Weekly eNews for

December 18, 2025

NEW THIS WEEK

MESSAGE FROM INTERIM RECTOR

As I write this on Thursday morning, I am home and in bed, trying to get over the flu!!! I came down with the flu on Monday night, and it has just wiped me out. I have not left the house. I have been wearing pajamas for days. I had to miss my favorite Christmas concert of the year, by Seraphic Fire, on Tuesday night. I had to cancel lunch today with Allen, Patti, and Ken. It has not been pretty.


So I am trying my best to get over the flu! That’s the bad news! It’s just about the worst possible time for a priest to get sick, with the exception of Holy Week and Easter! And I have not been able to spend any time with Allen or Patti! The last thing I want to do is send them back to Illinois with the flu, just in time for Christmas!


Here’s the good news: I started taking Tamiflu on Tuesday, and I have made a contingency plan for church this weekend. Here is my Plan B: I have lined up The Rev. Marcella Drawdy, from Trinity-by-the-Cove (bless her heart!), to preside at Eucharist at St. Monica’s on Saturday at 5, if I can’t. And I’ve lined up The Rev. Jean Hite (bless her heart!) to preside on Sunday morning, if I can’t. I will decide on Saturday morning whether to execute Plan B!


My two main concerns are: (1) I don’t want to risk spreading my flu germs to all of you nice people! So if I am still contagious, I won’t do church this weekend. (I would not wish this nasty flu on my worst enemy!) (2) I am looking ahead to Christmas Eve (2 services), Christmas Day (1 service), and the First Sunday after Christmas (2 services). I am worried about having the stamina and the voice to get through all of these services if I try to go back to work too early, before I am over this flu. So I’m trying to make the best decision for all of us!


In the meantime, I continue to abide in my pajamas, with my two kitties, Ralph and Alice, keeping me company. I still have a trace of fever, my throat is very sore, and when I cough it feels like I am coughing up shards of glass! But believe me when I tell you that I am much better than I was! So happy Advent and a Merry Christmas to everybody!!


COME HELP DECORATE THE CHURCH

Sunday, December 21, right after the 10am service


The Flower Guild is inviting everyone to stay after the 10am service on December 21 to help decorate the church and set up the Christmas tree. This is always a warm and joyful time as we prepare the space for Christmas together. All ages are welcome and there are plenty of simple tasks if you just want to lend a hand.


We would love to have you join us as we get the church ready for this beautiful season.



STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

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




HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

The church office will be closed Wed., Dec. 24 - Sun., Dec. 28 in observance of Christmas. We will also be closed Thur., Jan 1 - Sun., Jan. 4 in observance of the New Year.


As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas filled with peace, love, and hope. May the New Year bring renewal, good health, and many moments of grace for you and your loved ones. We are grateful for our parish community and look forward to all that the 2026 year holds.


PHONE SYSTEM UPDATE

I am happy to share an updated message regarding the church phone system.


Earlier today, I had prepared a version of this update outlining our progress and a few remaining issues. Since then, and before this message was released online, we were able to resolve those items and fully restore phone service, including voicemail.


Our phones are now back up and running. We are able to place and receive calls during office hours, and voicemail is active. As we continue final setup, please allow some grace if you encounter a blank or incomplete voicemail greeting. Not all staff have had the opportunity to record their personal greetings yet, and a few finishing details are still being completed.


At this time, extension information has not yet been added to the automated message. If you call and would like to reach a specific person, you may enter their extension at any point after the automated message begins, or press 0 to reach the general mailbox.


The extensions are now posted on our website in the staff area and are also listed below for your reference.


Interim Rector

Sylvia Czarnetzky - Ext 102


Deacon

Ken McCaslin - Ext 104


Administrator / Bookkeeper 

Laura Stamper - Ext 101


Finance Director

Joe Master - Extension 106


Preschool Director

Laura Rodrigues - Ext 107


I want to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility as we worked through this over the past couple of weeks and while we finalize the remaining details.


I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to those who made this possible. Ed Strong, Sr Warden, Ralph Pike, Jr Warden, and Toni Cilluffo, a member of our parish, provided steady leadership and support throughout this process. We are also deeply grateful to Matt Devlin and Jim Sarconi, who stepped in when needed to keep things moving forward. Without their dedication and hard work, we would still be without phones.


Thank you to everyone for working with us as we complete the final steps and return to normal communication.

THINGS TO COME


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.

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.

Have You Filled Out the Directory Survey Yet?

We’re reaching out again to all members and friends of St. Monica’s with an important request. Our new Directory Survey was shared recently, but so far only a small number of people have responded. We’re very grateful to those who have already updated their information, but we truly need everyone to take a few minutes to complete the survey.


This isn’t just about keeping the Directory up to date. The survey also helps us confirm that everyone can access it correctly and that all contact details are accurate. Even if you believe your information is already correct, please fill out the survey so we can verify everything.


If you’ve had trouble accessing the Directory, there’s a place in the survey to let us know. Someone from the church office will follow up to help.


Please take a few minutes to complete the survey today. Accurate and accessible contact information helps us stay connected and ensures you don’t miss important eNews or church updates.


Thank you for your help as we continue to strengthen our St. Monica’s family connections.


For any questions, contact the parish administrator.

TAKE THE SURVEY

BULLETIN BOARD

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.

DEC. ANNIVERSARIES

12/4

Kelly Mankin & Mike Tonda


12/8

Gordon & Ruth Macdonald


12/11

John & Morgan Plocharczyk


12/26

Phil & Sue Baker

DEC. BIRTHDAYS

12/1

Jocelyn Chalick

Carole Nabbie


12/2

Cheri McCaslin


12/4

Jan Ward


12/11

Margaret Holt


12/16

Fred Groehl 

12/21

Ruth Kalwinsky


12/22

Ruth Macdonald


12/29

Tanya Buck

Emily Groehl


12/31

Deb Blatz


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!