In Person and Livestreamed

Worship Service

First United Methodist Church of Naples

19th Sunday after Pentecost

Residing Hope Sunday

10:15am

September 29, 2024



From Pastor Sara

Major Facility Projects Update: An opportunity for generous giving to make a generational difference!

Dear Church Family,

This week we signed a $175,000 contract with Kelly Roofing to replace our 8100 sq ft flat roof which runs over the offices, preschool and Barton Hall. We have experienced significant leaks in the hallway outside the main offices, the office conference room, the library just off the parlor, and in the kitchen. The current flat roof has been patched several times, but it is time to do a generational replacement. We have selected Kelly Roofing to do this work as they offer a customized PVC membrane system (think swimming pool liner) which is made to fit the exact dimensions of our roof and comes with a 20-year warranty. This will take some time to order and will be installed in the late January early February timeframe. They will coordinate with J.P. Brett and Sons who handles our air conditioning units. This work will include lifting the roof-mounted air conditioning units and placing them on metal stations to meet current code. 

As you may recall, the tile roof over the sanctuary was replaced in 2022. A recent inspection has revealed that the holes that allowed the lightning rods to stick through were left unsealed and this has caused water to leak into the VPK hallway. Unfortunately, the owner of the roofing company sold it and moved to New Zealand. We have been trying to track down the new owners who are based out of state to rectify this without any luck. These repairs are included in the Kelly quote.  

The very good news is that we have been notified of an extremely generous donation in the amount of $75,000 towards the cost of this roof replacement from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. We do have $66,564 in our designated roof fund and $138,778 in our capital improvement fund as of July, 2024. Obviously to fund $100,000 out of these funds will seriously deplete our reserves. If you are able to make a contribution of any size to help us ensure we have adequate reserve funds going forward, this would be greatly appreciated.  

We feel it is important to be good stewards in taking care of the roof now so that we can eliminate any further damage to the interior of our building. 

In addition to this roof work, we had a vendor come in to seal the window behind the altar and the round stain glass window.  We had hoped to be able to cover the stain glass window with a plexiglass covering to avoid any further water intrusion, but due to the way the window was installed this is not possible. If this sealing of the windows is successful, we will proceed with repairing all the damage that has been caused to the window frames and walls behind the altar. So, this is a two-stage process to first ensure the windows are properly sealed and then to repair the damage. I encourage you to go right up to the altar and to look up to see the damage for yourself.  Hurricane Helene will be a good test of this sealing project!

These are just some of the major projects we are working on. We have a team of volunteers who will be helping us paint Barton Hall, repaint the outside floors in the preschool hallways and finish the trim and baseboards in the offices. If you would like to help, please contact Wendy McKee, our new Chair of Trustees. 

This is an amazingly generous congregation, and I know that each individual and family has different financial resources. If you have the ability to help us in any way, no matter how small or large the gift, we will be extremely grateful. This is God’s house and we want to make sure we are the very best stewards of what has been entrusted into our care. We are the stewards now of this magnificent property in downtown Naples because of the faithfulness of generations who came before us. What will we offer to the next generation of worshippers here at First Church?  Do you want to be part of making a generational difference? Please contact Scott, Tom Bach, our Chair of Finance, or myself if you have any questions. 

Love in Christ

Sara

Starting October 13, 2024, Scott and I will begin leading a 5-week sermon series entitled Wesleyan Rooted, which will explore the roots of our Wesleyan Theology. This is a series the Bishop has asked every church in the conference to lead before year end. I had the privilege of leading the task force for the Conference that developed this sermon series. I had a marvelous team of folks to work with and we developed a plethora of resources that are available on the wesleyanrooted.org website. You are welcome to explore all these resources if you’d like to go deeper in your own studies of Wesleyan Theology.

We invite you to join us for a special online Conference-wide study of the book Upward! by Paul Chilcote and Steve Harper. Together, we will explore what it means to be Wesleyan Rooted as we delve into the theology, practices, habits, and attitudes that characterize the people called Methodist.

• Dates: Saturdays, October 5 through November 23

• Time: 8:30 - 10 a.m. via Zoom

• Our text: Upward! Wesleyan Formation in Three Movements

To preview the study or register click the button below:

OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO CUBA

Join Rev. Brian Brightly, the SW District’s new Coordinator for our sister churches in Cuba, as he embarks on a trip hosted by OE Travel and witness “First Century Christianity”…experience the love of the Cuban people, November 13 - 19.   Brian Brightly has served many years in the SW District, and after announcing his 4th retirement, he will continue to devote his time to the Mission Churches of Cuba. For the first time in 10 years, Bishop Pierra is coordinating the trip, and Pastor Brian is prayerfully asking you to consider this mission journey. In addition, funds from our sister churches will be delivered directly to Pepe, the DS, who is pastoring 55 churches, including our sister churches in the region of Mayari. Attached is the itinerary and contact information. Be sure to click on this link below to read about the exciting opportunities of exploring Cuba!

Click here for the itinerary and deposit schedule

This Sunday we will receive our Fifth Sunday offering for Residing Hope, formerly known as the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. Your support makes such a difference in the lives of children. For more information about Residing Hope, click here.

Are there any Gator fans amongst us?

Gator Wesley Foundation

On October 4-6, 2024, Gator Wesley will be celebrating 100 years of ministry to college students and the Gainesville community! We hope you will join us!



REGISTER BELOW

Welcome back to our AA friends who will be meeting on our campus on Thursday evenings at 7pm in Barton Hall and Saturday evenings at 7pm in the Parlor. We are so glad to have our community sharing our facility! Welcome home, AA Friends!

Learning is fun at Methodist Day School!

Toddler Classroom: In Ms. Evie's class they are still exploring all about vegetables. They had fun playing with play dough to work on their fine motor skills.  

Two Year Class: This week has been all about apples. The children have been doing apple art using their feet and fingers. They loved it! They are excited to do some apple tasting on Friday. Which apple do they like best, the red, yellow or green apples? They had fun playing a shape matching game during circle time this week.  

Three Year Class: D Week. The children had fun making donuts and doing sensory play in class this week. They are even going to get to taste some donuts on Friday. They love Dd week! 

VPK Class: In music this week the children loved doing music with rhythm sticks. They really enjoyed painting pumpkins with their friends. The letter of the week is Rr. The class did well with their phonics work and writing the letter Rr. 

Tell Your Friends and Neighbors

about our MDS Preschool!



The school year has just begun but we are still enrolling for the 2024/2025 school year for toddler, 2 year, 3 year, and VPK. We are the earliest established preschool in Naples and have some of the best teachers in Naples who nurture and care for these children. All our children tested above Kindergarten level when they graduated from VPK last year!

Contact Director Alicia Silvin 239-262-1152 mdsofnaples@gmail.com

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 alway 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

• Jeff Currier (member)
• Arthea Brimmer (member)
• Bruce & Pam McDonnell (members)
• Bill & Judy Barnard (friend's of Eileen Hung)
• Jean Humphries (member)
• Gail Svensson (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• John Schloendorn (Church electrician and friend)
• Michael DiGaetono (friend of John Riccio)
• Ina Gassett (friend of Norine Tempelman)
• Dick Evans (member)
• Joan & Dick White (friends of Judy Margrey)
• Jen Wolf
• Bob Davidson (friend of Al Johnson)
• Jill Loveday (family of Susanne Edson)
• 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.

Previous Worship Services



If you would like to watch any of our previous worship services click on the link below to access our YouTube channel.

Altar Flower Ministry

This week's altar flowers are dedicated by Martha and Ed Clark in honor of her sister, Patricia Foxwell.



Every week, you have the opportunity to 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.

Bible Study

Wednesdays at 10:30

If you are interested in facilitating a study, please let Pastors Sara or Scott know.

Stay tuned for the start of the next Bible study dates.

We Packed 480,000 Meals!!

We’re Helping to Feed Hungry People

in our Community

Congratulations to everyone who has helped pack food in our meal-packing program! 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. Help us to be Jesus’ hands and feet in the world and show the love of Christ to others by participating:

1. Bring in non-perishable 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. (Please be sure to check the expiration date before donating items.)
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 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

Make online donations by clicking the link below: