Leadership Update:

Following a nomination last week by the Nominating Committee, the Executive Committee voted this week to appoint Kathy Book as the new NUCC Vice Moderator, effective immediately. Kathy will be a wonderful addition to the leadership team and has already begun to attend meetings and learn this important role. Kathy had held positions as co-chair of Stephen Ministry and as chair of Pastor Mark’s Pastor Relations Team. In light of her new appointment, she has turned over the chairing of Stephen Ministry to her co-chair, Molly Baker, and has resigned as a member of Pastor Mark’s Pastor Relations Team. Bob Brown, a current member of that team, has accepted the position as new chair. Many thanks to Kathy for accepting this new role and to Molly and Bob for stepping in to lead as Kathy focuses on the Vice Moderator role. Following her passion for Stephen Ministry, Kathy will still be very involved with that group.

In other leadership news, the Executive Committee has also appointed Roger Nolan as the new chair of the Stewardship Committee, effective immediately. Roger was recommended for this role by the Nominating Committee and has begun working on next season’s campaign. We are all very grateful to Roger for accepting this critical position and to Candy and Bob Nordland for leading the Stewardship Committee so ably for the last several years.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, I am happy to hear from you. My email is maryleeturk@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Mary Lee Turk

Moderator

Worship Service at 9 AM & 11 AM

Thanksgiving Sunday | Sunday, November 24, 2024

Join us on Sunday as Rev. Dr. Mark Williams will be preaching his sermon titled A Higher Hope, based on Psalm 8

Join in person or online!

Our church office will be closed on Thursday,

November 28 and Friday, November 29 in

celebration of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

On Sunday, November 24th from 10:15 to 10:45 in Nelson 207, join Senior Minister Mark Williams and Executive Director Brad Van Houten for a special 30 Good Minutes presentation that will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the awesome new Naples UCC website! If you are planning to attend the 11 AM worship service, come early at 10:15 to hear the presentation!

Monday, November 25, 6:30 PM arrival, Youth Haven

Join NUCC volunteers in creating a memorable evening while interacting with Youth Haven kids. On Monday from 7 - 8 PM; please arrive at 6:30 PM. Run children’s games with Youth Haven kids. Sign up in the Gathering Place on Sunday or contact Michele Carney, at mcarney@shcmg.com. It’s not too early to register for our next Game Night! Join us on Monday, December 9th! (Youth Haven, 5867 Whitaker Rd, Naples, FL)

Youth Haven Game Night

Harry Chapin Food Bank Packing

Habitat for Humanity Build Day

Grace Place Food Pantry

The Board of Missions and Outreach is excited to support a second refugee family. The family of five is from Honduras. They arrived in mid-October and live in Ft. Myers where public transportation is not adequate. For the 3 adults to be employed and become independent, they need transportation. If you have a car that you no longer drive and is in good working condition, please consider donating it to Lutheran Services of Florida for this Honduran family. This would be a tax deduction. Please contact Bob Nordland at 952-250-8279 or Barb Bachman at 515-988-4248 with any questions. We will formally introduce the family to the congregation in January. Thank you for your generosity!

Monday, November 25, 7 PM, ST. MONICA’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Join your NUCC clergy along with other clergy and congregations from greater Naples for this beautiful annual worship service. It is a time for us to gather, celebrate the diversity of faiths in our midst, and give thanks to God for all our blessings.

Our wonderful Angel Tree will be in the Narthex from November 17 through December 1. This year the gifts will go to babies and families who participate in the Baby Basics program here at NUCC, plus the teen parenting program at Immokalee and Collier County schools. Stop by and pick an Angel: it will have the name and age of a child as well as a gift suggestion. Gifts should be wrapped with the angel attached to the outside and returned to the church on or before Sunday, December 1. Donations will also be gratefully accepted (cash, check, or credit card) for grocery gift certificates. Please make checks to Naples United Church of Christ with memo: Angel Tree. Kindly contact our church office with any payment inquiries. Thank you in advance.

Continuing its 15th year, the NUCC Book Club is open to all NUCC members and friends. The Book Club will meet on Monday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. in person in N-104 and via Zoom. Our exciting read this month is Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. Recommended by Abigale Jones and Roxane Busey, this novel is an immersive tale about an elite woman who becomes a physician in spite of societal restrictions during China’s Ming Dynasty. Newcomers are always welcome, even if you haven’t read the book. (Zoom ID: 838 2027 0433 | Password: book)

When you come to worship on Sunday, you’ll note that the structurally unsound trellis and the adjacent landscaping in the Gathering Place has been removed in advance of our exciting campus paint project. Excuse our dust around Nelson Hall as we continue to make improvements to our beautiful campus!

Caregivers Support Group meets every other Friday year-round to provide support for those who are caring for a loved one. And we also welcome those who have been a caregiver or anticipate being one. We encourage you to bring a friend who might benefit. Church membership is not a requirement. All discussions are kept private within the group. For more information, please contact Joan Millon at joanmillon6@gmail.com. Join us Friday, December 13th at 2 PM in Nelson Hall, room 101.

Naples UCC Family,

Pastor Angela has done a series of three sessions on the importance of connections talked about in the literature, in our lives and at NUCC. An important part of this was to get the input from members as to how we might better help people connect at NUCC. To that end, Pastor Angela and Membership & Growth have developed a survey focused on the importance of connections and small groups. Please take a moment to complete this brief response form. Your opinions are important, and they help us plan our focus and content.

With appreciation and thanks,

Membership & Growth

All men are invited to be part of the weekly men’s ministry group here at NUCC. We will discuss Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell. A leading spiritual teacher, he reveals how Celtic spirituality—listening to the sacred around us and inside of us—can help us heal the earth, overcome our conflicts, and reconnect with ourselves. The group will meet on Wednesday, December 4th at 10:30 a.m. in Nelson Hall Room 101 and Zoom. The group is organized by Rich Kirschner. Please contact Rich Kirschner with any questions or for Zoom credentials. You do not need to read the book to participate!

Wednesdays at 3:30 pm | Nelson 203

SPLASH! and our Children & Youth Choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, December 4. Children can join Ms. Jeanne for fun, faith-filled activities, games, snacks, and music as they learn about our faith. The Children & Youth Choirs rehearse during this time from 4:15-5:00 p.m. with Dr. Becky in Beverly Hall. Pick-up for Seagate Elementary students is available. Splash is offered on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. We have participants arriving at different times from various schools in our community, so come at the time that works best for your schedule and hop right in!

Falls are one of the most common events threatening the independence of older adults. The NUCC Aging Well Task Force invites you to attend an important talk on “What causes falls and how to prevent them.” Naples United Church of Christ and the Alzheimer’s Support Network will co-sponsor a presentation on the topic of fall prevention by leading geriatrician Dr. Ronald T. Garry. Dr. Garry has studied falls for many years, and he will share his expertise on Thursday, December 5^th from 10:00 – 11:30. This will be a hybrid meeting. Dr. Garry will be speaking at 1421 Pine Ridge Road in Suite 100 at the Alzheimer’s Support Network and online via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2392628388. If you need help connecting by ZOOM, contact the Alzheimer’s Support Network by phone at 239-262-8388 or by email at Help@Support.Network. Everyone is welcome.

If you would like to contribute to a love offering for Pastor Angela as an expression of gratitude for her ministry at Naples UCC, gifts can be made to the "Pastor Angela Appreciation Fund." Checks should not be made out to NUCC, but rather to this fund. Checks can be mailed to the church office or placed in the offering plate any time prior to Sunday, January 5th, 2025. We all look forward to blessing Pastor Angela and her family with a goodbye gift! 

Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm | Sanctuary

Join us for a Christmas celebration of timeless classics. The whole family is invited for an afternoon of carols and fun. The concert will be followed by a special chili supper. A collection will be taken at this year’s Christmas Concert for refugee relief. Our Board of Mission and Outreach is preparing to sponsor another refugee family. Your generosity will allow us to help them get settled in their new home in the United States.

Sunday, December 8 | McSpadden

Please come enjoy a White Christmas Chicken Chili supper immediately following the Christmas concert on December 8. RSVP no later than Monday, December 2. You may sign up in the Gathering Place after each service or by calling the office at (239)261-5469. The dinner is free for all who wish to attend. There will be offering baskets on each table to defray the costs of this special White Christmas Chicken Chili supper. We hope you remain in the Christmas spirit and enjoy a supper with members of your church family. 

Merry Christmas!

Centering Prayer will be on Monday at 4 PM the Parlor.

Beginners and pros alike, join us for Mahjong on Mondays from 1 to 3 PM in Nelson Hall, room 101. Totally for free!

Join us next Sunday for Holy Communion

and our Cans for Communion Collection

Sunday, December 1 • 9 & 11 AM

Rev. Angela Wells-Bean will be preaching.

Special guest musicians

Askar Salimdjanov, violin

Joy Yanai, cello

and Pamela Jimenez, soloist



To view all our upcoming events and ways to connect,

visit our online calendar here.

The Bargain Box will hold a special focused donation drive on Sunday, December 1. We are looking for loved Ugly Christmas sweaters. It is the most requested item in December. We will take nice ones too! A table will be set up under the portico and donations should be dropped off before and after both services. You may reach out to our Bargain Box manager, Sandy Goldstein, at (239)262-3802 if you have any questions. Thank you for your support of the Bargain Box!

The Bargain Box is currently offering cashier training every Friday from 9 to 11 AM. Come on board and receive 50% off on all merchandise (excluding furniture). To schedule a training session call the Bargain Box and ask for Sandy, the store manager at (239)262-3802.

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday



Mission Statement: To love God and all our neighbors as God loves us.

Open and Affirming • Mission-Driven • Powerful Worship • Continuing Generosity

Caring Ministry• Hospitable Fellowship