From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Church Family,

We all know the panic that can set in when we hear the words, “Company is coming!”

Suddenly we notice everything. The floors need vacuuming. The kitchen counter needs clearing. The bathroom needs cleaning. And inevitably there is that pile of stuff we don't know what to do with, so we put it somewhere, close the door, and hope nobody opens it.

We can do that when someone is visiting.

But when someone moves in, things are different.

This Sunday, as we continue our journey through Exodus, we come to the building of the tabernacle. God had rescued Israel from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, provided for them, entered into covenant with them, and remained faithful even when they failed.

Now God does something extraordinary.

God comes to dwell among them.

I wonder sometimes whether we are more comfortable with a God who visits.

We come to worship on Sunday. We sing, pray, hear Scripture, and encounter God together. Then Monday arrives, and it can be easy to return to life as usual.

But God desires something much deeper than a weekly visit.

God wants to be present in our ordinary Tuesdays and stressful Thursdays. God wants to be present in our relationships, decisions, conversations, work, generosity, and the way we treat the people around us. God even wants access to those rooms in our lives where we would rather close the door.

Because God doesn't just want to visit. God wants to dwell among us.

I hope you will join us Sunday as we continue Exodus: From Bondage to Promise with “A Dwelling Place for God.” Together we'll consider what it means to make room for God's presence—not only in our sanctuary, but in our lives.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Scott

Our Special Music this week, Geron Davis’s Holy Ground, performed by Amy Ehler, beautifully complements Exodus 35:20–40, where the Israelites willingly bring their gifts and talents to build the dwelling place of God. The song reminds us that wherever God’s presence is, we are standing on holy ground. This solo invites us to pause and recognize the sacredness of worship and the privilege of offering our own gifts to God, just as the Israelites did.

MDS Weekly Update

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 A Special Thank You! 

A very special thank you to Bill Parry for installing our new water fountain by the playground! We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity. 

Our children are already enjoying it and staying refreshed while they play!  Thank you, Bill, for helping make our playground even better for our MDS family! 

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A Wonderful Week of Learning in VPK! 

This week our VPK students worked hard during their state assessment testing and will soon be having conferences. They also had fun learning about patterns, number recognition, number tracing, and discovering where we can find patterns all around us! 



It was a wonderful week filled with learning, practice, and growth in our VPK classroom!  

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All About Me Week in Mrs. Ledbetter’s Class! 

Our friends had a wonderful week celebrating what makes each of us unique and special!  They explored fingerprints, enjoyed Play-Doh, coloring, and painting, and learned that God made each of us special! 



They also celebrated with a fun Friendship Friday!  It was a fun-filled week of learning, creating, and celebrating each other in Mrs. Ledbetter’s class! 

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All About Me Week in Ms. Margie’s Two-Year-Old Class! 

What a fun week of learning!  The children enjoyed reading Franklin’s First Day of School and If You Take a Mouse to School, making handprints and colorful hats, learning about colors and classroom rules, and talking about making new friends. 



Their favorite art activity was ripping and gluing paper around a handprint!  It was a fun-filled week of learning, creating, and making new memories in Miss Margie’s class! 

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A Colorful Week Ms. Evie’s Toddler Classroom! 

Ms. Evie’s toddlers had so much fun learning all about colors this week!  They enjoyed finger painting, reading books, singing songs at circle time, playing with kinetic sand to build fine-motor skills, and going on a fun color scavenger hunt. 



They also practiced sorting fruits by color!  What a fun week of learning and exploring! 

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Toddler Learning This Week with Ms. Miha! 

Our Toddler classes have been busy learning all about emotions!  The children practiced identifying feelings, looking at themselves in the mirror, giving hugs, singing songs, and learning how to express their emotions.



They also enjoyed Library Day, fun fine-motor activities, playtime, and lots of hands-on learning! We love watching our toddlers learn, grow, and have fun each day! 

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Cuba Ministry Update



Please continue to keep our brothers and sisters in Cuba in your prayers as God continues to work through the churches and ministries there.

Recently, the church celebrated a beautiful quinceañera, a joyful occasion that brought family and the church community together in celebration and thanksgiving.

In addition, the District Superintendent held a youth retreat in the Holguín Norte region, providing young people with an opportunity to gather for fellowship, encouragement, worship, and spiritual growth.

We are grateful for all that God is doing in Cuba. Please continue to pray for the churches, pastors, leaders, youth, and families as they faithfully serve their communities and share the hope of Christ.

Every week, you can donate altar flowers for our Sunday worship and dedicate them to the memory of someone who was special to you or to honor someone who presently needs recognition! The cost is $40. You can arrange to purchase flowers for a dedication by signing up in the church lobby or by sending an email to Karen in the church office. You can either pick up your flowers after church or donate them to an organization in our community, bringing a ray of sunshine to workers and volunteers.

There are many open dates to donate flowers!

See the signup sheets in the foyer.

Thank you to Ken and Kay Craynon for faithfully delivering flowers to Collier County Literacy Center.

Confidence in Communication Creates Opportunity for All

Helping children, families, and adults gain the literacy skills they need to learn, connect, and thrive.

Volunteers!

At First United Methodist Church, we invite you to become a cherished part of our vibrant community by volunteering for our Sunday worship services. We are all called into service to God and have unique talents and gifts that can help create a truly special worship experience, as many hands working together bring our services to life. Each week, we have individuals read scriptures, light candles, take up the offering, and greet attendees. Additionally, we hold monthly communion and anointing services, where your support is invaluable. We would be thrilled to have you join our team and contribute to the uplifting moments that connect and inspire our community. Please get in touch with Pastor Scott or Judy Margrey if you would like to be a part of this team.

Come be part of our team of greeters, ushers, acolytes, and scripture readers. Eileen Hung and Tyler Castrillo bring the light of Jesus into the worship service. 

Please let us know if you or a loved one is in the hospital so Pastor Scott can visit and pray with you and your family.

We are always in prayer for our church family, those around the world living in poverty, our leaders, and our country. Please join us in prayer.

Prayer Requests

From our FUMC Church Family



Intercessory prayer is a blessing God has given us to pray for others. If you have a prayer request for someone that we can pray for specifically, or even if you have a private prayer that you do not want published below, email us and we will pray for that person and that need privately: pastor@fumcnaples.org

• Paul Peterson (friend of Tom Bach)
• Ingo Zacher (cousin of Wendy McKee)
• Mark A. Frederick (Barrie Conley's son)
• Mason Gomez (US Army deployment; son of one of our vendors)
• Tom Bower (friend of Amy Ehler)
• Jody Woods (friend of Amy and Pastor Scott)
• Devyn Morones (daughter of Amy and Pastor Scott)
• Sharon Caliguri (friend of Amy and Pastor Scott)
• Emma Wolf (friend of Amy and Pastor Scott)
• Christine Ortega (friend of Karen LaCorte)
• Mary Lou Riccio (member)
• Claire Mac Turk (daughter in law of John & Mary Lou Riccio)
• George Japak (Mark Japak's brother)
• Gene Eenigenburg (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Gail Svensson (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Ina Gassett (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Jean Miller (daughter of David and Dottie Brennan)
• Kaitlyn Mann (daughter of David and Dottie Brennan)
• Charles Atwood (member)
• Joseph Courtez (father of Courtney Williams)
• Jill Stephen (mother of Brooke Stephen)
• Jean Smith (friend of Marie Evans)
• Ron ReBell (brother of Marie Evans)
• Elena Lerdon
• Maria Cedillo Toma
• Will Carpenter (brother-in-law of Al Johnson)
• Evelyn Johnson (sister-in-law of Al Johnson)
• Rosa Fogle (family of Thelma and Al Johnson)
• Cathy (friend of Gina Holsinger)
• Chiharu Grossman (daughter-in-law of Debbie Grossman)
• Peace in our country
• Jake Powell
• John Mayeux (former member)
• Tina Tomaselli (friend of Judy Margrey)
• Christy Gifford (niece of Judy Margrey)
• Marilyn Kaye
• Teresa Toma Manoquin
• Nicole McNamara
• Susan Tarantino (friend of Pam Kennedy)
• Slavka Pehar (friend of Pat Hamann)
• Jessica Rich (friend of Pat Hamann)
• Ross (cancer)
• Julia Barnard
• Paul Burfoot (son-in-law of Lee Kraus)
• Emily Cundra (granddaughter of Gail Jaworsky)
• Jane Briscoe (daughter of Betsy Ard)
• Chris and Christine Grimshaw (members)
• LeeAnne Merrifield (daughter of Jim Merrifield)
• Family of Valya Staruchin, Januk, Orysia, and family, Irina and family (three families of the Jaworsky's in Ukraine)
• All the many unspoken requests and needs of our congregation and their loved ones.

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We are available to you! Our church office is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. After hours, for pastoral emergencies, call the office, and you will hear how to contact Pastor Scott, who will respond to all pastoral emergencies. 

Call the church office: (239) 262-1033

Please email us: admin@fumcnaples.org or

Mail contributions to:

First United Methodist Church, 388 First Ave S, Naples, FL 34102