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 40 October 7, 2018

Pastor’s Corner
We had our third and final Human Sexuality Forum last Sunday, with about
60 in attendance, which is about the average attendance for all three
events hosted in our Fellowship Hall. I want to thank all who attended the
forums, especially those who were there for all three. Ana Price did a great
job with the food which was offered for all three events, and we so much
appreciate her servant heart to bring quality food and warm hospitality to
many of our events here at ESUMC. Thanks, Ana!
At the third session, I reviewed again the three main plans to be presented
for vote at the February 23-26 General Conference in St. Louis. This is a
specially-called conference for all 2016 delegates for the sole purpose of
making decisions on our denomination’s stance on homosexuality. The plans are described on the
denomination’s website, www.umc.org. In case you were not able to make the final session or
either or both of the other two, I will be glad to share materials with you that were shared at those
sessions. Please understand that these are outlines and will not give you the complete picture of
all discussed, with a couple of exceptions.
One exception is a paper I have put together which was used at the final session to explain my
thoughts and where God’s Holy Spirit has been leading me on issues related to human sexuality.
This was shared, not with the idea of persuading others to believe the way I do on the subject, but
to simply inform the congregation as to my current stance as your spiritual leader on these
important matters. I invited attendees not to try to paraphrase my words to those who were not
present, but to provide my written words. I am currently editing my written work and will have it
available by Sunday for all who would like to read it. I can give you a hard copy or can email it to
you. Also available to you is a one page “open letter” written by Rich Strack from our congregation
who was not able to attend on Sunday. He approaches the subject from a scientific viewpoint, and
I shared his letter this past Sunday to those in attendance. Please let me know if you’d like a copy.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, I attended our Bishop Peggy Johnson’s “town hall” meeting in Pottsville on
this very same subject, as she seeks to keep our Annual Conference informed as we move toward
General Conference 2019. One resource I discovered from her presentation is umcprays.org
(don’t use “www”), which includes resources for “Praying Our Way Forward” to prepare for
February. You can sign up to receive free prayer posts and become a part of a growing group of
United Methodists who are bathing this General Conference in prayer. Listed each week are the
names of delegates from around the world whom you can lift up to God by name. I will also publish
the names and contact info. for each of our Eastern PA Conference delegates so that you can
pray for them and contact them with your concerns. Truly, for this and everything else in life, let us
“Pray Our Way Forward!”
Blessings, Pastor Jim
 OK’s 55+ Event

October 11- Pocono Plateau

Fall Foliage -Hot dogs,
beverage, and smores over
campfire-bring a snack and
game. Leave the church at
9 :30 and return at 2:00 pm...

Child care will be provided

I AM A C H U R C H M E M B E R
Thom S. Rainer
Continuing through OCTOBER 28TH!!
If you are still interested in joining, please
reach out to Bethany Mills at
bmills@esumc.net
or (434) 944-4641
The Discipleship Team

This Sunday
11:00—11:45
Bible Study
4th, 5th, 6th
Grades

Dollar Challenge October

Dollar Challenge is shoebox
size toys and crafts for
Operation Christmas Child
Register at:
http://www.esumc.net/womens-retreat-2018/ Shoeboxes. All donations
are greatly appreciated!
Or Contact Briana Ragonese at Thank you!
(570) 872-6689 or brirags123@gmail.com

Discipleship
Drop-in Study
“All the Places to
Go. . How Will You
Know?”
Stephen Ministers are equipped to do just that. Con- by John Ortberg
Sept 30—Nov 4th
tact Peggy Strack at 570-856-2131 for more info, or
Room #10
 THINK PUMA
PUMA Classes have started again for the fall! PUMA stands
for Pocono United Methodist Academy, and includes five
courses:
1. You’ll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your
Turbulent Times

2. 20th Century Christian Classics

3. The Book of Joy

4. Faith in Washington

Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters

Today More Than Ever

Please see our church website, www.esumc.net,

to see how to sign up and for course descriptions.

At Christmas we connect with the ones we love. But what if

Family Promise of Monroe County (FPMC) invites you
to our 10th anniversary Blue Jean Ball, to benefit
children and their families of Monroe County.
Go to URL:Www.esumc.net/Family-Promise
you are a child with a parent in prison-feeling lonely,
abandoned, and hurt?
Through Angel Tree, you can connect a child with their
parent behind bars and offer joy and hope to a prisoner's
family.
It's simple. Your church contacts families, buys and wraps
Christmas gifts, and delivers them-along with a message of
love and the Good News about Jesus-in the name of
incarcerated parents. When Christmas is over, you'll have
opportunities to continue to minister to these families all
year long. Look for flyers in bulletins.

ESUMC
Sunday Services
and Studies

Traditional 8:30 AM
Contemporary 10:45 AM
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Discipleship 9:45 AM
 Church 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
jdorsch@esumc.net
Director of Bells
Chris Perfetti
perfetti3@ptd.net
Financial Secretary
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012
Technology Support
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012
Continued on Page 3 Audio/Visual Technician
Charles Rajnai
charlesrajnai@gmail.com
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church Scan QR to Maintenance Sunday
ESUMC Bob Lee Sexton
83 S. Courtland St. rlee@esumc.net Craig Banner
Website
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Ext. 1018