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TUESDAY TIDINGS
YOUR CHURCH’S NEWSLETTER * Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Dear First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora,
This past Sunday, we reflected on the decision to embrace a new life in Christ. As we move forward, our focus this weekend will be on the decision to mature in Christ as a journey of deepening faith and spiritual growth.
I am especially excited to share that six of our young people have made this commitment by completing our confirmation course over the past eight weeks. This is a significant step in their faith journey, and we will celebrate their growth and dedication during the 9:30 a.m. service this Sunday. While not all of them will be able to attend due to family circumstances, we recognize and congratulate each of them:
• Elizabeth Carlson • Sydney Carlson • Eillen DeMattia • Jack DeMattia • Avery Chevalier • Sam Brookshire
Please keep these young people in your prayers as they continue to grow in their faith and commitment to Christ.
I also want to share some exciting news. We’ve launched a new TheologyU podcast! It’s available on our YouTube channel and Facebook page, where we’ll explore a variety of theological topics in a 30-minute format. Last week’s episode focused on belief, and I am working on making it available in an audio format soon. Stay tuned for details!
Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you at our churchwide retreat this Saturday. Thirty members have signed up for what promises to be a meaningful time of spiritual renewal and community. Thank you to all who registered and to those who generously contributed to making this retreat possible. I can’t wait to share insights from our time together. Whether at the retreat on Saturday or worship on Sunday at 8:30, 9:30, or 11:00 a.m., I look forward to maturing and growing together in Christ.
Blessings, Pastor David Averill
Want to better understand how you can 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, March 18 at 7:00 pm in the chapel as we explore our SHAPE profiles.
RICHARD (RICH) M. WAGNER SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2025 @ 2:00 PM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MOUNT DORA
Get Ready for an Inspiring Community Service Day!
April 12 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Join us for a day of service, fellowship, and fun as we come together to make a difference in our community! Choose from these exciting projects:
Prayer Walk & Holy Week Invitations: Prayer Walk and hanging Holy Week invitations on doors in our neighborhood
Ice Cream Social & Sing-Along: Brighten the day of senior citizens and individuals with disabilities with sweet treats and joyful songs.
Cookie Baking & Delivery: Bake delicious cookies at the church and spread kindness by delivering them to downtown merchants.
Landscaping at a Local School: Beautify a local school with landscaping projects.
Cooking Lunch: Help prepare a delicious lunch for all participants!
Schedule:
· 9:00 AM: Meet in Friendship Hall to receive your worksite assignment.
· 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Serve at your chosen project.
· 12:00 PM: Gather for a shared lunch in Friendship Hall.
Every participant will receive a FREE T-SHIRT as a token of appreciation! Can’t join us? You can still make an impact by contributing financially—please write “Missions” on the memo line.
Let’s make this day unforgettable by sharing our time, talents, and love with the community. See you there! Click below for registration form.
Join us every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for an evening of fun and adventure!
Footprints: For our awesome kindergarten through fifth-grade explorers!
Barefoot: For our cool sixth through twelfth-grade adventurers!
Come and be part of the excitement!
Mount Dora FUMC, I hope this letter finds you well and filled with joy. My name is Amanda Green, and I am truly excited to be joining the incredible community here at Mount. Dora FUMC as the Children and Families Director. It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with the children and families in our congregation, and I look forward to all the wonderful experiences we will share together. As I settle into my role, I want to extend a heartfelt invitation to each of you to get involved in our Sunday and Wednesday programming, as well as our upcoming Vacation Bible School (VBS) the week of June 9th. These programs are an integral part of building a strong foundation in the faith of our children, and your participation is key to their success. We are actively seeking volunteers who are passionate about nurturing and guiding our young ones in their spiritual journeys. If you are interested in volunteering, please feel free to reach out to me, and I will be more than happy to connect with you. I also want to acknowledge that it will take time to get to know everyone here, but I am committed to learning about each of you, your gifts, and how we can work together to create a meaningful and impactful program. Whether you are already familiar with your unique talents or are still discovering them, I am here to support you in finding the ways you can contribute to our children’s ministry. At this early stage, my primary focus is to get to know the children, families, and the specific needs of our community. Understanding the needs of our congregation will allow me to better shape and support programming that will best serve everyone. Thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful congregation. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we work together to create an enriching, loving environment for the children of Mount. Dora FUMC. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or concerns.
Blessings, Pastor Amanda Green Children and Families Director Mt. Dora First United Methodist Church
Pastor Amanda Green Children and Families Director
THIS SUNDAY!
Starting Point meets on Sunday, March 23 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.
Are you looking for a way to reach out to your neighbors during Lent this year? Pick up a “Love Your Neighbor” kit at the Fifth Avenue entrance. It contains resources to help you have meaningful faith encounters with the people in your life.
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 –6 Decisions
Carpenter’s class – Sundays at 9:30 am in the CEC classroom –6 Decisions
Upper Room – Sundays at 9:30 am in the choir room – Chronological study of the Bible
11:00 Bible study – Sundays at 11:00 am in Friendship Hall – 6 Decisions
Join a mid-week Bible study!
Wednesdays at 9:30 am in the chapel with Janet Westlake – The Final Days: A Lenten Journey Through the Gospels
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in Friendship Hall (and on Zoom) with Pastor David Averill – 6 Decisions That will Change Your Life
Thursdays at 6:30 pm in the chapel (and on Zoom) with Paul Lane – The Book of Daniel
Your church has provided you with this service to get access to recommended Bible studies, and more for the first 100 households in the church.! There are Bible study videos for ALL ages!
Step into an exciting journey of faith with TheologyU! Dive deep into the timeless teachings of the Christian faith at First United Methodist Church of Mt. Dora. Over 30 dynamic weeks, you’ll explore writings from ancient and modern thinkers, watch thought-provoking videos, and engage in enriching discussions with Pastor David. Come as you are, whenever you can—each session stands on its own. No books required, just your curiosity and spirit. Ready to seek understanding? TheologyU is waiting for you!
Experience ACTS of Worship at Our Early Traditional Service
March 9 – April 13
Our 8am service will feature ACTS worship with:
Holy Communion: Weekly intinction with grape juice and Biblical wine.
Rite of Anointing: Weekly anointing with oil to encourage prayer.
Lake Cares has a mobile distribution site on Friday, March 21 at the King Center, 803 Florida Avenue. Volunteers of all ages are needed from 7:30 to 9:30 am.
Dress a Girl in the World meets on a new date – Tuesday, March 25 at 10:00 am in room 103 on the Children’s Wing.
The Widowed support group will meet Thursday, March 27 at 9:30 am in the chapel.
Mark your calendars for UMCOR Sunday – March 30, 2025! This Special Sunday is an opportunity to strengthen our connection to global ministries that provide disaster relief, aid for refugees, sustainable agriculture, and more. Every gift makes a life-changing impact.
Ginny and Hank Glaspey are serving as our Zoe Empowers ambassadors by visiting our Umuhuza “Mediator” empowerment group in Mukindo, Rwanda in June 2025. They will return with stories, photos and videos of what our group is accomplishing. You are invited to contribute to this effort by writing “Missions” on the memo line of your check or donating on-line to “missions.”
Our Hometown Nazareth Vacation Bible School: Where Jesus was a kid is June 9-13 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. New for 2025 is Stay & Play after VBS. For $125, children can stay after VBS from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. The time will include games, crafts, and movies. Families should book early as Stay & Play will fill quickly. To be a part of all the excitement at Hometown Nazareth VBS and Stay & Play, register at www.mtdorafumc.org/families.
Dear Families,
Join us for an unforgettable week at Warren W. Willis United Methodist Camp from June 23-27! Your child will enjoy worship, Bible studies, crafts, games, and outdoor adventures while growing in their faith and friendships.
Camp Details:
Elementary (3rd-4th grade)
Middle School (5th-7th grade)
Senior High (8th-12th grade)
Register at wwumccc.org/summer-camp. A deposit is required. Scholarships are available; please contact us for details. Active Footprints or Barefoot students receive up to $275 towards camp costs. Friends can join for $575.
Students from FUMC will be grouped together in cabins and small groups, supervised by college students and adult volunteers.
Hope to see you there!
IT’S EASTER LILY TIME!
Easter Lilies have been ordered! If you would like to contribute $10 towards an Easter Lily, please find the special envelopes at the ushers’ table. You can specify if you would like your lily to be in honor or in memory of someone special. Kindly drop your envelope, along with your payment, in the offering box or at the church office.
Click the picture to download the 2025 LENT DEVOTIONAL. Prefer a hard copy? You can pick one up in the office or the Sancturary.
DATE & TIME:
MONDAY: 09:30 AM – 02:30 PM TUUESDAY: 09:30 AM – 02:30 PM WEDNESDAY: 02:00 PM – 06:30 PM
ADDRESS: in the CHAPEL – 333 E 5TH AVE, MOUNT DORA, FL, 32757-5660
CONTACT: 352-717-4125 or click AARP above to go directly to scheduling!
Sitting: the ultimate betrayal of health. Turns out, it’s far worse for you than sleeping, standing, or even the smallest bit of light activity. Who knew lounging could be such a health hazard? Keep moving, folks—your body will thank you later!
Come join our exercise class which meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am in Friendship Hall. No fees, no floorwork—just FUN, stretches and fitness!
