Weekly eNews for
August 20, 2026
MENU
NEW THIS WEEK
MESSAGE FROM OUR SR. WARDEN
First, my apologies to any readers who received a bogus invite to an event I was supposedly sponsoring. I got fooled by a very legitimate looking phishing scam.I received from someone else that led to my email being hacked. If you haven't already please don't try to open the invite and delete. I secured my email immediately upon hearing that the invite had been sent from my account. It is a lesson for all of us to be diligent.
On other matters, a draft of the new profile to be used in the rector search is in the hands of the Vestry for review. A focus group on rector compensation is scheduled for Aug 25 with a small group of parishioners. We will use the results of this first group to determine what will work best for wider congregational input. Finishing these two big pieces will allow us to move to a new posting.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
for July 2026
We had a good month financially especially considering how slow things get in the summer. Thank you to all who have supported St. Monica's throughout the year. The full financial can be found by following < THIS LINK >
July 2026
Income - $45,996
Expenses - $37,946
Year to Date
Income - $330,939
Expenses - $298,537
FROM HEATHER WILLIAMSON
The family of Brooke Roberts, the father of Heather Williamson, who passed away on July 25, is deeply grateful for the cards, prayers, and kind messages they have received from St. Monica’s.
Heather and her family thank you for your continued prayers as they move through this time of loss. We are sharing a photo of Brooke below, along with a link to his obituary, which also ncludes a memorial video celebrating his life.
NONPERISHABLE FOOD DRIVE
NOW up till September 14, 2026
Bishop Scharf has issued an invitation to all the Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Southwest Florida to participate in a food drive. He wants us to collect canned goods and shelf-stable items to donate to a local Episcopal food ministry. The church closest to us with a food bank is All Souls Episcopal Church in North Fort Myers. Their food pantry is open every Wednesday morning, and we will collect nonperishable food items for them from now until September 14th. Consider cans or pouches of tuna fish and jars of peanut butter -- both good sources of protein.
This is an outreach project designed to take our theme at Diocesan Convention, "One Witness," beyond the walls of the church and into communities across the Diocese. I think it's a great idea, so let's jump in with both feet! We want to do our part to feed hungry people in our area, so give generously!!
Look for a box or bin at the back of the church. On September 15, 2026, we'll deliver the food we have collected to All Souls Food Pantry in North Fort Myers.
Baseball with the Bishop is back
At Tropicana Field on Friday, August 28!
THINGS TO COME
SEPTEMBER OPEN PLATE OFFERING
SEPTEMBER 5 & 6, 2026
Because of the generosity of our St. Monica’s family, we are able to continue caring for our church and making improvements that benefit everyone who worships here.
Your recent support of the altar lighting project allowed us to fully fund that need. Thank you. It is a wonderful example of what we are able to accomplish together.
For September, our Open Plate Offering will be directed toward another visible need in our worship space: repairing broken kneelers and improving the hymnal storage on several of our chairs.
Every contribution helps us continue making thoughtful improvements throughout St. Monica’s. We are deeply grateful for the many ways you support our church and help us care for the place we are blessed to call home.
Do you knit or crochet? Now to Nov 2026
CAN you help me, help sick and premature babies in Uganda?
Let me introduce myself, my name is Ellen Milan. I am a member of St Monica’s and a retired neonatal intensive care nurse and a volunteer with Health Volunteers Overseas, a private non-profit dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care in developing countries through training and education of local health care providers. I have been teaching, and working with, Ugandan neonatal healthcare providers, and families of sick and premature babies, since 2001.
DID YOU KNOW… newborns (especially prematures) can lose a significant amount of heat from their heads (the largest surface area of their bodies), which puts them at risk for hypothermia (low body temperature). Hypothermia in the newborn period is considered an important contributor to newborn morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) especially in low-resource countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes newborn thermal care as a critical component of essential newborn care.
Premature births are common in Uganda and other parts of Africa and this is due in part to the high rate of “natural twinning”. Twins and higher order multiples (triplets or more) have an increase risk of being born prematurely.
Covering a baby’s head can make a substantial impact in avoiding hypothermia even in the smallest of babies. Knit and crochet hats can be life saving.
God willing, I will return to Uganda in November 2026.
If you have any questions or would like more information, you can find me in the directory located HERE.
With gratitude, Ellen Milan
LADIES & GENTS SOCIAL LUNCH OUTING!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
**COME HUNGRY AND BRING A FRIEND!**
Our next Ladies & Gents Social Lunch is on Sept 14th, and we would love to have you join us for a relaxed afternoon of good food, plenty of conversation, and lots of laughs!
🍽️
The Country House
📅
Monday, September 14
🕧
12:30 PM
📍
11985 Collier Blvd.
The restaurant is on the right just before Golden Gate Parkway when traveling south on Collier Boulevard.
This is simply a group of friends getting together for lunch, and **everyone is welcome!** Bring a spouse, neighbor, friend, or anyone else who would enjoy meeting some new people and sharing a great meal.
There is no meeting, no program, and no agenda. Just a table full of friends enjoying lunch and each other’s company.
Come catch up with familiar faces, meet someone new, and enjoy a fun afternoon out.
The more the merrier, so bring a friend and join us at The Country House!
We would love to see you there!
2026-27 EFM Registration is OPEN!
Earlier this summer we shared some “book titles” expressing how 25-26 EFM participants describe their journeys. Here are a few more:
Intrigued? You, too, are invited to join us as we study, pray, and reflect, with trained mentors (Kathy Schillreff and Jean Hite) facilitating small group discussions and guiding participants to examine life through an increasingly informed and inspired theological lens. More than Bible study, EfM participants read and discuss the Old Testament (year 1), the New Testament (year 2), Church history (year 3), and theology and ethics (year 4). You do not have to commit to all four program years nor complete in four years. Our seminar sessions are like a one-room school house with all 4 years represented in the discussions and reflections. It makes for exciting insights and deepening faith.
We will begin on September 8th, meeting Tuesdays from 2:30 - 5 p.m. We are a hybrid, in person and zoom group.
If you would like registration info and the link to an on-line registration portal, please email Kathy Schillreff
If you have questions, please contact
Susan Docimo,
Jean Hite or
Kathy Schillreff for more information.
BULLETIN BOARD
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.
SUPPORTING FOSTERING SUCCESS EVERY THURSDAY
When you visit Lake Park Diner in Founder Square on Thursdays, $1 will be donated to Fostering Success Naples as part of their giving initiative. This is a great opportunity for St. Monica’s to support one of the local organizations we also help.
Fostering Success is a nonprofit serving children and young adults in the foster care system here in Collier County. Their mission is to provide strategic education and enrichment opportunities that help foster youth reach their full potential. Programs include academic mentoring, scholarships, basic needs support like beds and diapers, and life skills training for young adults transitioning out of care.
Every dollar given through the Founder Square helps extend that mission. It’s another simple way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families in our community.
AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
LOCATION 1
Founders Square
8856 Founders St Naples
239.539.1559
LOCATION 2
Downtown Naples
944 7th Ave North Naples
239.228.6351
STAY SAFE ONLINE - YOU ARE A TARGET!
Have you ever received an email that looked like it came from us, your bank, or even a friend, only to wonder if it was really legitimate?
Scammers are becoming more convincing every day, and churches are one of their favorite targets. That's why we've created a new Online Safety & Security page filled with simple tips to help you recognize scams, protect your personal information, and know what warning signs to watch for. The page explains how scammers impersonate trusted people, why they target churches, and the easy steps you can take to stay safe online.
Take just a few minutes to explore this valuable resource & share with others. It could help you avoid becoming the next target.
👉 Visit our Online Safety & Security page < HERE >
COME PRAY WITH US
Your faith and scripture will come alive as we pray together. We invite you to spend a special hour with us each week.
All are welcome to gather in the church sanctuary every Tuesday at 10 am. We will praise God with song, read and pray with Scripture, share faith experiences, share intercessory prayer for our needs and the needs of others and also healing prayer.
For more information contact Theresa Miller
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. 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
In-Person and Zoom
In-Person Only
Please email the church office 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
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.
AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES
8/6
William & Janice Ward
8/7
Matt & Betty Devlin
8/11
James & Tasha Van Hest
8/14
Michael & Susan McCampbell
8/16
Mark Giersch & Jesse Roberts
8/18
John & Sue Adams
Abigail & Benji Freigang
8/21
Keel & Penny Jones
8/23
John & Maria Kuechmann
8/24
Don & Joan Fuggi
8/27
Fred & Betty Cable
8/29
Maureen & David Chismar
AUGUST BIRTHDAY
8/3
Chuck McHenry
8/8
Amy Thompson
8/11
Kathy Connelly
Jo Pfeil
8/17
Ralph Pike
8/18
Ed Strong
8/21
Herb Newman
8/22
Abigail Freigang
8/23
Ann Hoffman
8/24
Susan Docimo
8/25
Kyle Williamson
8/28
Marge Gower
8/29
Al Ciano
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: Rev. Sylvia R. Czarnetzky at 662.701.2040 or 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 published on the website or included in the eNews, as both are publicly accessible.
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.
If someone would like to receive our eNews, they do not need to wait for the church office. The fastest way to sign up is to visit our website: www.stmonicasnaples.org, click the orange “THIS WEEK” button, and select “Sign up for the Weekly eNews.” Once they complete the form, they will begin receiving the eNews every Thursday at 5PM.
If someone has already contacted the office or signed up but has not received the eNews by the following week, please ask them to follow up so we can confirm their email address was entered correctly.
Thank you for helping others stay connected and informed about what is happening at St. Monica’s.
