I hope to see many of you for our ONE, special service for our Christmas Music Sunday, December 8th at 10:00 am in our Sanctuary.
This years’ service in music, entitled the “First Christmas Night” will be offered to the glory of God and in memory of Wendy Simpson.
Our annual Christmas music service reminds us of the angelic songs proclaiming the Messiah’s birth on the first Christmas evening.
The words of an old poem come to mind for our occasion this Sunday:
“Then sped my thoughts to olden times, to that first of Christmases When shepherds who were watching, heard music in the fields And they sat there and they marveled, and they knew they could not tell Whether it were angels, or the bright stars a singing
But to me heard afar, it was starry music The singing of the angels, the comfort of our Lord Words of old that come a traveling, by the riches of the times And I softly listened, as I stood upon the hill And I softly listened, as I stood upon the hill”
From “Music of the Angels on Christmas Eve, 1913″ by Robert Bridges (1844 – 1930)
Blessings, Pastor David
“The First Christmas Night” concert is this Sunday, December 8 at 10:00 am. It features the children’s choir, the handbell choir, the Celebration choir, the praise team, and the pipe organ. Every child will receive a free gift.
*Childcare will be offered for young children in room 100.
Starting Point meets this SUNDAY, December 8th, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm in the chapel. If you want to know more about what it means to be a Christian, a United Methodist, or a member of this congregation, please attend.
In case you missed them in the Triangle Sun paper (on page 9), here is our very own Janet Westlake, and Pastor David Averill:
If you haven’t submitted your Commitment Card for 2025, it’s not too late!
Photos from Sunday’s wonderful luncheon…
A big thank you to: Photographer: Janet Westlake Luncheon coordinator: Rose Noakes and all her helpers.
Hey students! 🌟
You’re invited to join us for Sunday School every Sunday at 11 AM in the Barefoot Youth Room Basement. We also meet on Wednesday evenings at 6 PM.
Come hang out with us for games, snacks, worship music, Bible study, group discussions, and a welcoming community. It’s a place where you can belong and have fun!
We’d love to see you there! 😊
Vision India is giving cold weather blankets to unreached people groups. Your $15 donation purchases a blanket. See Myra Johnson for more information. Mark Vision India Blanket on your check/envelope. One blanket will be given per family in selected villages in India. The blankets are wool, and an entire family covers with one blanket. They normally use vegetable sacks to cover with because it is very cold there in the winter.
Wonderful Wednesdays for kindergarten through fifth grade will meet TOMORROW, December 4th at 6:00 PM!
Current Bible Studies:
Sundays at 9:30 am in the Chapel
Sundays at 9:30 am in the CEC Classroom – *Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience
Sundays at 9:30 am in the Choir Room
Sundays at 11:00 am in Friendship Hall
Tuesdays at 2:00 pm in the chapel– Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
Wednesdays at 9:30 am in the Chapel – Sitting at the feet of Rabbi Jesus
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Chapel – Being United Methodist Christians(and on Zoom)
Thursdays at 6:30 pm in the Chapel – Book of Ezekiel (and on Zoom)
* The Carpenter’s Class is studying Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience. Join them next Sunday at 9:30 am behind the Thrift Shoppe.
The Mount Dora Christmas parade is Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 am. We will gather at 9:00 am to decorate the trailer. People may ride in the trailer or walk to pass out 2500 candy cane invitations to our Christmas events. Christmas attire or Living Love shirts please!
Sign up today to reserve your spot!
Would you like to lead the reading and light the Advent candles at the 7:30 Christmas eve service? Contact the church office to volunteer.
Volunteers are needed:
To assist with communion preparation for the first Sunday of each month.
To staff the welcome center from 9:00-9:30 or 10:30-11:00 once a month.
Dress a Girl in the World meets on Tuesday, December 10 at 10:00 am in room 103 on the Children’s Wing.
Residing Hope is bringing 25 of their residents to Mount Dora to see the Christmas lights on Wednesday, December 11. If you would like to help serve them dinner at 6:30 pm, please contact the church office.
ONE WEEK EARLY – Lake Cares has a mobile distribution site on Friday, December 13 at the King Center, 803 Florida Avenue. Volunteers of all ages are needed from 7:30 to 9:30 am.
Volunteers are needed to place wreaths on the graves of 466 veterans in Pine Forest cemetery on Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 am. The event begins with a brief ceremony featuring the JROTC of Mount Dora High School, the Mount Dora Pipe and Drum band and the laying of the POW/MIA wreath. Please contact the church office to volunteer.
The Widowed support group will meet a week early on Thursday, December 19 at 9:30 am in the chapel.
Our Blue Christmas service is Thursday, December 19 at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. It is a unique worship service designed for those who struggle during the holidays.
Christmas Eve at First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora features two special and unique Christmas services on Tuesday, December 24. The 5:30 service features contemporary music from the praise team, a live nativity acted out by the children, a message from Pastor David Averill, and candle-lighting. The 7:30 services feature a service of Lessons and Carols, traditional music from the Celebration Choir, music from our pipe organ, a message from Pastor David Averill, and candle-lighting.
Forward Paths Foundation provides safe housing in Leesburg and Eustis. They help young people who have aged out of the foster care system and have nowhere to go. In Eustis, they have built a group of tiny homes behind the First Methodist Church where these young men and women can live safely while going to school, working, and learning how to survive on their own. They receive training in budgeting and help with the life skills that they never had a chance to learn. There is a need for people who are willing to be a mentor to form a one-on-one relationship with a young person, to be someone who can spend some time with them, be available to answer questions or give guidance when needed or even just go out to lunch together or include them in a family event. If you would be willing to be that person who shines the light of Christ in a young life, go to the website forwardpaths.org and fill out the form under Contact Us or call the phone number listed for Denise Burry, Executive Director.
FEELING A LITTLE PLUMP AFTER THANKSGIVING? Exercise class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am in Friendship Hall. The class does not charge a fee, and it does not include any floorwork.
HELPFUL GIVING TIPS FROM KATHY; Gift cards place in an envelope with printed name can be recorded as Gift In Kind and a Gift In Kind statement provided at the end of the year.
