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 IV Issue 48 December 9, 2018

Pastor’s Corner
It may have slipped below the radar, but we have two great, renovated spaces to
celebrate in our church. Several weeks ago, the Stine Sunday School class vacated
Classroom “B,” also known as the Bridal Lounge, to move to Classroom “A,” formerly
known as the Men’s Classroom. Both rooms are
off of Oberholtzer, and have had various uses over the years.
For a while now, our younger families have been asking for a
family comfort room; a place to take babies and toddlers when
they need diapers changed a quiet place to nurse or otherwise
offer comfort to children.

The Stine class was in the larger of the rooms, but graciously
gave up that room to move to a cozier room near the
breezeway stairs. Some of the younger parents helped them
with the move, and relocated photos from their former classroom downstairs and repainted the walls
and installed a ceiling fan. The photo with the pictures on the wall shows the Stine classroom as it now
is, and we celebrate this room which reminds the class members of the person who painted these
pictures and for whom the class is named.

The other photo shows the new Family Comfort Room with new
comfortable sofas and a changing table. We are indebted to the
East Stroudsburg Teachers for their work in stripping and
sanding the floors and adding many new coats of polyurethane
to help make this room safe and attractive. I hope that you will
want to see both rooms and give thanks for their beauty and
functionality for the Kingdom of God and for the benefit of our
congregation. Make sure you knock before entering the Family
Comfort Room to ensure the privacy of people using it with the doors closed. Thanks to all the people
involved in these projects, and let’s use them for the glory of God!

This past Tuesday evening, there were 19 of us who attended a House of God Safety and Security
seminar sponsored by Emergency Services of Monroe County. It took place at the JT Lambert School
and was attended by more than 500 people. The two hour seminar was sobering as we listened to how
to deal with those who would seek to do us harm, but it gave us marching orders to help make our
church environment more safe and secure. We are putting together a security team and our first job will
be to make sure our facilities are as secure as possible for Christmas Eve. After Christmas, we will be
working off of a blueprint we have already received from a member to put together a security plan for
our church for the future. If you have suggestions about what we can do to make our facility safer, or if
you would like to volunteer to be on the Safety Team which will work on these issues, please let me
know.
Advent Blessings, Pastor Jim
 Music Ministry Corner
ESUMC’s Outreach ADVENT is a season of spiritual hope and
& Evangelism Team longing before the actual arrival of Christ. Our
is focused on sharing the gift hymnal includes words and tunes that have
of gospel and Christ’s love in been meaningful to Christians since the 9th century. You
our Community this Holiday may read these in hymns #202-216, or find online. Several
Season! Are you going to join will be sung or played during our Advent services: Come,
us?!! Thou Long-Expected Jesus; People, Look East; Hail to the
On Saturday, December 22nd Lord’s Anointed; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; Lift Up Your
at 10:00am and 1:00pm, and Heads; Savior of the Nations, Come; Lo, How a Rose E’er
on Sunday, December 23rd at Blooming. May these words bring you comfort and joy!
6:30pm O&E has arranged to
show The Star: The Story of
the first Christmas, for FREE, Wind and string instruments will again play carols in
to the entire community! The Oberholtzer Hall between services on Sunday Dec. 23.
Star is a G-rated, animated depiction of the story of the first Students from grades 5-up who have band or orchestra
Christmas and baby Jesus’ birth. This film is a fantastic way to experience are invited to play, plus adults. Contact Pauline
invite your friends and family members to experience the most Fox at 570-223-9889 or foxes@esumc.net to get music
amazing gift ever given: Jesus Christ!!!! We highly encourage (guaranteed to be easy).
you to attend and to bring some of your neighbors and
community along with you!!!
Don’t have little kids at home? That’s okay, come volunteer
with our Staff at one of the movie showings and help welcome
the community by opening doors, and greeting others in the
name of Jesus Christ!
***Doors open 30 minutes prior to each showing time.
Admittance is on a first come, first serve basis as Pocono
Cinema can only accommodate 300.***
Come and receive a $3.00 coupon off a SMALL COMBO!
Hope to see you there!

Advent Study
The Gospels &
the Birth of
Christ

Convenient for
YOUR Needs.
It takes place
before dark, and
just before the
community Meal
on Mondays.

What: An examination of what each Gospel says about

the birth of Jesus, why they are different, and what each
Gospel writer emphasizes important for Christian living.
When: Mondays: Dec 3, 10, 17, from 3:00-4:15pm.
Where: Oberholtzer Hall, adjacent to the gymnasium.
On the final Monday, a brief Memorial service will be held
to remember those from the Community Meal and family
members who have passed away in 2018, December 17,
4:00 –4:30 pm.

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) E S U M C Sunday Services and Studies
AA: Thurs & Sat, 8:00 to 9:00 PM Keep It Simple
Saturday, 5:30 to6:30 PM. Traditional 8:30 AM Contemporary 10:45 AM
Sunday, 4:30 to 6:30 PM Serenity House Sunday School 9:45 AM
Discipleship 9:45 AM
 Save on Income Taxes by Donating Stock
The Steering Team and Finance Team have voted to
establish a brokerage account to receive donations of stock.
Stock donations are not only for the rich. Anyone could see
tax benefits.
When you donate stock that has grown in value, you will likely
bypass taxes on the gain, while you may also be able to
deduct the full value of the donation.
If you are taking a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from
retirement savings, the stock donation from that account can
count toward the RMD. That could lower taxable income, and
associated taxes. It could also potentially
provide a deduction if you itemize
deductions.
Everyone's situation is different, so
please check details with your investment
or tax adviser. Detailed instructions for
making these donations will be available from the church
office soon.
570-460-8423
December 17th /6:30-8:30
Beer House Cafe
Need Ushers/Greeters
for Christmas Eve Services
All people, young and not so young are needed to serve as
ushers/greeters for one of the three services on Christmas
Eve. This is a wonderful time for families to serve together!
Please contact Kathy Hinkey at k_hinkey@hotmail.com or
570-236-8183 if you are able to serve at
either the 4 pm, 7 pm or 10 pm services.
ESUMC! Start
Your Engines!
Do you drive to church? Are you willing to be a good neighbor and offer a ride
on Sunday mornings? If so, we need YOU for Transportation Ministry. Our
congregation is also in need of people with flexible schedules during the
week to assist those who are not able to drive. Please contact Rachel
Thompson 973-590-1176.(rachelkdthompson@gmail.com) or Bethany Mills
(bmills@esumc.net) if you are willing to serve in this capacity. We need YOU!
Buy a Poinsettia and give to Faith Promise!
Help us decorate the Altar for Christmas! We are
now accepting orders for Poinsettias thru December
16th. Each plant is $8.00 with proceeds donated to
Faith Promise. Additional donations to Faith Promise
are welcome. Look for the green envelopes, the
order form is on the envelope. DEADLINE: for flower
orders is 12/16. Donation dedications need to be received by
12/19 to be included in the Christmas Eve Bulletin. Flowers will be
displayed on the Altar December 21st through Christmas Eve.
OK55’s Annual Christmas Luncheon
Dec 13th, 11:30-2pm Fellowship Hall
Ham and beverages will be provided. Please
bring your favorite holiday dish to accompany the
ham. Also, please bring 1 or 2 small gifts to be
used as prizes. For our charity contribution, we will
collect pet food to give to Meals on Wheels in order
for the shut-ins to feed their animals . This is a covered
dish to pass event, with a snow date of: 12/20/2018.
Please RSVP to Karen Dudley by 12/12/2018 at
570-424-9896. For transportation assistance
please contact Larry Gerberich at: (570) 234-5351.
 CHURCH CONTACT LIST
Office

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