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Dear Friends,
An old sermon illustration, familiar to many pastors, tells the story of an elderly gentleman known for his faithful attendance at worship in his local church. Year after year, he never failed to show up, always sitting in the last pew of the small sanctuary. What made his presence so unusual was that he was completely deaf. He could not hear a single word of the morning sermon.
The old man communicated through simple gestures and occasional handwritten notes. Church members often wondered why he continued to attend services. Finally, a fellow church member wrote him a note asking, “Why do you come to church when you cannot hear the preacher speaking, the choir singing, or participate in conversations with church members?” The old man slowly sounded out his answer, “I come to church because I want the world to know whose side I'm on.”
I love this story because of the deep devotion it expresses. His presence was his testimony to the congregation that he loved the Lord he served. It spoke of his appreciation for the pastor’s efforts, the joy of the choir, the beauty of the church, and the providence of God’s grace in his life. All were worthy of his time and gratitude, and being seated in that church was his “silent” declaration of faith.
I hope this story encourages you as we look ahead to worship together this Sunday!
Pastor Jim
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Caregivers Support Group
Marking 10 Years at NUCC!
| | The Caregiver’s Support Group meets every other Friday year-round to support those caring for loved ones. Whether you’re a caregiver, a past or future one, or seeking resources, all are welcome. Church membership is not required, and discussions remain private. For more info, contact Joan Millon at joanmillon6@gmail.com. | | This Sunday at Naples UCC | | |
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Rev. Jim Moseley
“Simeon Shouts”
Luke 2: 22-35
| | Informational Meet & Greet | January 11, 10:00 AM | N-104 | A time for visitors to learn, ask questions, and meet our ministers. The Meet & Greet takes place following the 9:00 a.m service in Nelson Hall, room 104. Enjoy refreshments. Walk-ins are welcome! | 30 Good Minutes - Jack Pope | January 11, 10:15 AM | McSpadden Hall | Jack Pope, former President of United Airlines, currently lead director of the Kraft Heinz Company and longtime CEO of PFI Group, will share his business experiences in an interview with John Bachman. Join us in McSpadden Hall this Sunday between services at 10:15 a.m. | January 13 at 1 PM | N-207 | |
Explore one of the most notable non-fiction books of 2025, Abundance, by Klein and Thompson with Candy Nordland and Kevin Barry. Lauded by the Financial Times, Kirkus, Barnes & Noble, NYT, Bloomberg, and NPR, this book explores ways to solve major issues of the day by implementing an abundance rather than a scarcity agenda.
Classes will include:
1/13: Introduction and Ch.1-Grow
1/20: Ch.2-Build, Ch.3-Govern, Ch.4-Invent
1/27: Ch.5-Deploy and Conclusion
Participants are encouraged to attend the COPE role playing
poverty experience at Naples UCC on January 30.
| January 14 at 8:30 AM | Pelican Bay South Berm | |
Join members and friends for fellowship, prayer and walking in nature. The Walk and Wonder group eagerly welcomes family members, friends and newcomers to the NUCC community. On Wednesday, January 14 enjoy a walk along the Pelican Bay Berm beginning at the Naples Grande to the Butterfly Garden near the Commons Tram station. Meet in the church parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Anticipate our return to church by 10:00 a.m. Contact Merrill Noble at mwnoble56@gmail.com if you have questions or plan to attend for the first time. | Bible Study with Pastor Mark | |
January 14
9 AM in N-207 | 1 PM in N-207
| Join Pastor Mark for a 7-week Bible Study on the Seven Signs in John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss this interesting study discussing the several different miraculous events or “signs” that Jesus performs. Please bring your favorite Bible and an open mind. We will study John 4:46-54 “Healing the Official’s Son.” | January 14, 10:30 AM | N-101 | Men’s New Chapters meets regularly on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. throughout the season. The group is reviewing a book titled, Miracles and Wonder, the Historical Mystery of Jesus by Elaine Pagels. All men are welcome! Contact Rich Kirschner for details or the zoom link if you are unable to attend in person at rdkirschner@gmail.com. | Pastor Mark’s Book Review | January 15 at 9 AM | N-104 | Join Pastor Mark for a book discussion in advance of our guest speaker. He will be reviewing Wayfaring: A Christian Approach to Mental Health Care by Dr. Warren Kinghorn. | |
January 15 at 1 PM | N-101 | |
Join us for the second week of the January series of “Women’s Stories,” formerly Women Engage. This 3-week session is guided by Amy Griffin’s story as told through her book, The Tell (2025), an article in Vogue magazine, “Life Was ‘Perfect’—So Why Was I All Twisted Up Inside?” (February 19, 2025), an Oprah Book Club interview (March 11, 2025) and a Kate Bowler podcast.
All of the resources present Amy’s experience in different formats. Choose the format(s) that work best for you or join us to enjoy the discussion and fellowship. Links to the resources will be included in this week’s e-blast. The resources will guide each weekly discussion, but the conversation will follow the group’s interests and comments. This is a unique opportunity to connect with other women in our church community and gather to listen and engage through shared experiences.
For those who can’t attend in person, Zoom is also available:
Meeting ID: 818 8934 7686 | Passcode: women
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January 15 at 1 PM | Parlor | Join members and friends for an eight week Grief Group starting January 15 at 1 p.m. This group, facilitated by Pastor Jim Moseley and our Stephen Ministers, offers confidential, mutual support to anyone grieving a loved one. No matter when your loss occurred, you are welcome to join. Participants are encouraged to commit to the full eight weeks and register in advance. Sign up in the Gathering Place. Please contact Leigh Hindman for more information and to register at (239)-290-9936 or Ldavis1239@yahoo.com. | Preparing for 2026 Voting | January 15 at 3:30 PM | Beverly Hall | The Naples UCC Justice Committee is sponsoring a presentation by Melissa Blazier, Supervisor of Elections for Collier County. She will present the changes that have taken place in voting laws. During the session, she will explain recent revisions to the laws, including mail-in voting for all elections in 2026, so we can be better prepared to cast our votes. A Q&A will follow her presentation. | January 17, 2 PM | Beverly Hall | Join renowned vocalist and iconic jazz virtuoso Stephanie Nakasian for a jazz and rhythm masterclass. This session is open to singers and instrumentalists. Please bring your own music to perform. An accompanist will be provided. The cost is $50 per person. Enroll today by clicking the button below. | |
SPLASH! Meets weekly on Wednesdays. As we welcome arriving families, snacks will be available in Nelson Hall from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for those interested. Our program time will be between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Join us for faith-filled activities, music, games, and snacks with Ms. Jeanne.
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Sundays —We are so happy to have families with young children in our midst! Regular Sunday morning activities for children 4 years and older take place during the 9:00 a.m. worship service. Children are encouraged to come forward for the Children’s Message, then go to Sunday School with Ms. Jeanne. Coloring activities and worship resources are available on the family table in the Narthex. Please reach out to the church office if you have any questions or would like more information about upcoming events.
Nursery Care – Nursery care for infants through 4 years old is available each Sunday morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Nelson Hall, room 203.
Time for Children – Early in the worship service, children are invited forward for a special message designed to connect the theme of worship to their lives in an age-appropriate way. Afterward, children Pre-K through 5th Grade are invited to attend Sunday School with Ms. Jeanne for engaging lessons and activities in Nelson Hall, Room 202. All children are welcome whether visitors or members.
Youth Sunday School – Students 6-12th grade are invited to meet each Sunday morning at 10:15 a.m. in Nelson Hall room 200 for our Sunday morning gathering. Come enjoy fellowship time with friends as we explore discipleship and what it means to follow Jesus today.
The Watts family is very thankful for the continued prayers and loving support for their daughter, Anwyn, who is enduring a major medical challenge. If you would like to send Anwyn a card or a note of encouragement, you may mail it to:
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
3100 SW 62nd Ave
Miami, FL 33155
Room #3008 PICU
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Sunday, January 18, 2026
Mental Health Sunday
Stewardship Sunday
Rev. Dr. Mark Williams
“Eat Dessert”
2 Corinthians 9:7
| The Bargain Box Needs Your Help! | |
Join us for our monthly focus drive on January 18 at 9 and 11 a.m. Naples UCC will collect donations before each service. For January 18, we are collecting high-end boutique purses. Please bring your donations to the drop-off table in the Portico. As our season ramps up, we’re grateful for your generous donations and we could use your help!
Join the team!
We are especially in need of cashiers, along with volunteers on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays to:
•Load and deliver donated items to The Bargain Box
•Assist with lifting, organizing, and transporting donations
If you are available to help on Tuesdays or Saturdays, please contact George at george@bargainboxnaples.com for more information. Your time and effort play a vital role in keeping the store running smoothly and ensuring donations reach those who need them most. Whether you’re available for a few hours or can help on a regular basis, your willingness to lend a hand makes a meaningful difference. If you have a few hours to spare and a willing heart,
we would truly love to have you join our team!
| Featured Scholar - Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD | |
January 18
10:15 AM | 30 Good Minutes, McSpadden Hall
3 PM | Wayfaring: A Christian Approach to Mental Health Care, McSpadden Hall
| Join us on Mental Health Sunday for an inspiring guest. Dr. Warren Kinghorn is a nationally renowned scholar whose work centers on the role of religious communities in caring for people with mental health challenges. Jointly appointed to the faculties of Duke Divinity School and the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Sciences of Duke University Medical Center, he is co-director of the Theology, Medicine, and Culture initiative at Duke Divinity School and practices psychiatry at the Durham VA Medical Center. Dr. Kinghorn will participate in 30 Good Minutes with Pastor Mark and later that afternoon will share an enlightening lecture. | January 20 at 1 PM | Parlor | Please join us in the parlor as we faithfully knit and crochet beautiful prayer shawls and lap blankets for those who need a warm hug from God. Lessons & supplies are available or bring your own project to work on. Everyone is welcome to participate in this caring ministry. Contact Janet Goodhart at (610) 420-7196 for additional info. | | Challenge your mind, one tile at a time. Mahjong is the perfect blend of fun and focus. Join us for Mahjong on Mondays from 1 - 3 p.m. in Nelson Hall. Free, and all are always welcome! | | Burrowing Owls, a Threatened Species | | January 20 at 4 PM | N-207 | | Burrowing owls in Florida are a threatened species, especially in Southwest Florida. This slide presentation will include long term data and a background on the increasing threats they are facing in a growing urban environment. It will also include information on starter burrows providing supplemental habitat in front yards of willing Collier County homeowners. Whether or not we can sustain a population moving forward relies a lot on citizens involvement. Join to hear how Brittany Piersma, an Audubon Western Everglades Field Biologist, manages their Shorebirds Stewardship, Burrowing Owls, and the Gopher Tortoise programs. | | |
Tuesdays at Twilight: Mark Teplitsky &
Dr. Alexandra Carlson
| | January 20 at 7 PM | Beverly Hall | | Join us for the season opener of the 2026 Tuesday at Twilight Concert Series. This first concert features Mark Teplitsky on flute playing with Dr. Alexandra Carlson on piano. The performance will feature - Sonata Op. 9 by Prokofiev. Please stay for a reception following the performance in the Gathering Place with light hors d’oeuvres and drinks and mingle with the performers. If you register for all 3 concerts this season, you will be invited to an additional concert! Please call the church office or click the button below to purchase tickets for this captivating performance. | |
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A Festival of Light:
Featuring Barbara Brown Taylor
| January 21, at 5 PM | First Presbyterian Church of Naples | |
Join members and friends for a Festival of Light at First Presbyterian Church
of Naples. The festival will feature New York Times bestselling author Barbara
Brown Taylor. The evening begins with dinner, followed by a candlelight twilight organ concert, and concludes with Barbara’s inspiring talk on "The Coming of the Light." The event will also include an audience Q&A and a book signing. Please call the church office for additional details.
| Pastor Mark's Book Review | | January 22, at 9 AM | N-104 | | |
Join Pastor Mark Williams for a book discussion in advance of our guest speaker, Rev. Dr. John Ross. Pastor Mark will be reviewing, Illuminating the Word: The Making of the Saint John’s Bible by Christopher Calderhead.
Rev. Dr. John Ross will be a guest preacher at Naples UCC worship services on January 25 and will also host a lecture to discuss the St. John’s Bible experience. This review will introduce us to the book and move us
deeper in our faith.
| | Aging Well Series: Dr. Rebecca Elon | | January 22 at 4 PM | McSpadden Hall | Please join us for a lecture on January 22 for Dr. Rebecca Elon's reflections on growing old in America. She will share her perspective of aging as an ecological process and an alternative pathway to thinking about successful aging. By integrating medicine, literature and personal narrative, Dr. Elon challenges us to create together a counter-cultural subculture of successful aging based on love, hope, joy and community. Please call the church office or click the button below to register for the event! | | |
Distinguished Speaker:
Rev. Dr. John Ross
| January 25 at 3 PM | McSpadden Hall | Rev. Dr. John Ross, Executive Director of the St. John’s Bible Heritage Program will share a lecture with Naples UCC titled, “The Saint John’s Bible: An EPIC Experience.” The lecture begins at 3 p.m. and will bring us into the intersection of scripture, art, and history in a way that will surely fascinate! | | |
January 30 at 9:30 AM - 12 PM, Followed by Lunch
McSpadden Hall
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The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) is a nationally-recognized workshop where participants can experience firsthand what it means to be poor in Collier County through the eyes of real families. Sponsored by the Board of Mission and Outreach and the Justice Committee, we invite all church members to join us for this exciting, interactive workshop. To learn more visit https://thinktank-inc.org/cope. “For the first time in your life, you may have a real inkling of what living a life of scarcity is like. The COPE workshop was a real eye opener for me,” stated Candy Norland, NUCC member and former COPE participant. Space is limited to 40 people, so please register by calling the church office or click the button below.
Building on the themes of the COPE experience, please join us on February 5 at 10 a.m. in N-207 for a lively discussion about what it means for us as a church to respond to the needs of the poor. Whether or not you participated in the COPE workshop, all are welcome to join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities to minister to the least of these in our community.
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| 2026 Giving Envelopes are here! This year if you would like personalized giving envelopes with your giving number, they will be available by request. Please reach out to Janine at janine@naplesucc.org or call the church office at 239-261-5469. You’re also welcome to stop by the Gathering Place to request them in person. If this is your first time requesting them, we’d be happy to assign you a number. Thank you for your generous giving! | | |
To view all our upcoming events and ways to connect,
visit our online calendar here.
| | 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
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