News­let­ter

Dear friends in Christ, Greetings and peace to you! The last few weeks have been marked with joyous and Spirit-filled celebrations of our ministry and community. On 15 February, nearly 50 members and friends of ESUMC gathered for an evening of singing, dancing, drumming, and joyful sharing at our annual Talent Show. We give thanks to Marilyn and Noussi for organizing the presentations and fellowship, and to all who participated and brought refreshments to share. Please see the article below for more details and photos of our talents in action!In worship last Sunday, we heard the word of God preached by our District Superintendent, Pastor Stefan Schröckenfuchs of the Fünfhaus Gemeinde. Following worship, Pastor Stefan led us in our Charge Conference, the annual meeting of the congregation. During the meeting, we reflected upon our ministry over the past year, gave thanks for those who have served selflessly, and asked for God's wisdom as we continue on the path of Christian discipleship. We also received the good news that the renovation works in our sanctuary will begin in early March, and will be finished by the start of our Annual Conference in late May.Below is a photo of our Charge Conference. Thank you, ESUMC youth, for providing baked goods following the worship service; we are grateful for your contributions to our community!Finally, in the articles below please note our upcoming events as we begin the season of Lent, including our Ash Wednesday service of worship on 5 March at 18:30 in the sanctuary, and the Ecumenical Study Day on Saturday 8 March starting at 10:30 on the theme, "Wrestling with the Angel." All are welcome, and advance registration for the study day is requested.As we prepare to enter this season of Lenten prayer and repentance, I pray God's blessings and peace upon you and your loved ones.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ, I pray that you are well, and that the first weeks of the new year have started with blessings upon you and your loved ones. It has been a joy to worship with you each Sunday, as we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus and shine the light and love of God to the world around us.With the start of the new year, we are happy to announce the resumption of two important ministries in our community life.Soup Fellowship. On the second Sunday of each month through the winter season, following worship we shall celebrate Soup Fellowship. This time-honored tradition brings ESUMC members and friends together for a sit-down meal of soup and sandwiches. In sharing a meal, we are blessed to enjoy extended fellowship, meet new friends, and build stronger relationships within the community. We thank the Zahraman family for leading this ministry, and we welcome volunteers to help serve and your donations to offset the costs of the meal.Youth Sunday School. On the third Sunday of every month, our youth aged 13 to 18 will gather during the worship service for a time of conversation and learning designed especially for their interests and needs. We are grateful to Noussi and her team of adult volunteers who will be leading these monthly meetings.In addition to these ongoing ministry programs, please note the following events taking place in the next few weeks: a Young Adults Clothing Exchange and fellowship evening on Monday 10 February,our annual Talent Show on Saturday evening 15 February,our Charge Conference with Superintendent Pastor Stefan Schröckenfuchs following worship on Sunday 23 February,our Ecumenical Study Day on the theme, "Wrestling with the Angel," hosted at ESUMC on Saturday 8 March.We welcome your participation in all of these events. More details are available in the articles below.Finally, we thank Shelley and the children's ministry team of the German-speaking congregation for hosting a joyful Faschingsfest at church on 25 January. It was a fun afternoon of activities, games, crafts, and celebration of our children's creative costumes!We give thanks to God for the spirit of joy and celebration in our community of faith, as we proclaim the love of God to the world.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ, Again, I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas! It has been a joy to gather with you in worship during our celebrations of Advent and Christmas, as we have welcomed the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to all who made our Advent and Christmas services such a blessed time of worship.And I pray that the start of the new year finds you and your loved ones in good health and Christian spirit. May God continue to bless you in this new year, as together we love God and love others through our words, our deeds, and our witness of faith in Christ our Lord.In this month's newsletter, you will find additional words of thanks to those who have served our ministry over the past month, an invitation to join in upcoming worship and service opportunities, and an update on the ongoing renovation of our sanctuary.In closing, on behalf of our Finance Committee, we give thanks to all who have pledged your financial, volunteer, and prayerful support for our ministry in 2025. As of mid-December, a total of 14 Estimate of Giving forms have been received from members and friends of ESUMC. We thank you all for your continued support of our ministry. If you have not yet submitted your Estimate of Giving for 2025, you may pick up a form in the fellowship area in church, or make your statement of support online via this dedicated link:ESUMC 2025 Estimate of Giving FormAs the Finance Committee shall draw up a church budget for 2025 based on your levels of giving, it is important that we receive your response.May the love and grace of God be with you, as we enter into a new year of worship, praise, and service!Yours in Christ, Pastor John