events:
All women of the church are invited to all
UMW meetings and events. The Northeast
District meeting will be Oct 3 at Pocono Lake
UMC FROM 9-2. Linda Drake will speak about
her Thailand mission trip. November 10th will
be the Thank Offering meeting at 9 a.m. in the
Bridal Lounge.
Dec 11 will be set up for Breakfast with St
Nicholas which is Dec 12. Hope to see many
of you . Questions? Please contact Linda
Drake at 570-856-9395.
The altar flowers are
sponsored by individuals in
honor or celebration of a loved
one living or deceased, and as
well are given to the Glory of
God. It has been brought to
our attention, several times,
that the arrangements are not
up to par. After discussion with our florist, she can
provide a better quality of flowers, but the cost will
be higher. We hope this will be appreciated by the
congregation, and this is the first rise in price in a
very long time. Starting in October, the cost of Altar
Flowers will increase from $15.00 per vase to
$25.00. You can still sponsor one or two arrangements, as you wish. There will also be a new procedure for ordering flowers. A list will be submitted to
the Florist on a monthly basis, so if you are ordering
flowers for October, the cut-off will be September
30th. You can place and order by calling the church
office with your request or sending an email to Maria
at mragonese@esumc.net or Mike Corey at
mcorey@esumc.net. On the weeks where no one
is sponsoring flowers, our beautiful silk arrangements will adorn the Altar. Many thanks for your
cooperation in this transition.

PUMA Class Offerings Fall 2015

Contact Instructor to Register
Stories of Faith
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Six Weeks, Oct. 6 Nov. 10
Location TBD
Pastor Nina Patton-Semerod, 570-424-7490 or npatton226@gmail.com
The Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
and by faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made
from things that are not visible. (Hebrews 11: 1-2) During a six week bible study we will link stories of today,
stories of the Bible, and stories of history so that we are able to see what it looks like when we allow our faith
in things unseen to transform our lives and our communities. From October 6th through November 10th we
will immerse ourselves in stories of faith dating from biblical times to present today and discover what it means
to allow your faith in God to transform your life and relationships with others.
The Old Testament Historical Books
Tuesdays, 7:30 9:00 p.m., Six Weeks, Oct. 13 Nov. 17
At Maritas Cantina, 745 Main Street, Stroudsburg ($1 Tacos Night!)
Pastor Paul Crikelair, 570-420-4543 or pjcrikelair@gmail.com
We will cover the Old Testament Historical Books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. Beyond the familiar characters of Samson, David and Solomon, Elijah
& Elisha, Ahab & Jezebel, Jehoshaphat & Hezekiah underneath the unforgettable stories of entering the
Promised Land, David & Goliath (and Bathsheba!), building the Temple, the division of the Kingdom, the fall
of Samaria, the Babylonian exile and the restoration we will look for the unfolding of the Bibles great
themes: the sovereignty and holiness of God, His love for His people and the world, and His preparation for
the coming of His Son, the Messiah Jesus. Along the way, we will learn the advantage of reading each Biblical
book in one sitting, we will construct a clear timeline of Biblical history from 1250 450 B.C., we will gain a
clear chronology of the 42 Kings of Israel and Judah pointing to the King of Kings, King Jesus and we will
enjoy some great Mexican food at Maritas! Its $1 Tacos Night. Our textbook (recommended but not
required): David M. Howard Jr., An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books, can be purchased
online via Amazon (Hardcover or Kindle).
James on James
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Six weeks, beginning October 14
Location: TBD [at an area restaurant]
Pastor James ("Jim") Todd, 570-421-3280 or jtodd@esumc.net
Martin Luther, the great 16th Century reformer of the church, said this about the Book of James in the New
Testament: "St. James's epistle is really a right strawy epistle, compared to these others, for it has nothing of
the nature of the gospel about it." Luther reluctantly kept James in his translation of the Bible, but felt that it
went against his strong belief of "justification by faith." John Wesley couldnt overlook the Book of James. He
held strongly to the reformation view that it is faith alone that makes us right with God and leads to eternal
life, but he also felt that we should not live a life of faith alone. Our faith must be evidenced by our works.
Each week in this study, we will look at a different chapter in James and find meaning for our modern context.
We will attempt to understand how James balances faith and works, and how we will balance those two
concepts in our own lives. James, far from being an epistle made of straw, has much to teach us!

PUMA Class Offerings Fall 2015

Contact Instructor to Register
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...
Wednesdays, 3:00 4:30 p.m., Six Weeks, Oct. 7 Nov. 11 or
Thursdays, 6:30 8:00 p.m., Six Weeks, Oct. 8 Nov. 12
At Cherry Lane United Methodist Church
Pastor Heidi Silliman, 570-517-1250 or hmdax@ptd.net
Course Description: In my years of ministry, I have been motivated and inspired by many spiritual greats but
the one person that has had the most influence and impact upon me is Rev. Fred Rogers. Utilizing Scriptures
that focus on God's desire for us to take time for silence, prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit---participants
will be guided to borrow some of "Mister Rogers" trademarks of his faith walk. We'll explore together what
does it mean to give the best gift of your honest self, as well as "Who is my neighbor?"
Needed for Study Group: Please bring your Bibles with you, along with a folder notebook that can hold
handouts; OPTIONAL: Participants may decide to purchase a copy of the book entitled "The Simple Faith of
Mister Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor", written by Amy Hollingsworth.
(Books can be found online or through bookstores; you can also check Kindle).

Hungry for More: The Hunger Games and the Beatitudes

Thursdays, 6:30 7:45 p.m.
October 8 November 19, Five Weeks, (no class on 10/22 or 11/5)
At Starbucks, 745 Main Street, Stroudsburg
Pastor Candy LaBar, 570-466-5866 or revclabar@gmail.com
Join us for the study as we dive Bibles in hand into the world of the Hunger Games. In this study, we'll
explore the beloved Hunger Games series of books and films through the lens of the Beatitudes in Jesus'
"Sermon on the Mount" (see Matthew 5:3-10). As our guide, we will use Julie Clawson's The Hunger Games
and the Gospel: Bread, Circuses, and the Kingdom of God (available for $4.99, only on Amazon Kindle and
the Amazon Kindle app). After the study is finished, we'll invite you to join in an optional "movie night" outing
(on Tuesday, November 24) to see the final installment of the film series, "Mockingjay: Part 2." Join us as we
explore the world of the Hunger Games, the world in which we live, and the world Jesus envisioned for us all.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

Pocono United Methodist Academy (PUMA)

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