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As I look back on 2025, this year was full of amazing ministry with our community. As I think back about 2025, it has not only been an exciting year for our family, I honestly am amazed by how much our small congregation has done to serve the least of these in our community. We have been deeply living out our commitment to feeding our community physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. And we have done that together, as a community.
First, we wrapped up our experience with long-term recovery work after Hurricane Ian. In 2025 alone, we hosted 230 volunteers who worked to complete work in homes and churches impacted from the hurricanes. We said good-bye for now to our friends from Mennonite Disaster Services and Florida United Methodist Conference, and in September, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) recognized our host site for volunteers to help serve in our community and the many partnerships it took to make it all happen.
Second, the food pantry continued to serve our community through thick and thin. With Harry Chapin Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank, our amazing retail partners, the generosity of our partner churches (Congregational UCC, Bee Ridge Presbyterian, Burnt Store Presbyterian, and St. Paul’s Presbyterian), local businesses like Bocca Lupo, and so many individuals, we are able to serve the growing needs our neighbors are experiencing with food insecurity. With over 60 volunteers who dedicate countless volunteer hours to make sure our neighbors have food, we were able to feed 27,395 individuals in 2025.
Third, our faith community continued open our doors to the various community groups that meet at our church. We continue to be a safe place for those on their recovery journeys and celebrate with each person for the days they maintain sobriety and being clean. We have been blessed by the kindness and generosity of this community and look forward to continue to be a safe place for all. In addition to our recovery groups, other groups use the building: Girl Scouts, Visually Impaired Peer Support Group, Neighborhood Watch Group, and two homeschool groups.
Fourth, through worship, fellowship, food, bible study, and fun, our faith community continues to be a place where all people can join us for worship. We have expanded our ways to embrace being a Matthew 25 church and look forward to exploring more ways in 2026. Our hope is our faith community can be a place where people are loved for who they are and where each person knows they truly are a child of God. We continue to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul and love our neighbors as ourselves…and we will continue to do unto others as you would have them do unto you…And for this, we have been blessed by the new people we have met and pray for the ways God continues to call us to be a blessing to others.
Fifth, through much discernment, we were able to launch a new 501c3 called Nurturing the Neighborhood on Wintergarden NNOW). This non-profit will allow us to continue to come alongside our neighbors through challenging times. To learn more about NNOW, visit the website HERE.
We truly cannot live out our mission without the amazing members, friends, and volunteers connected to Wintergarden. With that, thank you for considering Wintergarden Presbyterian in your year end financial gift. Your end of the year gift helps us wrap up 2025 and head into 2026 strong. Click HERE to make a year end gift and we deeply appreciate it!
It’s a gift and a blessing to be your pastor.
Yours In Christ,
Pastor Devon
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