March 2021 Outreach Newsletter

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

March 2021

Preschool Chapel time with Nancy Van Fleet Rev. Craig Goodrich Session Worship and Music Lily Order Form Generosity

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Finance Preschool Children & Youth Presbyterian Women Christian Education

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Personnel Membership Birthdays Staff

10 11 11 12

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Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor This year the entire month of March is in the Season of Lent, a season for reflection, soul searching and going deeper in our faith. It is a season to take stock of the “whys” of our lives as we approach the celebration of Easter resurrection on April 4.

How are you observing this Lent, or are you at all? Lent began with Ash Wednesday when ashes were imposed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross and the echo of the words of God in Genesis “From dust you came and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). A sober reminder of our mortality.

Of course, we hardly need a reminder of our vulnerability in the season of a world-wide pandemic, of suffering and death. And our prayers are for all who are ill, for those who grieve, and we give thanks for healthcare workers and vaccines.

But the truth is that most of us live in denial about our own death. Professor J. Todd Billings of Western Theological Seminary writes in his recent book, The End of the Christian Life: How Embracing Our Mortality Frees Us to Truly Live, it is only as we acknowledge our mortality that we are free to live in the day we have been given. Billings, himself a cancer patient, writes: “But the path of Christian discipleship involves honest and regular reminders of both our mortal limits and those of our loved ones and neighbors. The path of Christian discipleship involves moving towards the wound of mortality, not away from it.

Paradoxically, this is the life-giving path, a path of freedom and love.” (page 12).

So, this Lent won’t you consider the precious gift of your life and consider embracing some new practices or habits: to pray more regularly; to explore fasting; to give more generously; to refrain from obsessive social media or “news” consumption; to reach out and express your love and care. Let these ideas and practices come to you and as we remember we are dust, and also that “in life and in death we belong to God” and that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

craigg@fpcnaples.org

And yes, there is much for which to be thankful.

Our worship of God continues, both online and in person. Our Reopening Task Force and Session continue to evaluate the virus data in making decisions for all of us. Vaccines are now available and increasingly we are hearing more “success” stories. Yes, we will get through this.

Please read thoroughly this edition of the Outreach. We are grateful to Kathleen Law for her faithful work in Communications which has kept us all connected during this time. Please see the Session update (page 3); the update on our Generosity Campaign; (page 4, and thanks to all who have pledged!); the “Staff Spotlight,” this month featuring our Director of Finance, Anna Focht (page 10); news from Presbyterian Women (page 8); Wednesday evenings Zoom fellowship (page 9) and much more!

And let’s pray that in this Lenten season and month of March, we may all have patience, perseverance, faith, hope, and love. And gratitude for this day, remembering that it is truly the only day we have!

Faithfully and Gratefully,

From the Pulpit March 7 Rev. Craig Goodrich “Overturning Tables” March 14 Rev. Craig Goodrich “Eternity Now” March 21 Rev. Rex Childs “A Single Grain” March 28 Palm Sunday ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION Rev. Craig Goodrich “The Coming Kingdom”

Saralene Oldham, Clerk of Session, soldham@helmsbriscoe.com Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor, craigg@fpcnaples.org

Session

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We will continue to hold Sunday morning live worship service at 9:30 a.m. with all safety protocols in place. Meetings, study groups and gatherings will continue to take place via Zoom through March.

Required precautions for live worship: · All attendees must wear masks during the entire service. · Social distancing is required. Seating and dismissal will be directed by the ushers. · There will be no singing but you will be able to enjoy the soloists singing the hymns and anthems.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the church office at 239.262.1311 and ask for Rev. Craig Goodrich or Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager.

Your understanding of this decision in greatly appreciated. We wish you blessings and peace.

Worship and Music

Patty Rutzler, Committee Chair, pattyw33@aol.com Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries, briceg@fpcnaples.org

Lenten organ concerts The spectacular Ruffatti pipe organ will be featured in live and virtual Lenten organ recitals offered by our Director of Music, Dr. Brice Gerlach. In these concerts Brice takes the time to explain some of the mechanical workings of the organ and offers musical insights about the pieces in the program.

Each concert opens with a piece that highlights the magnificent horizontal trumpets protruding from the front of the organ case. A work by J. S. Bach is always featured and arrangements of Lenten hymn tunes are presented, allowing for some of the diverse solo stops and softer sounds of the organ to be heard. The concerts will end with a rousing toccata, allowing you to hear the full power of the organ.

Lenten Concert Our Chancel Choir soloists have been working hard to present a video concert of Lenten and Easter choral music. The concert will take us on a Lenten musical journey culminating with the joyful music of Easter.

Some of the highlights include:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

by Gilbert M. Martin, Pilgrims’ Hymn

by Stephen Paulus, Ride On, King Jesus! – arr. Howard Helvey and Alleluia by Ralph Manuel.

Live concerts will be held at noon on Wednesdays during Lent in the Sanctuary. Masks and social distancing are required. On Wednesday, March 31, the concert will be sent out via The concerts will also be livestreamed on our website e-mail and will be available to view (www.fpcnaples.org/live) and on our Facebook page on the music page of our website. (www.facebook.com/fpcnaples). Following the live performance the concerts will be available to view on the music page of our website (www.fpcnaples.org/music).

Order Form

You are invited to purchase a beautiful lily to decorate our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. The cost is $25 per plant/dedication. Please PRINT your information and submit this form to First Presbyterian Church, 250 Sixth Street S., Naples, FL 34102. Make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church, and indicate “Lily” on the memo. Deadline for dedications is March 21, 2020.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY Name of donor(s) ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ # of Lilies _________ ($20 each) In HONOR or MEMORY of: (circle one) _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Please note, this will not be a tax deductible contribution.

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Generosity

Doug Jensen, Committee Chair, d50.jensen@gmail.com Anna Focht, Director of Finance, annaf@fpcnaples.org

Thank you for your overwhelming response to our 2021 generosity pledge campaign.

Already we have received 203 pledges for a total of $1,173,871!

Our pledge goal is $1,500,000, so we are 78% of the way there.

If you haven’t already pledged, we hope you’ll do so soon.

Your consideration and generosity are greatly appreciated by the entire First Presbyterian Church of Naples community!

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to make a pledge to this year’s campaign and we thank you for your generosity!

Commitment cards are also available on our website www.fpcnaples.org/give.

Finance

Doug Jensen, Committee Chair, d50.jensen@gmail.com Anna Focht, Director of Finance, annaf@fpcnaples.org

Pews

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Playground

Revitalizing our Future Looking Ahead to our Future The Preschool is proud to partner with our church members and friends to be embarking on a new fundraising effort titled Pews and Playground! Here’s an opportunity to help us invest in our future by donating to our campaign to refurbish our pew seats and choir chair cushions, and to replace our Preschool playground. We would be honored if you would consider making a gift to help us reach our goals for these projects!

Pew Seat Cushions – Campaign goal $50,000 Our pew seat cushions are showing their age through normal wear and tear since their initial installation when the church was built in 2002. We will be replacing our seat cushions and fabric for our pews and choir chairs. This project will begin in June, and we look forward to its completion by the end of that month. Most importantly, we will be thrilled to have you sitting on new and comfortable cushions as more of you join us for in-person worship!

Through our generous donors, we have already collected $9,472 toward this effort!

Playground – Campaign goal $82,000 Our new playground will replace the current structure that was installed in 2009. In addition, we will replace the poured rubber absorbent surface under the structure that will ensure safe use by our students for years to come.

We’re excited to add new skill-building items to the playground along with stationary musical instruments. We look forward to introducing the new playground in August, with the beginning of our new school year!

Through our generous donors, we have already collected $15,000 toward this effort!

How to Donate Please designate your gift amount to either Playground, Pew Seat, or both. You may give by check through the mail, or give online.

Checks may be mailed directly to the church office at 250 Sixth Street South, Naples, FL 34102.

Online donations may be made by going to http://www.fpcnaples.org/give and select the “Give Now” button over to the right of the screen. Under the “Select a fund” drop down menu you may designate the funds “Pews (Reupholster)” or “Playground (Preschool).”

For Preschool parents who may be used to going to the preschool website, donations can also be made through the preschool website at https://fppnaples.org/support-our-school and click the “Donate Now” button.

The future of our community is promising with our ministries, students, congregation and friends through the work of God. Thank you for your continued generosity!

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Preschool

Teresa Doane, Elder, twdoane@hotmail.com Ashley Houk, Preschool Director, ashleyh@fpcnaples.org

The Preschool is proud to be embarking on the new fundraising effort titled Pews and Playground! (See page 5 for additional information) To donate to the Pews and Playground fundraising campaign, you can send a check to the church office (memo: Playground fundraiser) or you may donate online fppnaples.org/support-our-school and click on the “Donate Now” button.

Proposed

new playground design

New climbing structure

Stationary musical instruments

Poured in-place rubber surfacing

Children and Youth

Roni Haggart, Committee Chair, vhaggart@gmail.com Nancy Van Fleet, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, nancyv@fpcnaples.org

Our families met online for FPC Faith@Home as we began the season of Lent with the imposition of ashes. Children blessed their parents and grandparents, and parents blessed their children.

Some of us even blessed ourselves!

It was a beautiful time to mark the beginning of this sacred journey together even while we are apart!

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Presbyterian Women

O ur Presbyterian Women offer condolences and sympathy to our Moderator Barbara Heissner on the loss of her husband, Karl in early February. Barbara remains in Maryland at this time and we encourage all PW to reach out in love to her family. Our Moderator Elect, Carolyn Smith Bennett has stepped up to fill in for Barbara. She may be reached at 239.213.0048.

Our four Circles are enjoying Zoom Bible studies.

We would like for all ladies in the church to join us. Below is a list of Circles and contact information. Please call the Circle leader of your choice and we will make sure you get the link for the meeting. Choose the date and time that best suits you.

Grace Circle March 2 at 10 a.m.

Andie Goodrich 404.317.5850 Coke Evans 559.978.5898 Love & Friendship Circle March 17 at 9:30 a.m.

Martha Waddell 507.581.1480 Sunshine Circle March 17 at 11:30 a.m.

Janet Root 239.963.9838 Peace with Honor Circle March 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Betty Mangos 239.254.9883 Please call the Circle leaders if you have questions about the Circles or Bible study.

Everyone is welcome.

The Peace River Presbytery PW met for their Annual Gathering by Zoom on February 6. The new Moderator is Sandra Wharton from Cypress Lakes Presbyterian Church in Ft. Myers. Betty Mangos continues as Cluster Leader for District 5 which includes First Presbyterian Church Naples and Moorings Presbyterian Church. An in-person, one-day retreat is being planned for March 8 at the Day Springs Center in Parrish Florida on the Manatee River. For more information, call Betty Mangos 239.254.9883.

Barbara Heissner, Moderator, khh0725@atlanticbb.net Carolyn Smith Bennett, Moderator Elect, cjosmith341@gmail.com

Thank you for pledging to our work as Presbyterian Women. Almost all funds go to our mission work locally. If you have not sent a pledge, you may still do so by making your check payable to Presbyterian Women and sending it to the church office.

We thank you for your contributions to Blanket Sunday. If you made a monetary donation, funds will be used to purchase new blankets to be distributed to the needy in Immokalee through our Peace River Presbytery ministry Mision Peniel.

Presbyterian Women’s Sunday On Sunday, March 14 we celebrate Presbyterian Women, a missions organization and covenant partner of PC(USA) that is over 200 years old. Our members strongly participate in 25 local missions, provide hospitality to the congregation with cookies and punch after worship services on Sundays, and participate in loving friendships, Bible study, and social justice programs. We proudly give to the national Thank Offering and Birthday Offering which builds needed facilities and programs that support family stability, especially aiding women and children. By the creative hands of ladies involved with our Sew and Sews group, children in Africa have proper clothing so they can attend school.

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry has reached over 150 members and friends. Today we celebrate our members, extend an invitation to any woman of our church to join us, and thank FPCN for its loving support. We look forward to the time when we can meet together again.

Christian Education

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

The Stories We Tell

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Our Wednesday night programs are back!

We hope you will join us on Zoom for our Lenten series, “The Stories We Tell.”

We will gather online for five weeks in Lent as we explore the significance of stories in our lives. We all love a good story, don’t we? It can be a very powerful, moving experience to hear or share a story.

Our time together will be fun and interactive as we get to know each other better through sharing the stories of our lives, our church and the story of God’s great love for us.

We’ll meet from 6 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 24 through March 24. Please contact Ashley Hancock (ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org to RSVP, so we can get the link out to you.

Wednesday Morning Men Faith and Fellowship Join other committed men in our congregation on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Following the presentation there will be a time for questions and discussion. We will gather via Zoom, at 8 a.m.

March 3 - Bill Kearny will present “Barabbas” March 17 - Dr. John Buchanan will present (from Chicago), “The Post Pandemic Church, What Will It Be Like?” All participating men are asked to wear green!

For Zoom instructions contact Rev. Rex Childs at rexc@fpcnaples.org or Bill Kearney at skearney239@comcast.net.

A men’s

Bible Discussion Group All men are invited and encouraged to gather with us via Zoom each Thursday from 10:45 a.m. - noon For Zoom instructions contact Rev. Rex Childs at rexc@fpcnaples.org

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Personnel

“For the last two and one-half years we have been blessed to have Anna Focht as our Director of Finance. Not only is she well qualified from a financial and accounting standpoint, her extensive background has enabled her to put controls in place assuring the accuracy of our published financial results.

In addition, she communicates effectively with the staff, the Finance Committee and our members. As Chairman of the Finance Committee, it is a pleasure working with Anna.”

Doug Jensen Adds Pastor Craig Goodrich: “Anna is great! She is professional, extremely capable, absolutely trustworthy and dedicated. During this last year of extraordinary challenges, Anna has led us well; diligently, meticulously, wisely and faithfully managing all aspects of our financial ministries.

Thank you, Anna!”

Barb Weiss, Committee Chair, bweiss1952@gmail.com Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor, craigg@fpcnaples.org

Stephen Ministers

Anna Focht

Director of Finance Q&A So Anna, what drew you to working at The First Presbyterian Church of Naples? Nonprofit organizations have always deeply interested me, and several years ago I decided to make helping nonprofits reach their financial goals my passion. It gives me great pleasure to utilize my skill sets and knowledge for a worthwhile cause.

What do you like about FPC? I love interreacting with people, and it’s been a pleasure meeting so many of the wonderful members and friends of this church. It’s been a delight working with the fine staff at FPC, as well as Anna has been a CPA for over 25 years helping working closely with the Finance Committee to help her clients find accounting and tax solutions to the church meet its short and long-term financial improve the financial growth and health of their and ministry objectives. organizations. Her areas of concentration include general ledger accounting, audit, internal controls, What do you like to do in your spare time? business plan preparation, technical research, Having grown up in the wild beauty of northwest financial statement reporting, budgeting and Pennsylvania surrounded by the Allegheny National forecasting, and tax projects. Anna has worked Forest, I am an outdoor enthusiast! I love hiking, across many types of industries for large, medium, paddle-boarding, boating, and especially bike and early and growth stage organizations. Anna riding, among other activities. On my lunch break, received her BS in Accounting and Masters in you’ll find me bicycling up and down Gulf Shore Taxation from Villanova University. She began her Blvd. and Gordon Drive, so if you see me, please career at Deloitte in Philadelphia and gained shout out a hello! I am also a grateful mom to my experience at various companies including three children, Natalie, Rex and Wyatt, all now in Laventhol & Horwath, Verizon, and Hertz, as wells their 20’s. as entrepreneurial start-ups here in southwest Florida. She has also run her own consulting business and taught accounting as an adjunct professor at a local Florida college.

Early in her career, Anna was an auditor for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. It was this experience that first introduced her to the unique financial needs of a nonprofit. After moving to southwest Florida in 2004, she later joined Ave Maria University during its start-up phase, and was fully immersed in all aspects of establishing best accounting practices.

Rex, Anna, Wyatt and Natalie Focht

Membership

Deborah Meeson-Vige, Committee Chair, Deborah.meeson@gmail.com Kathleen Law, Communications Coordinator, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

March 12 Anne Wenger-Hornbach March 13 Doug Patton Ilagene Ruff March 15 Vicki Barron Oliver Kellam

March 1 Mary Lou Hudtloff March 2 Bert Patton February Roger Weber

March 6 Kent Barron Margaret Green Ronald Kellogg

Birthdays March 7

Joe Masterson Alexander Quinn

March 3 Elizabeth Miller Sara Linn

March 8 Joshua Patton Kenneth Modesitt

March 4 Ralph Lytle Kelly Sue Jones Sarah Miller Roxanne Sherry

March 9 James Deldin Larry Krouse Ryder McGinn

March 5 Peggy Lyon Lynda Harrington Sally Jackson Ryan Sherry

March 11 Joyce Witt Ava Weidner Jessica Bunker

March 16 Ingeborg Myers Seth Houk Sharlene Kearney

March 17 Madelyn Harris Gary Tincu Tyson Haire March 18 Suzanne Rose Hansen Long March 19 Ami Harris Chris Jones March 22 Jami Boyd John Gulliford Rick Towers

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March 23 Chris Calyore Tim Burghardt Vicki Cohen March 24 Gary Godley Doris Johnson March 27 Thomas Ingram Grace Bucarelli-Merritt Margee Minnis Peter Jowstra Caroline Martin Vicki Lubben March 28 Virginia Nicholson Barbara Ledinsky March 29 Nancy Kuhl Helen Corwith William Thomas March 30 Marjorie Wardwell Meghan Hunter Wyett Witmer Mary Stover

In Memoriam Karl Heissner

February 8, 2021

Don Harlow

Dear Church Family,

Thank You

Saying “Thank you” just doesn’t seem to be enough for all the prayers, cards and comforting words we have received during the past few months. The visit from Shirley Hagerson with a beautiful prayer shawl was so enjoyable and our dogs really enjoyed her visit too!

The journey has been long and still isn't over but we feel God’s arms surrounding us as we venture through this together.

With love and appreciation, Bill and Kathleen Law

February 9, 2021

Bob Graham

February 21, 2021

Carl Newhart

February 21, 2021

Sunday, March 14

First Presbyterian Church of Naples

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

250 Sixth Street South Naples, FL 34102 www.fpcnaples.org 239.262.1311

STAFF LISTING Name Phone: 239.262.1311 Ministers Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor

Ext.

E-mail

2035 2027

craigg@fpcnaples.org rexc@fpcnaples.org

Music Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries

2039

briceg@fpcnaples.org

Christian Education Jack Fogelman, Kidz Lab Teacher Audrey Gordon, Childcare Provider Ashley Hancock, Christian Education Assistant Nancy Van Fleet, Director of Children and Youth

2012 2029

ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org nancyv@fpcnaples.org

Office Anna Focht, Director of Finance Angie Johnson, Office Assistant/Receptionist Kathleen Law, Communications Coordinator Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager

2042 2000 2013 2036

annaf@fpcnaples.org angiej@fpcnaples.org kathleenl@fpcnaples.org sharmanp@fpcnaples.org

Facilities Lisa Ethier, Custodian Eduardo Martinez, Maintenance Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities

2016 2014 2028

lisae@fpcnaples.org eduardom@fpcnaples.org sandyp@fpcnaples.org

Preschool Ashley Houk, Preschool Director Lindsay Willkomm, Assistant Preschool Director

2009 2038

ashleyh@fpcnaples.org lindsayw@fpcnaples.org