Dear Church Family,

This week, I invite you to pause with me.

In the noise of everyday life—constant updates, endless to-dos, voices demanding our attention—it’s easy to forget that God often speaks loudest when we are most still. Silence is not emptiness. It is a sacred space where grace has room to speak, to settle, and to stir something new in us.

Our sermon this Sunday, “Awakened to Grace – Silence,” reminded us that silence is not a void to be filled, but a gift to be embraced. In the quiet, we are reintroduced to a God who whispers hope, healing, and direction. It’s in those moments of stillness that we begin to truly hear—not just with our ears, but with our hearts.

If your spirit feels weary, overwhelmed, or simply longing for more… consider this your invitation. Step back. Breathe deep. Embrace the silence. Grace is waiting there—not with judgment, but with open arms.

Let’s be people who don’t just speak of faith but listen for God. Even in silence, He is speaking.

With love and gratitude,

Pastor Scott

MDS Weekly Update

———————— 🍎 ————————

Ms. Evie’s Toddler Class:

The children had a wonderful time learning and exploring through play. They worked on simple patterns, practicing “What comes next?” activities to help build early thinking and problem-solving skills. They also focused on colors, with activities that encouraged identifying and matching different colors throughout the week. 

The theme of the week was Vegetables. The children learned what vegetables are and were able to identify several common vegetables. A favorite activity was a vegetable matching game, which helped support language development, color recognition, and early cognitive skills. 

It was a great week full of hands-on learning, discovery, and fun as the children explored all about vegetables together! 

Ms. Margie’s Two-Year Class:

This week the theme was Winter Animals, and the children had a wonderful time learning through hands-on play, art, and exploration! 

They had some exciting science fun as the children helped make “snow” and enjoyed touching, scooping, and playing with it. This sensory activity sparked lots of curiosity and smiles!

For art, the children created adorable handprint penguins, using their creativity while practicing important fine motor skills. Another favorite activity was breaking pieces of ice to discover winter animals hidden inside. This activity was not only fun but also helped strengthen fine motor skills and problem solving.

They also worked on math skills by matching winter animals to their shapes, encouraging early learning through play and observation.

Overall, it was a fantastic week filled with learning, laughter, and winter-themed fun.

Mrs. Ledbetter’s Three-Year Class:

This week the children had a great week of learning and fun!

The letter of the week was letter P, and the Number of the Week was Number 3. The children enjoyed participating in small group and table activities that helped reinforce letter recognition, especially focusing on the letter P. For math skills, the children had fun playing a number bingo game, which helped them recognize and identify numbers in an engaging way. Another favorite activity was, “Can you Find the Shape,” a fun and interactive game that encouraged shape recognition and problem-solving.

These activities supported early literacy, math skills, and classroom engagement.

The children did a great job participating and learning together.   

Ms. Angela & Ms. Audrey’s VPK Class: 

It was a busy week learning in VPK this week! They focused heavily on literacy skills, with an emphasis on naming and working with vowels. The children learned a short vowel song, which helped make vowel sounds fun and engaging. They also reviewed the entire alphabet, with a special focus on the Letter F through hands-on activities. For phonics, the children worked on beginning sounds, looking at pictures and identifying the starting sounds of words. These activities helped strengthen early reading and language skills. In math, the children reviewed numbers, and the Number of the Week was 22. Exploring measuring, discovering what tools can be used to measure, how we measure objects, and why measuring is important.

The children enjoyed many fun, hands-on activities centered around measuring different items in the classroom. 

It was truly a great week of learning in VPK, and the children did a wonderful job participating in and growing in their skills!  

———————— 🍎 ————————

✝️ Lenten Bible Study

Begins February 25

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM

Join us this Lenten season for a meaningful six-week journey through “Will Willimon’s powerful study: “The Last Supper: Conversations That Led to the Cross”

Experience Lent through the lens of Jesus’s most profound parables—those He told around the table on the road to Jerusalem. In this study, we’ll explore stories of mercy, welcome, radical hospitality, and the surprising nature of God’s kingdom, leading us to a deeper understanding of Maundy Thursday, the Last Supper, and the cross.

🔍 Each week, we will:

• Reflect on parables about searching shepherds, prodigal sons, and open invitations
• Discover how meals reveal the heart of God’s grace
• Prepare our hearts for Holy Week through meaningful group discussion
• Consider what it means to have a place at Christ’s table today

Details:

🗓️ Starts: Wednesday, February 25

🕥 Time: 10:30 AM (weekly on Wednesdays)

📖 Cost: $15 for the study book

📍Location: Barton Hall

All are welcome—bring a friend and come ready to reflect, discuss, and journey through Lent with intention and community.

Brunch Bunch

Fellowship, Food, and Fun at Ridgway Bar & Grill

Our latest Brunch Bunch gathering was a fantastic time of fellowship and fun! We met at Ridgway Bar and Grill, where the coffee was hot, the food was delicious, and the laughter flowed as freely as the conversation.

In true Brunch Bunch spirit, we even overcame an unexpected surprise — a full-blown pet parade marching right through the area! But nothing could stop this group from enjoying the moment. With a few laughs and a little extra patience, we pressed on, proving once again that a little chaos just makes for better memories.

It was a joy to reconnect, welcome new faces, and spend time together outside the church walls. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it special!

Stay tuned — our next Brunch Bunch is coming soon, and we’d love to see you there.



Let’s keep sharing life, one bite (and one laugh) at a time.

Cuba Update

I wanted to take a moment to share an important update from our mission partners in Bíran, Cuba. As many of you know, we have been supporting the incredible work Pastor Vincente and his team are doing to build the new Temple — a place that will serve not only as a house of worship but also as a beacon of hope and community outreach.

Unfortunately, due to rapidly rising prices, the cost of completing the Temple has exceeded what we have already sent. Pastor Vincente has reached out to request an additional $3,500 to purchase the remaining construction materials and cover essential labor costs.

In our recent conversation, we also discussed the funds we sent to purchase transportation — a critical need for expanding their reach and ministry capacity. I let him know that I would do my best to raise the additional $3,500, and in the meantime, he has the freedom to allocate the funds already received in the way he feels will best support the ministry — whether that’s toward transportation or completing the Temple.

We also took time to talk through finances and the ministry's long-term sustainability. I was encouraged by Pastor Vincente’s thoughtful stewardship and his unwavering commitment to using every resource faithfully and wisely.



Let’s continue to pray for Pastor Vincente, his team, and the community in Bíran — that God would provide every resource needed and that this Temple would soon stand as a symbol of faith, unity, and hope for generations to come.

We are saddened to share the passing of Warren “Ted” Baker, a longtime attender and beloved member of our church family. Ted’s warmth, humor, and generous spirit made a lasting impact on all who knew him. He will be deeply missed. Please keep his loved ones in your prayers during this time. A link to his obituary is below.

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 & Kay Craynon for faithfully delivering this week's flowers to Habitat for Humanity.

Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

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. Tyler Castrillo and Eileen Hung 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

• Shannon Breton (friend of Chris and Bob Butlak)
• Chiharu Grossman (daugher-in-law of Debbie Grossman)
• Jake Powell
• John Mayeux (former member)
• Gail Buckles (sister of Gwen Pleban)
• Christy Gifford (niece of Judy Margrey)
• Marilyn Kaye
• Jupiter Lee (MDS student)
• Clint Cabonaro
• 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)
• Larry and Judy Stewart (former attenders)
• Ina Gassett (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Julia Barnard
• George Sumrall (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Jean Miller (daughter of David and Dottie Brennan)
• Brad Wood (member)
• Jean Humphries (member)
• Paul Burfoot (son-in-law of Lee Kraus)
• Mary Bach (sister of Tom Bach)
• Emily Cundra (granddaughter of Gail Jaworsky)
• Adrian Hill (friend of the Bach Family)
• Jane Briscoe (daughter of Betsy Ard)
• Richard Rydzinski (grand-nephew of Gail Jaworsky)
• Russel Clark (Amy Ehler's Uncle)
• Lynette Backiewicz (friend of Karen Parry)
• Danielle (friend of MDS)
• Ted and Ann Baker (attenders)
• Michael DiGaetono (friend of John Riccio)
• Chris and Christine Grimshaw (members)
• Evelyn Johnson (sister-in-law of Al Johnson)
• 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)
• Rosa Fogle (family of Thelma and Al Johnson)
• All the many unspoken requests and needs of our congregation and their loved ones.

Stay in the Know — Explore What’s Happening!

Click the buttons below to catch up on all the latest news and events from around the Conference.

You'll find updates from:

• The Florida Conference
• The Southwest District
• Lay Servant Ministries



Don’t miss out on the incredible things happening across our connection!

or scan here to give

Need to Reach Us? Here’s How!



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