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August 2009 Pastoral Letter

 
Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian in Bonita Springs,

The summer is racing along here in southwest Florida. I hope and pray that this update finds you well. Here are a few things that are happening in your southern home.

The weather has been pretty typical: high of about 90 each day with scattered afternoon showers. We are behind on projected rainfall for the summer, though the peak of the storm season is yet to come. We are hoping for a good tropical soaking or two (with little wind) to fill our lakes and water table to the brim prior to the dry season that comes by late October. Those of us who spend most of the summers here always enjoy the slower pace, the opportunities for reciprocal golfing, diminished traffic, no lines in restaurants, less waiting for medical appointments, etc. These months allow those who work at the church to “recharge our batteries” and do our planning for the coming fall and winter seasons.

Along with just about everywhere else in America, we are continuing to see the effects of a global economic downturn. While houses are selling at a much-increased rate in southwest Florida, many of those sales are foreclosures or “distressed real estate,” and at prices we never thought we’d see again. Many of us in the Bonita Springs/North Naples/Estero area are especially concerned to see a positive resolution to the crisis that has struck the Bonita Bay Group and many of its developments. It is sad to see this company that had such an impact on developing our communities run into terrible financial problems. We are all hoping that an acceptable settlement can be found. Many people are angry about the cancellation of the club deposit policy that the company had offered for years. I assume that we will see some kind of resolution within six months or less — probably a turnover of golf clubs to the members and possibly a bankruptcy reorganization of the company.

At First Church we are continuing our renovations on McClure Hall, the large assembly room that is used so heavily throughout the winter season. The only possible time for this work is the summer, and the room has been closed to all activities since May. It is my hope that we will still be on schedule to gain occupancy sometime in October (or by Thanksgiving at the latest).

We expect this fall to be conducting a search for a half-time Director of Women’s Ministries. Along that line, we are trying to identify possible office space for a new professional position. It has become apparent, as our church continues to grow in membership, that we will need to do some additional renovations or expansion in the years to come after we have finished with the McClure Hall project. We are most critically in need of office space and adult classroom/meeting space.

On July 26 a long-time member and elder of our church passed away: Mr. Ken Blyth. Ken served for many years as the director of our Concert Series, sang with his wife Sarah in our Chancel Choir, and served on the Session and its Worship Committee. Many of you have heard Ken’s moving personal story of serving in World War II as an Allied bomber pilot, being shot down and interned in a POW camp in Germany, then returning to Germany years later and finding the Luftwaffe pilot who shot him down. His has been an amazing lifetime — and how we grieve to see all those members of “The Greatest Generation” pass from the stage.

As always, I invite you to make these summer updates a two-way conversation. Please contact me anytime, by reply email or by phone, if you have any personal news or prayer requests.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Doug Pratt