Faith Matters Weekly Newsletter

FAITH MATTERS

NEW SERMON SERIES:

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER

Have you wondered what being a church member truly means?

Or are you just curious about what it takes to be one?

Is it important to your Christian faith in our new age of technology and online worship to engage more with a church?

In this next month, we are going to embark together as a church in exploring the meaning and calling of being involved and engaged with a church and its mission. As the celebration of Easter has begun and we're diving into honoring Christ's resurrection for us, how can we express our gratitude and grace from God? In this series, that will be mirrored in our small group studies, Pastor Jack seeks to explore the interactions and connections that make church membership not just meaningful, but essential to the Christian experience.

See You There!

Zoom Viewers!

Click Here to view this Sunday's Bulletin.

CHURCH-WIDE BIBLE STUDY!

Faith is doing a Church-Wide Bible Study of a wonderful book called, "I Am A Church Member" By Thomas Rainer!

What is a church-wide bible study?

It is a timeframe where several small groups of the church get together and study the same book in an effort to journey in faith together as a whole church! Not only will we study the book in multiple small groups, but our sermon series will be about this as well throughout April!

Books will be available through the Church Office

or if you'd be willing to purchase it on your own,

it is available on Amazon and other wholesalers!

Would you be willing to lead a small group study for several weeks either at your home or at the church? See Pastor Jack or Pastor Bob to learn more!

Small Group Study Begins: Sunday April 14th

SMALL GROUPS

LEADER(S)	TIMES
Adult Sunday School - Kate Andrew	Sunday 9am
Bob & Nancy Amundsen	Sundays 2pm
Tom and Bob Rogers	Tuesday 6pm
Bible Study - Pastor Ralph	Wednesday 10am
Online Small Group - Denise Fleitman and Mike Raub	Wednesday 12pm

PASTOR JACK

OUT-OF-OFFICE NEXT WEEK

Pastor Jack will be at the Mid-Atlantic UM Foundation's Financial Leadership Academy next week and will be out of the office.

For urgent pastoral care, please contact the Church Office via phone or email, and we will connect you with a provider.

Date: Mon. 4/15 - Thurs. 4/18

HOLIDAY MARKET PLANNING MEETING!

We are ALREADY starting to plan our

2024 Holiday Market!

Please join us for a meeting on April 21st immediately following the 10am service. The meeting will be held in Wilson Hall.

If you have any questions please email the church office: office@stroudsburgfaith.org

WOMEN'S GROUP

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION!

United Women of Faith

are hosting their Spring Gathering

on May 5, 2024

from 11:30am - 1:30pm.

Food and beverages will be provided and there will also be a tutorial on how to knit a prayer shall!

For more information please email the church office: office@stroudsburgfaith.org

GRIEFSHARE GROUP

NOW HAPPENING!

Grief is a very natural and present feeling in our society for a multitude of reasons. A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief through our Christian faith.

MEETINGS HAVE NOW BEGUN!

If you would be interested in learning more about this group or how to join, please see either Pastor Jack or Denise Fleitman.

Dates: Thursdays 6pm-8pm - Wilson Hall

First Round of Sessions:

March 14th- June 13th

OUR NEW PUBLICITY FORM!

Do you have an event or happening that you'd like the church to share?

We will have these forms available outside the Church Office AND online on our website to allow everyone to submit dates and times of church events and others in the community.

Please fill it out for your events!

EASTERN PA ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION ACTIVE!

Our Annual Conference has announced the dates and registration schedule for this year's Annual Conference gathering.

This is where the entire conference's pastors, laity, and members gather to discuss and vote on important legislation, hold learning workshops about ministry, celebrate ordinations and conference achievements, and make plans for the future!

This year's conference will take place in Wildwood, NJ May 21 - 23.

FAITH MOMENTS!

In order to help the community hear more of our voices, the Evangelism Committee is looking to have some of our members testify during worship and make a video about what they have found to be wonderful about our community here at Faith!

Do you have a faith story you'd like to share?

Please contact Pastor Bob to talk more!

BIBLE STUDY INFORMATION

Pastor Ralph's bible study continues on Wednesday mornings!

Our study at this time is on

the Apostle Paul!

Date: Wednesdays 10am

in Wilson Hall

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTINUES!

Sunday School for our young people continues into the spring! Class begins during our 10am worship service which will follow our "Time for Young Disciples" in worship. To sign your child up for Sunday School, please scan the QR code on the poster or click here!

Social Hour Coffee Fellowship:

Please join us on Sunday morning in Wilson Hall for refreshments, coffee, and tea at 9am. This is a great time in between our two Sunday worship services for everyone to share in some good fellowship time and transition into the next service time!

If you'd like to help plan or bring some light refreshments, please contact John and Diane Higgins!

Date: Sunday mornings 9am in Wilson Hall

Adult Sunday School will meet the second, third and fourth Sunday of every month at 9am

Book Study:

I Am A Church Member

Classes will start with a video, followed by discussion utilizing accompanying study guides. Study Guides will be provided.

Any Questions? Contact Kate Andrew at kateandrew618@gmail.com or

570-242-8432

WANT TO JOIN THE CHOIR?

Our choir continues to make a joyful noise in church throughout the holiday season and they always welcome new voices! Please see Christine Meizanis if interested!

Next Choir Practice:

April 17th - 5pm

BOY SCOUTS MOTHER'S DAY FLOWER SALE

Check the Community Bulletin Board outside the office for the Boy Scout flower sale order form. If you have any questions please call the office @ 570.424.0712 or send an email office@stroudsburgfaith.org

WANT YOUR GROUP

TO MEET HERE?

The Trustees are now accepting applications from organizations and groups who might wish this church building to be their home! We need your help to share this with the community about our facilities and its accessibility to those who might need it.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to the Church Office!

WE'RE NOW ON YOUTUBE!

In an effort to make our worship services more accessible, the church has created a YouTube channel and begun broadcasting our worship services there every Sunday along with Zoom! Go and share our videos with others so we can get our church out to the whole world!

If interested in creating online videos for digital ministry, please see Tom Rogers or Pastor Jack!

NOTE: If anyone is uncomfortable being potentially filmed in a video broadcast for worship, please reach out to Pastor Jack.

FAITH TALKS with Pastor Jack!

Pastor Jack will be recording and posting a series of videos on our church's Facebook and Youtube pages that will seek to answer important questions about our beliefs and reflect on them in a more casual way. He hopes this will help share what we believe with the world but also give those in the church a chance to get to know him better as we grow in faith together! Give us a follow on Facebook to see more!

FACEBOOK - @FaithUMC.Stroudsburg

This Week's Faith Talk -

Who was John Wesley?

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Scan QR Code to Donate to Faith UMC

PRAYERS ADDED EACH WEEK!

Our Prayers for This Week:

OUR FAITH FAMILY:

Charlotte Clapper
Diane Savitz
Sandy Shebby and Family
JoAnn Schwartz
Sharon Wary
Ralph and Mary Chubbuck
Mary-Jane Tanner
Ken Barthold
Sandy Shebby
Maria Tonnies
Rene Batchler
Anita Fisher
Lois Schwartz
Loretta Martin
Jane Post
Eleanor Slutter
George and Elaine Brodhead
Floyd Frisbie
Bette Gillman

All our homebound members

OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS:

Adrian Gillman
Rick Joyce
Bill Reese and Family
Joyce Mitchell
David Christen
Elaine Myers
Christine Myers
Ben Caldwell
Sue Grossman
Pat
Rick
Dana
DeLoris
Holly
Carol

Our World:

Israel/Palestine - terrorist attacks and retaliation that have triggered a humanitarian crisis
Ukraine and its people
Our Law Enforcement and first responders
Those suffering from violence or abuse
Our country and its leaders struggling to work together
Our friends struggling with addiction
Our Military and their families
Our UMC denomination and conference as it determines its future

WAYS TO ADD A PRAYER:

-Reach out to the church office

-Call/Email John Higgins for prayer chain

-Fill out a Connection card during worship

-Navigate to Stroudsburgfaith.org/prayers and fill out the form

GIVING ENVELOPE GUIDE

For some who are not familiar with our system of giving envelopes,

please refer here:

Envelopes are differentiated

by color-coding:

Red, Blue, and Green

Blue (Team Jesus) - General Fund - This is for our church's general ministry expenses and upkeep

Red - St. Stephen's Ministry - represents whole church giving and missions to outside organizations

Green - Faith Promise - This helps us pay down the mortgage on Wilson Hall which was an expense that arose when our church renovated

To Give Online:

www.stroudsburgfaith.org/give

ONLINE CALENDAR IN USE!

Our church office will be using our Google Calendar as the primary application to keep track of church events and building usage.

NOTE: If you are looking to have an event and it does not appear on this calendar, please assume that it is not on the schedule and inform the church office!

You can view it by going on our website at:

www.stroudsburgfaith.org/calendar