July 25, 2025

SUNDAY MORNING

Join us Sunday morning as we continue our series, Stories that Anchor Us, with a message on the Longleaf campus, and a message from Pastor Britt on the Mandarin campus.


If you are not joining us in person we invite you to participate online at any of the platforms linked at the end of this email. We are excited to worship with you!

GET INVOLVED

Looking Ahead

July 25 | Music Camp Performance 

Make sure you join us TONIGHT to experience the musical Donkey Tales, performed by the hard-working children who participated in Music Camp this week. The performance will begin at 6:30 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM) in the Sanctuary, followed by a cookie reception in the Gathering Space. The performance will also be livestreamed. See you tonight! 

July 29 | Church Council Meeting

The Church Council will meet on Tuesday, July 29 at 7:00 PM in Wesley Hall. As part of this meeting, we will meet as a Charge Conference for the purpose of considering Clergy Compensation. We will also spend time reflecting on the part of our discipleship path: "Going in God's Love'.

August 7-16 | Wesley Hall Flooring Project 

Exciting news! Wesley Hall is getting a flooring upgrade! From August 7-16, the old carpet will be replaced with durable, easy-to-clean coated cement floors to better support our busy ministry life. This floor replacement is possible due to the proceeds from the Sound of Music production, Broadway Nights, and the Filipino Feast. 


*Please note: Wesley Hall will be closed during this time. Watch for updates on temporary location changes for scheduled events. We appreciate your patience as we improve our church space.

CLASSES & STUDIES

To learn more about our various Sunday school classes click here. To check out our small groups click here. To see what we're studying, click here.

Upcoming Classes & Small Groups 

  • July 29 | Men’s 210 Scripture & Coffee Fellowship – 7:00 AM » Dunkin on CR 210*
  • Aug 1 | Friday Coffee Crew – 7:30 AM » Maple Street Biscuit on Racetrack Rd.*


*New to Mandarin + Longleaf UMC? You’re invited! Looking to meet new people and feel more connected? Join one of our relaxed drop-in gatherings.

Jul. 30 - 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: 

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.

MISSIONS MINISTRY

Upcoming Ways to Serve & Get Involved

  • July 25 | Cup of Love
  • August 3 | Communion Offering for Texas Floods
  • August 10 | Back-to-School Prayer at FCA » 2:00 PM; at CPE » 3:00 PM 
  • August 23 | Saturday Service: Homeless Coalition SJC
  • 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 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. 

UM MEN + UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH

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.

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.

RECREATION MINISTRY

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 5:30PM or 6:30PM. 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

CHILDREN + YOUTH

August 10 | Kick-Off Sunday

Join us August 10 for Kick-Off / Promotion Sunday! During all our services, we will be having a special Blessing of Teachers, Students, and Backpacks. Make sure to extend the invitation to your family and friends and bring your backpacks to one of the services for a meaningful blessing.


At 10:00 AM we have our Sunday morning classes for all ages. For the children and youth moving up: children – kindergarten to 5th grade will join the elementary class. Check in at the large group room (Room 837).


Youth 6th grade and up can go independently to KMFH upstairs to the middle and high school Sunday School class.


As always, we have a class for our youngest children birth to 4 years old at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM.


From 12:00-2:30 PM, all our new 4th and 5th grade students, the Junior Youth gathering awaits you at the Portico. It's going to be a fantastic time of fellowship and fun! Be sure to sign up under Children's Ministry Junior Youth


Let's come together as a community to celebrate this special occasion and embark on a new season of growth and learning in faith. See you all on Kick-Off Sunday!

YOUTH MINISTRY

For more information, see the Youth at a Glance email. For more details about Youth happenings, email Paula to sign up for our weekly Youth at a Glance, sign up for text message reminders here, and visit our website. View weekly activities, the calendar, and full list of events here.

Upcoming Youth Dates

  • July 26-30 | White Water Trip
  • July 27 | No Youth
  • 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)

July 26-30 | White Water Trip

We are headed back to NC to raft the Ocoee and the Nantahala. We will be staying in Eljay, GA. Come join us for a two day rafting, one day sight-seeing trip to North Carolina. We look forward to you being part of this year's trip. Youth will need spending money and money for 2 meals on the road. Trip sign up is now closed.

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.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

To learn more about our Children's Ministry, click here. To view weekly activities, the calendar, and full list of events click here. If you have any questions, please contact Angie.

What are the Children Learning this Month?

Visit our website to find out what your children are learning this month! Click here.

July 21-25 | Music Camp

Please see details in Children and Youth section above.

Junior Youth

We invite all Junior Youth to join us on Sunday's noon to 2:30 for food, fellowship and Fun. We meet most Sundays excluding holidays. We occasionally take off-campus trips. Sign up is through our website or through the link here (Sign up Genius). Lunch is $6 and is either Pizza, Jimmy Johns or Chicken tenders with Mac n cheese. Check in and out from Portico. Click here to learn more.


We also invite just completed 3rd graders to join us this summer on 2nd & 4th Sundays. Sign up above. Parents of Junior Youth are welcome to stay or drop off to us by following Check in and out procedures at Portico.

Love God and Neighbor, Build Community → No Limits

Quick Links


To learn more about any of the events you saw above or about more activities offered on our two campuses, click the links below:

Mandarin

 Events | Wednesdays Volunteer | Youth | Children | Missions | Recreation Ministry | Bible Studies | Adult Choir | Youth + Children's Choir | Now Hiring

Longleaf

Events | Wednesdays Volunteer | Youth | Children | Missions | Recreation Ministry | Bible Studies | Now Hiring

View the Full Calendar (Mandarin)

View the Full Calendar (Longleaf)

Service Times


Longleaf Worship at 9 AM

with Kevin Griffin

Freedom Crossing | Facebook Live | YouTube | Website


Connection Worship at 9 AM

with Britt Gilmore and Cody Rollins

Worship Center | Facebook Live | YouTube | Website


Traditional Worship at 11 AM

with Britt Gilmore, Missy Hart, and worship helpers

Sanctuary | Facebook Live | YouTube | Website

Mandarin United

Methodist Church



11270 San Jose Blvd,

Jacksonville, FL 32223

Web      Email      Facebook      Instagram      YouTube

Longleaf Church,

a branch of Mandarin United

Methodist Church


1365 Shetland Drive

St. Johns, FL 32259

Web      Email      Facebook      Instagram      YouTube

Prayer Requests? Email office@mumc.net. Do you have something you want included in the Weekly Update? Please send it to newmembers@mumc.net by Tuesday at 5:00 PM.