In-Person and Livestreamed

Worship Service


First United Methodist Church of Naples

Sunday Service 10:15 am

~

8th Sunday after Pentecost

Children's Home Sunday

July 31, 2022

From the Pastor


Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,


You are each such a blessing to me and I thank God for you every day. As you go through joys and extremely difficult moments, I am grateful and honored that God has put me in your path to be with you through both. I pray for you and am happy that I can call you sister, brother and friend.

 

I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday. As we gather together, I know that God’s Spirit will be with us, among us, all around us and in us. It will be a Spirit-filled morning for those who are present and extended to those who are watching from home (we miss you!)

 

If you’ve been thinking about formalizing your participation in this church family, we will have a “New Member Sunday” on August 7th. Just drop me a note in the offering plate to call you, or write it on your Connect Card, and I will meet with you to tell you more about our church and the denomination. You can decide what to do after we’ve met. Scroll down for more info.

 

A reminder that there will be Children’s Sunday School this Sunday, as our teacher has returned.  Also, be in prayer for all the children who will be returning to their schools on August 10, including our MDS preschool. Parents will be coming to Open House on August 3 and we are excited to meet the new parents and children who join us this year. We welcome our newly hired teacher, Alissa Wallace.

  

Please continue to pray for those who need your prayers (scroll down to the bottom of this Eblast). Continue to pray for travel mercies for the many year-round-attenders at FUMC who are traveling out of Florida this coming month.  Let me know if I, or the church, can be praying for YOU for anything specific. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, either in-person or online.


Love and Blessings,

Pastor Nancy

pastor@fumcnaples.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE! DID YOU KNOW?

 

Did you know that you may not be getting a portion of your Eblast because Gmail and some other email programs are cutting off the bottom? You may be missing important articles, photos and our Prayer List! How to find out? If you get to the bottom and have not seen the Prayer List or our MDS Preschool photos, then you know there has been a cut-off. After you reach what looks like the end, you may see a little note down at the bottom that says something like: “Click here to view all” or “Click here to continue.” Press that and you will see what you are missing that has been cut-off!

 This Sunday's Online Worship Service

 

If you aren’t able to make it to in-person worship on Sundays, you can watch it online “live” at 10:15 am or you can watch the “recorded” version anytime that is convenient for you by clicking on the box below. We generally start showing announcement slides at 10:05 as people are coming into the sanctuary and then the actual worship service starts at 10:15. 


You can also find this link by going to our web page, our Facebook page, or directly to www.youtube.com In the Search box at the top of the YouTube page, type "First UMC Naples" and press enter. On the next screen go down until you see "First UMC Naples - Sunday Worship - Rev Nancy Mayeux - 07 31 2022". Click on that title, or the picture next to it, to see the “live” broadcast. 

 

Blessings as you watch and participate. Be sure to share the link for live or recorded versions of our service with your friends and family, so they can join you in worship!

Click here to watch THIS Sunday's service

Life & Faith Lesson

Rev Nancy Mayeux


Joy, Joy and More Joy

 

Are you happy? I mean REALLY happy? What makes you happy? Can you be happy and joyful, even in the midst of really tough times? Is there a difference between happiness and joy? One is actually a decision and the other is a gift from God. 

 

This week I read someone’s post on the internet about happiness, I wanted to share it with you. It told of a kind, 83 year old lady, who was fully dressed every morning at 8 am sharp, with her hair done in fashion and perfectly applied makeup. She was moving to a retirement home. Her husband recently died, which motivated her move. After many hours of patiently waiting in the facility’s main hall, she smiled sweetly, when she was told her room was ready. As she moved her walker toward the elevator, she was given a detailed description of her small room, including the curtains hanging from her window.

“I love it,” she said, with the enthusiasm of a 8-year-old girl who was just handed over a new pet.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room. Just wait.”

“That doesn't matter,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide over time. Whether or not I like my room doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it depends on how I arrange my mind. I’ve already decided that I like it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have the choice; I can spend the day in bed, going through the difficulty I have with my body parts that don't work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the parts that do work. Every day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and the happy memories I've stored just for this time in my life.”

 

Wow! Happiness for her was an attitude – a decision. Have you decided to be happy today? Come Sunday for worship, where we will talk about “happiness” and compare it to “joy” which is even deeper and a gift from God – a fruit of the Spirit that can’t be earned or bought. See you at 10:15, either in-person or online on YouTube (see link above).

 

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-7

Masks Are Optional but “Highly Recommended”

 

Because of the high number of COVID cases, including people from our own congregation, we are “highly recommending” masks be worn indoors at church, but not mandating it. If you still want to feel safer, please sit in our “Comfort Zone” where masks ARE required. Ask an usher to take you there (the back, East section of sanctuary seating). We will have extra masks at the door if you need one. Please try to social distance indoors in our sanctuary, and stagger your departure so everyone does not bunch up in the aisles as you are exiting. Let’s forgo indoor hugs and handshakes for now. Please try to save your congregating and chatting for outdoors, where it is safer for everyone. Let’s continue to show love to our neighbors.

Altar Flower Dedication

 

Our altar flowers this Sunday are given by Louise Prestridge and dedicated in memory of her son, Jim Prestridge.



Altar Flower Ministry


Every week, you have the opportunity to purchase Sunday worship altar flowers 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. All future dates are presently open this summer. Purchase and dedication can be arranged 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.

It’s Children’s Home Sunday!

 

Every time we have 5 Sundays in one month, that 5th Sunday is Children’s Home Sunday, where we remember that wonderful place in Enterprise Florida, where children’s lives have been changed for over 100 years. This United Methodist home and program is supported financially by our UM congregations throughout Florida. This pandemic has made things especially rough for these children who are without their parents. Please consider a donation earmarked for the Children’s Home this Sunday, along with your regular offering or tithe. Click here to learn more about what the Children’s Home is all about! 

Children's Home - click here for more information

New Member Sunday on August 7

 

Did you meet our new members last week: Susanne Edson and Scott Lerdon? You might like to join them in formalizing your membership in this faith community.  We are doing a “New Member Sunday” on August 7. If you think you might be interested in learning more about what it means to formally become a member of this church and what it means to become a United Methodist (if you are not already), just send me an email at: pastor@fumcnaples.org . I will get in touch with you, and we can meet and explore this together. After we meet, if you think you’d like to do this, we will make this happen at one of our upcoming Membership Sundays. If nothing else, our meeting will help us to get to know each other better! Keep in mind, that you can still keep your regular membership at your United Methodist Church up north (or even another denomination) and join us here in Naples as an Affiliate or Associate member.

How Can You Support the Financial Ministries

of This Church?

 

Thank you once again for your faithful financial support of your church. Please remember that your giving is a form of worship. Your gifts allow us to help people to know Jesus, to grow in their faith and to serve Him as we help those in need.

 

Donations may be brought to worship on Sunday, dropped off during the week or mailed to: 

 

First United Methodist Church of Naples

388 First Avenue South

Naples, FL 34102

 

OR you can click on the box below to make an online donation. If you have any questions regarding the finances of this church, please send an email to our Treasurer, Jeffrey Currier: jeffreylcurrier@gmail.com

Click Here to Give Online

Last Sunday's Service

 

Did you miss worship last week? Click on the link below to view the video of last week's complete online service, with a sermon entitled There’ll Always Be a Way Out which was preached by Rev Nancy Mayeux and based on James 1:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Click for Last Week's Worship Service

We’ve Packed 245,000 Meals!

Help Feed Hungry People in our Community

 

Thank you for helping to feed hungry families. Food insecurity has been a major challenge for families throughout the pandemic, and especially now, with food prices soaring. During the last 18 months, we have packed 245,000 meals for families in need! Help us be Jesus’ hands and feet in the world and show the love of Christ to others by participating:

 

  1. Bring in food or financial contributions earmarked for “Food Ministry” and we will deliver to either Grace Place or St. Matthew’s House for their food pantries.
  2. Volunteer to come help pack food for 1.5 hours on an upcoming packing day. To sign up, contact Wendy McKee, our food-packing coordinator, at WendyMckee3@gmail.com. She will schedule you. It’s lots of fun!

Need to Reach Us? Here’s How!



We are available to you! Our church office is open Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm.  Food can be dropped off during office hours or on Sundays when you come to worship. The church phone will be answered during office hours. For pastoral emergencies, when the office is closed, just call the office and you will hear the Pastor’s personal cell number listed on the message you hear. The pastor is off on Mondays, as her Sabbath day, but will respond to 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

Make online donations by clicking the link below:

Click Here to Give Online

Please Pray!

  

Keep on praying! God is listening! Your prayer is powerful so please don’t think that it has no impact. Please pray for your faith family from the list below and also click on the “Special Prayer List” link below for additional important needs in our community and world. Please know that we have three struggling babies on our prayer list at this time. Don’t forget to thank God for all your blessings while you are sharing your personal prayer petitions with God this week!

 

Got a prayer request of your own? You can email it to me directly by responding to this Eblast (just press “reply” and it comes to me). You can also fill out a blue prayer card from the pews on Sunday. Just let me know if you want it public (person’s name and no other details) or if you would like private prayer from me.  



Urgent Prayer Requests

From our FUMC Church Family


We want to remind you that this section is for “urgent” prayer concerns only: (in the hospital, on Hospice, recovering from COVID-19, recovering from surgery, receiving radiation or chemotherapy for cancer, recent deaths, etc.) If you have a private prayer that you do not want published below, just email me and I will pray for that person and that need privately: pastor@fumcnaples.org.


  • Barbara Cassada, Patrick, Stephanie, grandkids and extended family (On the death of her husband, Randy)
  • Baby Jasper, parents and family (Great grandson of Judy & Jeff Currier)
  • Baby Gabriel (Grandson of Lori Martin)
  • Baby Abby Joy and parents (Family of Lisa Passeri)
  • Sue ReBell (Sister in law of Marie and Dick Evans)
  • Mo Pierzchala (regular attender)
  • Norman Lambert (Requested by Judy Margrey and Leo Poisson)
  • Lynn Bullock (Daughter of Shirley Maas)
  • Chris Grimshaw (Member and husband of Christine Grimshaw)
  • David Adkins (Brother of Karen Parry)
  • Wendy Moyer (Member)
  • Tom Headley (Nephew of Pat Schanke)
  • Stephen MacTurk (Son of Mary Lou Riccio)
  • Diane Langley (Friend of Norine Tempelman)

  • Beth Tatman (friend of the Mayeux family)

  • Family of Valya Staruchin, Januk, Orysia and family, Irina and family (Three families of the Jaworsky's in Ukraine)
  •  Gary and Glenn (Friends of the Emory’s)
  • Sam (brother-in-law of Karen Bach)
  • Ann Boren (Member)
  • Joseph Halizak (Friend of Marie and Dick Evans)
  • Karen Kirk (Cousin of Marie Evans)
  • Rosa Fogle (Family of Thelma and Al Johnson)
  • All the many unspoken requests and needs of our congregation and their loved ones.

 Special Prayer List 

(Updated July 24) 

 

 Wondering what else to pray for each day? Here are some suggestions!

Click here for Special Prayer Needs

Our Methodist Day School Has Openings

for Preschoolers Next Year

 

Did you know we have the earliest established preschool in Naples? We are grateful for our school’s outstanding director and our wonderful teachers who did such a great job teaching our children this past year. Please keep our preschool children and teachers in prayer as they prepare to start school on August 10. Their parents will be coming next Wednesday for Open House and we look forward to meeting all the new parents!  We also welcome our newly hired teacher, Alissa Wallace!

 

Do you have neighbors, acquaintances or family who might be looking for a great preschool next year? We have openings in our three-year class and VPK class but they are going fast. Spread the word!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS


Church Office is open Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 2:00pm. Outside of office hours, please call the church office and leave a message. For pastoral emergencies, you will be given a number, in the message, on how to reach the pastor.

First United Methodist Church of Naples
388 1st Ave S
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-1033
God Bless You!