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June 14, through June 27, 2024 E-Newsletter

This week's note from Rev. Bill

AS I HAVE LOVED YOU – 

 

               When Jesus knew that His time on Earth with His disciples was coming to end, He gave them three gifts – 

 

  • Jesus washed their feet.
  • He ate with them.
  • He promised them God’s abiding presence.

 

(John 13-15)

 

I’m sure at the time that the disciples had no idea what was going on – they knew that it was dangerous to be up there in Jerusalem, with Herod and Pilate and the religious leaders. But they also believed that Jesus was the One. Was He going to finally reveal Himself and take the throne? Or was this going to be the end?

 

Jesus had been loving them and teaching them and trying to prepare them for what was about to occur, but you know how we humans get. We just somehow keep missing the point!

 

But Jesus loved them. And as His last act of love, Jesus washed their feet – a symbol of the True Kingdom of God, which is based upon peace and humility. The world thinks that power and control come from domination, overwhelming your enemy, having more of everything. Jesus showed His followers that the only thing worth controlling is yourself and your emotions and pride. When you know who you are, you don’t need to demand it from anyone else. You are free to love them and invite them to know peace, too.

 

Jesus ate with them. This was one of the most intimate acts that a person could do with another in ancient Oriental culture. To eat with someone is to say that they are family, that we belong to each other. And to share the Passover meal – that is more intimate than other meals! Jesus ate with them and gave them a new way to follow. Family is not based upon shared genetics; God’s family is based upon mutual love and concern, and working for the welfare of all. 

 

And Jesus promised them that, even though He left, God would still be with them. The Father would send the Holy Spirit to guide, convict, and reassure them. The Spirit is our advocate, the one who stands with us when we are accused or when we feel alone. 

 

I have loved you all over the past years, and now that Kim and I are moving on, we want to let you know how much you have meant to us. I know that I’m not Jesus, but I pray that God has used us to bring you hope and healing through this time, and a promise for the future.

 

We have served together. Through our weekly Prayer time on Fridays, through Community Breakfasts, through Food Distribution on Wednesdays, through Bible studies, through Worship, through community activities, through Staff meetings, through funerals and weddings, we have served. We have let our neighbors know that we see them, and we want to know and love them. We have humbled ourselves to get down and play with the kids, to teach someone to speak English, to offer our gifts to the Children’s Home and beyond. 

 

We have eaten together. (We have one more chance this coming Sunday!) We have broken bread in church, in our Fellowship Hall, in each other’s homes, and at restaurants. We have taken each other into our lives and shared not only physical nutrition, but spiritual health. 

 

And we have the promise of God’s Holy Spirit. When Kim and I are in Lake Wales and Indian Lake Estates, we know that the Holy Spirit is already at work in the people up there, just as He is here. We trust that the good work that we have started together here in Bonita Springs will not end, but that there will be new ministries opening up that we have never even thought of! And that’s okay – as the scripture says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God brings the growth!”

 

Thank you for allowing us to see God at work in your lives. Thank you for being open and vulnerable to us, and we know that you will do the same with Ben. 

 

And remember – this is not the end. This is just one more chapter in the book of salvation that God is writing, through us and through you. 

 

  • Rev. Bill and Kim


Service for June 16, 2024


"I Have Decided"



1 Corinthians 2:1-7

Link For June 16, 2024 Live Service

Service for June 23, 2024

Jann Mier to preach!



"How does God Want Us to Live?"


Micah 6:6-8


Link For June 23, 2024 Live  Service

KIM AND BILL’S NEW ADDRESS!!!

 

If you would like to contact Rev. Bill and Kim (or send them mangos!), the new address will be: 

 

Kim and Bill Fisackerly

1116 Towergate Circle

Lake Wales, FL 33853

 

Their e-mail addresses will remain the same – 

 

                Kfisackerly@cs.com

                Revbillwesley@gmail.com

 

You are welcome to contact them, but please remember that they are now your FRIENDS, not your pastoral family! As such they are encouraged to respond if you reach out, but they will not be initiating contact for the next 12 months. 

 

But you can call them, visit them, and go fishing with them while you are up on Central Florida!

 


PRAYERS FOR A NEW CHURCH PIANIST/MUSIC LEADER

 

               We are sad to announce that Dr. Sara Gibbs will be leaving us in few weeks – June 30th will be her last Sunday with us! She has brought us joy through her music.

 

               Please keep Sara in your prayers, and especially our Staff/Parish Relations team as they begin the search for a new church musician. 


Joann Whaley and Barbara Darland

FLORIDA CONFERENCE MOURNS THE LOSS OF OUR NEWLY ORDAINED ELDER, THE REV. TANNER WHITE

 

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/flumc-mourns-the-loss-of-rev-tanner-white-gifted-pastor-husband-father-and-friend-18396892

ABOVE AND BEYOND!!!

 

               As you can see from the graph, WE HAVE SURPASSED OUR SUMMER RESERVE GOAL!!!

 

               Many thanks to all of you who gave generously beyond your regular giving to give us this cushion for the summer months. We have set ourselves up well to end the year strong!

 

               Please note – THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE CAN STOP GIVING!!! We anticipate needing $282,769 to cover all of our expenses for 2024, of which we have collected $152,835 through May (including the Reserve Fund). This means that we will still need to raise $129,934 to finish out the year “whole”. Your Finance Committee has some plans for reaching this goal, and we will be telling you more about it in the coming months. 

 

               In the meantime, THANK YOU and KEEP ON BELIEVING!!!

URGENT NEED! VOLUNTEERS TO HELP

WITH THE FOOD MINISTRY!

 

               Wednesdays from 1:00-4:00 our church participates with the Meals of Hope to feed over 150 families each week. Right now we have a DESPERATE need for people to come and help out with the initial packing of fresh fruits and vegetables into bags, and then taking them to the cars as the clients come through. 

 

               Many of the volunteers who have been helping out have gone back up north, but the number of people we help remains high! If you can come and help out, it would be a great ministry service! 

 

               Dress for WARM weather – even though we are under a tent, it still gets hot! We usually start around 12:30 (when the truck gets there). We set up the tents, set up the tables, start packing the food, and then take them to the cars after they are processed. If you can only give a few hours, that would help also. There seems to be a greater need after 3:00, because some of the volunteers head out at that time. 

 

               Thank you!


SUMMER EVERY OTHER WEEK NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE


Hablas Espanol?

Classes are on Tuesdays at 10:00 am in the

CHURCH OFFICE and on ZOOM!

(Click for Spanish class ZOOM Link)

Women’s  Summer Lunches



The United Women in Faith have three interesting restaurants scheduled for our summer lunches, which are open to ALL women of the church.  The group will gather at 11:30 a.m. at the three restaurants all located on Old 41.  After newspaper stories about the many interesting restaurants on this road, the group decided to visit some of them this summer.  We did have to make an adjustment to our original list as The Causeway is now closed.  So, the restaurants we will visit this summer are  


Survey Café, June 18;

Shangri-La Springs, July 16;

North Bonita Country Club, August 20.


  We will need to know the reservation numbers the Sunday before. Please let one of the UWF officers know if you will be joining us.   



July Book Club Selection


When the First UMC Book Club gathers on Wednesday, July 10, they will be discussing the book Save What’s Left: A Novel by Elizabeth Castellano.  Note that this is a change from the group’s usual first Wednesday of the month meeting.  This is to avoid the July 4 holiday week.  The place and time are the same:  the Royal Scoop (15 Eighth Street off Vanderbilt Drive) at 1 p.m.


The novel was a Good Morning America Book Club Pick and one of People Magazine’s best books of summer.  Save What’s Left has been described as the “un-beach read” as it “pulls back the curtain on life in a beach town revealing the true cost of a pretty view”.  After  Kathleen’s husband decides he is no longer happy with his life in Kansas and their 30-year marriage,  he is off to “find himself”.  So, Kathleen decides to move to a small beach community that always seemed so lovely in the Christmas letters her childhood friend sent.



It turns out this was not an accurate portrayal.  What Kathleen finds is neighborhood feuding taken to new heights.  TIME magazine says the book: “Brings tongue-in-cheek tone to the beach read genre.”  The story is told from the candid and irreverent perspective of a newcomer turned local.  It is a story of forgiveness, fortitude, and second chances, according to reviewers.

All are welcome to join the First UMC Book Club.  This is another book club kit from the Bonita Springs Public Library.  Books will be available before and after worship services. If you have questions or would like to request a copy, you may text Susan Atkinson (239-405-9078).  We don’t all have to like the same kind of books; it’s the discussion that makes book clubs so much fun.  Happy reading!





"TOM AND PRINCESS' CORNER!"


The places we go and the things we see!




Vacat-tion was pawsitvely purr-fect! Princess, I am happy we were back in time for prayer on Friday! Yes, glad we didn't miss our surprise, a dog named Spike! Thankfully we have been hearing the message of Love, even if someone is different than us!


Tom, I loved Kim's message and mewsic on Sunday it was clawsome . Yes, Princess, really going to miss those two, Everyone litter-ly loves them.

I'm purr-ty sure everyone will love Rev. Ben too!

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PRAYER & CARE



All information and last names will be kept confidential. Our list is updated weekly. If you need us to keep someone on the list, please send their name to prayer@fumcbonita.org.


Come Pray

Fridays at 9:30 am

Zoom and in the sanctuary

CLICK THE LINK BELOW


Click here to join via ZOOM


Ford

Annie

Nancy's family

Erica

Scott

Bob

Carolyn

Chad

Justin


Kevin

Kenn

Tom

Kyle

Molly

George

Robert H

Carol

Prayer Request cards are on the rack at the back of the Sanctuary.

Altar Flowers



If you would like to honor family, friends, or loved ones for an anniversary, birthday, or memorial, contact the church office for details.

SERVE
YESUKAN Website
New Horizons Website
Meals of Hope Website
Click for Bonita Assistance Website

FUMC Bonita

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 12 PM


27690 Shriver Avenue, Bonita Springs, FL 34135

Office: 239.992.1312

www.fumcbonita.org

office@fumcbonita.org


Rev. Bill Fisackerly, Pastor

Pastor@FUMCBonita.org

(941) 681-0557