Dear Church Family, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 As summer approaches, I want to share meaningful updates and invitations as we grow in mission and ministry together.
🙏 Honoring Debbie Sprague Debbie Sprague, our beloved Treasurer, will conclude her service on June 12. On June 15, we will celebrate her faithful ministry with brief receptions after each worship service in Sanctuary Hall. 🎁 Cards and notes of appreciation are welcome! We also give thanks for Rebecca Tew, who has stepped in with great skill and grace. This smooth transition is truly a gift from God.
🔥 Pentecost Potluck – June 8 After the 11 a.m. worship service on June 8, bring a dish and join us for a Pentecost Potluck. Let’s celebrate the birth of the Church and the presence of the Holy Spirit among us! Please call the church office to secure your spot and let us know what side dish you will be bringing – or mark your Connect Card on Sunday. Special thanks to Rose Noakes for her leadership in hospitality.
👩🏫 Welcoming Pastor Amanda Green We’re excited to welcome Amanda Green as our new Associate Pastor of Children and Family Ministry, starting July 1! She’ll join us in worship on June 8 and begin preaching monthly this August. Amanda brings deep pastoral experience and a heart for families and children. We look forward to what God will do through her ministry!
📈 Planning for Growth As we look ahead, we are staffing for the growth we believe God will bring over the next 2–3 years. While we remain mindful of financial realities, we must support our committed staff and plan thoughtfully, not reactively, for long-term sustainability. Let us continue to pray and give generously for the mission and vision of our church.
🛠 Facilities & Tech Upgrades We are currently addressing critical repairs at the Thrift Shop and planning updates in the Children’s Wing and Friendship Hall. We are also moving toward a secure cloud-based data system and launching a new website by the end of July through UMC Support and Concordia.
✈️ Italy Pilgrimage – November 1–11 Alesia and I are thrilled to join 11 pilgrims from Mt. Dora and others from Sanlando UMC on an Italy Pilgrimage this fall. We look forward to walking in the footsteps of the early Church and deepening our understanding of the New Testament world.
💬 Final Word In all of this, I see the Spirit of God moving. We have energy, vision, and direction. I thank God every day I walk this journey with you. Let’s continue to love boldly, serve joyfully, and give generously. Blessings, Pastor David
New FREE Webinar this Wednesday! THE RIGHT STUFF: A WORKSHOP FOR LEADERS with Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Wednesday, May 21 – 11:00 a.m. CT The Right Stuff: A Workshop for Leaders
As a ministry leader and practitioner, you’ve got questions – questions about time, money, and (maybe most importantly) conflict within the church.
And answers abound.
But not all answers are helpful, nor are they created equal. That’s why esteemed advisor Lovett Weems not only compiled this list of pressing, pertinent, and perennial questions that leaders have asked over the years, but has tested and analyzed them in contexts just like yours.
Join us for an online workshop in which clergy from various contexts ask Weems to help them address questions they have right now.
Learn how to ask the right questions about your pain points
Discover ways to cut through the fluff and hone in on your key concerns
Explore the process of creating actionable plans and responses to questions in various contexts
Forward Paths followers, we have some exciting news to share! We have 11 Graduates this May! 5 from different Lake Tech programs, 3 High School Graduates, 2 GED recipients, and 1 Lake Sumter State College with her associate in science.
Mount Dora High School celebrated its graduating class during the annual scholarship awards ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025. Josh Collins, Youth Minister at FUMC Mount Dora, presented a scholarship to senior Sari Harman.
Join a Sunday Bible study!
Bible Explorers – Sundays at 9:30 am in the Chapel – The Gospels
Carpenter’s class – Sundays at 9:30 am in the CEC classroom – New Testament scriptures
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 – Revelation to John
9:00 to 9:30 in the conference room (Sanctuary door behind the piano)
10:30 to 11:00 in Friendship Hall
A Caring Visitor provides visitation and /or communication to our church family members who are home-bound or are in Assisted Living or Nursing/Rehabilitation facilities. For more information or to receive an application, contact Janet Westlake, Director of Missions and Community Outreach, by calling 352-383-2005 orjanet@mtdorafumc.org.
CHILDREN & YOUTH
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY
from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Barefoot & Footprints: Worship arts, Bible study, crafts, games and a fun filled time.
Understanding the Supply Board Each folder on the supply board represents a specific item needed for VBS. Here’s how to read and use it:
Folder Label: The label on the front of each folder indicates the name of the item.
White Slips Inside: Inside each folder, you’ll find white slips of paper. Each slip corresponds to one unit of the item.
Example:
A folder labeled “Wipes” with 3 slips inside means 3 packs of wipes are needed.
Removing 1 slip from the “Wipes” folder means purchasing 1 pack of wipes.
One slip = one item or package.
🧺Organizing Borrowed Items (e.g., Hammers, Baskets, etc.) These items are listed on white paper and attached to the board. (NO NEED TO TAKE THESE SLIPS OFF THE BOARD) We need as many as we can collect of these items. Storage & Labeling:
Designated Borrowed Items Bin: Place all borrowed items in a specific bin labeled “Borrowed Items.”
Individual Labels: Attach a label to each item with the owner’s name and contact information.
Send Hope to Rwanda: Write a Message to a Zoe Student Our Zoe Empowerment group has 90 students, orphans who are working toward self-sufficiency. We have postcards of our congregation that Ginny and Hank Glaspey will present to each student when they visit Rwanda in June. You are encouraged to visit the church office to write a message to one of our Zoe students.
The Widowed Support Group will meet Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 AM in the Chapel. Anyone who has lost a spouse is invited to attend.
NEXT TUESDAY!
“Strut Your Stuff and Lettuce Entertain You!”
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable afternoon of style and flavor! On May 27 at 12 noon, join us for a Thrift Store Fashion Show and Salad Luncheon. Admission is unique and meaningful—simply bring new women’s underwear or socks to donate. It’s fashion with a purpose!
For more details, feel free to reach out to the church office. Don’t miss this fabulous event that celebrates giving in style!
BELIZE BOUND Our mission trip to Forest Home, Belize is October 4 to 11, 2025. The trip may include painting the Methodist elementary school, an after-school program at the school, and relationship building. The estimated cost of the trip is $2,000 per person. If you are interested in going, please talk with Janet Westlake. A $200 deposit must be paid by May 31.
FOOD. FAITH. FELLOWSHIP.
Join us on the morning of June 21st for a truly special event—the first-ever Men’s Breakfast! From 7:30am to 9:30am, come enjoy great food, meaningful fellowship, and an inspiring message from our distinguished guest speaker, James Homich, the Mayor of Mount Dora.
Although this gathering is called the Men’s Breakfast, we warmly welcome everyone to be part of this exciting inaugural occasion. Don’t miss out on a chance to connect, engage, and be uplifted!
Reserve your spot today! Call 352-383-2005, email the church office at office@mtdorafumc.org, or mark your Connect Card in the bulletin on Sunday to RSVP. We can’t wait to see you there!
FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH!
ITALY
Embark on an unforgettable and exciting journey with Pastor David on the Biblical Backgrounds in Italy pilgrimage, November 1-11, 2025! For more details about this incredible experience, email Pastor David at david@mtdorafumc.orgor call the church office.
FUMC MT DORA EXERCISE
🕵️♀️ “The Case of the Vanishing Shuffle Boarders” A Hilarious Mystery in Five Suspiciously Fit Steps
It started with a thud. Eleanor Butterbean, retired librarian and part-time neighborhood watch (self-appointed), was sipping her morning tea when she noticed something strange: the shuffleboard court was empty. No Harold. No June. Not even Bob, who usually showed up just to complain about the sun and ask if pudding was gluten-free. In their place? A single note taped to the community center door: “The body weakens. The mind fades. The fall comes. The night deepens. The silence grows.” “Follow the steps. Or join the others in the Labyrinth of Mush…” Eleanor gasped. Not THE Labyrinth. Not again.
🧩Step One: The Dumbbell of Doom She burst into a gym, where Carl—83, was lifting soup cans like dumbbells. “You want answers?” he said, not even winded. “Start with strength. That’s what we build in the Monday/Wednesday/Friday Exercise class. No floor work. Just chairs, stretches, and lots of exercise.” He handed her a flyer: 🗓️ Strength & Stability 🕙 Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays at 9 AM 📍 Mount Dora FUMC – Friendship Hall 💪 Classes are free. Soup cans optional.
Carl leaned in, lowering his soup cans with a suspicious squint.
“You’re not the only one asking questions,” he muttered. “They’ve been watching the class. Taking notes. One of them even wore a Fitbit.”
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”
Carl glanced toward the back door of the gym. It creaked open slowly… and a shadowy figure slipped inside, wearing orthopedic sneakers and a visor pulled low.
Before Eleanor could speak, the lights flickered.
Then—darkness.
A voice echoed from the hallway:
“Step Two begins… now. Or you’ll be trapped forever… in the Labyrinth of Mush.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
🕵️♀️ Will Eleanor uncover the next clue? Who’s behind the mysterious disappearances? And what awaits in the labyrinth of MUSH? Find out next week in Part 2
Join our exercise class which meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am in Friendship Hall. No fees, no floorwork—just FUN, and fitness! Spread the word!
NEW! Read the latest Church Council Minutes below!
