April 2023 Sermons

With natural gifts in caregiving, Buffett is well-suited to be a pastoral care dog. He and his handler, Pastor Dawn, went through training and passed tests in order for him to become a Certified Pet Therapy Dog. Therapy Dogs are different than Service or Emotional Support Animals, in that they provide support for other people, rather than their owners. Church members regularly drop by the church office to visit Buffett. In addition to providing care in the church office, Buffett and Pastor Dawn volunteer in the community through Suncoast Humane Society.

Frank and Cathy moved to Naples, FL in 1996. Frank retired from the Newton, MA Police Department after 30 years of service. Cathy worked with special education students in Ohio. They were married in 1999. They have six children, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Frank and Cathy moved from Naples to Englewood and love the small-town atmosphere.

Jeanne Jessup has been a member of Community Presbyterian Church since 1997. Before coming to Englewood, she was an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania for thirty years. At CPC, Jeanne has served as elder, sang in the Church Choir and served, for a time, as interim choir director. Jeanne has been CPC Bell Choir Director since 2002. She has, for over ten years, been ringing bells with the ‘Distinctly Bronze’, a national audition bell choir. Jeanne invites everyone to join in ringing bells. “You do not need to know how to read music,” she says. “If you can count to four, I can teach you how to ring bells.”

Linda grew up in Auburn, Maine. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Organ/Church Music at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida and her Master of Church Music degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. She continued with pre-doctoral work for a year while at Southern Seminary. After spending a summer in the UK, she holds a certificate in choral studies from Cambridge University. For twenty-six years, Linda served as an Associate Minister in three American Baptist churches- in Iowa, New York and Connecticut. She also taught private piano and organ students during those years. Wanting to experience a career in a “corporate America” she took a position with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Groton/New London, CT as an Executive Associate In Clinical Development.  At the same time, she served as Organist/Choir Director in Noank, CT. After nine years at Pfizer, she decided to return to full-time music, teaching Middle School music in a private school in Stonington, CT as well as continuing as Organist/Choir Director (handbells, youth and adult choirs) in Noank, CT. Linda now resides in Venice, FL. Besides being “mostly” retired, she is the Organist/Director of Music at Community Presbyterian Church in Englewood.  In her free time, she is a chauffeur, maid and butler to a very silly, but adorable shepherd-mix dog.

Colleen was born and raised on a farm in southwest Ohio until her parents retired and became snowbirds spending a good portion of their time living in Englewood. They attended CPC and fell in love with it. Colleen was active in the church community outreach activities and choir throughout her junior high and high school years until she returned to Ohio to finish her last year of high school and college. She graduated as valedictorian and received both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education. She continued to visit her parents and CPC every chance she got and sang with the choir again each time. Colleen taught 4th grade in Ohio for years before moving to Englewood full time where she taught 4th and 5th grade for the Charlotte County Public Schools. When her twins Malori and Whitni were born, they were baptized at CPC and Colleen became active as a Deacon and leading the BLAST youth program at church. She loves being a part of our church and looks forward to her new chapter as the Finance Secretary. Colleen is also the proud dog mom of 2 dachshunds Gus and Otis. Her family keeps her busy and brings her so much joy. She is truly blessed.

Lisa joined the CPC staff in 2017 and has twenty years of experience in nursing, has been a Hospice Volunteer, and has care giving experience through the church. Lisa enjoys being an active member in the life of the church and has served as an Elder. Lisa and her husband, John, have been married for thirty-six years and are originally from Indiana. They have lived in Englewood full time since 2014. They have two adult children and a Westie named Millie.