TUESDAY TIDINGS for October 22, 2024

TUESDAY TIDINGS

Pastor’s Corner

Dear First United Methodist Church,

Like many of you, I heard that Wendy Simpson passed away after battling pancreatic cancer for two years. Wendy overcame the odds to live as long as she did. Wendy was preparing to start as our Lay Leader when she learned of her diagnosis in Fall 2022.

Though she could not continue with this commitment, Wendy remained involved in the life of the church. I can say that her encouragement, along with the encouragement of others within the congregation, gave me “courage” to lead in a very difficult season of ministry in the life of our church in 2023.

In the coming weeks, we celebrate the Christian doctrine of the “communion of the saints” on November 1st on a day we call “All Saints’ Day”. The Old English term for this day was All Hallows’ Day. The evening before this day on October 31st was known as Hallows’ evening. Later, people contracted this term to “Halloween”. Of course, a lot of other folk tales and ghoulish traditions have been associated with Halloween.

That being said, our hope as believers in Christ is that we remain connected to those we love who knew Jesus in their earthly life, and now live in the heavenly realm.

Our focus this week is “Save”. Saving in the Christian sense is not about material things as much as it is about our souls. The Lord Jesus Christ is in the soul-saving business. As it says in John 3:17:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

As for what we save, we are called to save our material things for the glory of God. Surely, it is wise to maintain emergency savings and retirement savings. Nonetheless, we get into trouble when we think our material savings measures our worth before God.

As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:19-21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

To remember the saints like Wendy who have come before us means to remember Christ-followers who put the most value in their lives on the spiritual treasure of salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor David

Stewardship Moments
Greetings from the Stewardship Committee!

Each year we come to you, the congregation, asking for your commitment to our church. Commitment at FUMC is defined as supporting our church through your service, your prayers, and through tithing. This year our program theme is “Highway to Heaven: A Journey with Jesus”. We are focusing on a devotional by the acclaimed Methodist Pastor and author, the Reverend Dr. Jim Harnish. Dr. Harnish also serves as the Co-Facilitator of the Florida United Methodist Conference Institute of Preaching and speaks throughout the United States emphasizing the importance of understanding John Wesley’s simple rules for money.
This devotional gift (one per family) and information packets are available at the 5th Avenue entrance of the church. Over the next four (4) weeks, your bulletin will include an activity, and we sincerely hope you and your family will participate in the reading of the devotional and activities. If you are unable to attend church and would like a packet mailed to you, please contact Meria at the church office by calling (352)383-2005.

Week 2 Activity
Please bring your completed acrostic poem to church and pin it to one of the poem boards located at the Sanctuary entrances. If you mail your poem, we will happily post it for you!
 
Our Bible Verse:                         Week 2                  1st Peter 4:8-11 NIV  
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen

Trunk or Treat next Wednesday, October 30 from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Grandview parking lot.  Contact the church office to reserve your parking space or bring your candy to the church office.

Operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes filled with gifts to children in developing areas.  You can help by filling any plastic shoebox with toys and gifts, labeling it with a suggested age and gender, and returning it to the Fifth Avenue entrance by November 17.  If you would prefer to use an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, they are available in the church office or the Fifth Avenue entrance. 
 
Greetings!
Here at FUMC Mount Dora we have a wonderful middle school & high school (combined) youth group called Barefoot Youth Ministry. We are currently meeting on Wednesdays from 6PM-8PM at the FUMC Barefoot Youth Basement.
If you are a student – you are most welcome to participate in our gathering – where we play games, eat delicious snacks, worship with live music, and join in lessons/small group discussions. So, whether you’re an aunt or uncle, a parent or a grandparent – encourage your kids to be a part of something that’s bigger than themselves – something that will have a lasting impact on their lives. We look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

This week!

The widowed support group meets on Thursday, October 24 at 9:30 am in the chapel.  Anyone who has lost a spouse is welcome. 
Bake Sale – Saturday, October 26 – volunteers are needed from 8 AM until baked yummies are sold out.
Are you a great baker? WE NEED YOU! Place your delectable cookies, biscuits, crackers, biscotti, brownies, confections, doggy biscuits and/or sweets two per labeled bag (cookie type, nuts?)  Dog biscuits will also be sold.
Deliver baked goods to the Chapel on Friday, October 25 from 10 AM until noon.
  • Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27 – Volunteers are needed for our craft fair outreach in the sanctuary and in the welcome tent.  Contact Janet@mtdorafumc.org to sign up for a time slot. 
  • Wednesday, October 30 from 7:00-8:00 pm – Truck or Treat in the Grandview parking lot.  Decorate your vehicle and pass out candy or donate snack-size, nut-free candy.  Contact the church office to reserve your parking space. 
Anointing with Oil
The rite of anointing with oil is offered on Sundays as follows:
November 3 at 8:00 worship
December 1 at 9:30 worship
January 5 at 11:00 worship
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
Wonderful Wednesdays for kindergarten through fifth grade meet from 6:00 to 8:00 pm each week.   Worship Arts begins at 6:00 pm followed by Bible study, crafts, and games.

Sundays at 9:30 am in the Chapel
  • Sundays at 9:30 am in the CEC Classroom
  • 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)

Zoom Link

Do you love to travel?  Here are two great opportunities:

*Wonders of Egypt trip from February 24-March 7. 2025?  Contact Paul Lane at 407-325-3017 for more information.

 *Biblical Backgrounds in Italy trip with Pastor David Averil in   November 2025:

Christian Pilgrimage to Italy in November 2025
The following link contains the tabs for the official trip information and registration forms. The eleven-day journey, including airfare from Orlando, will cost $4,911. 

https://sbsbibletours.org/product/departing-1-november-2025sanlandomtdora/
 
Let’s go to Italy! 
 Blessings,
            David

Collection baskets are in the Fifth Avenue entrance for:
  • Non-perishable food for Lake Cares
  • Toiletry items for the homeless and the battered women’s shelter
The prayer group meets on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm.  Contact the church office for the off-campus location. 

If you have a prayer need, please send it to the church office at office@mtdorafumc.org before 10:00 AM and it will be posted on that day’s Prayer Chain.

Exercise class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am in Friendship Hall.  The class does not include any floorwork. 

If you would like to provide flowers for the worship services, sign up on the flower calendar in the back of the sanctuary or contact the church office. 
 

Do you want to be the face of our congregation?  We need volunteers to serve as greeters from 9:00 to 9:30 am and 10:30 to 11:00 am on Sunday mornings.
Download October Calendar Here
Click Here for October Birthday/Anniversary Calendar
Click to Watch Past Worship Services
East Central District October Newsletter 2024
Click to Give Online

First United Methodist
Church of Mount Dora

Loving God. Loving Others.

Est. 1880

Contact us

352-383-2005

440 E Sixth Ave. (mailing)

Mount Dora, FL 32757

Office Hours

Monday–Thursday

8:30am-3:30pm