Current and upcoming initiatives
CONTRIBUTORS
Rev. David Averill
Senior Pastor
Janet Westlake Minister of Discipleship
Hannah McMahan
Dir. Youth/Young Adult Ministries
Debbie Sprague
Meria Echavaria Office Managers
Rheya Tanner Communications Coordinator
SERVICE TIMES
Early Traditional 8:00am
Contemporary 9:30am
Late Traditional 11:00am
CONTACT
352-383-2005
URGENT AFTER-HOURS: DIAL 2
office@mtdorafumc.org
OFFICE HOURS
Mon–Thu 8:30am–3:30pm Fri–Sun Closed
ADDRESS
439 E. Fifth Ave.
440 E. Sixth Ave. (mailing) Mount Dora, FL 32757
SOCIAL MEDIA
@FirstUMCMountDora
@FirstUMCMtDora
@FirstUMCMtDora
FUMC MtDora
Starke, Florida. By the time you read this, I will have completed a two-week annual training as a chaplain with the Florida Army National Guard. As a chaplain, my duties include counseling, holding chapel services in an outdoor setting, and advising the command team on matters of religion, ethics, and morale. It is a great opportunity to minister to young adults (ages 18 to 35), a demographic sorely lacking in our churches today. Some the accomplishments during this duty away include:
• Co-facilitating a course in Palm Coast over two days for sixteen leaders in the Florida National Guard, called Transformational Moral Leadership (XML).
• Providing an ecumenical guide for Protestant and Catholic Soldiers to pray through the 14 “Stations of the Cross.”
• Performing a graveside service for 2LT Pharis Weekley, a US Army Air Force navigator. He died Aug. 1, 1943 over the skies of Ploesti, Romania during Operation Tidal Wave. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified his remains recently through DNA forensic science.
• Hosting a movie night with popcorn and pizza in the post chapel. The unit ministry team, composed of me and my chaplain’s assistant, hosted 15 soldiers for this event.
Thank you for your support of this vital extension ministry of our church
I also completed the Royce and Jane Reynolds Church Leadership Program with 24 pastors through the Southeast. Our final three-day seminary in Greensboro, North Carolina focused on planning for the future in the church. I already see the ways my training has benefited our church.
Speaking of the future, I am grateful for our Vision 2030 Team working together with the Church Council to plan for ours. Anticipate a church-wide survey in July and a thorough reporting on their work in the fall.
Also in the works is a $125,000 project to construct the driveway around the Chapel and the Thrift Shoppe building to better handle increased traffic. Thanks to the foresight of past generations of Mount Doran Methodists, the Trustees have allocated $116,000 in endowment funds toward the project. The Thrift Shoppe will contribute the remaining $9,000.
No matter what else the future holds, Jesus holds us through it. As the classic Gospel song, “Because He Lives”, reminds us:
And because He lives / I can face tomorrow
Because He lives / All fear is gone
Because I know / He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.
Grace and Peace, David
Averill
I am available to talk with you. Call the church office or email me and I will make every effort to respond in 24-48 hrs. If it is after hours or a pastoral care emergency, call the church office and dial 2 to leave me a message. I usually respond to emergency messages within 4 hours.
• Our students as they attend Warren W Willis Camp June 26July 1.
• Our 4th of July Parade Outreach
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 6 -8 PM. Kindergarten through fourth grade Bible study, crafts and games. Fifth grade move to Barefoot.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 6 -8 PM. K through fourth grade bible study, crafts and games.
JULY 10-14, 9AM-12PM. Children and volunteers register at mdfumc.org/vbs. To make this year’s VBS great, we need:
• Your prayers. Please pray for the spiritual impact we will have through VBS.
• Volunteers of all ages. If you are interested in leading a group or a station, please register for one of the volunteer trainings listed on the right-hand side of this page.
• Actors to portray the characters in our VBS program. Can be for 1 day or all 5 days. Email Janet for details.
• An intact refrigerator box. Please reach out to Janet if you have one!
We are in need of youth and adult volunteers to lead groups and/or stations. Trainings will be in the chapel on any of the following dates:
• Wed, June 21, 4:30pm
• Thu, June 22, 10am
• Thu, July 6, 2pm
Register to volunteer at mdfumc.org/vbs
Tegan Douglass and Jessa Talton are serving on summer staff at Warren Willis camp. You are encouraged to send them cards and care packages at: Warren Willis Camp Summer Staff, [name], 4990 Picciola Road Fruitland Park FL 34731
FRI, JUNE 16, 7:30AM, KING CENTER. We are in need of volunteers to bag groceries, stand at a table to distribute groceries, and pull a wagon to help clients to their vehicles. Training is provided.
SUNDAYS, 8-10:30AM, CONFRENCE ROOM. Enjoy a cup of coffee between services and enjoy time with your friends and fellow congregants.
MON, WED, FRI, 9AM, FRIENDSHIP HALL. Stretch your body and your mind three times per week.
THU, JUNE 22, 9:30AM, CHAPEL. Support one another on the journey of grief. If you are a widow or widower, you are welcome to be part of this ministry.
TUES, JUNE 27, 1PM, FRIENDSHIP HALL. All women are welcome!
WEDNESDAYS, 9:30-11:30AM, CHAPEL. Hear the stories of the most influential women in the Old Testament. Each week we will cover a different woman or group of women, so you can come for every week or just one.
MAY 31
Sarah & Hagar, Tamar
JUNE 7
Miriam, Rahab
JUNE 14
Deborah & Jael, Bathsheba
JUNE 21
Naomi & Ruth, Esther
THU-FRI: 10AM-2PM
SAT: 10AM-3PM
@5aveThriftShoppe
For a list of items you can donate, visit mdfumc.org/5ave
Collection Baskets
We are accepting donations of the following items in collection baskets at the front entrance of the Sanctuary:
• Nonperishable food items for Lake Cares
Food Pantry
• Baby formula for Haiti
• Personal care items for The Haven.
• Eyeglasses and hearing aids for the Lions Club.
