I want to reflect for a moment on the past few weeks. Last weekend we had a wonderful Annual Meeting. Several of you said it was the best Annual Meeting that you had ever attended! It says a lot about the perseverance of you all through the years and our openness to the Spirit. I am also so happy to report a very high response rate for our surveys, which is part of the strategic planning process. And then a few weeks ago, I had pointed to all of the thank you notes in our eNews and announcements – these are all signs of congregational vitality.

So, I have two things to ask of you. One, praise God from whom all blessings flow. And two, pray how you can continue in your growth. What might you be called to do at this time? What are you called to give of yourself? What are you called to receive?

If you ever have any questions about what’s going on in the church and/or if you would like to talk about another spiritual matter, please never hesitate to reach out to me.

Next weekend, Bishop Doug Scharf will be visiting us for the Saturday evening Eucharist, and our choir will be singing in that service. We will have individuals to be received into the Episcopal Church, and we will have youth confirmands. A brief reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

We’d love for you to join us at the reception! If you’d like to bring something, we’re keeping it simple and light with wine, cheese, fruit, and nuts. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and ask that we stick to just these items only. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Monday, March 10th, at 12:30 we will be meeting at the Maine Shack. It is located at 6434 Naples Blvd next to Panera Bread. If you love New England seafood this is the place to go. We have a good time with good friends and lots of laughs.

The Men's Book Club continues to meet Monday mornings at 9:30 AM in the church conference room. We have made a change to our schedule. At the February 24 meeting we will do a short summary of Canoeing the Mountains and then begin discussion of the first three chapters of our new book, How to Know A Person by David Brooks. Men of St. Monica's please consider joining us as we begin another journey of learning and sharing with each other. Address any questions to Ed Strong.

We are excited to share that Coffee Hour will now be held outdoors to take advantage of the beautiful weather! This will be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship, fresh air, and fun—especially for families, as children will have space to play on the church grounds.

Each week after the service, we will gather for Coffee Hour outside the west door (between the Church and Office building), where a hospitality table will be set up. We invite everyone to join us for this time of community and connection!