YOUR CHURCH’S NEWSLETTER * Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Dear First United Methodist Church,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your generosity to the staff love offering in December 2024. You gave over $7,500 that was equitably distributed to our lay staff in the church. I also had time to celebrate Christmas with the church staff on Epiphany. Meria, our Office Administrator, shared some of those photos last week.
This past Sunday, it was a blessing to remember our baptisms together. When I say “remember”, I don’t mean that all of us have a memory of our actual baptism. What I mean is that we call to mind the meaning of baptism as a community of faith. I also challenged all of us to memorize the Apostles’ Creed during the season after Epiphany with our confirmands. Currently, we have four confirmands who will explore a deeper commitment in their faith over the next 6 weeks with Josh Collins (Youth Director), their parents, and me as their guides. It is one of my favorite things I get to do as a pastor.
It was also a blessing to welcome the Rev. Ed New from the Florida United Methodist Foundation, a non-profit that helps churches and church members expand their concept of generosity, stewardship, and financial health for the glory of God. Personally, I feel challenged to begin my legacy plans with my wife Alesia now (never too early to start), and consider how the church might be a part of our estate plans. It could be as simple as 1% to 3% in your will as a codicil. For example, I once knew a parishioner who gave a bequest for $40,000 to the church in order to fund Vacation Bible School in that particular church in perpetuity. Rev. New was surprised how forward-thinking our ancestors (in the faith in Mt. Dora) were to have set up an endowment, and use it in wonderful ways such as funding our praise band at 9:30 am or college and seminary scholarships for our young people.
This coming Sunday, we begin a season of growth in worship focused on the Gospel stories of Jesus. I will relate these familiar Gospel stories to secular songs I know in my own playlist. The idea is to help us see that we can relate the Gospel message to secular culture for evangelism and witnessing to our Christian faith. It should be an interesting six weeks of dialogue about witnessing to those who are spiritual, but not religious (33% of Americans now).
Lastly, let’s take a moment to welcome Bob McLeary as our new Director of Worship and Music. We will have a reception in the Sanctuary Conference Room (across from the choir room) in the rear of the Sanctuary building (behind the chancel area) after each service for you to say hello and bless him with a card or a good word.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor David
Altadena United Methodist Church in Altadena, Calif., is reduced to rubble after the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through Southern California. Experts warn that Los Angeles is not yet out of danger as the fires remain uncontained. Photo by the Rev. Garth Gilliam, district superintendent, California-Pacific Annual Conference.
Join us in supporting communities devastated by wildfires
As wildfires continue to devastate communities in Southern California, thousands of families are left without homes, belongings or even basic necessities. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes.
UMCOR is meeting urgent needs through support of the California-Pacific Annual Conference’s immediate relief efforts. Initially, we’ve provided emergency relief funding for food, water and essential supplies for evacuees and to bolster local volunteer efforts. And we’ll continue to offer support through long-term recovery.
Join us in supporting the people of Los Angeles. Together, we can be a beacon of hope for families who have lost so much in this disaster.
Our sister congregation in Calixto, Cuba is grateful for the funds we have sent to build an outdoor meeting space. They are waiting on permits to begin the sanctuary renovation.
Want to serve God? Our SHAPE profile helps you understand your spiritual gifts, your heart, your abilities, your personality, and your experience. Together, these five factors help you find the place where God wants you to serve. Join us on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00 pm in the chapel as we explore our SHAPE profiles.
Wonderful Wednesdays offer Bible study, worship arts, games and crafts for children in kindergarten through fifth grade from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Barefoot Youth meet in the Barefoot Youth Room Basement on Wednesdays at 6 PM! Middle and high school students are welcome. Enjoy games, snacks, worship music, Bible study, and group discussions. See you there!
BAREFOOT youth at Christmas 2024
The Widowed support group will meet a week later on Thursday, January 30 at 9:30 am in the chapel.
Lent is the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It is a time to prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are looking for writers of all ages and ability to write a 200-250 word devotional on a scripture of your choosing. The submission deadline is January 31. Writing guidelines are available in the church office or by emailingjanet@mtdorafumc.org.
Children on Sunday mornings
Childcare – Available from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm
Kids’ Church – Children begin in worship at 9:30 and then depart for Kids’ Church
Bible Fun – Available during the 11:00 traditional service
Join a Sunday Bible study!
Bible Explorers – Sundays at 9:30 am in the chapel
Carpenter’s class – Sundays at 9:30 am in the CEC classroom
Upper Room – Sundays at 9:30 am in the choir room
11:00 Bible study – Sundays at 11:00 am in Friendship Hall
Join a mid-week Bible study!
Wednesdays at 9:30 am in the chapel – Book of Hebrews
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the chapel (and on Zoom) – Book of Romans
Thursdays at 6:30 pm in the chapel (and on Zoom) – Book of Ezekiel
YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED! Our congregation has partnered with Lake Cares for years to provide a mobile food distribution site in northeast Mount Dora. If you haven’t done so already, please take a grocery bag, fill it with non-perishable food, and return it by January 26. You can also donate online or by writing “Lake Cares” on your donation envelope. Thank you for your generosity!
Lake Cares has a mobile distribution site on Friday, January 17 at the King Center, 803 Florida Avenue. Volunteers of all ages are needed from 7:30 to 9:30 am.
COMING SOON…
Mark your calendars for February 1st! We’re hosting a delightful cookie sale in front of the chapel, starting at 9:00 AM and continuing until every last cookie is gone.
Homemade Cookies: Just $1 per bag (two cookies per bag). Perfect for a quick snack or a sweet treat to share!
Dog Biscuits: Specially baked for your furry friends, so they can enjoy a treat too!
CALLING ALL BAKERS! We need your help to make this event a success. If you’re interested in baking, please bring your delicious cookies and/or dog biscuits to the chapel on Friday, January 31st between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
Let’s make this cookie sale a sweet success!
Join us for Souper Bowl Sunday on February 9!
Bring non-perishable items or a cash donation for Lake Cares in exchange for a bowl of delicious chili! Chili will be served after each service. Let’s come together for a great cause and enjoy a bowl of some souper tasty food!
Dear families,
Warren W. Willis United Methodist camp offers a high-energy, life-changing week at overnight camp. This will be a unique opportunity for your student to grow in their relationships with others, with God, and with the world. Camp is designed to give campers a powerful place to meet and grow closer to Christ away from the distractions of everyday life. Camp involves worship, small group Bible studies, crafts, games, and outdoor adventures.
Many of our children and youth will attend camp from June 23 to June 27. Current third and fourth grade students attend Elementary camp. Current fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students attend Middle School camp. Current eighth through twelfth grade students attend Senior High camp. The camp is in Fruitland Park and includes students from all over the state of Florida. More details about the camp are at https://wwumccc.org/summer-camps.
Registration this year is being handled through the camp website. You will need to go to wwumccc.org/programs/summer-camp and complete the form. A deposit must be paid on their website when you register your student. Enrollment is based on space available when you register. If you need a partial scholarship to help with the deposit, please talk with me. The deposit can be paid from student account funds if you end the registration process before the payment is due. Notify the office and we can make that deposit payment.
As a result of a congregation-wide fundraising campaign called “S.A.Y. it with love,” every student active in Footprints or Barefoot will receive as much as $275 toward the cost of camp. The camp will send you an invoice in May for the balance due. It will be paid through the camp website. If your family has student account money to apply to the balance due, please let us know. Friends of your students from outside our church may attend camp at Warren Willis as well if they are willing to pay the $575 camp fee.
The students from FUMC in each age group are assigned to a cabin with the others attending from our church if they list one of our students as a roommate request. They are divided among various small groups during the day so they meet other students. The cabins and small groups are staffed by college students hired by Warren Willis camp. Several adult volunteers and staff from our congregation will serve as adult volunteers at camp.
Please contact the church office for more info.
Starting Point meets on Sunday, January 26 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, contact the church office to reserve your place.
During the Art Festival on February 1 and 2, we need volunteers to welcome people into our sanctuary and to sit outside inviting them to come in. To volunteer, please contact Janet Westlake, Minister of Discipleship atjanet@mtdorafumc.org. it is a great way to Love God while Loving Others.
Still feeling the weight of the holidays? Exercise class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am in Friendship Hall. The class does not include any floorwork.
