The Communicator

Volume XLIII, Number 20 May 11 - 17, 2014

Available online at www.esumc.org/communicator
Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Psalm 25:4
228 W. Edenton St., Raleigh NC 27603-1790
(919) 832-7535 www.esumc.org
When I rst started volunteering
with Methodist Home for Children
(MHC) 10 years ago, I thought I
knew what I was doing. It seemed
simple enough. I thought I was
going to help tutor a
14-year-old kid at a
group home who was
having trouble getting
his homework done. To
be candid, Id have to
admit that I was feeling
pretty good about
going over to help this
young man focus on his
studies. How hard could
it be? Boy was I ever
misguided.
It was clear after just
a few minutes with
Michael I had absolutely
no idea what I was
doing or what I was
dealing with. Try
convincing a kid who has never had
a positive role model in his life why
it is necessary to do homework.
See, Michael didnt understand the
cause and efect of what most of us
would see as a natural sequence
of events in our lives. He didnt
understand because his father
abandoned him before he was old
enough to remember knowing him.
At age 5, he witnessed his mother
die of a drug overdose. And then
he bounced from family member
homes and foster homes and group
homesin fact, he bounced 17
times between Texas and North
Carolina, all before the age of 14.
Join in Support of
Methodist Home for Children
Many of the adults he had lived with
had abused themselves, abused
each other or abused him. He
couldnt dene a good lifeor any
lifethat he wanted, aspired to or
otherwise anticipated
for himself.
And so that was my rst
glimpse of the types of
kids Methodist Home
for Children truly serves
kids from the worst
circumstances you can
imagine. MHC goes
above and beyond
to equip foster and
adoptive parents with
the tools and support
network to help them
raise these kids. Its not
easy, but the parents
and staf persevere and
make lasting changes
in a young persons
life. And that is why I volunteer my
time with MHCfor those times that
a life is forever changed, for the
staf whose personal sacrice and
dedication inspires me, and for the
kids who cant help themselves, like
Michael.
This coming Sunday, May 11, there
will be a special ofering for the
Methodist Home for Children in
all four of our worship services. I
hope you will join me in support of
The Methodist Home for Children,
as they come alongside the many
Michaels in North Carolina.
Julie Hans, Volunteer and
Board of Directors MHC
Missional
Communities
Dont begin by traveling to some
far-of place to convert unbelievers.
And dont try to be dramatic by
tackling some public enemy. Go to
the lost, confused people right here
in the neighborhood. Tell them that
the kingdom is here. (Jesus speaking
to his disciples, Matthew 10:5-7, The
Message)
Jesus has not only saved us, he has
also called us to participate with him
in his kingdom work! In Jesus Great
Commission (Matthew 28), we are
invited, even commanded, to be on
mission with God by making disciples
of Jesus Christ. We want our lives to
be a compelling example of Gods
love and grace. In order to help us
live into our call to be disciples of
Jesus who make disciples, ESUMC
is launching Estreet Communities.
These communities are mid-sized
discipleship groups (20-40 people)
that operate as extended families
on mission together. The purpose of
missional communities is to help us
stay on mission because we realize
that its very hard to stay on mission
alone. Because we want to take
our faith outside the walls of the
church and into our real lives and our
neighborhoods, Estreet Communities
are casual and regular gatherings
that happen in host homes. Estreet
Communities meet for dinner and to
practice a shared life of discipleship
two nights a month (sometimes
Bible study, sometimes worship,
sometimes just talking about life and
praying together, sometimes a party).
Additionally, each community forms a
continued pg. 3
ESUMC is a community of faith: Inviting all to encounter Jesus,
Preparing believers to deepen their dependence on God,
By Our Gifts - April 27
General Budget Received this Week $72,172.19
Received Year-to-Date $1,184,101.88
Opening Doors Pledge total: $5,043,647.00
Opening Doors received: $1,768,483.10
By Our Presence - May 4
Worship 8:40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
9:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
10:55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .414
11:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Worship Total. . . . . 1073
Birth
w Palmer Edward Holman, April 24,
son of Matthew and Amy Holman
and grandson of Bob and Barbara
Holman.
w Gannon Tee Eason, April 25, son
of Blake and Amy Eason and
grandson of Bob and Barbara
Holman.
Congratulations
w Kristen Mauney and Nick Baker on
their marriage May 3
Sympathy
w To Cynthia Walker on the death of
her father April 23
w To Tracey Woods on the death of
her mother May 2
Storm Response
Strong winds swept into eastern North
Carolina last week, impacting many of
our neighbors. Scores of homes were
destroyed or damaged. Many are in
need of comfort, assistance and hope.
We are accepting a special ofering to
support disaster response mark your
oferings NC Storms Response. Our
prayers, presence and generosity will
be channels of Gods healing grace.
The Triangle Brass
Band Concert
Saturday, May 17 7:30 pm
The Triangle Brass Band is a British
style brass band located in Cary,
North Carolina, comprised of the
nest volunteer brass and percussion
players from the greater Research
Triangle Park area. Formed in 1986
as a joint venture of the A.J. Fletcher
Foundation and Capitol Broadcasting
Company of Raleigh, NC, the Triangle
Brass Band saw immediate success
in the local area. The repertoire of the
band is drawn primarily from the nest
original works for brass band from
the 19th century to the present and
includes arrangements of well-known
orchestral and wind band works,
American patriotic tunes and marches.
http://www.trianglebrass.org/
Volunteer
Opportunity
Looking for a way to experience the
joy of sharing Christ with others in an
easy, but meaningful way? Consider
joining our team of men and women
visiting Butner Federal Prison to
lead The Alpha Course. A Volunteer
Training Class will be held on Monday,
May 19, 5 - 9 pm. Meet at ESUMC at
4:00 to carpool. Whether youve done
Alpha or just want an orientation to
this program, heres your chance to
explore mission in our own backyard.
For more information, call Linda
Davis at 919.821.7602 or email
lgd919@me.com
Hands to Serve
Homeless Families
During WIHN week
May 25 June 1
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network
(WIHN) provides temporary housing
and assistance to families as they
strive to get back on their feet.
ESUMC hosts moms, dads, and
children. The WIHN team is seeking
individuals to share Gods love by
playing with children, cooking a meal,
hosting the sleep-over and more!
Serving with WIHN is a tangible way to
continue Sharing Christ from the Heart
of Raleigh. Sign-up today! Contact
wihn@esumc.org.
Young Adult Lunch
If you are a Young Adult (loosely ages
22-35), please stay after church for a
delicious, free, hot lunch on Sunday,
May 18. Well gather and eat after the
10:55 Traditional and 11:11 Gathering
services in room 251. No RSVP
needed, just come hungry and feel
free to bring friends. This lunch is
hosted by the Young Adult Council,
and invites you to make connections
with one another and nd new ways
to deepen your connections at church.
For further information, contact Rev.
Ashley Grifth, Director of Community
Life, ext 268, agrifth@esumc.org
Thank you
The History Committee thanks
Barbara Taylor for her donation
of documents and other church
memorabilia to the church archives.
Barbaras mother, Ina Cutler, served
the church in many capacities
including the cokesbury Isely
Sunday School Class and the United
Methodist Women. Her collection of
church-related materials ads much
valuable information to our records.
Children and Youth
Music and Arts Camp
August 4 - 8 1st - 12th grade
w Music and Arts Camp (grades 1-8 -
half day camp)
w Middle and High School Summer
Musical Theater Camp (grades 6-12
- full day camp)
Children and Youth Music and Arts
Camp is a specialized week lled with
learning about the arts set in a loving,
supportive Christian environment.
Camp will conclude with a full
production of a musical on Friday
evening, August 8. Full camp details
are available on the website and
registration begins soon. For more
information, contact Kevin Holland, at
kholland@esumc.org, ext. 218 or Josh
Dumbleton at jdumbleton@esumc.org
ext 254.
Caring for those who are hurting, sending ordinary people
into the world equipped to do extraordinary things.
Sunday Servants - May 18
Musicians: 8:40 Tammy Fox, Chamber Choir C
10:55 Chancel Choir
Greeters: 8:40 Mel and Doris good, Gary Pelletier
10:55 Jerre and Celeste Parker, Karen Padgett,
Jim and Norma Stewart, Judy Jefries
Ushers: 8:40 Nita Lawrence, Richard Chandler, Albert Wade,
Sarah Stone, Dixie Howard, Cameron Seely
10:55 Johnny Neese, Bryant Paris, Roger Earnhardt,
Jon Sasser, Jim Stewart, Louis Wilkerson,
Frank Koontz, Ed Upchurch, David Greenlee,
Bryan Everett, Jerry Stoltz, John Draz
Nursery Coordinators: Meagan Maddox,
John and Ashley Denton, Trey and Megan Dansey,
Corey and Margaret Cameron
Parking Group: Ford
Sunday Driver: Clint Maddox
Current Sermon Information:
May 11 Traditional The Church Multiplies
Acts 1:1-11
Rev. Justin Morgan
Gathering The Church Serves
Acts 6:1-6
Rev. Ned Hill
May 18 Traditional The Church Witnesses
Acts 4:13-31
Rev. Ashley Grifth
Gathering The Church Multiplies
Acts 1:1-11
Rev. Justin Morgan
Sunday Altar Flowers
We have openings for ower donations in the sanctuary
for June 8, June 22 & June 29 and if interested in donating
owers to contact me at chris307@nc.rr.com or (919)676-
5465.
eStreet Youth
w May 11 - No Youth Group
w May 25 - Last Youth Group
w June 1 - Youth Sunday and Senior HS Sunday
w June 16-20 - Big Stuf Retreat - Daytona
w June 23-27 - Camp Shalom
w July 13-18 - Summer Mission Trips HS: Washington, DC MS:
Savannah, GA
eStreet Youth is all about raising up students to love Jesus
with everything they have: Heart-Mind-Soul-Strength. We
want you to become a part of the eStreet community.
Contact Bert or Genevieve for info: bsnyder@esumc.org and
gnadler@esumc.org
EStreeters (55+)
Tuesday, May 20
We will travel to Wilson to tour Vollis Simpsons Whirligigs.
Using salvage and discarded materials, imagination and
mechanical skills, he has created these amazing objects.
(You have seen one of his whirligigs at our NC Museum of
Art.) The bus will depart at 9:15 a.m. and returns about 3:30
p.m. Lunch at the famous Parkers Barbecue on your own
(no credit cards). The travel cost is $6.00. Please have your
reservations and checks to Robin Ellison by May 13.
Missional Communities continued from pg 1
family that comes together to serve and bless people once
a month because we take Jesus seriously when he says
we should be good news in this world.
Estreet Communities are an efective and exciting vehicle
for discipleship and evangelism for the whole church.
We already have three active missional communities
made up of about 80 adults and 25 children, and these
communities have been meeting together as extended
family since September 2013. This month we are starting
a pilot missional community for people who worship in
The Gathering services. In the fall this pilot community
will multiply into three communities so that more people
can be invited in. In September 2014 we will start a pilot
missional community for people who worship in the
Traditional services, and after a few months, that pilot
community will multiply into three communities to make
space for more people.
Estreet Communities are many months in the making
through prayer and prayer and more prayer. I cannot
wait to see the way our lives are transformed and how
God makes ESUMC even more outward focused as God
shapes us into families on mission for and with Him. As we
serve in Jesus name and as we invite our friends outside
the church to join us in Christian community, God will use
us to impact our church, our city and our family and friends
with grace and love. When people were ipping their
cardboard signs during the Easter service in the Gathering,
I was thinking that more and more beautiful life changes
will happen as we come together and invite God to shape
our lives through Estreet Communities.
Rev. Ashley Grifth, Director of Community Life
Sunday, May 11
12:30 pm Neighbor 2 Neighbor ( ofsite)
4:00 pm Womens Bible Study (164), Youth Praise
Band (Kerr)
5:00 pm Spirit Led Dancers (357)
6:00 pm Christianity in the Middle Ages (251)
6:30 pm Disciple Bible Study (Parlor)
Monday, May 12
10:00 am Fitness Class (357)
12:00 pm Academy Fellows Event (Kerr),
Education Committee (Chp Annex),
nance Committee ( 251)
6:30 pm Study of Paul and Acts (163), Step Up
Ministry (321)
7:00 pm Cub Scouts (351)
Tuesday, May 13
8:00 am Academy Fellows Event (163)
9:45 am Zumba (124), Radical (321)
10:00 am UMW Board Mtg (251)
6:00 pm Guys Mentor Groups (ofsite)
Wednesday, May 14
9:15 am Dwell Bible Study (164)
9:45 am Zumba (124)
10:00 am Fitness Class (357)
10:30 am Wednesday AM Bible Study (321)
12:00 pm Intercessory Prayer
4:00 pm Caregiver Support Group (Parlor)
5:30 pm Hospitality Committee (Chp Annex)
6:30 pm Missions Committee (166), Prayer
Committee (161)
7:00 pm Boy Scouts (306), The Gathering Team
Mtg (164)
Contacting ESUMC
Ofce Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Mon.-Fri.
Ofce: (919) 832-7535; Fax (919) 829-5780
Inclement Weather: Main number, option 2
Emergency on-call: (919) 345-8435
Doorstep Ministry: (919) 832-9530 (Mon. 10-12)
Submit newsletter content to:
communicator@esumc.org by Wed. 12pm
T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R : ( U S P S : 1 6 7 - 6 2 0 ) i s p u b l i s h e d w e e k l y e x c e p t t h e w e e k s o f J u l y
4 a n d D e c . 2 5 . P e r i o d i c a l s P o s t a g e P a i d b y E d e n t o n S t r e e t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h ,
2 2 8 W . E d e n t o n S t r e e t , R a l e i g h N C 2 7 6 0 3 - 1 7 9 0 , ( 9 1 9 ) 8 3 2 - 7 5 3 5 . P O S T M A S T E R : S e n d
a d d r e s s c h a n g e s t o T h e C o m m u n i c a t o r , E d e n t o n S t . U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h a t 2 2 8
W . E d e n t o n S t r e e t , R a l e i g h N C 2 7 6 0 3 - 1 7 9 0 .
S u n d a y
M o r n i n g s
8 : 4 0 a m T r a d i t i o n a l W o r s h i p
9 : 3 0 a m T h e G a t h e r i n g C o n t e m p o r a r y
W o r s h i p ( K e r r )
9 : 4 5 a m S u n d a y S c h o o l
1 0 : 5 5 a m T r a d i t i o n a l W o r s h i p
1 1 : 1 1 a m T h e G a t h e r i n g C o n t e m p o r a r y
W o r s h i p ( K e r r )
M o r e W a y s t o
W o r s h i p
1 0 : 5 5 a m T r a d i t i o n a l S e r v i c e
T e l e v i s i o n ( O n e w e e k d e l a y ) : 1 2 : 0 0 p m o n
R a l e i g h C T V C h a n n e l 2 2 o r 9 7 . 6
R a d i o ( L i v e ) : 5 / 4 / 1 4 W P T F 5 / 1 1 / 1 4 o f a i r
I n t e r n e t : L i v e v i d e o s t r e a m i n g a n d s e r m o n
r e c o r d i n g s w w w . e s u m c . o r g / w o r s h i p -
s e r v i c e s / o n l i n e - b r o a d c a s t . p h p
9 : 3 0 a m C o n t e m p o r a r y S e r v i c e
I n t e r n e t : L i v e v i d e o s t r e a m i n g a t w w w .
l i v e s t r e a m . c o m / t h e g a t h e r i n g a t e s t r e e t
S e r m o n r e c o r d i n g s a t e s t r e e t
g a t h e r i n g . o r g / m e d i a
P e r i o d i c a l s
P o s t a g e
P A I D
Plan Ahead Dates
w May 17 - Triangle Brass Band
Concert
w May 26 - Church Ofce Closed
w June 1 - Youth Sunday and Senior
High Recognition
w June 11 - Missions View & Do
w June 12- 15 - NCCUMC Annual
Conference
w June 23-27 - Camp Shalom
w July 4 - Church Ofce Closed
w July 9 - Missions View & Do
w July 21-25 - Vacation Bible School
w Aug 4-8 - Music and Worship Arts
Camp
w Aug 20 - Missions View & Do
w Aug. 24 - Youth Group Kick Of
w Sept. 12-14 - Family Retreat
w Sept. 19 - UMW Annual BBQ
Fundraiser
w Oct. 11 - Downtown Historic Church
Open House
w Oct. 25 - Annual; Block Party
News Connections:
A weekly email edition of this newsletter is
available. Subscribe up online at esumc.org/
subscribe or text ESUMCNEWS to 22828.
To receive The Communicator by mail, call
the church ofce at (919) 832-7535.
Thursday, May 15
12:00 pm District Childrens ministry Leaders (Chp
Annex)
12:30 pm Sheets Center Board Mtg (251)
1:00 pm Academy Mtg (163)
6:00 pm The Gathering Praise Team Rehearsal
6:30 pm Step Up Ministry (321)
7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Friday, May 16
8:00 am Academy Event (163)
8:30 am End Homelessness Board (164)
11:00 am ECP Picnic (Kerr)
Saturday, May 17
8:00 am Academy Event (163)
7:30 pm Triangle Brass Band Concert (Sanct.)