Naples UCC Family,

With Labor Day weekend just around the corner, I paused for a moment this week to reflect on work and labor. I am grateful to be "at work" as your minister. I am also incredibly grateful to serve God alongside a staff at Naples UCC that works so hard toward our mission. Our staff is gifted, caring, dedicated, and fun. Most importantly, I am grateful for the work of God. For it is most evident to me that God is alive and working not only in my life and in the world—but​ also at our church.

One of the ways I have witnessed God at work at Naples UCC is in and through the commitment and dedication of parishioners engaging our Sunday morning worship services. For some, the engagement is in-person. For others, it's online. For some, it's during the season. For others, it's year-round. And it's all worth celebrating!

In recent days, our Executive Committee at NUCC reviewed a detailed analysis of worship patterns amongst parishioners. This analysis is attached below. I'd encourage you to click on the report and take a look. My biggest takeaway from the report? That God is at work at Naples UCC. God is renewing us with vision, inspiring us with hope, growing us in love, challenging us to serve, and comforting us in our moments of need.

Thanks be to our laboring God!  

Pastor Mark 

Worship Service at 10 a.m.

Holy Communion | Sunday, September 1, 2024.

Join us on Sunday as Rev. Dr. Mark Williams will be preaching his sermon titled The Priority Is Love, based on Mark 7:1-8.

Join in person or online!

Donations of nonperishable food items for the Grace Place Food Pantry will be collected today before service. A list of food items needed is available here. Though we are grateful for your donations please NO GLASS, as carefully as we try to pack the boxes, glass containers can break. Grace Place currently serves 300 families weekly. Volunteers who wish to help unload donations from arriving cars can sign up by calling the church office.

Our campus will be closed on Monday,

September 2 in observance of Labor Day. If you

have a pastoral emergency please call

(239)261-5469. Thank you!

Sunday school has resumed with a special kick-off program called Camp Firelight! This week’s focus is:

Trust God to Give us Wisdom!

When – Sunday mornings August 18 through September 15 from 10 a.m. -11:15 a.m. Sunday School continues after that with our common lectionary curriculum.

Where –  N-207 - there is no Time for Children in the service during Camp Firelight, so parents can sign their children in at 10 a.m. before heading to worship. Extra refreshments and fellowship are provided at 11:15 pickup time.

What – Camp style program with singing, movement, bible stories, crafts, games, fun and food!

Who – All children PreK – 6th grade can register. If older students are interested in helping for volunteer hours, please contact the church office!

We are so excited to announce that our Children’s Wednesday after school program has resumed. Wacky Wednesday has a new name: SPLASH! Children can join Ms. Jeanne for fun, faith-filled activities, games, snacks and music as they learn about Jesus the living water (John 4:14). The Children & Youth Choirs rehearse during this time from 4:15-5:00 p.m. with Dr. Becky in Beverly Hall. Pick-up for Seagate Elementary students is available. Join the fun!

Caregivers Support Group meets every other Friday to provide support for those who are caring for a loved one. Join us on September 6, at 2 p.m. in Nelson Hall, room 101.

For more information, please contact Joan Millon at joanmillon6@gmail.com. All are welcome! Bring a friend!

The NUCC Book Club will meet on Monday, September 23 at 2:00 p.m. in person in N-104 and via Zoom. Our exciting read this month is James: A Novel by Percival Everett. Set in Missouri in the 1840’s, James tells the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes of enslaved Jim. Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

(Zoom ID: 838 2027 0433 | Password: book)

Join our WISE for Mental HealthTaskforce as we support one another and work on our programming for the wider congregation. WISE stands for Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged. The WISE Taskforce aims to

make our church WISE for people who struggle with mental health concerns, and their families. All are invited to join our meetings! Please email Pastor Angela at Angela@NaplesUCC.org if you have questions or if you’d like the Zoom link.

All men are invited to be part of the weekly men’s ministry group here at NUCC. The group will meet on Monday, September 9 at 10:30 a.m. in Nelson Hall Room 101. Come for coffee, and stimulating conversation, as we will continue reading and discussing Why Religion? In the wake of great personal tragedy, National Book Award winner, Elaine Pagels reflects on the persistence and nature of belief and why religion matters. She is the author of The Gnostic Gospels and professor of American history of religion at Princeton University. The group is organized by Rich Kirschner, please email him for the Zoom link. We hope you will join us!

Centering Prayer will not meet in August or September, but will resume in October. Please refer your questions to Rev. Thomas Coates

at (769)798-4697. Thank you. 

Mahjong pro or want to learn? Mahjong will meet on Monday, September 9. Join us for Mahjong on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. in Nelson Hall, room 101. Free, and all are always welcome!

ANYONE CAN PLAY

Do you have one morning the next couple of weeks that you could give to the pre-school students at Grace Place? Many young students are new to the program and suffer from separation anxiety and overall fear of new adventures! As the semester begins, G.P. is looking for extra volunteers to assist in the classrooms! THEY NEED YOUR HELP!

There are many volunteers scheduled to begin later in the fall, but if you can give just one morning over the next few weeks, that would help tremendously!

Classes are held Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm! If you are available or have questions, please contact Melisa Mast and visit Grace Place for Children and Families for more opportunities to make a difference.

Sunday, September 8 • 10 a.m.

Rev. Dr. Mark Williams

“Be Merciful"

James 2: 1-13

Angelina Sozio, soloist

Dr. Alexandra Carlson, piano

Sanctuary Choir

Sometimes we receive God's wisdom through trusted friends and loved ones. If you’re in a period of discernment in your life and you’d like someone confidential to talk to, a Stephen Minister could be a good fit for you. Our Stephen Ministers are trained to work one-on-one with congregants, offering them pastoral care and support. You’ll be assigned a Stephen Minister who will meet with you for as long as you need. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Pastor Angela, or the Coordinator of our Stephen Ministry program, Kathy Book.

To view all our upcoming events and ways to connect,

visit our online calendar here.

Did you know that the Prayer Shawl Ministry was started in April 2007? Countless shawls have been thoughtfully crafted and given through our various caring ministries to people in our congregation and community at times when they’ve needed to feel God’s all inclusive and unconditional love. Whether you know how to knit or want to learn, no matter your age, gender, or walk of life, all are invited to make memories and help us preserve this universal and embracing ministry.

The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Parlor, from 2 to 3 p.m. Please bring your own supplies. If you’d like to find out more, contact Evlyn Bickford at (239)293-3965. Thank you to all our knitters who over the years have created beautiful shawls that have helped us share God’s love with one another!

Further your understanding of Christian Nationalism by attending a special gathering and book discussion offered by the Justice Committee. The event will be facilitated by Rich Kirschner, and will take place on Wednesday, October 9, at 10 a.m. Here is your guide to participation:

· Add one or more of the books below to your summer reading list.

· Attend the program either in person (Nelson 207) or on Zoom.

· Enjoy coffee and pastries while you engage with others about the book(s) you have read.

· If your summer reading list is already full, don’t be deterred – stream a movie instead. Suggested titles are God & Country and Bad Faith (both streaming on Prime Video). For those who want to see a quick description of Christian Nationalism, check out James Talarico delivering a Sermon Against Christian Nationalism. A 16 minute summary of why Christian Nationalism is not Christianity.

For more information regarding this event, kindly contact Bob Selby at bselby5186@aol.com. Happy reading!

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday



Mission Statement: To love God and all our neighbors as God loves us.

Open and Affirming • Mission-Driven • Powerful Worship • Continuing Generosity

Caring Ministry• Hospitable Fellowship