Upcoming Virtual Worship Service
First United Methodist Church of Naples
Sunday Service 10:15 am (Online)
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Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 29, 2020
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A Message from Your Pastor
Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ,
So much has happened since our last eblast, only one week ago. Life has changed dramatically for all of us. The number of people who have contracted the Coronavirus has escalated throughout the US and right here in Collier county. The news stories are frightening as we hear of the lack of medical supplies and protective gear for our brave medical professionals on the front lines. We feel helpless as we watch events unfold. Today, we thought we might be under a shelter-in-place order for Collier County, but that decision has been postponed for now. Today we taped some of the music for the next three weeks, not knowing whether we would be allowed back in the sanctuary again. I can always record a sermon from my home, if necessary, but I can’t bring Arthea’s organ to my house!
We DO know that there will not be a live Easter service this year, so we will do the best we can to bring you powerful worship through the wonders of technology and the internet. I pray that you will still feel the incredible joy that comes from celebrating that Jesus lives! He is risen! We will miss our Pier service which the City of Naples canceled today as it is anticipated to be much too dangerous to bring a large crowd together during a pandemic. Our bishop has also asked us not to do live, in-person services until at least after Easter. Churches around the country that chose to continue meeting and
not
to go with an abundance of caution, are now dealing with many people in their congregations who have contracted this terrible virus. We felt it would be irresponsible to gather our family together, in-person, so we will stick with the online version of worship for now, and hope you understand.
We know this is a tough time for all of you hunkered down in your homes for protection from this unseeable storm. It is very different from our hurricane two years ago. It is lonely for those of you who live alone, and tough for those who are working from home with kids, or who have lost their jobs and are uneasy about how to pay the bills. Please know that I am praying for each of you. I ask that you also pray for the rest of your church family as we get through this. Hang on to God’s promise to provide and to care for us. Remember that God did not give us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). God continues to be bigger than all of this!
See you online, Sunday morning at 10:15!
Love and blessings,
Pastor Nancy
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Life & Faith Lesson
Rev. Nancy Mayeux
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Miracle Worker
Part 5 of Lenten Series
Jesus, the God Who Knows Your Name
Our worship service will be recorded and available to you online by Sunday morning at our regular worship time of 10:15 am, so you'll be able to worship online together with others, or you can click and watch on your own time. You can go on our web page at:
fumcnaples.org
and click on the link for Sunday's worship service.
Jesus performed many miracles during his three-year ministry here on earth as a human being who was also divine. The feeding of the 5,000 is a fascinating story of a miracle that tells us a lot about the faith of the disciples, who were not even considering the possibility that Jesus could feed the large crowd of people who had come to hear him speak and to be healed. He had already performed other miracles in their presence, like the calming of the seas during a storm that had terrified the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. They had watched him heal so many people who were crippled, blind, sick or had leprosy. He offered spiritual and physical healing to those who needed it. He even performed non-life-changing miracles, like turning water into wine at the request of his mother. This was to prevent a family friend from being embarrassed for running out during a wedding. Yet with all of this, his disciples still did not have the faith to fully believe in his power – to believe in what he really could do. They did not even ask Jesus for the miracle. Their solution was to ask Jesus to send the people away! In this story, that lack of faith is contrasted with the faith of the young boy who had the five loaves and two fish, and was willing to give up his food, to see what Jesus could do with this.
Jesus was able to feed all 5,000 men, AND women and children who were present, but not counted in this story. The total number could have been as much as 20,000! The number is staggering, especially when we hear that there were bushels of left-overs and that everyone had enough to eat! Here was a difficult, seemingly impossible situation, and Jesus provided a miraculous solution! We often find ourselves in similar impossible situations. We feel helpless and powerless to do anything about it—just as many of us feel today with the pandemic that is so frightening and impacting our lives in a big way. How much praying have we done about the situation we find ourselves in today? Is your faith like that of the disciples in this story, or that of the young boy with the loaves and the fish? Have you ever seen Jesus respond with a supernatural miracle after you or someone you know has prayed? Watch our online worship service this Sunday to learn more about how Jesus responds with miracles more often than you think!
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Last Week’s Sermon & Music
Did you miss worship last week? Click on the link below to view the video of last week's complete online service, with a sermon entitled
Great Teacher
, based on
Luke 15:25-32
.
Just click on the box below.
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PLEASE PRAY!
Please pray for all those who have been impacted by the Coronavirus health crisis. Please also pray for those dealing with health issues within our own church family. Below is our congregation’s prayer list of urgent prayer requests. Remember that we are a church family. Prayer is powerful and your prayers are important.
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Urgent Prayer Requests
Margaret Lofgren; Belle Corwin; Tim Vincent; Marlys Walker; Sheila Strenkert; The Family of Amy Van Tol; Stephanie Dallas; Jess Rynders; Tom Queen; Christopher Nance; Noah Nance; De Provancal;
Andrew Mohler;
Heather Pratt Mohler;
Ken Davis; Dennis Nienow
Also, Please Pray for…
Our pastor, our church, our bishop, our district superintendent, the community, our country and its leaders; first responders, the sick, our homebound, our sister church in Cuba, our MDS preschool, Wesley Kids & Youth, those in military service and those who've been affected by recent disasters and the Coronavirus.
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Tithes and Offerings
Please remember that our church's expenses continue even though we are not meeting for live worship. Our treasurer asks that, if you can, please write a check each week for the amount you would have put in the collection plate
and mail it to
First United Methodist Church, 388 First Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102
or make a donation online by clicking the donation button below and following the instructions that will be provided. God bless you for your faithfulness.
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OFFICE HOURS
Office is closed until at least April 17. Staff is working from home. Please call and leave a message. We are checking voice mail regularly. Your call will be returned.
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Bible Study
You can do this from home and follow along with the sermons.
(You can order the book from Amazon)
“Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name”
Do you ever feel like Jesus couldn’t possibly know what you are going through? He’s the God of the universe after all! Does he really know your daily struggles? The good news is: He does!
For thirty-three years, Jesus felt everything you have ever felt. Weakness. Weariness. Sadness. Rejection. His feet got tired. And his head ached. He was tempted and his strength was tested. In becoming human, Jesus made it possible for us to see God. His tears, God’s tears. His voice, God’s voice. Want to know what matters to God? Find out what matters to Jesus. Want to know what in the world God is doing? Ponder the words and life of Jesus.
By exploring Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, as well as how he interacted with his friends and his enemies, what he did with time alone and how he acted at a party, this compilation from author, Max Lucado, gives you the chance to learn more about the person Jesus was on earth and how to live in a personal relationship with him. Jesus wants you to know him. As you do this study, may the Hero of all history talk to you personally, and may you find in him the answer to your deepest needs. Grace and life. Forgiveness of sin. The defeat of death. This is the hope he gives.
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First United Methodist Church of Naples
388 1st Ave S.
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 262-1033
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