Rev. Craig Goodrich,

Senior Pastor,

It is hard for me to believe that it is May already! The Naples Season has wound down and we have said farewell to many of you who have headed back to the northland. We hope you will stay in touch with us through our online worship and other communications. And though it is May, the Easter Season continues until Pentecost which this year is Sunday, May 28.

Looking back over April there is so much for which to be thankful. Holy Week and Easter Sunday with meaningful worship and the glorious HallelujahChorussung by our marvelous choir, and Brice once again playing the magnificent Widor Toccata. Our fellowship groups continued to meet. We celebrated Earth Care Sunday and TheSaintJohn’sBible, and launched our “Narthex Renovation and Summer Projects Campaign” (see page 4). And we welcomed some wonderful folks into membership (see page 15).

And looking ahead to May: We return to one worship service at 9:30 a.m. beginning on Sunday, May 7. Also, on that Sunday we will recognize and give thanks for four of our staff who will celebrate five years of faithful service this year. They are Lisa Ethier, Custodian; Eduardo Martinez, Maintenance; Nancy Van Fleet, Director of Children and Youth; and the Reverend Rex Childs, Associate Pastor.

Then on the Sundays that follow we will celebrate Mothers’ Day (May 14), Ascension Sunday (May 21) and finally Pentecost (May 28) on which the Holy Spirit descends and empowers those first disciples.

Sometimes I think the Holy Spirit is the forgotten person of the Trinity. So maybe a good reminder for us this month is to recall the inspiring words from TheBriefStatementofFaithwhich we often say together in worship:

“We trust in God the Holy Spirit everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, and sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ the Church….In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit we seek to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live joyful and holy lives….With believers in every time and place we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I hope you will read this edition of the Outreachcover to cover. And as you do, remember that wherever you are and wherever you may go, you are a beloved child of God called to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And yes, empowered by the Spirit.

That’s why we are here.

Blessings and peace to you and yours.

Faithfully and Gratefully,

May 7

Staff Recognition

Rev. Rex Childs

May 14

Mother’s Day

Rev. Craig Goodrich

“

Mothers in the Faith”

May 21

Ascension Sunday

Rev. Craig Goodrich

“

A Fond Farewell”

May 28

Pentecost

Rev. Craig Goodrich

“

Empowered by the Spirit”