Welcome to First United Church of Naples!
We come together each week in worship to celebrate and honor God, who loved us first. Through worship, God’s grace shapes us to live our lives sharing joy, hope, wholeness, and peace. We are a warm, welcoming church that believes in serving neighbors near and far. We celebrate baptism and communion as outward signs of God’s grace in our hearts. There are enough seats at Christ’s table for everyone, so please come join us!
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 (ESV)
Our History
We are blessed for being the very first church in Naples, Florida. In 1891, Naples consisted of sandy beaches, a 600-foot long pier that extended into the Gulf of Mexico, and a 16-room hotel, the Naples Hotel. There were no phones or electricity and there were barely any roads established. So in 1891 Reverend Gatewood, was sent by the Methodist Conference to establish churches for families living in South West Florida. He organized the Everglades Circuit. First United Methodist Church of Naples is a direct result of the Everglades Circuit. The term for each minister was short because of the hardships and hazards and numerous mosquitoes, sand flies, snakes, and wild animals. As the only church in Naples during those early years, attendees included worshipers of other denominations who eventually left to form their own churches when they attained a large enough nucleus of attenders. First Naples also helped spawn several other Methodist congregations in the Naples area. The congregation reached out in mission in the early Naples community back then and continues to do so today. Members and attendees find a loving and welcoming place here, in which to grow their faith.
Our Mission & Vision
"To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World."
Making Disciples means that we will:
* Help people to know Jesus for the first time, so that they will realize their sins have been forgiven, repent and accept the wonderful gift of salvation
* Help people grow in their faith and be transformed by the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus every day, loving God with all their heart.
* Help to alleviate suffering in the world as Jesus has asked us to do in Matthew 25, by loving our neighbor.
EVERYTHING we do at FUMC and every penny we spend should support Jesus' mission in the world.
Our Vision
We are a welcoming church presenting Jesus in positive and loving ways, helping all people grow spiritually as disciples, and making the world a better place by relieving suffering.
Our Beliefs
The United Methodist Church is an 12.8-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens minds and opens doors through active engagement with our world. We invite you to learn more about our rich theological heritage. We share a common heritage and basic affirmations with all Christian communities. For more information, please click Our Christian Roots
Learn how Wesley and early Methodists invited people to experience God's grace and grow in Christian living by putting faith and love into action. For more information, please click Wesleyan Heritage
United Methodists, like many other Protestants, recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: baptism and the Lord's Supper. For more information, please click Sacraments
The foundation of Christian living is faith in Christ. Faith does not happen overnight, but rather is a journey. But little by little, most of us deepen our relationship with God.
Sunday Worship Services
Traditional Worship: Our 10:15 am worship, held in our sanctuary, blends traditional liturgies, creative worship arts including soloists, instrumental ensembles, organ, piano, and the Word of God in scripture and sermon.
Communion Sunday - 1st Sunday of the Month: You are invited to join us. We have an open table; all are welcome!
"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." - Luke 22:19
Anointing & Healing Sunday - 4th Sunday of the Month: The ministry of healing, as taught to us in James 5:13-16, provides healing from brokenness. This brokenness may come from sin, grief, or loneliness; it may come from physical, mental or emotional pain or illness. On Anointing Sundays, you are invited to come to the altar for the healing touch of a blessing and prayer for you or a loved one.
Meet Our Staff
Senior Pastor
Rev. Sara McKinley
Rev. Sara McKinley serves as the Senior Pastor of First UMC Naples. Previously she served as the Director of Clergy Excellence of the Florida Conference in Lakeland for 8 yrs where she oversaw the recruitment, credentialing, formation, continuing education and support of approximately 600 clergy of the Florida Conference. Prior to this, Sara served as the Senior Pastor of First UMC Gainesville (4 yrs), and First UMC Coral Springs (5 yrs) and as Associate Pastor for 9 years at Plantation UMC.
Sara was born in England, raised in Africa, worked in the Far East, traveled extensively throughout the world, and chose to live in the United States. Before her call to ordained ministry she worked in the juvenile court system in Worcester, MA, for 3 years; international corporate business in the U.S and the Far East for 9 years; and co-owned a graphic design business in Florida for 12 years. She earned her Bachelors degree in social psychology from the University of Bristol, England; her Masters of Business Administration in organizational development and human resource management from Clark University, Worcester, MA; and her Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where she graduated valedictorian. She is the proud mother of her son, Andrew, who is married to Genevieve (Price) and grandmother to four adorable grandchildren James, Owen, Luke and Olivia. She has a 13 lb. Yorkie named Pierre — a French name for an English dog, that reflects some of her cultural confusion!
Associate Pastor
Rev. Scott Ehler
Scott Ehler is Associate Pastor, Discipleship and Congregational Care at First United Methodist Church in Naples. He was born in Bayshore NY and moved to Pennsylvania in the first grade. After graduating high school he went to Bloomsburg University where he discovered that he was better suited for the military. He entered the Air Force in 1989 and served until 2000. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Masters of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary. He spent 6 years as a youth minister in Texas and before commissioning into the Army as a Chaplain. He has deployed six times in his career to war zones in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Bosnia, and Iraq. He retired from the military in 2020 after 25 years of service. He is married to Amy and has a daughter and son-in-law with three grandbabies in San Antonio and a son and daughter-in-law in Fort Worth. He resides in Ave Maria, FL.
Music Director
Dr. Karen Click
Dr. Karen Click holds degrees in piano performance from Radford University and the University of Miami, and a graduate certificate in choral conducting from Messiah University. She has served on the faculties of Texas Christian University, Messiah University, and Lebanon Valley College. Also an accomplished vocalist, she has performed with numerous choral groups in the Washington D.C., Miami, Lancaster and Harrisburg, PA areas, and was most recently a featured soprano soloist with Choral Artistry in Fort Myers, FL. Aside from music, she studies Italian, and enjoys photography, cooking, wine tasting and travel. Dr. Click and her husband Mark Japak live in Estero with their beloved westie, Sophie.
MDS Preschool Director
Alicia Silvin
Alicia Silvin is Director of Methodist Day School. This is her eighth year at MDS,
and she is excited to begin a new school year with you! Alicia has been working with children
and families for 20 years and it has been a blessing. She graduated from Allegheny
College in Meadville, Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics. Alicia started her career working for
UBS Financial Services, as she loves the stock market. While working at UBS, she got
married and had a son, Alexander. It was after having Alexander that she began her
journey working with children. Now, 20 years later she has had the pleasure of getting to
know so many wonderful families and feels very fortunate to be at Methodist Day School!
Administrator to the Pastors and Bookkeeper
Jaimie Dandridge