From Your Pastors

FACILITIES UPDATE

We have made so much progress in sprucing up our facilities!  With our new 8300 sq ft flat roof completed, we were able to finish off the flooring just outside the offices and in the Library which had been places where the roof had been leaking. We have some clearing out of the Library to do as it became a temporary storage area while we were waiting for the floors to be completed. 

Your Leadership Council recently affirmed that our ongoing capital priorities are for the Sanctuary and the Methodist Day School. We have received a quote for replacing the floors in the MDS from the same company that installed our office suite floors. This will cost approximately $12,500 but will replace the old, worn out floors (that kids crawl on) and replace it with an easier to clean, upgraded floor that matches the office suite. We are also looking to upgrade the vanities and some of the storage areas.

The repairs and polishing of the lobby and sanctuary marble floors begins next week and will be finished before worship next Sunday. This is a long overdue restoration and cleaning.

We are diving into some super exciting renovations at the MDS, and it's going to take a solid investment to bring our vision to life! If you have a heart for our mission the resources to help, we would absolutely LOVE your support! Together, we can create an even better environment for our awesome kids at the Methodist Day School. Let's team up and make some magic happen!

Please talk to Pastor Scott or Pastor Sara. We will be happy to share quotes with you once we’ve received them.  We want our MDS facility to be the premier facility in Naples to match its excellent teaching and learning environment under the very talented leadership of our Director,  Alicia Silvin! 

New Sermon Series!!

Conversation With God - The Heart of Prayer

This Sunday marks the beginning of our new Lenten Sermon Series, focusing on the profound messages found in I Thessalonians 5:16-19 and Matthew 6:5-14, which explore the essential principles of prayer. These scriptures provide a comprehensive guide on how we are instructed to pray, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a prayerful spirit. We invite you to join us as we embark on this five-week journey in prayer, leading us toward Holy Week. We hope that these weeks will enrich our collective understanding and practice of prayer during this sacred season.

MDS Family Spaghetti Dinner

&

Art Showcase

Friday, March 28^th @ 5:30pm

Come and enjoy dinner with your friends and see the MDS children’s artwork on display.

Join us for a delightful evening dedicated to a worthwhile cause—the enhancement of the Methodist Day School! This special dinner will not only support vital projects aimed at improving the school's condition but also facilitate the acquisition of modern equipment that aligns with the standards of local kindergartens. By participating, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that our graduating VPK children are well-prepared to embark on their educational journeys with confidence and success. Together, let's invest in their bright futures!

In next week's e-Blast, there will be a link that gives you the exciting opportunity to participate in our online silent auction! This event will feature a diverse array of enticing items, ranging from delightful dining experiences at some of our finest local restaurants to exhilarating day trips designed for fishing enthusiasts. This is not just a chance to win fantastic prizes; it’s an invitation to support our cause while indulging in the joys of our community. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to bid on unique experiences and items that can create lasting memories!

What an amazing gathering it was! A dozen enthusiastic ladies united in a whirlwind of creativity, laughter, and friendship, all thanks to the fabulous Gwen Pleban, who skillfully guided them into the colorful world of creating cards! With her expert touch, they tapped into their crafty sides, turning blank canvases into masterpieces filled with joy and inspiration. But hold onto your glue sticks, because this isn’t just a one-time affair! More crafty capers are brewing on the horizon, so keep your eyes peeled for the next opportunity to unleash your inner artist and join in on the fun.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

We invite you to roll up your sleeves and join us for two impactful cleaning days dedicated to spring cleaning our church campus! While it's true that this initiative isn't derived from scripture, it embodies the spirit of community and stewardship that we cherish. Our beautiful grounds hold so much potential, and with your help, we can transform those areas in need of a little extra care, as well as those that require a lighter touch. Mark your calendars for Friday, March 14th at 10:00 am, as we come together to create a welcoming and pristine environment for all. The exact times for these cleaning events will be announced soon, so stay tuned! Your participation will make a significant difference, and together, we can showcase the love and pride we have for our church.

As we enter this Lenten season, you’ll probably notice the tone of the music changing throughout our service. We will shift from upbeat, festive hymns and choral anthems to more subdued music - often in minor keys, with text and themes focusing on reflection, repentance, humility and confession. This change in musical style helps to create an atmosphere of contemplation, as we prepare for the journey toward Easter.

Bible Study

We would like to extend a warm invitation to anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the grace of God through an engaging and thought-provoking time of study. Our Wednesday Bible study sessions present a unique opportunity to explore this profound theme as it is illustrated through the characters of the acclaimed Broadway musical, Les Misérables. It is not too late to join our remarkable group. We believe that this study will foster spiritual growth and community connection.

In the six-week Lenten study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo’s story. As these imperfect and relatable characters interact, we can see how these ideals work together (perhaps even in spite of each other) out in the world.

Come join us in our new location, Barton Hall, due to our amazing attendance, as we continue this amazing study.

Annual Conference Opportunity

We are truly fortunate to have Gwen and Rob Pleban serving as our Lay Members, representing our church at the upcoming Annual Conference, which will take place at Florida Southern College in Lakeland from June 5-7, 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who wishes to represent our Southwest District as at-large members at the conference. If you feel inspired to join us in Lakeland, we encourage you to review the below email from our District Superintendent, and please don't hesitate to reach out to Pastors Sara or Scott to express your interest. Both of us will be there, and we would be absolutely delighted to see more members from First Church join our vibrant gathering!

Friends,

 We have 47 at-large lay member spots from the South West district to fill for this year’s Annual Conference.  We have a handful of people already who have indicated that they would like to serve in this capacity.

I am writing to encourage you to nominate someone else from your congregation to attend.  

We do not have district funds to help with these expenses, so these persons would need to be able to pay their way, unless your church has additional funds to help them. An easy way might be if your current lay member is married and their spouse would like the opportunity to attend and vote. Some churches may wish to send several leaders (up to 5 per church).

We have 4 Constitutional Amendments to vote on at this AC and it will be important to have as many of our at-large member spots filled as possible for these important votes. 

Sandy needs these names and their information by Friday, March 14, 2025.

Thank you for your help and assistance with this matter.

Grace and peace,

Debbie

Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Allen

District Superintendent

South West District

UPDATE FROM MDS

This week MDS celebrated Dr. Seuss week and Read Across America. In every classroom we had fun reading Dr. Seuss books and doing crafts and activities. Each day the teachers had a book that was the theme of the day. We had several families come in and read and do activities with the children throughout the week. Monday the book was, "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish." On Tuesday the book was, "Fox in Socks." On Wednesday, the book was, "Wacky Wednesday." On Thursday, the book was, "The Cat in the Hat." On Friday the book was, "Green Eggs and Ham." It was a fun week of reading and celebrating Dr. Seuss and the love of reading!

On Friday we had Family Chapel with Pastor Scott. He talked about Ash Wednesday and the meaning of ashes, the idea of sin, and the importance of repentance. 

Update on Cuba

Our sister church in Bíran, Cuba, is looking forward to being able to construct their new sanctuary with the funds from the United Methodist Women and others that Scott delivered to them earlier this year, but for now they continue to worship in their current Temple with no walls!

Please be in prayer for their congregation and their pastors Vincente and Dunia and add an extra prayer for their daughter who is 6 months pregnant with some challenges. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ken and Kay Craynon for delivering the altar flowers to Physician's Regional. They were given to this worthwhile organizations in recognition of the contributions they make to our 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 to be recognized! The cost is $40. Purchase and dedication can be arranged by signing up in the church lobby or by sending an email the church at admin@fumcnaples.org. Then you can either pick up your flowers after church or donate them for us to take to organizations in our community, bringing a ray of sunshine to workers and volunteers.

Food Packing Update

Wendy and Jyl pack fresh green peppers

Gil, Leo, Jyl, Betsy, Dick, Pam, Judy, and Lori pack bags!

Betsy, Dick, Pam, Judy, and Gil pack bags!

We invite you to be a part of a truly rewarding experience as we gather to pack meals for families in our community through the Meals of Hope ministry. Each volunteer session is not just an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, but also a chance to connect with fellow community members in a spirit of joy and camaraderie. Following our fulfilling work, we embrace the Methodist tradition of fellowship by enjoying a meal together at a local restaurant, deepening our bonds and sharing stories. Your participation would mean the world to us, and we would love for you to join this heartwarming mission. For further details, please do not hesitate to reach out to Wendy McKee via the email provided below. Together, we can create hope and nourishment for families in our area.

The next packing date is Monday, March 10th, 2025, 10:30am to noon at Meals for Hope in Naples. Please contact Wendy if you would like to volunteer!

Please be sure to let us know if you or a loved one are in the hospital so Pastors Sara or Scott can come 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 that God has given us to pray on behalf of 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, just email us and we will pray for that person and that need privately: pastor@fumcnaples.org

• Family of Jeff Currier (bereavement)
• Kevin Lee (cousin of Tom Bach)
• Sandy Barrett (sister of Pam O'Brien)
• Thelma Johnson (member)
• Julia Wayne (daughter of Lawrence & Jane Crouch)
• Julianna Thomas (Gail Jaworsky Granddaughter)
• Danielle (friend of MDS)
• Theresa Shaw (friend of Al & Thelma Johnson)
• Ted and Ann Baker (attenders)
• Jean Humphries (member)
• John Schloendorn (Church electrician and friend)
• Michael DiGaetono (friend of John Riccio)
• Jen Wolf
• Gary Matter
• Gail Couch
• Chris and Christine Grimshaw (members)
• Evelyn Johnson (sister-in-law of Al Johnson)
• Rev. Flo Scott (attender)
• LeeAnne Merrifield (daughter of Jim Merrifield)
• Baby Abby Joy and parents (family of Lisa Passeri)
• 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.

Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant Update

Our search for a Church Accountant/Bookkeeper/Administrator continues. Unfortunately our recent hire for this full time (35-40 hr/ week) position did not work out. Thankfully, Jaimie Dandridge continues in her role performing many of these functions remotely from her home in South Carolina. We are so grateful to Jaimie for providing training and for completing the essential bookkeeping, accounting and administrative functions for our church and Methodist Day School as we continue to seek the best qualified candidate for this in-person position. Please be in prayer with us as the search continues.

Interested in taking a Lay Servant Ministry Course?

Please click the link below for information on upcoming courses. Certified Lay Servant and Certified Lay Speaker Advanced Courses are beginning soon.

Need to Reach Us? Here’s How!



We are available to you! Our church office is open Tuesday-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

Email us: admin@fumcnaples.org  or

Mail contributions to:

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