This week's note from Rev. Bill

AFTER THE BUNNIES HAVE GONE…

               A friend of mine showed me his sermon for the Sunday AFTER Easter – the mess he found in his home that Monday and Tuesday. There were new (broken) toys in the hallway, fake grass strewn about the living room, chocolate on the doorknobs. 

               He realized that he himself was tired – trying to recover from all of the energy he had expended from Palm Sunday through Easter. Multiple services/Bible studies/home visits/decorating the sanctuary – it takes a lot out of you! 

               The time after Easter is often a time of regrouping, sometimes even depression after the pageantry of Palm Sunday/Holy Week/Resurrection Day. For churches in Florida, we usually have a marked decrease in attendance (and giving!) in those weeks following the big event. My church in Estero went from over 1200 to 250 in one week – with all of our northern residents heading back home!

               What do we do, after the bunnies have gone? Easter is a time of laughter, of celebration, of being in large crowds praising Jesus’ Name. What do we do when those crowds are no longer there? 

               My morning devotional on Tuesday included these lines – “Whereas the way of the world is to insist upon publicity, celebrity, popularity, and getting maximum exposure, God prefers to work in secret…In God’s sight the things that really matter seldom take place in public.” (Henri Nouwen, “Letters to Marc about Jesus”)

               That is a good reminder for me that, although I like the energy and wonder of Resurrection Sunday, the real growth is what’s going to be taking place in those weeks following. The scriptures say that Jesus spent 40 days with them, teaching and ministering to His disciples. That means that He spent daily life with them.

               I’m sure the first week wasn’t very effective – they were still probably so stunned and in awe of what had happened that they weren’t listening very closely! But as the days went by they were able to start learning again. They found that their favorite times with Jesus were with just sitting with Him by the sea, walking together along the road, breaking bread together at the table. 

               The resurrection was important, absolutely – but it was more than just a promise that they would someday overcome death. The power of the resurrection was that Jesus had dignified and redeemed their everyday life – He came to be one of us, to live and laugh and suffer as we do. That means that God cares about us, right here and now. 

               I pray you have a joyous Easter and that you have great times with family and friends. And I also pray that, when everyone else has gone home and you are cleaning chocolate bunny ears off of the doorknobs, that you have the assurance that Jesus is still with you.

• Rev. Bill

Service for March 31, 2024

"Not Everyone Knows Yet"

Mark 16:1-8

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!



April 3, 2024

Mark 13:1-8



DON’T FORGET YOUR FLOWERS!

               For the past two years we have loved having our cross outside of the church covered with wildflowers that you have brought from your home – and yes, some tame flowers, too!

               Please bring what you find around your home to adorn the cross again this year, and have a picture taken in front of it! We thank God for the beauty He has provided!

GENERAL CONFERENCE PRAYERS AND CONCERNS COMING UP

               The General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting in Charlotte, NC from April 23-May 3. This is our official governing body for our denomination, which is scheduled to meet every 4 years to set our policies and direction for the coming Quadrennium.

               As you may recall, COVID severely impacted the meeting schedule of General Conference over the past few years, and issues of inclusion and theology have been at the forefront. Our Bishop Tom Berlin will be hosting a virtual webinar on April 2^nd to discuss the major issues facing the 2024 General Conference and what we anticipate happening. You can register for this webinar at the link below – 

Opportunities to serve are everywhere!

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

*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)?

Today 4:30pm - 6pm

Good Friday Service to Follow at 6 pm

SATURDAY

April 6th 9am - noon 

Will be removing old garden and doing work at parsonage. 

March Community Breakfast a Success

The March Free Community Breakfast was a great success as it included a number of individuals who had not previously attended.  About 100 meals were served on March 23 to not only children and families but many adults.  The hearty breakfast, of course, was appreciated. But if you asked the children, they might have indicated the Easter candy baskets or the colorful balloons or the coloring pages and crayons were the best parts of the morning.  Thank you to all in the congregation who donated candy for the baskets and thanks to Cyndie Greenleaf who is the amazing “basket lady”.

The Formational Leadership Team (FLT), which organizes the monthly breakfasts, is constantly looking for ways to meet the needs of our neighbors/guests.  One of the needs which the group hopes to meet is for clothing.  Many of the young men who are day laborers expressed the need for work clothing – pants, shirts, and more.  So, FLT is seeking donations of clothing for men and women.  The plan is to make these donations available to breakfast guests at the April 27 event.  Of course, we’ll need to sort and organize donations before that time.  Anyone who is cleaning out closets and has clothing that might be appreciated by our guests is encouraged to bring those items to church.  

A talented group of volunteers was on hand for the March breakfast cooking, serving, cleaning up, and more.  As we look ahead (sadly) to the time when many of our seasonal church family head north, we know that the need for volunteers will increase.  If you have any questions about volunteering, you should ask Russ or RuthAnne Baird (head chefs/organizers) or Debbie Lane (FLT leader). 



The best volunteer activity is getting to chat and get to know our neighbors.  The families have even helped those of us taking weekly Spanish classes led by Margie Gillette as we attempt to better communicate.  The recipients may be blessed with a healthy meal.  But we can further bless our neighbors by sitting with them, trying our best to communicate with them, donating clothing items…there are many ways to volunteer…and you will find yourself blessed as well. 

Hablas Espanol?

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

United Women in Faith

The group has 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 was lizard hunting, by the Spanish class on Tuesday!

This is what I learned!

Princesa que lindos ojos verdes tienes!

Tom, paw-lease tell me what you said!

Purr-haps you should check out the Spanish class next Tuesday at 10am.

The Upper Room

The Upper Room magazine's mission is to provide a practical way to listen to scripture, connect with believers around the world, and spend time with God each day.

Sam, wants to give everyone a BIG Thank you, for all the cards!

A special thank you, to Kelly, Ruthann, Linda and Adriana for taking the trip to Jacksonville to deliver the cards and make his 103 so special!

PRAYER & CARE

All information and last names will be kept confidential. Our list is updated weekly. If you need us to keep someone on the list, please send their name to [email protected].

Come Pray

Fridays at 9:30 am

Zoom and in the sanctuary

CLICK THE LINK BELOW

Prayer Request cards are on the rack at the back of the Sanctuary.

Altar Flowers



If you would like to honor family, friends, or loved ones for an anniversary, birthday, or memorial, contact the church office for details.