First United Methodist Church
72 Lake Morton Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
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Sunday, October 18
8:15am on the Lawn
Rev. David McEntire
Bring a chair and participate in worship
Mask required
Social Distancing will be observed
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Worship is of prime importance and our foundation. Even though we are practicing social distancing we can worship together. Words to the Affirmation of Faith, Call to Worship and songs will be projected on the screen so you can participate wherever you are. Join us this Sunday at 9:30 and 11am
This week we begin a new series "One Life, One Legacy"
Join us as we discover how God intends for us to use our lives,
creating a legacy of witness to God’s love.
Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith will preach
One Life, One Legacy: Living an Invested Life
Matthew 25:14-30
Watch a video and prepare for worship with
Rev. David McEntire
Join worship online a little early and catch the slide announcements!
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Hospitalized (as of October 12)
Phil Brown, Ken DeVore, Darrel Fulton, Ralph Posey and Mary Ann Schwitters
Births:
Emery June Hearn, October 9 Daughter of Jeremy and Ashley Hearn
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2020 Annual Charge Conference is next Sunday, October 18 at 4:30pm via Zoom. Several items of business include electing 2021 Church leadership, approval of a Candidate for Ordained Ministry and eight Candidates for Renewal. To receive registration information, please email by 8pm Sunday, October 11. Registration must be completed Sunday, October 11!
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PEACE Drive-In CAR RALLY Community Problems Assembly- Tuesday, Oct. 27th at 6:30 PM
Hurst Chapel AME, 875 Ave O NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881.
Join First United Methodist and 20 Polk churches working together to add affordable housing for homeless kids and civil citations for adults. Sign-in will be from 6:15-6:45 PM. The assembly will begin at 6:45 and close at 7:45. You will remain in your car and hear the speakers through your FM radio. Be safe and follow God's call to do justice. Contact Angie for more information at 813-451-5394 or email.
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Coffee With the Pastors
If you have been attending First UMC or worshiping and meeting via Livestream or Facebook and have decided to join the church, you are urged to have Coffee with the Pastors from 5:00pm – 6:30pm on Sunday, November 1. We will meet at church on the front patio close to the fountain. In this casual and informative time together, you’ll learn more about the church, get to know our pastors and review expectations regarding membership. We will also offer this meeting through zoom as well.
It is important you register so the link for the Zoom meeting can be sent to you along with other information and material about joining the church. Please Register If you have any questions, email Diana Russell
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PARENTING NOW
Be sure to mark your calendars for our Next Parenting Now on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30pm. We will have a Zoom workshop with author Rev. Traci Smith about Creating Sacred Moments at Home for Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas. Her book Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas is out now. It is a holiday companion to her excellent and very practical book Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home. The holidays are going to look different this year, and what we do in the home will become that much more important as we celebrate the season and seek to grow in our love of God and neighbor. This event will take place via Zoom, and we are intentionally designing it to be interactive. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with one another in breakout conversations and in Q&A Traci. You can register now here.
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Our Giving Tree Bookstore and Gift Shop
30% off everything in the store! Make a appointment for Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays from 10 to 1and Wednesday evenings from 5-6:30pm. Email or call 863.686.3163, then *248 when the receptionist begins speaking for an appointment. Two shoppers and two bookstore volunteers (face masks required) are allowed in the Welcome Center at a time. Curbside delivery is also available. The bookstore is being transformed to fall/Christmas decor. Get back to supporting missions through Our Giving Tree!
United Methodist Women Pecan Orders
Orders will be accepted until October 15. They will be stored and picked up at the Mission Depot. We will provide several pick up times. You can submit an order for pecans order here You may also call Pat Bradford at (863) 859-3339. $9/Cinnamon and Chocolate; $12/Halves or Pieces
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Drive-Through Trunk or Treat: October 25, 5-7pm
This year we will have a Drive-Through only event. We have a limited number of spaces for families to decorate. Our theme is 'Noah's Ark' and we have a number of live farm animals provided by Maria's Farm. Use your imagination to decorate your car, truck, trunk, tent or space anyway you like to go with Noah's Ark. You don't have to use animals. Think of a rain storm, clouds, rainbows, doves, signs that "God Loves You" or "God's Promises are True!" You will have approximately a 10x25 area to decorate, whether you use your vehicle, pop up tent or natural space. We will be located in the east parking lot behind the F Building under the trees. Registration. Social distancing and masks are required. Questions? Contact Diana Russell
We need a lot of individually wrapped candy to hand out at the end of the drive through Trunk or Treat. Please visit to find our how to help donate or bring to the Mission Depot (Vistabula side of the church) October 4 and 11, 1-4pm. Social distancing and masks will be observed.
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Thursday Game Night at 6:30pm
Join us for a game night and come hang out! For more information or Zoom link, contact Cristi .
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Driveway Visits!
We miss seeing you! If you feel the same, sign up for a driveway visit from us. We will practice safe social distancing and wear masks so that we can see you in person. To set up a convenient time, click here. For more information, contact Cristi
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Faith Formation
We have Bible study and faith formation resources for all ages available on our website at Here. For more information on these opportunities, email Warren.
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Bishop Carter’s Wednesday Evening Bible Study, 6pm on Zoom
Continue your spiritual growth with an online Bible Study hosted by Bishop Ken Carter and sponsored by Fill the Table! Join Bishop Carter each Wednesday at 6pm through November 25. You’ll hear from faith leaders and biblical scholars, share your prayer requests and learn with fellow Methodists from across the Conference. Each Wednesday at 6pm, we will gather on Zoom to experience the Livestream video presentation together. We’ll then spend some time in conversation and prayer around what we’ve heard. Learn more and find the Zoom link here.
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Sunday School for Adults
The following Sunday School classes meet via UberConference or Zoom. Visitors are welcome to join any of these classes. For more information on connecting with a particular class, email Warren.
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BYKOTA (Be Ye Kind One To Another): In October, Rev. Dr. Larry Rankin will teach on the Parables of Jesus. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1152 or online (email Warren for link). Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Genesis is currently watching and discussing the television series The Chosen about Jesus his followers. You can watch the first season via a free app. Class meets via Zoom. Contact Diana or Warren for Zoom info. Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Homebuilders is our longest-running Sunday school class, having started in the 1940s. Rev. Brian Tiffany teaches from the Standard Lesson Series Bible study. October’s theme is “Inclusive Love” with texts from 1 Samuel, Luke and 1 Corinthians. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1141 or online (email Warren for link). Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Koinonia welcomes all who desire to grow in their love of God and neighbor. You are invited to join them in a study of Philip Gulley’s book Living the Quaker Way taught by Rev. Terry Heck. Meets via Zoom. Contact Warren for Zoom link and more information. Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Searchers is currently studying James Moore’s When You’re a Christian, the Whole World is from Missouri, led by Gwen Pipkin. Meets via Zoom. Contact Warren for Zoom link and more information. NOTE MEETING TIME- Class starts at 9:15am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:05am.
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Sendero is an inter-generational adult class, studying “Hosea: Letters of a Discarded Lover,” led by Rev. Wesley Crist. The only book necessary is your Holy Bible. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 243-6668. Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Vanguard uses the Adult Bible Studies series. October’s theme is “Remember Who You Are” with lessons taught by Robert Thorn. Study texts come from Exodus, Joshua, Nehemiah, and Luke. Supplemental videos for the lessons are available on Amplify Media. Meets via Conference Call to (863) 250-1038 or online (email Warren for link). Class starts at 9:30am Sundays, call is open starting at 9:20am.
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Healthy Eating this Season
With the holidays fast approaching, so is the excitement of the coming influx of homemade goodness. As caregivers, it is delightful to receive baked cookies, pies, or any of the multitudes of treats that will be beautifully and lovingly gifted to you or baked by you this season. The challenge with being a caregiver for a loved one with memory or other health issues is moderating the intake of such sugary treats for the household as a whole. Nutrition is of utmost importance for adequate energy and functioning during the coming busy season. Below are some tips to assist your household with managing nutrition while celebrating in the festivities.
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- Try your best to stick to scheduled meal times throughout the day. Studies suggest that regular eating patterns help to keep your digestive system in top shape.
- Preparing meals together if possible is an engaging way to signal to your loved one that it’s almost mealtime without having to verbally remind them. This also allows your loved one to feel needed and a sense of belonging.
- Make sure your family member is participating in meaningful activities or tasks during non-meal times in order to avoid looking for food out of boredom or even loneliness.
- If someone in your household tends to have a sweet tooth, try limiting how much of those foods are in the home. This is especially crucial at the holidays when those special treats are more likely to make an appearance. Removing the temptation is the best way to avoid excess sugar intake.
- Replace sugary snacks with healthier options, which still provide a level of sweetness in order to satisfy a sweet tooth. Unlike processed sugar-filled treats, fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and necessary fibers, which will help the stomach to feel full.
- Place bite sized healthy snacks, such as a bowl of grapes, out if your loved one prefers to snack between meals. This will deter them from making a trip to rummage through the fridge.
- Fruit, yogurt smoothies or milkshakes are filling snacks that can provide a balanced nutrition, and sense of fullness. Add some chia seeds or flax seeds for some added omega-3’ fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the brain.
Part of the fun of the holidays is being able to enjoy those special homemade goodies. After enjoying some of that baked good, share some with others and spread the joy. This way you aren’t left with a whole cake in the house to finish.
If you, a friend or family member living with memory loss would be interested in learning more about Connections Zoom group, please contact Vicky
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Contact Forrest White, Director of Missions for questions or to let him know you're serving.
Fall Gleaning Season is Here!
We will join our friends from Society of Society of St. Andrew for the first gleaning of the Fall this Friday, October 16, from 1-4pm and Saturday, October 17, from 8:30-11:30am at Long and Scott Farm in Mount Dora. Gleaners meet at the farm. Arrive at 12:45pm on Friday and 8:15am on Saturday. SoSA partners with farmers around the state to gather produce for feeding ministries around the state. Sign up. After you are registered, you'll enter your email address and name on subsequent visits and go straight to the Florida gleaning calendar to sign up. SoSA requires all volunteers to sign up through this system. Keep an eye on the gleaning calendar. Events are added frequently. Please let Forrest know whenever you sign up to glean in case there is a last-minute change in plans.
Mobile Food Pantries
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Feeding Tampa Bay Polk Mega Pantry – A new opportunity to serve!!! On Mondays, we will help with this distribution at the Lakes Church (1010 E Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33801). Arrival time is 3pm. Should be done by 6pm. Minimum age is 13. Masks required. (Enter Lakes Church off Memorial and take a slight left instead of a right and continue toward the back entrance of the church). You'll see Feeding Tampa Bay (FTB) trucks as the the road curves right and volunteer parking is straight ahead. FTB feeds about 800 families each week through this distribution. Sign up here
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Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) – Second and last Tuesday of each month, from 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Next opportunity to serve is October 27.
- Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) – Second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4-6:30 pm at 4441 Academy Drive, Mulberry, 33860. Next opportunity to serve: October 28.
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Salvation Army Lakeland – First and third Thursday, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Next opportunity to serve: November 5.
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