Now - Aug. 16 | Caring for the Caregiver

Caring for the Caregiver will meet at WJCT Studios for a lunch and learn from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM to learn practical information on how caregivers can take care of themselves.

In July and August, we will meet four different times at WJCT Studios. Please click here to learn more and register. Registration will be directly through WJCT, not be through the church.

August 14 + 15 | True Beauty Book Club

The True Beauty book club will meet in August after having read the book Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan for a discussion. Upon registration, the location will be emailed to you the week of the meeting. We have a new Longleaf Branch of the True Beauty Book Club. Meeting dates will be: 

• Longleaf (St. John’s County) – Thursday, August 14 at 12:00 PM
• Mandarin – Thursday, August 14 at 6:00 PM
• Mandarin – Friday, August 15 at 12:00 PM

August 25 | Navigating Medicare Presentation 

Are you approaching Medicare eligibility or looking to better understand your current coverage options? Join Jay Vaid & Parveen Kumar for an informative evening designed to help you make sense of Medicare and its many parts.

• Topics will include:
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
• Additional services and support available to you

Date: Monday, August 25

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Room 854

This is a no-sales, no-pressure seminar hosted by church members who will share helpful, unbiased information to guide you through your Medicare options. This session will give you clarity and confidence. All are welcome – bring your questions!

Sign up here.

August 27 | Membership Class

This is the class we ask those who wish to become members of MUMC/Longleaf to take, but all are welcome who want to learn more about discipleship as understood in the United Methodist Church and MUMC/Longleaf specifically. There is no pressure to join the church.

Come explore how we at MUMC/Longleaf try to follow the radical Jesus. Using Jim Harnish’s workbook, A Disciple’s Path, we will study spiritual practices and explore ways to live out faith through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness right here in our own community. This class will be held in a small group setting with Pastors Britt Gilmore, Kevin Griffin and Missy Hart leading as we grow together. If you are new to MUMC/Longleaf or just want to learn more, this class is for you! This small group begins:

• Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 6:15 - 7:15 PM
• 6-Week class ending on October 1st
• All class materials provided

There will be children’s and youth activities during the class time. There is also dinner in Wesley Hall beginning at 5:15 PM. Dinner registrations required through separate registration link.

Sign up here.

August 27 | New Wednesday Night Adult Classes Begin 

• Bible Moths (6:15 PM) – 6-week exploration of biblical history, theology and symbolism, connecting ancient Scripture with modern life through open, thoughtful discussion. To register and learn more about this class click here.
• The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi (6:30 PM) – 6-week video Bible study that joins Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel as they visit sites in Israel. To register and learn more about this class click here.

Adult Bible Studies Ongoing Small Groups 

Check out some of our various small groups. To learn more about groups and see what we're studying, click here. 

Weekly | Classes

Check out our various Sunday School classes. To learn more about times, locations, and what we're studying, click here.

Upcoming Ways to Serve & Get Involved

• August 3 | Communion Offering for Texas Floods
• August 4 | Back-to-School Breakfast at CPE, 7:30 AM
• August 9 | UMM Campus Workday
• August 10 | Back-to-School Prayer at FCA (2:00 PM); at CPE (3:00 PM)
• August 23 | Saturday Service: Homeless Coalition SJC
• August 30 | Saturday Service: Cup of Love
• August 31 | Fifth Sunday Offering for Residing Hope
• September 13 | UWF Fall Luncheon

August 3 | Communion Offering

In light of the recent flooding in Texas, the Communion offering for the month of August will go towards UMCOR. You may give to this special offering on August 3, or make a donation at any time leading up to the first Sunday. Please put “Communion/Texas” in the memo. Thank you for supporting those who have suffered during this tragic event. 

August 4 | Back-to-School Breakfast

We’re welcoming back Crown Point teachers with a Chick-fil-A breakfast on Monday morning at 7:30 AM. If you’d like to help serve the teachers and staff, email Gabrielle or sign-up on Realm. If you’re able to bring a breakfast item such as juice or a snack, please sign-up here. 

August 10 | Back-to-School Prayer Gatherings

As students and teachers prepare to return to school, Mandarin + Longleaf missions will be participating in prayer gatherings at our partner schools. During these prayer gatherings, we will pray over the schools, the teachers and staff, and the classrooms. We invite members of our congregation and community to come out and participate. If you are interested in reading a prayer, please email Gabrielle. The prayer gathering at Freedom Crossing Academy will take place at 2:00 PM and the gathering at Crown Point Elementary will take place at 3:00 PM. 

August 23 | Saturday Service: Homeless Coalition of SJC

Join us for an opportunity to go in God’s love as we fellowship and serve our local community at the Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County on Saturday, August 23, from 9:30 AM to noon. Sign-up on Realm. Possible projects could be organizing their clothing and food pantries; however, we can’t finalize the project until we have a good volunteer count. Please try to sign-up by August 16. 

August 9 | Campus Workday

Mandarin + Longleaf Men are invited to help spruce up the Mandarin campus for a workday on Saturday, August 9, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. We will work on projects around the campus and fellowship with one another. All skill levels are helpful. For more information, contact John Lewis.

September 13 | United Women in Faith Fall Luncheon

Save the date for the UWF Fall Luncheon in Wesley Hall on September 13. More information is coming soon!

October 4 | Volunteers for Annual Craft Festival

It's that time of year when we ask our wonderful volunteers to sign up for the Mandarin United Methodist Women's Craft Festival, held this year on October 4, from 8:30 AM - 3:30PM. Two or three hour shifts, or longer, would be great if you are able to give that much time. All profits from this event benefit missions. Please click here to select your area and volunteer.

Fall Soccer Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the fall soccer season at MUMC! Please use this link to sign up your athlete.

The fee for soccer will be $165. There is a $15 discount if you register by August 16, the day of evaluations. There are limited scholarships available. We ask that you volunteer as a coach or in the concession stand to receive a scholarship. Evaluations will be Saturday, August 16 from 8:30-11:00 AM at MUMC. A reminder that these are not tryouts! They are a way to gauge skill level, and, after other factors (coach requests, carpooling, practice night requests), the results of evaluations may be used to balance team rosters. It is also a great way to introduce your athlete to the facility (especially if it is their first season) so they are more comfortable at the first practice.

This season, we will have divisions for 3 year olds through 8th graders. All divisions will be co-ed.

Practices will start the week of September 8. Your athlete will practice once a week on either Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday at 5:30 PM or 6:30 PM. Shin guards are required for all athletes at practices and games. Cleats are recommended but not required. We have a cleat swap shelf so at evaluations you can check for sizes or donate old cleats you are done with.

The first game will be Saturday, September 20. We will play seven games. There will not be a game on October 4 because of the craft fair. The final game and end-of-season celebration will be on November 8. All practices and games will be on the fields behind MUMC.

We will need coaches! If you are interested in coaching this fall, please email crogers@mumc.net.

Please email crogers@mumc.net if you have any questions or for more information about scholarships.

Weekly | Facilities Recreation Schedule

Pickleball:

• Sundays: 1:30-4:00 PM
• Tuesdays: 5:00-7:30 PM
• Thursdays: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Upcoming Youth Dates

• August 3 | Messy Game Night
• August 6 | Youth + Worship Night
• August 10 | Youth at Homes – Deffense House

Youth @ Homes

Youth @ Homes is our summer youth pool parties. Join us at 4:30 PM at the host homes for a time of fellowship, food, fun, and devotion. Pick up time will be 7:30 PM. Remember to bring $5 to help with dinner at each of the homes. If you need to catch the church bus on St. Johns days, please sign up here.

Here is the schedule for the summer:

• August 10 – Deffense House (St. Johns)

Pumpkin Patch Decorating Committee

We are still looking for parents to help with youth by serving on the pumpkin patch. Projects that we would like to complete this year:

• Play Area: Get rid of the wooden cheerleaders, football players, horse, and the dwarfs. Replace with a wagon of some sort and 3 pumpkins representing the 3 colleges.
• Entrance: Some type of decorated arch entry
• Prayer Wall: New bench and new wall?
• Around the Patch: Corn stalks, maybe new tables, reorganize the front, and something for the flowers to sit on

Please let Paula know if you would like to help with these projects.