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Transcription

Epistle
to the Bonitians
THE NEWSLETTER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BONITA SPRINGS | NOvEMBER-DECEMBER 2015
And he will startle many nations.
Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.
Isaiah 52:15 (NLT)
OU R
MI SSION
To welcome and nurture our community, help people grow as disciples of Christ,
and present a positive witness in today’s world.
First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs
A BIBLICALLY-CENTERED CHURCH IN THE PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP
9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | 239 992 3233 | 239 992 7547 fax | fpcbonita.org
Doug’s Desk
Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
A
s another fall and winter season in Southwest
Florida has begun, we are seeing once again a
large wave of seasonal friends wash back on our
sunny shores. e programs at our church are
picking up to full speed again aer a slower pace in the
summer months. I trust that, wherever you spent your summer, it was a blessed and rewarding time.
We have another outstanding lineup available for you
over the next six months: some terrific concerts and speakers, interesting programs and opportunities to learn God’s
Word better and get to know other Christians; and of
course, the centerpiece of all we do as a church—our weekly
gathering to worship God together and grow closer to Him.
e next few months also bring at least three major new
challenges for the church, and I want to highlight each of
them for you briefly.
Saturday Night Worship: Every Saturday evening
through May we will gather to worship from 5:30 to 6:30
PM. Services will be in CenterPoint (unless we outgrow that
room and have to move to the Sanctuary!). e same message by the same preacher will be provided, but the music
and atmosphere will be different than Sunday mornings. We
invite you to come on a Saturday night and try it some time.
Seminary Student Mentorship: Four graduate students
at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston, who are preparing
for pastoral ministry and receiving scholarships from our
church, will be with us in January. ey will be “embedded”
in the life of the congregation, attending activities and
learning how a large church operates behind-the-scenes.
You will see them and meet them, and may have the opportunity to get to know one or more of them and encourage
them. ey are bright and gied and very eager to learn
how to be effective in their future ministries.
Search process for a new Associate Pastor: Since Paul
Fahnestock’s retirement (and the beginning of his service
with Wycliffe Associates in Bible translation), we have a
pastoral vacancy on our staff. e process of finding and
“calling” a new pastor is a slow and careful one in the
Presbyterian tradition. A committee of church members
was elected in October and is beginning their work. We are
hoping and praying to have a new associate pastor selected
2 Epistle to the Bonitians |
NOvEMBER-DECEMBER 2015
Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt
and able to begin with us no later than next summer. In the
meantime, Pastors Steven and June and I, along with our
outstanding staff, will appreciate your prayers that we will
be able to cover all the spiritual and pastoral and leadership
needs of this great congregation.
For our spiritual growth and enrichment, the Christian
Education Ministry of our church has decided to give special attention during the upcoming year 2016 to learning
and applying some of the great verses and texts of God’s
Word. In order to help us focus on that, we will be selecting
a “verse of the month” for each month of the year. If you
have a Scripture verse that is especially meaningful or important to you, please share that with me or with Elder Carl
Johansen.
May God continue to be with you and grant you His
presence and grace and peace.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Doug Pratt
e Greatest Gi
e greatest mystery of all time is one we share with all humanity,
even those who have not yet accepted it. We share it with not only
those we know and love today but all the saints who have gone
before us. It is a gi of grace we cannot comprehend—God’s plan
of redemption made incarnate in the Baby of Bethlehem.
ose who first followed Jesus may not have known of the
Nativity or the Holy Family’s perilous journey to Bethlehem. It is
difficult to imagine the world they lived in, but they recognized
Jesus as Lord. Aer His death, they had to hide their faith from that
world in order to survive. ey used secret symbols to communicate with other believers. ey had a fellowship and family beyond
the mortal one and risked their lives to honor it — worshiping and
praying in secret… for centuries.
Today, here and now, we at First Church share in that holy
fellowship of believers. We have been blessed to be able to share
our faith openly. is Christmas season, we each stand alongside
members of our First Church family sharing the greatest gi of
all—mankind’s salvation through Jesus.
First Church pastors, staff and leadership send out Christmas wishes
to all our readers, members and friends for a holy life bathed in the
light and hope of the Messiah, the Baby King, our Savior.
Gis, Memories and Traditions
of Christmas
God has given us so many gis, including the unique details
of our daily lives—family and friends, childhood memories,
the kindness of others, life lessons learned. Even times of
trouble and turmoil hold hidden treasures, once realized.
Gis come in many shapes and sizes, with different purposes and meanings. ere are spiritual gis, material gis
and gis that are a mingling of the two. ere are gis that
are talents, skills and aptitudes. ere are gis that are
donations, endowments and bequests.
e epistle asked church members to reflect on Christmases past and share a moment from their lives. Below and
within the pages of this issue, are responses to which we can
all relate. Special gis, memories and family traditions like
these are part of all our lives—fibers of the tapestry that
makes us who we are.
e most special gi I ever received was a coin with folded
hands on the front and the serenity prayer inscribed on the
back. It was given to me by a very close friend and I wear it
around my neck every day. – ChRiStiaN Faux
It was a very tiny box and I was 12… (Read “A Pearl by Any
Other Name” on page 5.) – aNoNyMouS
e most special Christmas gi I have ever received was my
very first violin. I was still in elementary school at the time
my parents gave it to me. is violin was a student instrument made by Wilhelm Eberle. It was my constant
companion for many years and marked the first significant
advancement toward my lifelong love affair with music.
– PaStoR SteveN GRaNt
Christmas was my mother’s favorite holiday. Being a single
parent, this was the time of year when her family—parents,
cousins, aunts and uncles—became very close and united,
giving her support and encouragement. e holidays culminated when everyone gathered at my grandparents’ home
to feast, celebrate the birth of Jesus and listen to my mother
sing “O Holy Night.” God gied her with a beautiful voice.
– JaNet GReeNe
e most special gi I have ever received was my transformation at the Great Banquet in 2009 that led to my spiritual
walk with Jesus Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
I feel the call to respond to the poor, the needy and the imprisoned with compassion, because “the harvest is plentiful
and the workers are few.” – JohN haSheK
I remember a time that began with great turmoil… (Read
“ree Amazing Gis” on page 23.) – DoNNa teNFelDe
One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child was
selecting and purchasing our annual ornament for the Christmas tree. As a family we would find the ornament we
felt best captured the most memorable event of the year—
a new pet, a family vacation or a special milestone. Over the
years, putting up and decorating the Christmas tree became
such a joyous time to reflect on God’s many blessings as we
shared in the memories of each special ornament. Now I
continue the tradition in my own home with my family.
Last year’s ornament was “Baby’s First Christmas” in honor
of our son Henry’s first Christmas. – aMaNDa ZaeNGle
continued on page 5
| Epistle to the Bonitians 3
@ FPC
Sundays
Wednesdays
First Church offers two services during
November and December: 8 AM
(FirstLight) and 10 AM.
At 8 AM, First Light is our “early
bird” service. Held in the Sanctuary, it
includes all the basic worship elements
of music, message and Scripture—
having the same preacher and message
as the 10 AM service—but neatly
packaged into a 40-minute time frame.
A full service with choir is offered
at 10 AM in the Sanctuary and, by
video feed, in CenterPoint. While
sharing in the concurrent service experience in the Sanctuary through the
wonders of technology, this alternate
location offers a less formal setting
with various seating options.
Our ongoing D.I.G. (Discover,
Investigate, Grow) Bible study is held
from 8:45 to 9:45 AM in the Great
Room. During the 10 AM service, ageappropriate Sunday school classes are
held for children age 6 months
through 5th grade.
“First Stop”—our fellowship time—
takes place in McClure Hall following
the 10 AM service. Join us for coffee
and refreshments, visit with friends,
and take advantage of the informational kiosks for various church
ministries.
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 6 • 11 AM • Sanctuary
Our year-end congregational meeting
will be held following worship. Items
of business will include the election
of new Elders and Deacons (who
will serve 3-year terms beginning in
January) and the approval of any
changes in the “terms of call” of the
pastors.
A Time of Prayer & Communion
Sundays • 11 AM • Price Hall Chapel
Every Sunday following the 10 AM
service, First Church offers a Time of
Prayer & Communion (except on Sundays when the sacrament is shared
during worship). ose who desire are
invited to come to Price Chapel, where
one of our ministers will be present to
offer the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Prayer teams will be available for
intercessory prayer and anointing with
oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit,
promised by Jesus in John 14:26. In
your hour of need, accept God’s invitation… and come pray with us.
Saturdays
CenterPoint Praise
5:30 PM • CenterPoint
First Church now offers an evening
contemporary service set in the casual
atmosphere of CenterPoint. e
preaching pastor and message are the
same as the following Sunday morning. Praise music is led each week by
Brent Taylor. Children and youth are
encouraged to attend. Childcare is
available for children ages 6 months to
3 years.
Special Guest on November 7
Dan Kramer, MAST Leader for
Wycliffe Associates
Special Guests on November 21
Eddie Kauoltz, Director of Church
Mobilization for IJM and Tim &
Annette Gulick, OC International.
Family Night Programs
Through Nov. 18 • 6-7:30 PM
Family Ministries Center
See page 20 for more information.
Fridays
Kids Night Out
Nov. 13 & Dec. 4 • 5-8 PM
See page 20 for more information.
FAM Christmas Recital
Sunday, December 6 • 3 PM • McClure Hall
First Academy of Music invites church members
to join FAM parents and friends in celebrating
both the Christmas season and student progress.
is annual end-of-semester recital will be held
“bistro-style” in McClure Hall. e audience
will be seated at tables where they can nibble on
holiday goodies to the accompaniment of student
musicians.
Epistle to the Bonitians
Editor: RJ Flower-Opdycke
Copy Editor: Donabeth Urick
Design: gilurickdesign
Contributing Writers:
Trusha Barner
Cheryl Bauer
Nancy Bolognese
Shirley DiLorenzo
Connie Duquin
Leslie Durling
Rev. Dr. Paul Fahnestock
Christian Faux
Jeff Faux
Scott Flaig
Ellis Gery
Rev. Steven Grant
Janet Greene
Lauren Hargis
John Hashek
Lynn & Jill Heinold
Maria Karl
Jackie Maxwell
Rev. John McWilliams
Dave Nichols
Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt
Norma Reynolds
Nelson Robbins
Lowell & Sally Senitz
Dave & Lynne Stauffer
Rachel Steffens
Donna Tenfelde
Donabeth Urick
Amanda Zaengle
Contributing Photographers:
Nancy Bolognese
Dave Stauffer
e Greatest Gi
continued
e most special gis I have ever received are my salvation
from Jesus, my wife and my family and ministry for e
Lord. – PaStoR JohN MCWilliaMS
For me, it was one of the greatest blessings…
(Read “Opening the Door” on page 30.) – elliS GeRy
When I was 10 years old (the youngest of six) my father
was laid off from his job and we had no money for Christmas. My mom reached out to a friend who then reached
out to St. Leo’s Catholic Church where church members
gathered gis for my family. Although they were not
expensive Barbie dolls or toy trucks, they were still very
special gis. is is a Christmas I will remember forever—
when local Christians cared enough to bring us gis so we
could have a nice Christmas. at is the true meaning of
CHRISTmas! – NaNCy BoloGNeSe
For all of us, it was just the traditional Christmas routine…
(Read “Christmas with Elisabeth” on page 14.)
– MaRia KaRl
I had wanted to sponsor a Compassion child for several
years, but my resources were limited and I didn’t think I
could afford the ongoing monthly donation. But, on one
Compassion Sunday here at First Church, I perused the
child packets and one photo caught my attention. It was a
mother holding her little girl, age 3. Little Deborah had a
pouty face that made me smile. Right then I knew I had to
let God’s light shine on that little girl and her family. I have
sponsored Deborah in Peru for three Christmases and I
know this is the finest gi I have been blessed to give. I
stepped out in faith, trusting God to make it possible. In my
latest photo of Deborah, she still has that beautiful pouty
face. But I know God is working in her life just as He is
working in mine. Praise God for all gis given and received!
– aNoNyMouS
Twenty-four gis for 24 great nieces and nephews…
(Read “A Compassion Christmas Tradition” on page 9.)
– lyNN & Jill heiNolD
A Pearl by Any Other Name
anonymous
It sat under the tree—a very tiny box with my name on it in my mother’s handwriting.
I was 12 and it was Christmas morning. My brother, six years my junior, had so many
gis and toys he was already opening and playing with… even a battery-operated
helicopter! I held my box for a long time, fighting back the tears as I watched my
brother playing, laughing and having fun. Finally I reluctantly opened the tiny white
box that wasn’t even wrapped. It was a pair of tiny pearl stud earrings with gold posts
in a velvet gi box. I was not surprised. My brother got all that stuff and I got a little
pair of earrings, not even the cool, dangly kind.
It wasn’t until all these years later that I now truly appreciate the beauty of that tiny
little gi. My mom didn’t say a word but she told me a lot with that gi. First, that I
didn’t need “all that stuff ” and “all those toys” like my little brother. Second, that I
deserved things of quality and beauty. ird, that a gi from the heart—like a pair of
classic earrings to help her daughter feel pretty—was a true treasure, no matter the
size of the box. And fourth, that such a beautiful gi simply given (with no pomp or
circumstance or expectation of gratitude) actually reflects the heart and character
of the giver.
By the way, I discovered that my name is of Greek origin and means “pearl.”
Pastoral Intern Christian Faux
Christian Faux, son of our Director of Sacred Arts Jeff and
his wife Joan, is considering a career in pastoral ministry.
First Church has developed an innovative one-year Pastoral
Internship for Christian, supervised by Pastors Doug Pratt
and Steven Grant. From now through next August he will
be participating in many areas in the life of our church and
learning ministry first-hand.
To help our congregation get better acquainted with
Christian, the epistle asked him a few questions and found
out more about the young man behind the internship.
Q. How did you become a committed follower of
Christ?
I grew up in the church, so being a follower of Christ has, to
some degree, always been a part of my life. Several moments
acted as sort of “awakenings” but one in particular stands
out. At a church camp when I was in high school, the sermon for the night was on what it means to be a disciple
and to live your life for Christ. ere was an altar call and
at that moment, with the words of the pastor still on my
mind, I rededicated my life to Christ. Q. Tell us about your college experience.
I attended Southeastern University, an Assemblies of God
university in Lakeland, FL. While I was there I studied English as my major. College was the first time in my life I felt
really connected to what I was learning and doing. I had a
great time digging into the texts we were reading and getting to know the history behind the authors. College was
also the first time I began to feel socially competent as well,
seeking out new friends and developing strong relationships
with those who kind of fell into my life. Because the school
leaned toward the charismatic, there was an emphasis on
the emotional aspect of religion; it was all very emotional,
which never clicked for me. I approach my faith very
rationally and logically, not ignoring emotion but realizing
that, as the Bible says, the heart is deceitful. is is why
I’m so grateful for this opportunity to learn in an environment that fosters learning elements of faith, emotion and
intelligence.
Q. What are the main areas you will be working in during your internship at First Church?
e three areas I am predominantly working in are: the
Youth Ministry, getting to know the students and helping
teach them about God; the Media Ministry, offering tech
support for Wednesday in the Word, Preschool Chapel, the
Men’s Breakfast and CenterPoint Praise; and pastoral lead6 Epistle to the Bonitians |
FROM A FATHER’S POINT OF vIEW
What makes Christian a good candidate for
pastoral ministry?
JEFF FAUX: Christian is a thinker. He processes everything that
goes on around him in a very intellectual way. He is constantly
asking questions and is very willing and able to see things from
several points of view. is could be because he attended an Assemblies of God school, a Catholic high school and has attended
Lutheran, United Methodist and Presbyterian churches over the
course of his life. rough these many different ways of approaching theology that he has experienced, Christian has been able to
focus on and clearly understand the common story of redemption
and salvation in Christ.
ership, which is largely mentorship and focused on reading.
Working through theological and spiritual texts is familiarizing me with church doctrine and theology. In addition to
that, my experiences with the pastors and staff will show me
the practical sides of how a church is run and help me
understand the foundations of its inner workings. Q. What are some things you are hoping to learn from
your time here?
Largely what I am hoping to learn comes from truly experiencing what it takes to run a flagship church and provide
meaningful, relevant programming on a weekly basis. I also
want to dig deep into theology, something that’s always
fascinated me but seemed impenetrable before. It’s difficult
to delve into over 2,000 years of theology without a solid
starting point, but the past two months have been a great
start. Q. How would you like church members to be praying
for you?
I feel I need prayer in developing discipline in all its forms
and that God continues to lead me in discerning my call.
I also feel that prayers of thanksgiving are definitely
warranted—not only for the path that has led me here
but also because of the fact I am able to both learn and
contribute to such an outstanding church.
More about Christian
Mentoring in Everything Presbyterian
As part of Christian Faux’ internship year, Pastor Steven Grant is
mentoring him on all things Presbyterian. ey are studying Presbyterian history, starting with John Calvin, John Knox and the
early days of Presbyterianism in America, and then will follow the
story from then to the present time.
“We will look at its development as an elder-led community of
faith,” said Pastor Steven. “We will study the essential tenets of the
Reformed faith as well as any other theological questions that present themselves. As far as practical ministry is concerned, I will be
inviting Christian to join me for some pastoral visits. It is a pleasure
to work with such a delightful, intelligent and faithful brother who
will be a great asset to God’s church through his future pastoral
ministry. I pray that the time we spend working together will be
meaningful for Christian, but for myself, I appreciate the opportunity to revisit our church’s story, what we believe and how we live
out our faith as a church.”
Christian was born in Burlington, NJ (outside Philadelphia)
where he spent his first seven years. en the Faux family
moved to Fort Myers in 2000, where Jeff (FPC Director of
Sacred Arts) began as Director of Music at First United
Methodist Church in downtown Fort Myers. Christian attended Bishop verot Catholic High School
and worked as a clerk at a local law firm. He graduated from
Southeastern University in Lakeland with a Bachelor’s in
English. He minored in religion and took some basic
theology courses.
Christian always had a deep fascination with theology. In
fact while a freshman in high school, he recorded and
posted apologetics videos on youtube.
“ankfully these have been lost to time,” Christian said,
“but one of my viewers, a girl about my age, commented
that I would make a good pastor. at simple statement got
the wheels turning and, ever since then, I’ve been on this
path.”
Christian began his pastoral internship at FPC in August
not only to learn more about serving in ministry but also to
help him discern what area of ministry best suits him. He
feels blessed to be here.
“I am impressed with how much effort is put into developing a philosophy for everything that is undertaken here at
FPC,” he said. “When a new project is started, every aspect
is carefully considered and kept in line with our vision and
purpose to prevent getting sidetracked.”
Christian loves reading. (at is a good thing, with Pastors Doug and Steven as his mentors!) He is an exceptional
writer and enjoys dabbling in painting. With a penchant for
games, Christian built his own gaming PC earlier this summer. His favorite book is ender’s Game by Orson Scott
Card. When Christian was asked his favorite Scripture passage,
he said, “is is going to sound stupid, but hear me out. It’s
John 11:35, ‘Jesus wept.’ e verse highlights for me exactly
how human Jesus was—that He could be so overcome by
emotion that He broke down and wept at His imminent execution. I think we tend to see Jesus as this stoic wise
teacher, and not as the very human being that He was. It
helps show that we shouldn’t be afraid of our humanity but
at the same time, like Jesus, we shouldn’t let it rule us.”
Bittersweet Farewell to the Fahnestocks
Rev. Paul Fahnestock retired as Associate Pastor of First
Church this past August. In his pastor’s letter published in
the May-June issue of the epistle, he wrote, “I have just
completed ten years of fruitful and joyful ministry at FPC
(2005-2014). Linda and I believe that God is now calling us
to transition into one more ministry that might take us to
the finish line. We are answering a call to full-time ministry
with Wycliffe Associates and this new
[MAST] Bible translation project.”
Paul and Linda were introduced to
MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation) last February
during a Wycliffe project in
Cameroon, West Africa. ey participated in and witnessed the Gospel of
Mark being translated into five native
languages in the course of only two
weeks using Dan Kramer’s amazing
new methodology. Upon their return
to Bonita Springs, their excitement
was obvious… and understandable.
MAST proved to greatly reduce
the time it takes to translate Scripture.
e former paradigm would have taken an average of 27
weeks (working 5 days per week) to complete the 678 verses
of Mark. e Cameroon experience convinced Paul and
Linda to become part of the church’s challenge to bring
God’s Word to the 4,101 living languages that have never
had in written form.
Aer much prayer and discernment, they made the decision to refocus their lives and answer the call to return to
the mission field. Now MAST Global Coordinators for
Wycliffe Associates, the Fahnestocks have just returned
from several projects training language groups in India and
Africa. (Join them for their special presentation, “e
Fahnestock Report,” aer worship on November 8.)
When Paul and Linda came to Bonita Springs in 2005,
both were veteran missionaries who spent a total of 10 years
serving in Uzbekistan and Northeast Brazil. e next
decade of their lives was spent with us in ministry here at
First Church. Paul’s pastoral role developed and changed
over time, eventually settling in the field of missions. In
2013, Linda joined the staff of Wycliffe as coordinator of an
English Language Learners (ELL) program. Her assignment
was to help potential Brazilian Bible translators learn English, enabling them to join international translation teams.
rough their dedication and passion for missions, Paul
and Linda taught us how we can literally transform our
community and the world we live in with the conviction of
Christ in our hearts. eir presence here cultivated a deepening of our commitment to the broader mission of Christ
in the world.
Paul’s legacy at First Church includes the structural and
spiritual development of our Mission Ministry, recruiting
and training many from our church to share in its leadership. Deeply devoted to sharing love
in the name of Christ, he spearheaded
the establishment of the local Love
INC Clearinghouse in our community. His decade of counsel, preaching
and teaching as Associate Pastor
deeply changed us for the better.
An advocate for the least of God’s
children, the poor, neglected and lost
of this world, Paul challenged us to
oppose persecution and ignorance. He
never gave up. His sense of humor was
never diminished; neither was his excitement about life. A prayer warrior
in the deepest sense, Paul’s faith was
the driving influence behind many
Kingdom projects and partnerships during these past 10
years. We have been greatly blessed to call him our pastor
and friend.
Bible Translation: Dawning of a New Era
In the last 500 years, the Bible translation ministries of the church
have been able to translate the Old and New Testaments into 513
languages, the New Testament into an additional 1,294 languages,
and portions of Scripture into another 1,110 languages. Most of
this work has been completed in the last 200 years. e challenge to
the church is that there are 4,101 living languages which have no
Scripture at all.
e exciting news is that with Dan Kramer’s innovative MAST
methodology along with the appropriate use of current technology,
the goal of adequate biblical content in every language and for
every people group could be reached within 10 years. It is a
stunning paradigm shi in providing Scripture and discipleship
material for “every tribe and language and people and nation”
(Revelation 5:9).
Dan serves as MAST Leader for Wycliffe Associates and will
be with us on November 7 and 8 during worship services.
Asssociate Pastor Nominating Committee
Search Begins for a New Associate Pastor
In the wake of Pastor Paul Fahnestock’s recent retirement
from FPC, Pastor Doug Pratt and the church Elders have
been discussing the appropriateness of filling the associate
pastor position he vacated. e consensus is to proceed with
searching for a new associate pastor to complete our pastoral staff.
At the October 18 congregational meeting, a Pastor
Nominating Committee (PNC) was elected: Dave Nichols
(Chairman), Kay Brown, Jacque Dousson, Roger McLaughlin, Stephen Myers, Paul Spinka, Jerry Weisenauer, Geri
Wolfe and Sarah Zimmermann, with (alternate) Kathy
McMichael. ey will be working closely with Peace River
Presbytery, Pastor Pratt, the church elders and congregation
as they embark on the formal search for a new associate
pastor to serve our church.
e Presbytery has already dissolved the pastoral relationship with Pastor Paul and authorized our church to
move forward with the selection process. A representative
from Peace River Presbytery will be assigned to work with
our PNC. Only ordained PCUSA pastors may be considered
for this position.
e PNC’s first responsibility is to work with Session to
agree on the recommended Terms of Call (salary, compensation, benefits) for the prospective associate pastor. ey
will then begin preparing a Ministry Information Form
(MIF), which is a collection of information about the demographics of our church and community, our Mission Statement, and the most important qualities desired in an
incoming pastor. e PNC, working with Session and Pas-
tor Pratt, will ultimately determine the duties of the incoming pastor, which may not necessarily match Pastor Paul’s
duties. Preparing and submitting the MIF may take upwards of four months.
Once completed, the MIF is submitted to the denomination which alerts all pastors of our interest in filling this
position. Pastors may then submit their resumes to us. e
entire committee will review each form submitted to determine if the candidate meets the established criteria. Over a
period of one to two months, the top 10 candidates will be
identified and briefly interviewed over the phone. en the
top one or two candidates will personally meet with the
PNC, who will also find an opportunity to hear them
preach.
When the final candidate is identified and an offer is
made, his/her name is submitted to the Committee on Ministry at Peace River Presbytery for final review and approval.
Ideally, we could have our new pastor in place during the
2016 summer months.
Your PNC is honored and humbled to accept the call to
serve on what is one of the most important committees in
our church, and will prayerfully embark on this search.
ere will be a time in the process when members of the
congregation will be called upon to suggest any candidates
worthy of consideration. ough the PNC will be bound by
the highest level of confidentiality, we will provide the congregation with frequent updates as to where we are in the
process.
associate Pastor Nominating Committee
A Compassion Christmas Tradition
by lynn & Jill heinold
We are now in our 70s, and have been blessed not only with two grandchildren of our own but also a total
of 24 great-nieces and great-nephews. We try to remember each one of them on special occasions, in order
to remind each child that they are an integral part of our family. Since the birth of our Lord is such an
important part of the Christian year, we have chosen to celebrate His coming by making a donation in the
name of our grandchildren and all our great-nieces and great-nephews to Compassion International.
Compassion provides us with a nice colorful receipt for each gi showing what need we contributed to in
their name (safe water wells, education fees, medical needs, garden seeds, livestock, child survival program,
disaster relief, Bibles for children, etc.). ere is even a place to include a personal note to each one. at way,
each child knows they’ve been thought of and remembered with love. ey also know their gi will further
God’s kingdom around the world through His outreach of love to an actual child in need… for if we do
something for the least of these, it is as though we have done it for Christ Himself (Matthew 25:35-40).
Going out and buying 24 separate gis is more difficult as we get older. But with Compassion International providing this opportunity for giving, we can do most of it online. en we address an envelope to
each child and off the loving message goes.
e Greatest Story Ever Told
At First Church, we honor God’s story of redemption each
and every Saturday and Sunday in worship. We carry the
Messiah’s agape love into our daily lives—our family, our
work, our recreation, our giving. Our focus and lessons
learned change from week to week, but we understand that
God’s far-reaching plan is part of our purpose and seek to
worship Him in prayer and praise.
During November, we are emphasizing and celebrating
First Missions—organizations and individuals supported by
our church and devoted to proclaiming the Good News of
Jesus to all corners of the earth. We urge you to learn more
about our core of over 40 missions and to pray for them on
a regular basis. How blessed we are in this time and place to
be able to worship freely and share our faith. But our missionaries in the field are most oen not welcome and their
surroundings unfamiliar and inhospitable. ey go because
God has called them. Many have chosen to move their families to places and among people who do not know Jesus.
But these devoted Christians choose to predominantly see
not the fear and confusion of the surrounding darkness but
the light Christ is waiting to shine on the least, the last and
the lost. Let us recognize their sacrifice and pray for them
oen.
We begin the season of Advent on Sunday, November 29
as we prepare our hearts to truly celebrate Christ in us. Even
though our culture idolizes the material and commercialized aspects of the “holiday” season, as Christians we strive
to realize the true depth of God’s mystery of salvation. e
Messiah was foretold by the prophets centuries before. Although born humbly and visited by simple shepherds, His
birth was also announced by angels and celestial events; and
He was honored as king by wise men from the East. For 30
years, the Messiah lived quietly among us. en He dedicated the final three years of His life proclaiming the amazing message of salvation, before becoming our living
Sacrifice on Calvary. rough His death and resurrection,
we have gained access to eternal life. Our Christmastime
services reflect His story, “e Greatest Story Ever Told,”
and encourage us to proclaim it as OUR STORY.
Worship Highlights
November 1
All Saints Sunday Communion Service
Worship will include the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
and a special tribute to those from our congregation who
have gone to be with the Lord since last All Saints Day.
Immediately following the 10 AM service, those with a
loved one interred in our Resurrection Garden are invited
to gather there for a brief Service of Remembrance and
Reconsecration.
November 8
Wycliffe Bible Translation
Our 10 AM service on Sunday morning will highlight the
Bible translation work of Wycliffe Associates. Dan Kramer,
MAST developer for Wycliffe, will be with us to talk about
the challenge to bring the Bible to “every tribe and language
and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). Our Drama Ministry will
present “Scattered Ashes,” a one-act play about John
Wycliffe, set in 1425. New Mission banners created by the
FPC Banner Committee will be on display in the Sanctuary.
Following worship, Pastor Paul and Linda Fahnestock will
share a special presentation on their recent adventures in
India and Africa leading MAST workshops. Aerward,
guests may express fond farewells as Paul and Linda return
to their new home in Texas and continue their mission
work with Wycliffe.
November 15
“Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” book discussion
Worship at 10 AM will feature music from the Contemporary Ensemble and Chancel Choir. e service will be
abbreviated due to the Bikers for Babies motorcycle
fundraiser reaching Bonita Beach Road around 11:15 AM.
For those wishing to stay at First Church during this time,
Pastor Doug Pratt will hold a discussion on the book
Seeking allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi, our Bonita
Christian Forum speaker on January 5, 2016.
November 22
Mission Sunday
Our 10 AM service celebrates First Missions with special
guests Eddie Kauoltz, IJM Director of Church Mobilization, and Tim & Annette Gulick, missionaries with OC
International. Immediately following worship, all are invited
to our annual Missions Fair in McClure Hall. Many of our
local and international mission partners will be featured.
(For more on First Missions, see pages 16 & 17.)
Community Servants
Recognition
November 29
First Sunday of Advent
As Advent begins, we ponder the Messianic prophecies in
our hearts. We light the Candle of Presence, and look
toward Bethlehem. e Motet Choir will sing (10 AM).
December 6
The Greatest Story Ever Told (10 AM)
rough special music and Scripture readings, we focus on
the sacred Christmas story that Christians are called to
shout from the mountain tops. e Chancel Choir and
Brass Ensemble present inspiring anthems and beloved
carols, reminding us that Christmas marks the beginning of
our story of redemption and grace. On the Second Sunday
of Advent we light the Candle of Peace.
December 13
Third Sunday of Advent
Before worship, the New Horizons Band will greet worshipers with Christmas carols. We light the Candle of Adoration and Joy. Our Drama Ministry will present “e Writing
of i heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” a one-act play set on
Christmas Eve 1863, featuring the carol’s author, Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow. Music will feature the Angelus Bells.
December 20
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Christmas Sunday)
As we light the Candle of Praise, we meditate on the divine
mystery of the Son becoming flesh, born into this world as
both fully God and fully human. Music will feature the
Men’s Choir.
December 27
We enjoy the peace of Christmas, contemplating the final
days of 2015 and looking forward to new beginnings and
greater challenges. Pastor June Barrow will preach on
“e Size of the Gi.”
First Responders at Bonita Springs Fire Department Station #1 on Old 41 Road
were happy to pose with their “thank you” card and box of treats!
On September 20, we celebrated our 11th annual Community Servants Recognition Sunday. e service was well
attended by firefighters and EMTs in uniform from the
Bonita Springs Fire District and Sheriff ’s Deputies from
Bonita’s Delta Division. Aer worship, the uniformed firefighters and officers formed a reception line in McClure
Hall. Hundreds of our congregants took time to personally
thank them for their service to the community.
e FPC Deacons who organized this event want to
say…“THANK YOU” to: all the Sunday school children for
creating the terrific “thank you” cards; all the volunteers
who helped collect, pack and deliver the cookies; and, of
course, all those who prepared the wonderful baked goods.
Over 300 packages of goodies and treats were donated and
distributed among 10 local fire stations and sheriff ’s offices,
along with one of the giant “thank you” cards created by our
Neon Kids and signed by members of the church.
What a joy it is for us to celebrate and thank our Community First Responders. Please keep them in your prayers.
Special Services
Wednesday, November 25
Thanksgiving Eve Service • 7 PM • Sanctuary
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services • 5 PM, 7:30 PM & 10 PM
Sanctuary
Spend Christmas Eve with your church family! Our 5 PM service is
tailored for families with children. e later services feature music
from the Chancel Choir.
Christian Education
First Flix: Do You Believe?
Friday, December 4 • 7-9 PM • CenterPoint
We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings as our ongoing D.I.G. (Discover, Investigate, Grow) Bible study class
helps us discover the teachings, opportunities and blessings
God has in store for us.
Sunday Mornings: D.I.G.
Our Pastors’ Favorite Scripture Verses
Through November 15 • 8:45-9:45 AM
Great Room
Our pastoral staff shares their favorite verses from Scripture
as well as personal and spiritual insights they have found
there.
The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem
November 22 through December 20 • 8:45-9:45 AM
Great Room
It’s a story you know by heart, but e Journey combines
historical information and archaeology with Adam Hamilton’s thoughtful, conversational teaching style to give you a
new perspective on the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey
from Nazareth to Bethlehem. e five-session DvD was
filmed on location in the Holy Land. Each exciting and informative session contains 10-15 minute video vignettes of
the author retracing the actual path Mary and Joseph followed. e five sessions include: Mary of Nazareth, Joseph
of Bethlehem, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, From Nazareth to
Bethlehem, and e Manger. 12 Epistle to the Bonitians |
Set in Detroit, this 2015 film is a multi-character study
about 12 individuals whose lives ultimately intersect. e
characters are a vibrant mix of believers and skeptics, some
in anguish and pain, some who are being tested. Its main
point? at the cross of Christ needs to be dealt with by
every person sooner or later and that faith always leads to
action. From the creators of the popular God’s Not Dead,
this movie is an engaging presentation of just how Jesus
changes people, sometimes radically. Ted McGinley plays
the young pastor whose response to a crisis of faith impacts
everyone it touches in unimaginable ways. Familiar faces
include Lee Majors, Cybill Shepherd, Mira Sorvino, Brian
Bosworth and Sean Astin. Rated PG-13.
“e idea of how God’s providence works itself
out… is made explicit… but that doesn’t render
the underlying theological themes any less potent.
In its own realm, Do you Believe? set a new
standard for what a certain vein of Christian
cinema can be.” (Christian Hamaker, “In Defense
of Christian Cinema: A Review of Do you Believe?”
March 19, 2015, crosswalk.com)
Don’t Miss All at God Has Waiting
New Book by Pastor John McWilliams
Balancing Your Faith
Improving Your Relationship with God
According to Pastor John McWilliams,
many of us may be running on only
one-third the power and blessings God
has for us. Why?
“As Christians, we tend to ‘major’ in
only one Person of the Trinity and
‘minor’ in the other Two,” said Pastor
John. “We oen hear people speak
about having a ‘personal relationship
with Jesus,’ but we rarely, if ever, hear
anyone talking about having a personal
relationship with the Father and/or the
Holy Spirit.”
Membership Classes
Saturday, November 7 • 9-11 AM
Sunday, November 8 • 5:30-7:30 PM
Saturday, January 16 • 9-11 AM
Sunday, January 17 • 5:30-7:30 PM
Classes are held in McClure Hall
First Church extends an invitation to those interested in learning
more about church membership. is class, led by Senior Pastor
Doug Pratt, covers what it means to be a Christian, what it means
to be Presbyterian, and what it means to be a member of First
Church. You’ll hear a little of our history and get a snapshot of our
various ministries. Connect with others new to our church; get to
know our pastors and church leaders; discover opportunities for
fellowship and service. various options for membership will be
explained; there is no obligation to join at that time. Choose the
session most convenient, then contact Membership Coordinator
Rebecca Harley (239-229-8953) to reserve your space.
If you have any questions about church membership or our
membership classes, contact Rebecca Harley at 229-8953 or visit
the Welcome kiosk in the Narthex on Sunday morning.
Because of this, we could be missing so much of what
God has waiting for us. Balancing your Faith takes an exciting look at how each of us can improve our relationship
with God by becoming more spiritually balanced in our individual lives and in our congregations. Many down-toearth, practical examples of how we can seek more stability
in our Christian walk and ministry are included.
“I would recommend this book to Christians of all levels
of maturity,” Pastor John said, “brand new believers and the
seasoned faithful alike. e text also includes God’s plan for
salvation, so it is also designed to help non-Christians as
well as followers of Christ.”
Pastor John has served in ordained ministry for over 38
years. Aer earning his Master of Divinity from Princeton
Seminary, he spent the next 21 years serving two congregations in Windham, NH and on Long Island, NY. During
that time, John and his wife Barbara raised their three children.
In 1998 John and Barbara felt a call into Christian mission work full time. ey le the pastorate and went to
work with Campus Crusade for Christ for nearly 15 years.
John is now on staff with International Biblical Training in
Chattanooga, TN. His main area of responsibility has been
training pastors and Christian leaders in various countries
as well as throughout the United States. He has traveled to
teach, preach and minister numerous times in Russia and
Costa Rica, as well as Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Bahamas and, most recently, Cuba.
As a minister, Pastor John is a member of Peace River
Presbytery, and Barbara has been a member of First Church
for six years. Over the years, John has preached here and offered classes related to Christian spirituality and the mission
field. His lifelong goal is to bring others closer to God and
to use all his gis and talents to do so. John has written numerous articles, hymns and songs and has recorded various
audio seminars on pertinent Christian topics.
is book is available in the FPC BookCenter. all proceeds
from the first 500 sold and 10% thereaer will be given to
“operation heal our Patriots,” a ministry of Samaritan’s
Purse that focuses on bringing spiritual hope, physical
renewal and marriage enrichment to our wounded veterans
and their spouses. Consider this book for Christmas gigiving to family and friends.
First Person
e Power of Prayer
by Shirley Dilorenzo
I have a story to tell. It’s all about love, faith, and the power
of prayer. If I ever doubted these things, I have found new
reasons to believe them now.
About five months ago, my son Nick mentioned that I
had been coughing a lot and suggested I have it checked
out. So I went to an urgent care facility for chest x-rays.
ey sent me home with a prescription but called me later
that day saying they needed to change that prescription to a
more powerful one, as some abnormalities were noted on
the x-rays. I was then scheduled for a CT scan and then a
PET scan, both with the same results.
By this time, my doctor was getting concerned. Aer
more checking, he said that everything pointed to lung cancer. My other son, Bob, is a doctor in Raleigh, NC, and advised me to send all the information to his hospital for a
second opinion. His colleagues studied all my test results
and agreed it was indeed lung cancer. ey advised that we
wait two months, and repeat the tests then.
I went to Raleigh and stayed with Bob and his family. By
this time, his church congregation had heard of my struggle
and began praying for me. So, along with my Christian family here at First Church, I had even more prayers being said
for me. at was very comforting.
I had already accepted the thought that God decided my
time on earth was coming to an end. Aer 89 years, I knew
I wasn’t going to live forever and was ready to meet my
Lord. I was at peace and calmly started making changes to
my life goals.
Aer the two months had passed, the doctors repeated
the tests in Raleigh. Bob, his wife Sherri and I were asked to
join the oncologist in his office to review the results. He
showed us the first set of films, and then the second. We
were happily surprised to see how much the nodules had
shrunk! e doctor said this is not consistent with cancer
cells, and therefore concluded that cancer was no longer a
threat!
Can you imagine the relief we felt? I realized right then
and there that God had heard our prayers and answered
them. I was sent in for a bronchoscopy to try to figure out
what was causing the problem. ey took many cultures
and discovered I had a bacterial lung infection for which I
am now being treated. With the help of antibiotics and
prayer, I will soon be well again.
I will never again doubt God’s hand in our lives and
know for sure that all our prayers are heard. I now realize
that God has given me this healing blessing so that I will encourage others to actively embrace and trust in the power of
prayer.
I feel so blessed with my church family and thank all of
you for your loving prayers and support. As God’s Word
states in 1 essalonians 16:18, “Be joyful always, pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s
will for you in Jesus Christ.”
Christmas with Elisabeth
by Maria Karl
e year was 1974. I took my “grandmother-in-law to be,” Elisabeth
(in her 80’s), to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve, with my
parents, grandparents, and siblings also present.
We celebrated our “traditional” Christmas Eve aer already
attending the church service. Festivities included the unveiling of the
nativity presented for the first time that season, lighting the Christmas tree, reading the story of Christ’s birth from the Gospel of Luke,
and singing Christmas carols… all verses! en each of us either said
a short prayer, recited a Christmas poem or played a Christmas song
with an instrument (recorder or piano). Aer all that, we exchanged
Christmas presents, making sure that everyone received at least one
present.
To close the evening, mom served her homemade potato salad
and wieners. For all of us it was just the traditional Christmas
routine… but to our guest, Elisabeth, it was something very special.
As midnight approached, we were on our way to take Elisabeth
home. She turned to me with tears running down her cheeks and
said, “is was the best Christmas ever in my life!” She was so
impressed with us—men, women, children, old and young—all
together in the room, participating, listening, singing and praying
wholeheartedly, and getting along.
Her words took me by surprise. I was almost speechless. en I
told her, “But this happens only this once during the course of the
entire year! e rest of the time we are all just ‘normal’—running
around, fighting, teasing each other, yelling, laughing, singing.” Aer
all, there were nine of us, three generations living under one roof!
But Christmas Eve was an evening of peace and joy, laying aside
all strife and disagreements. Instead we stuck together, enjoyed each
other and celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
2015-16
2015-16 | Our 28th Season
Fine Arts Series
Concert Series
is season’s Fine Arts line-up is our greatest yet. e quality of this year’s artists and music is the best you will find
anywhere is Southwest Florida. At the same time, the cost
per ticket is lower than you will pay elsewhere. Why drive
further, fight traffic and pay more to hear world class music?
We bring the best right to you!
Ticket order forms are available at the church. Tickets
may be purchased at the Ticket Office, Monday–ursday,
9 AM–3:30 PM, or at the door prior to each concert.
For more information, call the Concert Line at
239-992-3410 ext. 250.
Fine Arts Series 2015-16
Naples Philharmonic Chorus
“A Choral Christmas”
December 3, 2015 • 7:30PM
Tickets: $35
Naples Philharmonic
“Around Town: Brahms and Schubert”
January 28, 2016 • 7:30PM
Tickets: $35
Gulfshore Opera
“Legends of Opera Gala”
February 21, 2016 • 4:00PM
Tickets: contact gulfshoreopera.org
Hector Olivera
Internationally Acclaimed Organist
March 13, 2016 • 3:00 PM
Tickets: $10
Naples Philharmonic & Chorus
Presents Beethoven’s “Mass in C Major”
April 7, 2016 • 7:30PM
Tickets: $35
e Fine Arts Series is being presented as a fund raising effort for the
First Academy of Music’s (FAM) financial aid program. FAM provides
high quality musical instruction for students of all ages and levels of
skill. Private lessons on individual instruments are offered as well as
group musical experiences for children and adults, with performance
opportunities over the course of the program year. Financial assistance
is available to qualifying students aged 18 years and younger enrolled
in private lessons at the school. For more information, call the music
office at 239-992-3410 ext. 232 or visit firstacademyofmusic.org.
Our Concert Series presents first-class musical entertainment to the Bonita Springs community free of charge as a
way of welcoming them to our church home. is is made
possible through the support and generosity of the congregation, sponsors and through freewill donations received
at each performance.
Concert Series 2015-16
The Stardust Memories Big Band
November 20, 2015 • 7:30PM
The Ditchfield Family/Christmas Concert
December 11, 2015 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
Embraceable You: The Music of George Gershwin
January 15, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
Nicole Sassen Live
January 29, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
The Four Freshmen
February 5, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
Barbary Coast Show Band
February 26, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
The Browns
March 4, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
Let’s Hang On
March 18, 2016 • 3:00 & 7:30PM
Tickets are free but required for seating and available to
the public at the Ticket Office 10 days before each
concert date. Information about our Concert Series and
sponsorship program is available at the church, online
at fpcbonita.org and also by calling the Concert Line
at 239-992-3410 ext. 250.
First Missions
Making a Difference
Over the past decade, through the leadership of Pastors
Doug Pratt and Paul Fahnestock, First Church has established a core of over 40 relevant mission organizations, projects and missionary partners making a positive influence
for God’s kingdom in today’s world.
Dedicated research by members of the Mission Leadership Team recommending support of these projects has further influenced the good accomplished for Christ as we
continue to reach out to “the least, the last and the lost,
around the corner and around the world.” You only have to
peruse the First Missions Directory to get a feel for the pervasive reach of our Mission Ministry, both locally and
worldwide.
is Christmas season, First Church asks members and
friends to listen to that “still small voice” and share in a tangible way your love of the Baby Jesus and the hope and light
He brings.
We encourage you to look through our First Missions
Directory and choose a mission partner that you and your
family can relate to. Read about the work they are doing, research them online, and attend our Mission Fair on November 22. It will feature many local and international missions
and missionaries supported by our church. Consider choosing a cause and supporting that ministry, both financially
and with your heartfelt prayers. Arrange to make a Christmas donation to further their work.
Director of Missions Trusha Barner is very knowledgeable on each mission we support. She would be glad to
help match you and your family with a mission cause
that reflects your concerns. Just send her an email
([email protected]) or set up an appointment
(239-992-3233).
e large and small organizations we support as a
church are among the most respectable and ethical, with
established far-reaching efforts in place to combat the dark,
destructive forces of this world—including human slavery
and injustice (IJM, She Is Safe, Wings of Shelter), poverty
and hunger (Compassion International, Samaritan’s Purse,
ECHO, Café of Life) and spiritual illiteracy (Wycliffe, Witnessing Ministries of Christ).
We know most of our individual missionaries personally
and many have been introduced to the congregation at one
time or another in worship and through presentations that
highlight their work. Over the past few years we have met
Bruce and Deb Robinson (with CrossWorld in Haiti), Marianne Harvey (with Wycliffe in West Africa), Tim & Annette
Gulick (with OC International), Philip Prasad (with WMC
in India) and Dimitrie Todorov (with New Hope International in Bulgaria) to name only a few.
Finding a missionary cause that is close to your heart
and deciding to offer proactive support can make a big difference—not only in our own Christian walk but also in the
world’s spiritual movement toward salvation and the light of
Christ. Sponsoring a mission dedicated to spreading the
Gospel of Jesus—bringing His love to parts of the world living only in shadow—is a bold proclamation of our Christian faith.
A Christmas donation can go a long way in expanding
the reality of God’s love to this broken world. But even more
important to the FPC Mission Ministry is our support
through dedicated and focused prayer.
e Finest Gi of All: Prayer
“Of course, our missionaries appreciate all monetary donations,”
says our Director of Missions Trusha Barner. “is makes it possible for their work to continue. But it is important for us to realize
their utmost respect for and dependence on the power of prayer.
ese brave missionaries, who choose to live on the forefront of a
very real spiritual battlefield, singularly covet our prayers most of
all. ey live their faith daily and prayer plays a vital role in their
everyday lives.”
is is the concept behind our Mission Ministry’s “Mission
Prayer Tree” to be displayed this holiday season. e tree will hold
“ornaments” listing a specific missionary, project or organization
supported by our church and will include their prayer requests.
Members and friends are encouraged to take an ornament from
the tree and spend time in prayer especially for that mission. If
possible, an address will be provided so prayer warriors may send
an encouraging Christmas card.
“Prayer is something we can all do to show support for our
mission partners, many of whom have chosen to live with their
families in foreign lands in order to spread God’s Word,” Trusha
added.
Visit the Mission Prayer Tree beginning in mid-November.
Choose a mission ornament and pray.
First Missions
November is Mission Emphasis Month
During November, First Church celebrates “First Missions” with a
month-long emphasis on our mission partners. Here are some
highlights.
November 2
“Compassion & Justice in the DR”
6 PM Potluck • 7 PM Presentation • McClure Hall
e week of October 19, a mission team of 17 members of First
Church along with our Director of Missions spent five days in the
Dominican Republic. Aer a potluck dinner on Monday, November 2,
members of the team will present an overview and share their experiences (and photos) from this time in the DR.
Our mission team visited the Compassion national office, the local
church and FPC’s designated Child Survival Program (DR 915) in
Santo Domingo. ey also met with staff at the headquarters of International Justice Mission (IJM) there. But, most likely, our team was
happiest when they were spending time with their combined group of
19 sponsored Compassion children. What a thrill to meet a child you
help support through prayers and donations! e mission team took
with them nearly 50 Bibles and children’s Bible story books (in both
English and Spanish) donated by the FPC Women’s Ministry, which
were le for the church and Compassion program. ank you,
Women’s Ministry!
If you are interested in participating in a future DR Mission Trip,
currently sponsor or want to sponsor a child or would like to know
more about what First Church is doing in the DR—please come and
be part of this event! Questions? Contact FPC Director of Missions
Trusha Barner (239-992-3233; [email protected]).
November 7 & 8
Wycliffe Bible Translation
Saturday 5:30 PM CenterPoint Praise • Sunday 10 AM Worship
Both CenterPoint Praise on Saturday evening and our 10 AM service
on Sunday morning will highlight the Bible translation work of
Wycliffe Associates. Dan Kramer, MAST developer for Wycliffe, will
be with us. New Mission banners created by the FPC Banner Committee will be on display in the Sanctuary.
November 21 & 22
Annual Mission Fair
Saturday 5:30 PM CenterPoint Praise • Sunday 10 AM Worship
Both CenterPoint Praise on Saturday evening and our 10
AM service on Sunday morning will highlight “First Missions” with mission guests interviewed by Pastor Doug
Pratt.
Eddie Kauoltz serves as Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. is role affords him
the opportunity to equip churches and communities by
sharing the biblical call to seek justice, introducing them to
IJM’s work, and mobilizing them to engage in both local
and global ministry. Eddie is also a contributing editor to
RELEvANT Magazine and a co-host on their podcast.
Tim and Annette Gulick are missionaries with OC
International. ey have been mentoring and providing
resources and training for youth leaders in the Spanishspeaking world since 1996. eir website (paralidares.org),
which hosts over 40,000 pages of free materials (articles,
Bible studies, games, training courses) is visited by an average of 9,000 individuals a day. ey helped to set up an accredited seminary-level mentoring program for youth
leaders in Argentina and are in high demand as leadership
coaches for youth ministries in various Spanish-speaking
countries. Tim and Annette have recently traveled to India
to teach foundations of youth ministry discipleship. (Annette is the daughter of church members Paul and Bethel
Baumann.)
Following worship on Sunday, our Mission Ministry invites everyone to McClure Hall where many local and international mission organizations and missionaries supported
by FPC will be featured.
The Fahnestock Report
Sunday following the 10 AM service • Sanctuary
Pastor Paul and Linda Fahnestock now serve as MAST Global Coordinators with Wycliffe Associates. ey will share a special presentation
on their recent adventures in India and Africa leading MAST workshops. Aerward, guests may express fond farewells as Paul and Linda
return to their new home in Texas and continue their mission work
with Wycliffe.
Tim and Annette Gulick
First Missions
continued
Operation Christmas Child
Don’t forget: OCC shoeboxes are due by Sunday, November 8.
is fun project of filling shoeboxes with toiletries, school supplies, T-shirts and toys not
only meets the needs of children living in poverty, but also opens the door for the presentation of the Gospel message. OCC is the world’s largest Christmas program for kids! Each
year this ministry of Samaritan’s Purse distributes gi-filled shoeboxes to boys and girls,
ages 2-14, in over 100 countries worldwide. Gospel publications are included and, whenever possible, local churches make follow-up visits to invite children into a deeper relationship with Christ through a series of Bible lessons called “e Greatest Journey.” What
goes into that little shoebox you fill is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal!
Look for the OCC collection kiosk during First Stop on November 1 and 8. Questions?
Contact Bethel Baumann ([email protected]), Anne Price (239-498-6544) or
Trusha Barner ([email protected]; 239-992-3233).
Fahnestock Report
Continuing Progress in Bible Translation
Our own Paul and Linda Fahnestock are now working with
Wycliffe Associates pioneering a new methodology of Bible
translation called Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation (MAST). e goal of this accelerated approach is that,
by 2025, translation of God’s Word in every remaining
language that needs it will have begun.
Paul and Linda are both MAST Global Coordinators
and, in September, their MAST team was in India. ey led
workshops in Hosur, Guwahati and Bangalore. Part of their
work is facilitating the translation of “Open Bible Stories”—
a portion of the online “unfoldingWord” project making
unrestricted biblical content available in every language for
free to anyone with a cell phone or computer.
Paul with Gabada language group after successfully uploading their first OBS story
online.
MAST team in Guwahati,
India.
In a recent email to FPC Director of Missions Trusha Barner, Paul
said, “Everyone is excited about the new translation methodology. We
have been privileged to teach the accelerated training to 76 Indian languages in the last 5 weeks. e Scripture and “Open Bible Stories”
translations that have been completed during each workshop will
touch the lives of many women, men, girls and boys in each of these
language communities. People are not waiting years to hear God’s
Word. Rejoice with us at what God is doing to cover the earth with the
knowledge of his glory.” e Fahnestocks continue to be grateful for
your support, and now ask for prayers of thanksgiving and continued
health, energy and wisdom.
By October 16, they were orienting a new 10-member MAST
team, with the help of Dan Kramer, for the next workshop in Lusaka,
Zambia in Africa. e goal: to translate the New Testament into two
Zambian languages!
Paul and Linda need both financial and prayer support as they help
to guide the translation of God’s Word into unreached languages. If
you feel led to become part of their support team, please contact FPC
Director of Missions Trusha Barner.
B ON
IT
RISTIAN
CH
F
1
6
Bonita Christian Forum
A
M
RU
O
2015-2016
e Bonita Christian Forum was launched in 2005 to enrich
the cultural and spiritual life of the Bonita Springs area. Its
intent is to raise the visibility of the Christian message in
our community, to provide a gathering place for Christians
from various local congregations, to inspire and challenge
those who follow Christ, and to present the life-changing
work of Christ to people who have not yet met Him.
Over its first ten years, the Bonita Christian Forum
firmly established its place in our community as a venue for
some of the most notable voices of our time sharing their
Christian testimony. Beginning with former major league
pitcher Dave Dravecky, the Forum has welcomed speakers
from the worlds of business, sports, medicine, government,
science, film, and the media. Join us as we enter our second
decade!
2
2 0 1 5 –
0
Karen Hughes
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | 7:00 PM
Nabeel Qureshi
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | 7:00 PM
Dinesh D’Souza
Monday, January 25, 2016 | 7:00 PM
Kevin Sorbo
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | 7:00 PM
All events begin at 7:00 PM
Doors open at 6:15 PM
HUGHES
QURESHI
D’SOUZA
SORBO
Friends of the Forum
Please remember!
e Bonita Christian Forum is offered to the community at no charge
so that the life-transforming message of the Gospel is available to
everyone. e Friends of the Forum sponsorship program helps to
underwrite each season of speakers.
You can express your support of the Bonita Christian Forum and
help to guarantee its place in the culture of our community by becoming a Friend of the Forum for the 2015-2016 season. Consider one of
these levels of sponsorship:
• CARPOOL. Help us maximize the limited parking
available!
Level 1
Gi of $150 or more
Friends receive two General Admission tickets for each event.
• PARKING. Traffic control on Bonita Beach Road and a
professional crew in our parking lot together will manage traffic flow and direct cars to the next available space.
• BRING YOUR TICKETS to guarantee entry.
• BE PATIENT. Many who come will be unfamiliar with
our campus. Watch for opportunities to be helpful and
ensure a good experience for everyone!
Level 2
Gi of $300 or more
Friends receive reserved seating for two in the Sanctuary for each
event.
Level 3
Gi of $1,000 or more
Friends receive reserved seating for two in the Sanctuary for each
event, a small memento of the speaker (whenever possible) and are
invited to a private reception with the speaker.
Visit bonitachristianforum.org
for more information.
Let Your Light Shine Brightly!
At Neon Kids, our mission is to partner with parents to lead children into a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Neon Kids provides quality programs for
children ages 6 months through 5th grade. We invite you to visit us on Sunday
mornings before worship. Check your children in at the Children’s Desk for
both nursery or Neon Kids Sunday school. You can also visit us on the web at
neonkids.org to catch up on all the latest news.
Children’s Christmas Program
Thursday, Dec. 10 • 6 PM • Sanctuary • Tickets: $1
is year Wonder Years Preschool, Neon Kids, and Illumination Student Ministry will come together to present a wonderful evening Christmas program,
sharing the story of Jesus’ birth. Dressed as townspeople of Bethlehem, angels,
animals and stars, the children will sing some of the great hymns and new songs
of the season. Tickets are just $1 and available for purchase at the Children’s Desk
on Sunday mornings through December 6. All children are encouraged to participate; please see Preschool Administrator Nancy Bolognese or Children’s Ministry Coordinator Lauren Hargis for details.
Neon Kids Christmas Project for Seniors
Children attending the “Holly Jolly Kids Night Out” (Friday, Dec. 4.) will be involved in this special Christmas outreach project. Our Neon Kids will be making
Non-skid Slipper Socks for local retirement home residents. With simple materials like puffy fabric paint, cardboard, ribbon, scissors and socks, of course, they
will create these special gis to keep residents’ feet festively warm and will also
prevent falls, slips and accidents.
“is is a fun gi-giving project for the children,” said Children’s Ministry
Coordinator Lauren Hargis. “e children enjoy personalizing each pair of socks,
knowing the socks will be appreciated and utilized by local residents. We hope to
bring them joy and share the love of Christ this Christmas season.” e Non-skid
Slipper Socks will be distributed by our Director of Sacred Arts Jeff Faux and the
Tuesday Singers during one of their musical performances at a local facility in
December.
Questions?
Contact Children’s Ministry Coordinator Lauren Hargis
at [email protected] or 239-992-3233.
CH ILDRE N’S MI NI ST RY
Family Night Programs
Wednesdays through Nov. 18 • 6-7:30 PM
For youngsters, LIL’K (age 3–6) and KIDMO
(1st–5th graders) offer exciting discoveries about
God. Illumination for middle & high school
students meets for activities, discussion and
fellowship. e Young Adults Group also meets
for their own study.
Program details are listed in our weekly
First ings First. You may also contact
Children’s Ministry Coordinator Lauren Hargis
([email protected] or 239-992-3233).
Kids Night Out
Friday, Nov. 13 “Science Quest”
Friday, Dec. 4 “Holly Jolly Kids Night Out”
5-8 PM • Family Ministries Center
Children ages 1-11 off are invited to join us.
FPC members: $5 per child. Non-members: $15
per child ($30 maximum per family). Limited
spots are available so reserve early.
“In the same way, let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
MATTHEW 5:16
Meet Nancy Bolognese
Preschool Administrator
One might say that Nancy’s first appearance at First Church
in late spring of this year was providential. Others may be
more to the point and call it a “God-thing.” Nancy started
volunteering in our Children’s Ministry programs—helping
with Sunday school, Kids Night Out and
vBS. According to Family Ministry Director Amanda Zaengle, she was a “natural”
with children.
“What struck me about Nancy was her
deep faith in the Lord and her calm, gentle
spirit,” Amanda said. “I think God led her
to us at just the right time.”
In May, the position of Preschool
Administrator opened up and the search
Nancy Bolognese
began. Nancy offered to help with the
paperwork for Wonder Years until a candidate was found.
“She was such a blessing,” Amanda said. “Her organizational
skills alone helped us accomplish a lot over the summer.
And the more I got to know her, the more she seemed like
such a natural fit.”
Apparently Nancy felt the same way toward our
Children’s Ministry; she expressed an interest in applying
for the position herself.
“e many credentials required for a Preschool Administrator is always the biggest hurdle in finding candidates,”
Amanda explained. “Wonder Years is licensed by the State
of Florida and also accredited by APPLE, so we need to
meet very specific criteria for hiring in order to maintain
those standards.” And… guess what? Nancy already had the
proper credentials.
Nancy was born and raised in Bonita Springs and has
lived in Grand Rapids, MI and Canton, MA. She owned her
own preschool for five years and, prior to that, worked in
Office Administration. She attended Florida Southwestern
State College earning an Associate degree and a Bachelor of
Science in Elementary Education as well as ESE (Exceptional Student Education) certification, along with ESOL
(English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Reading
Endorsements.
“I love working with the children and teachers, and recognize it is a great responsibility,” Nancy said. “God has
given me a servant's heart with leadership skills and I want
to use this precious gi to its full abundance.”
Teaching the Importance of Missions
Nancy is encouraging the students and families of Wonder
Years to participate in mission-giving opportunities offered
here at First Church this Christmas season. In November the
preschool will be involved with Operation Christmas Child.
“We are placing an OCC shoebox in each classroom,” Nancy
said, “so the children can contribute the items they want to
give. ey can also contribute toward the shipping cost.”
In December, the preschool is collecting children’s clothing, toiletries, toys and food for the Café of Life in Bonita.
Parents from each classroom will also be asked to prepare a
meal that will be taken to the Café.
“By including missions as part of Wonder Years we are
teaching the value of giving and being part of a community,”
Nancy said. “It’s a great way to model to our children good
citizenship by helping others.” She will also have information available about the Manger Tree, in case a family wants
to donate a gi for a local needy child.
“Wonder Years is a great way to reach out to families in
our community,” Nancy said. “Our goal is not only to teach
these little ones about Christ, but to get the parents involved
in this teaching as well.”
Nancy has one daughter, victoria, and resides in Bonita
Springs.
Illumination
On a Mission… or Two
During this season of giving, members of Illumination
Student Ministry will be participating in Operation Christmas Child, a worldwide ministry that delivers shoeboxes to
needy children around the globe.
“Each student was asked to participate either individually
or with their family,” said Youth Ministry Coordinator
Rachel Steffens. “It’s always fun to see what special and
thoughtful gis you can fit in a shoebox that might end up
halfway around the world. If a student is unable to afford
this, they can contribute some items to an existing box
and/or write a letter of encouragement to a child so we can
include it in one.”
Members of Illumination will also be volunteering to
serve lunch at Café of Life in Bonita Springs just before
anksgiving and Christmas. “rough participation in this
local mission, we hope to broaden their understanding of
serving others in need,” Rachel said. e FPC Women’s
Ministry will be partnering with Rachel and Illumination in
December, donating children’s Spanish Bibles for them to
hand out at the Café.
Steven’s Study
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
E
arlier in my career Nanette and I served Caldwell
Presbyterian Church in Lake George, NY. At that
time it was the yearly practice for our church to
share Christmas Eve worship services with St.
James Episcopal Church across the street. Caldwell’s building was a New England meeting house style structure with a
tall steeple, complete with bell and rope. St. James Church
was a pretty stone church right out of a omas Kinkade
painting. Since our church had more space, the 7 PM family
service was held at Caldwell Church and the 11 PM candlelight service was held at St. James Church. Father Williams
and I shared in the leadership for both services.
I recall one year in particular when the weather forecasters promised snow on Christmas Eve. Sure enough as we all
le Caldwell Church aer the earlier service, the snow
started to fall. e squeal of the children’s delight at seeing a
white Christmas assured me that memories were in the
making. But for me, the best part was yet to come. By the
time the 11 PM service came around there were a few
inches of snow on the ground and the snowflakes were still
coming down. As a result, the whole town was so peaceful
to the point of silence except for the crunch of tires and
footsteps on the snow. e so glow from the lanterns outside the pretty stone St. James Church and from the candles
emanating from the church windows created such a perfect
setting for a Christmas Eve service. Singing “Silent Night”
couldn’t have been more fitting.
Aerward, though it was well beyond midnight, our dear
friend, Mrs. Helen Mitchell, expected Nanette and me, our
son Evan, and another dear friend Judd, to pay her a visit.
Mrs. Mitchell had a stately stone home up on a high hill.
Christmas Eve at her home always included a roaring fire in
the fireplace, an impressive huge natural tree beautifully
decorated, and the finest refreshments imaginable from the
best of her North Carolina tradition.
It is good to remember these kinds of things. Perhaps as
you read of my memories your stories started to come into
your mind. ese memories are precious gis that are ours
forever. ough they exist in the past, calendar-wise, they
exist in the present because we embrace them with great
fondness and deep gratitude. Some might argue that these
kinds of things are not what Christmas is really all about. I
beg to differ. It is true that in America Christmas has gotten
so commercialized that it is hard to recognize the spiritual
Rev. Steven Grant
basis for the holiday. We must be able to separate out the
profoundly spiritual and world changing reality of the coming of the Messiah from all the razz-ma-tazz. For in that
cradle in Bethlehem, God came in the form of a human
being, our King, our Lord of Lords who brought the promises of peace, love and salvation. e time we spend with
loved ones, the decorations we put up, our precious Christmas traditions, and the time we spend in meaningful worship all serve as a means to remind us of those promises. It
is true we must be careful not to make parties, food, trees,
presents and all the rest, ends in themselves. We can get
very uptight about arrangements as we want everything to
go as planned. We can make idols out of these things. Our
anxiety creates the exact opposite result of the feelings and
experiences we are trying to create. But the ambience, the
sights and sounds, the personal contacts, and all the “warmfuzzies” of the holiday are designed to enhance our awareness of Him for whom we do these things in celebration.
I don’t mind celebrating His birthday for a month and
doing it big time, as long as we remember it is His birthday,
not ours!
e solution is that in the midst of all the hubbub of the
holiday season, keep your focus on Jesus and keep Him in
the middle of all you do. Ask yourself: Why do we put up
decorations? What do they mean? What do they represent?
(If you don’t know, find out!) Remind each other of these
things; talk about them. Are the details of your gatherings
more important than the time shared with the people participating in that gathering? Embrace friends and loved
ones, past and present, even when the food doesn’t quite
turn out right and your spouse forgot to get something from
the store. Why do we give and receive presents? For personal profit or preference, or as expressions of our love?
Aer all, just what is the “perfect” gi?
You will notice that my memories described above had
nothing to do with buying and selling, busy-ness, stress or
continued on page 23
Preparedness Ministry
ree Amazing Gis
by Donna tenfelde
“Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisors,
they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22
MiSSioN StateMeNt: to identify, understand and prepare for life’s
challenges in wholeness with Christ in mind, body and spirit.
e Preparedness Ministry works year-round in order to present
worthwhile seminars that offer positive witness toward life’s challenges.
Each seminar is free and open to church members as well as the community. e speaker’s presentation is usually about an hour followed by
30 minutes for questions. Information packets are available.
e Preparedness Ministry welcomes ideas for new seminar topics.
Contact Connie Duquin at 239-287-7649 or [email protected].
How Do I Declare Florida Domicile?
Thursday, November 19 • 2-3:30 PM • McClure Hall
Every year, you return to your second home in Southwest Florida and
wonder: Could I become a Florida resident, avoid state taxes and take
a Florida Homestead Exemption? e amount of time you spend here
is only one consideration; there are many others. Presenter Mary Beth
Crawford, Esq. will explain the steps necessary to declare Florida residency and what to consider before changing your legal residence.
Steven’s Study
continued
useless angers. ey will always remain in my heart among
my most cherished memories because of the loved ones I
shared them with, and because of the gratitude I feel for
those who shared what was theirs with me. ese are precious memories because of the time I spent with God in
worship, the joy of the children in the snow, and the beauty
of God’s earth—all of which were gis from Him. We may
not be able to stop the commercialism that is all around us,
but we can look through it all with the eyes of faith and see
His goodness and mercy all around us.
May your Christmas holidays be filled with peace, love
and Jesus!
Without fail during the holidays, I remember a time that
began with great turmoil.
On November 18, 2004 my husband had a potentially
fatal brain aneurysm about 7 PM in Kentucky. Aer a sixhour surgery at about 4 AM, we were told he had survived
and the prognosis was 50/50 he would return to normal
thinking and activity.
On November 24, 2004—the day before anksgiving—
my daughter gave birth to twin babies (a tad early), our first
and only grandchildren in Florida. One of the newborns
needed tests and deeply concerned my daughter. So, about a
week later, I had a decision to make: whether or not to leave
my husband in the hospital and go to Florida to help with
the newborns.
I was counseled by the neurosurgeon who performed
Tom’s surgery. He said, “Let us take care of your husband.
Your place is with your daughter and the new babies.”
Desperately torn in two directions, I reluctantly decided to
spend a week helping with the grandbabies, then returned
back home to Kentucky. And while I was in Florida, over 20
of our friends took turns at Tom’s side in the hospital.
On Christmas Day 2004, both Tom and I were able to fly
to Florida so the babies could meet their “PaPaw.” I definitely think this was the most spiritual Christmas of my life
—no tree, no Christmas lights, no party—just celebrating
Jesus’ birth, the birth of our new grandbabies and (sort of)
Tom’s rebirth.
Now, nearly 11 years later, I have beautiful healthy
grandchildren and live in Florida with my husband who the
doctors say is 98% recovered. Tom is on the golf course
daily, so I’d say more like 100%!
On November 18, 2004, I turned to God in fervent
prayer. I prayed for Tom to live and then to heal, for my
daughter and the babies, for the medical staff at both hospitals. I prayed for the friends who were supporting me every
step of the way. e prayers never stopped and they have
not stopped since… only now they are prayers of praise!
I would say that I received three amazing gis during
that unforgettable time: my husband’s survival, my twin
grandbabies and wonderful friends.
Oh, who gave me these most precious gis? e Heavenly Father, of course. He took care of my family during a
time filled with apprehension, fear and anxiety… and transformed our lives with His hope.
Pastor Steven Grant
Spiritual
Development
Center
ART GALLERY
Art from read: Our Sacred Story
Who We Are
Rev. Steven M. Grant, M.Div.
Associate Pastor/Program Director SDC
Alfred R. Barrow, Ph.D.
Director of Spiritual Development
Maria Karl, CBC
Biblical Counselor
Rev. June G. Barrow, M.A., M.Div.
Assistant Pastor
How We Serve
e Center offers compassionate and
confidential counseling, spiritual
direction, retreats, support groups, and
classes related to marriage & family
as well as spiritual and emotional
growth. We focus on Biblical truth
and counseling excellence. Appointments may be scheduled by calling
the Center at 239-221-8250. ere is
no charge or fee for services.
“Profusion Illusion” - Quilt designed by Susie Robbins
Our Location
e Center is located directly across
the street from the main church
campus:
9696 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 207
2nd Floor, down the hall on the le
Our Mission
Our mission is to help individuals and
families, no matter their background,
meet the challenges they face in a
complex world, to strengthen their
relationships with one another and
with God, and to offer opportunities
for personal and spiritual growth.
read is the raw material of so much we encounter in our everyday lives. A variety of
threads woven together becomes essential elements in the tapestry of our life, but those
same threads in the hands of an artist can be a form of beauty and expression.
At First Presbyterian Church, we utilize the arts as a way of expressing our story of salvation and offering our thanks to God for His gi of grace. Our Art Gallery will be offering a very special show in January featuring the result of threads in the hands of sacred
artists. More importantly, we want to highlight the tradition of textile art as a means to
express our sacred story. Quilts, needlepoint, cross stitch, knitting and other textile arts are oen labor intensive
and therefore require a great investment of time from the artist. When so much is invested in a creative effort, it becomes a reflection of something profoundly important to
the artist. Oen, the spiritual story of the artist is reflected in their art.
We are calling on textile artists of all kinds and ages to consider offering a piece of
their work that reflects a part of their spiritual journey. is gallery show is named “Art
from read – Our Sacred Story” because our purpose is to demonstrate how your art
work reflects your faith and personal “sacred story.” We would like to display each piece in
our gallery with a description of its spiritual importance to the artist and how it connects
to their Christian journey. is exhibit will be shown in the Art Gallery in January through the beginning of February. Entry forms and other information about submissions are available in the Art
Gallery. Please prayerfully consider what you might offer that will communicate your
unique sacred story.
First ri
Remodeled rough Giving
by Dave & lynne Stauffer
First ri is a ministry of First Church offering a unique
shopping experience for the community. All merchandise is
donated by church members and friends allowing us to
offer a wonderful selection of new or gently used items. We
have great bargains on quality merchandise.
is past summer, our volunteers worked diligently to
give our showroom a “makeover”—with improvements and
a fresh, new look to enhance presentation. New slatwall
displays have been installed throughout the store. Gondola
displays and a new 20-foot outrigger merchandiser for
men’s clothing have been added. We have improved our
ability to show art pieces with new grid hangers in our back
room. Clothing racks have all been repositioned for improved visibility and ease of shopping. Our new feature
displays have the ability to show unique accent pieces, glass
items and dinnerware.
We are pleased to be getting positive feedback from
shoppers on our new appearance as well as our designer
brands such as Chico’s, Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Bahama and White House|Black Market. Our new shoe department features Enzo Angiolini, Anne Klein, Mootsie
Tootsies, Bandolino, Naturalizer, Charles David and Nike.
First ri is deeply grateful for the continued support
of the congregation—the foundation which makes this ministry possible as well as a blessing to many in the community. Showing your loyalty through merchandise donations,
promoting the shop to family and friends, shopping and
volunteering here is the most valuable gi you could give
us. ank you!
Be a First ri volunteer!
volunteering at First ri is fun and rewarding. We are a
true ministry sharing a common goal of honoring God
through our service. It is a wonderful way to make new
friends, too! We offer a flexible schedule and the opportunity to be part of a Christian team serving our community.
Remember: First ri Shop…
• Is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM – 3 PM
• Offers free pick-up of furniture
• Wants your donations of gently used clothing, household
items and furniture
Call 239-992-0285
Men’s Ministry Fellowship
Changing Men’s Hearts One at a Time
e Star of
Bethlehem:
A Miracle on
Nativity Street
but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
by Scott Flaig
MMF VISION STATEMENT: To build relationships with men, to mutually encourage
them, and bring them closer to Christ through fellowship and discipling.
i see him, but not here and now.
i perceive him, but far in the distant
future. a star will rise from Jacob;
a scepter will emerge from israel.
– NUMBERS 24:17 (NLT)
It is called “e Star Prophecy.” In
Numbers 24:17, God uses the sorcerer
Balaam to foretell the coming of the
Messiah 1,400 years into the future.
In Matthew’s accounting of the Nativity story (Matt. 2:1-12) he mentions
a star that appears to Wise Men on two
separate occasions. e first was as an
announcement of Jesus’ birth in Israel:
“We saw his star as it rose…” (Matt.
2:2, NIv). e second identified the
birth place as Bethlehem: “And the star
they had seen in the east guided them
to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them
and stopped over the place where the
child was” (Matt. 2:9).
What was this “star”? Was the scriptural account of a special star just a
myth? Was the star’s appearance just
coincidental with Jesus’ birth? Or was
it a miracle?
For two millennium biblical scholars, philosophers and scientists have
debated these questions and hundreds
MMF SCHEDULE
Thursdays • 7:20 AM • McClure Hall
For more information, please contact
Scott Flaig at 239-949-7307 or
[email protected].
“e purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
— Proverbs 20:5
more concerning the Bethlehem Star.
e universal acknowledgement across
all three disciplines is that yes, indeed,
there was a star — an unusual sighting
that appeared around the same time as
the birth of Jesus.
ere is historical reporting that
Wise Men did in fact visit with King
Herod preceding their short journey to
Bethlehem. Just who were these men?
Were they really “wise” men? Oh yes,
indeed they were! In that time they
were oen called “Magi,” a priestly
caste highly educated and well-versed
in ancient texts (“Biblical Magi,”
en.wikipedia.org). ey found truth
both in the prophets of the Old Testament (Balaam, Daniel and Micah) and
in the sciences (astronomy, astrology
and genealogy).
“ese were devout men, believing
in the true God of creation and the
promises in His Word. ey were …
able to recognize that this new star
that had suddenly blazed forth in the
sky must indeed be “His Star,” the star
announcing the birth of the promised
King.” (Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.,
“When ey Saw the Star,” e Institute for Creation Research, icr.org)
Were there three wise men or two
or many? Did they come from Babylon
(now Iraq), Persia (now Iran), India or
perhaps China as some suggest?
Matthew simply says (in 2:1), “some
wise men from eastern lands.” But
does it really matter how many there
were or where they were from? No, it does not.
ey were there!
How did they find Jesus? Scripture reports
that a star first appeared where the Wise Men
lived (most likely Persia): “For we observed his
star at its rising…” (Matt. 2:2, NRSv). is star
was unusually bright. It was the signal, the announcement, the proclamation that the new King
of the Jews, as prophesied, was to be born.
ey could not have taken this signal lightly;
from the ancient city of Susa in Persia to
Jerusalem is about 765 miles. is trip would
take several months, requiring significant investment of time, money and personal credibility.
e Magi believed in both the prophecy and astronomical significance of this star. is star was
truly special!
Did the Magi travel by camel or horse? Were
they accompanied by an army? Interesting questions for historians, but not so much for Christians; the fact that they made the journey is the
only important fact.
eir arrival in Jerusalem looking for the new
King of the Jews made King Herod angry. e
Magi’s unusual story of the star—a star neither
Herod nor his advisors recalled seeing—only
added to their embarrassment.
While still in the city, Scripture accounts say
the Wise Men again sighted that incredibly bright
star to the east (although Bethlehem was south).
As they traveled those six miles, the star also
moved… then stopped directly overhead, shining
on the stable at Bethlehem.
What was this “star”? Perhaps it could be explained as an unusual astronomical event. Let’s
look at the most likely possibilities as expressed
in science:
continued on next page
1) A nova or supernova is a sudden, rare and unpredictable explosion of an existing star and would be unbelievably bright, even seen
during the day. A nova might occur once per century per galaxy but
there have only been a few visible supernovas in our galaxy (ibid.).
What are the odds? It could not have been a nova or supernova!
2) A comet would clearly have a tail —an incredible omission that
discredits a comet sighting. Astronomers report that none were visible
even close to the date of Christ’s birth. Comets are believed to be harbingers of impending calamity; the Wise Men would not have interpreted it as heralding the birth of the Messiah. It was not a comet!
3) A planetary conjunction does occur frequently. Astronomer
Johannes Kepler first suggested this explanation (in 1605) aer
calculating the conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in 7 B.C.
(ibid.). Others cite the conjunction of Jupiter, venus, and the star
Regulus in 3 B.C. But these events would only last a few days and it
would be unlikely the Magi would call a group of stars “His” Star. e
stars could not have been a planet!
So, what about the last possibility… you know, the “miracle”? Like
the parting of the Red Sea, or Jesus feeding 5,000, or Jesus raising
Lazarus, or His Resurrection, or Incarnation… or even Creation itself!
My conclusion, given the evidence (or lack thereof), is that indeed
the Star of Bethlehem was a MIRACLE… an unexplainable, luminous
heavenly body foretold by ancient prophecies of such significance they
were followed by believing Wise Men in search of the Baby Savior of
mankind. A miracle!
Recharge Your Spirit
Want a 3-day retreat from the world?
Need to concentrate on your spiritual journey?
Crave time for worship, prayer & meaningful discussion?
Yearn to feel God’s grace?
If your answer is “yes,” God may be drawing you toward
accepting His invitation to
Endowment Fund
eological Foundations
Endowment gis are theological statements which demonstrate one’s belief that we are never ultimately proprietors or
owners, but only stewards—lifetime guardians entrusted by
God to use wisely what God has placed in our hands.
When an individual creates an endowment gi for the
church during or beyond their lifetime, it declares to the
present and future generations the importance of our faith
and trust in God. We have each drawn water from wells we
have not dug; we have all sat under shade trees we did not
plant. We each have a wonderful opportunity to provide the
means for the church to have a strong and empowering
ministry for generations to come.
Matthew 2:11b – “ey opened their treasures and presented him with gis…” Now read this passage in the first
person. Endowment gis usually come from treasures,
our accumulated assets.
Genesis 26:17-25 – “And Isaac dug again the wells of
water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his
father…” Consider leaving something behind which is
better than what you found.
A Year-end Gi Idea
If you need or want to take a distribution from your IRA
account before the end of 2015, and you want to make a
“full value” contribution to a charity, such as the Endowment Fund of FPC, please contact the church office
(239-992-3233) for a sample letter that you can use to
instruct your IRA investment manager. “Full value” means
direct distribution to a charity will not require that income
tax be paid by you.
e Great Banquet
a banquet is being prepared… for you!
Men’s Great Banquet – February 11-14, 2016
Women’s Great Banquet – February 18-21, 2016
We welcome your R.S.v.P. Contact Community Lay
Director David Mustian at 239-498-5972 or
[email protected].
Women’s Connection
e mission of the Women’s Ministry of First Church is to help women of all ages
reach uPWaRD to a deeper relationship with Christ,
reach iNWaRD to one another in love and fellowship, and
reach outWaRD to our community and world in service.
November Events for Missions
Study & Prayer Groups
PRC Annual Walk for Life
Saturday, November 7 • 8 AM - 1 PM
Golden Gate Community Park, 3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples
Walk for Life … because every life matters! Grab a friend and join us in support
of Pregnancy Resource Center of Southwest Florida. Funds raised go directly to
support women facing an unplanned pregnancy who come to PRC for help. e
Center is a nonprofit, Gospel-centered ministry operated by a small staff and a
team of volunteers. Services provided free of charge include: limited ultrasounds,
pregnancy tests, resource referral information and counseling. e PRC Bridge
Program connects women and families to the community of Christ through local
churches to encourage support and spiritual growth. To register, join a team or
make a donation, visit supportprc.org.
Get connected! ALL women of First Church
are invited to grow deeper in their relationship
with God and their sisters in Christ by getting
involved in one of our ongoing Bible studies or
Prayer Group:
Missions Brunch featuring Wings of Shelter
Wednesday, November 18 • 9:30 AM • McClure Hall
Guest Speakers: Lowell & Sally Senitz
Women are invited to attend this brunch
and learn more about Wings of Shelter
Int’l, founded by Lowell and Sally Senitz of
Lee County. eir non-profit Christian organization is dedicated to helping victims
of human slavery and child trafficking by
providing rescue, restoration, education
and prevention. Lowell and Sally work in
collaboration with dozens of agencies and
organizations, both in the U.S. and internationally, that are motivated to intervene in slavery. Wings of Shelter has been an
FPC-supported mission since 2012. You can help their mission, too, by simply
being present and learning about their work. (See related story on next page.)
is event features a menu from the 5-star chef and professional catering team
of SMH Catering, an enterprise of St. Matthew’s House in Naples. Tickets are $12
and can be purchased at the Women’s kiosk on Sundays. If you have any questions about Women’s Connection studies or events, please
contact Donna Tenfelde (239-992-3233 ext. 293 or [email protected]).
Manna for Monday
Mondays through November 23 • 2-3:30 PM
Price Hall Parlor
Study: e First ree Kings
Working Women’s Fellowship
Tuesdays through December 8 • 7-8:30 PM
Lightner Conference Room
Study: e Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel)
Wednesday in the Word
Wednesdays through December 9 • 9:30-11 AM
McClure Hall
Study: Saying Grace led by Pastor June Barrow
Wednesday Prayer Group
1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 11 AM
Price Hall Parlor
We invite any and all prayer warriors to join us
and pray for the needs of our church, community, country and world.
Moore on Thursday
Thursdays through December 3
11 AM - 1:30 PM • CenterPoint
Study: inheritance by Beth Moore
Be sure to check the weekly First ings First
announcement booklet in December to find
out new studies being offered starting in
January.
Out of the Shadows
“Dedicated to moving child trafficking out of the shadows and out
of existence.”
at’s what Lowell and Sally Senitz say on their Wings of Shelter
website, and that is their mission.
Motivated by a Tv special on human trafficking they saw in 2008,
the Senitzes said they could not turn away from the largest growing
crime in the world today. eir love of children and their Christian
faith are the driving forces behind their mission. ey have travelled to
Romania, Haiti, Kenya, Sudan and other troubled countries to help
rescue child victims of exploitation.
“We are Christians and believe that rescuing the oppressed is what
love and Christianity is all about,” Sally said in an interview with e
Banner back in 2010 (Aaron Hale, “Couple fighting human trafficking,” e Banner, Jan. 8, 2010, naplesnews.com). “We always thought of
this type of thing as being in another country. e truth is that children are [also] being brought into the U.S. from other countries and
our children… in the U.S. are being trafficked and enslaved daily.”
A recent NBC-2 News investigation revealed that human trafficking
is a $9.5 billion a year industry in the United States (Lisa Spooner,
Women’s Connection
Annual Christmas Luncheon
Tuesday, December 15 • McClure Hall
Doors open at 10:30 AM • Lunch served at 12 noon
Join us as we celebrate Christ’s coming
with our featured speaker, FPC Director
of Sacred Arts Jeff Faux. e title of
Jeff ’s talk is “Gis.” is is not to be
confused with “presents”! Don’t miss
this inspiring program.
Tickets ($20) may be purchased at
the Women’s kiosk on Sundays,
November 25 through December
6. Registration deadline: December 9.
If you have any questions about Women’s Connection studies or
events, visit the Women’s kiosk on Sunday mornings or contact
Women’s Ministry Coordinator Donna Tenfelde (239-992-3233
ext. 293 or [email protected]).
“Human sex trafficking,” May 20, 2015, nbc-2.com). Sally
Senitz contributed to the story which featured a woman
who had moved into a Wings of Shelter safe house aer
spending years being enslaved. She was targeted at the age
of 12, recruited right out of a Southwest Florida middle
school.
Many of us don’t realize that the United States is a highrisk trafficking country; and Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of exploited victims (fgcupinnacle.com,
Feb. 2015). To FPC church member Jackie Maxwell and her
Great Banquet Reunion Group, this was unbelievable.
“We were shocked to find this happening right here in
‘paradise,’” Jackie said. Her group is chairing the Mission
Brunch event for the Women’s Ministry on November 18.
Members of the WOW (Women on Wednesday) reunion
group include Becky Beale, Carol Johnson, Lynn Lyons,
Sharon Morrison, Pam Silar and June ompson.
“We learned about the work Wings of Shelter is doing
through some of our members who are also on the Mission
Leadership Team. We first contacted Lowell and Sally about
a year ago. eir presentation made us want others to know
of their mission, how they are educating law enforcement,
what to look for ourselves and how to help.” e WOW group wanted Sally and Lowell to speak at
this event in order to get the word out that “yes, this crime
is happening here; and yes, there are ways to help… by contacting Wings of Shelter.”
Wings of Shelter established the first Department of
Children and Family licensed safe house in Florida for the
long-term rehabilitation and restoration of minor girls rescued from child sex trafficking. ey provide mental health
counseling, private school education, tutors and healthcare
for the girls. A vital part of this Restoration Program is
equipping the children to develop a new life through the
transforming love of Christ and people who care.
Wings also offers an Education Program that provides
free Human Trafficking Intervention/Investigation training
to federal, state and county agencies, including the FBI,
Sheriff ’s departments, and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement. eir Prevention Program offers age-appropriate information on human trafficking and child slavery
in middle and high schools. Wings of Shelter is on the
Southwest Florida Task Force/Coalition for Intervention
of Human Trafficking and Slavery.
For more information on the mission of Wings of
Shelter, visit wingsofshelter.com.
Opening the Door
by ellis Gery
In Our oughts & Prayers
Our heartfelt Christian sympathy extends to:
Diane Anderson on the recent death of her father, Walter
Matuza; Bobbie Gray on the death of her husband, David
Gray, on August 28; Lyn Craver on the death of her husband, Robert Craver, on September 6; the family and
friends of Bob Tucker who died on September 8; Rad & Peg
Scott on the death of their son-in-law, Joe Johnson, on September 19; the family and friends of Leigh Fiedler who died
on September 20; Bill & Bonnie Speer on the death of their
19-year-old granddaughter on September 26; Ralph &
Jackie Maxwell on the recent death of Ralph’s mother in
Oklahoma; the family and friends of Carol Richardson who
died on October 6; Jay Franklin and family on the death of
Jay’s wife, Shirley Franklin, on October 11; Augusta Crane,
on the death of her husband, Edgar (Ed) Crane, on October
14; the family and friends of Judith Hadnagy-Kovats who
died on October 15; Donna Walter on the death of her husband, Phillip Walter, on October 15; and the family and
friends of Frank (Ed) Pringle, who died on September 23.
Please pray for our loved ones in the military:
Steve Adams, omas Adney, Alexis Alvarado, Ryan Bach,
Matt Byington, Amy Nesbitt Copeland, Justin Cramer, John
Cuddy, Dave Cullen, Hope DiGiusto, Scott DiGiusto, Brian
Eifler, Joseph R. Fox, Corbin Gibson, Stephen Gumpf,
*James Harmison, Kent C. Hay, Michael Heath, Morgan
Holden, Michael Holmes, Michael Jaster, Kevin Kath,
Michael Kim, Tyler J. Koehler, Kenneth Kubinski, Daniel S.
Lai, Dave Landymore, Jose Mantilla, Carl McFarland,
*Waverly C. McFarland Jr, *Jim Mitnik, Lee Moffett, *Paul J.
Najarian, Desmond Nelson III, Philip Novak, Keith A.
Perry, Dylan Rehberg, Christopher Rhodes, Patrick Ryan,
Sarah Ryan, *Ryan Schlenker, Dylan Michael Sipos, ayne
Stahlacker, John R. Stanton, Trevor S. rasher, Jeffery
Tolbert, Tyler van Kampen, *Brian Watkinson, Eric
Williams, Zach Williams, Jonathan Wise, Deisy Wolfe,
Matthew C. Wolfe, John N. Yacos, Kyle York.
*indicates military personnel currently deployed.
If you have a prayer request, you may call the church office
(239-992-3233), Sherri Feeley (239-992-2726), or complete a
Prayer Request card found at the Welcome Center and place
it in the prayer box provided.
For me, one of the greatest blessings I can receive is a family member
choosing to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord
and Savior.
My father was a Christmas and Easter service attender. He supported the church with funds, but it was Mother who nurtured me in
faith while growing up in Columbus, Ohio. During my adult life, my
father and I had only a few discussions about Jesus, and those all
ended in tears. Dad just couldn’t get a glimmer of the miracle of Jesus
as both God and Man. (Most of us, if we are honest, are getting new
understandings of this our entire life.)
My husband Lee and I lived in Indianapolis and were in the midst
of a Men’s Great Banquet one November. Suddenly my dad, then in
his mid-80s, had to be rushed to the hospital for a serious operation. I
was told that if it was not successful and a blood clot reached his
heart, he could easily die. Aer learning this and praying with some
Christian friends at church, I decided to make the three-hour trip to
the hospital in Columbus.
I stopped at a Christian store on the way to see if there was anything appropriate to take with me. ere was a plaque of Jesus standing at the door, with the Scripture, “Behold, I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in
and eat with him and he with me.” is verse, Revelation 3:20, was the
exact verse that had helped open my eyes to see who Christ really is.
When I arrived at my father’s bedside, I told him how much I loved
him and asked him if I could please talk to him one more time about
Jesus. He was agreeable and we prayed together first. I pulled out my
little picture of Jesus at the door (with no knob on the outside, as we
must open the door from the inside to let Him in). We talked about
the picture, that Jesus loves us and wants us all to be with Him in
heaven, but that it is our choice… we do not have to be “good
enough.”
ere were tears from both of us and we felt a closeness like never
before. My heart leapt when Dad told me that he would open the door
and ask Jesus to come in. is was the most significant, loving time I
ever had with my father. It was only November, but what a wonderful
and true “Christmas gi” I received on that day!
A few years later, at 87, Dad passed away, just before our first
grandchild was born.
But I will always carry that moment in my heart — that amazing
moment when he opened the door for Jesus. What great joy — true
Christmas joy — I will always have, knowing Daddy is with the Lord.
And you know, it is true… a picture can be worth a thousand words!
Church Directory
2015 SESSION
Moderator
Rev. Dr. Douglas G. Pratt
Clerk of Session
Tom Grafton
All of our staff are committed to the mission of First Presbyterian Church and would like to make ourselves
available to assist you in whatever way we can. The directory listing below, although not comprehensive,
includes contact information that may be helpful to you.
PASTORS
Rev. Dr. Douglas G. Pratt Senior Pastor/Head of Staff
Rev. Steven Grant Associate Pastor
Rev. June Barrow Assistant Pastor
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
ADMINISTRATION
Elsie Nesbitt Administrator
Ed Gonzalez Office Manager
Dave Reynolds Accountant
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
BIBLICAL COUNSELING
Dr. Al Barrow Director of Spiritual Development
Maria Karl Biblical Counselor
Janet Greene Ministry Assistant, Spiritual Development Ctr.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
BOOKCENTER
Ed Schick BookCenter Manager
[email protected]
Elder Emeritus
FACILITIES
Tom Bunt Facilities Manager
[email protected]
FAMILY MINISTRY
Amanda Zaengle Family Ministry Director
Nancy Bolognese Preschool Administrator
Lauren Hargis Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Rachel Steffens Youth Ministry Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
HOSPITALITY
Vivien Wain Hospitality Manager
[email protected]
MEDIA
Tommy Hillegass Media Specialist
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
Rebecca Harley Membership and Volunteer Facilitator
[email protected]
MISSIONS
Trusha Barner Director of Missions
[email protected]
PARISH NURSE MINISTRY
Stephanie Stec RN & JoAnn Hochstetler RN Parish Nurses
[email protected]
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Donabeth Urick Executive Assistant, Pastor Pratt
Judi Van Cleave Pastoral Assistant
[email protected]
[email protected]
PUBLICATIONS
Rita J. Flower-Opdycke Publications Manager
[email protected]
SACRED ARTS
Jeff Faux Director of Sacred Arts
Peter Lewis Associate Director of Sacred Arts
Cheryl Bauer Director of First Academy of Music/
Frank Provenzano
2015 DEACONS
[email protected]
[email protected]
Jeff Wain Event Manager
[email protected]
[email protected]
THRIFT SHOP
Lynne & Dave Stauffer Thrift Shop Managers
[email protected]
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Donna Tenfelde Women’s Ministry Coordinator
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant-Sacred Arts
ELDERS
Ron Brown
Jim Croley
Tom Grafton
Mal Griffin
John Holdeman
Carl Johansen
Stevie Joslin
Diane Lepola
John Lewis
David Lyons
Mary Ann McCoy
Nancy Near
Dave Nichols
Gary Norbo
Monty Robson
Dave Stauffer
Jack Wallace
Sharon Weisenauer
Moderator
John Hashek
James Brandreth
Leslie Durling
Ellis Gery
Polly Grafton
John Hashek
Joan Havens-Kester
Lynn Heinold
JoAnn Hochstetler
Marty Howard
Bob Lorenz
Ann Luedke
Jerry Meier
Wendi Owens
Norma Reynolds
Peggy Stottmann
Judy Teasdale
Judi Van Cleave
Margaret Winn
Office: (239) 992-3233
Fax: (239) 992-7547
First Academy of Music: (239) 992-3410 x232
First Thrift Shop: (239) 992-0285
Spiritual Development Center: (239) 221-8250
Wonder Years Preschool: (239) 948-6677
Event Office: (239) 992-3410 x250
fpcbonita.org
Non-Profit Organization
U S Postage
PAID
Bonita Springs FL
Permit #14
PO Box 2168
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Manger Tree
by Norma Reynolds
Hearing the gleeful yelps and laughter of children at Christmastime is one of life’s precious moments. Here at First
Church we have the opportunity to make that happen for
local children who may otherwise be silent.
Our Deacons are once again organizing the FPC Annual
Manger Tree Project. is year we will bring joy and laughter to over 500 children at four aer-school student organizations: New Horizons Super Kids at Bonita Methodist
Church, New Horizons Super Kids and Super Teens at
Rosemary Park, Pinewoods Elementary Kids Club in Estero
and the Bonita Springs YMCA. With your help we can
bring Christmas joy to all of these children!
e Manger Trees will be set up at the east end of the
narthex as you enter the Art Gallery/Café beginning Saturday, November 14. is season, because the church is open
on Saturday evenings for CenterPoint Praise, you will be
able to sponsor a local child by selecting an ornament on
Saturdays, 4:30 to 7 PM, and Sundays following the First
Light service until 12:30 PM, through December 6. Each
ornament specifies a child’s name, age, gender, and his/her
wish list. Aer selecting an ornament, you must register
the child’s name with a Deacon to receive printed guidelines
on purchasing and wrapping gis within the price range of
$25 to $35.
You may return your gis to the Manger Tree location on any
Saturday or Sunday between the times previously listed through
Sunday, December 6. Due to storage and distribution concerns, as well
as maintaining equality in value of the gis received by the children,
bicycles are not accepted. Gis will be sorted and delivered to each
site on Tuesday, December 8. ere are many more children needing
sponsorship this year. Please help.
If you sponsor a child, we urge you to pray for the child and their
family during the Christmas Season.
ank you for supporting the Manger Tree project. If you have any
questions, please contact Deacons Norma Reynolds (239-948-4774)
or Margaret Winn (239-223-8692).

here - First Presbyterian Church

Transcription

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