April 8, 2023

This Sunday is Easter and we hope you will join us in-person if you're in town. At the 9:30 a.m. service, we will baptize Margret and Vivian Fifer, and receive Erik Fifer, Rebekah Stovall, and Dean and Megan Penner into church membership. Please invite friends and family to join you!

We offer a 9:30 a.m. contemporary service and an 11:00 a.m. traditional service. If you are unable to attend in-person, you can also access a livestream of the first service through our YouTube channel (click here) or Facebook page (click here).



If you want to access all of Pastor Mark's messages you can go to his YouTube channel or search "Pastor Mark Reynolds" on your preferred podcast app.



Is it unloving or selfish to set a boundary? Are Christians ever called to walk away from a relationship that’s no longer safe or sustainable? Join Pastor Mark as we explore these questions in a new Wednesday Night Class starting on April 19. We will meet for six weeks to discuss a new book by Lysa Terkeurst titled, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are. While we encourage all who are local to attend in person, if you are out of town there will be a Zoom option. To sign-up or ask questions, contact Pastor Mark directly. You can also purchase the book by clicking here.

Thanks to all who helped make our Family Easter Festival possible. Our 60+ volunteers served a few hundred people in our community and shared the story of Jesus. It was a wonderful event and we could not have done it with out all of your help. Come to worship tomorrow and see a video recap created by Robert Mutchler (Mutchler Creative Media).

Are you new to our church? Would you like to make new friends and learn what makes our community of faith unique? Then please join Pastor Mark for the Explorers Luncheon on Sunday, April 23, at 12:15 p.m. (Room 4 ). Please RSVP by Wednesday April 19 by signing up in the Narthex or contacting Dee in the church office (fumccb@cfl.rr.com; 321-783-8991)

You are invited to join Pastor Mark for Starting Point, one of our foundational classes at First UMC. What you learn in this gathering will empower you to grow spiritually for the rest of your life! We will discuss the meaning and practice of prayer, meditation on scripture, worship, and Christian community. You will also discover your spiritual gifts and how to find a meaningful place of service that is aligned with your personality, experience, and passions. Best of all, through great conversation, we will get to know each other better, and you will meet new people and make new friends.  

The class will begin on April 16^th and run for six weeks on Sunday evenings from 4:00-5:30 (ending on May 21). Childcare is available if needed and scheduled in advance. Please email Pastor Mark directly (revmarkreynolds@gmail.com) to sign-up or get more information.

Meet Marcia Mayes

I would like to share a few of the ways First UMC Cocoa Beach is a big part of my life. I used to be quite intimidated to be in the Sanctuary, knowing what a special place it is and wondering if I was worthy. When entering the space, I would get choked up and very emotional. Thanks to Pastor Mark and the supportive and friendly congregation, I now find it to be a peaceful and comfortable place. After a warm welcome upon arriving, I head to my regular seat in a pew near a stained-glass window contributed by my parents, both now in Heaven. The music and messages are impactful and help me get through the week to have a better outlook, a more compassionate and generous approach to all I encounter, and the ability to handle the daily challenges we all face with a positive attitude and more complete perspective. I love FUMCCB because it is a welcoming and open Church.

Did you know that  42% of third graders in Brevard County public schools did not pass the state reading test? Their teachers are very skilled and dedicated, but most districts do not have the resources for additional intervention programs. And did you know that there is a serious shortage of affordable housing in Brevard. In our county, 21,467 households pay more than 50% of their income for housing. A single parent with two children would need to work over 100 hours at a minimum wage job to afford a simple apartment. Here are some examples of annual salaries:

• Wait staff in restaurants - $22,000
• Childcare worker - $24,000
• Retail worker- $25,000
• Elementary school teacher - $44,000

These needs in Brevard County are significant, and many of our neighbors have been working to seek solutions. B.R..I.G.H.T. (Brevard Righteously Igniting Good Hope Today), a coalition of churches in our county, is addressing issues around public education and affordable housing. After carefully researching the needs, they have developed an action plan to share with county officials. A rally has been scheduled for Monday, April 24^th, at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 5625 Holy Trinity Drive, Melbourne, FL 32940. Doors will open at 5:30. Government officials from our county’s education and housing departments will be in attendance. BRIGHT leadership will share information on recommended action plans for there consideration. It is important to gather as many people as possible to show the policy makers we want meaningful changes that benefit children and families.

Will you attend this rally? Will you step out with compassion and conviction to stand up for what is fair and just? You can make a difference! We hope to see you on April 24th!

Please pray for Frankie Hadden and her family. Frankie had a stoke several weeks ago and was moved to Solaris for rehabilitation. However, complications have developed, and she has been move home and placed in hospice care.

Pastor Mark will lead a special trip to the Holy Land for our church from October 22 - November 1, 2024. If you have any interest, please contact Pastor Mark (revmarkreynolds@gmail.com). Fliers are available at the Connection Center, and you can get more information online by clicking here. As we get closer to the date next year, we will have informational meetings and Pastor Mark will teach a special Bible study on the history of Israel.



We are planning to host our Super Seniors Luncheon in late August or early September. This is when we set aside a special time to celebrate, recognize, and honor all the seniors in our congregation. This is a big undertaking and we lots of help. If you are interested, please join us for an informational meeting on April 25th at 6:30 p.m. in Room 4 (sanctuary building). You can RSVP by contacting Carrie Stafford or using the sign-up sheet at the Connection Center.

The United Women of Faith will hold their quarterly meeting on Wednesday, April 19th at 10:00 a.m. (Room 4). All women of FUMCCB are invited to attend to discuss the missions we will support in 2023. Also, save the date for the next evening social on Thursday, May 11th!

Is our church blessing you and your family? If you want to give financial support the mission of Jesus through the ministries at First UMC, there are a few different ways you can give.

First, you can give on line by making a one time gift or recurring donation by going to our website: www.fumccb.com. As you scroll down, you will see a "Give" button on the right bottom corner of the page. When you click that button, it will give you the simple steps to make an offering.

Second, you can set-up a recurring donation through your online banking program, which is how Pastor Mark and Emma give.

Third, you can using the four giving stations positioned around the sanctuary on Sunday morning.

Finally, you can mail or drop-off an offering at the church office: 3300 N. Atlantic Blvd.; Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Your generosity helps others learn and practice the teaching of Jesus in ways that create communities of love that transform the Space Coast. Thank you!



First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach | 321-783-8991 | www.fumccb.com@cfl.rr.c

Contemporary Worship: 9:30 a.m.

Traditional Worship: 11:00 a.m.