Religion Notes
Cape Coral
Abiding Love Lutheran Church
Abiding Love Lutheran Church presents Blood, Sweat and Gears Cruise-in Car and Bike Show Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
There will be concessions and raffles for door prizes. All proceeds will benefit the Youth Center.
The Blood mobile will be on-site.
Cape Christian Fellowship
Cape Christian Fellowship has issued a public invitation to a two-part special celebration. Pastor Wes Furlong will take his ordination vows and be recognized in his new roll as lead pastor.
Pastor Dennis Gingerich will be celebrating 30 years of pastoral ministry and recognized in his new leadership role as founding pastor of Cape Christian Fellowship.
Both Furlong and Gingerich will continue to share the week to week speaking schedule and serve on the leadership team and church board.
There are three contemporary worship gatherings available: Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m.
There are classes for children and youth and a safe nursery provided during the worship gatherings.
The EDGE High School meetings are held Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.
Cape Christian Fellowship is located at 2110 Chiquita Blvd., Cape Coral. For additional information, call 772-5683, or check online at www.capechristian.com
Christ Lutheran Church
The Sounds of Florida Chorus invites the community to spend a Saturday evening April 4, at 7 p.m., for a special show. There will be music, chorus, soloist and a special appearance by winners of the Stars of Tomorrow competitions. Ticket price is $10. For more information call 549-3746.
The Blessing of the Quilts wll be held Monday, April 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Quilt recipients: Cape Coral Police Department (including ACT); Hospice of Cape Coral; Juniper Vlllage (Assisted Living); Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Cape Coral; Special Angels-pre-school children at Christ Lutheran Church; Pondella Serenity Court; Lee Memorial of Cape Coral Progressive Care/Vascular Access; Cape Coral Fire Department (quilts will be given to them at a later date).
Quilts will be on display from 10:30-11 a.m. in the church sanctuary.
Blessing of the quilts, 11-11:15 a.m., recipients acceptance 11:15 a.m.-noon. Tea served in the cafeteria from noon-1:30 p.m.
For more information contact Patty Bartkowski at 573-6337; CAPEBARTS@embarqmail.com
Christ Lutheran Church is located at 2911 Del Prado Blvd.
Christ the Servant Community Church
Christ the Servant Community Church will hold an Easter Sunrise Service at the Yacht Club Beach April 12, at 7 a.m. The program will feature a short message from Pastor Hilemnan and special music by The Brass Quintet.
Following the service is a free continental breakfast in the pavilion at the Yacht Club.
Those attending are urged to bring blankets or chairs.
For additional information, call 239-574-4184.
DayBreak Fellowship
Adult Bible Study is currently exploring the book of Romans, discussing the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans and how it applies to our lives today. Study runs through April 29. The group meets every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral.
Children’s program is available during the adult Bible study for ages 3 through 5th grade.
For further information, call DayBreak Fellowship at 573-9009 or visit the church Web site at www.daybreakchurch.net.
First Church of God (Anderson, Ind.)
The First Church of God of Cape Coral is a growing, multi-cultural place to worship.
The winter series of gospel music began in January. On the first Sunday of each month a musical group will minister during morning worship service.
Last Generation Ministries will finish up the series with word and song on April 5.
A free-will offering will be taken at each service. Following the service there will be a time of fellowship. Visitors welcome! Call 574-5271 for more information.
Wednesday evening 6 p.m., choir practice, Kids Hour, Preteen and Teenage for youth and prayer and Bible study for adults at 7 p.m.
The Women of the Church of God (WCG) meets at 7 p.m., on the second Tuesday of the month.
Young at Heart is a group for folks 50 and older who meet at noon on the third Thursday of each month.
First Church of God is located at 2213 Country Club Blvd, three blocks north of Veteran’s Parkway.
For further information call 574-5271 or visit www.1stchurchofgod.net; E-mail: pastorjilldugal@1stchurchofgod.net.
First Christian Church
Pastor Reza F. Safa will be the guest speaker for all three church services (8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m.) at First Christian Church, 2620 Country Club Blvd., Cape Coral.
Pastor Safa was born and raised a devout Shiite Muslim in Iran. His father was a poet and Muslim scholar. While in Sweden, Reza heard the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time in Swedish missionaries. After months of struggle and fear of Islam, he committed his life to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his Lord and Savior.
Reza founded The Harvesters World Outreach, a worldwide evangelical and healing ministry. For the past 20 years, he has held crusades and pastors’ conferences in nearly 50 countries, reaching thousands of people in India, Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union for Jesus. People of all religions, especially those for Muslim and Hindu backgrounds, have turned to Christ in his outreaches around the world.
Reza is also the founder and president of TBN Nejat TV, the first full-time Christian satellite network in the Persian language, and the pastors’ Fisherman’s House Church in Tulsa, Okla. In this area he can be seen on Direct TV channel 376 and on WRXY, Monday through Friday, 3 p.m.
First Congregational Church
First Congregational Church presents the 3rd Matinee Musicale “Caribbean Cruise” Sunday, March 29, 2 p.m., at 312 Santa Barbara Blvd. Tickets are limited to 100 and must be purchased in advance from P&C Chapter IQ members or by calling 542-7009. A donation of $15 includes gourmet refreshments following the concert.
First Congregational Church will host a Gospel Concert Sunday, April 5, at 3 p.m. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.
For additional information, call 239-574-6184 for additional information.
Messiah Lutheran Church
The Messiah Chancel Choir, under the direction of John Renfroe, will once again join the Camerata String Orchestra from Cypress Lake High School to present portions of Parts II and III of “The Messiah” by G. F. Handel on Sunday, April 5, at 3 p.m. The Messiah Quartet and Handbell Choir will also participate in this special Palm Sunday performance at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2691 N. E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, (1 mile west of U.S. 41). Freewill offering.
Messiah Lutheran has scheduled the following services for Holy Week:
n Maundy Thursday, April 9, services at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
n Good Friday, April 10, services at noon and 6:30 p.m.
n Easter Vigil, April 11, service at 8 p.m.
n Easter, April 12, services at 7, 9 and 11 a.m.
For further information, phone 995-0133
Providence Christian School’s Spring Auction Fund-raiser
Providence Christian School will host its Spring Auction Fund-raiser Friday, April 24, from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral. The event is the school’s largest fund-raiser of the year and includes a silent auction, dinner and live auction.
This year’s auction theme is “Boots & Blue Jeans BBQ Bash.” The dinner is catered by Rib City and tickets are $18 per person.
One unique feature of Providence’s auction is the many themed gift baskets that are auctioned off (more than 70 this year). The auction also features resort stays, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, etc., as well as creative artwork by Providence students.
Providence Christian School offers Christian education to students from Pre- K3 through eighth grade. The school is located at 701 Mohawk Parkway in Cape Coral. Openings are available for summer and fall enrollment.
Contact the school office 549-8024 providence@pcslions.org
Trinity Lutheran Church & School
Easter Egg Hunt at Trinity Lutheran for children ages 3 to 10, are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt at Trinity Lutheran Church and School Saturday, March 28. This free fun-filled event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include games, many surprises and hot dogs with a bake sale as an added bonus.
Trinity Lutheran School offers VPK3 and VPK4. Full and Part Day Program are offered.
Trinity Lutheran Church & School is located at 706 SW 6th Ave. For more information, call the Church, 772-0172 or School, 772-1549.
Turning Point Church
The Turning Point Church, presently meeting in the Cape Coral Youth Center at 315 SW 2nd Ave., at 10 a.m. on Sundays, will have Tiffany West as their guest speaker on Sunday, March 29, at 10:30 a.m.
A special Easter service is planned for Sunday, April 12, with special singing and a message delivered by Senior Pastor Dennis West.
Following the service, the children will have a Giant Egg Hunt at approximately 11:15 a.m. For more information or directions to the church, call 281-5350.
The congregation is growing and is excited about the different ministries that are active in the church. Senior Pastors Dennis and Belinda West, along with Associate Pastors Hoyt and Karen Watson and Greg and Vicki Greene continues to celebrate all the blessings of God.
What started just a few months ago with four families now has exploded to 60-70 in attendance each week. It could be the outstanding girls clubs, the co-ed softball team, Bible studies praise/worship services, etc.
For more information or directions, please call 281-5350.
North Fort Myers
All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church
All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church, 10291 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers, will hold an Ethnic Bake Sale Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Easter bread, both raisin and egg, will be available until they are gone. In addition to breads, pirohi, nut and poppy seed rolls, nut and apricot horns, Slovak kifi and stuffed cabbage will also be available.
For additional information, call 239-543-6363.
Fort Myers
‘Journey to the Cross’ at First Baptist Church
Joseph Caulkins will conduct the Sanctuary Choir of First Baptist Church and members of the Southwest Florida Symphony in a presentation called “Journey to the Cross, Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice of Love” on Good Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m. The concert will take place at First Baptist Church, 1735 Jackson St., in downtown Fort Myers, and is open to the public.
The musical cantata will feature the Rev. Dr. William Smith, former pastor at First Baptist as narrator, and will be accompanied by a professional orchestra. The cantata “Journey to the Cross” features music by contemporary composers Mark Hayes, Pepper Choplin, Lloyd Larsen and Ruth Elaine Schram.
Following the cantata, First Baptist Pastor John Daugherty will lead a short service of Tenebrae, which is Latin for shadows.
Caulkins, associate conductor of the Southwest Florida Symphony, came to Fist Baptist Church in January of this year as the Minister of Music & Worship.
First Baptist Church of Fort Myers is one of the area’s oldest churches and was founded in 1892. Services are offered at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays with Bible Study at 9 a.m., and at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
For more information, call 334-7747.
Word of Life
Pastor Michele Anastasi and Women Caring for Women of Word of Life Church present “Sounds of Heaven” featuring prophetic violinist Janet Shell, Saturday, March 28. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m.
Word of Life is located at 2120 Collier Ave., Fort Myers .For more information contact Paula Harris, 239-274-8881.
Job Search
Support Group at
Cypress Lake United Methodist Church
Energize your job search through free personalized assistance, networking and dynamic presenters. Come to the bi-weekly Job Search Support Group at Cypress Lake UMC and know you are not alone by connecting with others in a faith-based setting.
Recent topics range from preventing foreclosures, how to get health coverage after a job separation and job scams on the Internet. Bring your resume for review. Leader provides great e-mails with current job openings and other related subjects.
The Job Search Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of the month, evenings from 6:30-8:30, in Room S8 (east side of Main Sanctuary) at Cypress Lake United Methodist Church, 8570 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
For additional information, call 482-1250, extension 235.
Bonita Springs
Mastersingers
The Mastersingers in collaboration with the University Choir of FGCU’s Bower School of Music will present Brahms’ timeless masterpiece, Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs and Sunday, March 29, at 4 p.m., at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda.
Tickets are $20 and may be obtained by calling 277-7813. Group and student discounts are available.
The work will be sung in English.