Weekly eNews for

Jan 1, 2026

NEW THIS WEEK


COME HELP TAKE DOWN THE DECORATIONS

Sunday, January 4, right after the 10:00 am service


The Flower Guild is inviting everyone to stay after the 10:00 am service on Sunday, January 4 to help take down the Christmas decorations. As we transition from the Christmas season, your help will make this work go quickly and smoothly.


All are welcome, and there are plenty of simple tasks for anyone who would like to lend a hand. Many hands make light work.


Thank you, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.



STEWARDSHIP

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Stewardship Committee During this wonderful time of the year, our focus should be on celebrating the magic and majesty of the birth of Jesus. The stewardship committee is doing just that by taking a break from our ongoing campaign. We will be back after the New Year. Enjoy this special time of the year. Blessings to all of you.




2025 PLEDGE STATEMENTS

Pledge statements for 2025 will be sent by email by the end of January.


Please take a moment to check the email address listed for you in the church directory and make sure it is current. This will ensure you receive your statement without delay.


If you have any questions, please contact the church office.




JANUARY OPEN PLATE GIVING - January 3rd & 4th, 2026

On the first weekend in January, we will be collecting an Open Plate offering to support Misión Peniel, a Peace River Presbytery food distribution center in Immokalee, Florida. Misión Peniel is a Christ centered farmworker ministry that compassionately provides food, clothing, pastoral care, community programs, and essential support to migrant workers and their families. Each week, they distribute food and basic necessities to hundreds of households, offering care and dignity in a welcoming environment.


We also want to share that the director of the mission was recently involved in a very serious car accident. The ministry van was totaled, and he sustained significant injuries. Because of this, the need for financial support is even greater at this time.


To participate in the Open Plate offering, please bring cash or a check and place it in the offering plate during the first weekend of the month.

Thank you for your generosity and care for our neighbors in need.


For more information contact Heather Williamson (link is connected to the church directory, be sure to be logged in).



OUR VISIT TO MISION PENIEL

We had an extremely fulfilling day serving with Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church on Friday 12 & 13 at Misión Peniel in Immokalee. We were blessed to serve and give some cheer to over 400 grateful and kind people. We were also lucky enough to be able to watch the Lady of Guadalupe parade. Miguel and Marifrans expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all of the volunteers. Watch for our next date if you would like to part of this meaningful work!


Debbie Corey 


THINGS TO COME

SATURDAY POTLUCK SOCIAL – January 10th, 2026

Celebrate the New Year with us at our January Potluck Social on Saturday, January 10, following the 5:00 pm service. This is always a fun and relaxed evening filled with good food, conversation, and community. We hope you will stay and join us as we kick off the new year together.


Food may be dropped off after 4:15 pm. All are welcome, whether you bring a dish or simply come to enjoy the fellowship.


We look forward to celebrating with you.




LADIES & GENTS LUNCHEON – January 12th, 2026

Happy New Year. Start 2026 with good food and great company. Everyone is welcome to join us at The Hangout by Two Guys, located at 2360 Pine Ridge Road, on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 12:30 pm. It is a relaxed and friendly way to reconnect and welcome the year ahead together.


For more information contact Linda Duffy (link is connected to the church directory, be sure to be logged in).



DO YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK?

If not, you’re missing out on all the fun things happening around St. Monica’s. Be sure to follow our page so you can stay connected with photos, events, and moments from our parish family.

NAME BADGES HELP KEEP ATTENDANCE

Please take a moment to find and wear your name tags because it makes it easier for visitors and other parishioners to recognize you by name and allows the office to note your attendance (a requirement for the Diocese). As you leave the church, please leave them in the baskets near the doors and they will be placed back on the board for pick up the following weekend.

REGULAR CHURCH GATHERINGS


Zoom Only

  • Contemplative Prayer: Wednesdays, 11am – Zoom


In-Person and Zoom 

  • Bible Study: Fridays, 9am – Library
  • Men's Book Group: Mondays, 9:30am – Conference Room


In-Person Only   

  • Prayer and Faith Sharing: Tuesdays, 10am – Church   
  • Ladies & Gents Luncheon: 2nd Monday, 12:30pm – Different locations   

Please call the church office at 239.591.4550 or email for the link and password to the Zoom meetings.

OFFERING ENVELOPES - Just as a Reminder

We are so grateful for your ongoing generosity and faithful giving. Every offering you give helps us continue the mission and ministry of St. Monica’s, and we truly appreciate it.


That said, we have a small but important request: please do not tape the flaps of your offering envelopes


As shown in the image, the envelope flaps are designed to stay closed once you seal them with the glue inside the flap. When tape is added, it makes it much harder for our office staff to open them quickly and carefully. It slows down the processing, increases the risk of tearing checks or cash inside, and adds extra steps to what is already a detailed task


We know the intention behind taping is likely to keep the contents secure, but we assure you the envelopes are kept safe and handled with care from plate to processing


Thank you for helping us by leaving the flap untaped, it’s a small act that makes a big difference.

A ST. MONICA'S PRAYER

Dear Friends,

 

In our Tuesday staff meeting we ended with St. Monica's prayer. It was for her son to return to the church. When he finally returned he became the future Saint and Bishop Augustine of Hippo who became a prominent Christian theologian and philosopher.

 

We thought we might share it with you:


St. Monica, I need your prayers. You know exactly how I'm feeling because you once felt it yourself. I'm hurting, hopeless, and in despair. I desperately want my child to return to Christ in his Church but I can't do it alone. I need God's help. Please join me in begging the Lord's powerful grace to flow into my child's life. Ask the Lord Jesus to soften his heart, prepare a path for his conversion, and activate the Holy Spirit in his life. Amen.

JAN. ANNIVERSARIES

 1/1

James & Muriel Burkett   


1/30

David & Kathy Bronson 

JAN. BIRTHDAYS


1/12

Seb Cavallaro


1/14

Zannah Chalick


1/24

Morgan Plocharczyk



1/28

Bob Rossomando


1/31

Ruthann Turley


PRAYERS & VISITS

PASTORAL CARE
If you go to or are going into the hospital, or your spouse, partner, or family member is experiencing a pastoral or health care issue, please contact the church office during office hours after hours please reach out to:  Deacon Ken McCaslin at 610.608.0704.

PASTORAL CARE MESSAGE

Your clergy are here to walk with you. Pastoral care is an important part of the ministry of the clergy, so please don't be shy! At any time reach out to one of us and we would be happy to talk to you, anoint you, pray with you, or walk with you. If something is going on medically or otherwise in your life, let us know. If you are going into the hospital, let us know ahead of time so we can visit, and, more importantly, be praying with and for you.

ACCESSING THE PRAYER LIST:
For the safety and privacy of our members, the Prayer List will no longer be viewable in the on the website nor added back to the eNews due to the public accessibility of both.

 

We understand how important this list is to our Church family, and we want to ensure you can still access it in the following ways:

 

1.   Online Access: Log in to our  Members Directory. Once logged in, click on "Additional Pages" and select "Prayer List".


2.   Printed Copies: Printed versions are available at any of our services or can be picked up from the front office.

 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the privacy and safety of our members.

SHARE THE eNEWS WITH OTHERS

If someone approaches you expressing interest in receiving our eNews, you can let them know that they don't need to wait for the office to handle it. The quickest and easiest way for them to sign up is by visiting our website at www.stmonicasnaples.org/ and registering themselves. By taking this simple step, they'll start receiving our updates promptly. If they've previously contacted the office to be added and haven't received the eNews the next week, advise them to reach out to confirm that their email address was correctly noted. We want to ensure everyone stays connected and informed about all the exciting happenings at St. Monica's. Thank you for helping others get connected to our eNews community!