Dear Church Family,

Thank you for a wonderful time of worship and service last Sunday. Even in that unexpected cold snap—yes, the kind of weather that has us joking about falling iguanas🦎-I was reminded once again how faithful and committed this congregation truly is.

While we were bundling up here in Florida, many of our friends and family up north were watching snow fall (sorry, Mom!). From frost-covered palms to snow-covered sidewalks, it was one of those weeks that highlighted just how wide and beautifully connected God’s family is.

I am deeply grateful for your presence, your willingness to serve, and the spirit of joy that continues to shape our life together. The warmth of our worship and fellowship far outweighed the chill in the air.

This Sunday, we continue our journey Awakened to Grace with a focus on Sabbath. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, move faster, and stay busy, Sabbath reminds us that rest is not a reward for productivity—it is a gift of grace. Together, we’ll reflect on God’s invitation to pause, trust, and be renewed in God’s presence, allowing grace to re-center our hearts and lives.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday as we lean into God’s gracious rhythm of rest.

With gratitude and grace,

Pastor Scott

This week, we are delighted to welcome pianist Doug Williams back to First Church! Doug will accompany the choir in a rousing rendition of Blessed Assurance. This hymn has become one of the most beloved and frequently sung hymns in Christian worship, reflecting themes of faith, assurance, and salvation. Fanny Crosby’s lyrics emphasize the joy and security found in a relationship with Jesus.



Doug will also accompany Dr. Click as a vocal soloist in a piece, Eternal Life, by Olive Dungan. Ms. Dungan was a Miami, Florida concert pianist and composer of mostly piano and vocal works, most notably with Eternal Life, a 1949 solo setting of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

Summary of FUMC 2025 Financial Results

For 2025, First United Methodist Church finished the year about $43,000 below budget, which is disappointing and represents an increase over the $21,000 shortfall in 2024. This deficit was covered by dipping into our limited cash reserves.

The positive aspect is that overall contributions increased, but expenses rose significantly due to deferred maintenance at our facility and lower-than-expected congregational giving in December. This is why we finished $43,000 short of the budget. Aside from general maintenance expenses, including air conditioning and fire protection repairs, expense control was solid, with nearly all categories meeting or staying below budget.

Looking ahead to 2026, Scott and I are finalizing the general operating budget. Inflation continues to increase our expenses, so we are building a break-even budget based on projections and expectations of fewer deferred maintenance issues. We have a beautiful sanctuary and campus environment that serves as the launching point for nearly every outreach and mission program we support. Pledge cards have been mailed, and we would love to see an increase in pledges compared to previous years so we can develop an effective plan for 2026. Last year, we had 40 cards returned. Can we get that number over 60 this year? If you did not receive a pledge card, please contact our Office Manager or pick one up at the Welcome Center in the lobby. We have also included a link below to complete your card and email it back. Please give prayerful and thoughtful consideration to how you can support First Church. Our goal is to start the year with a breakeven or slightly better budget.

Thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of our wonderful church.



Tom Bach, Finance Chair

tom.j.bach@gmail.com

MDS Weekly Update

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Ms. Evie’s Toddler Class:

This week was all about Valentine’s Day in the Toddler Class!

The children had fun working on their shapes and colors, as well as creating simple patterns. They also practiced counting.

A favorite activity this week was visiting the library, where the children enjoyed reading Valentine stories and playing with puppets.

An art activity that everyone loved was making roses, the children used their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination to create beautiful pink, red, and purple roses.

It was a fun week of Valentine’s, learning and exploring in the Toddler Class!

Ms. Margie’s Two-Year Class:

It was an exciting week in Ms. Margie’s class.

The theme was Groundhog Day and Feelings & Emotions. The children had an exciting time creating ground-hog headbands and reading books about feelings. They made their very own emotional masks, which helped them explore and talk about different emotions in a fun creative way.

For a special snack time, the children enjoyed hot cocoa with marshmallows, which went along perfectly with the wintry weather.

As a special craft, they made cut-out houses featuring pictures of themselves inside, a project of which they were proud.

It was a wonderful week filled with learning, creativity, and lots of smiles!  

Mrs. Ledbetter’s Three-Year Classroom:

This week the children had a wonderful time learning!

The letter of the week was R, and the number of the week was five.

The children worked on understanding opposites and practiced the concept of before and after.

The shape of the week was the heart, and the color of the week was pink.

It was a wonderful week of learning in Mrs. Ledbetter’s three-year class! 

Ms. Angela & Ms. Audrey’s VPK Class: 

This week was a great week in VPK!

In math, the children worked on graphing and participated in several hands-on activities centered around the number of the week, 24.

For literacy this week the focus letter was letter Q. For phonemic awareness, the children practiced compound words, recognizing letter sounds, and blending onset and rhyme to form one syllable words, with and without pictorial support. They also continued strengthening their skills with rhyming words and word families.

The Bible story for the week was David and Goliath, where the children learned about courage, faith, and trusting God.

It was a fantastic week of learning in VPK!

Soccer Shots:

The VPK class had a fantastic time with Coach Brandon this week!

They focused on the charter trait patience, learning how important it is to wait their turn.

The students played exciting games on Dino Island, practiced their power kicks, and wrapped up the session with a fun game of soccer.

The Three-Year Old Class worked on patience and turn taking with Coach Brandon. They explored Dino Island, practiced power kicks, and enjoyed playing a game of soccer with their friends at the end of class.

The Two-Year Old Class had a blast working on the step-over skill. They practiced their tiny kicks while keeping the ball close and had fun scoring goals.

It was another fun, active, and skill-filled week of Soccer Shots with Coach Brandon!

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~~~ Update From Cuba ~~~

Building the Temple, Living the Gospel

We continue to give thanks for the faithful ministry of Pastor Vincente and Dunia and for their ongoing work of building the temple—both the physical space and the spiritual community God is forming among them. Brick by brick, prayer by prayer, their dedication is a powerful witness to perseverance, hope, and trust in God’s provision.

Even as construction continues, their hearts remain centered on people. Recently, Pastor Vincente and Dunia were able to provide two audio Bibles to members of the congregation who can no longer see the printed page. What a blessing this has been. Through these audio Bibles, the Word of God is once again heard clearly, spoken aloud into hearts that long to listen, reflect, and be nourished by Scripture.

This gift reminds us that the church is never only about walls or roofs, but about making sure every person can encounter God’s living Word. It is a beautiful example of pastoral care rooted in compassion and attentiveness to real needs within the congregation.

We celebrate this moment with deep gratitude—for the continued building of the temple, for creative ways the gospel is being shared, and for leaders who embody Christ’s love through faithful service. May God continue to strengthen Pastor Vincente and Dunia, bless their ministry, and use their work to draw many closer to Him.



What a joy it is to witness God at work through their hands and hearts.

Email Wendy McKee for more information.

✝️ 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.

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 Youth Haven.

Providing Home, Hope, & Healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida

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

• George Japak (Mark Japak's brother)
• Chiharu Grossman (daughter-in-law of Debbie Grossman)
• Peace in our country
• 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)
• Ann Baker (attender)
• 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!

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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