Outreach newsletter August 2015

The First Presbyterian Church of Naples

AUGUST 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

Katelynn Boot in Haiti on a medical mission trip

From Dr. Browne

2

Finance

3

Music

4

Congregational Care Missions

6 7

Calendar Children and Youth

9 10

News & Events

12

2

Rev. Dr. Will Browne, Interim Pastor/Head of Staff

I have been thinking about the strange nature of Florida churches.

Many things that are almost universal among churches in other parts of the country are opposite with us. I don’t think there is anything wrong with this, it is just the reality of being one of the churches established in a land of paradise and retirement and partial year residents.

I find comfort in this situation from a poem by a lady I respected greatly named Vera Grace Frances. We called her “Miss Frances” and admired her. She taught in the school I attended in India and published this poem in a book entitled, “I Have Loved Beauty”.

One work have I To know within my inmost hour, That God is all, - the very whole Of this my life; that radiant, bright, He fills all space, for God is Light.

One work have I To know that there is not a place But images of God’s glorious face.

At every pins point He is there in all His beauty passing fair.

One work have I To know where’er my feet are led, Whatever spot on earth I tread, Just there will God be ever found, And every place is holy ground.

willb@fpcnaples.org

Almost all of us are from somewhere else – often somewhere else we loved and with which we still have deep connection and for which we have deep affection. We love it there and we love it here. Miss Frances’ point is that everyplace is God’s place and we are to love each place not in comparison to other places, but for the grace given in that place. I think that is wise advice. So I love FPCN for itself and always will.

Finance

Richard Green, Finance Committee Chair

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Online Giving Endowment Committee Have you considered having your legacy continue at First Presbyterian Church after your lifetime?

If so, please consider a current gift, a gift in your will or trust, or a gift by a beneficiary designation in a life insurance policy, a retirement account, or a bank or investment account.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help First Presbyterian Church of Naples, please contact Dr. Will Browne at 239.262.1311 or Endowment Committee members Linda Gadkowski at 508.778.6126 or Fred Garner at 239.434.2438.

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

Did you know you can make your gifts online?

You can pay for Chancel flowers, make a donation to the Benevolence Fund, Feed the 5000, Wish List, Birthday Fund, Stewardship Tithe, Season of Music and more.

Visit our website at www.fpcnaples.org and look for the “GIVE online� link at the bottom of the home page. Here you will be able to establish a secure online account.

For those who pay their pledge online PLEASE NOTE: Although you may have set up an account last year with a recurring gift, you will need set to up a new gift for 2015. For more information or if you need help setting up your account, please contact Sharman Pfaus at 239.262.1311 ext. 236 or at sharmanp@fpcnaples.org.

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Music

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

Our family has just returned from a two week musical adventure in Poland! We were part of a 32 voice all professional choir and we presented concerts in several cities in Poland as well as participating in two choral festivals. We became involved in this project through Richard Zielinski.

He is the director of the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria (the festival we have been attending for many years) and also directs a professional choir called the Zielinski Singers. He invited Michele to sing and for me to be the accompanist.

Bydgoszcz—Flags of all the countries performing

Choirs from around the world came to be a part of this festival and it was an honor to be a part of it.

We performed an

a cappella

program of music

by American composers on one evening and on another evening we performed a concert of popular Colin by the Baltic Sea in American music Miedzyzdroje with a band. All the concerts were filled to capacity and the audiences were so appreciative of our music.

Our son, Colin, had the opportunity to sing with the choir in the second concert. He had a great time being a part of the choir!

Miedzyzdroje—Culture House

We began our trip in the town of Miedzyzdroje, a beautiful resort city on the Baltic Sea where we were invited to be a part of the 50th anniversary of the International Choral Song Festival.

Zielinski Singers—Szczecin Radio Concert

Music

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

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concert in the city Opera House. The choirs that attended the festival were all youth choirs from all over the world (South Africa, Ukraine, Turkey, and several other countries).

These choirs were all in competition with one another during Singing for Mass in the city of Murowana Goslina the week and our Opera Nova—Bydgoszcz We then traveled south to the town of Szczecin director, Richard to perform a concert that would be broadcast Zielinski, was asked to be one of the judges. live on Polish radio. It was a concert of mostly We performed a few pieces by ourselves and popular pieces and gospel pieces accompanied then combined with all of the youth choirs to by a band. perform the three pieces we taught them over the course of the week. Colin was also a part of Our journey continued to the small city of this concert.

Murowana Goslina where we sang for a Sunday morning Mass and performed an evening It was a great trip and very busy. We found concert.

Poland to be a beautiful country filled with kind and genuine people who truly appreciated Our final stop was in the city of Bydgoszcz (the choral music. It was wonderful to be a part of third largest city in Poland) where we were a such a great musical adventure! We leave th part of the 38 Annual Bydgoszcz Musical again for Austria in a few weeks for our next Impressions Festival. It is a festival that European trip where we will perform the Mozart includes folk dancers, concert bands, and Requiem and the Lord Nelson Mass by Joseph Missions traditional folk music groups as well as choral Haydn. singing. We were asked to be the “workshop choir” where we helped to teach three pieces to several choirs that were to be sung at the final

Bydgoszcz—Dress rehearsal of combined youth choirs

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Congregational Care

STEPHEN MINISTRY

by Gary Root The calling to be a Stephen Minister for me was like the calling to be a deacon. As I have learned, a deacon is the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Jesus working through a lay person in today’s world. As a Christian, what could be a better calling?

Shirley Hagerson, shagerson@comcast.net

Bonswa from Haiti!

I want to thank every single one of you for your continued support, prayers and love towards me A Stephen Minister during my time in Haiti. I have now been living here has the opportunity for eight weeks, and it has been nothing less than amazing. I have been out in more than 20 villages to bring this same setting up mobile clinics to needy Haitian citizens. I calling to an intimate relationship have witnessed some amazing events, conditions with another person, and people through the grace of God during my time here. I am so blessed to be living here, and one-on-one, in a can't wait to see what God has in plan for the rest of non-judgmental, my stay. It is supportive, and incredible to see loving way. the way God is using his people Equipped with the to transform this excellent 50 hours of Stephen Ministry training at the beginning of this nation to become a nation year, I truly believe I can have a positive effect on of Christ! someone who might be going through a difficult Thanks again for time in his life. everything, Plus, it is great to be a part of a group of people in In Christ, our church who are amazingly committed to Katelynn Boot bringing comfort and care to our church members.

This includes visitations to members who are homebound and hospitalized. First Presbyterian Church is doing a great job in this outreach.

As rookie deacons, Jeanie Weigel and I delivered communion to people who could not make it to church on Communion Sunday. I now do it with my wife, Janet, as Jeanie and others do as well. All along, we all have felt the gratitude of the recipients. And, all along, we have told them that the gratitude is all ours. What a privilege and a joy to uplift others!

Thank you Marilyn Currier for asking me to heed the call to become a deacon back then‌and, now, a Stephen Minister.

Missions

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

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God knew otherwise. In the third week, students were coming to hear about Christ and our new friend Jamie accepted the Gospel. At one point when hearing about Christ for the first real time, Jamie exclaimed, “Wow, this is good news!”

Little did he know that the Gospel is literally translated as just that. By the end of the At first I believed that three weeks trip, I had written a list of about 30 men that had become interested in the Gospel in some capacity, in Jamaica was going to be an and we are still praying for them all. extremely long trip, but it turned out to be some of the fastest weeks of my life. It’s hard for me In the midst of going and preaching, I was also to put into words my experience while in their inspired by our senior missionary, Mark Boggart. He culture, but it was so extremely amazing on all renewed my desire to read the Word, and got me counts. There were only five of us who ended up into the practice of reading scripture for fun and in being part of the Navigator team, which allowed us large doses. He would often state, “When reading to grow extremely close and to experience true the Bible, we often get too focused on a few fellowship in our time together. leaves when there is a whole forest in front of us to experience!” With this attitude, I am I’ll begin by summarizing what I witnessed God do constantly reminded to take God’s word as a whole, among the locals that we had the privilege of meeting and ministering to. The first two weeks and not to focus on just a few out of context were full of trial and error, and composed mostly of verses. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All walking around university campuses and Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for evangelizing using Romans 6:23 “For the wages of teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training

sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in in righteousness, that the man of God may be Christ Jesus our Lord”. The Jamaican students were complete, equipped for every good work.” all very open to conversation with us, and many showed genuine interest in hearing about Christ.

One student summarized Jamaica as, “Everyone here has heard the Bible from the time they were born, and could probably tell you many quotes from it. However, we are a culture that is unwilling to turn from the world and commit to living for Christ.”

This was apparent when evangelizing, with some students going so far as to tell us directly that they would rather enjoy what is called sin for most of their lives before turning to Christ, in order to have more fun. There were some discouraging times when I felt as if we weren’t making a difference in any lives, that there was no fruit for our labor, but

We studied Paul’s missionary journey, and I was shown how fortunate I am to be a messenger of the Gospel to others, and to have such freedom to do so. I hope that the friendships formed in Jamaica last a lifetime, and know that any seeds planted in our time there will be watered in their own time. All in all, I now trust the Word when it claims that the harvest is plentiful, it just requires laborers to be sent.

Thank you all for aiding in giving me such an incredible opportunity.

Collin Weigel

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Missions

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

Feed the 5,000

As our mission work here at FPC continues, Luke 9:10-17 please add these dates Grace Place is to your calendar:

a faith based August 9 and 16 community Undy Sunday center which teaches literacy, language, and life skills to children at risk and impoverished families. This month we gather food for that agency.

October 27

take our church outside

Most needed items are: dried rice dried beans cans of chicken, tuna, meat canned fruit canned vegetables powdered milk dry children's cereal peanut butter jam or jelly

“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”

St. Theresa of Avila.

October 16

Ushers will have a Publix bag with a list of desired food items available as you leave the Sanctuary on the first Sunday of the month. Please bring your food to the 6th Street church entrance before the service on the second Sunday.

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

know

October 20.

Betty Mangos Mission Committee Chair

Calendar

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

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

9

SATURDAY

1

Communion prep

2

3

9:30 Communion Worship 9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School 12 p.m. Cumberland Church

7

4

5

6

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

10 a.m. Photo directory meeting 12 p.m. Women’s luncheon 4:30 p.m. PNC Committee

9:30 a.m Stephen Ministry 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking

location)

11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group

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9 UNDY SUNDAY 10

11

12

13

14

9:30 Worship 9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School 11 a.m. Deacon’s Brunch 12 p.m. Cumberland Church

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

4:30 p.m. PNC Committee

10:30 a.m. Preschool Open House 10 a.m. Sew & Sews 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie OUTREACH Baking DEADLINE 10:30 a.m. Preschool Open House

9 a.m. Preschool teacher orientation

location)

8 a.m. Facilities Committee 2:30 p.m. Missions Committee

16 UNDY SUNDAY 17

18

19

20

21

9:30 Worship 9 a.m. Children’s Sunday School 12 p.m. Cumberland Church

Preschool begins

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

4:30 p.m. PNC Committee

7 p.m. Cumberland Church

9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking

23

24

25

26

27

7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate

4:30 p.m. PNC Committee

10 a.m. Sew & Sews 9:30 a.m. Cookie 4 p.m. Middle School Baking Youth Group 7 p.m. Cumberland Church

28

9:30 Worship 9 a.m. Children’s Sunday School 12 p.m. Cumberland Church

22

3 p.m. Finance Committee 5:30 p.m. Deacons

9:30 Worship 9 a.m. Children’s Sunday School 12 p.m. Cumberland Church

30

location)

15

location)

2 p.m. High School Youth Group 4 p.m. Session

31

29 FGCU retreat

Contact Director of Facilities, Sandy Poore at 239.262.1311 ext. 228 or sandyp@fpcnaples.org to reserve a room for your meeting. Please do not assume that if a room is vacant that it is available for use. This will alleviate any awkward situations from occurring.

This calendar does not necessarily include all events that are scheduled at the church.

For additional information, call 239.262.1311 or visit the website www.fpcnaples.org.

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Christian Education

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

Beginning in September we will offer our Family Fun Sunday events...and we are all family here.

Sunday, August 16 Christian Education will be launching a completely NEW Sunday Morning Education time for EVERYONE. We would like to move towards whole congregational education. This means on Sunday morning everyone from nursery to adults will be learning the same lectionary text on an age appropriate level.

Drop off for children will begin at 8:45 a.m. and all educational opportunities will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Classes will conclude at 9:25 a.m. giving parents time to pick up their children and worship together.

Following the Children's Moment, children in grades 5 and under will be dismissed for lectionary lesson extras. This will be a structured hands on activity time for kids revolving around the Sunday lesson.

They will enjoy many different activities to help reinforce the scripture.

The idea behind this is continuity and unity.

Christian Education believes giving parents an extra tool throughout the week to help guide their children in the way of Christ, what we are all called to do.

For more information, please contact Shana Dublan at 239.262.1311 ext. 229.

We will gather following the worship service and visit different places around town to get to know each other better, have some family fun and enjoy ourselves. Trips vary from bowling, to the zoo, to a boat ride to see local marine life and many others.

Pre–registration is required and prices vary. These are meant to be a family event so all family members are encouraged to attend. Children must have a parent/grandparent with them to participate.

Ask our Education Department how you can receive an even larger savings on these trips.

Middle School Youth Group will begin on Thursday, August 27. All Middle School students are welcome to join us each Thursday from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

High School Youth Group will begin on Tuesday, August 25. High School students will meet from 2 - 4:30 p.m.

Each Tuesday. The church bus will pick up at Naples High School at 2 p.m.

Children and Youth

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

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News and Events

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

Sunday, August 16 is going to be

AMAZING!

Parents and children are invited to meet the Sunday School teachers at 9 a.m. in the Youth Room.

Worship will be bursting with excitement when we:  Welcome New Members  Celebrate a Baptism  Commission Teachers  Bless Backpacks

Following worship Christian Education will host a delicious

PANCAKE BREAKFAST.

News and Events

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

The Chamber Choir of the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast will be featured in our worship service on Sunday, August 30.

Several of our soloists are members of this choir and we are excited to have them join us for worship.

The ensemble performed in Austria and Czech Republic in 2014 including a concert at St. Stephen's in Vienna as part of the church's "Art & Culture" series. They were the featured collegiate choral ensemble at the 2013 Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) conference.

Locally the choir has appeared on several artist series concerts, in collaborations with established organizations including Opera Naples, Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and in community events like the City of Ft. Myers Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service.

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You’re invited to join us on Sunday, August 9 in Spencer Hall following the worship service for an after church potluck luncheon.

If your last name begins with the following, please bring the following: A-I, main course; J-R, side dish; S-Z, dessert.

Join your deacons for a great meal and good conversation in faith and commitment to FPCN.

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News and Events

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

Presbyterian Women’s Summer Luncheon Join us on Wednesday, August 5 at noon in Spencer Hall for our

“Bring a Piece of Salad Luncheon” All you need to do is sign up in Spencer Hall and bring in some of your favorite salad fixin’s.

Thank You I am so grateful to the deacons and others at First Presbyterian Church for their prayers and concern for me during my recent illness. Shirley Hagerson delivered lovely flowers to me while I was in the hospital and Gary Root brought more beautiful flowers when I returned home. I feel truly blessed to be a member of this church.

Sincerely, Marilyn Rustman

Thank you for the lovely flowers for my birthday. That made it special coming from my church family.

Sincerely, Robbie Heatherly

Locked cabinet for audio/visual equipment in the Youth Room—$600  Commercial grade office shredder—$1,000  5 drawer locking file cabinet for Preschool— $1500 

Donations for the above items would be welcomed and appreciated.

Please contact Sharman Pfaus 239.262.1311 with any questions on the items for the wish list.

Dear Friends: Thank you for your generous gift of canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, jelly and other food items. Your donation has solidified your commitment to assisting our community to prevail over domestic violence in our homes, schools, businesses and neighborhoods.

With your contribution, the Shelter will be able to continue to provide over 45 innovative support groups, access to our state-of-the art emergency shelter, and 24-hour counseling services.

In peace and gratitude, Linda Oberhaus Executive Director

Dear Presbyterian Women,

In Memoriam Ruth Palmer June 29, 2015

Robert Tunstall July 16, 2015

Thank you for your generous gift. You reduce hunger with ECHO by equipping people with agricultural best practices, resulting in better yields. With your help, we are providing resources that improve lives to smallscale farmers and the development workers and missionaries who work with them.

Gratefully, Ali Diaz Donor Services Manager

News and Events

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

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Holy Paparazzi photo directory

STROKE DIABETES HEART DISEASE EARLY DETECTION IS KEY TO PREVENTION Wednesday, September 16

Have you smiled for the camera yet?

Stop in to Spencer Hall any Sunday during the month of August to have your picture taken for our new

Holy Paparazzi photo directory Please remember that this in an “in-house” directory that we will print from our church database. We do not have copies of the photographs available.

Pre-registration is required Call 1.888.653.6450 to register for your appointment and receive a special $10 discount.

Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening—$70 Heart Rhythm Screening—$70 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening—$70 Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening—$60 Osteoporosis Risk Assessment—$60 Package 1 Stroke, Vascular Disease & Heart Rhythm 4 tests—$139 Package 2 Add an osteoporosis screening for only $10 5 tests—$149 ALL scheduling is done through LifeLine Screening, not the church office.

BREAKFAST BIBLE STUDY Each Tuesday morning we meet at 7 a.m. at Skillet’s on the north trail (behind Wendy’s just north of DeVoe Cadillac). Bring your Bible and your appetite!

Everyone is welcome.

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

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

Undy Sunday The 19th Annual Undy Sunday Campaign will be held on Sunday, August 9 and Sunday, August 16.

Please bring your donations of new underwear and socks (sizes 2-12) to church on the above dates and help give low income children a decent start in their new school year.