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News and Events for First Presbyterian Church of Naples, FL
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T h e F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h o f N a p l e s
December 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Rev. Craig Goodrich 2
Music 3
Finance 4
Presbyterian Women 6
Missions 6
Congregational Care 8
Calendar 9
Preschool 10
Children & Youth 11
News & Events 13
2
Dear members and
friends of First
Presbyterian Church of
Naples:
As we head into the
season of Advent
followed by Christmas,
there is much happening
in the life of our congregation that is and
will be exciting and inspiring, including
wonderful musical offerings, youth
activities and mission opportunities all of
which are described in this issue of the
Outreach.
There will be a “Seekers and Joiners”
class after worship on December 6 for
those interested in learning about
membership here at FPC Naples. Did you
know you can become an “affiliate”
member here and still keep your
membership at your “home” church?
Please note the Finance Committee Report
by Chair Richard Green. We continue to
encourage year end giving as part of our
Christian discipleship and to help decrease
our deficit. Our pledge campaign for 2016
will be in January and February and you
will be hearing more about that in the
New Year. But I hope that you will be
considering and praying now about what
your 2016 pledge will be. The theme of
the campaign, chaired by Duncan Connell,
is “Courageous Generosity: A Time for
Renewal.” I think that describes very well
where we are and what we hope for as a
congregation.
I will be preaching a sermon series in
Advent concluding with Christmas Eve.
The title of the series is “A Season of
Light” and sermons will be:
Sunday, November 29:
“The Light of Hope”
Sunday, December 6:
“The Light of Peace”
Sunday, December 13:
“The Light of Joy”
Sunday, December 20:
“The Light of Love”
Thursday, December 24:
“The Light of the World” (at 7 p.m.)
I hope that you will come to all the
worship services and invite your family
and friends.
May hope, peace, joy and love be yours in
this Season of Light.
Faithfully Yours,
Craig
Rev. Craig Goodrich, Senior Pastor/Head of Staff craigg@fpcnaples.org
3 Music Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries, briceg@fpcnaples.org
A Service of Lessons and Carols with the
Chancel Choir Sunday, December 6, 2015
4:00 p.m. Experience the hope and joy of rediscovering the miracle and wonder of Christmas as told through beautiful and cherished music of the season. This special worship service, made popular by Kings College Cambridge, has become a tradition at First Presbyterian Church. Our Chancel Choir will sing many favorite Christmas anthems including the Birthday Carol by Sir David Willcocks, Sans Day Carol by John Rutter, Mid-Winter by Bob Chilcott and the Ave Maria by Franz Biebl. Sing some of your favorite traditional carols such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, and many others. Come and remember the reason for the season. Mark your calendar for this yuletide afternoon.
Prepare for Christmas in a relaxing and spiritual way.
There is no charge for the concert. A free will offering will be taken. Reception to follow in Spencer Hall.
4 Music Finance Richard Green, Finance Committee Chair, rgreen@cbcworldwide.com
Finance year to date report
As Chairman, I want to say a large thanks to the finance committee members. As they say there is good news and some, not so good. Our new Pastor, Rev. Craig Goodrich, has arrived and is very welcome. We feel this will begin to help stabilize our financial picture. Attendance is growing and attendance is above last year for the past 3 months. The sale of the excess parking lot was successful.
Major improvements to the church that are to be done and paid for from the sale of the property are: New carpet for the Sanctuary and Spencer Hall to be done after Christmas. Our 10 year old video equipment will be replaced with new high definition video equipment. Many air conditioners have or will be replaced.
A capital reserve account has been set up for future needs and will be budgeted for each year as required. Our financial picture needs to improve. We have budgeted and run deficits for the last 3 years and we had to pull from the endowment fund almost $900,000 to cover these deficits. We have cut and are continuing to cut operating expenses but it is our giving that is falling short.
Financial statement as of September 2015. Actual Budget Compared to Budget Offerings Income $641,678 $730,015 ($88,337) Other Income $34,870 $38,034 ($3,164) Preschool Income $253,201 $242,585 $10,616 Total Income $929,749 $1,011,106 ($81,357) Expense $1,157,962 $1,204,854 ($46,892) Operating gain/ (loss) ($233,268) ($193,748) By year end we will have a loss of about $300,000 plus. In the future, we hope to eliminate the need to rely on Reserves to fund operations. If you are in a position to make a year-end gift to help with this year’s deficit, we would very much appreciate it. Our “Courageous Generosity” campaign will soon be underway – with emphasis in January/February. We hope that you will make a pledge and also increase your giving. One of the Endowment committee ideas for year-end giving and tax planning is to consider giving a gift of highly appreciated stock to the church as we approach the end of the year. Consult your tax advisor for details. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, you may contact Fred Garner 239.434.2438 or Linda Gadkowski at lgadkows@capecod.net.
Richard Green Finance Committee Chair
5
YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS
PLEASE NOTE: All 2015 contributions MUST be either postmarked by December 31, 2015, received in the church office by 12 p.m. or processed online by December 31, 2015 in order to claim a charitable contribution deduction for 2015. As we approach the end of 2015, persons who make year end contributions might want to consider donations of stock. Please contact Sharman Pfaus at 239.262.1311 ext. 236 or
sharmanp@fpcnaples.org if you wish to make a stock donation.
What is Alternative Giving? Alternative
giving, virtual
giving or graceful
giving is a form of gift
giving that has a symbolic
value to the recipient and
benefits a meaningful
cause at the same time. The gift giver makes a donation
on the gift recipient’s behalf, rather than giving them an
item. In 1916, Lily Hardy Hammond wrote, "You don't
pay love back; you pay it forward.”
Have your children often wondered what to give you for a
Christmas gift? Have you said many times, “I don’t need
a thing?” Church member, Ed Wilson, answered his
children by giving them a wonderful and thoughtful
response…“I want you to make a donation to my
church!”
Why not give your children the same response?
Gifts can easily be made to the church in honor of a loved
one. The gift is a tax deduction for the gift giver and
warms the heart of the recipient. The church will send the
recipient a card informing them that a gift has been made
to the church in their honor and a letter is sent to the giver
for tax records. All donations will be deposited to the
General Fund of FPCN.
Music Finance Richard Green, Finance Committee Chair, rgreen@cbcworldwide.com
Endowment Committee It’s been a pretty good year for stock investors. Consider giving a gift of highly appreciated stock to First Presbyterian Church of Naples. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help First Presbyterian Church of Naples, please contact Endowment Committee members Linda Gadkowski at 239.775.9901 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.
6
Feed the 5,000
Luke 9:10-17
Youth Haven receives the food we gather this month. Our donations help to make it possible for Youth Haven to serve more than 2,400 children and family members as shelter, counseling, food, and caring is provided to those in need. Wish List: 2 cans of meat, fish or chicken 2 cans of vegetables rice pasta and pasta sauce peanut butter and/or jelly breakfast foods applesauce, canned fruit or fruit cups PLEASE—no open packages or out of date food. 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 Sixth 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."
The Angel Tree A Christmas Tradition
Each year we decorate a tree in Spencer Hall with tags that have names of migrant farm workers’ children. If you would like to purchase a gift for a needy child, please take a tag from the tree. Write your name and phone number on the sticker and
leave it with the mission volunteer at the tree. Gifts should have an approximate value of $20. Some gift ideas are learning toys, board games, puzzles, balls, craft kits, and roller skates.
Please wrap the gift securely and put the tag with the child's name on it. Please return the wrapped gift by Sunday, December 13.
Missions
Presbyterian Women Ann Goodnight, PW Moderator, flgoodnight@aol.com
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S GATHERING The December Women’s Gathering will be held on Wednesday, December 2 and features a concert by Brice Gerlach and Michele Byrd. They always delight us with their musical
talents in presenting a heartfelt program. Menu: Appetizers and punch will be served prior to the concert. Lunch will be pork tenderloin, oven roasted potatoes, carrots & green beans, ice cream and cookies. Faith/Joy Circle will be the hostesses.
CIRCLE MEETINGS The third week of the month is Circle meeting week. Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16. LOOKING FORWARD January 13— Women’s Gathering will take place at noon in Spencer Hall. The program will be our own Betsy Grant, who will demonstrate flower arranging and three lucky guests will go home with an arrangement. Menu: Egg bake, broccoli, gelatin salad, cake with strawberries. Reservations ($7) will be available in Spencer Hall on Sunday, January 3 and January 10.
Betty Mangos, Mission Committee Chair, cmangosdds@comcast.net
7 Missions Betty Mangos, Mission Committee Chair, cmangosdds@comcast.net
A lot has happened this last month. We are blessed and enriched through all of the projects and good works we participated in, including the lecture by Bob Goff (author of “Love Does”) at Moorings PC. Below are pictures from the Peace River Presbytery event on World Missions. The guest speaker was Dr. Hunter Farrell who, along with Elizabeth Little, gave us a wonderful insight of how our money and efforts help support missions throughout the world. This month we have bell ringers for Salvation Army at both doors of Publix, Neapolitan Way. What a wonderful outreach for our church and a gift to the Salvation Army. We had our cute Santa's again signing us up--thank you Pat Warner and Ed Wilson.
The Angel Tree will be available on Sunday, November 29. Take a tag with a child’s name and buy a Christmas gift. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit! If there is any way that you would like to participate in the missions of our church, call me at 239.254.9883 or the church. We have activities planned and a fund where you can give. Betty Mangos Missions Committee Chair
8 Congregational Care
In Memoriam Mary Burns
November 6, 2015
Are you or someone you know homebound, feeling lonely or in need of a friend? Well maybe a
visit from a member of the Care Visitation Committee is the answer. Members of this committee love to visit people, send cards, and talk on the phone. We all like to be remembered by members of the church.
Please let Shirley Hagerson, Congregational Care Elder (239.596.3125), Carolyn Bennett, Care Committee Chair (239.213.0048), or Sharman Pfaus, Executive Office Manager (239.262.1311) know how we can help.
Also, if you would like to know more about being a member of the care giving group please let us know.
Life certainly is a mixture of joys and challenges. We rejoice in each other's joys and seek ways to support each other during challenges. So with faith, family, and friends, why is there a role for Stephen Ministers?
Well, who can be that compassionate one
-to-one listener when, for example, family is also involved in the stress, friends are "up north", or when the hurt currently stretches faith thin? Sometimes someone fresh to the situation can bring a pinch of peace, can hold your hand in faith, can listen while you think through your situation and options, can be present when others aren't emotionally or physically available.
We might think of asking for a Stephen Minister as weakness, but isn't seeking someone to journey with you as you deal with a challenge really a proactive step? We might think our challenge isn't serious enough to warrant asking for a Stephen Minister. But if our equilibrium is disrupted, leaving us "treading water" rather than moving ahead, isn't that serious enough? We might think it would leave us feeling indebted. But people who train to be Stephen Ministers may have felt the effectiveness of someone sharing their challenges and thus wish to "pay it forward". Additionally, they probably have had some moments that God's close presence strengthened their faith and made them ready to reach out to others in faith.
So, if at some time you think having a
compassionate Christian friend to provide confidential emotional and spiritual support might be a good idea, why not give the program a try? A Stephen Minister leader will talk with you in confidence to learn what is hurting you. The leader will then select one of your church's Stephen Ministers to offer support by visiting with you weekly to share in your challenge. You and your caregiver will seek to divide the sorrows and multiply the joys in your life.
STEPHEN
MINISTRY
Sandy Poore, Director of Facilities, sandyp@fpcnaples.org Calendar 9
December
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate
location)
11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 2 p.m. HS Youth 4 p.m. Session
2 11 a.m. PW Coordinating Team 12 p.m. PW Gathering 2 p.m. Congregation-al Dinner meeting 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal
3 9:30 a.m. Bible Facilitators 12 p.m. Huddle 7 p.m. Cumberland Church
4 9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 5:30 p.m. First Friday/Parent’s Night Out
5 9 a.m. Hanging of the Greens
6
8:30 & 10 a.m. Communion Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 11 a.m. Seekers and Joiners Class 12 p.m. Cumberland Church 4 p.m. Concert
7
8 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate
location)
8 a.m. Facilities Committee 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 1 p.m. Worship & Music Committee 2 p.m. HS Youth 2:30 p.m. Mission Committee 6:30 p.m. Session/Deacons Gathering
9 9 a.m. Christian Ed. Committee 11 a.m. Preschool Christmas Rehearsal 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal
10 10 a.m. Sew & Sews 12 p.m. Huddle 4 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 6 p.m. Christmas Preschool Program 7 p.m. Cumberland Church
11 9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet
12
13 8:30 & 10 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. New Member Acceptance 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m. Cumberland Church
14 9 a.m. Angel Tree gift organization
15 OUTREACH
DEADLINE 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate
location)
9:30 a.m. Faith/Joy Circle 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet 3 p.m. Finance Mtg. Youth Group Christmas Party 5:30 p.m. Deacon’s
16 9 a.m. Angel Tree Gift delivery 9:30 Love & Friendship Circle 12 p.m. Sunshine Circle 1 p.m. Peace w/Honor Circle 7 p.m. Choir 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal
17 12 p.m. Huddle 4 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 7 p.m. Cumberland Church
18 9:30 a.m. Cookie Baking 1 p.m. Preschool Happy Feet
19
20 8:30 & 10 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m. Cumberland Church
21 Preschool closed
22 Preschool closed 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate
location)
23 Preschool closed
24 Christmas Eve
Services
5 p.m.
Family worship
7 p.m.
Candlelight
worship
25
Merry Christmas
Church office closed
26 Youth Ski Trip 9 a.m. Cookie bakers
27 Youth Ski Trip 8:30 & 10 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 12 p.m. Cumberland Church
28 Preschool closed Church office closed Youth Ski Trip
29 7 a.m. Breakfast Bible Study (separate
location)
Preschool closed Youth Ski Trip
30 Preschool closed Youth Ski Trip 7 p.m. Cumberland rehearsal
31
Preschool closed 7 p.m. Cumberland Church
January 1, 2016
HAPPY NEW YEAR Church office closed Preschool closed
10 Preschool Ashley Houk, Preschool Director, ashleyh@fpcnaples.org
Another success! The Preschool held their annual Silent Auction during the Fall Festival at the end of October and I am happy to report that it was an overwhelming success. We received donations from our families and from community
establishments as well. Each classroom asked for donations from families to create baskets and the parents went above and beyond and brought in many delightful, fun items. We had such a generous response by some of the classroom parents that we ended up splitting some baskets due to the amount of items we received. The Preschool was able to raise a little more than $6,700 from the Silent Auction. These funds will be used to provide student scholarships and financial assistance during the 2016-2017 school year. The Preschool Committee will also explore other options for the funding such as equipment and material needs (furniture, play materials, etc.).
We really appreciate the help and assistance that we received from all of those that extended a hand. Kathleen Law was critical in getting the word out with publications regarding the event. Shana and Issac Dublan, Kymberly Dorsey and the youth were a huge help in setting up the tables and getting things ready for display. Chris Calyore volunteered her time to help put baskets together and actually helped during the Silent Auction. Liz Psota was
responsible for creating all the bid sheets and the nice hand out that listed all of our fabulous donations. Of course, without the help and donations of the parents of the Preschool and the Preschool Committee, we wouldn’t have experienced the success that we did. We ask that you consider supporting these entities that made donations to the Silent Auction in an effort to show your appreciation for their dedication to the students of First Presbyterian Preschool. Port Royal Jewelers
Bonita Bay Club
Pampered Chef (Chris Calyore, Independent Consultant)
The Parrot Bar & Grill
Kiwi Spa
Regina’s Ice Cream
Pinchers Crab Shack
Law Offices of Conrad Willkomm
Burn Boot Camp
Dolce & Salato
Food & Thought
SWFL Player and Development Center
Willis and Davidow, LLC
Crystals by Candie, LLC
Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue
Naples on the Run
Outback Steakhouse
Gutters Unlimited Plus
11 Children and Youth Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries
shanad@fpcnaples.org
Fall Festival Fun!
If you are interested in any of these events, either as a volunteer or participant, please contact Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries, at shanad@fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311 ext. 229.
Middle and High School groups will come together for food and fun! All students are invited to the Christmas Party on December 15 following school. Meet in the youth room and bring a wrapped gift, no more than $20 please. We will have games and Christmas dinner. Party ends at 6 p.m.
Would your child like to be a part of the Christmas Eve Family Worship Service? We are currently looking for 7 children/youth to take part in a short Christmas play. There are both speaking and non-speaking roles. Please contact Shana to sign up. Rehearsals will take place following youth group (twice) and after worship (once).
We will not be hosting a First Friday in January. Our normal schedule will resume on Friday, February 5 with the movie Gnomeo & Juliet. Registration forms will be available in January.
12 Children and Youth Shana Dublan, Director of Children and Family Ministries
shanad@fpcnaples.org
13 News and Events Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org
A Night on
Broadway!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this
night a success!
14 News and Events Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org
“Earlier this year we included the same “request for information” in an issue of Outreach as the one included below. (Sincere thanks to those of you who responded.) In recent months we have had situations in which we needed to get in touch with an “emergency contact” for two of our church members, and there was no record in the church files of whom that might be. So, while we hope there will be no emergency or disaster, we would need to be prepared. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to fill out the information in the form below. Please return to the church by mail or drop it off at the reception desk. Please do not list your significant other as the contact – list instead a different family member or a friend”.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Your Name: ___________________________________________________ Parish No: _______________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: __________________________________ Cell: _____________________________________
EMERGENCY CONTACT
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP:_________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ___________________________________ Cell: ____________________________________
Relationship: __________________________________
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The prayer Shawl Ministry will be reconvening on January 5, 2016. Join them on Tuesday’s in the Youth Room at 9 a.m.
They have supplies to share and get you started knitting or crocheting. Shawls are given to those finding themselves in life changing health situations. If you have questions, please contact either Gail Clark at 239.331.3312 or Dorie Tichenor at 202.412.0799.
Nina Howard, a recent prayer
shawl recipient.
15 News and Events Kathleen Law, Coordinator of Communications, kathleenl@fpcnaples.org
Hanging of the
Greens
Please join us on Saturday, December 5 as we make our church beautiful for the Advent season. Meet in Spencer Hall at 9 a.m. for coffee and instructions. We need help fluffing the trees, hanging garland and wreaths, decorating the Spencer Hall tree, and Nativity scene set up. Many hands make light work! If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Church at 261.1337 for more information.
Seekers and Joiners Class
Are you interested in knowing what First Presbyterian Church has to offer? Then join the Seekers and Joiners Class on Sunday, December 6 in the Parlor following the 10 a.m. worship service. To learn more visit the Welcome Table following the worship services.
Holy Paparazzi Pictures Bring your best smile for the new directory. Pictures will be taken on December 20 and January 17 after each service.
HUDDLE
All men are invited to join HUDDLE on Thursdays at noon in Spencer Hall. Bring your lunch and a Bible and join in a lesson and discussion.
Please consider dedicating a poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one, and help beautify the Sanctuary for the Christmas season. Fill out the following form and return it along with payment to the church office. Please note Poinsettia Dedication on the payment. All orders must be received no later than Sunday, December 13. Please use one form per dedication. Additional forms may be found in the church office, Spencer Hall or online at www.fpcnaples.org. The cost is $25 per poinsettia. Please PRINT CLEARLY the information you would like to appear in the dedication.
In memory of _________________________________________________________________________
In honor of ____________________________________________________________________________
Given by _____________________________________________________________________________
Your name _______________________________________ Phone _____________________________
Amount enclosed $________
A list of dedications will appear in the Christmas Eve bulletins. You may pick up your poinsettia following the 7 p.m. service on Christmas Eve.
Non-Profit Org.
Postage PAID
Naples, FL
34102
Permit No. 8
First Presbyterian Church of Naples 250 Sixth Street South Naples, FL 34102 www.fpcnaples.org 239.262.1311
Wednesday, December 3 at 12 p.m.
Presbyterian Women's Gathering
Christmas mini-concert with Brice and Michele
Friday, December 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Parent’s Night Out/First Friday Event—Movie: Frozen
Saturday, December 5 at 9 a.m.
Hanging of the Greens
Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m.
Season of Music Concert, Lessons and Carols
with the Chancel Choir
Week of December 7 Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringers
Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m.
Preschool Christmas Event
Sunday, December 20
Cumberland Church Christmas Service
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 p.m. Family Worship Service
7 p.m. Candlelight Service
Saturday, December 26
Youth Ski Trip
Celebrations & Events of the Season
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