Epistle
to the Bonitians
tHE NEWslEttER OF FIRst PREsBYtERIAN CHuRCH OF BONItA sPRINgs | JulY-August 2013
e lord helps the fallen and lis
those bent beneath their load.
e eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing …
e lord is close to all who call on Him.
PsAlm 145:14-16, 18 (Nlt)
Ou R
mI ssION
to be a welcoming and nurturing family, committed to helping people grow as followers of Jesus Christ
who make a positive difference in today’s world.
First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs
A BIBLICALLY-CENTERED CHURCH IN THE PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP
9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | 239 992 3233 | 239 992 7547 fax | fpcbonita.org
Doug’s Desk
Dear members and Friends of First Church,
t
he summer of 2013 finds us quite scattered as
a congregation (as happens every year), and I
trust that for you it is a good and blessed time—
wherever you may be. e Off-season at First
Church is also a tremendously valuable time for us. ough
our worship attendance may be just 20 or 25% of what it is
in the winter season, we still rank in the top few percentile
among Presbyterian churches across the country (the average mainline denominational church has around 100 people
in its pews weekly).
e Off-season also gives leaders of the church the
opportunity to do some things that have to be put on the
shelf during the season. e Elders and Pastors had a recent
opportunity to spend a saturday with the leadership of the
other three Covenant Churches in southwest Florida that
we have formed a relationship with. It is fascinating and
invigorating to share ideas with other churches. We have
much in common with First Presbyterian of Fort myers,
Venice Presbyterian, and Kirkwood Presbyterian in Bradenton—most importantly, a common commitment to sharing
the gospel of our savior with our communities.
e FPC Pastoral staff also had the opportunity a few
weeks ago to take an entire day for review and planning of
our various ministries. Our staff meetings during the winter
are preoccupied with detail scheduling and coordination of
the full church calendar, while in the off-season we are able
to look further down the road and do some dreaming and
brainstorming about how we can improve our outreach.
since the pastors take turns during the summer doing our
various travels, vacations and study leaves, it will likely be
september before we are all in the same place again!
A year ago while on my two-month sabbatical I read a
book titled Transforming the Soul of Your Leadership. It is
specifically written for committed Christians who find
themselves in demanding leadership roles in church, business and nonprofits. One of the great dangers of a busy and
successful career is that we can unintentionally neglect our
“souls”, our true inner selves. I have decided to re-read this
2 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt
book, and the other pastors are also reading it this summer.
Among the personal insights I gained on a first reading last
year:
• times of solitude and quiet are essential to
getting in touch with god.
• A Christian leader’s primary responsibility is
not to decide what to do, nor to make it happen,
but to learn how to hear god’s voice and to
trust in Him.
• All of us need to live within our limits and not
try to do too much.
• No job or task is ever completely done, and the
Christian leader accepts that ultimately we are
all just “temps” in our job; only the lord is
permanent.
I trust and pray that you are feeling god’s presence,
strength and blessing for yourself and your loved ones this
summer season. If you are away from southwest Florida,
we look forward to seeing you on your return.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Doug Pratt
Christian Education
D.I.G. 2013: Old Testament Heroes
In 2013 our D.I.g. (Discover, Investigate, grow) Bible study
series is focusing on Old testament figures as we look to see
how god worked in and through the lives of some of the
most well-known and beloved figures in scripture.
July
In July our D.I.g. study of Old testament narratives will
explore the period of Judges and the lives of some of the
most important leaders of Israel. Join us in July to learn
why this was a significant time in Israel’s history.
August
In August we will shi focus to Ruth and her fascinating
story of personal commitment and conviction and god’s
provision for her care. Aer studying Ruth, we will begin a
six-week study on the life of David, one of the most prominent figures in scripture. David was the author of many of
the Psalms, so come to DIg and study the life of the man
who was inspired to write the songs of faith we will
explore in worship during our summer sermon series
“e Heartbeat of Faith.”
First Flix
7/7
7/14
7/21
7/28
Judges Overview
Deborah
gideon
samson
8/4
8/11
8/18
8/25
Ruth
Ruth
David
David
Cars (G)
Friday, July 12 • 7 PM • CenterPoint
is computer-animated comedy adventure from DisneyPixar (2006) features the voices of Owen Wilson, Paul
Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech marin and michael Keaton.
It was nominated for two Academy Awards, including
Best Animated Feature. Children and parents alike will
enjoy the antics of the hot-shot race car named lightning
mcQueen and his journey to find the true meaning of
friendship and family.
In a world populated solely by vehicles, lightning has
become quite the celebrity. He may be the fastest car on
the track, but his self-absorption proves to be his downfall.
On his way to the tie-breaking race, lightning finds himself
in the sleepy town of Radiator springs where a cast of
characters teach him the value of slowing down, taking
time for relationships and investing ourselves in things
that matter.
Our youth will have popcorn and movie snacks available.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 3
@ FPC
Worship Schedule
Sundays
First Church offers our “First light”
service at 8 Am and full worship
service at 10 Am. First light includes
all the basic worship elements of
music, message and scripture—having
the same preacher and message as the
10 Am service—but neatly packaged
into a 40-minute time frame.
Worshipers can choose a less
formal setting for the 10 Am service
in CenterPoint while sharing in the
concurrent service experience in the
sanctuary through the wonders of
modern technology.
Coffee and refreshments, what we
call our “First stop,” are available following the 10 Am service; make that
your first stop before getting on with
the activities of your day!
Neon Kids sunday school for
children age 3 through 5th grade is
held at 10 Am with childcare for ages
6 months to 2 years.
Our ongoing D.I.g. sunday morning class, Heroes of the Old testament,
is held from 8:45 to 9:45 Am.
August 4
e sacrament of Holy Communion
A Time of Prayer & Communion
Sundays • 11 AM • Price Chapel
First Church provides an opportunity
for the congregation to receive the
sacrament of Holy Communion and
experience a time of healing prayer
(except on sundays when the sacrament is shared during worship).
You are invited to realize god’s
precious promises in the Word concerning health and wholeness. Come
to the Chapel on sundays following the
10 Am service. One of our ministers
will be present to welcome individuals
who wish to take Communion and
receive healing prayer offered by our
prayer teams.
Sundays in August
SCHEDULE CHANGE
During the month of August, we will be suspending our 8 Am First light service as well as
CenterPoint worship at 10 Am. New online
videos will not be available during this month,
but audio and text versions of the weekly
sermons will be available as always. For those
who enjoy the webcast, we plan to highlight
some “greatest hits” of the last year as an option.
First light and CenterPoint will resume on
Sunday, September 1.
Epistle to the Bonitians
JulY-August 2013
Editor: RJ Flower-Opdycke
Copy Editor: Donabeth Urick
Design: gilurickdesign
Participants in the First Academy of Music’s annual spring recital, held in the Sanctuary on Sunday, May 5,
were nervous yet eager to share what they are learning. Read more on page 9.
4 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Contributing Writers:
Cheryl Bauer
Dee Carter
Rev. Dr. Paul Fahnestock
Margaret Gieselmann
Rev. Steven Grant
John Hashek
Nancy Heche
Mimi Holly
Dave Lyons
Kathy McMichael
Rev. Dan Oedy
Rev. Dr. Doug Pratt
Dick Ritchie
Stephanie Stec
Donna Tenfelde
Donabeth Urick
Chuck Wolfe
Amanda Zaengle
Contributing Photographers:
Dee Carter
Lauren Hargis
Joyce Hewitt
Tommy Hillegass
Dave Nichols
Amanda Zaengle
ri shop manager to Retire
EPISTLE: When you started working as First ri Shop
manager back in 2005, what was your vision for this
ministry?
Compassionate, hardworking, thoughtful,
kind and humble. For
those who know mimi
Holly, even in passing,
these words easily deMimi Holly
scribe how we see her.
she has made many
friends here at First Church since she and her husband,
Roger, joined as members in June 2007.
With the heart of a servant, mimi has nurtured and
guided our ri shop ministry through its initial years of
development and formed a volunteer base of over 110 volunteers during season. Her prayerful consideration of every
aspect of this ministry has given glory to god in many tangible forms, from providing First Church with income to
build god’s Kingdom to enabling Bonita families on a
budget to afford quality, gently-used home goods and clothing.
Aer serving eight years as the manager of First ri
shop, mimi is retiring from that position on september 1
and beginning a new chapter in her family life. she will be
transitioning to an exciting opportunity as the fulltime
nanny for her new granddaughter, who is due in July.
mimi’s daughter and her husband live and work in Fort
myers. e family is looking forward to having “grandma”
care for and nurture its newest member.
mimi and Roger will continue to be part of our church
family. Although mimi is reluctant to leave her staff position and all the great volunteers she has worked with, she
and Roger feel that this is a call from god to invest intensively in their family.
First Church has been greatly blessed by mimi’s leadership. she would not admit it herself, but her work here in
establishing the ri shop in our community will be part
of the FPC legacy for years to come. Now mimi will continue to do god’s work, this time pouring all her love and
commitment into building her family’s legacy and helping
raise her granddaughter.
Dear Mimi, may God shower you with many blessings
during this special time in the life of your family.
Mimi: I hoped that I could help it grow. It takes years to
grow a business, in fact it should always grow and change.
e same applies to the ri shop ministry. I also wanted
to work toward defining the shop as a ministry of our
church. We strive to keep the tenets of our original
mission statement, which include the following:
“We intend to reach out to all people who need or ask
for our help and assistance, and to do so within the framework of our Christian faith. We labor here because of Jesus
Christ and who He is, and we desire to honor Him in what
we do.”
EPISTLE: You have managed First ri Shop for 8 years.
How has this experience changed you?
Mimi: Working for our church has been a blessing that I
could never have imagined. many of the “rough edges”
I had from working retail in the secular world have been
worn off by the loving and accepting staff and volunteers at
First Church. I have learned how important it is to trust in
the lord, for wisdom and discernment, for answered
prayers, and for leading me in my daily decision making
and oversight of the shop. I also have learned that relationships are more important than tasks. ere are many tasks
to accomplish every day at the shop, but there is always time
to talk with each other, share our joys and cares, and talk
about our grandchildren!
EPISTLE: What will you miss most about leaving your staff
position at First Church?
Mimi: I will certainly miss the daily interactions with all of
the volunteers, and the customers! We work hard but we
have a lot of fun, and we have formed lasting friendships.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 5
like-minded
“Covenant of Churches” revives new level of commitment
by Chuck Wolfe
Have you ever been linked with others you have never met
before in a joint endeavor and from the beginning felt like
you were on the same wavelength? Well, that’s been the
experience of your pastors and session in a new relationship
we have entered into—known as the “Covenant of
Churches.”
In January of this year your pastors and elders came
together in Venice, Florida to inaugurate this relationship
with other pastors and elders from Venice Presbyterian
Church, Kirkwood Presbyterian Church of Bradenton, and
First Presbyterian of Fort myers. last year each of our congregations joined the Fellowship of Presbyterians; as a part
of this affiliation church leaders agreed to a new level of
commitment to Reformed theology through a renewed
focus on the essential tenets of the faith, and to revive a
practice begun over 300 years ago—to covenant with
each other.
e covenant we signed summarizes our purpose in
meeting:
Believing that God is calling us to a vital and
supportive relationship with one another, and desiring
to become more effective in our witness, ministry
and mission for the Gospel in the Reformed tradition,
we solemnly covenant together for a period of two
years…
While Presbyterian congregations three centuries ago
were probably separated by much smaller distances than
the four in our covenant relationship, the travel times we’ve
recently experienced in our first two visits were likely
similar—only our predecessors’ horsepower was surely
literal! Our first meeting in Venice was followed up by a
trip in may to Bradenton, Florida. You may wonder how we
A ruling elder shares a passionate response to a narrative question.
6 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
FPC Clerk of Session Jan Tunstall and Venice’s Pastor Chris Romig take their turns signing the
Covenant.
hope to benefit from this investment of time and travel.
specific actions contained in the covenant include:
• Regular prayer for one another’s specific needs
• Fellowship with other church leaders
experiencing similar challenges
• Communication regarding the health and
improvement of our ministries, and,
• Exploring opportunities to cooperate together in
evangelism, discipleship and mission
As you can see the benefits of this covenant relationship
parallel the benefits one might experience participating in
one of the many small groups operating within our congregation here at First Church—only through this covenant
relationship church leadership experiences these benefits in
a corporate sense. Pastor Chris Romig of Venice Presbyterian provided us an anchor verse, Hebrews 10:24-25, in his
warm welcome when that church hosted our first meeting.
ere Paul reminds us: “…let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching.”
Worship at our inaugural meeting in Venice, Florida.
A typical covenant gathering is conducted on saturday
and lasts for approximately five to six hours (with a “working” lunch). First we gather for a short time of general fellowship—elders well intermingled amongst our different
congregations—to reacquaint ourselves with the general
state of our congregations and their interaction within our
communities.
en we venture into the heart of our interaction, with
each body offering a response to a “narrative” question
previously posed by the teaching elders (pastors). is is
a unique opportunity for us to learn from one another’s
approaches to common challenges. For example one of the
narrative questions from our may meeting was: “In what
ways are you seeing people come to a personal commitment
or recommitment to Christ?” Aer a leader representing
each congregation offers their response, the other leaders
have an opportunity to follow up with specific questions or
clarification.
is is a fascinating time of learning and sharing around
an important topic. In the early church, this narrative
method was preferred because it was a natural way to build
each other up—not only with knowledge, but with the
human resource pool that had just gathered!
Finally, we gather for worship, a message and the sacrament of Communion. is is a time of inspiration and
challenge. Pastor steven grant brought a wonderful
message in our first gathering, challenging gathered elders
with practical exhortations from 1 Peter 5. most recently, in
Bradenton, we heard a timely message for our generation
which moses provided generations ago. Pastor todd Reinschmidt of Venice Presbyterian Church reminded us of the
importance of moses’ words with a timeless lesson found
in Deuteronomy 8:11-20, specifically: “Be careful that you
do not forget the lord your god, failing to observe his
commands…”
Your pastors and elders are very excited about participating in—and have been energized by—this new “Covenant of
Churches.” We look forward to hosting our first meeting
here at FPC next year.
We learned a lot and as Elder Joan Faux shared:
“…it became clear that, even though our congregations
are different in many ways, we all struggle with reaching
the future generations. We had some great discussion on
ways to bridge that gap, including intergenerational events,
which pull together all ages of congregational members
into a fun Christian education experience.”
Elder Dee Carter summarized our experience well when
she said: “It is a joy to meet with the pastors and ruling
elders of each of these churches. We all share one common
thing: e love of our lord and savior.”
General Presbyter Rev. Graham Hart provided thoughts on how we can best work
together, patterned closely after Presbyterians gathering in Philadelphia three
centuries ago.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 7
let Your light shine Brightly!
At Neon Kids, our mission is to partner with parents to lead children into a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Neon Kids provides quality programs for
children ages 6 months through 6th grade. We invite you to visit us on sunday
mornings before worship. Check your children in at the Children’s Desk for
both nursery or Neon Kids sunday school. You can also visit us on the web at
neonkids.org to catch up on all the latest news.
Kids Night Out
Saturday, July 13 & August 24 • 5-8 PM
Open to families of FPC; children ages
1 through 12 will enjoy a variety of fun
activities at the church while parents
have a saturday evening to themselves.
send $3 per child for pizza. Please
contact Amanda Zaengle to register.
Family Worship Sunday
July 21 & August 18 • 10 AM
Sanctuary
Families are invited to worship together during our monthly Family
Worship sunday. Aer the Children’s
message, children three years of age
through sixth grade may either attend
Neon Kids sunday school or stay in
worship with their parents.
Move Up Day
Sunday, August 4 • 10 AM
Children “move up” in sunday school
to the grade they enter in the 20132014 school year. Parents are encouraged to arrive early to celebrate this
important milestone and to help children acclimate to a new routine.
Wonder Years Preschool is accepting enrollment applications for the
2013-2014 school year, which begins August 26. Help prepare your child
for future academic success! Wonder Years provides high quality learning
and a strong faith foundation. school hours are monday-Friday, 9 Am to
2 Pm for children ages 2-4 years by september 1. spaces are limited!
Contact Preschool Administrator maria sargent to register or for more
information: 239-948-6677 or [email protected].
8 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
CH ILD REN’S MINI S T RY
“In the same way, let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
mAttHEW 5:16
Questions?
Contact Director of Children & Family Ministries
Amanda Zaengle at [email protected] or
239-992-3233.
First Academy of music
Johnston Merit Scholarship
e Johnston scholar for 2013-2014 school year is pianist
Jenny Rivera. First Academy Director Cheryl Bauer presented the award to a surprised ms. Rivera at the conclusion
of the annual spring recital on may 5. Jenny is the daughter
of Ed and Robin Rivera.
Jenny attends the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave
maria where she will be a senior in the fall. she has studied
piano for 8 years with instructor Alexandra Fine.
e Johnston Award is named in honor of former
Director of sacred Arts Jim Johnston who retired from
First Presbyterian Church in the fall of 2006. A scholarship
fund was set up to honor his work within the church’s
music ministry and the music school. One annual merit
scholarship, the Johnston scholarship, covers the tuition for
a 30-minute private lesson for the academic year. students
in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply for the award. students
are evaluated by their teacher on qualities such as effort,
progress, preparation, dedication and attendance.
Outstanding musical experiences for all ages
Fall Semester begins August 19
August 19 – December 7
First Academy of music (FAm) provides high quality musical instruction for students of all ages and levels of skill.
e school was founded in 1998 as a ministry of First Presbyterian Church (under the name “Community music
school”) and continues to provide vocal and instrumental
lessons with the finest teachers. e faculty of 17 includes
professional educators, church musicians, symphony players, and active performers. Cheryl Bauer is the director.
FAm offers private lessons on individual instruments as
well as group musical experiences for children and adults.
Performance opportunities occur at the end of each semester in group recitals, as well as over the course of the program year as needed.
Financial assistance, provided by the Fine Arts Concert
series ticket sales and donations, is available to qualifying
students aged 18 years and younger enrolled in private lessons at the school. e Johnston merit scholarship is given
annually to a student (grade 9-12) of promise and dedication, covering FAm tuition for the academic year.
students may register for the fall semester by calling
the music office at 239-992-3410. Visit our website at
firstacademyofmusic.org.
As a National guild member, FAm is committed to
making high quality arts education accessible to all.
Annual Spring Recital
First Academy of Music Director Cheryl Bauer (left) with the school’s Johnston
Scholar Award winner for 2013-2014 – pianist Jenny Rivera.
e First Academy of music’s 15th annual spring recital was
held on sunday, may 5 at 3 Pm. Approximately 30 students
participated. e audience was treated to performances
ranging from Mary Had a Little Lamb to Bach’s Invention
#8. In addition to solo performances, the program included
a piano duo and a violin trio. e recipient of the Johnston
merit scholarship was announced at the conclusion of the
recital. students, their families, members of the audience
and faculty all met aerward for a reception in mcClure
Hall. e next recital will be held at the conclusion of the
fall semester in December.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 9
Paul’s Perspective
Dear Friends in Christ,
R
ight at this moment, I am challenged with three
converging ministries pulling at my thoughts
and prayers. Five days ago, I returned from a
10-day trip to Indonesia. I traveled with FPC
mission partner staff from she Is safe, including the
founder/president, michele Rickett, the sIs Indonesia
director, DeAnna sanders, and sIs anti-trafficking director
Diane Fender. A big highlight of the experience for me was
having my daughter, marisa Knag, on the trip as well. she is
a passionate Christian and a wonderful traveler.
sIs’s mission is to prevent, rescue and restore women
and girls from abuse and exploitation in high risk places
around the world. Everywhere you can find women and
girls who experience abuse and exploitation, but in some
countries and regions spousal abuse, sex exploitation and
child abuse are rampant. sIs focuses their work in these
countries and regions (see sheissafe.org).
I am thinking of and praying for the brave Christian
women and men I met in Indonesia who have dedicated
their lives to the difficult work of rescuing, restoring and
giving hope to women and girls within cultures that do not
have safeguards against abuse in the home and sexual exploitation. e question I have asked myself is, Did it matter
that we traveled 12,000 miles to visit with these courageous
brothers and sisters? e answer in my heart is “Yes.” We
serve a loving god who would send his children half-way
around the world to stand face-to-face with a brother or
sister in Christ and say we support your brave ministry
and we are praying for you. Our god pulls out the stops to
connect and encourage his Church around the world.
I invite you to join me in mcClure Hall on monday, July
15, at 6 Pm for dinner and a presentation about my trip to
Indonesia.
my mind is also filled with thoughts about departing in
two days, June 14, for two weeks in Brazil to visit old and
new ministries and friends. I will join my wife, linda, who
arrived in Brazil a few days early for advance preparations.
We will host four members from germantown Presbyterian
Church, germantown, tN, as we visit a Brazilian Presbyterian sister-church located in northeast Brazil in the city of
Caicó. FPC and germantown have contributed funds for the
construction of this church. We will renew friendships, worship together, and do some evangelism together in the city.
linda will then travel to the national capital of Brazil,
Brasilia, to receive a 16-member team of volunteers from
10 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Rev. Dr. Paul Fahnestock
churches around the usA who will teach English for three weeks to
Brazilian men and women who are preparing to work with international mission teams. English is the language that connects
international teams. is is part of linda’s new ministry as the
Brazil Program manager for English language learners of Wycliffe
Associates. linda is pleased to have FPC Women’s ministry Director
Nancy Heche as a member of the team. I will spend a couple of
days with linda and the team in Brasilia.
my last five days in Brazil will be in the city of Campinas, near
são Paulo, where I will participate in a church-planting assessment
workshop sponsored by a dynamic Presbyterian church in the city. I
had heard about this program and inquired if I might meet with the
leadership while I was in Brazil and learn more about what they are
doing to be so successful in starting new urban churches. When I gave
them the dates I would be available, they said it was exactly when they
would be having their workshop and invited me to participate. Only
aer accepting did I discover the pre-workshop preparation of 11
video classes and related readings. I didn’t realize that church-planting
was going to be my 2013 study-leave topic, and all in Portuguese! It
certainly helped me refresh my Portuguese fluency. I will include an
update on this experience during my presentation on July 15.
lastly, I am thinking about what a joy it is to be a part of a pastoral/
teaching staff at FPC dedicated to helping men and women grow in
their relationship with god. Just yesterday we met to plan Bible studies and courses for 2013 and 2014 designed to help you grow in your
understanding of the Christian faith and embrace the responsibilities
as followers of Jesus Christ. Beginning this fall and through the winter,
there will be classes on the Book of Revelation, Proverbs, Jesus in the
Old testament, Bible 101, the trinity, prayer, and an opportunity to
assess your spiritual gis. We will let you know the specific dates and
times of these offerings.
I hope you are all having a great summer.

Blessings,
Pastor Paul Fahnestock
New Horizons super Kids Club
loy mission; Down-to-Earth Results
Now in its twelh year, New Horizons of Southwest Florida is empowering
at-risk children in our own backyard, surrounding them with opportunities
for academic success and showing them hope through God’s love. Founded
by Bob and Ellen Nichols in 2002 with 20 children, the Super Kids Club
now impacts the lives of over 250 at-risk children and teens at four sites in
Bonita Springs and East Naples. Each club offers a computer lab for individualized learning in reading, vocabulary and math. Volunteers work as
tutors/mentors to help students with their homework. e children are introduced to Jesus through lessons based on Christian values.
Behind each face at New Horizons is an amazing story. take
Alexa, for example. During middle school, Alexa started to
neglect her schoolwork and dri away from her life with
god. she hung out with the wrong crowd; her grades
dropped. she thought it wouldn’t matter.
“When the super teens club opened, I started going and
they helped me realize that the friends I had weren’t the
friends I needed,” Alexa said. she started focusing on her
schoolwork again and is now attending Edison state College
with her eye on a business degree. she hopes to become a
fashion designer and volunteers at the super Kids Club in
her neighborhood.
maria became a super Kid when she was six years old.
One of four children, she has seen her home destroyed by
flooding, her parents hospitalized and a constant struggle to
survive. In 7th grade, maria earned a take stock in Children scholarship for college by writing an essay about her
experience with the New Horizons super Kids and super
teens Clubs.
“I’ve learned that we should be thankful for everything that we have because
there are others who have less.”
— litzy, 6th grade
“New Horizons has changed my
perspective on school and god. I
hope to attend college and become
an archeologist.”
— martin, 9th grade
JEFF FAUX, Super Kids Club volunteer:
“One of the reasons I volunteer at New Horizons super
Kids Club is because I believe education is the greatest tool
a young child can have to get themselves out of poverty.
e children there are anxious to learn but, with parents
who don’t speak English well, they do not have the support
behind them they need to learn well.
“I volunteer once a week for about an hour and a half.
Part of what I do is help kids work through their homework and answer any questions they have about the work
they've been assigned. e kids understand that if this
many adults are showing up to help them with their homework this must really be important. ey also know that
they have a resource if they get stuck or don't understand
something. Oen they just need a little encouragement to
do the hard work that needs to be done.”
“I will be the first in my family to attend college,” maria
said. “Despite these hardships, my future is filled with hope
and dreams of becoming a pediatrician.”
en you have Javier, who is in 12th grade. last summer
he participated in a six-week mission trip to Haiti with
Capt. Bob Nichols aboard the “star of the sea.” Javier felt
god’s call.
“ere is more to the world than just me,” Javier said.
“god opened my eyes to how other people’s lives are... (and)
called me to help others through missions. He has shown
me that I can fulfill my purpose in life by becoming a boat
captain.”
continued on next page
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 11
First missions continued
ese are just three super Kids... their lives transformed
through the programs and caring support of New Horizons.
First Presbyterian Church has supported this ministry since
2009. Every year, we look forward to the annual visit from
the Kids Club Choir when they grace our sanctuary with
singing and laughter.
many First Church members volunteer as tutors for the
super Kids Clubs. New volunteers are always welcome. For
more information, visit mysuperkidsclub.org or call Ellen
Nichols, 239-565-6714.
Everglades Hike & Lunch with FGCU Friends
by Dee Carter
“If it wasn’t for New Horizons
I don’t think I would have graduated from high school or gotten
into college so that I can become
a law enforcement officer.”
— Elvira, Edison state College student
“Because of New Horizons,
I have great friends and an
awesome best friend, god.”
— michelle, 10th grade
April 27 was a day to remember for First Church members and our international friends from Florida gulf Coast university: Rachana Nget
from Cambodia, togzhan Akhmed-Zaki from Kazakhstan, saren Abgaryan from Armenia, Xiaofu li from China, maham from Pakistan
and Veronica from the united states.
Our park ranger for the day, church member geri Wolfe, led us on
an expedition of the Everglades. It was a learning experience for all...
and a beautiful day to enjoy a hike. First Church friends who participated were lois Bachman and her two grandchildren, the den Hartog
family—michael, Joy and Amelia, linda Fahnestock, Ellis and lee gery,
geri and Chuck Wolfe and myself.
Our first stop was the ten ousand Island state Park, where we had
a good overview of the area. en on to Everglades City to e triad
seafood Restaurant where we tried stone crabs and key lime pie. While
dining on the water’s edge we were entertained by a manatee and her
two babies.
Our next stop was the Clyde Butcher Art museum which features exceptional photos of the Everglades by photographer and naturalist
Clyde Butcher. Our group had a lesson on the Everglades and ecological
make-up of the southern half of Florida. We also learned that it is the
85th anniversary of the tamiami trail, which took 2,000 workers five
years to complete in order to connect miami-Dade and Collier counties.
Our last stop was the Fakahatchee strand Preserve state Park where we
observed many different birds and plant life. Along our paths that day
we saw many alligators. All in all it was a wonderful day.
is was our farewell party before our new friends return to their
home countries. god has certainly blessed us with these exceptional
young people. We hope they go home refreshed and pleased with their
stay in the usA. Farewell, dear friends, may god go with you.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move
our souls to dance. ey awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to
gaze upon. ey stay in our lives for a while, leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never, ever the same.” – Flavia Weedn
12 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
FPC Jail Ministry needs Christian Books –
Can You Help?
In matthew 25:36, Jesus calls his followers to visit those in
jail. Beginning in 2010, a team of men from First Church
have answered that call. In 2013, a team of FPC women will
be joining this ministry. Weekly, a team participates in the
Chaplain’s program to distribute Christian books and literature to inmates in the lee County correction facility located
on Ortiz Avenue in Fort myers. e team enters the inmate
housing facilities to distribute the Christian-based materials.
is also provides opportunities to listen and share the
gospel, and to pray with and for the inmates. During 2012,
the FPC Jail ministry distributed more than 1,000 bookmarks
with the message of salvation.
You can help by supplying new and gently used Christian
books for use in this ministry—so cover only. Following are
books in high demand in both English and spanish:
Bibles—all translations
e Le Behind series (laHaye & Jenkins)
e Purpose Driven Life
e Shack
Jesus Calling
90 Minutes in Heaven
Heaven is for Real
e Cross and the Switchblade
All books by:
t. D. Jakes
Dee Henderson
Joyce meyer
Josh mcDowell
Joel Osteen
Billy graham
Any Christian book will be well-received. Also consider
donating the last three FPC summer Reading Challenge
books: Traveling Light by max lucado, Seven Miracles at
Saved America by Chris & ted stewart and America the
Beautiful by Ben Carson, mD.
Please bring your donated books to the church office or
Pastor steven grant’s office. Remember, so-cover only.
If you have any questions about the FPC Jail ministry, you
may contact Dave lyons at [email protected].
summer Reading Challenge
America the Beautiful:
Rediscovering What Made
This Nation Great
by Ben Carson, MD
Each year, Pastor Doug Pratt
and the Christian Education
Committee select a book for
members and friends to read
over the summer months,
contemplate its content and
questions, and participate in a
discussion with Pastor Doug. We invite you to pick up your
copy of America the Beautiful in the FPC BookCenter or at
a book store near you and take up the challenge.
Ben Carson is Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at
Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as professor of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology and pediatrics there. In
2008, he was the recipient of the Presidential medal of Freedom—the highest civilian award in the united states.
Dr. Carson asks: What is America becoming? Or, more
importantly, what can she be if we reclaim a vision for the
things that made her great in the first place? America the
Beautiful is alarming, convicting and inspiring. Dr. Carson
offers new perspectives on our nation’s origins, our JudeoChristian heritage, our educational system, our moral fabric
and more.
Read it, then attend one of Pastor Doug’s discussions.
One is scheduled for August 19 and another will be held in
the fall.
“I believe political correctness is a very dangerous
force … If people can’t freely speak their minds,
conversations become muted and debate withers.”
– Ben Carson
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 13
steven’s study
Dear Brothers & sisters in Christ,
A
s we look forward to once again celebrating our
nation’s birthday, we have the opportunity to
remember the founding fathers and mothers of
our country and reflect on their sacrifice and
courage as they achieved the seemingly impossible task of
breaking away from great Britain and establishing a new
nation that has lasted for 237 years. many of those founders
are very familiar. However, there are a few that do not get
mentioned very oen that certainly should, particularly
Christian leaders. Recently Dr. Pratt talked about the Rev.
John Witherspoon in one of his sermons and now we can
appreciate more why Witherspoon’s portrait hangs in our
lightner Conference Room. Another such early spiritual
leader that should be made known is Richard Allen.
to set the stage, let’s reflect a moment on Paul’s letter to
Philemon. One of the shortest books in the Bible, Philemon
has only one chapter and one purpose. A man named Onesimus (which means “useful”) was a runaway slave who
ended up becoming a Christian through Paul’s ministry.
Onesimus had been Philemon’s slave and when Onesimus
ran away he apparently had stolen from Philemon on his
way out of town. Onesimus became very helpful to Paul.
But Paul writes to Philemon (who was also a Christian believer) telling him that Paul was returning Onesimus and
that Paul would repay anything that Onesimus stole.
Paul has oen been criticized for supposedly supporting
slavery and that he should have written a lengthy apologetic
against slavery. However, Paul does even better than this;
Paul cuts to the heart of slavery and if people would have
adopted his vision, slavery would have evaporated instantly.
slavery was an established institution in the Roman world
and any amount of protest against it would do nothing but
raise the Roman authority’s ire. Instead, Paul addresses the
very root cause of slavery by appealing to Philemon’s heart.
Paul’s letter is all about reconciliation and relationships between people, especially between brother Christians. He
tells Philemon to receive Onesimus as if he were receiving
Paul himself. In other words, if Philemon looked at Onesimus as a Christian brother, it would be impossible for him
to ever think or treat Onesimus as a slave.
is same type of relationship occurred in the life of
Richard Allen. Allen lived in Philadelphia and was a slave
during the Colonial Period in American history. He became
a Christian and led his master to become a Christian as
well. Once Allen’s master became himself a slave of the One,
14 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Rev. Steven Grant
true master, he freed Allen. Richard Allen later became a minister of
the gospel and along with Absalom Jones, was instrumental in establishing the African methodist Episcopal Church (AmE), and wrote
and taught much that contributed to the anti-slavery movement. is
was all at the time when slaves were still a significant part of life in
Philadelphia, even in the President’s home, which was then still in
Philadelphia before moving to Washington City during the presidency
of omas Jefferson.
One great example of Allen’s leadership during this era was when
the worst of the yellow fever epidemics broke out in Philadelphia in
1793. Hundreds of people perished as a result and thousands fled the
city. However, among the most significant groups of people who
stayed in the city to help minister to the sick and dying were the members of Allen’s congregation, Old mother Bethel AmE Church. Despite
the horrors of slavery and the injustices inflicted on free African
Americans, then Bishop Allen led his people to sacrifice and minister
to the white population in their season of need. It is a tremendous
story of courage, self-sacrifice and devotion to a higher allegiance that
is a great witness to the truth that Christ’s followers are different. We
are able to put hurts, insults, injustice, and even the victimization of
violence aside to serve others in their time of travail. Richard Allen
and his congregation stand as a living testimony of not only what
Americans are made of, but more importantly how Christians live and
view the world.
I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the story of the
Rev. Richard Allen. It is an inspiring story that should be recalled,
taught and celebrated, for Richard Allen was as important a spiritual
leader in his era as Dr. martin luther King was in his. e definitive
biography, Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church,
and the Black Founding Fathers was written by Richard s. Newman
and published by New York university Press.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor steven grant
Order of st. luke
“e Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners...
to comfort all who mourn.”
—Isaiah 61:1-2
e interdenominational International Order of st. luke
the Physician is a Christian healing ministry dedicated to
developing a member’s prayer life so they are equipped to
encourage the healing of body, soul and spirit in others.
members meet in local chapters to study scripture, specifically the healing miracles of Jesus, as well as other books on
Christian healing. e Bonita springs chapter at First
Church is “mercy and grace,” inspired from Hebrews 4:16.
First Church member and Osl convener margaret
gieselmann leads Osl training classes at First Church. In
June she attended the North America Healing Conference
at southwestern Baptist eological Center in Fort Worth,
texas. e keynote speaker was Judith macNutt who
presented the theme “Journey into Healing.” Judith is
co-founder of Christian Healing ministries (CHm) with
her husband, Francis, and author of the 2012 book, Angels
Are For Real.
e mission of the Order of st. luke reflects that of
CHm, to bring the healing message of the gospel, the message of healing prayer, to the world — both by teaching and
by actually praying for the sick, so that every person
throughout the world may understand this message.
Author Judith MacNutt speaks during the North American Healing Conference
in Texas.
“I oen use the macNutts’ Christian Healing ministry
DVD in the Osl Reunion groups that meet at FPC,” margaret said. “In the fall we will hold an in-depth course on
the 26 healing miracles of Jesus for those who are interested
in membership and service. Participants will grasp a fuller
understanding of anointing, healing prayer and miracles.”
margaret loves teaching these classes and enjoys getting
together with fellow Osl friends at retreats and conferences.
“ese events renew, inspire and refresh me so I can
serve with deeper dedication,” she said. “I truly believe that
in being god’s servants, we are restoring a hurting world.”
You are invited to participate in the Osl program, which
will deepen your gis as a caring person. It is open to those
who seek to learn more about our lord’s ministry of healing. e cost of $45 ($55 for a couple) includes lesson material, an Osl medallion and pin, and a year subscription to
Sharing magazine.
to learn more about the Order of st. luke, contact
margaret at [email protected].
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 15
Women’s Connection
e mission of the Women’s Ministry of First Church is to help women of all ages
Reach UPWARD to a deeper relationship with Christ,
Reach INWARD to one another in love and fellowship, and
Reach OUTWARD to our community and world in service.
A NOTE FROM NANCY
Dear summer sisters,
HAPPY summER! But let’s not talk
about the weather! let’s believe that
our Creator—Father god, Jesus the
Alpha and Omega and the Holy spirit
Who hovered over creation and
breathed the breath of emselves
onto it and into it—are in charge. let’s
thank em that “summer and winter,
seedtime and harvest” are under eir
control and so we can relax! Do we
have access to A/C? Iced tea? Cool
baths and showers? “Cool” friends,
family, ice cream? WORD OF gOD?
en we’re good!
let’s talk about my favorite subject—JEsus! He can cure the summer
blah’s. He can feed the hungry heart.
He can sing a joyful song. He can heal
the wounded spirit. He’s our best
Bridegroom, our most faithful Friend,
our kindest Brother, our smartest
teacher. “I want to know Him more,”
you say!
It’s easy! Pick up your Bible, or your
handy-dandy Bible-infused iPad or
iPhone or other technological power
tool and ask the Holy spirit to tell you
about Jesus. You can start any place in
your Bible because it’s all about Jesus.
Ask the Holy spirit, “Where is Jesus in
the garden of Eden?” Or, “Where is
Jesus when the children of Israel are in
the desert and all they have to eat is
manna?” Or, “Where is Jesus when
Daniel is in the lions’ den?”
Jeremiah quotes god as saying, “…
call upon me and come and pray to
me, and I will listen to you! You will
16 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
seek me and find me when you seek
me with all your heart. I will be found
by you.” selah (Pause quietly and think
about this.) “Come to me. I will give
you rest.” “Arise, come my darling; my
beautiful one, come with me.”
Here are some places where I find
Jesus when I get serious about seeking
Him: Jesus is the Child in Isaiah 9,
Jesus is the Wisdom in solomon, Jesus
is the Prophet when Nathan confronts
David in 2 samuel 12; Jesus is the
Arm of the lord in Isaiah 52, He’s the
Promise, the Hope, the Faith, the salvation, the Healing. He’s the Crown of
glory, the Bright and morning star.
He’s the Warrior in the battle; He’s the
Victor in the war. He’s the Path
through the Red sea, He’s the Fruit of
the vine, and He is the law fulfilled for
the Jew and the gentile. He is the
lover in the song. He’s the Vision in
Habakkuk; He’s the meadow in Hosea,
and He is the Bread and Fruit that Abigail takes to David in 1 samuel 25.
martin luther writes, “Whoever
would study well in the Bible…should
refer everything to the lord Christ. In
the whole scripture there is nothing
but Christ; either in plain words or involved words…the whole scripture is
about Christ alone.”
And when you find Him throughout scripture, worship this Jesus, Who,
though he was in the form of god, did
not count equality with god a thing to
be grasped, but made himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant, being
born in the likeness of men. And
being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross. erefore god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is
above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is lord, to the glory of god the
Father.
Count how many reasons there are to seek,
love and worship this god/man/savior/
lover/Redeemer and join those in heaven who
never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the lord
god Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.”
Join the twenty-four elders who are around the
throne of the Holy trinity, who lay their crowns
before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our
lord and god, to receive glory and honor and
power, for You created all things, and by Your
will they were created and have their being.”
And then join the many angels, numbering
thousands upon thousands and ten thousand
times ten thousand. ey encircle the throne and
with the living creatures and the elders they sing
with a loud voice, “Worthy is the lamb, Who was
slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom
and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
(Revelation 4-5) AmEN.
Now this is a very good summer!
love and blessings, your sister seeker,
Nancy Heche
DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Be in the Word
Be in Prayer
Working Women’s Fellowship
Tuesdays beginning September 17 • 7-8:30 PM
Lightner Conference Room
WWF will resume our journey through the Bible by exploring e Post-Exhilic Books of 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah and Esther. ese books were written to god’s
chosen people as they returned to Jerusalem following a
70-year exile. e Israelites faced an overwhelming challenge of rebuilding their city and the temple. ey needed
all the encouragement they could get, which was why these
books were written: to encourage them, to confirm to them
that they were god’s chosen and dearly loved people, and
remind them how god had fulfilled and continues to fulfill
His promises. so just like the Israelites, when the changes
we face in life require us to adjust to a “new normal,” god’s
love letter—His Word—is there to encourage us and remind
us of His promises and presence in our lives. study guides
are available for purchase in the BookCenter.
Thursday Prayer Group
2nd & 4th Thursdays • 9:30 AM • Price Hall Parlor
is summer, many of us are experiencing first-hand the
importance and power of prayer. Women’s Connection
would like to invite any and all newly discovered prayer
warriors to join us to pray for the needs of our church,
church family, community, country, and world.
Wednesday in the Word
Wednesdays beginning September 11 • 9:30-11 AM
McClure Hall
We will study each book of the New testament this coming
season from september 11, 2013 through may 2014. Our
“tour guide” will be Eric larson’s Frameworks—“an innovative survey of the New testament that combines compelling
stories, brilliant images, simple illustrations, maps and
charts with the scripture.” is will be a chance of a lifetime
to get a bird’s eye view of the New testament together.
e ongoing sunday morning D.I.g. class will be studying
heroes and heroines of the New testament beginning in
January 2014, so we will be complementing those readings.
Books will be available in the BookCenter in late summer.
We invite each of you to join us in the unforgettable study.
stay Connected…
Be Involved
Calling ALL Ladies
Women’s Connection is not Junior league, it is not PEO, it
is not even a clicque. It is you, it is me. It is all of us, working
together to know ourselves better, know each other better,
and most importantly to know our lord better.
e leadership team of Women’s Connection would like
to invite you on a journey with us as we invite the women
of FPC to be a part of the fun, ignite the women of FPC to
grow deeper in our walk with god, and involve the women
of FPC to give and serve. You can help.
We are looking for a few good women to be…
Supporting Actresses to come along side the Event
Coordinators to plan and organize programs
Caddies to help with the golf part of our annual sports day
Dealers to help with the cards and games part of our annual
sports day
Barkers to help write announcements and promotional and
publicity material
Travel Agents to help plan and organize off-site field trips
Jill of all Trades to help by using your gis in big and
small ways
Computer Geek to help our Event Committee with
computer tasks
If one of these fun positions appeals to you, let us know.
You can email us at womenoffi[email protected] or stop
by our sunday kiosk to speak with one of our friendly
volunteers. You may also call Barb goff (239-992-6977) or
Donna tenfelde (239-495-4647).
by sending an email to womenoffi[email protected]. send us one
right now and let us know you would like to receive the next email
“blast.” is is a great way for us to stay in touch. Each blast will
contain a note from Nancy, a scripture verse for meditation and
pertinent event/study updates.
continued on page 19
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 17
Dear Dan…
I
have spent about 75% of my days in southwest Florida.
minus a few early years in Northwest Ohio and brief
stints in North Carolina and tennessee, I have spent
most of my time under the seasonal realities of our area.
I know that every march I need to stock up on Zyrtek—and
avoid the beach, shopping malls and restaurants. I know
that every December I will listen to “White Christmas” on
the radio while I drip sweat in the 85 degree heat hanging
Christmas lights outside. I know every summer it is going
to rain from about 4:00-4:25 in the aernoons and I need to
have my hurricane supply box ready.
In my mind, summer in southwest Florida means rainy
season and hurricane season. One of my growing hobbies is
gardening (pun intended). Well, not really gardening as
much as landscaping—although by the look of the flower
beds around our house right now one might argue against
the claim that anyone with even a passing interest in horticulture lived there!
I was recently considering how and when to replant
some of our landscaping when an observation struck me.
First, aer the early rains we’ve had this season, our plants
look great. In fact, my greatest problem with the landscaping is not the health of the plants I planted, but rather the
abundance of the weeds I did not plant. Yes, the rains have
our plants flourishing, the color is good, the flowers are in
bloom, the roots are deep and the leaves are thick. Everything is full and lush; even the weeds I didn’t want are
thriving.
It fascinates me how rainy season in southwest Florida
gets the plants at their strongest and healthiest for what
might be their biggest challenge—hurricane season—when
the storms come and threaten to flood, uproot and assault
all vegetation in a variety of ways. It is amazing how god
designed this ecosystem so that at their time of greatest
vulnerability and challenge—hurricane season—the plants
are at their strongest and most capable of withstanding the
storms, thanks to the rainy season.
ere is an important parallel here for us when it comes
to preparing for the storms of life; the times when our
patience and faith, courage and conviction will be tested for
whatever reason and in a variety of ways. I am not weaving
a unique illustration here; in fact, some have probably quit
reading because the parallel is obvious and perhaps too
similar to something you have heard before.
18 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Rev. Dan Oedy
When it comes to spiritual health and growth, how are
you engaging in a “rainy season” or period of growth that
will strengthen your roots and prepare you to persevere
through whatever storm may come your way?
e nice thing for the plants in this area is the cyclical
nature of our seasons: rainy season comes and it strengthens
them for hurricane season. e challenge for us as Christians is that we have no idea when our “storms” are coming,
so we should be in a constant state of preparation, seeking
to grow and establish our roots in order to strengthen ourselves for whatever storm may come.
so while this is not the most novel and innovative of
illustrations or ideas, I simply wanted to take the time to
encourage you to start or intensify your personal, spiritual
“rainy season” today. You never know how the Bible study,
personal quiet time or prayer pattern you begin now will
serve during a “storm” or time of trial and adversity.
grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan Oedy
If you would like to send in a question to be addressed in a future edition
of “Dear Dan” please email your question to [email protected] or
share your question with Pastor Dan when you see him next. You can
remain anonymous.
Women’s Connection continued
golf, games and a garden Party!
Hats, Hoyle & Handicaps
On may 18, the women of FPC got together at spring Run
golf Course. twenty-seven golfers enjoyed each other’s
fellowship but were competitive enough to try for prizes.
Winners included lorraine Rickman (longest putt) and
Julie Zerwal (closest to the pin). Non-golfers came to play
cards, starting with bridge and then joining in a fun game of
Hand and Foot. Participants were invited to wear their
finest, fanciest, silliest or most favorite hat, cap or visor. A
delicious lunch was served at Copperleaf Country Club.
Garden Party
Hats, hats and more hats! Ardith VandenBerg, Barb Goff, Kay Springston and Janet Greene.
An end-of-season garden Party was held for participants of
Wednesday in the Word at the home of Jeanne Hill, hosted
by Jeanne and her sister. guests enjoyed a sumptuous
potluck lunch consisting of salads and sweets, each one
more delicious than the other. An extra treat included a
tour of the beautiful grounds.
(photos by Joyce Hewitt)
looking Ahead
1st Place Team: Marlene McLaughlin, Lynne Stauffer, Lorraine Rickman, Judy Graham
Don’t forget to read your First ings First (sunday bulletin
insert), the Women’s Connection monthly e-newsletter and
the Epistle to the Bonitians for the latest news and information about upcoming studies and events scheduled for the
women of FPC. You can also visit the church website at
fpcbonita.org. If you’re not receiving our e-newsletter, contact us at womenoffi[email protected] and let us know that
you’d like to be added to our mailing list.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 19
men’s ministry Fellowship
Changing Men’s Hearts One at a Time
by Dick Ritchie and Mal Griffin
As the men’s ministry Fellowship
(mmF) transitions from a very inspiring and exciting season to its summer
schedule, I would like to personally
thank Pastor Doug Pratt and Dave
stauffer for their guidance and leadership of men’s ministry Fellowship during the past year. rough their efforts
and the work of the other members of
the leadership team and the Hospitality staff, we have experienced abundant spiritual insight and enjoyed
many delicious continental breakfasts,
several outstanding guest speakers, a
couple of fun golf outings and a number of enjoyable planned activities.
Summer Schedule
During the summer months, the men’s
ministry Fellowship is meeting for
breakfast at Perkins Restaurant in
Bonita springs at 8 Am every other
ursday through August. If you are in
the southwest Florida area on July 11,
July 25, August 8 and August 22, join
us for food, fellowship and some inspiring conversation.
MMF SUMMER SCHEDULE
During July and August, MMF will meet
for breakfast at Perkins Restaurant in
Bonita Springs at 8 AM every other
Thursday: July 11 & 25, Aug. 8 & 22.
All men & their guests are invited to
attend. No reservations required, just
come and enjoy this fellowship.
For more information, please contact
Dick Ritchie at 239-594-0868 or
[email protected].
20 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
“e purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
— Proverbs 20:5
MMF VISION STATEMENT: To build relationships with men, to mutually encourage
them, and bring them closer to Christ through fellowship and discipling.
Financial Support to
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
One special focus during the year was
the ministry of Fellowship of Christian
Athletes (FCA) and its local outreach
to our schools and colleges. since
1954, FCA has been making a real
difference in the lives of thousands
of athletes and coaches, serving as a
catalyst that helps cultivate Christian
principles in local communities
nationwide. rough the generosity of
our members at the weekly breakfasts,
the men’s ministry Fellowship was able
to donate almost $4,700 to FCA. Fellowship of Christian Athletes is the
only charitable cause that our men’s
ministry Fellowship has chosen to
support financially this year. We look
forward to a partnership with new
FCA staff member Buddy Key, a former high school coach who, beginning
this fall, will be working with athletes
at the high schools in lee County.
Spring Golf Outing
On may 2 southwest Florida experienced a daylong rain event, rare for this time of year. However, on may 3 dawn broke with a clear sky and a
balmy breeze over the meticulously manicured
fairways and greens of Pelican sound golf and
River Club in Estero. e setting was perfect for
the 8:30 Am shotgun start of the 2013 First Presbyterian Church of Bonita springs men’s ministry Fellowship spring golf Outing. Fiy-nine
well-seasoned competitors teed it up and began
their quests for bragging rights to the championship of this semi-annual event. When the last
putt had been holed and the last bowl of ice
cream consumed, the results were announced.
e scramble competition was fierce and the
final scores were close, but in the end the team of
Ian Russell, Dan mclaughlin, Clark Weaver and
Ned Newland emerged victorious by one point
over second place finishers Jym moore, mike
greene, Jim Brandreth and Dick Byington. Four
teams tied for the third and fourth place positions, only one point behind the second place
team. Aer a score card play-off, the team of
mike Jones, Fred tedesco, Dave lyons and Joe
lenosa was awarded third place honors, with
Dan Holder, tom Winn, Dan scott and Dick
Knotts claiming fourth. Closest to the pin
honors on the four par 3s went to leo manz,
Dan mclaughlin, Fred tedesco and mike Jones.
Closest to the line honors following a booming
drive that came to rest a mere six inches from the
line, went to Jerry Weisenauer. Consensus was
that when it comes to golf, fellowship and
lunches, it just doesn’t get much better.
A Look Ahead
On september 12 the men’s ministry Fellowship will
begin its fall schedule of continental breakfasts and Bible
study on ursdays at 7:20 Am in mcClure Hall. All men
and their guests are warmly invited to attend. You do not
have to be member of First Church to participate. Pastor
Doug will again lead us in the enlightening study of the
Bible with discussions of current events and issues facing
men today. Pastor Doug will announce the focus of the
Bible study for the coming fall and winter seasons in the
next Epistle.
In addition, we look forward to more “surprise”
catered breakfasts, the Fall and spring golf outings, the
Annual men’s ministry Fellowship Dinner in January,
more outstanding guest speakers and a few fun, planned
activities. We hope to see everyone in september.
For more information, please contact Dick Ritchie at
239-594-0868 or [email protected].
A few FPC golfers gear up for some healthy competition during the Men’s
Fellowship golf outing in May. Left to right: Dick Ritchie, Dave Stauffer, Dave
Cleland, Jerry Parent, Ned Newland, John Holdeman, Mal Griffin.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 21
sacred Arts ministry
First Presbyterian Church is fortunate to have such gied
section leaders in our Chancel Choir. e congregation sees
the section leaders when they sing solos but there is much
more involved than that.
One of the most important responsibilities a section
leader has is to know the choir music so they can be a musical leader in rehearsal. eir preparation allows the Chancel
Choir to learn their music more quickly, spending less time
working out mistakes.
“section leaders also communicate musical ideas I have
to their sections and issues their sections have to me as their
director,” said Jeff Faux, FPC’s Director of sacred Arts. “We
are so lucky to have section leaders who are such talented
singers and musical leaders, and still understand the gospel
message that is a part of all that we do in the sacred Arts
ministry.”
Recently, a new section leader was chosen to complete
the Chancel Choir. We’d like to introduce the new Bass section leader and also take the opportunity to re-introduce
you to the soprano, alto and tenor section leaders.
22 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
James Patterson
BASS
James Patterson, whose “beautifully expressive bass just keeps
getting better and better” (San
Francisco Examiner), has been
praised by some of the most
respected critics in the united
states, including Andrew
Porter, who called him “a
bass to watch—sonorous
and beautiful in timbre”
(New Yorker).
since beginning his career as an Adler Fellow with the
san Francisco Opera in 1983, James has given over 150
performances with that company, including the roles of
sparafucile in Rigoletto, Fafner in the widely acclaimed Ring
Cycle, and the King of Egypt in Aida with leontyne Price.
His Canadian credits consist of leading roles with the
opera companies of montreal, manitoba, Vancouver,
Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton and Ottawa. In the u.s.,
James’ career has included leading roles with Chicago lyric
Opera, seattle Opera, New York City Opera, san Diego
Opera, miami Opera and michigan Opera eatre.
Internationally, James has performed in Punch and Judy
with the Netherlands Opera, Peter sellars’ controversial
Don Giovanni in France, and concerts in madrid for the
New York City Opera.
Concert highlights include engagements with the Boston
symphony, seattle symphony, san Jose symphony, Detroit
symphony, and at Carnegie Hall in a concert performance
of Handel’s Semele with marilyn Horne and Kathleen Battle.
Recent opera engagements include Angelotti in Tosca with
Opera Naples, Raimondo in Lucia for l’Opera de montreal,
the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and lodovico in Otello
for michigan Opera eatre, the Commendatore for his
Pittsburgh Opera debut, and the King of Egypt in michigan
Opera eatre’s concert Aida featuring luciano Pavarotti.
Recent concert engagements include Mozart’s C Minor Mass
with the Illinois symphony, and the King of Egypt in Aida
with the springfield symphony, which was televised
throughout the greater New England area.
Kathryn Moffett
Michele Pelletiere
MEZZO-SOPRANO
SOPRANO
Kathy is a native of the Washington, DC metropolitan area,
and graduated from the university of maryland with a degree
in Foreign language Education.
she taught French and spanish
in a large public school system
there for 30 years until her retirement. A choral singer first,
she acquired choral technique
from directors Paul Hill (Paul
Hill Chorale), Dr. Paul traver (u of mD Chorus), and
Ernest greene (Annapolis Chorale) while in their respective
groups, and has performed at the Kennedy Center, DAR
Constitution Hall, the National Cathedral and us Naval
Academy. Kathy also received private vocal instruction
from mentor leon B. Fleming, Professor of Voice Pedagogy,
and Polly Parr-Corretjer, in maryland, and locally from
lorraine murphy and michele Byrd. she has been the Alto
soloist/section leader of FPC’s Chancel Choir since 2004,
and also sings with the Fort myers symphonic mastersingers, both directed by Jeffrey Faux. As a soloist, Kathy
has performed locally in sanibel, Boca grande, Cape Coral,
Pine Island, sarasota, Bonita springs and Fort myers.
michele is a Doctor of Chiropractic with her own practice in
Bonita springs since 1999. she
has been the soprano
soloist/section leader of FPC’s
Chancel Choir since 2004. she
studied voice at the College of
st. Benedict in st. Joseph, mN
and is currently coaching locally with michele Byrd.
michele is an active member of
the Naples Philharmonic Center Chorale and has been since
1997, singing under the batons of conductors Christopher
seaman, Erich Kunzel, Clotilde Otranto, Carlos miguel
Prieto and Jack Everly. she also sings with the Fort myers
symphonic mastersingers under the direction of Jeffrey
Faux. she has sung professionally at other area churches
and temple shalom in Naples, Fl.
Tony Pulera
TENOR
tony is an accomplished
cabaret and Big Band singer,
active in concerts and private
functions in southwest Florida.
He has a very diversified vocal
performance background,
which includes engagements
with the glenn miller Orchestra and performances in solo
venues in las Vegas, New York,
Chicago and monterey, California. tony has performed in an extended worldwide usO
show tour as the opening act for steve martin and Jay leno.
He is the tenor soloist/section leader of FPC’s Chancel
Choir.
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 23
stephascope
with Parish Nurse Stephanie Stec, RN
Eye Health
e uV Index developed by the u.s. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather service
(NWs) has made many Americans more aware of the
risks of extended exposure to the sun’s uV rays. It has
been linked to eye damage, including cataracts, macular
degeneration, pingueculae and pterygia and photokeratitis
that can cause temporary vision loss.
New research suggests the sun’s high-energy visible
(HEV) radiation—also called “blue light”—may increase
your long-term risk of macular degeneration. People with
low blood plasma levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants
appear to be at greater risk of retinal damage from HEV
radiation.
several environmental conditions affect the level of
radiation and the risk of eye damage.
• Altitude. uV levels are greater at higher altitudes.
• time of day. uV and HEV levels are greater when the
sun is high in the sky, typically from 10 Am to 2 Pm.
• setting. uV and HEV levels are greater in wide open
spaces, especially when highly reflective surfaces are
present, like snow and sand. In fact, uV exposure can
nearly double when uV rays are reflected from the
snow. uV exposure is less likely in urban settings,
where tall buildings shade the streets.
Who is at risk for eye damage? Everyone. Every person
in every ethnic group is susceptible to eye damage from uV
radiation. Children are more susceptible to retinal damage
from uV rays because the lens inside a child’s eye is clearer
than an adult lens, enabling more uV to penetrate deep into
the eye. erefore, make sure your child’s eyes are protected
from the sun with good quality sunglasses. Also, encourage
your child to wear a hat on sunny days to further reduce
uV exposure. Risk of uV exposure can be quite high even
on hazy or overcast days because uV is invisible radiation
and can penetrate clouds.
Certain medications may increase sensitivity to uV and
HEV radiation. ese include tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth
control pills, diuretics and tranquilizers. If taking these
medications, take extra precautions with protective eyewear.
When selecting sunglasses, choose a pair that blocks
99-100% of both uV-A and uV-B rays. And remember:
Expensive sunglasses do not necessarily provide better
protection; good protection can be bought at a reasonable
price.
24 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Bags Under The Eyes
As you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting
your eyelids weaken. e skin may start to sag and fat that is
normally confined to the area around the eye (orbit) can
migrate forward below your eyes. Also, the space below
your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area
appear puffy or swollen. several factors can lead to this, including: fluid retention due to changes in weather, hormone
levels or eating salty foods; sleeping flat on your back; lack
of sleep; allergies or dermatitis; and heredity.
Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and
rarely a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. Athome remedies, such as cold compresses, can help improve
the appearance of bags under eyes. For persistent or bothersome under-eye puffiness, cosmetic treatments are available.
You may not like the way they look, but bags under eyes
are usually harmless and don’t require medical care. However, see your doctor if the swelling is severe and persistent,
accompanied by redness, itching or pain, or affects other
parts of your body, such as your legs. Your doctor will want
to rule out other possible causes that can contribute to the
swelling, such as kidney or thyroid problems, infection, or
an allergy.
Good Eye Care Habits
Keep hands away from eyes
Wash hands before washing face
Wash hands before using eye drops
Don’t share wash cloths or towels, cosmetics or eye drops
Wear protective goggles when using tools, paint spray,
cleaning sprays
Five Wishes seminar
It’s the newest tool in making a living Will! On April 11, 35 church
members attended our “5 Wishes” seminar presented by Parish
Nurse stephanie stec and Pastor Paul Fahnestock. All received an
easy-to-do booklet on what you want your loved ones to know in
case of serious illness/end-of-life. A thorough discussion aer each
wish as well as questions and answers provided participants with
the knowledge and satisfaction of being prepared.
Five Wishes booklets are available from Parish Nurse stephanie
stec. If interested, call or email her at the church (239-992-3233 or
[email protected]).
In Our oughts & Prayers
A special note of thanks:
Congratulations:
A baby girl, lydia Kate, was born on may 2 to Dan and sarah Oedy.
shirley Ramberg is the wife of Dick Ramberg, clarinetist for
the Barbary Coast Dixieland show Band, who died on
march 7 in minnesota. e band has played at First Church
each season for many years. While Dick was in hospice care,
Pastor Pratt suggested the congregation shower the Rambergs with “a blizzard of cards.” Here is a note from shirley
to Pastor Doug:
Our heartfelt Christian sympathy extends to:
Dick & sandy Ritchie on the death of sandy’s mother, shirley
Kocka, on April 11 in Phoenix; to Dick Plum on the death of his
wife, Jane Plum, on April 14; to the family and friends of marie
Currey who died on April 14; to the family and friends of Dorothy
Newell who died on April 15 in Ohio; to louise miller whose
youngest daughter recently died; to Ann Knutson on the death
of her husband, Ken Knutson, on April 25 in Chicago; to Bill Roper
on the death of his wife, marilyn Roper, on April 27 in New Jersey;
to tina mcNeice on the death of her mother, mimi Florer, on may
3; to Diana Foreman on the death of her mother, Pearl Foreman, on
may 6; to the family and friends of lynn matter who died on may
16; to Joan Dilley on the death of her husband, David Dilley, on
may 17; to Noel and Jane Duran on the death of Noel’s mother, Ida
g. Duran, on may 23 in michigan; to Edie Pegrum on the death of
her husband, Bruce Pegrum, on may 24; and to Chip and Deanna
Krespach on the death of Chip’s mother in New Jersey.
Please pray for our loved ones in the military:
Nick Abey, steve Adams, omas Adney, Alexis Alvarado, Ryan
Bach, Adam Bentley, matt Byington, Amy Nesbitt Copeland, Justin
Cramer, John Cuddy, Dave Cullen, Hope Digiusto, scott Digiusto,
matthew Edmunds, Brian Eifler, David gilliland, Paul gritter,
*stephen gumpf, Kent C. Hay, michael Heath, morgan Holden,
michael Holmes, *michael Jaster, Kevin Kath, *Brian Kelley,
michael Kim, *Kenneth Kubinski, Daniel s. lai, Dave landymore,
Carl mcFarland, lee moffett, *Jeff myers, *lance myers, Philip
Novak, K.A. Perry, John D. Petro, *Anthony Posey, mark Potter,
*Kyle A. Ray, Dylan Rehberg, Christopher Rhodes, *Nicholas E.
Richardson, Patrick Ryan, sarah Ryan, Daniel scott, Kimberly Ann
scott, *sean B. scott, Dylan michael sipos, Kyle sisco, Nathan sitterley, *logan A. spachtholz, Dana stafford, *ayne stahlacker,
*travis sylvester, *trevor s. rasher, Jeffrey tolbert, tyler Van
Kampen, Kurt Vollmer, Alasdair Waterhouse, Andrew Waterhouse,
sally White, *Joshua A. Wilson, Jonathan Wise, Deisy Wolfe,
matthew C. Wolfe, John N. Yacos, Kyle York
“What a wonderful congregation of caring people
you have. e first delivery was 101 cards, 60 of
which we opened and read the first day, the other
40 the next day... but then we got 40+ more and
the following day at least 50-60 more! Our mailman wondered what was going on. e notes
were meaningful and upliing; some brought
tears to our eyes. I hope that you can express
my/our gratitude to all the wonderful friends
Dick especially, and me in later years, made at
First Presbyterian, and thank them for caring
about us and sending messages. I hope to be back
in Florida next winter, maybe when the band is
there, and come by and see all of you.”
*Indicates military personnel currently deployed.
If you have a prayer request, you may call the church office
(239-992-3233), our Pastoral Care line (239-992-6887), sherri
Feeley (239-992-2726), or write it on a Prayer Request card found at
the Welcome Center and place it in the prayer box provided.
Shirley and Dick Ramberg
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 25
Review on the Run
by R.J. Flower-Opdycke
Unfinished
The Four Callings from Jesus that
Empower and Complete Your
Purpose on Earth
by Steven K. Scott
Your life’s Work Can Help support
FPC in the Years to Come!
ink about the meaningful benefits you have derived from
your journey in faith─from your earliest experiences in
sunday school through to relationships in various congregations over the years. Our church families (though they
may change because of life’s circumstances) so oen support
us during hard times and bring joy when things are good.
Focus then on the blessings felt during worship and fellowship here at First Presbyterian Church of Bonita springs.
Now consider how your life’s work can help support
FPC so that it can touch the lives of the next generation
and beyond!
start by considering your assets. Cash, property, retirement accounts, stocks, savings bonds, life insurance and
tangible personal property can all be directed to FPC. Your
attorney or trusted financial/tax advisors can help you
examine your current income needs, your beneficiaries’
needs, tax liabilities and related factors. ey can then
determine the best assets to use in funding your planned
legacy gis.
Bequests: In this straightforward method of giving, you
name FPC in your will. A specific amount may be designated or, if you are concerned about market fluctuations
and your family’s needs, you can designate a percentage of
your estate as a gi. is can be a portion of your gross estate or the net balance aer taxes and all other distributions.
As you determine your legacy contributions, learn about
the many planned giving options available as described in
“twelve Ways to support First Presbyterian Church.”
is new brochure can provide important options to
benefit you and your family, as well as the church. Pick up a
copy, available at the church office, or call (239-992-3233)
for additional information.
Are there times when you ask yourself: Am I on mission with what
Jesus has truly called me to as a
Christian, or am I trying to do things
in His name for my benefit? is little book is jam-packed
with content that will really make you search your motives
and discern whether or not you are truly realizing your
personal calling as Jesus defined it.
Unfinished is adapted from e Jesus Mission by the
same author. According to that book, Jesus was assigned 27
impossible missions by the Father (John 5:36; 6:38) and
accomplished every last one... and Jesus has a mission for
each one of us. In fact, He has four of them.
Unfinished enumerates the four life-long missions Christ
has been giving His followers for the past two millennia, as
well as the tools to accomplish them: Jesus’ promises that
provide the foundation for a supernatural, miracle-working
faith. It lists each of the four callings and the gis needed to
empower their fulfillment, as well as specific “assignments”
and actions to accomplish them, all based on scripture.
is small but powerful book can bring needed focus to
your life. It’s easy to read and understand, and may clarify
how it is truly possible to experience the life that Jesus desires for us. I’m sure I will find myself reading it over and
over again. It gives me hope that if I can set aside everything
that is secondary in importance and devote myself to these
four callings, I could make an impact on both this world
and the world to come.
About the Author steven K. scott is the bestselling author
of e Greatest Words Ever Spoken, e Richest Man Who
Ever Lived and Mentored by a Millionaire. Aer failing in
nine jobs, he started reading a chapter of Proverbs every
day—and the wisdom of scripture changed his life. scott
and his business partners have built more than a dozen
multimillion-dollar companies from scratch, including
max International and total gym Fitness. He is a popular
international speaker on the subjects of personal and
professional achievement and the application of biblical
wisdom to every area of life.
Unfinished is available in the FPC BookCenter.
26 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013
Church Directory
2013 SESSION
Moderator
Rev. Dr. Douglas G. Pratt
Clerk of Session
Jan Tunstall
PASTORS
Rev. Dr. Douglas G. Pratt Senior Pastor/Head of Staff
Rev. Dr. Paul Fahnestock Associate Pastor
Rev. Steven Grant Associate Pastor
Rev. Dan Oedy Associate Pastor
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PASTORAL SUPPORT
Donabeth Urick Executive Assistant, Pastor Pratt
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Nancy Oedy Administrative Assistant, Pastors Fahnestock & Grant x244
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
PROGRAMMING
Cheryl Bauer Director of First Academy of Music/
Administrative Assistant-Sacred Arts
Jeff Faux Director of Sacred Arts
Nancy Heche Director of Women’s Ministry
Peter Lewis Associate Director of Sacred Arts
Maria Sargent Preschool Administrator
Stephanie Stec Parish Nurse
Amanda Zaengle Director of Children & Family Ministries
ADMINISTRATION
Elsie Nesbitt Administrator
Laura Bourdeau Office Manager
Rosie Byard Receptionist
Rita J. Flower-Opdycke Publications Coordinator
Rebecca Harley Membership Coordinator
Tommy Hillegass Media Specialist
Mimi Holly Thrift Shop Manager
Kathy Moffett Receptionist
Dave Reynolds Accountant
Sandra Ritchie Hospitality Manager
Ed Schick BookCenter Manager
FACILITIES
Tom Bunt Facilities Manager
Tom Boomhower PM Custodian
Sonia Feliciano PM Custodian
Hector Lopez AM Custodian
Glenn Moffett Security
Doug Smuder Facilities Specialist
Office: (239) 992-3233
Fax: (239) 992-7547
Pastoral Care: (239) 992-6887
First Academy of Music: (239) 992-3410
First Thrift Shop: (239) 992-0285
Wonder Years Preschool: (239) 948-6677
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[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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[email protected]
ELDERS
Dee Carter
Connie Duquin
Joan Faux
Maria Karl
Betty Kelly
Mike Kriz
Diane Lepola
John Lewis
Marilyn Lightner
Dave Nichols
Monty Robson
Tom Schreck
Dave Stauffer
Jan Tunstall
Chuck Vogt
Jerry Weisenauer
Bruce Wheatley
Chuck Wolfe
Elder Emeritus
[email protected]
Frank Provenzano
2013 DEACONS
Moderator
Alice Moser
Jim Brandreth
Ron Brown
Sandy Byington
Pat Frye
Ellis Gery
John Hashek
Lynn Heinold
Marty Howard
Kenny King
Sharon Morrison
Alice Moser
Janet Mustian
Nelson Robbins
Peggy Stottmann
Jim Thomas
Dorn Van Cleave
Bill Watkinson
Joyie Wright
fpcbonita.org
JulY-August 2013
| Epistle to the Bonitians 27
Non-Profit Organization
U S Postage
PAID
Bonita Springs FL
Permit #14
PO Box 2168
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Wonder Years Family Picnic
Wonder Years students and their families celebrated the end of the
school year with the first annual Wonder Years Family Picnic. e
event kicked off with a “Balloon Release” ceremony for our Pre-K
students who are moving on to Kindergarten this fall. Children and
their parents enjoyed a meal together followed by snow cones, face
painting, relay races, and lots of jumping in the bounce house! Over
300 parents, children, grandparents and extended family members
joined together with our teachers and staff to honor the growth of our
students and the completion of a fantastic school year.
28 Epistle to the Bonitians |
JulY-August 2013