Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Trumpet Call: Our Vision
The Trumpet Call: Our Vision
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
Pastors Corner
This is Holy Week, the most important week of the year related to our salvation in Jesus
Christ. On Thursday of Holy Week, we remember the Lord's Last Supper with his
disciples. The service which includes Holy Communion is called the Maundy Thursday
Service. We sometimes substitute "Holy" for "Maundy" but they are not exactly
interchangeable. "Maundy" comes from the Latin "Mandatum" or "Mandate." The
mandate Jesus gave to his disciples was to love one another, and at the Last Supper,
Jesus demonstrated this sacrificial love by washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus said, "I
give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you
also should love one another" (John 13:34). The act of foot washing itself was not unusual, because after
walking in sandals on the dusty trails of Palestine, foot washing was essential. It was the fact that the
master washed the feet of the disciples, not the other way around, which made the example of Jesus so
special, wonderful, and unique.
Of course, Jesus' mandate was not just for one special night but for all time and in all places. Christians'
first responsibility is to love. Jesus also made it clear that we are not just to love those who are easy to love
like our family and church friends, but ALL people. Not only that, but we are to humble ourselves before
one another as Jesus humbled himself to wash the feet of the disciples. We know how radical an act this
was because Peter was appalled that Jesus would lower himself to wash his feet (Peter: "You will never
wash my feet!" John 13:8). What can each of us do this Holy Week to demonstrate the love and humility of
Christ to one another?
I look forward to welcoming our congregation and community to Easter services as we celebrate the
Resurrection of Christ. I invite those of us who are "regulars" to show the love of Christ in special ways to
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those who are visiting with us or those who only come at Christmas and
Easter. Our job is to help people feel right at home and part of our church
family. It is our mandate!
Two Sundays ago, a "reverse offering" was done in both services,
whereby $20 was given to each family unit so that individuals and
families could demonstrate the parable of the talents. I've heard some
amazing testimonies so far, and many more are to come. The idea is to
use that $20 as seed money for a family project, then bring back all the
proceeds on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, and to celebrate what God has
done among us. We still have a few envelopes containing all the
information and the $20 if you were not there that Sunday and would like
to participate. We are operating on the honor system, and please
remember this is God's money, not our own. Please see me on Sunday if
you'd like to receive an envelope. For everyone else, I hope you're
prayerfully considering and beginning to act on your plan to use your $20
for the Kingdom and to fulfill Jesus' mandate.
I will not be here the week after Easter, but will be on vacation with my
whole family. Another pastor in the community will be on call for our
congregation, and Peggy Strack will be available for pastoral visitation
and other concerns. I know you will look forward to hearing Rich Poole
preach on April 3 at both services, and Linda Kissel (an ordained elder)
will be presiding at Holy Communion at both services. May God bless
you and your family this Easter!
Pastor Jim
The OKs will meet April 13, at 11:30 a.m. to have
our annual Indoor Picnic. Hot Dogs and buns will
be provided. Please bring a Picnic type of food to
share.
After lunch, Mike Corey will present a talk on various aspects of the use of computers, including providers, e-Mail, programs, games, printing etc. If you have any questions or advice, this is a
chance to get help. If you are not interested in computers, we will have
games in another room.
Please come and enjoy the meeting. Thank you, Erma Powell.
Stephen Ministry
Christ is Alive!
Yes, Christ is alive! Today we
celebrate His resurrection from
the dead! Over two thousand
years later, His Spirit is still alive
in our world, leading us,
teaching us, helping us in the
midst of all that life brings our
way! If you are going through a
time of trial, perhaps Gods gift
to you would be to have a
Stephen Minister to offer
Christian support! For more
information about Stephen
Ministry, contact Peggy Strack at
570-421-3280, ext. 1023.
Update
http://www.esumc.net/vacation-bible-school-2/
This
Is
My
S tory
Events
Contact Us
We will be doing Hurricane Sandy home repairs in Brooklyn. All skill levels
are welcome. Scholarship help is available.
We are offering two exciting choices Two day trip from Thursday night, April 7 through Saturday, April 9 or...
Week long trip from Sunday, April 3 through Saturday, April 9
For information or to register contact Pat Braun 570-269-5043.
CHAIR ZUMBA
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)
Congregational Care
Peggy Strack
pstrack@esumc.net
Ext. 1023
Youth Ministries
Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
Ext. 1013
Finances
Sue Mertz
smertz@esumc.net
Ext. 1015
Secretary
Maria Ragonese
mragonese@esumc.net
Ext. 1010
Childrens Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
Ext. 1017
Church Office
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Mon thru Fri
Pastor
Jim Todd
jtodd@esumc.net
Ext. 1014
Financial Secretary
Cyndie Faunce
cfaunce@esumc.net
Ext. 1025
Maintenance
William Mack
wmack@esumc.net
Ext. 1018
Organist/Traditional Music
Pauline Fox
foxes@esumc.net
Contemporary Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net
Audio/Visual
Joe Dorsch
josephdorsch@gmail.com
Technology Support
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012