Announcements
& Service Opportunities
Welcome to the new anouncements page! Announcements include service opportunities and items not attached to specific dates.
Questions? Contact communications@esumc.org
📢 ANNOUNCEMENTS
No specific dates
VOLUNTEER FOR COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT
Please consider volunteering for our community Easter Egg hunt!
Saturday, April 12th, 10:30-11:30am
Amphitheater at Fred Fletcher Park
Sign up here
JOIN OUR SUNDAY MORNING WELCOME TEAM!
We are in search of more Sunday morning greeters to offer God's welcome to all who enter our doors on Sunday mornings. If you are looking for a way to plug into a new ministry, and feel a call to welcoming others into our church family, we invite you to serve as a Sunday morning hospitality servant. For more information about joining the Sunday morning hospitality team, please fill out this form.
JOIN OUR GATHERING SERVICE TEAM!
Are you looking for an opportunity to connect with our Gathering Worship community? If so, we have many opportunities for you to serve! Click here to fill out a form indicating your areas of interest and Lee Anderson, the Director of the Gathering, will be in touch with you soon! All are invited to serve as a hospitality servant, as a musician in the Gathering Band, or as a lector to read scripture during the service.
EASTER LILY ORDER FORM AVAILABLE
You may order easter lilies in honor or in memory of a loved one to be displayed in our worship spaces. Please order by Wednesday, April 16th. Questions, email Gwen Cummings at gcummings@esumc.org.
To order lilies, please click here.
HELP US UPDATE OUR MEMBER DIRECTORY
Our Connection Team is working hard to update our digital Member Directory throughout the Lenten Season. While updates to the digital Member Directory can be made at any time, an extra effort is being made to get the directory as full and accurate as possible before Easter Sunday. Printed Directories will be available to order on Easter!
To ensure you are in the Member Directory, and your information is up to date and accurate, please click here, or stop by one of our Member Directory booths after worship during Lent.
MAKE A LASTING IMPACT WITH L’ARCHE
L'Arche is looking for reliable, long-term volunteers who can commit to just one day a month to help make a difference at L'Arche NC. By choosing one activity that speaks to you, you can become a regular volunteer and a valued member of their community. Even dedicating just one day each month will make a lasting impact!Here are the days/times they need help:
Cook Together - First Thursday each month, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in our Bulla building
Craft Together - Third Thursday each month, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in our Bulla building
Serve Together - Fourth Tuesday each month, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in our Bulla building
Ready to build friendships and have fun? If you're interested, please email alyssa@larchenc.org.
DONATE FLU KITS
Alliance Medical Ministry is in need of flu kits for their patients. If you'd like to help, please assemble kits at home and place them in the collection bin near the first floor reception desk or in the Garden Gallery collection bin this month. Supplies needed in each kit:
Bag to hold supplies (zip top or labeled paper bag)
3 small packages of ibuprofen
1 small package of tissues
10 sugar free cough drops
1 small bottle of hand sanitizer
1 surgical face mask
*include the Flu Fact Sheet (one side in English, one side in Spanish)
Include an encouraging note if you'd like, too!
WEEKLY MEALS
Join us in this win, win effort! You get a night off from cooking, and proceeds from each meal go to A Place at the Table to help our neighbors facing food insecurity. You can purchase small or large dishes. Pick up is on Sunday mornings or you can arrange a time during the week. Click the links below to place your orders!
April 6, 2025: Baked Ziti w/ Italian Sausage
April 13, 2025: Chicken Pot Pie
April 16, 2025: Beef Enchiladas
May 4, 2025: Tomato Pie
May 11, 2025: Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Rice
May 18, 2025: Eggplant Parmesan
May 25, 2025: Cajun Chicken Sausage Rice Casserole
BUILDING SECURITY UPDATE (EXTENSION!)
We are transitioning our building access from a universal code to individually assigned key fobs. The building will be accessible during normal operating hours without a key fob or a code just as it is now by using the Curtis Center entrance M-F 8:30 am-4:30 pm or the Sanctuary or Garden Gallery doors on Sundays for our Sunday morning worship services.
If you would like to request a key fob that will allow you access to the building outside of regular operating hours, please submit a request through this form. Key fobs are currently being assigned and individuals will begin to receive information about how to pick up their fobs beginning Monday, March 3rd. The universal code will remain active throughout the month of March, allowing folks the ability to use the fob and have the code as a back up as we get used to the change. If you have not done so, and still wish to order a key fob, Click here.
ESUMC LIVING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Deadline March 31
Calling all students! The ESUMC Living Memorial Scholarship application is now open! If you're pursuing higher education and connected to ESUMC, don’t miss this opportunity for financial support. Apply at the link here.
PRAYER SHAWL GUILD
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 beginning Wednesday, 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.
JOIN OUR WHITE FLAG HOSPITALITY TEAM
Do you enjoy making soup, chili, or baked goods? Does it bring you joy to greet and welcome people into our church spaces? Does gathering with others to prepare sandwiches and snacks sound like a fun way to serve? Would setting up or taking down cots help you feel connected to our guests? If so, we'd love to have you join our White Flag Hospitality Team! On nights when the temperature or windchill is expected to be 35 degrees or below, White Flag shelter sites open up in our community for men, women, and families who are experiencing homelessness. This year, our Bulla building will serve as the White Flag site for women on Wednesday evenings and as a potential back-up site on other nights. Our hope is to cover these women with love and hospitality during their time with us. Sign up here to get involved!
JOIN OUR DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM
Are you interested in helping to rebuild homes, communities, and lives after disasters hit? If so, we'd love for you to join our Disaster Response Team. There will be plenty of opportunities in the upcoming months to serve in Western North Carolina as well as in other NC areas that still need help from previous disasters. From mucking out mud to building relationships, there are many roles to fill with varying skill sets. To join our team, please fill out this survey. Have questions? Contact Suzanne Botts sbotts1@yahoo.com. We'd love for several of our team members to get Early Response Training. Click here for upcoming training dates.
CHURCH NAME TAG
You are invited to order a permanent nametag to wear to church on Sundays. Please sign up here to order a nametag.
DEATH AND FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Below we share with you the death of loved ones in our Edenton Street community. Please take a moment to offer prayers of gratitude for their life and for their family as we grieve this loss together.
Our sympathies go out to Mary Rose Knight and her family in the recent loss of her father.
The Memorial Service date for Elizabeth Derreth will be Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11:00 in Kerr Hall.
The Memorial Service date for Martha Jordan has been updated. Service will be Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 10:30 in Brown Chapel.
To view funeral livestreams, click here.
To sign up for death and funeral emails, click here.
eSTREET KIDS SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS
Volunteering for eStreet Kids Sunday morning Ministries is a fun and rewarding experience and we want you! We are looking for youth (6th grade and above) and adults of any age to help serve as Sunday School and Wiggler Worship leaders and helpers. The time commitment for Sunday School Helpers and Leaders is 10-10:45am. Lesson plans will be sent via email the beginning of each week and all materials be ready when you arrive on Sunday morning. Wiggler Worship is during the 9am Gathering Service and 11am Sanctuary Service. For Wiggler Worship, you will sign up to walk children from either the Gathering or Sanctuary. You can also sign up to lead the lesson! If you have questions, or want to learn more, email Shannon Montague, Director of Children and Family Ministries, at smontague@esumc.org.
ESTREET KIDS MUSIC & WORSHIP ARTS
Join us Sundays, 4:00 - 6:00 PM as we train our children to be worship leaders through the arts! All children in Grades K-5th are invited to participate as we learn about music, dance, singing, and leading in worship! You may participate in one, two, or all three of our areas:
Liturgical Dance | 4:00-4:40 | Room 357
Children's Choir | 4:40-5:20 | Room 161 (K-1st Grade) or Choir Annex (3rd-5th Grade)
Handbells/ Handchimes | 5:20-6:00 pm | Room 161 (K-2nd) and Choir Annex (3rd-5th Grade)
Questions? Message Rev. Mark Hopper (mhopper@esumc.org)
JOIN THE CHANCEL CHOIR
Do you love to sing? We'd love for you to join the Chancel Choir this fall! We are a fun-loving group of singers that meet weekly to lead worship at the 10:30 Sanctuary service. We rehearsal on Thursdays at 7 pm and welcome all voice parts to our group. All youth and adults are invited.
Contact Rev. Mark Hopper (mhopper@esumc.org) to learn more about our ministry and how you can be a part of the choir community at Edenton Street!
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Have you or someone you know had a baby? We want to know! Please fill out this form and submit so we can welcome and support our families.
PRAYER + CARE MINISTRY
You are not alone. In a hurting world, Edenton St. has people who can be Christ’s presence to walk with you and pray for you during difficult times. There are multiple ways you can submit a request for Prayer + Care.
• Click Here to make a prayer request online
• Prayer + Care Request Cards: Boxes are located in the Narthex, Garden Gallery Welcome Wagon, Kerr Hall Lobby (Gathering), and the Curtis Center Lobby and can also be placed in the offering at any of our three worship services.
• On the reverse side of the request cards, you will find the website / App path, mailing address, and church phone number.
You are not alone.
EVENT SPACE @ ESUMC
If you are part of an organization that needs event space, please consider using our church's beautiful facilities!
Our Facility Use Policy, which was written and adopted by our Board of Trustees in 2022, exists to identify opportunities for persons or organizations to rent our facilities for a fee. All requests are carefully vetted and fees determined based on a tiered structure outlined in our Facility Use Policy. Please note, all church sponsored events take precedence over outside event rentals!!
Since the adoption of this policy, we have rented our space to many corporate entities, non profit organizations, and individuals wishing to use our facilities for meetings, recitals, basketball tournaments and even children's birthday parties. If you or someone you know wishes to rent our facility for an outside event, please use this link to submit a request.
ALTAR FLOWER DONATIONS
Have you ever thought about blessing our traditional service with altar flower donations? It can be from a study group, Sunday School class, family, several families, a memorial, or a celebration and more. If you are interested, please contact Lewanna Stout at grammystout@nc.rr.com and she will lead you through the process.
PRAYER RESOURCES
At ESUMC, we use four elements to form our decisions. These are: prayer, discernment, consensus and communication. Prayer is at the top of that list. As we move through a challenging season, we lean on prayer more than ever before. Therefore, we are providing some tools to guide your individual prayer practices. By clicking here, you can find three methods of connecting with God in tangible ways. May this be a blessing to you.
WEEKDAY HOSPITALITY
We would love for you to join our dedicated team of weekday receptionists to offer God's welcome to all who enter our doors! No computer skills necessary, and training will be provided. For more information, please fill out this form, or email Lewanna Stout at grammystout@nc.rr.com.
FIXER UPPERS MINISTRY
Are you a church member with basic maintenance and handy person skills? We invite you to join our new ministry group, "Fixer Uppers"! As part of this group, you will have the opportunity to volunteer your time and skills to perform basic punch list projects around the church. Help us keep our church in tip-top shape and create a welcoming environment for everyone.
If you're interested in joining the Fixer Uppers ministry group, please fill out this form, or contact Brian McGuire at bmcguire@esumc.org
DOORSTEP MINISTRY
Our Doorstep Ministry helps vulnerable neighbors avoid homelessness by providing financial assistance with rent and utilities to get them over a bump in the road such as an unexpected medical bill, car repair, or temporary job loss. You can help a family stay in their home or keep their utilities on by donating to this vital ministry. Give here.