This week's note from Rev. Bill

There’s a show that Kim and I watch (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) where, as kids, the wife was always popular and with the “In” crowd, and the husband always felt on the outside and awkward. It’s a comedy, and most of the episodes are about the daily trials of raising a family and living in the modern world. 

However, there are a few episodes that deal with bullying. When it comes out that their daughter has been bullying another girl at school, the father is aghast, but the mother is rather blasé. It was a particularly poignant episode about how those who experience bullying can recognize it right away, and those whose life was more “charmed” are more quick to make excuses for it. They don’t see anything wrong with keeping other people in their place, because if things change, they might lose their own place!

It reminded me of today’s political climate – there seems to be a lot of bullying going on. Threats, lawsuits, explosive language, “Us vs. Them” dialogue, setting up false narratives, ridiculing those who oppose you – that is the meat and potatoes of bullies. When a bully can’t win an argument, they shout louder. They claim that they are the victims. They do whatever they can to shut down the opposition, or delay, or doing something even more outrageous so that their everyday bullying actions seem tame by comparison. Bullies can only win if they can distract people from what the real problem is – their own attitudes and actions. 

Madelaine Petsch wrote recently, “The people who are bullying you, they're insecure about who they are, and that's why they're bullying you. It never has to do with the person they're bullying. They desperately want to be loved and be accepted, and they go out of their way to make people feel unaccepted so that they're not alone.”

So what do we do in a world filled with bullies? Do we bully them back? 

No, Christ teaches us to love each other – and that means loving the bullies, too! But that doesn’t mean that we allow them to keep bullying. Bad behavior is bad behavior, and it needs to stop.

Perhaps the answer is found in John chapter 3 – where it talks about Jesus as the light of the world. Verse 19 says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

Our best strategy is to shine light. Practice faithfulness. Let your light be seen. The immediate result is that the bullies will then close in and focus on you, because they don’t like their deeds to be made known! But it is the first step in healing. When bullies are prevented from their actions, they will cry that they are being oppressed and their rights are being taken away – but it’s the only way that God can eventually convict and heal them. 

 How can we keep from being bullies (even to bullies)? The best way is to submit ourselves to the authority of others who are also honestly trying to follow Jesus, and ask them to help us to become as humble as Jesus was. 

May the peace (and humility) of Christ be with us all – 

• Rev. Bill

Service for March 24, 2024

"Palm Sunday"

Mark 11:1-11

On Wednesday Rev. Bill will be

at the church office to guide our scripture study that we use to get a "sneak peek" at the

sermon message for Sunday!



March 27, 2024



Mark 16:1-8



FLOWERS FOR EASTER CELEBRATION

               If you would like to donate flowers for our Easter celebration, we will be procuring tulips to place in the sanctuary! You may purchase them in honor or in memory of someone important in your life, or you can simply do it out of the joy of Easter!

               Cyndi Greenleaf will have a sign-up at church on Sunday for those who would like to participate. And after Sunday, you may either take them home or leave them so that they can be planted around the church property! 

               The cost will be $10 - thank you all!

THE NEWEST SAINTS IN THE KINGDOM!

Question: What happens when a church is more focused on SERVING than on GAINING MEMBERS?

Answer: They gain more members!

Our church focus has been on how God can use us to love this community – learning Spanish, welcoming LGBTQ, feeding people, providing a safe space for people to come and explore their faith. This focus has resulted in a reputation of welcome and hope – and people are searching for this type of community!

Our last New Member group brought in seven more people who want to call First UMC of Bonita their home. They feel loved and valued here, and they want to be a part of making others feel the same way in God’s family. Remember, this is YOUR doing – their membership is a reflection of YOUR surrender to Jesus! No matter what the pastor says from the pulpit, it’s only when it is lived out by the people that the reputation grows!

Welcome our most recent brothers and sisters in Christ – and praise God as He sends more and more!

               David and Beverly Allen

               Robert and Suzanne Lewis

               Gene and Barbara Messner

               Denise Pope

Tomorrow Morning Community Breakfast

Rain or Shine!

Help Wanted:  Calling all volunteers!

The Good Friday Fish Fry may call for the largest number of volunteers over any other event here at First UMC.  And there is a job for everyone!  Since the meals will be provided dining in and drive-through, plenty of extra help is needed.

Of course, we have some “veterans” who can man the fish fryers and bread the fish, but there are many, many other equally important jobs that will make this event a success.  One might be  collecting the $10 donations that will go to our Summer Reserve Fund.  Or they might be filling the plates with fish, potato salad, and hush puppies.  They might be serving drinks to those dining in. They might be delivering the plates to those dining in.  They might be carrying containers to those driving by.  They might be cleaning the tables for the next round of those dining in.  You get the picture:  there is something for all skill levels!  

There will be sign-up sheets in the back of the sanctuary this Sunday.  How early you need to report for duty will depend on the job you sign up to do. Find a spot where you can serve.  Also take a flyer and let others know about the opportunity for a great meal. Spread the word to people in your neighborhood.  Serving will run from 4:30-6:00.



And don’t worry…you will still be able to attend the Good Friday Worship service which begins at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Opportunities to serve are everywhere!

There is no “one” way you can serve this church and our community.  Several opportunities are available right now.

*If you feel comfortable reading – and will be attending Holy Week services – there are many readings that need readers for  the Thursday service as well as the Good Friday service.  Contact Susan Atkinson (text 239-405-9078) if you can help.  And don’t forget to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join our services (at 6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

*Are you a seasonal part of our church family and will be returning to your northern home soon?  Perhaps you have some canned food or other items (pasta, for example) that are not expired but would be when you returned next season.  Bring those to the red box in the church entry and they will be delivered to Bonita Assistance.  You’ll be helping those in need even after you have returned home

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*There is always a need for volunteers to serve during coffee time after worship.  See a sign-up sheet in the kitchen if you can help.  Making coffee, providing snacks (cookies, fruit, crackers, cheese…whatever you like), setting everything up, and a little cleaning after are the requirements. And there are always individuals available to help any first-time volunteers.

*Our mission outreach continues year-round.  If you have never volunteered with the monthly community breakfasts and will be here in the summer, the need for volunteers will be great.  See Russ Baird if you want more information and would like to volunteer.

*As some of our church family returns north, there are many other possibilities. Sometimes the year-round church family might take their vacations in the summer.  Do you want to learn more about the AV Booth and how you might help (see Debbie Lane)?  Do you want to be a greeter/usher (see Cyndie Greenleaf)?

Hablas Espanol?

Classes are on Tuesdays at 10:00 am in the church office.

United Women in Faith

The United Women in Faith gathered in Fellowship Hall Monday, March 18, to celebrate a successful trip to ECHO the previous week, to plan mission outreach activities in our neighborhood and other areas, to plan a kitchen cleaning/organizational day, and to share our personal walks of faith.  So, you can see, we had a busy afternoon!

The ECHO (Educational Concerns for Haiti Organization) Tour included 17 men and women from our church family.  We had to admit we didn’t know what the  ECHO name meant until Rev. Bill’s sermon on March 17.  ECHO is just one of the many organizations supported by the pledges of UWF members.

The group has also collected a record 319 vegetable seed packets which are being sent to Redbird Mission in Kentucky. The group also supported a variety of needs of the students and teachers at Bonita Spring Elementary School.  School staff indicated a need for shoes in smaller sizes for children (kids sizes 10,11,12,13, and 1).  The shoes need to be closed-toe, appropriate for physical education classes (no flip-flops or sandals).  We anticipate having the drive in April – stay tuned for a definite date.   Although there is not a major need currently, our members are always on the lookout for sales on uniforms.  The children wear khaki or navy bottoms (shorts, skorts, slacks for girls; shorts or pants for boys).  Polo shirts can be any color.

UWF members also see the need for a day of kitchen cleaning/reorganization.  We set the date of Saturday, April 13, starting at 9 a.m.  As the kitchen and fellowship hall get more use, we recognize that organization is important.  And along with that, we have another request.  One of the two small chest freezers in the closet area of the kitchen does not work.  If anyone knows of someone who has a working small chest freezer that they are ready to get rid of, please let us or designated kitchen manager Russ Baird know.  If none is found, the women’s group will investigate the cost of purchasing a new one. The naming of a “kitchen manager” was one of the things that the UWF group has been concerned about.  We put out the need…and thankfully, Russ volunteered.  Now purchases will be coordinated through one individual. 

Lots of business was taken care of during this meeting, but the real highlight was a program organized by Ruthann Etzkorn.  Those attending had been encouraged to bring some item that represented their personal “walk of faith”.  We had a Christening bib, lots of pictures, and stories about how each of us became a Christian.  It was a wonderful way to learn more about our sisters in faith

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The next UWF meeting will be Monday, April 15, at 3 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  All are invited!

April 2024 Book Club

Over a dozen women gathered on a rainy March 6 afternoon at the Royal Scoop to discuss the Pulitzer Prize winning novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  Many of the books selected for the group have been historical fiction.  The April 3 book will be from a different literary genre.  Another book club kit from the Bonita Springs Library, We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin will be the April selection.

The discovery of a girl abandoned by the side of the road threatens to unearth the long-buried secrets of a Texas town’s legendary cold case in this novel.  Another bestselling author, Elin Hilderbrand, says: “If you only read one thriller this year, let it be this one.  Psychologically absorbing, original and atmospheric.  I could not turn the pages fast enough.”

The group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Royal Scoop at 1 p.m.  Lunch and/or ice cream, discussion, and fellowship are all part of the book club.   The books will be available at church starting Sunday, March 10.  If you would like to be a part of the club, the only requirements are to enjoy reading a variety of books and to discuss them with fellow bibliophiles.  If you have questions, see Susan Atkinson at church or text her (239-405-9078). 

"TOM AND PRINCESS' CORNER!"

The places we go and the things we see!

Princess, I think people are more like cats than they know!

Look at Rev. Bill, do you think he is looking for lizards or spiders?

You've got to be kitten me, Tom, he is installing cameras. Oh, princess, I'm just kitten around, but I hope he does have nine lives!

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Altar Flowers



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