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 28 July 15, 2018

Pastor’s Corner
Every day in my email “inbox,” I receive an email from the United Methodist News
Service which keeps me up to date on things going on in our denomination around the
world. Sometimes I read one or more of the articles, and sometimes none, depending
on the time I have available. Yesterday (Wednesday), as I scanned the articles, my
eyes were drawn to the fifth article listed: United Methodist Girls’ Boarding School
Turns 50. When I saw that the article was from the country of Sierra Leone in West Africa, I knew
immediately which school it was: The June Hartranft Memorial Primary School for Girls, the place
where Karen and I spent 10 day in the spring of 2014, just before we came to East Stroudsburg.

We went there in April 2014 to visit our good friend, the Rev. Jane Lahai, who is the headmistress
of the school and who has come to ESUMC to visit us (in the Fall of 2016). Many of you will
remember Jane with her bubbly spirit and warm smile. Though the school is not officially on the list
of missions we support here at ESUMC, a number of our members made substantial contributions
to help get new bedding for the resident students of the school. The school is the only one in the
entire country of Sierra Leone which provides boarding for primary aged girls, so good bedding is
part of the key to the success of these students. The article noted that the new bedding has been
purchased and installed in the dormitory and was a part of the 50 th anniversary celebration in June.
I celebrate that our congregation had a large part in this, and that these girls now have comfortable
and safe beds upon which to sleep each night.

The woman for whom the school is named, June Hartranft, was a missionary from First UMC of
Ephrata, PA, who went to Moyamba, Sierra Leone, in the 1940’s. Before she died at the untimely
age of 49 in 1965, she had shared her vision of a resident Christian girls school in Moyamba, which
was opened just three years after her death. Rev. Jane Lahai was a part of the very first class to go
through the Hartranft School, so her passion for this school has been over her entire life! The
congregation of Ephrata: First still faithfully supports the school, even as they supported their native
daughter who responded to God’s call upon her life to become a missionary in Africa.

Please see the photo below of the graduates of the school on its 50 th anniversary, and celebrate
with me what God has done in this town and indeed, in the country of Sierra Leone through the
work of the United Methodist Church. I will have the full
article printed and available for any who would like to
read it this Sunday. Finally, please pray for Jane’s
daughter, Martha, a young adult mother who is presently
battling both malaria and typhoid fever, two diseases
which are far too common in third-world countries and
which are being battled by UMCOR and other relief
organizations.

Blessings, Pastor Jim


THANK YOU STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS!
As we recognize the blessings of our recent baby
boom in the church, I wanted to thank the behind
the scenes team who has aided the church and
supported the families by working in the ESUMC
Nursery. This staff and volunteer group has
revitalized the infant nursery and provided coverage
every Sunday for the past year. They answered our
call for help and have been blessed to care for the
youngest in our church. We appreciate the
dedication of this group and want to recognize their
continued service in the nursery.
Thank you!
Michelle Traub
Nursery Coordinator
ESUMC Nursery Staff: Briana Ragonese,
Elizabeth Perfetti, Grace Tynemouth, Jozette Moses,
and Director of Children’s Ministry-Erica Dorsch
Nursery Volunteers: Rich and Jenni Poole,
Bobbi Wolf, Maria Ragonese, Mary Anne Constable,
Tim Malefyte, Kristin Marek, Rich Mayers,
Arlene Hargrave, Elizabeth Stokes, Jill Iaconetti,
Harriet Fulmer, Michele Reese, Corrie Snyder,
Sharon Lee, and Rebecca Stager
Youth Volunteers: Molly Durney, Emily, Madison,
and Rachel Traub, Ashley and Elizabeth Mayers
JULY DOLLAR CHALLENGE
July Dollar Challenge is socks, underwear,
baby clothes or other clothing items for
UMW ingathering which goes mostly to the
Hazelton Enlarged Ministries
Contact Linda Drake for more info at 570-856-9395.
Many of you saw the financial report at the Taco Talk event. Now it is mid-
year and the Finance Team has assembled the following information to
continue to keep members of ESUMC informed.
With thanks to the congregation we have received $248,816 in giving
through June 30, 2018. We add to that $20,656 of the income we made
from our endowment investment (the first half of our allotment for the
year) and the portion of the 2017 salary grant (also allotted by Steering
Team), and $6,000 of pre-paid giving, the total church income for the first
six months is $281,344. Our anticipated income was $297,191.
Our expenses to date are $290,530. Our budgeted expenses to date are
$297,191. At first glance the disparity between actual income vs actual
expenses is $9,000. However, our expenses are not incurred at a fixed
amount each month. They are variable depending on events, weather,
surprise maintenance requirements, etc. Likewise, our giving also isn’t a
fixed amount each month. Historically by June, we have collected only
45% of our total giving. Some of our givers fulfill their commitments
towards the end of the year. We also need to factor in many other
variables – some of which are an uneven amount of Sunday’s in each
month, a longer, colder winter – to having a variable amount of payroll
weeks per period. After we review all these factors, and make
appropriate calculations and adjustments, we anticipate we will fall short
by year’s end of approximately $16,000. We hope continued reduction in
anticipated expenses and additional giving will help us overcome this
deficit by the end of the year.
The good news: when we evaluate the extra effort and expense we have
put into Outreach and Evangelism we are already seeing a positive
impact on our church. We have seen an upward turn in Sunday
attendance, reversing a long trend experienced by ESUMC and most
main-line churches. We have welcomed many new members, increased
first time visitors and returning visitors, and our nursery is growing by
leaps and bounds.
At present, using the “earnings” (not the principle) from our Endowment
fund, is an investment in our future. (Note, the Endowment monies are
only used to support our Ministries, Outreach & Evangelism as per our
church’s “Endowment Policy”).
It is our plan that as we look forward to 2019 and 2020 we will continue to
grow and we will see an increase in giving which will enable us to reduce
our dependence on endowment earnings.
Thank you for your continued support which provides for events such as
the parish retreat, Monday meals (and for a while, Tuesday meals), adult
and youth mission trips, children and youth programs, women’s events,
young adult and young family events, O.K.’s, discipleship classes, the
Carnival, block party, and Vacation Bible School. These events and
programs take a lot of personal and financial resources. By supporting
these we are working our Vision & Mission: To be a Christian community
where Christ is transforming lives – for we love Jesus Christ and we share
His Love!
E S U M C Sunday Services and Studies
Traditional 8:30 AM
Contemporary 10:45 AM
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Discipleship Groups 9:45 AM
 Women’s Ministry Presents
Faith, Film, Fellowship
This coming Saturday!
July 21st
7:00 pm to 7:00 am
Join the girls for a night in…come for the movie or stay the night!
Movie will be held in Oberholtzer Hall followed by food, fun and fellowship.
Breakfast will be served in the morning before church. Join the women of ESUMC
Please stop by Fellowship Hall to vote on movie selection.
You may contact Kelli Mercurio or Ann Osbun for a Mixer,
for further details or questions Monday, July 16th
from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
at the Café on 13-14
Family Outing
Crystal Street in
Join us at Shawnee Playhouse on
East Stroudsburg
Saturday, July 28 at 11am as we
watch “The Lion King Jr. Experience”.
For more info contact Karen
We need a minimum of 20 people to
at 215-206-5158, or
receive a discount of $10 per ticket. Facebook.com/groups/ESUMCW
Fewer than 20 people would result in Women’s Ministry
$13 per ticket. To reserve your spot,
please send your cash or check payment to the church office no later
than Wednesday, July 18. Checks can be made out to ESUMC, in the
memo, please write “Lion King”.

Summer Equipping Classes for Adults

9:45-10:35 Sundays
What’s in store for your JULY?
IF
Many people have a tough time believing that God
still speaks. We’ve learned from Scripture that God
spoke to His people in ancient time and in mysterious
ways, but how do we hear His voice now? The truth is For more information about
God still communicates with His people, but He often Stephen Ministry, please contact
speaks in a whisper — not to make it difficult to hear Peggy Strack at 570-856-2131
Him, but to draw us close.
or visit our website:
4 Week Series — Classroom 8—Mark Batterson www.esumc.net/stephen-ministry

Pocono Connextion & Friends— Upcoming Events for the Summer

Our sister churches have a lot of exciting events this Summer. Woodddale UMC has started a new
children’s program called Wednesday at Wooddale. Also, they have a Ham Diner on July 21st at
4:30pm. Pastor Nina will be holding a summer book club. Faith UMC has a “Fun Day at Faith—
Frozen Friday” July 20th, 1-3pm with ice cream, and ice themed game. July 30th from 6-8pm is a
meeting of the “Good Books” book club. Stroudsburg UMC is offering a study group “Mastering
Life” on Tuesday evenings 7-9pm starting July 10th. Here is a link for further details on these events.
http://www.esumc.net/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/news-letter.pdf
 Contact Us
Church Office
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
Hours: 9am to 1pm
Monday thru Friday
SUNDAY, July 15th
Pastor
8:30 am to 9:30 am Traditional Worship Service Sanctuary
Jim Todd
9:45 am to 10:45 am Summer Drop-In Studies Classroom 8
jtodd@esumc.net
10:45 am to 11:45 am Contemporary Worship Sanctuary Ext. 1014
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm Baby Blessing for Recent Babies Born Fellowship Hall
Church Administrator
MONDAY, July 16th Jill Teaford
ALL DAY Youth Ministry Pittsburgh Project Mission Trip jteaford@esumc.net
Ext. 1015
10:30 am to 2:00 pm Notebook Club Classroom 10
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Community Dinner Fellowship Hall Administrative Assistant
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Core Strength Training Oberholtzer Hall Kathy Ravago
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Soul Sister Mixer Event kravago@esumc.net
Ext. 1010
TUESDAY, July 17th Spiritual Life &
9:00 am to 11:00 am Pickles Ball for Retirees Fellowship Hall Congregational Care
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Staff Meeting Conference Rm Bethany Mills
10:30 am to 2:00 pm Notebook Club Classroom 10 bmills@esumc.net
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Discipleship meeting Conf Rm Conference Rm Ext. 1023
6:45 pm to 8:30 pm Girl Scouts End Room Student Ministries
6:45 pm to 8:30 pm Stephen Ministry Stephen Ministry Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
WEDNESDAY, July 18th Ext. 1013
7:30 am to 8:30 am Christian Men’s Breakfast Fellowship Hall Children & Family Ministries
10:30 am to 2:00 pm Notebook Club Classroom 10 Erica Dorsch
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Core Strength Training Fellowship Hall edorsch@esumc.net
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Worship Planning Team Stephen Ministry Ext. 1017
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Open Basketball Fellowship Hall Financial Secretary
Michael Corey
THURSDAY, July 19th mcorey@esumc.net
9:30 am to 11:00 am Women’s Bible Study CANCELLED Conference Rm Ext. 1012
10:00 am to 11:00 am Zumba Gold Fellowship Hall Maintenance
10:30 am to 2:00 pm Notebook Club Classroom 10 William Mack
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm Witness Workshop Oberholtzer Hall wmack@esumc.net
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Block Party Community Outreach Parking Lot Ext. 1018

FRIDAY, July 20th Sunday Sexton

9:00 am to 11:00 am Pickle Ball for Retirees Fellowship Hall Craig Banner
10:30 am to 2:00 pm Notebook Club Classroom 10 Organist/Traditional Music
Pauline Fox
SATURDAY, July 21st foxes@esumc.net
7:00 pm to 7:00 am Woman’s Ministries Movie/Sleepover Oberholtzer Hall Contemporary Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net
Choir Director
Joe Dorsch
jdorsch@esumc.net
Audio/Visual Technician
Charles Rajnai
East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church charlesrajnai@gmail.com
Scan QR
83 S. Courtland St. to ESUMC Technology Support
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Website Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net
Ext. 1012