From Pastor Sara

Colleen Durham, the Marketing and Events Manager for Grace Place for Children and Families, sent out a press release about our donation to Grace Place and so far it has been picked up by Gulfshore Business and eBella eXtra. Please see the links below.

It takes a little hunting to find mention of the church in eBella  eXtra, but we received a subhead in Gulfshore Business! See the links below!

Jan 22, 2025 | eBella eXtra | Caught in the Act of Kindness January 2025

Jan 21, 2025 | Gulfshore Business | First United Methodist Church Donates $10K to Grace Place

THE GUYS VERSUS THE GIRLS

(Update)

And the results are in! The friendly competition surrounding Grace Place has wrapped up, and the winner is.....

Drum roll please ....

The ultimate winner is none other than GRACE PLACE itself!

What a spectacular turnout we had to tour this incredible ministry, where hearts and minds are being shaped for the better! From little learners getting a head start on their educational journey to older students receiving the support they need to thrive. Grace Place is a beacon of hope in the community! And let’s not forget the adults who are leveling up their skills and learning new languages, proving that it’s never too late to learn! The touching success stories we heard warmed our hearts and reminded us of the impact this ministry has on so many lives. If you’re inspired and want to dive into the joy of giving back, there are endless opportunities to volunteer at this fantastic place! Don’t wait; click here to email the volunteer coordinator and discover how you can make a difference! Learn about volunteer opportunities here.

Town Hall

Last Sunday's Town Hall Meeting and lunch, dedicated to reflecting on our enriching experiences in Cuba, was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a genuine delight to connect with so many of our wonderful members who came out to listen. Pastors Sara and Scott shared their unique experiences in Cuba, emphasizing both the spiritual richness and the physical challenges we faced during our visits. We are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of generosity from our congregation, which not only supports our sister church but also bolsters the vital ministries of the District Superintendent. Their unwavering commitment to weekly worship and prayer, particularly for First Church, is nothing short of inspiring, exemplifying the deep and abiding connection we hold with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our First Church Ringers have truly been ringing in the joy! They've been busy crafting beautiful melodies that will surely resonate with your spirit. So, click the picture below for an exclusive sneak peek of the harmonious wonders that await you in our upcoming worship services! It's going to be a bell-tastic experience that you won't want to miss!

United Methodist Women

There will be a meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd at 10:00 am in the parlor. Dottie Brennan will lead assembly of prayer bracelets as well as a Q & A with Pastors Sara and Scott about Cuba. Following the meeting there will be a lunch at Ridgway Bar and Grill, 1300 3rd Street South. Sign up the the lobby on Sunday!

SAVE THE DATE

The Southwest District Office of the Florida United Methodist Conference is going to have this amazing training again this year. Pastor Scott is attending and would love to have a team join him for this training. Please email or sign up at the Welcome Center.

ROOF UPDATE!

Construction work on the roof is currently underway, with an anticipated completion date set for February 14th. We have engaged the services of Kelly Roofing to implement a comprehensive multigenerational solution aimed at addressing the persistent roofing issues that have resulted in numerous leaks throughout the office and parlor areas. Furthermore, the air conditioning units have been upgraded to meet current codes, featuring new stanchions for enhanced stability and efficiency. The scope of the replacement project encompasses an impressive total area exceeding 8,300 square feet, effectively covering the entire office, library, parlor, and the Barton Hall area, thereby ensuring a significant improvement in the overall functionality and comfort of these spaces.

Are you interested in traveling to Rwanda or Kenya to visit a Zoe Empowerment Group?

In the past, First Church has helped support the SW District sponsor a Zoe group. This is an amazing ministry that empowers orphans and young people to lift themselves out of poverty and gain valuable life skills and start entrepreneurial businesses in a community setting. 

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 to Jaimie Dandridge 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.

Job Posting 

Part Time Bookkeeper/Accountant and Part Time Administrative Assistant positions have been posted on Indeed this week. These two 20 hr positions may be combined into a single full time position for a qualified applicant. 

Links to the postings can be found here: 

Bookkeeper

Administrative Assistant. 



Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to be considered for either of these positions. 

We are so grateful to Jaimie Dandridge who has been doing most of the Bookkeeper/ Accountant position remotely since  she moved to South Carolina in June. Unfortunately the needs of the church require more in-person coverage so we’ve decided to post these two positions. Jaimie is in the process of helping us transition to a new accounting and membership management system with ACS Technologies called Realm and is helping us close out our finances for 2024. She has also graciously offered to help train whomever we hire for these roles. We are very grateful to Jaimie for her faithful service to our church. 

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.

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

• Thelma Johnson (member)
• Christiane Adkins (mother of Karen Parry)
• Julia Wayne (daughter of Lawrence & Jane Crouch)
• Family of Dick Evans (bereavement)
• Family of Jeff Currier (bereavement)
• Julianna Thomas (Gail Jaworsky Granddaughter)
• Rob Pleban (member)
• Danielle (friend of MDS)
• Family of Susan Wessel (bereavement)
• Family of Sandra Hall (bereavement, sister of Judy Currier)
• Theresa Shaw (friend of Al & Thelma Johnson)
• Ted and Ann Baker (attenders)
• Bruce & Pam McDonnell (members)
• Jean Humphries (member)
• John Schloendorn (Church electrician and friend)
• Michael DiGaetono (friend of John Riccio)
• Ina Gassett (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Joan & Dick White (friends of Judy Margrey)
• Jen Wolf
• Marcia Bowser (neighbor of the Parry's)
• Chris Grimshaw (member and husband of Christine Grimshaw)
• Evelyn Johnson (sister-in-law of Al Johnson)
• Rev. Flo Scott (attender)
• LeeAnne Merrifield (daughter of Jim Merrifield)
• Larry Croy (friend of Bill Parry)
• 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.

Updated from the Methodist Day School



Toddler Class: This week in Ms. Evie's class it was all about working on fine motor skills. The theme this week was Winter. A favorite activity this week was painting and playing with play dough.  

Two Year Class: This week in Ms. Margie's class it was all about Winter Animals and Winter Fun! This week a fun activity that everyone really liked was a matching game where the kids matched the winter animals with their shapes. Another fun matching game was mitten matching. Ms. Margie's decorated their very own hot cocoa cup this week and enjoyed some. Handprint penguins was a favorite art project this week. 

Three Year class: This week in Mrs. Ledbetter's class the letter of the week was the letter Pp. They have been working on beginning sounds. This week the class has been working on nursery rhymes. Number matching was a favorite math activity this week. The children have been working on letter strokes.  

VPK: In Ms. Angels and Ms. Audrey's class this week the letter of the week is letter Ll. This week the class has been focusing on sentence counting and building activities. They have been working all week on the -et world families. It is very exciting that the class is reading the phonics book, "Mat." Everyone had fun this week in music with the rhythem sticks. For math this week the class has been working on the ten frame, learning ways to show 18, and counting. 

Our friends at Grace Lutheran Church are holding a rummage sale to support missions. See below for more information.

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