KATHLEEN TUTTLE

Two Marco mothers share their spiritual journey with the Church Lady. Our community is rich with ordinary women dealing with extraordinary challenges. Among them are two mothers — Hari Jacobsen and Janet Stapleton; one Jewish, the other Catholic. Both sing ...

On Easter Marco's churches were bursting. Parishioners at San Marco Catholic Church were receiving communion on the entrance steps. Many churches hastily put up additional chairs in their lobbies to accommodate the standing room only crowds. The folks tha

Church Lady talks to Marco Island houses of worship.

“It’s one of the best things the island has ever done,” said Wesley United Methodist Church member Betty Thacher. Her and her husband Tom, a lay leader at their church, attended nine of the 10 sessions at last year’s Marco ...

Capri Christian Church welcomes new pastor.

Adult religion classes begin on Marco Island.

Kathleen Tuttle is the Church Lady; she writes about the houses of worship on Marco Island.

The Hebrew year 5773 and the month of Tishrei will soon be here. A time when Jews all over the world observe the Days of Awe, the 10 days begin with Rosh Hashana and culminates with Yom Kippur.

Kathleen Tuttle is the Marco Eagle Church Lady, who writes about the houses of worship on the island.

CHURCH LADY explores the new sanctuary at Capri Christian Church on Isles of Capri.

Many call her Mother. Some call her Sue. Her name is the Rev. Sue Price, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s assisting priest.

Knit three, purl three, pray is the traditional pattern for making Prayer Shawls. For some, it represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For others, it represents the knitting together of mind, body and spirit. Five area churches have Prayer ...

If you’ve read Faith Briefs lately, you may be wondering what is a Haggadah? Last Friday, April 6, Jews all over the world gathered together to celebrate Erev Pesach, the Eve of Passover. It is an evening rich in symbolism ...

Everywhere you look there are large displays of chocolate bunnies, miniature candied eggs and bright-colored baskets as well as Peeps in numerous colors. Restaurants offer special menus for Sunday brunch and of course there are the always-constant seasonal clothing sales ...

Life is rich here on Marco, musically and most importantly spiritually. On Saturday, the Hyssongs, a traveling gospel group known for their humor, talent and unique sound, will give a concert at Wesley United Methodist Church. On Monday, Martha Gallagher ...

It’s March and there are many opportunities for music and inspiration at Island houses of worship. Marco’s balmy winter weather makes it an attractive place for musical groups to visit.

Love was in the air at Marco Presbyterian Church last Friday — love of God and love of others. Church members and friends, from Canada to the Isles of Capri, shared their musical talents at Marvelous Marco.

Bread plays a central role in all of Marco’s houses of worship. In the Jewish tradition it represents God’s bounty and food that sustains us. However, its meaning in the Christian churches is deeper and more profound. The Church Lady ...

Marco Islander Sandy Boy is a soft dynamo of a woman with the pixyish smile and twinkle in her eye. Her passion is caps. Her goal: nit a cap for every migrant child and cancer patient.

It will be a time of patriotism, prayer and heart, as participants celebrate their first amendment right at the 29th annual Marco Island Prayer Breakfast on Marco Island. Local clergy will offer prayers during the event which will take place, ...

Today’s Christians are more understanding and frequently seek out ways to learn more about their brothers and sisters in Christ. Others seek to learn about the root of Christianity — Judaism. Bible studies that focus on the Old Testament are ...

Season is in full swing. Church pews are packed. Our northern friends are back. What better way to celebrate their arrival than with special music in Marco Island houses of worship?

Are you a cradle Baptist, Catholic or Episcopalian who has never been to another house of worship? Or a born-again Christian who never has stepped out of the church where you were saved? Perhaps the only time you go to ...

he New Year is here; the parties are over. It is a time for new hopes, dreams and most importantly prayers. As many have shared how much last year’s prayers for the New Year meant to you, the Church Lady ...

The Church Lady asked church musicians to share a favorite Advent or Christmas carol, hymn or song. Imagine the Walter Mitty (James Thurber’s fictitious daydreamer); and George Plimpton (journalist and writer who engaged in participatory journalism) moments for someone who ...

A shout out was sent to Marco church musicians, the unsung church pillars, to share a favorite Advent or Christmas carol, hymn or song. For many who grew up in secular homes, Christmas songs are endless choruses of “Jingle Bells.” ...

For the Reverend Jean-Marie “Fritz” Ligonde, the St. Finbarr Parish’s Church administrator, it was his everyday life. Known as Fr. Fritz, the reverend grew up in Ducis and as a child attended the school run by the Sisters of St. ...

It was an evening of scripture, spaghetti and St. Nicolas as families gathered in San Marco Catholic Church’s Parish Hall on Monday — to focus on Jesus. Emcee Kim Adamson, director of religious education, began the festivities by asking the ...

The air was balmy with barely a breeze. A waxing moon peaked out from the clouds. A perfect evening for candle lighting. People gathered from all walks of life at the base of Marco Island Cemetery’s Christmas Box Angel. They ...

What is more fitting than to begin Thanksgiving Day at an interfaith service at the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island? Our pilgrim forefathers knew the Bible and their celebration of Thanksgiving had its roots in the Old Testament festival of ...

They sang with gusto, with joy, and some sang with a hint of tears in their eyes. Welcome to the Potluck Dinner and Hymn Sing at Wesley United Methodist Church, held last Friday. “For Methodists music is essential,” said the ...

You may have noticed something different about some of the women around town. A special glow on their faces. A new strength in their stride. No, they didn’t just receive the latest treatment at one of Marco’s many spas. They ...

Last Saturday, the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island (JCMI) ushered in the Days of Awe with a Selichot service. Selichot, which means forgiveness, is a time to attune to and prepare for the High Holy Days. The Days of Awe ...

What does Peru, piranhas, a playground, puppets, prayer, Presbyterians and mud have in common? A short-term mission trip to Peru. Twelve volunteers from Marco Presbyterian Church stepped out of their comfort zone to partner with Kids Around the World (KIDS) ...

It’s a busy area, with 33,000 cars passing by each day, and approximately 77,000 people living within five miles, yet the area is under-served by God; there are only five churches and two are non-English speaking congregations. The site is ...

Eid is a small word with a big meaning. You have seen the Eid stamp, with its Arabic calligraphy on a dark background. The word, Eid, stands out as does the word greetings. What does it mean? What does it ...

The call from teacher Peggy Totten was “peanut, peanut butter,” and the response from the children was “Jelly!” But it was all about Proverbs 18.15-16: “An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A gift ...

The shoes come off as they enter the sacred space. Greetings are exchanged and they begin with prayer. The focus is fully on Jesus, with the story of the day on Noah. Welcome to Splash!, Marco Lutheran Church’s (MLC) program ...

There were smiles, hugs and kisses all around. They referred to each other as sister. There were sighs of dismay as the news was shared that their Jewish sisters could not attend due to health reasons. It was the monthly ...

“It’s about diving into the mystery of your relationship with Him.” Casey Nowlin, Family Church-Marco Island Campus’ student pastor

“Being out of your comfort zone is cool,” said teen Hannah Lyle in her video from Camp Baranbas. Camp Barnabas is a place where children who have mental or physical challenges or chronic illnesses and their siblings are shown the ...

Vacation Bible school – “Inside Out and Upside Down on Main Street: Where Jesus Makes a Difference Every Day” – at San Marco Catholic Church’s was a time of service, fun, fitness, prayer and Scripture with an emphasis on gratitude, ...

Islanders had an opportunity to keep their kitchen cool and clean for a cause on Sunday at Wesley United Methodist Church’s spaghetti dinner and silent auction. The church’s youth group and their parents cooked and served spaghetti, salad, breadsticks, beverages, ...

On July 21 the Church Lady went on a road trip with some folks from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Our destination was Camp Able, a camp designed for persons with special needs. The camp is the creation of St. Mark’s ...

The floor shook and the walls reverberated with joy at the 5-Day Club vacation Bible school (VBS). No, the children were not reenacting the walls of Jericho tumbling down. They were singing an upbeat version of “Jesus Loves Me” complete ...

“Know before whom you are standing,” are the words that inspirit the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island’s (JCMI) Cantorial Soloist Hari Jacobsen. “The words get me where I need to be during the service,” said Jacobsen. “When I am standing ...

As a youngster growing up in Kingston, New York and as an industrial engineering student at Iowa State University, the Rev. Kirk Dreiser, Wesley United Methodist Church’s new pastor, did not aspire to be a pastor. He was not even ...

The First Baptist Family Church’s worship center was the star of “Kickin’ It Old School” vacation Bible school (VBS), June 27 to July 1. “Kickin’ It Old School” was a high energy, high decibel romp through the Bible. Flashing colored ...

It was a match made in heaven. He was an organist that longed to move back to Southwest Florida and the United Church of Marco Island was in need of a part-time organist. Meet William “Bill” Lee Elliott: Organist, father, ...

What do a bamboo forest, drums, sardines and the Bible have in common? Everything. Marco Presbyterian Church was the site for controlled pandemonium, with a whole lot of love, at their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). This years event was ...