East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church // Volume 6 // Issue 03 // 9 FEBRUARY 2020
THE
TRUMPET
CALL
PREPARING FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE
In one of last month’s
editions of the Trumpet
Call, I responded to the
many media stories
about a new plan for
separation for the United
Methodist Church, which
will likely be voted on in
Minneapolis at the UM
General Conference this
year (May 5th-15th). The
separation agreement,
called the “Protocol of
Reconciliation and Grace
Through Separation,”
was the product of
extensive discussion
among lay and clergy
representatives from
across the theological
spectrum; clergy from
the most conservative to
the most liberal on the
subject of
homosexuality.
General Conference
1
takes place in May of
2020. Learn more about
the Protocol of
Reconciliartion & Grace
Through Separation...
[continued from left]
In the end, there was unanimous agreement among those representing very
different constituencies in our denomination. While this does not by any means
guarantee acceptance by the body in the General Conference, it strongly hints that
something like this will be voted in by the General Conference.
At this upcoming General Conference, the United Methodist Church will likely vote
to divide. What does this mean for our own church here in East Stroudsburg?
While we can’t know ESUMC’s full answer until the end of the General
Conference, we can have a pretty good idea ahead of time, which is why Scott and
I are conducting two information and listening sessions. In order to make these
sessions convenient for everyone, we’ve scheduled them to be held after both
services (9:40-10:30AM, 12:00PM-1:00PM) on February 16th and March 8th.
On February 16th, I will summarize the plans that are likely to be discussed and
voted on at General Conference and then discuss the implications for local
churches, much like our own. Then on March 8th, Scott will lead a discussion on
how we might address our own situation, helping us process concerns and fears
about the decision ahead. I want to assert that neither Pastor Scott nor I hold all
the answers, but we’re hopeful we can lead our congregation towards the right
questions to ask. While no one desires separation within the Body of Christ, if it’s
going to happen, we want to do it with all the grace and love available to us from
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Once again, we invite you to attend our
upcoming sessions. However, if you’re unable to attend, please know that our
session notes are available to you.
On another topic, Lent will be arriving soon; and at 7:00PM on Wednesday,
February 26th, we will host the Ash Wednesday service with Holy Communion.
This service will be shared with all of the local United Methodist churches, and we
look forward to welcoming pastors and laity from each of the churches. In the next
Trumpet Call, there will be detailed information about our Lenten schedule, but
briefly, our overall topic will be: “The Suffering and Glory of the Servant,” an
exposition of Isaiah 52 and 53. Paul Crikelair will provide an introduction to the
series as he preaches here on February 26th. The following Wednesdays, we will
consecutively visit Faith, Wooddale, Cherry Lane, Reeders, and Poplar Valley
UMC’s, in that order. I personally look forward to bringing the message at Reeders
1
UMC on March 25th. These Lenten services have yeilded meaningful experiences
over the years, and I encourage you to come to as many as able!
Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim
 2

Valentine’s Day Youth Fundraiser

No designated cost per child/couple, just give as you
feel led when you return. Please RSVP to Scott
Kuhnle at skuhnle@esumc.net prior to the event.

Starting Soon: Financial Peace University

Haiti Meal Pack Update
Friends, the Mission Team is thrilled to share that the
meals we packed at ESUMC’s November event are
on their way to Haiti and should be delivered by
Valentine's Day! Though we know nothing is “simply
coincidence” with our God, how ironic is it that we get
to “Share the LOVE of Jesus Christ” with the people
of Haiti on a day like Valentine’s? Psalms 66:8 says:
Praise our God, oh peoples, let the sound
of his praise be heard!
50,112 nutritious meals—packed right here at
ESUMC—will soon fill hungry tummies. God is good!
Take control of your money with Financial Peace
University (FPU)! This 9-lession course uses biblical
wisdom and common sense to help you tackle
budgeting, pay off debt and make your money work
for you! FPU includes a member workbook and full
year of free online resources through your Financial
Peace membership.
Join us for our upcoming course at ESUMC starting
Sunday afternoons, March 1st—May 3rd, 2020
[excludes Easter Sunday, April 12th] from 12:30pm—
2:30pm.
For more information, contact Mike & Darla Piancone
at (570) 421-7443 or fpu.esumc@gmail.com. You can
also read more about FPU and register online at
fpu.com/11058799.

Attention Welcome Team!

Training has been rescheduled for Sunday, February
23rd in the Choir Room. Please choose to attend one
of the following training sessions:
9:45 AM—10:25 AM or 12:00 PM—12:45 PM
2
Come share ideas for hospitality; review duties; and
be sure to bring your ideas and questions! For more
information, see Kathy Hinkey or Rebecca Stager.
T H I S W E E K AT E S U M C
Recovery
3

Meetings
at ESUMC
All meetings are
held downstairs in
the Community Room of
the Education Building
*excludes GriefShare*

AA
Keep It Simple
Thursdays & Saturdays
8:00pm-9:00pm

Serenity House
Saturdays
5:30pm-6:30pm
Sundays
4:30pm-6:30pm

NA
Just For Today
Monday-Saturday
12:00pm-1:30pm

New Beginnings
(Women’s Group)
Wednesdays
6:00-7:30pm

GRIEF
SHARE
Weekly Seminars
01/09/20-04/02/20
!!! Attention Readers !!! Thursday Evenings
From Sunday, January 5th—Sunday, April 5th, the Trumpet Call will be published on a bi- Oberholtzer Hall
3
6:30-8:00pm
weekly schedule instead of a weekly schedule. Please continue to submit your articles to
trumpetcall@esumc.net by 12PM, the Wednesday prior to the next edition’s reease.
NEXT WEEK AT ESUMC
 Testimonial
“Serving God through Stephen Ministry is one of the
best things I’ve ever done. I’ve grown spiritually and
am still growing. In doing so, I am more patient, [I]
listen more intently, [and I’m] more considerate and
understanding.”
For more information, please contact Stephen
Ministry Leader, Peggy Strack, at (570) 856-2131.
Box Tops for Education Collections
Box Tops has announced that they’re changing their
collection protocol to better “fit today's families.”
Starting soon, Box Tops submissions will be collected
by using a new Box Tops mobile app to scan your
store receipt, find participating products and instantly
add Box Tops to your school's earnings online.
Though this change is progressive, ESUMC’s
contribution to Box Tops has been managed in a non-
digital format, which means that unless a new, tech-
savvy volunteer can assist us, ESUMC’s Box Top
collection efforts will cease when traditional Box Tops
clips are phased out of production. Until then, please
continue to save Box Tops labels you may find. Old
labels will continue to be honored until they are
entirely phased out.
Read more here: boxtops4education.com/. Contact
Erma Powell for more information at (570) 421-1422.
The Power of a Team
In last week’s sermon, Devotion Over Emotion, one of
the points Pastor Scott Kuhnle made was that: when
there is devotion to a cause, an individual on a team
can spur others on to greatness. Later that same day,
this was demonstrated by the Kansas City Chiefs as
they pulled out an amazing Super Bowl victory over
the San Francisco 49ers! In the postgame interviews
with Patrick Mahomes and other players, we heard
phrases like: “We never lost faith!”, “We believed in
each other!”, “We had zero doubt!”
I would like to invite YOU to be part of ESUMC’s
prayer team that meets every Sunday from 9:50 AM-
10:30 AM in the youth room of the church
basement. Personal prayer is vital in our relationship
with Christ, but sometimes we struggle to pray as we
should. When we pray together, we are inspired by
each others’ prayer and are spurred to grow in our
faith. Come pray with your brothers and sisters in
Christ at ESUMC! You may pray aloud, or in the
silence of your heart. Together we will petition our
great God for His honor and glory…for His Greatness!
Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley
On Saturday, February 22nd, 2020, all ESUMC
leadership will gather together for the 2020 Leaders
Retreat (held right here at ESUMC), to pray over
ESUMC, plan for 2020, and to discuss how we will
continue living out our Mission & Vision.
To help us prepare our hearts and minds for this
meeting, our Leadership has been reading though
Andy Stanley’s book Deep & Wide. Many of those
reading this book would also encourage YOU to pick
up a copy, and to prayerfully open your heart to
greater transformation and growth. For those
interested, the ISBN is: 978-0310526537.
 Tape Here
Postage
Here

EAST STROUDSBURG
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
83 SOUTH COURTLAND STREET
EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301

Esumc.net East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church EastStroudsburgUMC @ESUMC ESUMC

S U N DAY S E R V I C E S & T I M E S
8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:40-10:40 AM Equipping Hour 10:45 AM Contemporary Worship

Church Office Director of Student Ministries Director of Congregational Care

Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm Scott Kuhnle Rachel Thompson
church@esumc.net skuhnle@esumc.net rthompson@esumc.net
(570) 421-3280 Ext. 1013 Ext. 1011

Pastor Director of Children & Family Ministries Audio/Visual Technician

Jim Todd Erica Dorsch Charles Rajnai
jtodd@esumc.net edorsch@esumc.net charlesrajnai@gmail.com
Ext. 1014 Ext. 1017
Financial Secretary, Accts. Receivable
Church Administrator Director of Traditional Music Christine Uporsky
Rich Poole Jenni Poole cuporsky@esumc.net
rpoole@esumc.net jhpoole@ptd.net Ext. 1012
Ext. 1015
Director of Contemporary Music Financial Secretary, Accts. Payable
Administrative Assistant Doug Malefyt Bruce Osbun
Kathy Ravago dmalefyt@esumc.net bosbun@esumc.net
kravago@esumc.net Ext. 1012
Ext. 1010 Organist
Jonathan Strack Weekday Sexton
Director of Communications jstrack@esumc.net Bob Lee
& Spiritual Life Development rlee@esumc.net
Bethany Mills Director of Bells
bmills@esumc.net Chris Perfetti Sunday Sexton
Ext. 1023 perfetti3@ptd.net Craig Banner