February 2023 Outreach Newsletter

In the Heart of Naples with the Love of God: we worship, we love, we grow, we serve

February 2023

IMMOKALEE

The Intergenerational trip to Immokalee on January 16, 2023 Molly Finn, Wylie Finn, Tim Stover, Beth Finn, Jack Fogelman, Sandy Knight, Gay Stover, Scott Macdonough, Sarah Nichols, Barbara Beach, Nancy Van Fleet, Richard Beach, Desma Borland, Roy Cashion, Carlton Cleveland, Bill Kearney, Joanne Slager, John Slager, Doug Borland More pictures on page 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAFF LISTING 236.262.1311 Phone Extensions

Ministers Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor craigg@fpcnaples.org

Rev. Craig Goodrich

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Saint John’s Bible Events

4

Finance

6

Generosity

7

A Season of Music

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

Missions

9

David Fister, Audio-Visual Technician davidf@fpcnaples.org

Deacons

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Caitlin Hancock, Sound and Video Operator

Stephen Ministry

11

Christian Education Jack Fogelman, Kidz Lab Teacher

Presbyterian Women

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Audrey Gordon, Childcare Provider

Intergenerational CE

13

2012

Church News

17

Ashley Hancock, Christian Education Assistant ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org

2029

Membership

19

Nancy Van Fleet, Director of Children and Youth nancyv@fpcnaples.org

Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor rexc@fpcnaples.org

Office Sandy Knight, Office Admin/Receptionist sandyk@fpcnaples.org

2035 2027

2039 2044

2000

Kathleen Law, Director of Publications and Social Media kathleenl@fpcnaples.org 2013 Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager sharmanp@fpcnaples.org

2036

Susan Pratt, Assistant for Caring Ministries susanp@fpcnaples.org

2037

Debbie Savage, Director of Finance debbies@fpcnaples.org

2042

Facilities Lisa Ethier, Custodian lisae@fpcnaples.org

2016

Eduardo Martinez, Maintenance eduardom@fpcnaples.org

2014

Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities sandyp@fpcnaples.org

2028

Preschool Ashley Houk, Preschool Director ashleyh@fpcnaples.org Lindsay Willkomm, Assistant Preschool Director lindsayw@fpcnaples.org

2009 2038

Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor, craigg@fpcnaples.org How do you begin your day? When you wake up, are you filled with joy and excitement about the new day and the gift of it? If you do, good for you. The truth is that I often wake up with anxiety. Maybe it is just part of having been horizontal for a while. In any event, I have learned that through exercise, devotional reading, prayer and yes, coffee, I can move from fear through faith to fire, “fire” being the courage to face the day and gratitude for all that is ahead. It doesn’t always happen, but it happens often enough that I have come to trust these daily practices. Through them what starts out looking like daunting challenges become opportunities in which to be a channel of God’s love. You might call the process God’s “reframing.”

A devotional companion who has helped me in this is John Baillie. In his classic A Diary of Private Prayer his prayer for the morning of the twentyfourth day is a good example. I offer it in part to you:

“Teach me, O God to use all the circumstances of my life today to nurture the fruits of the Spirit rather than the fruits of sins.

Let me use disappointment as material for patience; Let me use success as material for thankfulness; Let me use anxiety as material for perseverance; Let me use danger as material for courage; Let me use criticism as material for learning;

Let me use praise as material for humility; Let me use pleasures as material for self-control; Let me use pain as material for endurance.”

And so it goes. You get the picture and perhaps you could add your own…Here are a few of mine: Let me use fear as material for trust; conflict as material for understanding; frustration as material for prayer; anger as material for soulsearching; difficulties as material for hope.

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Well, here we are moving into the month of February. The year is 2023, can you believe it?

I hope you will read thoroughly this edition of the Outreach. There is much ahead including the dedication of the Saint John’s Bible, a wonderful gift to our church, on the weekend of February 18 and 19. We are also in the midst of our Generosity Campaign, the theme of which is “Growing Together Joyfully.” I hope you will make a pledge to the ministry of Jesus Christ in and through this congregation.

And there is so much more. I hope that all of the information you find here becomes for you material for excitement and leads you to greater involvement, participation and joy.

Faithfully and Gratefully,

FROM THE PULPIT February 5 Rev. Craig Goodrich “Building Together” February 12 Rev. Craig Goodrich “Joy for the Journey” Commitment Sunday February 19 One service at 10:15 a.m.

Rev. Dr. John Ross Dedication of The Saint John’s Bible February 22 Ash Wednesday Service 12 noon February 26 Rev. Rex Childs “Eating in Eden”

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Worship and Music

Patty Rutzler, Committee Chair, pattyw33@aol.com Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor, craigg@fpcnaples.org

From Inspiration to Illumination an afternoon with The Saint John’s Bible A Handwritten Bible For the New Millennium At the dawn of the twenty-first century, Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota commissioned a work of art that illuminates the Word of God for a new millennium and designed to ignite the spiritual imagination of believers throughout the world.

The Saint John’s Bible is the first

handwritten, monumental, illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in the modern era. It was created by scribes in a Scriptorium in Wales under the artistic direction of Donald Jackson, one of the world’s foremost calligraphers and the Senior Scribe to the Crown Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Bible was completed in 2011, and its permanent home is the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Word Made Flesh, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

The Saint John’s Bible incorporates many of

the characteristics of its medieval predecessors: it was written on vellum, using quills, natural handmade inks, hand ground pigments and gild such as gold leaf, silver leaf and platinum. And yet, it employs a modern English translation (NRSV) as well as contemporary scripts and illumination.

Join us on Saturday, February 18 at 4 p.m. for presentation by Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible Project.

Patty Rutzler, Committee Chair, pattyw33@aol.com Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor, craigg@fpcnaples.org

Worship and Music 5

The Saint John’s Bible Training The Saint John’s Bible volumes will soon be available at events in the life of this church, from worship services to adult studies. As a member, are you interested in helping with set up and care of these books? Are you willing to introduce the Bible to those who are new to this gift?

If you are interested in becoming one of our stewards/docents, please join us for a training workshop on Saturday, February 18 from 9:30 a.m. until noon.

The workshop will be led by Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible Project.

Please sign up by Thursday, February 15 with Sandy Knight at sandyk@fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311.

For more information please contact Deborah Meeson-Vigé at deborah.meeson@gmail.com.

Elijah and the Fiery Chariot, Donald Jackson in collaboration with Aidan Hart, Copyright 2010, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

You are invited to a presentation by Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible Project on Saturday, February 18 at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Through video, projected imagery, dynamic reproductions and engaging discussions you will have the opportunity to see, hear and learn more about this inspirational undertaking. Guests will have the opportunity to turn the pages on full-size, museum quality art reproductions of the original and see first-hand the splendor of this work.

The Saint John’s Bible reaffirms Saint John’s commitment to Scripture and to the book arts. The Saint John’s Bible is a prophetic witness to the Word of God in our day and a beautiful and dignified expression of the Benedictine vision: “That in all things God may be

glorified.”

Dedication of the Saint John’s Bible with

Rev. Dr. John Ross on Sunday, February 19 at 10:15 a.m.

Join us for worship and the dedication of The Saint John’s Bible. Our guest preacher will be The Reverend Dr. John F. Ross, Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

6 Finance

Doug Jensen, Committee Chair, d50.jensen@gmail.com Debbie Savage, Director of Finance, debbies@fpcnaples.org

2022 Year-end Financial Update What an exciting year 2022 was at FPCN! Thanks to such a loving, faithful, and generous congregation we had another great year both spiritually and financially. We ended the year in the black with $63,805 in revenue over expenses.

Our 2022 revenue was up by 1% over 2021, which may seem like a small number, but we are thrilled about this because we know that it was a tough economic year for so many of our folks. Our expenses were also up over 2021, which was expected, but came in almost $186K under budget, thanks to staff working very hard to control expenses.

The generous spirit of our church allowed FPCN to distribute over $309K in Missions support to countless individuals and agencies during 2022, bringing our total Missions support to $971K over the last three years!

By the end of the year, we had received over $58K for the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund, and over $30K for the Pastor’s Emergency Assistance Fund, which allowed us to help provide financial relief for hundreds of people who suffered losses due to Hurricane Ian through disbursements to both individuals and to seven different local partner agencies.

We know that the gifts that you all generously contribute towards our various mission programs are in addition to your pledges, and for that, we are truly grateful and blessed.

We are all very aware of the economic challenges that 2022 experienced, so it is no surprise that the value of our Endowment Fund on December 31 was $7.03M, down from last year by $1.5M. Since our capital expenditures for the year were only $19K+, we did not need to do a large transfer to cover them at year end. We received the budgeted $300K from the Endowment for Operational Support, however, we also deposited in excess of $121K from Estate, Memorial, and Birthday gifts into the Endowment during the year.

Other highlights from 2022 include a successful 2022 Generosity campaign, receiving a single large donation which allowed us to acquire The Saint John’s Bible, receiving a favorable audit review for our 2021 financials, securing additional Preschool grants in excess of $119K, and Session approving the 2023 budget of $2.8M. We look forward to growing our programs, missions, and membership during this next year, which we wouldn’t be able to do without your faithful support in the past as well as going forward!

Wishing you many blessings and peace for 2023!

Debbie Savage, Director of Finance Doug Jensen, Finance Committee Chair

Doug Jensen, Committee Chair, d50.jensen@gmail.com Debbie Savage, Director of Finance, debbies@fpcnaples.org

Finance 7

2023 GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16

8 A Season of Music

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

A Season of Music Anton’s Ensemble

FGCU Chamber Choir

Anton Sikuta, violin Susan Sikuta, violin Brice Gerlach, piano Michele Byrd, soprano

Dr. Trent Brown, director

Sunday, February 26, 2023 4 p.m.

Sunday, February 5, 2023 4 p.m.

Founded in Europe as a group of internationally acclaimed concert musicians, Anton’s Ensemble offers a wonderful selection of exquisite music—generally known as “salon music”— spanning centuries of musical style from Viennese melodies, light classical and operetta to Broadway musicals and jazz standards.

This captivating music encompasses the lighter side of melody and it flourished in the elegant coffee houses and private residences frequented by European society throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Led by violinist Anton Sikuta, former concertmaster of the State Opera Orchestra, Darmstadt, Germany and of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, Wiesbaden, Anton’s Ensemble is dedicated to preserving this wonderful salon music tradition.

The Chamber Choir is a mixed, auditioned ensemble open to all students regardless of major at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Recognized for their remarkable versatility, the ensemble performs choral music from the Renaissance to newly commissioned works.

The choir was featured at Kaunas Kantat, an international choral festival held in Lithuania, during their 2017 tour of the Baltic States. In 2014 the choir sang as the featured ensemble on a Saturday evening performance at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna as part of the Kunst & Kultur series. They collaborate regularly with community ensembles including Elijah with Opera Naples (2013), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (2015), Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with Gulfshore Opera (2016) and in 2017 with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra in an all Baroque program. They were invited to perform in festivals and concerts in Rome and Naples, Italy in March 2020.

Missions

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Feed the 5,000

This month we are helping to restock the food pantry of Grace Place.

Ushers will have a list available as you leave the Sanctuary the first Sunday of February. Food donations will be collected at the 6th Street church entrance on the second Sunday of the month, February 12.

If you prefer, monetary donations can be made online at www.fpcnaples.org/give or checks may be made payable to "First Presbyterian Church" with the memo marked "Feed the 5,000" and placed in the collection plate.

Suggested items are:

Dried beans Rice Powdered milk Pasta & Sauce Canned tuna, chicken

Oatmeal Cereal Peanut Butter/Jelly Granola bars Macaroni & cheese

Canned vegetables Canned fruit Child friendly snacks

Habitat for humanity Join our work crew on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 a.m. and ride the bus to our worksite.

We will return to church by 12:30 p.m. Sign up in Spencer Hall at the Missions table or contact Yancy Brame at 239.331.7731 or jybrame@gmail.com.

Kneeling (LtoR): Jeanne Perkins, Natalie Woodward, Yancey Brame, Jen Nelson Middle: Bob Guyett, Billy (Habitat Interior Foreman), Cari Rieder, Jan Jeckel, Walter Gadkowski, habitat volunteer Rear: Sarah Nichols, Don Merz, Susan Neal

10 Deacons

Remaining in Communion From Richard Rohr

In this homily, Father Richard Rohr illustrates our inherent union with God—and the small self that keeps us separate.

We go through our lives, our years on this earth, thinking of ourselves as separate.

That sense of separateness basically causes every stupid, sinful, silly thing we ever do. The little, separate self takes offense when people don’t show us proper respect. The separate self lies and steals and does unkind things to other people.

When we’re separate, everything becomes about protecting and defending ourselves.

It can consume our lives.

One word for overcoming that false sense of separateness, that illusory self, is heaven, and, quite frankly, that is what death offers us. It is simply returning to the Source from which we came, where all things are One. The whole gospel message is radical union with God, with neighbor, and even with ourselves. I think that’s why so many of us are drawn to church each week—to receive communion and to eventually, hopefully, realize that we are in communion.

Probably no gospel story says this more clearly and forthrightly than the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1– 10). Jesus says, “I’m the vine, God is the vine grower, and you (we) are the branches.” As long as we remain in that relationship, we are in love and in union.

Whenever we do anything unloving, at that moment, we’re out of union. Even if it’s just a negative, angry, or judgmental thought, we’re doing that out of a sense of disunion—always!

David Witman, Deacon Moderator, dpwitman@hotmail.com Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor, rexc@fpcnaples.org

And Jesus is very clear. He says that state is useless. Once the branch is cut off from the vine, we might as well throw it into the fire because it’s not going to bear any fruit.

He’s not making a threat. He’s just talking practically, as if he were the vineyard owner.

Now, that’s a pretty strong statement about us and the choices we make from that unnecessary state of separateness. We have never been separate from God except in our thoughts, but our thoughts don’t make it true! Nor are we separate from anyone else. Whatever separates us from one another—nationality, religion, ethnicity, economics, language—those are all just accidentals that will all pass away. We are One in God, with Christ and with one another. “I am the vine and you are the branches” (John 15:5). If only we could live that way every hour!

We all pull back into ourselves. We pout and complain and resent and fear. That’s what the little self does. The little self, the branch cut off from the vine, can do nothing according to this gospel. So Jesus says, “Remain in me as I remain in you” (John 15:4). The promise is constant from God’s side. The only question is from our side. Do we choose to live in that union? Every time we do something with respect, with love, with sympathy, with compassion, with caring, with service, we are operating in union.

Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor, rexc@fpcnaples.org

Stephen Ministry

Saralene Oldham, Stephen Ministry Co-Leader, soldham@helmsbriscoe.com David Witman, Stephen Ministry Co-Leader, dpwitman@hotmail.com

WHEN PARENTS GET OLD ...

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Christ Caring for People through People

Let them grow old with the same love that they let you grow …

Let them speak and tell repeated stories with the same patience and interest that they heard yours as a child ...

Let them overcome, like so many times when they let you win ...

Let them enjoy their friends just as they let you …

Let them enjoy the talks with their grandchildren, because they see you in them ...

Let them enjoy living among the objects that have accompanied them for a long time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life away ...

Let them be wrong, like so many times you have been wrong and they didn’t embarrass you by correcting you ...

LET THEM LIVE and try to make them happy the last stretch of the path they have left to go; give them your hand, just like they gave you their hand when you started your path! “Honor your mother and father and your days shall be long upon the earth”.

-Unknown

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Carolyn Bennett, Moderator, cjosmith341@gmail.com

Presbyterian Women

This is our second fashion show featuring models from our church who have purchased their outfits from a thrift store!

Lots of sparkle, fun, & laughter!

Registration will be held on Sunday, February 19 & 26 $10 for lunch secures your reservation

February 1 we want to invite all of our congregation to learn about The Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance (IFHA). Last year our church donated $100,000 towards this much needed housing project in Immokalee.

Presbyterian Women also donated $8,000 towards this effort and has been making quilts to give as a “house warming” gift to each family receiving a new home.

Carleton Cleveland and Betty Mangos (two of our members serving on the board of IFHA) will be sharing with us the purpose, design and progress of the construction of the 128 units of housing. Join us for a mission awareness of the products and the projects within the Immokalee community.

Mission Work of Presbyterian Women this year has been focusing on Immokalee: The collection of blankets for Mision Peniel; our program on February 1 featuring Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance along with our PW quilting project, and a Farmer’s Market featuring produce from Immokalee; and now, Pathways Early Learning Center.

Pathways has many initiatives that enrich the lives of those, especially the very youngest, in Immokalee. Join us to learn more about this wonderful organization and their approach to child development.

Intergenerational CE

Roni Haggart, Committee Chair, vhaggart@gmail.com Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor, rexc@fpcnaples.org

Trip to Immokalee on January 16

Our intergenerational group had a fantastic day in Immokalee!

They toured the gardens at Misión Peniel, had an up-close view of the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance work site, and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant!

Visiting the garden at Mision Peniel

Packing up the donations from Blanket Sunday The work site for the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance

Lunch time in Immokalee

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14 Intergenerational CE

Wednesdays at First The Intergenerational Christian Education invites you to join them for an excellent program on February 1.

Roni Haggart, Committee Chair, vhaggart@gmail.com Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor, rexc@fpcnaples.org

THE BOOK OF

ACTS

Women’s Ministry Bible Study All women are invited to join us for a weekly Bible Study held on Mondays at 1 p.m. in the Parlor. Please bring your Bible.

We look to covenant with each other week by week as we delve into God’s Word.

For more information contact Janeen McClure at jrmc@airmcclure.com.

A Men’s Bible Discussion Group

Wednesday, February 1 we welcome Clarke Pollard, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Support Network. The goal of the Network is to ease the lives of our partners (caregivers) and enrich the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurodegeneration.

Dinner will be available at 5:30 p.m. for $10 followed by the presentations at 6 p.m.

Children, youth and their families can dine at no cost! Reservations may be made either in Spencer Hall or by e-mailing Sandy Knight at sandyk@fpcnaples.org. Please indicate whether you wish to come for dinner or for the presentation only.

Questions? Contact Roni Haggart, vhaggart@gmail.com.

All men are invited and encouraged to gather with us in Spencer Hall each Thursday at noon.

Bring a Bible and your lunch!

If unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join the meeting via Zoom.

Please contact David Fister at davidf@fpcnaples.org for Zoom instructions and a link to the meeting.

Wednesday Morning Men:

Faith and Fellowship Gather with us on Wednesday, February 1 in the Youth Room and on February 15 in Spencer Hall at 8 a.m. with coffee and pastry.

Topics have yet to be decided and will be announced in the Sunday bulletin.

For more information and questions, please contact Bill Kearney at 239.348.2871 or skearney239@comcast.net.

Roni Haggart, Committee Chair, vhaggart@gmail.com Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor, rexc@fpcnaples.org

Intergenerational CE 15

Sacred Habits Lenten Journey Wednesdays at 1 p.m. during Lent March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5

You are invited to join us this Lent as we engage in the contemplative practice of Viseo Divina (divine seeing) on the art of Vincent van Gogh.

The word “Lent” refers to the “lengthening” light, the growing days that, in time, will coax the sunflowers to open, the wheat fields to rise again, and the irises to bloom.

What better companion on this forty-day pilgrimage, then the art of van Gogh?

In our Lenten devotional by SALT, the words of Scripture and the paintings and letters of Vincent van Gogh will be our guides.

Each week, biblical texts and Van Gogh’s work throw light on each other, pointing toward simple, powerful practices we will engage in together.

So grab your favorite Bible and we’ll travel this Lenten journey together toward the light of Easter morning – with Vincent van Gogh as our guide.

If you are attending the Lenten Organ Concerts, we invite you to bring your lunch to enjoy before Sacred Habits in the Youth Room.

Contact Nancy Van Fleet for more information at nancyv@fpcnaples.org.

16 Intergenerational CE

Roni Haggart, Committee Chair, vhaggart@gmail.com Nancy Van Fleet, Dir. of Children & Youth, nancyv@fpcnaples.org

VBS 2023

and worship with their families.

Kidz Lab meets in the Youth Room on Sundays after the Children’s Time.

On the first Sundays of the month, GenWe Sundays, children stay in the service

Children in Kindergarten through grade 6 are invited to this faith formation journey based on the weekly lectionary choices. Children in Kidz Lab engage with the same lessons that their parents hear in church, which encourages family conversations after the service.

We are looking for volunteers to help with Vacation Bible School to be held June 26-30 2023 9 a.m. to 12 noon We need your help! VBS will be here before we know it and we need volunteers to help make it happen.

Are you interested in being a part?

Maybe you have questions on what you can do to help? We are meeting Sunday, February 12 at 11:30 (after the 10:15 a.m. service) in the Youth Room. We hope you can join us! RSVP to Ashley Hancock, ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org

Growing Young upcoming events February 5 Join us in Spencer Hall, after the 10:15 a.m. service, for “Tech Help Sunday.” The youth and young adults will help to answer your technology questions. Bring your phone, computer or even an ipad. We will have delicious Einstein bagels for all to enjoy!

Youth Group Retreat (grades 6-12) Sunday, February 19 Monday, February 20 Join us overnight as we unplug and reconnect with ourselves, others, and God in our midst.

Not only are there many health benefits, science supports this practice as paramount to livelong thriving.

Contact Nancy Van Fleet for more info

Church News

Congregational Dinner

Mark your calendars for March 15!

We will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a catered dinner of chicken piccata, followed by a good "old fashioned" sing-a-long of hymns and old time favorites with music provided by Dr. Brice Gerlach, our Director of Music.

Share a Meal We are pleased to offer “Share a Meal” on Friday, February 3. Hosts/Hostesses are asked to welcome attendees into their homes to share a meal for 4, 5, or 6 people.

Hosts are responsible for furnishing the main entrée and soft drinks. Guests will provide dishes to accompany the main course.

For details or if you would like to host or attend a “Share a Meal” please visit Spencer Hall or call Marjorie Cashion at 240.483.7535.

This will be followed by a performance from the Marco Island Irish Dancing School students. They appeared here several years ago and were a big hit!

Tickets are $25 and will go on sale February 19 in Spencer Hall following each service or from the reception desk during the week.

CHURCH TOUR

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Scott Macdonough (dinner host), Roy and Marjorie Cashion, Shirley Hagerson, Pat Collins and not pictured, Betty Plum, the photographer!

In Memoriam

All are welcome to join a "Behind the Scenes" church tour on Sunday, February 26 between the services.

Guides and guests will assemble at the front of the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m., and take a 30 minute tour around the campus. We welcome you to become more familiar with the layout and activities at FPCN.

Marion Turner

Contact Sarah Nichols for additional information, sarahsnichols@gmail.com or 615.268.5407.

Virginia “Ginny” Newman

January 1, 2023

Elsie Connell

January 10, 2023 January 12, 2023

18 Church News

Thank You Dear Friends, A new year for all, especially us, as we start this year with grateful hearts and a thank you to all our First Presbyterian Church family for your prayers, help and support in making the transition after the hurricane from our home of 30 some years to a new home. You were there right from the start with buckets, disinfectant, rags for removing muck when you could, giant garbage bags when you could not.

Encouragement, lunches and trucks for moving salvageable items to a donated garage and the Church chapel. You washed bags and bags of linens and clothing, all returned fresh and clean. Now we look forward to having you all stop by our new home and say hello.

John and Joanne Slager 2295 Queens Way Naples, Fl. 34112 To all, My sincerest thanks to the staff, deacons as well as the congregation for the prayers and the support during my recent illness. Your many expressions of love and concern were very meaningful to me and my family.

Don Herring Dear Hurricane Ian Relief Committee, Your donation of $5,000 really brightened our day!

Thank you! You really have done something amazing by choosing to make a donation to Children's Advocacy Center of Collier County. Your donation will immediately be put to good use. As you might be aware, survivors of child abuse can suffer trauma that can follow them throughout their lives. Without regular therapy the path to healing may be impossible.

Thank you so much for your kindness.

Bryan Lee Director of Development Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County Thank you so much for all of your support and all you do for us at Helps Outreach. We are so very grateful.

Many families have been blessed and very grateful for all the help they have received in meeting their needs.

Thank you for helping us to help others.

Be blessed always with a grateful heart.

Angie and Yolanda and all of us at Helps Outreach

Dear First Presbyterian Church, Thank you for your donation of $5,000 for the Collier Comes Together Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund of the Collier Community Foundation.

This fund allows CCF to act immediately in the face of a hurricane to benefit local nonprofit programs and relief efforts, getting funds where they are needed most— quickly and efficiently at no administrative cost.

Sincerely Eileen Connolly-Keesler President/CEO Collier Community Foundation Dear First Presbyterian Church, On behalf of everyone at St. Matthew’s House and the community we serve, thank you for your generous gift of $10,000. We’re so grateful that you’ve chosen to join us in our mission to provide food, shelter and healing to those in need. The past couple of years have spurred an unexpected urgency for assistance within our community.

With your support, St. Matthew’s House can remain a place for people to receive hope, encouragement and a helping hand.

Sincerely, Steve Brooder Chief Executive Officer St. Matthew’s House Dear First Presbyterian Church, On behalf of the children we serve, thank you and the parishioners for your support of Guadalupe Center.

With your help, we are advancing our mission. Students in our programs are meeting educational milestones and finding success academically and in life.

Thank you!

Dawn Montecalvo President Guadalupe Center Dear members and friends of First Presbyterian Church, On behalf of all whom we serve through Misión Peniel, we wanted to thank you deeply for being part of our Christmas Joy this year. * It was a truly festive day for the children as they received the gifts selected especially for them! Thanks to your amazing generosity, we were able to register 217 families and distribute 672 gifts (some given from other churches) to the children of farmworkers families in Immokalee!

Gratefully, Marifrans Castillo de Estrada Mission Coordinator Misión Peniel *Please see the pictures from their Christmas party in Spencer Hall at the Mission Table.

Janie Casassa, Committee Chair, jbyellowrose@gmail.com Kathleen Law, Dir. of Publications and Social Media, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

Membership

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February Birthdays February 2 George Goodnight Dan TenCate Phyllis Harris February 3 Bob Gibson Deborah Meeson-Vigé Liz Speake February 4 Anne Crowl Bill Dunlap February 5 Gail Clark Douglas Gebbie Carole Sissel February 7 Suzanne Chickering

February 10 Juanita Bunker Melanie Krembs February 11 Barbara Simons Mary Ann Spencer February 12 Ned Camuti February 3 Martha Waddell February 14 Alicia Mick February 15 Thomas Wilson Linda Ferrario Eduardo Martinez

February 8 February 17 Jodi Nunno Marilyn Groel Gary Root Colleen Sicard Kathleen St. James Taylor

February 18 Nina Howard David Weigel James Weigel Lu Hoogenboom Phil Mikulsky

February 24 Joan Banko Don Grandi Mary Jo Bovich Scott Houk

February 19 Cynthia Anderson Audrey Brewin

February 25 Polly Wilder Mac Willett Hugh Montgomery

Sarah Nichols

February 26 Charlie Jessopp

February 21 Jeanie Perkins Bud Crowl Al Lubrano

February 27 Mitch Norgart Bob Karll

February 22 Don Barry

February 28 Rex Storter Larry Hibbett

February 23 Mark Speake

February 29 Roger Kempers

Welcome New Members

Bob and Pam Karll

Neil and JoAnn Van Dyke

Sturgis and Susan Wetherington

Seekers & Joiners Class

Do you want to know more about our faith, this congregation and how to become a member of our dynamic church?

We want to encourage you in your journey of faith. A Seekers and Joiners class will be held in the Parlor on Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m..

Information packets are available at the exit doors or at the class.

Please register by calling the church office at 239.262.1311 or by e-mailing Sandy Knight at sandyk@fpcnaples.org.

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

On Sunday, February 19 we will offer one worship service at 10:15 a.m. for the dedication of

with guest preacher The Reverend Dr. John F. Ross

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