Outreach Newsletter December 2015

T h e F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h o f N a p l e s

December 2015

IN THIS ISSUE Rev. Craig Goodrich

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Music Finance

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Presbyterian Women

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Missions

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Congregational Care Calendar

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Preschool Children & Youth News & Events

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Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor/Head of Staff Dear members and friends of First Presbyterian Church of Naples:

As we head into the season of Advent followed by Christmas, there is much happening in the life of our congregation that is and will be exciting and inspiring, including wonderful musical offerings, youth activities and mission opportunities all of which are described in this issue of the Outreach.

There will be a “Seekers and Joiners” class after worship on December 6 for those interested in learning about membership here at FPC Naples. Did you know you can become an “affiliate” member here and still keep your membership at your “home” church?

craigg@fpcnaples.org

where we are and what we hope for as a congregation.

I will be preaching a sermon series in Advent concluding with Christmas Eve. The title of the series is “A Season of Light” and sermons will be: Sunday, November 29: “The Light of Hope” Sunday, December 6: “The Light of Peace” Sunday, December 13: “The Light of Joy” Sunday, December 20: “The Light of Love” Thursday, December 24: “The Light of the World” (at 7 p.m.)

I hope that you will come to all the worship services and invite your family and friends.

May hope, peace, joy and love be yours in this Season of Light.

Please note the Finance Committee Report

by Chair Richard Green. We continue to Faithfully Yours, encourage year end giving as part of our Craig Christian discipleship and to help decrease our deficit. Our pledge campaign for 2016 will be in January and February and you will be hearing more about that in the New Year. But I hope that you will be considering and praying now about what your 2016 pledge will be. The theme of the campaign, chaired by Duncan Connell, is “Courageous Generosity: A Time for Renewal.” I think that describes very well

Music

Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries, briceg@fpcnaples.org

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A Service of Lessons and Carols with the

Chancel Choir

Sunday, December 6, 2015 4:00 p.m.

Experience the hope and joy of rediscovering the miracle and wonder of Christmas as told through beautiful and cherished music of the season. This special worship service, made popular

by Kings College Cambridge, has become a tradition at First Presbyterian Church.

Our Chancel Choir will sing many favorite Christmas anthems including the Birthday Carol by Sir David Willcocks, Sans Day Carol by John Rutter, Mid-Winter by Bob Chilcott and the Ave Maria by Franz Biebl.

Sing some of your favorite traditional carols such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, and many others.

Come and remember the reason for the season. Mark your calendar for this yuletide afternoon.

Prepare for Christmas in a relaxing and spiritual way.

There is no charge for the concert. A free will offering will be taken.

Reception to follow in Spencer Hall.

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Music Finance

Richard Green, Finance Committee Chair, rgreen@cbcworldwide.com

Finance year to date report As Chairman, I want to say a large thanks to the finance committee members.

As they say there is good news and some, not so good.

Our new Pastor, Rev. Craig Goodrich, has arrived and is very welcome. We feel this will begin to help stabilize our financial picture. Attendance is growing and attendance is above last year for the past 3 months.

The sale of the excess parking lot was successful.

Major improvements to the church that are to be done and paid for from the sale of the property are: New carpet for the Sanctuary and Spencer Hall to be done after Christmas.

Our 10 year old video equipment will be replaced with new high definition video equipment.

Many air conditioners have or will be replaced.

A capital reserve account has been set up for future needs and will be budgeted for each year as required.

Our financial picture needs to improve. We have budgeted and run deficits for the last 3 years and we had to pull from the endowment fund almost $900,000 to cover these deficits. We have cut and are continuing to cut operating expenses but it is our giving that is falling short.

Financial statement as of September 2015.

Offerings Income Other Income Preschool Income Total Income Expense Operating gain/ (loss)

Actual $641,678 $34,870 $253,201 $929,749 $1,157,962 ($233,268)

Budget $730,015 $38,034 $242,585 $1,011,106 $1,204,854 ($193,748)

Compared to Budget ($88,337) ($3,164) $10,616 ($81,357) ($46,892)

By year end we will have a loss of about $300,000 plus.

In the future, we hope to eliminate the need to rely on Reserves to fund operations. If you are in a position to make a year-end gift to help with this year’s deficit, we would very much appreciate it.

Our “Courageous Generosity” campaign will soon be underway – with emphasis in January/February. We hope that you will make a pledge and also increase your giving.

One of the Endowment committee ideas for year-end giving and tax planning is to consider giving a gift of highly appreciated stock to the church as we approach the end of the year. Consult your tax advisor for details.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, you may contact Fred Garner 239.434.2438 or Linda Gadkowski at lgadkows@capecod.net.

Richard Green Finance Committee Chair

Music Finance

Richard Green, Finance Committee Chair, rgreen@cbcworldwide.com

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YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS PLEASE NOTE: All 2015 contributions MUST be either postmarked by December 31, 2015, received in the church office by 12 p.m. or processed online

by December 31, 2015 in order to claim a charitable contribution deduction for 2015. As we approach the end of 2015, persons who make year end contributions might want to consider donations of stock. Please contact Sharman Pfaus at 239.262.1311 ext. 236 or sharmanp@fpcnaples.org if you wish to make a stock donation.

What is Alternative Giving?

Alternative giving, virtual giving or graceful giving is a form of gift giving that has a symbolic value to the recipient and benefits a meaningful cause at the same time. The gift giver makes a donation on the gift recipient’s behalf, rather than giving them an item. In 1916, Lily Hardy Hammond wrote, "You don't pay love back; you pay it forward.”

Have your children often wondered what to give you for a Christmas gift? Have you said many times, “I don’t need a thing?” Church member, Ed Wilson, answered his children by giving them a wonderful and thoughtful response…“I want you to make a donation to my church!”

Why not give your children the same response?

Gifts can easily be made to the church in honor of a loved one. The gift is a tax deduction for the gift giver and warms the heart of the recipient. The church will send the recipient a card informing them that a gift has been made to the church in their honor and a letter is sent to the giver for tax records. All donations will be deposited to the General Fund of FPCN.

Endowment Committee It’s been a pretty good year for stock investors. Consider giving a gift of highly appreciated stock to First Presbyterian Church of Naples.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help First Presbyterian Church of Naples, please contact Endowment Committee members Linda Gadkowski at 239.775.9901 or Fred Garner at 239.434.2438.

Remember please, these thoughts are general in nature and are not meant to be specific as to your personal situation or to take the place of your professional advisors.

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Presbyterian Women

Ann Goodnight, PW Moderator, flgoodnight@aol.com

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S GATHERING The December Women’s Gathering will be held on Wednesday, December 2 and features a concert by Brice Gerlach and Michele Byrd. They always delight us with their musical talents in presenting a heartfelt program.

Menu: Appetizers and punch will be served prior to the concert. Lunch will be pork tenderloin, oven roasted potatoes, carrots & green beans, ice cream and cookies. Faith/Joy Circle will be the hostesses.

CIRCLE MEETINGS The third week of the month is Circle meeting week. Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16.

LOOKING FORWARD January 13— Women’s Gathering will take place at noon in Spencer Hall. The program will be our own Betsy Grant, who will demonstrate flower arranging and three lucky guests will go home with an arrangement. Menu: Egg bake, broccoli, gelatin salad, cake with strawberries.

Reservations ($7) will be available in Spencer Hall on Sunday, January 3 and January 10.

Betty Mangos, Mission Committee Chair, cmangosdds@comcast.net

Missions

Feed the 5,000 Luke 9:10-17

Youth Haven receives the food we gather this month. Our donations help to make it possible for Youth Haven to serve more than 2,400 children and family members as shelter, counseling, food, and caring is provided to those in need.

Wish List: 2 cans of meat, fish or chicken 2 cans of vegetables rice pasta and pasta sauce peanut butter and/or jelly breakfast foods applesauce, canned fruit or fruit cups PLEASE—no open packages or out of date food.

Ushers will have a Publix bag with a list of desired food items available as you leave the Sanctuary on the first Sunday of the month. Please bring your food to the Sixth Street church entrance before the service on the second Sunday.

If you prefer, checks may be made payable to "First Presbyterian Church" with the memo marked "Feed the 5,000."

The Angel Tree A Christmas Tradition Each year we decorate a tree in Spencer Hall with tags that have names of migrant farm workers’ children. If you would like to purchase a gift for a needy child, please take a tag from the tree.

Write your name and phone number on the sticker and leave it with the mission volunteer at the tree.

Gifts should have an approximate value of $20.

Some gift ideas are learning toys, board games, puzzles, balls, craft kits, and roller skates.

Please wrap the gift securely and put the tag with the child's name on it. Please return the wrapped gift by Sunday, December 13.

Missions

Betty Mangos, Mission Committee Chair, cmangosdds@comcast.net

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A lot has happened this last month. We are blessed and enriched through all of the projects and good works we participated in, including the lecture by Bob Goff (author of “Love Does”) at Moorings PC.

The Angel Tree will be available on Sunday, November 29. Take a tag with a child’s name and buy a Christmas gift. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Below are pictures from the Peace River Presbytery event on World Missions. The guest speaker was Dr. Hunter Farrell who, along with Elizabeth Little, gave us a wonderful insight of how our money and efforts help support missions throughout the world.

If there is any way that you would like to participate in the missions of our church, call me at 239.254.9883 or the church. We have activities planned and a fund where you can give.

Betty Mangos This month we have bell ringers for Salvation Army Missions Committee Chair at both doors of Publix, Neapolitan Way. What a wonderful outreach for our church and a gift to the Salvation Army. We had our cute Santa's again signing us up--thank you Pat Warner and Ed Wilson.

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Congregational Care

We might think of asking for a Stephen Minister as weakness, but isn't seeking someone to Are you or someone you know journey with you as you deal with a challenge homebound, feeling lonely or in really a proactive step? We might think our need of a friend? Well maybe a challenge isn't serious enough to warrant asking visit from a member of the Care Visitation for a Stephen Minister. But if our equilibrium is Committee is the answer. disrupted, leaving us "treading water" rather Members of this committee love to visit people, send than moving ahead, isn't that serious enough? cards, and talk on the phone. We all like to be We might think it would leave us feeling remembered by members of the church. indebted. But people who train to be Stephen Please let Shirley Hagerson, Congregational Care Ministers may have felt the effectiveness of Elder (239.596.3125), Carolyn Bennett, Care someone sharing their challenges and thus wish Committee Chair (239.213.0048), or Sharman Pfaus, to "pay it forward". Additionally, they probably Executive Office Manager (239.262.1311) know have had some moments that God's close how we can help. presence strengthened their faith and made them ready to reach out to others in faith.

Also, if you would like to know more about being a member of the care giving group please let us know.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

So, if at some time you think having a compassionate Christian friend to provide confidential emotional and spiritual support might be a good idea, why not give the program a try? A Stephen Minister leader will talk with you in confidence to learn what is hurting you.

The leader will then select one of your church's Stephen Ministers to offer support by visiting with you weekly to share in your challenge.

You and your caregiver will seek to divide the sorrows and multiply the joys in your life.

Life certainly is a mixture of joys and challenges.

We rejoice in each other's joys and seek ways to support each other during challenges. So with faith, family, and friends, why is there a role for Stephen Ministers?

Well, who can be that compassionate one -to-one listener when, for example, family is also involved in the stress, friends are "up north", or when the hurt currently stretches faith thin? Sometimes someone fresh to the situation can bring a pinch of peace, can hold your hand in faith, can listen while you think through your situation and options, can be present when others aren't emotionally or physically available.

In Memoriam Mary Burns November 6, 2015

Calendar

Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities, sandyp@fpcnaples.org

SUNDAY

MONDAY

December

6

7

8:30 & 10 a.m.

Communion Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 11 a.m. Seekers and Joiners Class 12 p.m.

Cumberland Church 4 p.m. Concert

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TUESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

2

3

4

5

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

9:30 a.m. Bible Facilitators 12 p.m. Huddle 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 5:30 p.m. First Friday/Parent’s Night Out

9 a.m. Hanging of the Greens

11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 2 p.m. HS Youth 4 p.m. Session

11 a.m. PW Coordinating Team 12 p.m.

PW Gathering 2 p.m. Congregational Dinner meeting 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal

8

9

10

11

12

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

9 a.m. Christian Ed. Committee 11 a.m. Preschool Christmas Rehearsal 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal

10 a.m. Sew & Sews 12 p.m. Huddle 4 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 6 p.m. Christmas Preschool Program 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet

location)

8 a.m. Facilities Committee 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 1 p.m. Worship & Music Committee 2 p.m. HS Youth 2:30 p.m. Mission Committee 6:30 p.m. Session/ Deacons Gathering

15 OUTREACH

16

17

18

8:30 & 10 a.m.

9 a.m. Angel Tree Worship gift organization 10 a.m. New Member Acceptance 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m.

Cumberland Church

DEADLINE 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

9 a.m. Angel Tree Gift delivery 9:30 Love & Friendship Circle 12 p.m. Sunshine Circle 1 p.m. Peace w/ Honor Circle 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal

12 p.m. Huddle 4 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet

20

24

25

21

SATURDAY

1

location)

14

WEDNESDAY

9

location)

9:30 a.m. Faith/Joy Circle 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 3 p.m. Finance Mtg. Youth Group Christmas Party 5:30 p.m. Deacon’s

22

23

8:30 & 10 a.m.

Preschool closed Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m.

Cumberland Church

Preschool closed 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

Preschool closed

27

28

29

30

31

Youth Ski Trip 8:30 & 10 a.m.

Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m.

Cumberland Church

Preschool closed Church office closed Youth Ski Trip

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

Preschool closed Youth Ski Trip 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal

Preschool closed 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

Christmas Eve Services

5 p.m.

Family worship

location)

7 p.m.

Candlelight worship

location)

Preschool closed Youth Ski Trip

Merry Christmas Church office closed

January 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Church office closed Preschool closed

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26 Youth Ski Trip 9 a.m. Cookie bakers

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Preschool

Ashley Houk, Preschool Director, ashleyh@fpcnaples.org

Another success! The Preschool held their annual Silent Auction during the Fall Festival at the end of October and I am happy to report that it was an overwhelming success. We received donations from our families and from community establishments as well. Each classroom asked for donations from families to create baskets and the parents went above and beyond and brought in many delightful, fun items. We had such a generous response by some of the classroom parents that we ended up splitting some baskets due to the amount of items we received.

responsible for creating all the bid sheets and the nice hand out that listed all of our fabulous donations. Of course, without the help and donations of the parents of the Preschool and the Preschool Committee, we wouldn’t have experienced the success that we did.

The Preschool was able to raise a little more than $6,700 from the Silent Auction. These funds will be used to provide student scholarships and financial assistance during the 2016-2017 school year. The Preschool Committee will also explore other options for the funding such as equipment and material needs (furniture, play materials, etc.).

The Parrot Bar & Grill

We ask that you consider supporting these entities that made donations to the Silent Auction in an effort to show your appreciation for their dedication to the students of First Presbyterian Preschool.

Port Royal Jewelers Bonita Bay Club Pampered Chef (Chris Calyore, Independent Consultant) Kiwi Spa Regina’s Ice Cream Pinchers Crab Shack Law Offices of Conrad Willkomm Burn Boot Camp Dolce & Salato

Food & Thought SWFL Player and Development Center Willis and Davidow, LLC Crystals by Candie, LLC Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue Naples on the Run Outback Steakhouse Gutters Unlimited Plus

We really appreciate the help and assistance that we received from all of those that extended a hand.

Kathleen Law was critical in getting the word out with publications regarding the event. Shana and Issac Dublan, Kymberly Dorsey and the youth were a huge help in setting up the tables and getting things ready for display. Chris Calyore volunteered her time to help put baskets together and actually helped during the Silent Auction. Liz Psota was

Children and Youth

Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries shanad@fpcnaples.org

Fall Festival Fun!

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Children and Youth

Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries shanad@fpcnaples.org

Middle and High School groups will come together for food and fun! All students are invited to the Christmas Party on December 15 following school. Meet in the youth room and bring a wrapped gift, no more than $20 please. We will have games and Christmas dinner.

Party ends at 6 p.m.

We will not be hosting a First Friday in January. Our normal schedule will resume on Friday, February 5 with the movie Gnomeo & Juliet. Registration forms will be available in January.

Would your child like to be a part of the Christmas Eve Family Worship Service?

We are currently looking for 7 children/youth to take part in a short Christmas play. There are both speaking and non-speaking roles.

Please contact Shana to sign up. Rehearsals will take place following youth group (twice) and after worship (once).

If you are interested in any of these events, either as a volunteer or participant, please contact Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries, at shanad@fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311 ext. 229.

News and Events

Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

A Night on Broadway!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this night a success!

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News and Events

Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

Prayer Shawl Ministry The prayer Shawl Ministry will be reconvening on January 5, 2016. Join them on Tuesday’s in the Youth Room at 9 a.m.

They have supplies to share and get you started knitting or crocheting. Shawls are given to those finding themselves in life changing health situations.

If you have questions, please contact either Gail Clark at 239.331.3312 or Dorie Tichenor at 202.412.0799.

Nina Howard, a recent prayer shawl recipient.

“Earlier this year we included the same “request for information” in an issue of Outreach as the one included below. (Sincere thanks to those of you who responded.)

In recent months we have had situations in which we needed to get in touch with an “emergency contact” for two of our church members, and there was no record in the church files of whom that might be.

So, while we hope there will be no emergency or disaster, we would need to be prepared. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to fill out the information in the form below. Please return to the church by mail or drop it off at the reception desk.

Please do not list your significant other as the contact – list instead a different family member or a friend”.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Your Name: ___________________________________________________ Parish No: _______________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: __________________________________ Cell: _____________________________________ EMERGENCY CONTACT Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP:_________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________ Cell: ____________________________________ Relationship: __________________________________

News and Events

Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

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Seekers and Joiners Class

Hanging of the Greens Please join us on Saturday, December 5 as we make our church beautiful for the Advent season. Meet in Spencer Hall at 9 a.m. for coffee and instructions.

We need help fluffing the trees, hanging garland and wreaths, decorating the Spencer Hall tree, and Nativity scene set up.

Many hands make light work! If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Church at 261.1337 for more information.

Are you interested in knowing what First Presbyterian Church has to offer? Then join the Seekers and Joiners Class on Sunday, December 6 in the Parlor following the 10 a.m. worship service. To learn more visit the Welcome Table following the worship services.

Holy Paparazzi Pictures Bring your best smile for the new directory.

Pictures will be taken on December 20 and January 17 after each service.

HUDDLE All men are invited to join HUDDLE on Thursdays at noon in Spencer Hall. Bring your lunch and a Bible and join in a lesson and discussion.

Please consider dedicating a poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one, and help beautify the Sanctuary for the Christmas season. Fill out the following form and return it along with payment to the church office. Please note Poinsettia Dedication on the payment. All or der s must be r eceived no later than Sunday, December 13. Please use one form per dedication. Additional forms may be found in the church office, Spencer Hall or online at www.fpcnaples.org. The cost is $25 per poinsettia.

Please PRINT CLEARLY the information you would like to appear in the dedication.

In memory of _________________________________________________________________________ In honor of ____________________________________________________________________________ Given by _____________________________________________________________________________ Your name _______________________________________

Phone _____________________________

Amount enclosed $________ A list of dedications will appear in the Christmas Eve bulletins.

You may pick up your poinsettia following the 7 p.m. service on Christmas Eve.

Non-Profit Org. Postage PAID Naples, FL 34102 Permit No. 8

First Presbyterian Church of Naples 250 Sixth Street South Naples, FL 34102 www.fpcnaples.org 239.262.1311

Celebrations & Events of the Season Wednesday, December 3 at 12 p.m.

Presbyterian Women's Gathering Christmas mini-concert with Brice and Michele Friday, December 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Parent’s Night Out/First Friday Event—Movie: Frozen Saturday, December 5 at 9 a.m.

Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m.

Season of Music Concert, Lessons and Carols with the Chancel Choir

Week of December 7 Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringers Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m.

Preschool Christmas Event Sunday, December 20 Cumberland Church Christmas Service Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve Services 5 p.m. Family Worship Service 7 p.m. Candlelight Service Saturday, December 26 Youth Ski Trip