June/July Outreach Newsletter

From the Senior Pastor 2

Worship and Music 4

News and Events 10

Christian Education 8

Congregational Care 5

Preschool and Children 6

Children 9

Calendar 6

Finance 4

Mission

From the Associate Pastor 3

June/July 2012

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

Celebration Commitment Compassion

Page 8

Feed the 5,000 continues throughout the summer… see page 10 for more info

Rev. Jonathan Evans works with the PCUSA

and the Waldensian Church

this summer in Buenos Aires,

Paraguay and Uraguay. Check out his story on page 3

From the Senior Pastor Dr. Edward Thompson, Senior Pastor, [email protected]

Dear Members and

Friends,

The west coast

town of Troon,

Scotland, is only a

40 minute train

journey from

Glasgow. I have

very fond

memories of living

there for 7 years.

Certainly, I don’t

miss the gray skies

and rain which we

seemed to have daily from November through April.

Troon was a wonderful place to watch sunsets, and from

our Manse, which overlooked the seafront, we enjoyed

sunsets without leaving the house! For those of you who

have been fortunate to play the wonderful golf course,

Royal Troon, you know well the row of red sandstone

homes between the golf course and the town, of which the

Manse was one! The prevailing wind made its impact on

everybody and everything, including the trees. Most days it

felt that no matter in

which direction you

walked, you were walking

into the wind! I’m sure

some days that if the wind

actually stopped blowing,

people would just fall

down! This photograph is

of some trees in Troon.

Not all memories though are good ones. One rebarbative

memory is of a small independent church which called

itself “The Full Gospel Church.” Perhaps they had decided

that the other churches in the town, of which there were

many, were only “half” gospel churches, or certainly less

than full gospel!

A similar offense can be felt today when the word

“evangelical” is used. Some have deemed that such a word

can only be used to describe people with a certain set of

beliefs or interpretations of Holy Scripture. We hear this

word often being used in the public square and claimed by

politicians of all shades of political color. Evangelical is a

wonderful word and at its best it describes all of us who

claim to be followers of Jesus.

The word “evangelical” defines the central essence of the

gospel as consisting of an understanding of salvation

through Jesus, his life, death and resurrection, along with a

high regard for Holy Scripture. To be “evangelical” is to

hold dearly that our salvation is through faith, not works.

As “evangelicals” we preach and practice a faith that

attests to Jesus’ invitation to come and follow. To be

“evangelical” is to take most seriously the words of

scripture and to turn to them to hear the fresh word of God.

I wish to take back this word from its often very exclusive

and narrow understanding. In the book The Scandal of the

Evangelical Mind, author Mark Noll, a professor at

Wheaton College, urges us as evangelicals to use our

minds and best intellect to engage with our culture and our

world at large. He argues in this book that sadly “the

scandal of the evangelical mind, is that there is not much of

an evangelical mind.” We would do well to read once

again the works of Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758.

Edwards, often thought of as one associated with the Great

Awakening, (a revitalization of religious piety that swept

through the American colonies between the 1730’s and the

1770’s). He was also most comfortable reading the works

of John Locke and Isaac Newton. He strongly encouraged

the love of God with the whole mind. Such an endeavor

was also “good, sweet, holy, beautiful, and honoring to

God.”

Let us at First Presbyterian Church be a full gospel church,

a congregation defined by the saving work of Jesus,

revealed to us in and through scripture. May the Cross be

central, not just as something that hangs in the sanctuary,

but central in our hearts and minds, may the Cross make its

mark on our lives. Let us as a congregation use our best

intellect in the reading and understanding of Holy Scripture

as the Word of God, afresh for our lives today. In hearing

the good news of the gospel how can we be anything but

“evangelical!” We are called to live this gospel and to

share it with the world around us. Let us do this with heart

and mind. In this season of Pentecost may the wind of

God’s Spirit blow hard upon us, in whichever direction we

walk, and may the wind of God blow in such a way that we

can stand up straight and not fall

over!

2

Children and Youth

Rev. Jonathan Evans, Associate Pastor, [email protected] 3 From the Associate Pastor Rev. Jonathan Evans, Associate Pastor, [email protected]

NAPLES BIKE RACING!

Competitive cycling

right in front of our

church! Bill and

Carol are enjoying

the excitement,

offering water, and

information about

our church.

Every once in a while, you have a brief window of

opportunity that can pay big dividends. In mid-April, our

church was informed that bike races were going to take

place May 5-6. We decided that it is a best witness to our

faith to be welcoming

and supportive of this

community initiative.

So, we scrambled

quickly and recruited

22 volunteers! We

handed out water to

those passing by and

we helped the race, serving as course marshals. Thank you

for all those who helped!

Snorkeling! Where? Pennekamp Coral Reef in Key Largo!

Who? Anybody who can swim, although you don’t have to

snorkel to go.

When? June 2, leaving FPC at 7:15 a.m. and returning

approximately 7:00 p.m.

Cost? $30 for children and youth and $55 for adults.

Why? Why not? But to enjoy God’s creation and launch

our Overboard theme for Vacation Bible School.

How? Sign up by calling the church or signing up on the

bulletin board.

What to bring? Water, snacks, lunch, sunblock, towel,

snorkeling gear (if you have it), money for dinner.

Something I’m excited

about…. About twelve years ago, I experienced a year of

transformation as a Young Adult Volunteer

(mission volunteer) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. That

experience allowed me to see what it means to follow Jesus

in a radical way. That year changed how I see everything,

from my nationality to my faith. Much of these changes

came by caring for the people there and trying to see how

God is at work among them.

Just recently, I came across an opportunity to re-engage

with people of faith down there. This June, I will be

spending a week getting to know leaders from the

Waldensian Church (www.waldensian.org) in Buenos

Aires, in Chaco (an impoverished province just south of

Asuncion, Paraguay), and Uruguay.

The Waldensian Church originated with the preaching of

the merchant Valdo (Waldo of Lyons, from whom the

church’s name originates), 1140-1217. Waldo believed in

the value of the evangelical poverty of the early church

and, after a profound spiritual crisis, gave all his assets to

the poor in order to freely preach the gospel.

The movement, known as “The Poor of Lyons” in France

and “The Poor Lombards” in Italy, continued to spread

throughout Europe. But in a short time it was accused of

heresy and thereafter participants were repressed and

persecuted by the civil and religious authorities. Despite

very difficult times and the violence of the Inquisition of

the Catholic Church, the movement continued to

evangelize and succeeded in establishing an important

community in the western Alps of the Piedmont, the South

of France, Germany, and even in southern Italy (in

Calabria). Their itinerant preachers were called “Barba” (a

dialectical word for “uncle”,

meaning a distinguished

person), from which derived

“Barbetti” (followers of the

Barba), a popular name

used until recent times in

Piedmont to indicate

Waldensians.

Today, the Waldensians are

located not only in Europe,

but in Argentina, Uruguay,

and North Carolina. The

Waldensians in South America are now seeking

relationships with churches and organizations within the

PCUSA. I am excited to be a part of this initiative, and I

ask that you pray for my discernment and safety as I travel.

http://www.waldensian.org

Worship and Music Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries, [email protected] 4

Finance Michele Martin, Accountant, [email protected]

Financial Report

Offerings Budgeted through (the month) April ……$554,062

Actual Offerings through (the month) April……….$540,823

Actual Offerings are less than Budget by…………..$ 13,239

If you have particular questions in relation to church budget and expenses, please speak to a member of the

Finance Committee or contact Michele Martin, our church accountant, 239.262.1311, ext. 242. The finance

committee members are: Lloyd Doerflinger (chair), Terry Brennan, Jan Gazdic, Russ Kempker, Bob King,

Karen Martin, Bill Stafford and Tom Stevens.

Summer Choir

Summer Choir meets each Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Choir Room for warm-up and rehearsal before

singing for the 9:30 a.m. service.

If interested in joining the Summer Choir, please contact Brice Gerlach at [email protected] or 239.262.1311 ext. 239.

Congregational Care Rev. Jonathan Evans, Associate Pastor, [email protected] 5

Finance Michele Martin, Accountant, [email protected]

In Memoriam

Dottie Robertson

October 30, 2011

Dorothy Blamire

April 26, 2012

What Stephen Ministers

are equipped to do…The

Stephen Ministers are available to

those who need someone to walk

with them through a difficult journey, loss of

a loved one, change of residence, loss of a job,

separation/divorce, family difficulties, etc.

To help you in identifying a Stephen Minister,

please note the blue name badges they wear.

The Stephen Ministers are available to help

answer your questions regarding Stephen

Ministry and/or direct you to the Stephen

Ministry table in Spencer Hall. You may also

call Rev. Jonathan Evans at 239.262.1311 ext.

224.

The Stephen Ministers also have included a

shelf in the church library which includes a

collection of books and resources on

Christian care-giving. Please feel free to stop

by during regular office hours to browse the

selection available.

The Deacons request the

pleasure of your company

The Deacons

will be hosting a

Sunday Brunch

following our worship

service on

Sunday, June 10.

A continental breakfast of

fruit and freshly baked

goods, orange juice and

coffee will be served.

Put the date on your

calendar now

and come join in the

friendship and fellowship

of this annual event.

Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Snorkeling

Trip

3 8:30 a.m. Choir

Rehearsal 9:30 a.m. Worship

Communion

9:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday

School

10:30 a.m. VBS

meeting

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

4

5 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible

Study (separate location) 10:30 a.m.

Worship & Music

11:00 a.m.

Alzheimer’s

Support Group

6 1:15 p.m.

Preschool staff

luncheon

7 10:00 a.m.

Creative Ladies

12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

8

9

10 Deacons’

Sunday 8:30 a.m. Choir


9:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday

School

10:30 a.m. Deacon

Brunch

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland

Churchay School

10:rch

11 9:00 a.m.

Preschool Summer

Camp

12 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible

Study (separate location)

8:00 a.m.

Facilities

9:00 a.m.

Preschool Summer

Camp

11:00 a.m.

Alzheimers special

speaker

13 9:00 a.m.

Preschool Summer

Camp

14 9:00 a.m.

Preschool Summer

Camp

9:30 a.m. Stephen

Ministry 10:00 a.m. Sew &

Sews

10:00 a.m. Creative

Ladies

12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

4:00 p.m.

Children’s Ministry

Committee

5:00 p.m. VPK

standards training

15 9:00 a.m.

Preschool Summer

Camp

Preschool

“California Pizza

Kitchen”

all day fundraiser

16

17 Father’s Day 8:30 a.m. Choir


9:45 a.m.

Children’s

Sunday School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland

Church

18

19 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


5:30 p.m.

Deacons’ Meeting

20

21 10:00 a.m. Creative

Ladies

12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

22

23

24 8:30 a.m. Choir

Rehearsal

9:30 a.m. Worship

9:45 a.m. Children’s

Sunday School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

25 9:00 a.m. Vacation

Bible School

26 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible

School

4:00 p.m. Session


Bible School


Bible School

12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study


Bible School

30

6

7 Sandy Poore, Facilities Manager, [email protected]

This calendar does not necessarily include all events that are

scheduled at the church. For additional information, call or visit the

website. Deadline for monthly Outreach is the fifteenth of the month

prior to that edition. Submit all items to [email protected].

If submissions are not received prior to the deadline, we cannot

guarantee that your article will be considered for publication for that

month.

Sandy Poore, Facilities Manager, [email protected]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8:30 a.m. Choir


9:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday

School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

2

3 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible

Study (separate location) 11:00 a.m.

Alzheimer’s

Support Group

Independence

Day!

5 12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

6

7

8

8:30 a.m. Choir


9:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday

School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland

Churchay School

10:rch

9

10 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


8:00 a.m.

Facilities

11

12 9:30 a.m. Stephen

Ministry 10:00 a.m. Sew &

Sews

12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

13 6:00 p.m.

Movie Night

14

15 8:30 a.m. Choir


9:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday

School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

OUTREACH

DEADLINE

16

17 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


5:30 p.m.

Deacon’s Meeting

18

19 12:00 p.m. Summer

Bible Study

20 Preschool

“California Pizza

Kitchen”

all day fundraiser

21

22 8:30 a.m. Choir

Rehearsal

9:30 a.m. Worship


Sunday School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

23

24 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


3:00 p.m.

Endowment

Committee

25

26 10:00 a.m. Sew &

Sews

27

28

29 8:30 a.m. Choir

Rehearsal

9:30 a.m. Worship


Sunday School

12:00 p.m.

Cumberland Church

30 31 7:00 a.m. Men’s

Breakfast Bible


Church office

Closed

Kathleen Law, Administrative Assistant for C.E., [email protected]

Children and Youth Christian Education Christian Education Kathleen Law, Administrative Assistant for C.E., [email protected] 8

mailto:[email protected]

9 9 Kathleen Law, Administrative Assistant for C.E., [email protected]

Children

We’re daring to dive

deep in Operation

Overboard VBS!

There are many areas

where we’ll need your help.

Photographer - visit the stations of VBS

and capture the fun and excitement of

our little “divers” making crafts, playing

games, singing and learning Bible

lessons.

Shepherd - guide “divers” to each activity

station. Help them to review what

they’ve learned each day, assist with

the “divers” at the opening and closing

each day.

Music - learn the music and motions (with

the DVD) of the songs, motivate the

“divers” to sing and dance, teach them

the movements to the songs along with

the DVD.

Crafts - Organize the craft area each day

with the supplies needed. Clearly

explain the directions for how to

complete the crafts.

If you have any questions or would like to

help with VBS, please contact Kathleen

Law—[email protected] or

Rev. Susan Rice [email protected]

239.262.1311.

Families Praying Together

Friday, April 27 three families

joined Pastor Susan and Pastor

Jonathan for a time of fellowship

and prayer. Families were able to

experience prayer together as they

moved from station to station.

Stations included Praise,

Thanksgiving, Confession and Requests.

Children and families were able to write and

draw their prayers as they read scripture together

and prayed together. After everyone completed

their stations everyone came back together to

share their prayers as a group. Children prayed

out loud and all were able to experience prayer as

a friendly conversation.

Some of the prayers included:

“God, may you please help Nittny my cat

get his eye sight back?”

“God, thank you for my family.”

“God, will you please help my daddy feel better?”

“God, I am sorry for hitting my brother.”

“God, you are awesome!”

“God, thank you for the trees.”

These are just a few of the prayers offered up by

the children and families. The time was also

filled with laughter and fellowship as families

and children got to know one another.

Rev. Jonathan Evans, Associate Pastor, [email protected] John Oakley, Mission Committee Chair, [email protected] Mission 10

Feed the 5,000 Luke 9:10-17

During summer months, visitors are away, some seasonal jobs are gone, and the Naples area has fewer donors. But those less fortunate still need food. We are scheduled to help the following agencies: June - Youth Haven, which provides a safe, homelike environment, with emotional and therapeutic support. July - Salvation Army's mission is to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to meet human needs in His name. August - Grace Place is a faith-based community center, teaching literacy,

language, and life skills to at-risk children, and impoverished families. If you are able to help others who are in need, on the first Sunday of each month, pick up a Publix bag with a list of suggested food items as you leave the Sanctuary. Food is collected on the second Sunday of the month, before the service, at the 6th Street church entrance. If you prefer, checks may be made payable to "First Presbyterian Church" and the memo marked "Feed the 5,000."

News and Events Send all publication submissions to: [email protected]

HELP! HELP!

The Sew & Sews need someone to trim the cancelled stamps which we receive from our many faithful members.

We would be so appreciative if someone would come and join us twice a month (second and fourth Thursdays) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 205.

Please call either Marcella Coe 239.262.0765 or Mary Burns 239.514.3098 if you have any questions.

Looking for something to do

only two days a month?

Check out this opportunity!

11 News and Events Send all publication submissions to: [email protected]

Check Scanner - $1,500

Upgrade computer projectors

- $2,500

Replace Sanctuary cameras

- approx. $12,000

Mobile white boards for classrooms - $400

Please contact Edward Thompson

([email protected] or 239.262.1311) for

any questions on the items for the wish list.

Dear Friends,

How fortunate we are to have a caring church family. Your

prayers, cards flowers, and visits carried me through an

unexpected stay in the hospital during Easter week. Thank

you Rev. Dr. Thompson and Rev. Jonathan for your visits and

prayers. Thanks to the three angels, Betty, Shirley and Bet

who were my links to the reality of dependence on friends.

Although we never know what is in store for us, God is always

with us. Thank you, God.

With sincere gratitude,

Pat Warner

Dear Judy,

Alan and I enjoyed your thoughtful and caring visit Sunday

afternoon. Our sincere thanks to you and the church for

thinking of us. We do appreciate the attention given to all the

members. Also, many thanks for the pretty potted plant in my

favorite color! I’m giving it TLC—a reminder of all the

goodness FPC does 24/7. Thank you.

Marge Foster

Dear Midge,

Thank you for taking time to bring a beautiful bouquet of

flowers from the church and the lovely card. It certainly

brightened my day with the thoughtfulness!

Bobbie Imbrie

When you have a health issue and are almost 1,190 miles from

home, your away-from-home church family means so much. I

wish to thank the congregation, the Chancel Choir, Pastor

Edward and Pastor Jonathan for your prayers, your hospital

visits, flowers, cards, e-mails and your phone calls during my

recent hospitalization and recuperation. I am still

recuperating in Ohio and under cardiac rehabilitation, but

doing well.

Liz Miller

Fun times at the

Church Picnic!

News and Events Send all publication submissions to: [email protected]

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 or fax 239.262.1275

Name Ext. E-mail

Pastoral Rev. Dr. Edward Thompson, Senior Pastor 235 [email protected] Rev. Jonathan Evans, Associate Pastor 224 [email protected] Jeremy Kreuze, Summer Intern 214 [email protected] Sharman Pfaus, Executive Assistant 236 [email protected]

Music Dr. Brice Gerlach, Director of Music Ministries 239 [email protected]

Christian Education Rev. Susan Rice, Dir. of Children & Family Ministries215 [email protected] Kathleen Law, Publications & Admin. Asst. for CE 213 [email protected]

Facilities Sandy Poore, Facilities Department Manager 228 [email protected] Michael Rutoski, Facilities Superintendent 241 [email protected] Leticia Martinez, Custodian [email protected]

Finance Michele Martin, Accountant 242 [email protected]

Preschool Ashley Houk, Preschool Director 209 [email protected] Deborah Weidner, Admin. Asst. for Preschool 246 [email protected]

The Staff of First Presbyterian Church

Documents

June/July Outreach Newsletter