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Newsletter of East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church - September 2010
At-A-Glance
New Year’s, All Over Again! Upcoming Events
Dear Friends, ▪ September 5, Pastor Ki-
mes returns to
Fall is, by far, my favorite season of the year. There’s just Worship
something new and different in the air! This time of year, I
have the inexplicable urge to buy new day planners and freshly ▪ September 12,
-sharpened pencils, as if I am going back to school myself. This Community Cele-
back-to-school season is a time for all of us, kids and adults bration Event
alike, to start fresh and explore new opportunities. Every Sep- from 12:30 - 3
tember, it is as if we have the chance to experience New Year’s p.m.
all over again! ▪ September 26,
In many ways, it is back-to-school time for East Stroudsburg Organ Concert 3
United Methodist Church as well. New things are happening. p.m.
There’s something electrifying in the air at East Stroudsburg
▪ October 3,
United Methodist Church. God is in the air at our church!
E-Women in Fel-
This fall, we are experiencing many new beginnings. We are
lowship Hall
welcoming Pastor Ed and Faith Kimes back after a year of min-
istry in Falmouth, England. We are looking forward to the ▪ October 5-9,
completion of our basement renovation and are eagerly antici- Church Directory
pating the ways that we can use that space to achieve God’s Pictures
vision for our church. We are reaching out to our community ▪ October 10, IAM
by opening a new Christian preschool. We are revamping our
movie at 7 p.m.
every member in ministry commitment program and our finan-
cial pledge program so that we can all grow deeper in our rela- ▪ October 17,
tionships with God. Laity Sunday
We are planning new opportunities for fellowship, community outreach, ▪ October 31, Community
and discipleship. God is certainly in the air at East Stroudsburg United Outreach Trunk or Treat
Methodist Church! This fall is just full of possibilities! Join us as we cele- 6-8 p.m.
brate all of these new beginnings at our End-of-Summer Celebration on
Sunday, September 12. This is sure to be a wonderful time when we can
all come together and celebrate the ways that God is moving in our church. Church Office is Closed
Let’s begin a new year together! Monday, September 6
Pastor Candy LaBar for Labor Day.
Servants
Connecting through Christ
Commitment Sunday, November 14
This year we have a new look and time-frame for our commitment program. We are
working towards changing the commitment year from January through December to Sep-
tember through August. In order to make this transition, your commitment will take place from January 1,
2011 through August 31, 2011.
We have changed the layout of the Commitment Card and the way our ministry opportunities are listed
Every ministry will now be categorized under these four areas, which enhance our proposed vision for 2011:
Grow - We are all called as servants to help each other grow spiritually. 2 Peter 3:18, But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Connect - We are called as servants to connect people to God’s local church. Ephesians 2:19 says, You are
no longer foreigners, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.
Serve - We are called as servants to reach out and share the Good News with others. Galatians 5:13 says,
You were called to freedom, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through
love become servants to one another.
Praise - We all exist to celebrate God’s presence in worship and celebration. Psalm 68:4 says, Our God, you
are the one who
Support - As we work towards changing our commitment year, the stewardship end of our this program will
remain on the calendar year. The stewardship team will use this opportunity to help us grow in our knowl-
edge of how God calls us to give.
Why Should I Give? Page 4
One of the responsibilities of our Stewardship Team is to encourage you in
your financial giving. This year, the Stewardship Team has been wrestling
with different ways to make that goal a reality. We have been asking our-
selves: How should we best build a ministry plan and budget for 2011? Should
we use Commitment Cards? Estimate-of-Giving Cards? Nothing at all? How
can we encourage people to give not only of their time and talents, but also
of their resources? Because these questions involve the topic of money, they
are considered by many to be somewhat controversial.
After reviewing commitment totals from the last several years, our team
has noted that the dollar amount of our church‘s financial commitment has
decreased. Even more alarmingly, we have learned that the number of people
making commitments has decreased as well! As a team, we have discerned as
to the major causes for these decreases. First, the financial commitment process has, in many ways, become
a sidebar to the ―time and talent‖ commitment card. In most recent years we have received many more ―time
and talent‖ commitments than financial commitments. Perhaps individuals consider the financial part of the
commitment card to be optional. Second, because of the financial uncertainty in the world, many people are
being more careful with their money. Perhaps individuals are spending less and trying to hang on to more.
With the above thoughts in mind the Stewardship Team believes that a financial commitment or estimate
process separate from our time and talent commitment program is the direction we should move forward
with. The reality is that we could do as many mainline American churches are doing and base our plans for
2011 based on historical giving. These churches simply go off previous years giving data and than chart a
mid-year adjustment course depending on where giving is at that time. As commitments have steadily gone
down over the last few years that is exactly what we‘ve done at ESUMC! Because of this in one way or an-
other our leaders and staff have had to hold back even though we‘ve had a budget that said move ahead.
The Stewardship Team seeks your help in rejuvenating this financial process. Just imagine what God can
accomplish through us as the Body of Christ
in East Stroudsburg! But before we even see God has given you and what our church in East Strouds-
the Estimate-of-Giving Cards, all of us burg means to you. Please pray, reflect and dream about
(including the Stewardship Team) need to our church and all that God can do through us in the fu-
ask ourselves a few questions: ture.
▪ First, what is my church worth to me? How
important is it to my life? You will be receiving a packet in the mail during the first
▪ Second, what ministry opportunities take week of October. In the packet you will find four items:
place in my church? How much am I will- 1. Answers to questions about why the giving
ing to give to maintain and grow those information you provide the church is important
programs? 2. A summary of the proposed 2011 ministry plan
▪ Third, how can my financial resources be 3. Your Estimate-of-Giving Card
used beyond the walls of our church, 4. Your third quarter giving statement
reaching our community and world?
Certainly, it‘s more than just paying the As a church, our mission is to love Jesus Christ and share
bills! As we give back what God has given his love. One of the ways that you can live into that mis-
us, it allows us to work together as a body sion is by giving wisely and allowing our Stewardship
to do wonderful things in Christ‘s name Team see where God is leading our congregation. As you
give of your financial resources, you can support your
church, transform the lives of others, and make a differ-
ence in your life as a disciples of Jesus Christ!
Join us in this Spiritual Exercise
We‘re asking everyone to consider all that
Page 5
Fellowship
I AM sends an important message without being preachy.
The Ten Commandments are for our own good. I recommend
this movie for Christians and seekers
- Lee Strobel, NY Times best selling Author.
S
▪
Calling Men, Women, retirees and anyone who has three ▪ Adult Men Basketball every Tues-
hours of work in them a month. Please offer your service to day at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
U
keep our church in top shape. This group cleans, paints For information call Eric at 242-
and organizes things the Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6047.new race. Upcoming races can
starting October 26. Ken & Bonnie Alspach will serve break- be found at
fast at 8:30 a.m and the team works from 9-Noon. Come
when you can leave when you must. Call Bob Rosenberger
Page 6
Young Adult Couples
If you are a married couple under the age of 40, mark
your calendar to meet at the church for a great dinner
Older Kids
and time of fellowship Fall Events
Saturday, October 23 This group is a 55+ aged group that meets
at the church or off-site for a time of fellow-
6:30 p.m. ship. You need not be a member, so bring a
friend. For planning purposes, please RSVP
Child-care is available, however a RSVP is required to Jean Snyder at 421-0485. If needed, Jean
by contacting Melissa Richie at mritchie1@yahoo.com can also arrange transportation.
It has been almost five years since our last directory. Many faces have
changed! Help our pastors, members and staff put faces with names. You
can schedule your appointment on-line, at www.esumc.net or by calling the
church office. Dates are Tuesday, Oct. 5; Wednesday, Oct. 6; Thurs-
day, Oct. 7; Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9.
There is no cost to having your picture taken. You will receive a free
8X10 or a full sheet of wallets and a church directory. You do not have to
be a member to have your picture taken. You can also invite your ex-
tended family or friends to have their pictures taken and use this opportu-
nity for holiday postcards or gifts. If you have college students, additional
dates in November will be available.
We look forward to seeing you in our new directory!
Page 7
GROW—Spiritual Growth & Discipleship
As you can see there many opportunities to help us grow as followers of Christ. Dinner is provided. We will be
leaving the church at 12:30 p.m. and return approx. 9:30 p.m. It is a commitment, but one I feel you will not
regret making. Reservations are needed by November 1. If you are interested in attending please call Kelli
Oney at 421-3280 or email koney@esumc.net.
**Childcare is provided. I can share from my own experience last year, the care provided is excellent. My son
really enjoyed himself. You can also talk with Peggy Strack or Sharmune Burgess who also attend this event
last year.
Fall Discipleship Opportunities Page 8
Your Name:___________________________ Help is also needed with set-up for all soup
kitchens. If you would be willing to setup
Phone:_______________________________ tables and chairs in the morning of the
scheduled kitchen, please contact Mary
Email: _______________________________ Schneider
Praise and Worship Page 14
Our mission team, along with our Lay Leader Jill Malefyt will lead us in worship. Our lay speaker, Ray Gar-
cia will share how God called him to reach out to the community and share the love of Christ and encour-
age all of us to go forth as disciples of Christ and to act, to do, to serve.