VBS PLAY AND WORK DAYS

May 27 & 29, 9:30 - 11:30 AM @ Playground

Be sure to mark your calendars for 2 VBS Play/Work-dates! Meet with other ESUMC families to prep for VBS. While parents work, kids will play on the playground. This will mainly be preschool children as we know older children are still in school. All supplies will be provided.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD DAY

May 31 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

The Downtown Churches Habitat Build is in full swing!  This is an ecumenical effort to provide affordable housing in our city.  Join us as we work side by side with our neighbor churches to help families realize their dream of having a safe, affordable place to call home.  We have an upcoming work day on May 31.  You don't need any special skills, just a servant's heart! Click here to register. Questions? Email Scott.

FIXER UPPER WORK DAY

May 31 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st for a Fixer Upper Work Day! All are welcome (even if you are not one of our official Fixer Uppers!) We will spend the morning tackling some projects around the church to make our facilities more hospitable for all who enter our doors. RSVP Here!

ESUMC SUMMER BOOK CLUB

June 5, July 10, August 14 | 6-8 PM | Locations TBA

Edenton Street UMC invites you to our Summer Book Club - three evenings of meaningful discussion, delicious food, and fellowship in welcoming host homes. We'll gather once monthly to explore thought-provoking books that challenge us to grow in understanding ourselves and our world. We will meet at host homes (addresses provided upon registration) for a meal followed by book discussion. Check out the offerings below, and click the dates to register! Questions, email Pastor Amanda at arigby@esumc.org.

June 5: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Explore how digital technology has transformed childhood and what we can do to help today's young people build lives of meaning and purpose. Haidt offers practical wisdom for families navigating our increasingly connected world.

July 10: My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
This groundbreaking book examines the damage caused by racism from the perspective of body-centered psychology. Menakem offers a path for healing intergenerational trauma through somatic practices and compassionate dialogue.

August 14: A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson
This coming-of-age novel is acclaimed for digging into the "wilderness of the human heart." Dealing beautifully with the themes of love, loss, grief, and coming-of-age, this national best-selling fiction novel shows the power of surprising friendships which create a space for healing and the renewal of hope and faith.

PENTECOST SUNDAY: A HISTORIC JOINT WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Sunday, June 8

This Pentecost Sunday, we’re breaking from our normal worship schedule to come together as one church family for an extraordinary celebration of the Holy Spirit. Join us at these special times:

9:00 AM | Kerr Hall

Experience the breathtaking St. John’s Bible—an exquisite work of sacred text and art that’s the first handwritten, illuminated Bible commissioned in over 500 years. Duke Divinity School is the first institution in the Southeast to own a complete Heritage Edition of this masterpiece, joining prestigious institutions like the Vatican and the Library of Congress. Marvel at the intricate calligraphy, vibrant illustrations, and profound spiritual significance of this once-in-a-millennium project.

10:00 AM | Sanctuary

Our Joint Worship Service unites our congregation with: Inspiring music from both our Chancel Choir and The Gathering’s worship team:

- Scripture reading from the St. John’s Bible

- A powerful message from Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School

Dr. Colón-Emeric will guide us in celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit and our unity as the body of Christ. At this pivotal moment in our church year, we’ll experience the vibrant intersection of tradition and innovation that defines our faith community. Invite family, friends, and neighbors to join us for this historic Pentecost celebration!

Explore the St. John’s Bible volumes →

Learn about Dr. Colón-Emeric’s work →

What is Pentecost? →

WILDERNESS TRAIL

July 7-12 @ Troutdale, Virginia

Join eStreet Youth on a backpacking adventure through the company Wilderness Trail (wtrail.org). Students will get into hiking groups and spend the week hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. Students must be able to hike about 35 miles over 4.5 days while carrying a full backpacking backpack. This is an incredible retreat that builds memories to last a lifetime. If you have questions before you register, simply reach out to Rush Beam.

ASHEVILLE YOUTH MISSION TRIP

July 20-25 @ Asheville, NC

Join eStreet Youth on a Mission Trip to Asheville! We will be joining Asheville Youth Mission for a week of service. Asheville Youth Mission is about mission, creativity, and transformation with young people. A lot of our work at AYM is planning and implementing youth mission trips for middle schoolers and high schoolers. We also use a lot of arts in our reflections on these mission experiences. We also are about partnerships. We have a lot of long term relationships with dozens of agencies in the greater Asheville area that work with our friends and neighbors who are homeless, living in poverty, food insecure, or in other ways marginalized in our society.

VBS 2025

July 21 - 25, 2025, 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Join us this summer for TRUE NORTH: Point kids to Jesus, a faithful friend we can always trust!

True North VBS will guide kids on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. As kids trek the tundra, they'll explore how easy it is to lose sight of what's true in our wild world today. Pointing them toward Jesus, True North VBS shows them that he is a faithful friend we can always trust. He's our True North!

All rising 5th graders will participate in Living Out Loud (LOL). LOL campers spend the week doing hands-on mission work and outreach, learning how to serve inside and outside of our church.

$40 per camper

Contact efunderburk@esumc.org if financial assistance is needed.

2025 VBS Co-Chairs Jenny Myers and Katherine Shiveler

Camper Registration

Youth and Adult Volunteer Registration

SIGN UP FOR A FREEDOM RIDE

Inspired by the historic Freedom Rides of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Dumas Harshaw will lead St. Francis Springs Prayer Center's (SFSPC) first Freedom Ride on August 10 - 15. This retreat is intended to be spiritually moving and reflective. Retreat leader Dr. Harshaw is a Howard Thurman scholar and retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Raleigh, where he served for over 20 years. He has specialized his ministry to use the power of prayer and non-violent engagement to set our hopes on the "Beloved Community", where everybody is somebody. This 5-day, 4-night experience will take participants from SFSPC in Stoneville, NC to various iconic Civil Rights locations including the King Center in Atlanta, Dexter Ave. Baptist Church where Rosa Parks trained peaceful sit-ins, and then to the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, before returning back to SFSPC for a time to debrief and reflect on the experience. Learn more & sign up here.

PRAYER SHAWL GUILD

2nd Wednesdays beginning April 9 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm | Room 168

The Congregational Care Ministry is excited to announce the re-launching of the ESUMC Prayer Shawl Guild! The Guild knits and crochets shawls, lap robes, baby blankets, neck scarves, and hats to be given to those facing long-term illness, experiencing grief, being baptized, or to those who are a part of the White Flag Ministry. 

Most of the knitting and crocheting will take place at home, but members will gather for an hour beginning at 2:00 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in Room 168. 

The first meeting will be held on April 9. All are welcome! A scarf or a shawl can be a very basic project, crafted with one simple stitch. Even if you have never picked up a needle or a hook, we can teach you the basics in less than an hour. To indicate your interest or for questions, please reach out to Fran Preston at preston.fran@gmail.com

CONNECT WITH OUR PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY

Tuesdays, Starting March 25, 5:00 - 6:00 PM @ Bulla Gym

Looking for a new way to connect at Esumc? Come and join us every Tuesday evening for Pickleball. Experienced player or never played before? All are welcome and invited to join this exciting sport and enjoy some fellowship with new friends. Bring a family member, a friend or maybe a coworker. Come and join us!