2023 GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN

Growing Together Joyfully truly expresses the initial response to our 2023 Generosity Campaign!

For our 2023 campaign, the Generosity Committee opted to focus on growth in all areas instead of setting a numerical goal for either the number of pledges or for the total dollar amount of the pledges. Nevertheless, we all know that the tithes and offerings received by First Presbyterian Church of Naples are critical to support the ministry, missions, and operations of our vibrant church.

As of mid-February, we have received 187 pledges totaling $1,059,967! When we compare this to mid-February in 2022, we see growth of 23% in the number of pledges and of 12% in dollars pledged. Thank you to each and every one of you who have completed a pledge card already! We are still accepting 2023 pledges via Commitment Card, online submission, or by contacting Debbie Savage, Director of Finance, directly. We are so excited to watch God continue to move in the hearts of our members as we worship, love, grow, and serve in the heart of Naples with the love of God!

The Palms Society Legacy Giving

The Palms Society is a way to honor those who include the church in their long-range gift and estate plans. Your gift will empower future generations to make visible the extraordinary light that comes from God. Our endowment helps support the church, contribute to key programs and protect the church from adverse financial circumstances. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Amy Manley, 239.272.6821 or Debbie Savage, Director of Finance, 239.262.1311.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Linda Gadkowski for serving as Chair of the Palms Society these last six years. Linda’s goal when accepting the position was to encourage 85 members to join the Palms Society by remembering the Church in their testamentary plans or giving. Having achieved her goal, she is retiring with joy and satisfaction. Amy Manley has now accepted the role as Chair of the Palms Society. We thank Linda for her steadfast love, creative enthusiasm and generosity to First Presbyterian Church as she has worked tirelessly to grow the legacy of support for the church for many years to come.

Feed the 5,000

This month we are helping to restock the food pantry of St. Matthew’s House.

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

Chips

Crackers

Pasta & Sauce

Canned tuna

Canned chicken

Oatmeal

Cereal

Peanut Butter/Jelly

Condiments

Macaroni & cheese

Instant mashed potatoes

Canned soup

Canned vegetables

Canned fruit

Single-serve snacks

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

We will return to church by 12:30 p.m. Sign

Would you like to join us for a short work day at Misión Peniel?

Join the Mission team on Friday, March 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will travel by carpool to sort and bag donations of produce, canned goods and other pantry items. Sign up in Spencer Hall at the Mission table. For more information and trip details contact Lee Ryan at va4ryans@gmail.com.

L to R: Jeanne Perkins, Cari Rieder, Susan Neal, Susan Kogan, Don Merz, Yancey Brame, Bob Guyett, Walter Gadkowski, Doug Borland. Present but missed photo: Scott Macdonough.

Sunday, March 12

Representatives from several local agencies we support will be available in Spencer Hall to visit with you following each worship service on Sunday, March 12.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about:

Meals Of Hope Packing Party

March 25

Did you know there are people going hungry right here in Collier County? Did you also know the Missions Committee is sponsoring a fun, rewarding, easy, interactive way to help fight hunger locally?

Invite your neighbors, friends, family, co-workers and fellow church members to join together on the morning of Saturday, March 25. We will measure, weigh, seal and label nutritional meals for those in need. The ideal packing event involves 100 enthusiastic, caring volunteers, and we encourage you to be one of them.

Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. and the fun continues until late morning. This is an event for anyone from ages 10 to 100. Many of the jobs can be done from a sitting position. For information or to sign up please go to the Missions table in Spencer Hall following church services during the month of February. Questions? Contact Jan Witman 508.948.7586.

Meals of Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization that hosts packing events in southwest Florida. They are highly organized and provide all the ingredients, measuring devices, scales, plastic bags, sealers, boxes, pallets, and even some muscle to help us put everything together.

This packing event is funded by generous donations from those who worshipped together at First Presbyterian Church on Christmas Eve.

David Witman, Deacon Moderator, dpwitman@hotmail.com

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

On February 12, 2023 we celebrated Deacons’ Sunday. It was a wonderful opportunity for our members and guests to meet their deacon in Spencer Hall after each service. Hopefully, you took advantage of this and now can associate your deacon’s name with a face and a personality.

In 2023 we have thirty-four deacons serving approximately eight hundred and fifty members who live in thirty parishes delineated geographically. Each deacon, or deacon couple, serves only one parish. While deacons perform many different services for the congregation, the most important function of a deacon is to be your representative with the Church. If you have any questions or concerns relating to our Church, please do not hesitate to contact your deacon.

Following up on our Deacons’ Sunday experience, the Deacons offer you the following benediction:

May God make your life joyful!

Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, but by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;

Not by making your path easy, but by making you sturdy to travel any path;

Not by taking hardship from you, but by taking fear from your heart;

Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, but by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;

Not by making your life always pleasant, but by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.

GOD'S LOVE, PEACE, HOPE & JOY!

Deacons

Class of 2023

Pat Collins

Tedi and Gene Fraley

Lucy Koll

Eileen Malstrom

Betty Plum

Barbara and Roger Simons

Susan Sonderby

Deb & Harry Streamer

Class of 2024

Mary Armstrong

Marti Beard

Norman Brown

Pam Fisher

Amy Manley

Sylvia and Jack Marsh

Melissa McClayton

Sarah Nichols

Ali Norris

Gary Root

Liz Speake

Class of 2025

Cindy Esler

Gary Nordbrock

Karen and Roy Parker

Cari Rieder

Sue Shenk

Nancy Walkenhorst

Janice and David Witman

Janet Yanushefski

Christ Caring for People through People

Our church has been a Stephen Ministry church since February 12, 1988, making ours one of the longest continuously operating Stephen Ministry programs within the United States. At the present time, Stephen Ministry consists of over 13,000 congregations being served by over 600,000 Stephen Ministers.

We are all on our own spiritual journeys and experience joyful periods when we feel very close to God; however, it is inevitable in every life to encounter hardship, loss and suffering when we do not recognize or feel the blessings of God. God surrounds us with his blessings at all times, but it is human nature to be distracted by the challenges of human existence. Those challenges can often cause us to lose our focus on God during times when we most need God. In effect, we allow physical, emotional and spiritual blockages to impede our own healing.

Stephen Ministers work best with people who are inbetween periods of closeness to God and separation from God and who are challenged for various reasons as a result. We form steady, trustworthy relationships with people who need to see more clearly their own connection with God by talking freely with their Stephen Ministers who are always willing to listen reflectively without judgment or agenda to help our care receivers refocus on the peace only God can give them. A one-on-one relationship with a Stephen Minister will last as long as a care receiver needs and wants it to last.

Stephen Ministers are not counselors, therapists, psychologists, social workers, pastors or other professionals who require licenses, degrees or years of advanced study. While Stephen Ministers do receive extensive training in Christian care giving, we do not presume to deal with things like severe depression or despair, suicidal tendencies, mental health issues, complete lack of faith or other matters requiring professional intervention.

If you, or someone you care about, is going through a difficult in-between period with issues that impede your enjoyment of God's grace in your life, we strongly urge you to consider contacting Stephen Ministry for someone who will be there to listen reflectively without judgment or agenda as long as you want as you work to restore the spiritual peace and comfort found only in God's grace. You can contact Stephen Ministry through Pastor Craig, Pastor Rex, the church office, or a Stephen Leader (Saralene Oldham or David Witman). We will be pleased to arrange a time to discuss this with you in person and at your convenience.

Stephen Ministers

Tom Clark

Isabelle Connell

Walter Gadkowski

Andie Goodrich

Shirley Hagerson

Chris Jones

Jack Marsh

Janeen McClure

Saralene Oldham

Karen Parker

Gary Root

David Witman

Presbyterian Women

From beginning to end, our February Gathering achieved the bringing together of so many for such a good cause: The Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance, Inc. (IFHA).

Lots of participation to make 105 salads for those sharing the day with us, to create attractive center pieces, to gather in Spencer Hall, to learn of the needs of Immokalee through the voices of Dr. Arol Buntzman and Pastor Miguel Estrada, to shop at the Farmer’s Market, and to view the completed quilts that will be given by us as “house warming” gifts to the recipients of a new home from the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance. By all standards our PW Gathering was a success! However, the bottom line for this mission outreach is to ensure healthy and secure housing for the farmworkers and other low income families. If you haven’t already done so, consider a gift to IFHA. Checks can be sent to: IFHA, ATTN: Alan Penick, Treasurer, 600 Sawgrass Bridge Road, Venice, FL 34292. Learn more at www.ImmokaleeFairHousing.org.

PW will not be hosting a Gathering in April. In lieu of a luncheon and program we encourage you to attend the services during Lent. You might even consider inviting a friend to one of Brice’s noon organ concerts and then go out to lunch! Our Circle groups will meet in April. Continued blessings to all.

Carolyn Bennett, Moderator

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!

Mission Work of Presbyterian Women this year has been focusing on Immokalee: The collection of blankets for Misión 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.