In-Person and Livestreamed Worship Service First United Methodist Church of Naples Sunday Service 10:15 am ~ 16th Sunday after Pentecost September 12, 2021

From the Pastor Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Today, our television screens are filled with reminders of what happened on 9/11 twenty years ago. As we relive those moments and remember where we were and how life changed, please remember that even though life changed for all of us, we are still here, and we did eventually get back to enjoyable, normal lives with family, friends, careers and church. That will eventually happen again, even though our lives do not feel normal at all right now.    Try to look at all the good things that have come out of this pandemic. Of course, God continues to walk with us every day. This morning I was thinking of Michael McKee and Bianca Quni who are engaged to be married. They met during this pandemic! Karen Carr and the ladies of the UMW are hosting a bridal shower luncheon for Bianca to celebrate. You're invited, so scroll down for more details.   I pray that you will continue to pray for all those who are struggling right now from natural disasters, political unrest, COVID 19, deaths and health issues. I pray that you will continue to be careful as you travel or you live out your lives during this pandemic. The risks are out there, whether you are vaccinated or not. We love you and want you to stay safe!   A reminder that our office is now open Monday – Thursday, from 9:00am to 2:00pm.  Stop in to meet Jaimie Dandridge, our new Administrative Assistant to the Pastor, but please remember to bring your mask!   I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Love and Blessings, Pastor Nancy pastor@fumcnaples.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE! We have learned that many of you are only getting HALF of your Eblast! You are missing important news and photos, because Gmail and some other email programs are sometimes cutting off the bottom half! This is especially true when we have a very full Eblast with lots of photos. Most of you don’t even know that has happened. How can you know??? After you reach what looks like the end, you may see a little note down at the bottom that says something like: “Click here to view all” or “Click here to continue.” If you don’t click there, you will miss important things, especially our Prayer List, which is down near the bottom. If you read the Eblast and don’t see the Prayer List, then you KNOW you’ve been cut off. Just look for that note & link at the end and click on it to see all that you are missing!

 This Sunday's Online Worship Service   If you aren’t able to make it to in-person worship on Sundays, you can watch it online “live” at 10:15 am or you can watch the “recorded” version anytime that is convenient for you by clicking on the box below. We generally start showing announcement slides at 10:05 as people are coming into the sanctuary and then the actual worship service starts at 10:15.  You can also find this link by going to our web page, our Facebook page, or directly to www.youtube.com In the Search box at the top of the YouTube page, type "First UMC Naples" and press enter. On the next screen go down about 4 or 5 topics and you will see "First UMC Naples - Sunday Worship - Rev Nancy Mayeux - 09 12 2021". Click on that title, or the picture next to it, to see the “live” broadcast.    Blessings as you watch and participate. Be sure to share the link for live or recorded versions of our service with your friends and family, so they can join you in worship!

Click here to watch THIS Sunday's service

Life & Faith Lesson Rev Nancy Mayeux   What’s Changed?   When I was in college, airline safety suddenly became a big concern when criminals hijacked planes to Cuba. They put sky marshals on the flights and began checking passengers for guns before getting on the planes. I got a job at the airport doing those passenger searches. There was no x-ray equipment yet, back then, so all hand luggage had to be hand searched. People with gifts, beautifully wrapped, would yell and scream, at me, demanding that I re-wrap it just the way it was when they turned it over to me. Everyone was angry about this new “inconvenience” and delay to their wonderful vacations or travel home. You could no longer just hop on a plane, so it took some of the fun out of travel. Life was changing.   When I was older and joined the business world, I had a week’s training in NYC at the World Trade Towers. Some weeks earlier, terrorists had exploded a truck bomb in the parking garage of the World Trade Center, so now security was tremendous. Every briefcase, computer and package had to be hand checked before you could get in the elevator and the lines to get into the building could last a couple of hours. People felt safer but resented the change that encumbered their entrance into their workplace. Many other major buildings installed the same new security efforts. Life was changing.   On 9/11, hand-checking bags was not enough to stop the terrorists. They used airlines to crash into those towers. So many people lost their lives on the planes and in the towers, and life changed for all of us, forever on that day. We didn’t feel safe anywhere, knowing that those unseen terrorists could be lurking anywhere, ready to attack us at any time. Airline travel security got tougher, and those searches forced us to endure delays at football games, concerts and even Disney World! Life was changing and would never be the same for us.   Now, we have a new unseen enemy lurking everywhere, ready to attack at any time. The Coronavirus. Life, once again, has changed for all of us! We newly deal with fear and with all the inconveniences necessary to protect us. We long for the changes to “go away.” We want some normalcy in our lives and we want things back to the way they were. We don’t like change!   Life-altering change is nothing new. We can look back at humanity, from biblical times to present, and see that change is inevitable. However, through every bit of change, we do see one constant….and that is our Lord! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! Come Sunday to receive some encouragement from this important truth! Join us in-person or livestreaming online at 10:15am or tune in any time that’s convenient to you during the week for our recorded version.   Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-8

COVID Safety Guidelines at FUMC   Because of the rapid spread of the Delta Variant of COVID 19, especially in Florida, we are asking EVERYONE to wear a mask in worship on Sunday, whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated. This is a way of loving your neighbor, as vaccinated people are now getting COVID. Even though vaccinated persons are getting mild cases (no symptoms, no hospitalization and no death) they are still contagious to others. Please note that, for the time being, you are asked to maintain the 6 foot social distancing requirement between family units. Please sit where our ushers direct you and please remain in your seat until the service is over (unless you need to use the restroom.) Exit immediately as the ushers direct you. Moving about and chatting, before or after worship, is a wonderful thing to do—but not during COVID. Please keep yourselves and your neighbors safe by waiting until you get outside for conversation.

Your “Giving” Is a Form of Worship    Thank you for continuing to support this church and its ministries through congregational giving. Your gifts allow us to help people to know Jesus, to grow in their faith and to serve Him as we help those in need.   Donations may be brought to worship on Sunday or mailed to:  First United Methodist Church of Naples 388 First Avenue S Naples, FL 34102 OR you can click on the box below to make an online donation.    If you have any questions regarding the finances of this church, please send an email to our Treasurer, Jeffrey Currier: jeffreylcurrier@gmail.com

Click Here to Give Online

Altar Flower Dedication    Our altar flowers, this Sunday, are given by our congregation in honor of Alicia Silvin, Director of our Methodist Day School’s Preschool and VPK. This is her five-year anniversary working for our church, making a difference in the lives of so many children. Our preschool has been a ministry of FUMC for almost 60 years now. Many parents, and even grandparents, were once students in our school, with our present children following in their footsteps. We are so blessed to have such a talented and committed director at the helm of our school during these last 5 years.

Altar Flower Ministry   Every week, you have the opportunity to purchase Sunday worship altar flowers and dedicate them to the memory of someone who was special to you or to honor someone who presently needs to be recognized! The cost is $30 and can be arranged by writing the pastor at Pastor@fumcnaples.org. Then you can either pick up your flowers after church or donate them for us to take to organizations in our community, bringing a ray of sunshine to workers and volunteers. The following dates are open: Sept 19, October 3 and beyond.   The altar flowers from last Sunday were delivered to the Emergency Room at NCH Baker Hospital downtown. We know that they have been experiencing several very rough weeks with the large surge of COVID patients coming through the ER. When the flowers were delivered to the ER and they were told it was for all of the ER staff in appreciation for the work that they are doing, they could not believe it. They were so grateful that they were appreciated in this way and felt encouraged.

You Are Invited… to a Bridal Shower Luncheon   Karen Carr, and the ladies of the UMW, are hosting a bridal shower luncheon for Bianca Quni, Michael McKee’s fiancé.   All ladies are invited and welcome!   Saturday, October 2, at 11:30 am The Clubhouse at Village Green 503 12th Avenue South   Masks are required Please RSVP to Karen Carr 239-641-5513

Farewell to a Friend Last week, we told you of the passing of Jerome Edwards who was our Music Director here at FUMC for many years. He was an important part of the life of the church and spiritual worship services. His obituary was published this week, shortly before his funeral service, which was held in North Carolina. We thought you might like to read the published obituary below. Also, if you would like to view a memorial slide show of photos put together by his family, you can click on this link: https://www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com/obituary/Merrill-Edwards   Obituary Merrill Jerome Edwards July 17, 1939 ~ September 2, 2021 (age 82)   Merrill Jerome Edwards, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021. He was born July 17, 1939 in Starke, FL, the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Merrill Edwards. Mr. Edwards graduated from Bradford County High School in 1957 and graduated from Florida State University in 1961 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (trumpet-principal instrument). He completed his Masters Degree (MME) in 1964. He was a member of the Marching Chiefs (FSU Band), Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Brass Choir, and other musical ensembles; also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (professional music fraternity) and Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary band fraternity). Mr. Edwards was very active in sports, he lettered four years in gymnastics (still rings, flying rings, rope climb) and was a scholarship recipient on the gymnastics team; named All-American in gymnastics in 1960; freshman track team (pole vaulter) and a member of Gymnastica (athletic performance honorary club). He taught in Sneads, FL for two years; carried both band and chorus to district/state music performance evaluation and received "Superior" ratings for both groups during the second year; he was selected as outstanding "Young Teacher of the Year" in Jackson County in 1963 and received the American Legion Award for Meritorious Service and Superior Leadership at the end of the 1962-63 school term. He taught in Immokalee, FL during the 1964-65 school term, and moved to Naples Senior High School as Director of Bands in 1965 and rebuilt the band program. He was selected "Outstanding Young Educator" in 1967 by the Naples Jaycees; he directed the Naples Community Chorus for more than a decade, and directed "The Southerners" (a British Brass Band), with an adult membership of talented amateurs and professionals from throughout South Florida from 1996-2005.  He has been active in professional, religious, and civic organizations since 1961 and retired as Chancel Choir Director for the First United Methodist Church; was Director of Music from 1979-2010 and conducted the Chancel Choir, First UMC Orchestra, Adult Hand Bell Choir and High School Choir; Director of Music for the Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church in Dillard, GA from 2015-2018. Mr. Edwards has been, or is currently, a member of the following professional organizations: American School Band Directors Assn., F. B. A., Music Educators National Conference, National Bandmasters Assn., National Assn. of Jazz Educators, Florida Assn. of Jazz Educators, Florida Music Educators Assn., Collier County Education Assn., Collier County Music Teachers Assn., Collier County High School Band Directors Assn., Phi Beta Mu, and Phi MuAlpha Sinfonia. He was elected into the Florida Bandmasters Assn. Hall of Fame in 2012. Mr. Edwards was also an avid coin collector, collected Indian Artifacts since childhood, was a lifeguard in high school, was a serious "golf-a-holic" and played at every opportunity. He is survived by his wife, Judith Lee Meyers Edwards;  sons, Jerry (wife, Marie living in Europe, Mark ( wife Jeanine, children, Izack, Ariana and Amelie) and Scott (wife, Darcy, children Breckin, Blake, and Jordan); sister, Marylou Black; brother, Steve Edwards.

Last Sunday's Service   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 “What Kind of Learner Are You?” which was preached by Rev Nancy Mayeux and based on Philippians 4:4-9 and John 14:23-26

Last Week's Worship Service

Take Home the Newest Upper Room Devotional   Every Sunday, as you walk into church, you will see a table with the newest edition of the Upper Room daily devotional as well as the last few editions. They are there in both large-print and regular-size print. PLEASE TAKE ONE HOME! They provide inspiring stories of faith and prayers to uplift you and get you through tough times. They are nice gifts to give to a neighbor or someone that needs a lift! You can also drop by the church office during office hours (9-2, Mon-Thurs) where they will be sitting on the reception counter. You can make a donation at any time (offering plate on Sunday, by mail or online) to offset our cost to buy these.

We’re Still Collecting Food on Sundays for Grace Place and St. Matthew’s House   THANK YOU to everyone who has been supporting our food ministry! We continue partnering with St. Matthew’s House and Grace Place. There are many people in our community who are struggling to feed their families and YOU can make a difference in the lives of hungry people in our community! You can bring in food on Sunday mornings or make monetary donations to the church, earmarked “Food Ministry” and it will go towards food for one of our two partners in ministry.

COVID Will Not Stop Us from Serving!   If you are looking for a way to “serve” missionally, sharing the love of Christ in the world, you might want to join us in packing food for hungry families! We will be packing food in Barton Hall every other week. Won’t you join us? It is 1.5 to 2 hours of work and you will make a difference in the lives of many. We are partnering with Meals of Hope to pack these bags of food destined for one of their 16 food pantries. They will supplement our bags of non-perishable food with poultry and fresh produce. Did you know we are now up to 145,000 meals packed for hungry families in our community since December?    Come join the fun! Everyone will be wearing masks and socially distancing, moving forward. If you’d like to help pack one week, please email Wendy McKee at:  WendyMcKee3@gmail.com.  It’s easy and fun. It’s a chance to socialize and make new friends.

Need to Reach Us? Here’s How!  We are available to you! Our church office is now open Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm.  Food can be dropped off on during office hours or on Sundays when you come to worship. The church phone will be answered during office hours. For pastoral emergencies, when the office is closed, just call the office and you will hear the Pastor’s personal cell number listed on the message you hear. The pastor is off on Mondays, as her Sabbath day, but will respond to pastoral emergencies.  Call the church office: (239) 262-1033 Email us: Pastor admin@fumcnaples.org  or Mail contributions to: First United Methodist Church, 388 First Ave S, Naples FL 34102 Make online donations by clicking the link below:

Click Here to Give Online

Please Pray! So much to pray for this week. Of course, God knows the needs, but God still wants to hear from you. In addition to acknowledging and thanking God for your blessings, please don’t forget to pray for the urgent needs of your prayer family (below). On top of that, there are so many needs in our church, the community, the nation and the world. Sometimes, we don’t even know where to start! To help you, we provide you with a special list of prayer needs each week. If you just take a few minutes each week to scroll down the list and specifically ask God for intervention, healing and blessings on each situation, God will be so happy to hear from you. The list will guide you and help you remember many important prayer needs. Just press on the link as you scroll down. Always let me know if I can be praying for anything for you as well. Urgent Prayer Requests From our FUMC Church Family We want to remind you that this section is for “urgent” prayer concerns only: (in the hospital, on Hospice, recovering from COVID-19, recovering from surgery, receiving radiation or chemotherapy for cancer, recent deaths, etc.) If you have a private prayer that you do not want published below, just email me and I will pray for that person and that need privately: pastor@fumcnaples.org.   Arthea Brimmer (Member and Organist) Family of Betty Jaekle (On the death of her brother, Bob Willard) Gail Jaworski (Member) Dan and Tracie Theune (Friends of Norine Tempelman) April and Frank Capetta (Friends of Norine Tempelman) Abigail Joy-newborn (Family of Lisa Passeri) Joe Merriam (Friend of staff member, Jaimie Dandridge) Joseph Halizak (Friend of Marie and Dick Evans) Sheila Strenkert (Karen Carr’s Cousin) Maryann Ryan (Friend of Pam O’Brien) Terri Rodriguez and husband, Pastor Sam (Friends of Pastor Nancy) James (Child connected to our preschool) Carole Emmott (Friend of Judy Margrey) Karen Kirk (Cousin of Marie Evans) Rosa Fogle (Family of Thelma and Al Johnson) All the many unspoken requests and needs of our congregation and their loved ones.

Special Prayer List      You are surely praying for the needs of your immediate family and circle of friends. Hopefully, you are also praying for the urgent needs of your faith family at First United Methodist Church (above).   Wondering what else to pray for each day? Here are some suggestions!

Special Prayer Needs

Our MDS Children Love to Read!   Did you know we have a children’s library on our campus? Our Methodist Day School children have the opportunity to choose from so many wonderful books each week as they develop a joy and love for reading.

OFFICE HOURS Office is open Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 2:00pm. Outside of office hours, please call the church office and leave a message. For pastoral emergencies, you will be given a number, in the message, on how to reach the pastor.

First United Methodist Church of Naples 388 1st Ave S. Naples, FL 34102 (239) 262-1033 www.fumcnaples.org

God Bless You!