No. 18 Vol. 8
My Life Publications • 1-800-691-7549
August 2022
Hackettstown Church Welcomes New Senior Pastor
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by Elsie Walker hen asked what she brings to the Trinity UMC (United Methodist Church) on Main Street, Rev. Erica Munoz, shared, “I think I bring a fresh start.” Aptly, a sermon series at the church is called “Reset”. Munoz shared that it reflects where the church is. There will be the start of some new things, but also the continuation of traditions. That start of new things includes Munoz herself. At the beginning of July, she became the new lead pastor of the church. Recently, she shared a little bit about herself and her background. Growing up, Munoz attended Newton United Methodist Church and noted that church had a central role in her life. “I have always been involved in the church. Church was never an extra; it was what we did.” When announcing her appointment to Trinity, it was noted that as a youth, her congregation and her parents helped support
her desire to connect with Christian friends through activities in the UMC’s Skyland District; that led her to participating in a variety of programs and in making a connection with Trinity UMC. She participated in its youth programming such as the Appalachian Service Project (in which people go to Appalachia for a week and help repair and make homes safer and warmer for people in one of the poorest parts of this country). The Trinity website shares, “She traveled for three summers with the youth of Trinity and their leaders to do this wonderful work that is still such an important part of Trinity’s mission and formative to her faith journey.” Throughout her life, the connection with Trinity UMC would deepen and expand in many ways, including finding friendship and leadership in the church’s late senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Frank Fowler. Munoz’s educational background includes studying music at West Virginia
The Arc of Warren County to Host Charity Golf Classic at Hawk Pointe
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he Arc of Warren County will host a Golf Classic on September 12, 2022 at Hawk Pointe Golf Club in Washington. Funds raised at the event will support The Arc Foundation. The Arc Foundation was established in 1998 to provide a continuum of funding to help assure the financial security of The Arc programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Norman Worth, Managing Partner and President of WRNJ Radio and longtime supporter of The Arc of Warren County, will emcee the event. The Shotgun start is 10 a.m. with a Scramble format and registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The cost to play golf is $200 and includes breakfast, 18 holes of golf, afternoon barbeque, open bar and access
to raffles and prizes. Several sponsorship levels are available. Please visit arcwarren. org to learn more and/or register. The Arc is a national organization that serves individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their family members since 1950. The Arc of Warren is one of 700 chapters of The Arc and serves more than 1,100 people annually for the past 68 years. Programs include residential group homes and supervised apartments, day services, community-based supports, advocacy services, recreation and summer camp, Special Olympics training, early intervention and a wide variety of additional social services. For questions, please call Annamaria Lalevee at The Arc at 908-223-0884 or alalevee@arcwarren.org.
Wesleyan College. However, she found she enjoyed church more than the extracurriculars. In particular, she enjoyed children’s ministry. She noted that she knew ministering would be an important part of her future. Her Trinity biography shares that Munoz went on to receive a Bachelors of Music Education, then “attended Boston University School of Theology where she earned a Masters of Divinity. She also obtained a Certificate in Youth and Young Adult Ministry from the Boston Theological Institute.” Munoz was ordained an Elder in Full Connection [in the UMC] in 2012. Since then, she has held a variety of positions in the UMC. Reflecting on her most memorable pastoral experiences, Munoz noted that they have had to do with those close to her. “It’s been an amazing opportunity to be a pastor and friend at the same time,” she shared. She has married family and friends, baptized their babies and done funerals. “Just being able to connect with the people I love in a very deep way,” is what Munoz said made those moments so memorable. Munoz is married with two children. She and her husband, Matt, are parents to Madelyn age 9, and Braelon, age 6. Rounding out the family is a two-year-old Goldendoodle named Hazel, who the family got during COVID-19, and the most recent additions are a pair of adopted kittens, brothers Leo and Smokey. Munoz loves the beach, movies, camping, having family and friends over and singing. “If there’s a choir, sign me up,” she shared. Munoz feels that one way she connects with others is that, like many, she has a great deal on her plate; she’s a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and minister. “I’m a mom. I live to balance,” she said. She feels she offers a sense of encouragement in how people can balance things and bring up their children in the Christian way. She shared, “I’m someone they can look at [and see] I’m
Rev. Erica Munoz is the new senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church.
doing the best I can, like they are.” Reflecting on herself, Munoz noted that she is very open and, “I think what you see is what you get with me.” Munoz feels her strength as a minister is her ability to span generations, communicate across them. One moment she could be down on the floor playing with babies and another she’s running an adult bible study. Also, she loves people and how, “We can come from different places and spaces and love one another in spite of all of it” Munoz will tell you that she is “living the dream” being at Trinity UMC. When asked if there’s something she’d like to share with the community, Munoz noted that “The community is more than Trinity. It’s Hackettstown and beyond. We’re in this together. I think that regardless of the connection to Trinity, I’m a pastor for the community.” She noted if people are in need, have questions, or just want to say, “hi” to come by the church.