Bonita-area church news in brief

Estero church holds fall fest

A fall festival featuring barbecue, games, a puppet show, a bake sale and a huge yard sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Christ Community Ministries Church, 8681 County Road, Estero. The Estero firefighters will also be demonstrating fire equipment. For more information, call Rev. Bill Russell at 498-4352.

Tickets ready for New Dawn Singers

First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs presents the first concert of this season's Concert Series at two shows beginning at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the sanctuary. These six young singer/dancers from the Orlando area perform a fast-paced concert ranging from vaudeville and swing, to television and movie themes, to patriotic music and a Christmas extravaganza. Free tickets are needed for admission/seating. The box office is open one day only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25. The church is located at 9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. For more information, call 992-3233.

Thanksgiving Eve

community service

planned at St. Leo

The annual Thanksgiving Eve Community Worship Service will be held at St. Leo Catholic Church 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27.

The entire community of faith is welcome. Clergy and lay people from the Bonita Springs Ministerial Association member churches will be participating in the service.

The entire community is invited. St. Leo is located at 28900 Beaumont Road off Bonita Beach Road. For more information, call 992-0901.

St. Mary's Episcopal

celebrates Thanksgiving

St. Mary's Episcopal Church will hold a Thanksgiving Day Service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27. The community is invited to attend. The church is located on Bonita Beach Road between U.S. 41 and I-75. For more information, call 992-4343.

Thanksgiving Day

service hosted by

Christian Scientists

Everyone in the community is invited to share in the Thanksgiving Day service at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, at the Christian Science Church, 11551 East Terry St., Bonita Springs. The hour-long service includes inspirational music, hymns, a Bible lesson, and testimonies of gratitude and healing. Members of the congregation share their gratitude for God's goodness, grace and protection. No collection will be taken.

A recent nationwide survey of more than 1,000 adults brought to light Americans' attitudes toward gratitude. As a nation, we are overwhelmingly grateful and most of us express that gratitude openly. The survey revealed that 97 percent of Americans consider themselves to be somewhat or very grateful on a regular basis.

This survey conducted in September 2003 was commissioned by spirituality.com. (See the entire survey at www.spirituality.com/pressroom. This Web site is an interactive community encouraging the sharing of prayers, spiritual values and practical spirituality. Its spiritual foundation may be found in the question, "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have and thus be fitted to receive more." Mary Baker Eddy wrote those words in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and through her discovery of Christian Science in 1866, shared this system of healing with the world.

First Thrift opens

First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs announces the grand opening of First Thrift, its new thrift shop, Friday, Nov. 28, the biggest shopping day of the year.

The shop, open to the public, is located in the annex building on the south side of the church campus at 9751 Bonita Beach Road, with hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. First Thrift, established as part of the church's Mission and Outreach Ministry, will offer a variety of essential items to those who could not otherwise afford them.

"We have had an overwhelming response of donations from not only church members and friends but also from businesses in our local community," said Martha Mugford, church member and coordinator for the shop. "Because of the generosity of many and the hard work of our volunteer force, First Thrift will open with a considerable stock of good-quality items, from furniture, housewares, and appliances to clothing, draperies, toys, and much more."

First Thrift will be manned by church volunteers who look forward to serving the community through this important outreach.

The shop accepts donations of salable, clean items in good condition. For more information, call First Thrift at 992-0285.

New pastor called

to Estero church

First Baptist of Estero has called Rev. Phil Messinger to be the new minister. Messinger and his wife Ruth are not new to the area as they served at churches in the Fort Myers/Lehigh area.

The public is welcome to the Sunday services that begin at 9:30 a.m. with Bible study followed by morning services and then a 6 p.m. service. There is also a 6 p.m. Wednesday service. The church's Keenagers group is starting up again. This fun-loving over-50 group meets twice monthly for potlucks and interesting excursions.

The church is located at 20300 Trailside Drive, Estero with office hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursday and until 1 p.m. Fridays. For more information, call 992-0881.

Adopt A Family

needs donors

The annual Adopt A Family program joins again with the Bonita Assistance Office to provide not only food and gifts but also to assist with medicine, housing, clothing and utilities for those in crisis. All recipients (families, singles, elderly or ill) are qualified by the Bonita Springs Assistance Office, but because of privacy laws, identities cannot be revealed. Any donation is accepted, and all monies designated are given to the Bonita Springs Assistance Office. Suggested guidelines for the Adopt A Family effort are $125 in grocery gift certificates or $125 in gift certificates from a local department store. Groups are encouraged to take part. For more information, call Brenda Judah at 992-7400 or e-mail to Judahshiloh@comcast.net. Make checks payable to Anchor Christian Church and mail to P.O. Box 508, Bonita Springs, FL 34133.