Outreach October 2022

In one of the most treasured of the psalms, Psalm 46, we hear these words: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam…”

On Wednesday, September 28, the waters of Hurricane Ian roared through Naples and much of Southwest Florida, causing great devastation and suffering. Although Naples did not receive the worst of it, many in our church and community have homes which suffered flooding damage from the storm surge and some have lost vehicles. Thankfully, most of us by now have had our power restored.

Surprisingly, the church itself fared well with no water damage. The power stayed on. The only damage was a broken window in the pastor’s office. I am still working on the symbolism of that.

And this past Sunday we worshipped and prayed. Rex gave a great sermon, encouraging us to have faith, and calling all of us to work constructively as “repairers of the breach” (Isaiah).After worship, we had a “town hall” attended by approximately 70 people in which we talked about our hurricane experiences, and shared concerns and information on those who suffered damage. And we asked, “What are we to do?” “Where is God working for the good in this? And how can we help?”

In response, your Session has approved the creation of a Hurricane Ian Relief Fund (HIRF) which, modeled on our Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CERF), is open to receive donations that will be distributed to agencies providing relief. We are also encouraging contributions to the Pastor’s Emergency Assistance Fund which is available on a confidential basis to assist individuals who are connected to our congregation with emergency expenses. We encourage you to contribute to both funds. For additional information on these funds and how you can contribute, please contact Debbie Savage, Director of Finance, at debbies@fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311.

In addition, we have opened Spencer Hall for those still without power or internet, providing a place for coffee, WIFI and charging cell phones. There is certain additional action to be taken as we learn more of the needs of our congregation and community. And in that regard, we are so

grateful to our Deacons who have been calling all of our members to see how they are doing and sharing the love and compassion of Christ.

Please let us know how you are doing and of your concerns. And do pray. Here is a good place to start, a portion of a prayer by John Baillie in A

DiaryofPrivatePrayer:

“

Lord of my life, whose commands I am eager to keep, whose fellowship I am eager to enjoy, and to whose service I am eager to be loyal, I kneel before you as you send me out to serve you. Thank you, Lord, for this new day. For its gladness and brightness, for its many hours waiting to be filled with joyful and helpful labor; for its open doors of possibility; for its hope of new beginnings. Stir up in my heart the desire to make the most of today’s opportunities. Do not let me break any of yesterday’s promises, or leave unrepaired any of yesterday’s wrongs. Do not let me see anyone in distress and pass by on the other side. Give me the strength to confront any mountain of duty or bad habit. Where action of mine can make this world a better place, where word of mine can cheer a sad heart or strengthen a weak will, where prayer of mine can serve Christ’s kingdom, there let me act and speak and pray... Amen” (ADiaryofPrivatePrayer,Day3,Morning).

Blessing and peace to you.

Faithfully and Gratefully,

A Season of Music

Kateri Andress, organ

November 6, 2022 4 p.m.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kateri Andress is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in the studio of David Higgs. In May of 2021, she completed her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Music with a double concentration in organ performance and sacred music, summa cum laude, from Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida, where she studied with Dr. Brice Gerlach. She has been awarded several scholarships over the years to fund her organ studies, including the 2017 American Guild of Organists’ Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarship and the 2021 National Association of Pastoral Musicians’ Dr. James Kosnik and OCP Scholarships. Kateri’s musical interests have always centered around sacred music, and she has been serving as a church organist since she first began organ studies at age 16. Most recently, while studying for her undergraduate degree, she held the position of Assistant Director of Music at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Ave Maria, Florida. Kateri is currently the Organist at the United Church of Canandaigua in Canandaigua, New York. Her program will include works by Bach, Mendelssohn and contemporary composer Naji Hakim.

This concert is open to the public at no charge. A free will offering will be taken.

Dr. George Wirth

enlightening presentation

Dr. George Wirth, a personal friend of Fred Rogers, is the Pastor Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta where he served as Pastor from 1990 to 2013. Dr. Wirth also served as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley, Pennsylvania and as an associate pastor at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (D. Min.). He currently serves as a consultant to the Cousins Family Foundation. George has served on a multitude of boards, including his current service with Princeton Theological Seminary, The Rabun Gap Nachoochee School, The Alban Institute and the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Homelessness.

George and his wife Barbara reside in Atlanta. Dr. Wirth and Rev. Goodrich served together at First Presbyterian of Atlanta for over 20 years. Dr. Wirth will preach the sermon, “Who Cares?” on Sunday, October 23, 2022

Feed the 5,000

This month we are helping to restock the food pantry of Helps Outreach.

Ushers will have a Publix bag available as you leave the Sanctuary the first Sunday of October. Food donations will be collected at the 6th Street church entrance on the second Sunday of the month, October 9.

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:

Canned tuna, chicken, meat

Macaroni and cheese

Canned soup

Jam or jelly

Red or black dried beans

Dried rice

Canned milk

Canned vegetables

Pasta

Pasta sauce

Hamburger or tuna helper

One of our work groups from the spring.

Pictured L to R: Susan Craig, Jeanne Perkins, Dick Hillebrand, Yancey Brame, Don Merz, Bob Guyett, Walter Gadkowski

Join our work crew as we help to construct a Habitat for Humanity home for a deserving Collier County family.

We will gather at the church Thursday, October 13 at 7:30 a.m. and will 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.

POWER PAK PROGRAM

The Power Pak program provides meals/snacks for Big Cypress Elementary School students who would not otherwise have enough to eat over the weekend.

You can help support this mission by donating to the “Care Bear,” which resides on the cookie/punch table in Spencer Hall ready to receive your dollars and cents to be used to purchase food for the program. You can also help by delivering Power Paks to Big Cypress Elementary school on the designated days. For information, contact Betty Plum at bplum.790@gmail.com.

Contributions to the Power Pak program may also be made online at www.fpcnaples.org/give. Please select Mission Power Pak Fund. Thank you for your generosity.

Christ Caring for People through People

The Alzheimer’s Association has some helpful advice for anyone who provides caregiving services for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. The premise here is that one can better care for a patient if one first takes care of oneself. Here is an article from the Association’s website on just that subject:

Taking care of yourself

Being involved in activities that enhance your sense of well being may help reduce your stress level. Spend time with friends and family, eat well, engage in physical activity and see the doctor regularly.

Here are tips on how to maintain your own health:

• Think about ways you can get support now. For example, include an afternoon to yourself in your monthly schedule. Ask others to visit or go to lunch with the person living with dementia while you're away.

• Build a support network. Creating a support system before you think you need it will minimize your stress as the disease progresses. Look at current support systems you have already in place and consider the people you turn to most often in times of need.

• Connect with other care partners to acquire encouragement and comfort from others who understand what you're going through.

• Ask for and accept help. Care partners often wait too long before asking for help from others.

• Rest when needed and allow time for yourself and your own interests.

• Try not to take things personally; symptoms of the disease can cause an individual to forget events or commitments. Remember this is not a reflection of his or her character.

• Stay healthy through diet, exercise and regular visits to the doctor.

• Stay engaged by continuing to be involved in activities that are important to you and enhance your sense of wellbeing.

• Allow yourself the opportunity to laugh when funny situations arise.

Two local non profit resources for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients:

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of The Alzheimer's Association

Serving 16 counties with education and support as well as raising funds for research. We provide education and support to all those facing Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout our community, including se living with the disease, caregivers, health care professionals and families. We are also committed to advocating for the needs and rights of those facing Alzheimer’s disease and advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

14010 Roosevelt Blvd #709 Clearwater, FL 33762 727.578.2558

Alzheimer’s Support Network

Serving families affected by Alzheimer’s disease in Collier County. They offer educational resources, support groups, individualized assistance, professional referrals, therapeutic experiences and respite care.

1421 Pine Ridge Rd Suite 100 Naples, FL 239.262.8383

JOY

has been the watch-word of the Deacons in 2022, but at times it is very difficult for us to be JOYFUL amid tragedy, pain and loss.

Christian writer Anne Stricherz provides an interesting approach to help us find and retain JOY, even in the darkest of times. Here is an excerpt from one of Ms. Stricherz’s blogs.

What’s the Difference Between Joy and Happiness?

It’s not a matter of whether this makes you happy or not because happiness is affected by many external factors (sleep, illness, hunger, loneliness, etc.).

Happiness changes from moment to moment, day to day. Joy, on the other hand, is much deeper and much more central, it comes from within, and it’s a genuine rightness of how one lives one’s life. So, I would like to reflect on what any Christian can do— or at least the way he or she can live their life with the “rightness of way” Jesus models for us to cultivate joy.

1. Pay Attention

One of my favorite poems is "Instructions on How to Live a Life" by Mary Oliver. She writes, 1. Pay attention.

2. Be astonished.

3. Tell about it.

I have noticed, that when I pay attention to someone or something, my brain settles into a different gear. Distractions lose their power. Music sounds better. I never heard that base line in that song before wow! Conversations are richer. The questions I ask are more thoughtful. Relationships improve. Humans are more interesting; we are indeed funny and quirky beings.

2. Laugh

3. Spend Time in Nature

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “The earth laughs in flowers.” Who doesn’t feel better after smelling a fresh flower or gathering wildflowers for a bouquet? Indeed, another way to cultivate Christian joy is to spend time in nature or at least pay attention to it. I just spent a week in a small town in North Carolina. Every lamppost was graced by baskets of hanging flowers. Noticing their vibrant colors, distinct fragrances and simple beauty brought a joy into my heart and a smile on my face.

I write of flowers, but nature is evidenced in seascapes and mountaintops, majestic trees, flora and fauna. In “The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility,” St. John Paul II wrote, “Finally, the aesthetic value of creation cannot be over-looked. Our very contact with nature has a deep restorative power; contemplation of its magnificence imparts peace and serenity. The Bible speaks again and again of the goodness and beauty of creation, which is called to glorify God.”

Spend some time out of doors paying attention to the natural world and I think it’s hard not to “be astonished,” the second step of Mary Oliver’s “Instructions for how to live a life.

4. Tell Stories

Sunday, September 11

Who doesn't feel better after a deep laugh? Laughter never goes out of style. Jim Martin, the culture editor at America Magazine agrees. In his book “Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life, Martin writes, “Humor serves some important purposes,” he said. “First, it can remind you of your poverty of spirit. Laughing at yourself reminds you that you are a human being reliant on God just like anybody else.” For leaders, humor is essential, Martin said, “particularly in the religious world, where we all tend to think that we alone are doing God’s work.” We feel drawn to religious leaders with a sense of humor. It shows us that they understand their essential poverty of spirit and their own reliance on God. It shows humility, which is also essential in the spiritual life. You take God seriously, Jesus seriously and the Gospel seriously, but you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously.”

I believe that living a life for others or in service to one another can’t help but yield a few stories. When we spend time with those in need, when we put others before ourselves, we open up more than just our hearts. We open our eyes and our ears, too. In that time, eventually a story is shared or is revealed. We all have them. And they ought to be captured, discussed and heard because stories have power. They capture our heads and our hearts. Jesus knew this, which is why he used so many of them in His ministry. Stories can reveal a beautiful or painful truth about life and about love.

You might not have your own adventures that merit dramatic story telling, but when you stand in solidarity with others, you might learn about theirs. Pay attention. I think you might be astonished. To cultivate joy, tell others about what you have seen and what you’ve heard.

Following the worship service join us in Spencer Hall for some refreshments and to meet your deacon and other members in your parish.

As Christians, we are called to transform the world. Think of the stories of those who have—all because they heard of the story the life, death and resurrection of one man. I believe they did it with more than just love. I have a feeling it was with joy, too.

CHURCH TOUR

All are welcome to join a "Behind the Scenes" church tour on Sunday, October 23, following the worship service. The guided tour is intended to orient, inform, and familiarize you with the spaces and activities that take place at FPCN. The 30 minute tour will include the offices, Choir Room, Mase Christian Education Center, Youth Room, Chapel, and other spaces with some historical perspectives from parishioners.

Participants should assemble at the front of the Sanctuary 15 minutes following the church service.

Church tours will be a recurring program about once per month going forward. We are looking for additional volunteers to help lead or assist with upcoming tours.

Please sign up in Spencer Hall or contact Sandy Knight in the church office to register (239.262.1311 or sandyp@fpcnaples.org) for this tour and/or to express an interest in future participation.

David Witman,

Moderator,

A Behind-the-Scene Peek: The Work of the Personnel Committee

Of all of the committees and task forces supporting the work of First Presbyterian Church of Naples, perhaps the least visible committee is the Personnel Committee. We are like the stage crew for a stage play, or the lighting and tech team for a big named band on tour. Except for the annual meeting to approve the Terms of Call for our Pastors (prepared by the Personnel Committee), the principal purpose of the committee is to care and appreciate our wonderful staff.

The PC(USA)’s Book of Order requires Sessions to provide for the administration of the program of the church, including the employment of nonordained staff, with particular concern for equal employment opportunity, fair employment practices, personnel policies, annual review of the adequacy of compensation for all church staff.

The BYLAWS of our church require the Session to provide for the supervision, compensation and administration of the Church staff. The Session has delegated these responsibilities of its Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee works with the Head of Staff and our Executive Office Manager on all employment matters.

The Members of the Committee are asked to serve based upon needed areas of expertise to carry out the assigned duties. A Ruling Elder is selected to Chair this committee. Currently, Ruling Elder Barb Weiss is chair of the Personnel Committee. She is joined by two other Ruling Elders serving as members, Jim Mahon and Fran Englehardt. Norm Brown, Janie Casassa, Nick Linn, Pat Nordbrock, Betty Plum and Chuck Work are non Session members of the committee.

The Basic Responsibilities of the committee are to:

• Prepare and/or approve job descriptions

• Review staff performance

• Develop a Human Resource Manual

• Adopt and review annually all benefit packages offered to non ordained staff

• Prepare annual budget of salary adjustments for Session approval.

• Review ordained staff annually and recommend any changes to their Terms of Call to Session for final vote by Congregation.

• Consult on termination of and hiring of non ordained employees

• Hire new staff

These basic responsibilities take up the majority of our meeting time, and often require scheduling extra meetings when working on a big project. Some of the major improvements the committee has made to our ongoing documents and processes include:

• Changing an annual performance appraisal from numeric ratings to a conversational appraisal highlighting work accomplishments and future goals. Supervisors check in with their staff quarterly to go over staff performance.

• Constantly updating HR Manual as laws and needs make necessary. For example, a large amount of time was spent on how to most fairly protect and care for staff during the COVID epidemic. Policies were drafted, revised and changed as each protocol was changed by the CDC and local governing authorities.

• Annual Salary Adjustments are made based on Presbytery recommendations and the Consumer Price Index. Whenever possible, we try to recommend an extra percent to those guidelines to affirm our dedicated staff!

• We have been in a process of reviewing and updating position descriptions of staff. We began with an update on the Director of Facilities and Communications Coordinator positions, as these belong to two of our longest serving staff. When we reviewed how much their responsibilities had grown and changed over the years, we determined that both positions were Exempt/Professional positions. We changed the Communications Coordinator title to Director of Publications and Social Media which more clearly describes her duties. And both treasured employees were given salary increases to bring them into alignment with others holding similar positions. What a joyous meeting this was!

Peek-A-Boo. . . We See You!

While our staff is well cared for with our salary and benefits plans, sometimes it is fun to surprise staff with a little “somethin’ somethin’” to let them know that they are SEEN. The Committee started with looking to our policy manual and encouraging eligible staff to USE some of the benefits that the church provides to them. For example, our policy manual encourages professional staff to take continuing education courses in areas of interest. Both Craig and Rex have utilized this policy to increase their effectiveness. Sharman uses continuing education time and funds to keep her HR certification current. Nancy has used her time to explore Spiritual Practices with Richard Rohr and is now taking seminary classes.

Our manual also provides professional staff with a sabbatical leave every five years. Well, after 21 years of service, Brice just returned from his FIRST sabbatical leave. Members of the committee (Chuck Work and Fran Engelhardt) worked with Brice to make sure all the paperwork was in place for Brice’s experience. In 2023, Craig is planning for HIS sabbatical leave (two years late). And Rex is up for sabbatical in 2024.

Speaking of Rex, he asked the committee to think about updating our Maternity Leave policy to include Paternity leave. As a result, the committee agreed and the policy was amended to provide new fathers six weeks of Paternity Leave.

The Committee enjoyed planning the first annual Staff Appreciation Day during worship service and after worship! What fun to have all staff with us in worship to be introduced to you. And then to honor staff celebrating special anniversaries. Because this was held during COVID “social distancing” time, we gave each special celebrant their own cake to take home and share with their families! The second annual Staff Appreciation Day was at a time where we could all celebrate together during worship, after worship and in Spencer Hall. Long live this tradition! Or how nice it was one year to give out a $100 gift card and small notebook to each staff member during their January staff meeting to use as a “Soul Day” a day off to do whatever restored their spirit and brought them joy. Another year, each staff member received a Christmas bonus as a surprise. And yet another year, they received two extra days off of work between Christmas and New Years to enjoy time with family and friends.

Oh true...our committee is filled with competent people ready, willing and able to handle the important responsibilities given to us. But the Personnel Committee is filled with people who have loving, caring and generous hearts. Not because it’s required, but because we care. We are always striving to show our staff how important they are to all of us at The First Presbyterian Church of Naples, “In the Heart of Naples with the Love of God: we worship, we love, we grow, we serve.”

Here are some quotes from your dedicated staff...

FPCN has gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome and happy in my position here. It was so nice to be invited to the Personnel Committee meeting to be formally introduced to them, which is just another way that FPCN goes out of their way to welcome new staff!

Debbie Savage, Director of Finance

The Personnel Committee is such an amazing support to us!. Through out the year they make us feel loved and supported and we are truly blessed to have their support!

Ashley Hancock, Christian Education Assistant

The Personnel Committee has done a great job at structuring the new A/V position, which is personally for me, a job in technology that has answered my prayers.

David Fister, Audio Visual Technician

The Personnel Committee is so supportive! The Soul Day was such a thoughtful gesture and provided an extra day of rest during a very stressful time (COVID). Thank you!

Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager

Thank you for being so “in tune” with our staff and for working with us to make us the best possible versions of ourselves.

Kathleen Law, Dir. of Publications and Social Media

I am so thankful for the Personnel Committee and their recognition of the Preschool staff as an important, meaningful component of FPCN. The support I feel from the Personnel Committee is not only vital to my role as the Preschool Director, but also to the success of the preschool as a whole.

Ashley Houk, Preschool Director

I am so grateful to be a part of the FPCN team. I’ ve never worked anywhere that was more welcoming, encouraging, or excelled at training and support. I feel very appreciated and needed, and I am in awe of the varied generosity the Personnel Committee gives, whether it be paid time off, flexibility with hours, or closing the office for our Staff Retreat. Thank you so very much for taking such good care of the staff.

Sandy Knight, Office Assistant/Receptionist

Thank you so much for all your commitment, love and support given each day to our staff. I am so blessed to be a part of this caring church for many years.

Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities

Three cheers for the Personnel Committee! Thank you for your loving care for our staff and your faithful wisdom and guidance.

Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor

Barbara Weiss, Committee Chair,

Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor,

Are you frustrated and challenged with the many things that vie for your attention in this complex world of instant communication? Do you need a 'time out' from all the demands and constant noise of everyday life? Does the peace and rest that God promises us in Scripture seem out of reach? Then consider joining one of our PW Circle group studies this year to learn together about the refreshing of our bodies, minds and souls as Christian women.

Our study for this year is titled: “Celebrating Sabbath: Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight” by Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel, professor of Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary.

This study will focus on God’s gift of Sabbath for our renewal and celebration. “Sabbath, as God intended it, is a chance to surrender unhealthy striving and frantic busyness and instead trust in God’s continual good provision. The joy and fruits of Sabbath can be ours”, says Bechtel, “if only we would create the space to receive it!” This will be a wonderful study giving us an opportunity to share in a small group setting the frustrations that are interrupting our comfort zone and often challenge our trust in God.

Grace Circle:

Our study guide ($10 each) will be available beginning the first Sunday in October. Stop by the PW table in Spencer Hall to purchase your copy or to inquire more about our monthly Circle Groups. All Circle Groups meet in our church Parlor.

CIRCLE MEETINGS

First Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. (Begins in December) Led by Andie Goodrich & Coke Evans

Love & Friendship Circle:

Third Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Led by Martha Waddell

Sunshine Circle:

Third Wednesday of the month at 11:15 a.m. Led by Janet Root & Janeen McClure

Peace with Honor Circle:

Third Wednesday of the month at 1:15 p.m. Led by Betty Mangos

Our first PW Gathering will be held on Wednesday, November 2 at noon for lunch followed by our program. We are thrilled to have Nancy Van Fleet, our Director of Children and Youth, kick off this year’s study: Celebrating Sabbath. If you attended the WOW study last year you benefited from various practices that Nancy shared with us in using quiet times for renewal and celebration of God’s presence. Join us as Nancy supports and encourages us to pursue the lessons in this year’s PW study. Sign up for the November Gathering on Sunday, October 23 and 30 in Spencer Hall.

Women of the Way

Women of the Way Fall Study

When: Thursday, October 20 December 1 (6 weeks excluding 11/24, Thanksgiving); 9 - 11 a.m.

Where: Spencer Hall; a live Thursday morning ZOOM option will also be available

Sign-up: In Spencer Hall at the WOW table after worship on October 2, 9 and 16; or online at fpcwomen2017@gmail.com

Study Book: "The Spirit Led Heart" can be purchased directly from Amazon or copies will be available in Spencer Hall at the WOW table (cost: $11).

ALL women are invited to our WOW fall study for a new season of fellowship, exploration of Scripture and small group discussion.

In our study book "The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith without Borders" author Suzanne Eller leads us in reflections on five qualities or gifts that the Spirit gives as we are open to its presence: confidence, empowerment, access to truth, direction and boldness.

With encouraging and practical wisdom, Eller affirms the loving power of the Spirit which has already been given and is waiting to be experienced as we go about our everyday lives. Note: we'll be studying this book in two parts, the first in the Fall study and the second in the Spring study. We hope you'll join us as we gather again in friendship and learning together as Christian women! And consider inviting a friend who would benefit from this study and might like to know more about our church.

Alice playing the xylophone Harper working on spelling her name Kelte during a Chapel lesson John playing with a dinosaur

Our Fall Festival is back!

Join us Friday, October 21 for FPCN

s First Annual Pumpkin Patch & Trunk or Treat! Join us from 6 8 p.m. for face painters, balloon artist, obstacle course, food,

a pumpkin patch with a pumpkin decorating station. Trunk or Treat will be held from 7 8 p.m. And we are excited to announce the return of the Preschool’s Silent Auction

What is Trunk or Treat?

• Trunk or Treat is a fun way for children to trick or treat in a central location (usually a parking lot). Participants can open and decorate their trunk/tailgate in creative ways and hand out treats to the children who go from car to car. How can I help?

• Register now for your parking space to park your car and hand out treats to the kids. You can decorate your car, wear a costume or just come as you are!

• Donations of small and medium sized pumpkins. Or you can donate to the Pumpkin Patch Fund by check, with the memo marked “Pumpkin Patch”, or online at fpcnaples.org/give and select the fund “CE Contribution. All pumpkins can be brought to Spencer Hall or the church office.

What kind of treats should I bring?

• You are invited to bring things like glow sticks, sticky hands, stickers, playdough, temporary tattoos, granola bars, applesauce pouches, fruit cups, finger puppets, slap bracelets, bouncy balls, mini flashlights, glow stick bracelets, character erasers. How do I sign up?

• Email Ashley at ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org or in Spencer Hall.

A Youth Group get together.

A fun time at Parents Night Out!

Wednesdays at First Fall 2022

Wednesdays at First is back! Mark your calendars for the kick-off of our 2022 Fall Season: October 12, October 19, November 2, and November 9

Please join us to listen and to discuss key topics and recent exciting experiences with our clergy and senior staff and enjoy fellowship, conversation, and food starting at 5:30 in Spencer Hall.

Dinner ($10) begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program at 6 p.m. Registration is required for dinner only. No reservation is necessary if you will be joining us for the program only. We’ve given you several options to register and pay, if you are joining us for dinner.

Sign up in Spencer Hall Call the church office at 239.262.1311 Email Sandy Knight at sandyk@fpcnaples.org Visit www.fpcnaples.org/____

October 12: Rev. Craig Goodrich:

We are honored to have Craig kick off our series with his talk “Looking Back with Gratitude and Forward with Hope.” Coming up on seven years as our senior pastor, he will share his reflections on navigating the COVID-19 years with the many challenges, heartaches and unanticipated silver linings. He will preview upcoming events and comment on church and cultural trends including “the culture of contempt” (Arthur Brooks) in which we find ourselves. He will remind us of our unity in Jesus Christ and our call to love God, neighbor, and enemies. Craig will highlight the good work of our wonderful staff and lay leadership and share stories and reflections on the joys of preaching and pastoring.

October 19: Rev. Rex Childs:

This summer, Rex was a delegate from our Presbytery to the PC(USA) General Assembly, which meets every two years. Its role is to review the work of synods, resolve controversies in the church, handle matters of common concern and serve as a symbol of unity for the whole church. Rex ably served as Moderator of Peace River Presbytery in 2021. Rex will review the important key issues addressed and approved by the GA. He will also educate us on the various parts of the PC(USA) and their respective roles.

November 2: Dr. Brice Gerlach:

Our talented and beloved music director and organist for over 20 years took a well earned Sabbatical this summer. Brice will describe in depth the highlights of this inspiring time off. He will also give us a glimpse into what he has planned for our music program this coming season.

November 9: Nancy Van Fleet:

As Director of Children and Youth, Nancy has brought her joy, dedication and creativity to developing and expanding the faith formation of our younger people. She chairs our FPCN team dedicated to inspiring our congregation to “grow young.” She will expand on next steps for this important endeavor and the roles each of us need to consider. Nancy recently completed the Cohort of the Living School for Action and Contemplation (founded by Fr. Richard Rohr), and is currently completing her Graduate Certification in Innovative and Adaptive Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She will explain the essence of these innovative programs and how they have impacted her role at FPCN.

Growing Young

Do you want to be a part of this initiative

feel called to work directly

children

youth?

about joining us for prayer

we continue

meet every Friday

this journey.

12 noon on Zoom

minutes.

Religious Leaders Series

A new monthlyChristian Education series will begin on Sunday, October 9 from 8:30 9:15 a.m. in the Chapel.

We will take a look at religious leaders of the past. This program, originally presented to the WednesdayMorningMen:Faithand Fellowship,was well received.

The first presentation on October 9 will concentrate on Saint Augustine, presented by Chuck Work.

November and December topics will be announced closer to the dates.

No reservation is needed. For more information, please contact Bill Kearney at skearney239@comcast.net or 239.348.2871.

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. We are currently reading the Gospel of John.

This is a women’s fellowship/study with no homework. Please bring your Bible. We look to covenant with each other week by week as we delve into God’s Word.

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

Join us for Sacred Habits

Thursdays, October 13, 20 & 27

8 9 a.m. in the Chapel

AJourney into the Interior Inspiring transformation through the labyrinth experience

by Nancy Van Fleet

Join us for our fall session of Sacred Habits as we explore the labyrinth. Spiritual practices, like the labyrinth, can help us in our walk with God. The labyrinth is a spiritual practice that, through history, has emerged in popularity in times of crises.

Labyrinths have been found all over the world, dating from earliest antiquity. Once popular in the Middle Ages, labyrinths have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity. According to Veriditas, an organization that promotes labyrinths world they are used "to quiet the mind, recover a balance in life, and encourage meditation, insight, self reflection, stress reduction, and to discover innovation and celebration. The practice of labyrinth walking integrates the body with mind and the mind with the spirit. They can be found in medical centers, parks, churches, schools, prisons, memorial parks, spas, cathedrals and retreat centers as well as in people's backyards."

We invite you to a three week labyrinth experience in person or online. Each session will include the ritual of lighting a candle, time in silence, labyrinth introduction, and the opportunity to walk our canvas labyrinth (or do a finger labyrinth walk if joining us remotely) so we can all gain a deeper understanding of this practice. We will also provide time to reflect in the practice together.

Week 1 Theme: Pilgrimage

Week 2 – Theme: Homecoming

Week 3 – Theme: Mystery and Awe

In addition to being Director of Children and Youth Ministries here at FPCN, Nancy is a Veriditas Certified Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator having trained with the leader of the labyrinth movement, Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress. She works with people of all ages in classes, retreats and programs to present the labyrinth and walks with them in the mystery. Her work was recently featured in Lucy Tobias’ book, CircletheCenter Labyrinthsin Florida. Nancy creates, walks, and photographs labyrinths as a spiritual practice in her own life.

A Men’s Bible Discussion Group

Enemies

Arthur C. Brooks.

Coffee and pastries will be served. We look forward to your participation if and when

are able to join us.

For more information and questions, please

Kearney

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.

Roni

October 1

Norm Garrity

Deb Streamer

Julie Camp

October 2

Terry Brennan

October 4

Lene Fernstrom

October 5

Ken Moran

October 6

Jim LeFevre Nancy Kier

October 7

Nancy Van Fleet

Bob Humphrey

Joe Patton

Tom Dardani

Mike McCarthy David Lovingood

October 8 Louise Jerome John Smith Audrey Smith Janeen McClure Magge Camuti

October 9 Fred Witt Peggy Patrick

October 10

Ginny Newman

Dorothy Gomori

Judith Ferguson Cindy Emmerson

October 12

Ron Wood David McLaughlin

Libby Biehl

October 13 Pat Mans

October 14

Larie Burghardt

October 15

Kay Pittman Luke Claremont

October 16 Bill Law

October 17 Linda Benson Len Hook Russ Kempker

October 18 Sandy Knight Robert Kibler

October 19

Rich Peterson Paul Green

Seekers & Joiners

October 21

Don Herring

Marlene Newhart

October 23

Don White October 24

Masie Razzano

October 25

Jim Bailey

October 26

Jane Woodruff

Linda Gadkowski

October 27

Carmela Gilbertsen

October 28

Ashley Hancock October 29

Dennis Butts

Gordon Kellan

October 30

Gerald Neff Nick Linn

Janet Yanushefski

October 31

Russell Mase Debbie Warren

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, October 16 immediately following the worship service.

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.

Scheduling Meetings & Events

Please note, as season begins and we return to holding meetings and events at the church, there is the ability to offer a hybrid style meeting which includes in-person and/or the Zoom option. We have limited availability due to space/equipment necessities. Therefore, we will offer this service on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Please be sure to schedule ALL meetings, whether in-person, Zoom or hybrid, through Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities, sandyp@fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311 ext. 2028.

Congregational meeting

A meeting of the congregation will be held on Sunday, October 30 following the service. The purpose of the meeting is to elect elders and deacons.

Thank You

To my Pastors, Deacons, Stephen Ministers and Friends,

We are pleased to offer you another way to watch us online! Each Sunday morning the worship service is live streamed on YouTube.

Simply search for “First Presbyterian Church of Naples” on YouTube. And, if you have a smart tv you can watch us on a larger screen! Subscribe to our channel and you will be notified of new videos.

As always, you can still view the services on your phone, tablet or computer by either visiting our website, www.fpcnaples.org, Facebook or YouTube.

In Memoriam

This note is to tell all of you how much I appreciated all your prayers, phone calls, visits, cards, bringing and serving communion, and beautiful flowers when I was in the hospital and Terracina recovering from COVID. Please know that I am so grateful to all of you for the joy you have given me by your kindness and caring.

Sincerely, Helen Spina

Dear Rev. Goodrich and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Naples, The Shelter values your support as we work to prevent, protect, and prevail over domestic violence and human trafficking in Collier County. With your help, The Shelter offers individuals and families the opportunity for a future free of violence and abuse. Thank you so much for your support. In peace and gratitude, Linda Oberhaus Chief Executive Officer

Dear Friends, Thank you for your generous gift. The needs are great and working together we can witness the healing love of Christ, Peace,

Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Staff Ext. E-mail Ministers

Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor 2035 craigg@fpcnaples.org

Rev. Rex Childs, Associate Pastor 2027 rexc@fpcnaples.org

Worship & Music

Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries 2039 briceg@fpcnaples.org

David Fister, Audio Visual Technician 2044 davidf@fpcnaples.org

Caitlin Hancock, Sound and Video Operator

Christian Education

Jack Fogelman, Kidz Lab Teacher

Audrey Gordon, Childcare Provider

Ashley Hancock, Christian Education Assistant 2012 ashley.hancock@fpcnaples.org

Nancy Van Fleet, Director of Children and Youth 2029 nancyv@fpcnaples.org

Office

Sandy Knight, Office Admin/Receptionist 2000 sandyk@fpcnaples.org

Kathleen Law, Director of Publications and Social Media 2013 kathleenl@fpcnaples.org

Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager 2036 sharmanp@fpcnaples.org

Debbie Savage, Director of Finance 2042 debbies@fpcnaples.org

Facilities

Lisa Ethier, Custodian 2016 lisae@fpcnaples.org

Eduardo Martinez, Maintenance 2014 eduardom@fpcnaples.org Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities 2028 sandyp@fpcnaples.org

Preschool

Ashley Houk, Preschool Director 2009 ashleyh@fpcnaples.org Lindsay Willkomm, Assistant Preschool Director 2038 lindsayw@fpcnaples.org

Elders

Class of 2022 Carleton Cleveland Deborah Meeson-Vige Rich Peterson Patty Rutzler Janice Witman

Class of 2022 Barbara Beach Richard Beach Cindy Esler Audrey Gordon Karen Parker Roy Parker David Witman

Class of 2023

Teresa Doane

Fran Engelhardt Linda Gadkowski

Roni Haggart

Bill Kearney

Deacons

Class of 2023

Pat Collins

Charles Fraley

Tedi Fraley

Nancy Kier

Lucy Koll

Eileen Malstrom

Betty Plum

Daisy Scott

Barbara Simons

Roger Simons

Susan Sonderby

Deborah Streamer

Harry Streamer

Class of 2024

Steve Barwick

Doug Jensen

Jim Mahon

Saralene Oldham

Barbara Weiss

Class of 2024

Mary Armstrong

Marti Beard

Norman Brown

Pam Fisher

Amy Manley

Jack Marsh

Sylvia Marsh

Melissa McClayton

Sarah Nichols

Ali Norris Gary Root

Liz Speake

Gay Stover