Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 25th, 2025



Services are at

8:00am Rite I

10:00am Rite II

Reflections from

the Priest in-charge..

Much of the time, we live lives that are a compromise between happiness and sorrow, joy and discouragement. This roller coaster kind of existence is a challenge to our faith and a denial of good things that surpass our understanding, and God knows this.

The whole of Easter has been about equipping us with powerful faith tools to defeat the forces that would drag us down. There are post-Resurrection stories of a group of defeated fishermen who end up going back to their lives of fishing, only to discover the risen Jesus meeting them for breakfast. There are the travelers walking to Emmaus encountering a stranger who turns out to be Jesus, who breaks bread with them. They discover their hearts gladdened. These are experiences opened to us, too.

So, where do these good things come from? You can’t place an Amazon order for them, no, but you can hear them, experience them, and find them in the faith community. The early Christians learned they could face persecution, possible arrest, trial, and even execution because of the power of the resurrection they found in the Easter community. They also learned that what happened to them was of little account, because they placed themselves under the gracious God who delivered them from the pall of darkness in their lives.

And we listen as Jesus teaches the disciples about what will happen after he leaves them. God will send an advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will do two things: teach and remind.

The Spirit will teach us how God desires and gives us the good things we need, even when we don’t know what they are or how to ask for them. The Spirit will also remind us, especially when things are not going well, what really matters and to whom we belong. The faith community is the place where we are restored, not in just a feel-good way, but in the depths of our hearts. The sign of the cross, the breaking of the bread at communion, the hymns (read the words even if you don’t sing), and the Scriptures are all reminders of how much we are loved and cherished and redeemed.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Prayers of the People

The Bible study

The Gospel lesson according to

John 14:23-29

Readers, please review the readings

Acts 16:9-15 &

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5  

Psalm - 67

Ministers, Readers & Ushers

VISION STATEMENT

An Open and Welcoming Church

Serving our Community thru Christ.

MISSION STATEMENT

Leading God's People to be like Christ

building God's Kingdom through our ministries

You’ll never

truly feel connected to a Church

until you begin to serve in it.

Attending helps you

grow spiritually,

but serving allows you to

fulfill your God-given purpose.

What more 

can you do to serve

St. Nathaniel’s?

IN YOUR PRAYERS PLEASE REMEMBER 

Those who are ill or recovering:

Helen, Diane, Kathy, Sandy, Fred, Diana, Barbara, Marshall, Tim, Chris, Pete, Elsie, Lisa, Judy, Collette, Sasha, Julio, Casper, Marcie,  Irv, Shelley, Sarah, Bob, Bill, Sue, Vickie, Teri, David, Josh, Evelyn, Sandra, Cathy, Erick, Crosby, Michael, Linda Evie, Deacon Margaret, Kelly, Cindy, Virginia, Ginny, Larry, Ann, Jill & Jean, Christopher, Angel, Norman, Charles, Dan, Jane, Christina, Carol, Lisa, Maureen.

 Please visit:

Pete Richard: Doreen Bentink:

North Port Pines North Port Pines

# 4950 Pocatella Ave., # 4950 Pocatella Ave.,

North Port. North Port.

Merle Meeks:  

North Port Pines

# 4950 Pocatella Ave.,

North Port.

Deacon's Margaret

new address:

4720 SW 74th Ter.,

Davie, FL 33314

Phone # 954-294-3965

**Please send cards.

Those who mourn:  

Family of Chebatoris-Zaccagnini

Family of Neil Rieger (Ella's son-inlaw)

Family of Judson Frederick

Those who are serving to protect this country, Our Freedom & their families: 

Erik O’Brien US Army

Nash Grenadier US Army Tristan Bentinck Air Force

Jon Bost US Army

Reid Paszczkowski US Navy

Alecs Martin US Marines

The Youth Group meets on Mondays from 5:00pm-6:30pm in The Beck Hall.

Any questions please contact Carol Lake or Mother Rose. 



5/25/25 - Sunday Breakfast: Birthday Cake & Brownies.

6/1/25 - Sunday Breakfast: Oatmeal Breakfast

6/06/25 - Spaghetti Dinner from 5-7pm.  

Co-sponsored by ECW & MAG. 

See details below.

6/8/25 - Sunday Breakfast: Macaroons &

Ice Cream Social

6/15/25- Sunday Breakfast @ 8am Breakfast sandwiches & 10am Pulled pork sliders.

6/17/25 -Foodie Friends Forever Outing

Alvaros at 6:00pm

14512 Tamiami Trail

North Port, FL 34287

 If there is any event in process and it is not listed here, please contact Pina with the details so this list gets updated. Thank you

Foodie Friends Forever Group

Another fun outing - this time

at Dubz Barbecue.

Good turnout! Good food! Good time!



Memorial Garden

There are empty plots available. If anybody would like to reserve, please contact Art DeRiggs at 941-276-4126.



GROUP MEETINGS

 05/27 - Vestry Monthly Meeting @ 10:00am

4th Tuesday of each month.

06/02 - MAG Meeting & Night Out @

            Anna Maria Oyster Bar @ 5pm.

            1st Monday of each month.

Food Distribution



6/5 and 6/19 from 9-11am

1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.

06/13 - DOK Meeting

2n^d Saturday of the month @ 1:00pm 

5/02 - Kira Yurchak

5/14 - Saniia and Brianna DeRiggs

5/14 – Linda Soffron

5/20 _Jadelyn Lowe

Anniversaries: 5/30 Linda & Stephen Soffron

May 2025 Counters

05/04 Les & Donna 

05/11 Joan & Ethel

05/18 Woody & Bob

05/25 Art & Shearl

Months with 5th Week -

TBD

    Financial Snapshot of St. Nathaniel’s

March 2025 Income          March 2025 Expenses

$ 22,267.00                       $21, 892.00



Difference $328. (+)

Your 1st quarter statement is available at the Narthex. If you have any question, please stop by the office or contact Pina at 941-426-2520 or email her @ saintnathaniels@yahoo.com

SAINT NATHANIEL'S FUNNIES

A catholic priest and a Protestant priest live at opposite ends of the town. Each morning they wave “hello” to each other as they cycle to their churches. One morning, the catholic priest is walking.

The Protestant stops and asks:

“Why are you walking this morning?”

“My bicycle has been stolen. I am sure that one of my congregation has stolen it. But I don’t know how to find out who it is, and get it back”

The Protestant says:



“There is an easy way. Use shame. On Sunday, give a sermon about the Ten Commandments. When you get to “Though shalt not steal”, emphasise it. pause, stare at the congregation. Whoever it was, will be ashamed and return your bicycle”

“Brilliant idea! Thank you!”

On Monday, the Protestant priest is cycling to his church, and the catholic president is back on his bicycle, going to his church.

“Good morning! I see you got your bike back! Did you use my idea?”

“Yes, I gave a sermon like you suggested”

“Great! So when you got to though shalt not steal, you stared them down?”

“No quite. I got to “though shalt not commit adultery” and I remembered where I had left it!”