A Beautiful Way to be - Mount Dora Methodist Church
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GOSPEL GAZETTE
July 2021
A Beautiful Way to be
NEIGHBORS Upcoming opportunities to bring the love of Christ to our community
Annual Conference Disaster Relief Vacation Bible School
A brief summary of the How to support the victims of God’s Wonder Lab is coming,
year’s events and topics the Surfside Condo Collapse and we need your help!I want to thank you for your
support and encouragement in the
last six months since our arrival as
your new parsonage family. We should
Mount Dora is a charming town. I came to really appreciate the heritage of the
town last month in officiating a wedding at the Lakeside Inn. The Lakeside Inn
not light
was built in 1883. In this same year, First United Methodist Church (though estab- the light of
lished in 1880) moved near the current location where you have served Jesus Christ to put
Christ for close to 140 years. Together, we are a part of a rich legacy that I believe
it under a
will anchor our beloved Mount Dora for another 140 years and beyond. A sign of
continued vitality into the future are preparations to open our 5th Avenue Thrift bowl. Instead,
Shoppe in the fall in order to support mission endeavors locally and globally. we share
In July, we have several events that will allow us to be a vital part of our neigh- it with our
borhood. The first is a church-wide movie night on July
9th at 7 pm in the Chapel to screen “A Beautiful Day in
neighborhood
the Neighborhood,” starring Tom Hanks and based on in any way
the life of children’s television host Fred Rogers. Mr. we can.
Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and much
of his television program was spiritually motivated by his
deep, Christian faith. This will supplement my summer
message series, “Living in the Neighborhood: Faith Like
Fred Rogers.” I have several stories I will share about Mr.
Rogers’ days at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where I am also an alumnus,
completing a Doctor of Ministry degree there in 2019.
Also in the middle of July, we will host our annual Vacation Bible School week
on July 19–23. We appreciate your donation of crafts, materials, and volunteers
that will make this week of outreach to our community possible. Both of these
events, VBS and Summer Movie Night, have a challenge for all of us to invite our
friends, neighbors, and family to hear the good news of God’s salvation under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ. Take this opportunity in the summer to invite people to
these events and others here at First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora.
We should not light the light of Christ to put it under a bowl, but share it with
our neighborhood in any way we can. For those of you who are traveling during
the summer, keep up with your church family through our Facebook page, Step-
ping Stones weekly bulletin, or Gospel Gazette newsletter by email. You can even
watch sermons through Facebook, YouTube, or on our website. Travel safely, and
keep our outreach efforts in your prayers.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor David
352-383-2005 / mtdorafumc.orgLay Member’s Report on the
2021 Florida Annual Conference
Brothers and Sisters in Christ of the Mount Dora First United Methodist
Church, as your Lay Member to the Annual Conference I respectfully provide
(in accordance with the Book of Discipline) the required overview of the
2021 Florida Annual Conference. The conference took place from June 11th
through June 12th 2021. If you feel you would like a deeper dive from what is
provided, please go to flumc.org where you may review a more detailed list,
which may interest you.
I have also provided a much more extensive report to the Church Council and Support Disaster
Relief Efforts
Executive Committee, which is available in the church office if you would like
more detail.
The Conference was opened with a welcome and opening song “And Are For the victims and families
We Yet Alive,” along with a message and prayer from Bishop Carter. Bishop of the Surfside Condo Collapse
Carter also stated that there are approximately 1000 participants online and with Florida Conference
registered for voting. Disaster Recovery
Craig Smelser was elected Treasurer in a permanent capacity, and did an
Join us as we pray for and support
excellent job in presenting his report. He shared a vision of freeing up more
the families affected by the partial
money for the local church.
collapse of the Champlain Towers
There were several resolutions that appeared before the Conference, South building in Surfside, Fla. We
including two presented by the Bishop’s Task Force on Anti-Racism. One of are also supporting the other tower
these resolutions strives for greater equality in compensation between white that has been evacuated.
and clergy of color. Other resolutions addressed the Q-Anon movement; the
Hundreds of people have been dis-
dignity and worth of unborn children; and promoting solar energy as a means
placed from their homes and rescue
of creation care among other resolutions.
teams continue to lead search and
There were some church closures and discontinuances. The Annual Conference recovery efforts. In addition to prayer,
held a service of remembrance for deceased clergy and clergy spouses in the you can provide practical support for
past year. The service of licensing, commissioning, and ordinations witnessed the victims in the following ways:
Bishop Carter licensing, commissioning, and ordaining 51 clergy for service in
Financial Assistance. Individuals can
the church and the world, including one of our own, Allee Willcox.
make donations online by going to
Overall the conference was presented well in a virtual environment. mdfumc.org/relief. You can also mail a
Discussions by all were in a Christian manner with respect to all. All points check to the Conference (450 Martin
of order were handled in a professional manner and if there were questions, L. King Jr. Ave, Lakeland, FL 33815).
a short pause took place to ensure the point of order met established Please include “Surfside Disaster
guidelines. Fund #110026” on the memo line.
I would encourage all members of Mount Dora Methodist Church to continue Gift Cards. Displaced families are in
supporting the work our church is engaged in through its numerous missions need of $25 or $50 gift cards—Visa/
by being a church which aspires to be a passionate community of believers Mastercard, Walmart, Publix, Target,
that grows the faith of individuals, worships with purpose, and loves Uber. Gift cards can be mailed to
extravagantly. the Conference office (450 Martin
If you would like a more detailed list of items, please attend the next Church L. King Jr. Ave, Lakeland, FL 33815,
Council meeting Monday, July 26 at 7pm in Friendship Hall. Attn: Trish Warren).
Respectfully submitted,
David L. Gonzalez, Lay Member to the Annual Conference
352-383-2005 / mtdorafumc.orgSavior. Fun and contem-
porary themes, games,
crafts, music and worship
helps kids better connect • Loan any sci-
the teachings of the Bible ence-themed props
to their daily lives. • Register to volunteer
A science lab conducts at mtdorafumc.org/
experiments that explain get-involved/vbs.
how things are possible. Training is Wed., July
At God’s Wonder Lab, 7 from 5–6:30pm or
children will discover that Thurs. July 8 from
Jesus does the impossible! 10–11:30 in the chapel.
Vacation Bible School Our church needs your • Donate money/sup-
JULY 19–23 / 9AM–NOON help to bring the story of plies from the list at the
God’s Wonder Lab is on its way, and our communi- Jesus to children in fun and main entrance.
ty’s Pre-K and Elementary-age children need you! accessible ways. Here are a • Help set up the church
few ways you can help: on Sunday, July 18 at 2pm
After the glue dries and tion Bible School (VBS) is • Pray daily for VBS and • Pray for each child by
the snacks are just crumbs, that children know their its impact on each fam- name on Sunday, July
the real purpose of Vaca- need for Jesus as their ily involved. 18 at 3pm.
Are these your
Attention All Cooks! recipes?
We are compiling a church Cookbook, Ten recipes were
but we can’t do it without your delicious submitted to the
recipes! If you want to participate, church cookbook
please include your name, contact without a name or
info (phone number or email), the contact information.
name of the recipe, list of ingredients Some of the recipes
and measurements, and step-by-step include:
instructions. We’re accepting recipes • 3-Layer Vienna
from adults and kids alike! Cake
To submit a recipe, please leave it in the blue • DoDo African Soup
tote at the main entrance of the church or send • Lemon Tea Bread
it to the church office via mail or email. Due by If these are your
August 1.
recipes, please
contact the church
office and let us know
your name!
352-383-2005 / mtdorafumc.orgIndependence Day Parade
SATURDAY, JULY 3 / 4PM
FUMC has a spot in the parade this
year! If you want to participate, meet
us in the grass parking lot by 3pm.
Mission Trip Journals
A Bible Study about Barefoot’s annual mission trip has
been completed! Our youth and
Studying the Bible students traveled to the Carolinas to
Pastor David’s Bible Study video Weekly Prayer Group assist with rebuilding efforts there.
series on Biblehub’s free resources WEDNESDAYS AT 4PM IN THE LIBRARY Read about their journey through their
continues through August 4. Each Come together in prayer for our online journals, which can be found at
lesson’s video is posted on Face- members, our church, our mdfumc.org/mission-journals.
book, YouTube, and our website. community, and our world.
Help those in need! Youth Summer Calendar
We are collecting the following
Barefoot Student Ministries is
items in baskets at the Fifth
active and thriving throughout the
Avenue Entrance:
summer! Register your student for
• Non-perishable items for Lake
these or any other youth activities on
Cares Food Pantry
barefootstudents.churchcenter.com:
• Card-writing supplies and
Donate Blood with toiletries for the Oasis prison • Barefoot Summer Games Night
the Big Red Bus ministry
• Baby formula for Haiti relief
July 7, 6:30–8pm
• Chick-Fil-A and a Movie
SUNDAY, JULY 11, 8:30AM–NOON
• Personal care items for July 9, 12:30–3:30pm
Our bimonthly blood drive was moved The Haven, a battered
this month to July 11, since the first • Panera Breakfast Devotional
women’s shelter
Sunday in July is Independence Day. July 12, 10–11am
• Box Tops for Education for our
For each visit, we need a minimum local elementary schools. • Barefoot Summer Night
of 5 people from our congregation to July 14, 6:30–8pm
commit to donate. • Leadership Lab
July 16 & 30, 11am–12:30pm
Footprints • Super Serve VBS/Barefoot Blitz Week
Family Nights July 19–23
SELECT WEDNESDAYS THROUGH JULY / 6:30PM
We invite parents and children A Message from Fifth
to come join us on Wednesdays Avenue Thrift Shoppe
throughout the summer for
evenings of fun and worship! Thank you for your support! We now
Visit our website for a complete have plenty of donations. Keep an eye
out for more information as we prepare
list of dates.
to officially open in the fall.
352-383-2005 / mtdorafumc.orgFour Simple Ways to Give
Online
Visit mtdorafumc.org/donate to access
our quick and easy giving portal
App
Download the GivePlus app on the App
Store or Google Play
In Person
Drop your envelope in our offering box
at the front of the sanctuary on Sunday
morning or mail/deliver your offering to the
church office.
Giving Your Time
We value volunteers in our community,
those who use their gifts and resources
toward the glory of God. Contact Janet
Westlake to learn how to volunteer with us.
Contact the Pastor Exercise With Us 2022 Offering Stay in Touch!
If you need the care and
MON, WED, FRI / 8AM
Envelopes We want to be there for
concern of a pastor, please Join us three days a week our congregation. If
If you would like us to
contact the church office. for a free exercise class to you have new contact
make offering envelopes
If after-hours, please dial improve balance, mobil- information, if you have
for you for next year,
2—an emergency voice- ity, endurance, posture, become hospitalized or
please email the office to
mail will be sent to Pastor and our brains. Our class ill, if there is something
make sure we add you to
David, and he’ll make has been moved to Friend- you need prayer for, or if
our list.
every attempt to respond ship Hall! you have any questions,
in a timely manner. please call us at any time.
Service Times Office Hours Address Contact Social Media
Early Traditional 8:00am Mon–Thu 8:00am–4:30pm 435 E. Fifth Ave. 352-383-2005 @FirstUMCMountDora
Contemporary 9:30am Fridays Closed thru July 440 E. Sixth Ave. (mailing) mtdorafumc.org @FirstUMCMtDora
Late Traditional 11:00am Sat–Sun Closed Mount Dora, FL 32757 office@mtdorafumc.org @FirstUMCMtDora
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