FPCO Columns September 2009

C O N TA C T U S
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To arrange a baptism Contact Worship x1451 To arrange a wedding Contact Weddings x1453 To arrange a funeral or memorial service Contact Pastoral Care x1455 To donate flowers for worship services Contact Worship x1451 With questions about your pledge, donation, or budget Contact Finance x1479 With a change of address Contact Membership x1471 To purchase a sermon CD or DVD Contact x1438 To join the Chancel Choir Contact x1273 For child care reservations - Early Childhood Contact x2250 To reach the Security Office Contact 407.415.9793 For Weekday School Contact 407.996.5864 For more information on adult Sunday school classes, contact Spiritual Formation x1463 With questions about the FPCO website or this Columns publication Contact Communications x1467 To reserve meeting space Contact Special Services x1469 Hospital Calls: Hospitals are no longer able to notify us when our members are hospitalized. If you know someone who is in the hospital, please notify the Pastoral Care office at x1455. Pastoral Emergencies: For pastoral emergencies outside of the 8:30am5pm church office hours, please leave a voice mail message at the main church number. The message center will page the minister on call, who will reply as soon as possible. Need Help? Dependency assistance, cancer support group, grief support, divorce care, infertility group, please contact Congregational Life x1159.

On The
“‘I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19
ing the abundant life He promises. To be sure, “abundant life” does not mean a pain-free or trouble-free life. It does mean a life lived with the joy and confidence of God’s presence and the certainty of His love. I believe we experience that abundance only as we grow and mature as His people, which is exactly why Paul prayed for the Ephesian church as he did. He yearned for them to experience that abundant life! So, how do we do that? When our church leaders sat down four years ago to pray and craft a vision for our future, the Lord gave us this: The vision of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando is to empower a diverse body of confessing believers to seek to know and worship God, share His eternal love, and humbly serve a broken world. Those words were chosen very carefully and very prayerfully, and as we go through this fall, I hope you will understand more and more how our vision is a path towards the abundant life we seek. It is a path to Christian maturity. Our vision is to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to essentially do three things: Seek, Share, and Serve. Abundant life begins as we SEEK the Lord through Bible study and worship. That is the beginning place of life and faith in God. As we do that, we begin to SHARE His love in relationships with others, both in the church and outside the church. As those relationships build and the church becomes the community in which we live our LIFE, we are compelled to SERVE others who are in need. As we seek to grow and mature in Christ, to live the abundant life He has promised, we need to be engaged in each of these three things. They are not things to be “done” or “accomplished,” but they are to be the regular pattern of our Christian life. As such, everything you see in the church from this point forward will be focused in these three areas. Our information and

WITH Dr. DaVID D.

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ne thing that often perplexes me in ministry is that I see many who profess faith in God, yet they are not experienc-

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SWanSOn

Way
communication, both online and in print, will be color-coded with an appropriate icon so that you can easily discern how our many ministries fit into the larger whole, and how you can easily access those opportunities. We want to constantly be challenging you to move along that path–from attending worship, to engaging relationships in community, to serving the Lord–and then to make that experience the consistent pattern of your life. And of course, in the end, we do this not so that we can simply have an abundant life, but so that God may be glorified in all we do. We are seeking, sharing, and serving … all to the glory of God! I pray that you will take the time to look at this issue and to familiarize yourself with the vision. It should be something in our hearts and on our lips! The entire staff has memorized it, and it is the guide by which we are making decisions from here on out. Sometimes a large church can get complex and overly complicated. It becomes hard to access people or ministry or opportunity. This vision–this focus–brings before us a simple, straightforward path and purpose. What is First Presbyterian Church about? How do I grow in my faith? Seek, Share, Serve. That’s it. Seek, Share, Serve–and give Him the glory as you do! I am looking forward with great anticipation to the way in which God will grow our church as we bring simplicity and clarity to His call on us in this place. It is a true joy to be your pastor, and I remain Under His Mercy,

David D. Swanson

The vision of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando is to empower a diverse body of confessing believers to seek to know and worship God, share His eternal love, and humbly serve a broken world.

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BECOmINg A CHUrCH Of
By Kent Sterchi, Director of LIFE Community

LIfE COmmUNITIES
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n the fall of 2006, there was a contingent from FPCO, led by Donna McClellan, that attended a three-day “Advanced reading plan for 2010, where we will journey through Acts and Paul’s letters. Additionally, each group will be devoted to prayer for one another and the other needs that arise. I: Inviting to Jesus: Every LIFE Community will be an “open” group, meaning the groups will always have an inviting nature to fill the “empty chair.” Therefore, as each group expands in number, the groups will have to multiply into two groups, and shepherd leaders will always need to be developing within each LIFE Community to lead the new group. We believe multiplication of LIFE Community groups will be the best way to welcome more people into Christian community. F: Fellowshipping in Christ: Every LIFE Community will be devoted to the care, love and nurturance of each “soul” in the group. Life stories will be shared and the “one anothering” will be faithfully lived out (love, care for, bearing burdens, spurring on, encouraging, etc.). Also, every LIFE Community will seek ways to volunteer together back into the life of the church. E: Engaged with Christ’s Mission: LIFE Community groups will be challenged and empowered to serve and extend the Kingdom of God in two ways: 1. To adopt and support a missionary or mission agency engaged in gospel work, through prayer, encouragement, and gifts; 2. To regularly, as a group, be engaged in “serving the least of these,” through compassionate and loving deeds: to live on mission with God. A LIFE Community can be defined this way: A gathering of Spirit-indwelt people who have intentional growing relationships with the Lord and each other (the L and F of LIFE) and out of those relationships help to fulfill Christ’s mission for the church (the I and the E of LIFE). If you are interested in learning more, or desire to become enL: Living in Christ: This is the spiritual formation aspect of every LIFE Community, where all groups will share in the reading, study, and application of The Open Book, our church-wide Bible
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Small Group Training,” at Willow Creek Church outside of Chicago. Our team quickly discovered that there was a reason the word “advanced” was in the conference title. The other church teams from around the country were so far ahead of us in their small group ministry development. Yet, we were so thankful that we were there, because we came home united around one big idea: Becoming a Church of Small Groups. We now have defined this in a broader term, LIFE Community, where all in our church family would love and be loved, know and be known. Since then, the church leadership has given us (myself, as the LIFE Community Director, and Reagan Perkins, my assistant, and my LIFE Community Team) the mandate to see this dream become a reality, and currently there are 61 LIFE Community leaders, called Shepherds, that are in training groups, prepar-

ing to lead new LIFE Community groups throughout next year and the years to follow. We are committed to raising up called, trained, and passionate shepherds, who are ready to love and lead others into a LIFE Community. We are doing this through having us all experienced what a LIFE Community is, by meeting together weekly, coupled with periodic training sessions, which help us embrace and practice all the purposes of a LIFE Community. This training period will last the remainder of 2009, with the hopes of adding others into the shepherd training this fall. David Swanson will preach a fall sermon series entitled “LIFE Together,” where we will be challenged and inspired through the truth of the Word, to move into LIFE Communities on a broader scale in the new year, led by the Shepherds currently being trained. Additionally, we intend to be available to share the vision of LIFE Communities in Sunday School classes and other forums throughout the fall, so all can more fully understand the biblical distinctives of a LIFE Community. Below are the purposes and definition of a LIFE Community:

gaged in the Shepherd development phase of the LIFE Community initiative, please contact Kent Sterchi ([email protected]) or Reagan Perkins ([email protected]) at 407.423.3441. n

calls us into His Body – The Church. He calls us into a community of faith. In this age of individualism and advanced technology, we are more isolated than ever. As a result, we hunger for community, but we can barely articulate the hunger we feel. Life Together is a series designed to help us understand the value of community, why God calls us into community, and what God intends for that community to look like. We are called to live our Christian life together, so let’s learn what that’s all about!

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hen God calls us to faith, He does not call us into isolation, but He

October 4, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 4–A Beautiful Dance Text: Ephesians 5:17-21 October 11, 2009 Dr. David Swanson Preaching Life Together 5–Bear With Me Text: Ephesians 4:1-2 October 18, 2009 Mark Toone preaching Life Together 6–Get Over it Text: Colossians 3:12-13 October 25, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 7–Good For The Soul Text: James 5:13-16 November 1, 2009 Dr. Swanson preaching Life Together 8–Pray Hard Text: James 5:13-16 November 8, 2009 Rev. Donna McClellan preaching Life Together 9–Way to Go! Text: Thessalonians 5:11

November 15, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 10–The Hard Part Text: Colossians 3:16 and Matthew 18:1520 November 22, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 11–Free To Serve Text: Galatians 5:13-14 November 29, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 12–We’ve Been Served Text: Matthew 20:25-28 December 6, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 13–Comfort Food Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and Isaiah 40: 1-5 December 13, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 14–Stir It Up! Text: Hebrews 10:24-25 and Luke 2:17 December 20, 2009 Dr. Case Thorp preaching Life Together 15–He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother Text: Galatians 6:2
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fALL SErmON LIST
September 13, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 1–On the Rock Text: 1 Corinthians 12:13 September 20, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 2–Live and Learn Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 September 27, 2009 Dr. David Swanson preaching Life Together 3–Welcome! Text: Romans 16, selected

grEAT ESCAPE 2009
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he week of July 19-25, we took more than 80 middle school students to Florence, Miss., for one of the best weeks of nothing was happening between God and me. But on the fourth night, during the evening event, we were told to go and sit out on the lawn and just pray to God about anything we’ve been struggling with or anything we just wanted to talk to God about. I didn’t really know what to pray about. I had done this kind of thing so many times before and it wasn’t anything new to me. So I asked God to reveal something new to me and to give me a revelation. I prayed for others that were on the trip, that some of them would accept Christ into their hearts. I also prayed that their lives would really be changed in some kind of way. And our God is just so faithful and amazing because at SaySo (a time when we share what God has done in our lives), God revealed to me that every one of the prayers I prayed earlier that evening was answered in a way that I would have never expected. Every single person I prayed for stood up to say how God drastically changed their lives somehow, while the rest of our group was literally in tears for one reason or another. But this is what I was waiting for. It was God telling me what an amazing family I their lives at the Great Escape. They swam, rode horses, played games, shot rifles, shot bows and arrows, and experienced the magnificence of the Lord like never before! God changed each and every person on this trip in ways we never imagined. Below is a testimony of God’s work in the life of one of our students, Jessica Kneeland, during our trip. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from our week at The Great Escape, it’s that God’s plan for me is way better than the one I have for myself. No matter what expectations I have, if any, He’s going to surpass them every time! When I was first asked what I expected for the week on the first night of The Great Escape, I didn’t really know what to say because I didn’t really have any expectations. Not to say that I wasn’t super excited about the week, it’s just that I didn’t expect anything really amazing to happen between me and God. So the week went on and I was having the time of my life with all the activities and crazy games we were playing, but still,
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have in my youth group. We all support each other and care for each other just as much as a real family would. I realized that we are all brothers and sisters while Browning is like a dad to us and all the leaders are older siblings we can look up to and learn from. We all have different strengths and weaknesses and we get along with some better than others, but when it comes down to it, we all love each other. God has hand picked every one of us individually to be part of this big family for a reason, and I learned that it’s because we each have something to offer one another. And only God could put together a family as amazing as

the one I have at church. So while showing me that I have an amazing family within my youth group, God also let me know, through an amazing experience, that He will never let me down and that His plans for me are better than I can even imagine! “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in a habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as we see the Day approaching.” ~Hebrews 10:24-25 -Jessica Kneeland n

JAmAICA mISSION TrIP
In June, the high school ministry took a group of students on could experience the joy of being in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and serving Him with their life. A letter from a student: To my church family, Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers and financial support for my recent trip to Jamaica. It was an unforgettable trip and I could not have done it without you. During my time in Jamaica, we stayed in the small town of Newport. It was there that I spent several days pouring concrete to make cement roofs, nailing a zinc roof onto a house, and visiting a Jamaican infirmary. In particular, I will never forget the experience of sharing Christ with a blind man named Herbert at the infirmary. The entire trip was such a great experience and I truly got to see God in new ways. One after another, I witnessed God changing the lives of Jamaicans forever. And that wasn’t the only life God changed … He especially changed my life. The conditions that the Jamaican people live in every day are well below the standards that we take for granted. Going out and working in such poverty really opened my eyes to how blessed we truly are. Running water is hard to come by, clothes are washed in rivers, meals are hard to prepare, and filth and corruption run rampant. Yet despite all of this, I noticed that when the love of God is shared, hearts cannot help but be filled with hope and joy. The faith of the Jamaican people is mind blowing! Even with nothing of material value, their love for God is tremendous. I have been home for several weeks now and I’m still in awe from the trip. I see God here in Orlando more now than I ever have before. The entire trip set me on fire for God and I can’t help but see love in everything now. I can’t thank you enough for the memories I created and for sharing your wealth for the work of the Lord to be done. God really worked through this trip and I hope that He does the same for you, if He hasn’t already. It was amazing and I truly am grateful for your support. Sincerely, Taylor Warren
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a mission trip to the mountains of Jamaica. What God did was truly amazing, but instead of taking my word for it, I thought you would benefit most from reading the words of one of the males and females who served on this trip:

BE rEAL
By Jen Steinhoff, Student Be Real. This was the theme of our mission trip to Jamaica. But what does “being real” really mean? In Jamaica, true reality was exactly what we were submerged in. For an entire week, 36 of us lived without cell phones, Facebook or hot water! But you know what? That week when I had none of my worldly things, I was 10 times happier than when I was caught up in the normal things of my reality back home. The reality was that these Jamaicans that I thought needed help, ended up helping me! It truly wasn’t us who taught them, but the Jamaicans who taught us. One example I am reminded of is the day we visited a Jamaican infirmary. In a place where physically or mentally handicapped Jamaicans were simply dropped off to spend the rest of their lives, I found myself in conversations with residents where all they could talk about is how great God truly is. One man even pulled me aside and said “Oh Lord, what a happy day it will be when I see my Father again … oh what a happy day.” What an awesome perspective on life! For the first time in a long time, I was humbled. Sweetly broken, wholly surrendered. If this wasn’t enough, what was also so awe inspiring was the family created from this trip. People I thought I would never talk to ended up being the people I most wanted to be with. People who were strangers to me at the beginning of the week are now my accountability buddies. What did I take away from this trip? A whole new outlook on life. God spoke fire into my life to the point where all I wanted to do was live the lyrics of one of my favorite songs and “stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all.” Christ is my Savior and friend. My prayer is that everyone

ASSISTANT mINISTEr fINdS CALLINg AT fPCO
By Kristin Davis, Staff Writer
hospitality that just keeps on giving. Currently the Assistant Minister of Pastoral Care, he can be found visiting members in the hospital, at nursing homes, and in home care. Among his many job responsibilities, he also preaches at funerals, taking on the difficult task of helping friends and family cope with their loss, while still reminding them that God is in control. Brad talks to us about what it’s like to prepare someone to face God and what his daily life is like at FPCO. Q: What is your current title at FPCO? A: Assistant Minister of Pastoral Care, 20’s & 30’s Ministry, and I serve with the Heart of the City Foundation. Q: What past work experience prepared you for this role? A: I served as Associate Pastor in churches in Savannah and Augusta, Ga., as well as laid the foundation for a new church plant in Orlando. Most recently, I was the Vice President of Corporate Operations at a non-profit organization that serves people and families with disabilities. Q: What do your job responsibilities include? A: A lot! I visit folks that are in the hospital, at nursing homes, in home care. I do many of the funerals in the church, do a few weddings, help lead worship for the Traditional and Genesis services, am in the planning stages for the launch of a new 20’s & 30’s ministry, and help raise awareness among the congregation of the estate giving opportunities that will benefit the church through HOCF. Q: Out of all the churches you could have worked for, what drew you to FPCO? A: I believe in the vision and mission of our church. We are taking a very strong, evangelical stand for the historic beliefs of the Christian faith, and particularly doing it at a time when it is not popular to do so. But we are doing it in a winsome, welcoming way. That is a hard balance—truth and grace. FPCO does it as well as any church I’ve seen. Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your role at FPCO? A: I hope to be a servant among God’s people. I hope to show people Jesus. I hope to use my life to draw people to Jesus who don’t yet know Him and draw people more closely to Jesus who already do. Q: How do you help prepare someone to meet God? A: I tell them to be honest about the depth of their sin. I also add that if their mess was so bad that the only way God could clean it up was to send His Son to die for them, then their stuff must be pretty bad. And that is the best case scenario. Now that that is out of the way, can we talk? Q: What drew you to such a difficult area of ministry pastoral
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aving grown up in Augusta, Ga., Brad Staton, 35, has an unmistakable Southern drawl, and a sense of Southern

care? A: It is only difficult if you weren’t made for it. God designed me in a way so that the areas I serve in ministry are not hard to me. It’s sort of like this: in football, if you ask a defensive-back to take on an offensive tackle, that’s going to be a tough assignment. But if you ask him to run around and cover a wide-receiver, well, he can do that job pretty easily. To take this analogy way further than it should go, I’m a DB. Just don’t ask me to take on an offensive tackle. Q: How do you cope with meeting and working with people through crisis? A: I have been through some very tough crisis’ in the last several years and I think that has prepared me to just sit with people when they are in the weeds. And after a while of sitting, show them Jesus. Q: How can people respond to death and dying in a Christian way? A: Give people room to grieve without feeling the need to fix their pain and realize that it often takes years to work through the pain. Your propensity will always be to hurry up this process, but it is in the waiting that we often find Jesus. So, slow down, don’t be in a hurry, and keep pointing them to Jesus. Q: What are three things in life you couldn’t live without? A: Jesus, my children, UGA football, my cell phone (sorry, couldn’t do just three—I’m not always really great with rules). Q: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a parent? A: My kids are not my kids, they are the Lord’s—I am simply a steward. That lesson was tough. Actually, with God, we don’t really own anything—it’s all His. And, if we need help with that lesson, in His goodness, He sometimes leads us where we do not want to go. Q: What are your favorite activities to do with your son Beau and daughter Sydney? A: I love to coach Beau’s football and baseball teams. I love to Easy Bake Oven with Sydney. And wrestling—I can still take them. Q: What famous TV family is most like your own? A: The Cosby family from “The Cosby Show,” minus Mrs. Cosby. Or a more recent show would be Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), from “30 Rock,” if she were a guy and had children. Q: What adjective best describes you as a person? A: Forgiven.

fOr THE LOvE Of
By The Heart of the City Foundation with assistance from The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation

THE CHAPEL
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he Reformation Chapel was built in 1962 and has been a cherished worship meeting place for more than 45 years. Mr. Magruder and his wife, Ruth, gave generously of their time and resources to their church and their community. An elder, trustee and life-long member of FPCO, Mr. Magruder’s generosity to the church was evidenced in many of its activities and facilities, including the construction of the Reformation Chapel. The chandeliers, furnishings, and carvings were all gifts from Ruth and Chesley Magruder. He served on several committees with FPCO, including the historical committee, the pulpit committee, and as chairman of the building committee when the new sanctuary was built. He also faithfully served as an elder during the time that FPCO was reincorporated in 1925. Although Mr. and Mrs. Magruder had no children, they gave generously to youth activities in the community including the Boy Scouts, Edgewood Boys Ranch, and the Orlando Day Nursery, among others. They assisted the physically less fortunate through contributions to Forest Park School, Russell Home for Atypical Children, Orlando Regional Medical Center, and other organizations. The Magruders also made substantial contributions to the area’s cultural life supporting activities of the Orlando Museum of Art, the Central Florida Historical Society and many other cultural and educational institutions. Mr. Magruder loved Central Florida and was grateful for the abundant life it permitted him to earn and enjoy. That devotion and appreciation was evidenced during his lifetime by his generosity to the community which was his home. As a lasting expression of this devotion, Mr. Magruder established The Chesley G.
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Chesley Magruder held a special place in his heart for this building since he was so instrumental in the development of the Chapel. During his lifetime, this was a place for worship, fellowship and reverence for him–and a place where he was active in helping to lead the Yowell Sunday School class. Mr. Magruder and fellow Yowell Class members T.G. Lee and Linton Allen contributed funds for construction of the Chapel and Mr. Magruder established what has become the Heart of the City Foundation Magruder Chapel Fund, to make sure First Presbyterian Church of Orlando would also have resources available to be a good steward of this sacred space. Born into a true Florida pioneer family, Mr. Magruder was the grandson of Reverend Robert Telford who traveled throughout Florida as a circuit-riding minister during the late 1800s. Reverend Telford’s early efforts were ultimately to result in the establishment of many churches throughout Central Florida including the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Mr. Magruder, like many young men of his time, was required by the state of the local economy and economic necessities of his own family to work full time at an early age. With limited formal education, but a strong set of values instilled in him by his family, Mr. Magruder became a capable and successful land manager and developer of citrus, residential and commercial properties. As a successful businessman, Mr. Magruder contributed to the growth of Central Florida and its development as a good place to live and work.

Magruder Foundation 30 years ago this summer and, after making adequate provisions for the care of his beloved wife, Ruth, he endowed the Foundation with substantial assets in order to continue his generosity following his death. Following Mrs. Magruder’s death in early 1987, the remainder of Mr. Magruder’s assets further increased his endowment of the Foundation. The original Trustees of the Board of the Magruder Foundation

cause the Fund continues to grow over time, the HOCF was able to pay the $50,000 needed to replace the roof this past spring. Without the Fund, FPCO would have been forced to cover this major unbudgeted expense in its operating budget in a very lean year. Chesley Magruder found peace and fellowship in the Reformation Chapel while here on earth, and his gift to the Chapel Fund will ensure that others will share in these experiences for generations to come. The Yowell Class still meets every Sunday in the Reformation Chapel. In the years since Mr. Magruder’s death, The Chesley G. Magruder Foundation has also continued his generosity through many and larger contributions to other ongoing ministries of FPCO. Mr. Magruder was a man who was generous on all occasions with a devotion to his church and community, his wife and the Lord. As FPCO and Central Florida continue to enjoy the gifts he so joyfully provided, we don’t want to forget he was first and foremost a man who allowed the Lord to guide and direct his steps. Perhaps this is the most important foundation of Chesley G. Magruder’s legacy. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 If you would like more information on how to utilize Heart of the City Foundation as a tool for fulfilling your own legacy vision, please contact Amy Bishop at 407.423.3441 x1484 or [email protected]. Please take a moment and visit our website at www.orlandoheartofthecity.org. n

HEArT Of THE CITy fOUNdATION HONOrS THE LIfE ANd LEgACy Of CHESLEy g. mAgrUdEr
appointed by Mr. Magruder were fellow Yowell Class members, business executive Ernest M. Kelly, Jr., attorney Leon M. Handley, Allen K. Holcomb, M.D., attorney Robert N. Blackford, and Mr. Magruder’s nephew G. Brock Magruder, M.D. The present board consists of all of the original Trustees other than Mr. Kelly who recently retired from the board and has been replaced by Scott D. Greenwood, M.D. It is appropriate that on the 30-year anniversary of Mr. Magruder’s establishment of The Magruder Foundation, HOCF and FPCO would honor this great saint. The Magruder Chapel Fund began with an original gift of $25,000, which has grown more than tenfold over the years. Be-

SErvINg OUr CHILdrEN
By Carol Welker, Director of Children’s Ministry

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his past summer more than 200 adults and students volunteered in order to make both Camp Geneva and Vacation

every individual to choose where they will bless and then be blessed. There is a guarantee with children that the blessing received is great and the blessing given will be God’s gift to them through you. Remember God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He can and will equip you to walk with our church families’ children to show them Jesus and to receive some of the most pure and honest love you could ever know. Are you seeking a place to serve? Come share yourself with our greatest resource and gift … our children. Volunteers are needed for Children’s Worship, Junior Worship, and Sunday School on Sunday mornings and for SONday Times on Sunday evenings. For information or to join our team, please contact Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482 or sdunlap@ fpco.org. n

Bible School the tremendous life-changing successes that they were. More than 400 children were ministered to by these volunteers and many of these children would tell you it was one of the greatest experiences of their lives. From the small group Bible studies, to the songs sung, to the sticky snacks shared, every kid felt special, recognized, and loved, all because of every person who walked alongside these young disciples in their faith journey. And as each volunteer walked with these children, they found themselves blessed and having grown from the experience as well. The children changed them and their hearts too! As a department, we can do massive planning and programming and have hundreds, even thousands, of kids who want to come … but without the volunteers walking with the children, we have nothing and we can accomplish nothing. It is up to

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WHAT’S ImOg?
By Carol Welker, Director of Children’s Ministry
and Old Testament Books of the Bible each week. Across seven weeks, he’d learn the entire Bible in order. Clayton would have to really desire to learn more about God to make this commitment. Clayton decided that he was up to the task. Amazed and delighted, I reflect on his seven-week experience. Each week, it was a joy to see his enthusiasm grow as his knowledge built and built. The teachers are incredible. They created such a passion to learn. The program had peaked a great deal of enthusiasm from the kids. By the end of the class, they had no inhibitions in expressing their knowledge. Ken Clayton shares, “As a grandparent, I was impressed and deeply proud of my grandson and his classmates. They had gained extensive and valuable knowledge about the Bible – quite a bit that many adults wouldn’t know. As a grandparent, I was so surprised by the depth of knowledge they had gained. It was fun to watch the kids and see their [level of] enthusiasm about the Bible [reach] far beyond their years. It was great!” I knew that the kids felt confident in their knowledge when they wanted to challenge the session to a jeopardy Bible trivia game. Hello session– study up. These kids are good. “I really liked IMOG because we got to know God a lot more. You learn a Bible verse for each week. If you really work hard on vocabulary words and Bible verses, your team could win a Bible trivia game. If you memorize your vocabulary and Bible verses, you get a prize. One of the prizes I won was a cool pen. It reminds me of the class and all that I learned each time I use it. I liked showing my grandfather what I had learned.” ~Clayton Kolar n
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n the Image of God, or IMOG, is a faith basics class designed for children in the second or third grade who are ready to

develop their faith on a more personal level. This is a step that is offered in order to meet children where they are in their spir-

itual journey, but it is not required. During the seven weeks, the children will memorize weekly Bible verses, have class and home assignments, and discover the reliability of the Bible, why worship is important, how to pray, how to have personal quiet time with God, how to be stewards of God’s gifts, and learn church history in class. How do we get involved in IMOG? First of all you pray … pray to discern the readiness of your child. This is a seven-week commitment and much is required in order to gain the wisdom God offers. Talk with your child to make sure they are ready and willing to take this step in their faith so that together you may work on the challenges the class brings. If these things point to yes, then simply call Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482 to register. Registration will take place between September 13 and September 30. There is a $20 fee for the special supplies your child will receive as part of this experience. So if you all are ready for your child to journey on, then call and register for IMOG. It will be a life changing experience for everyone as your child learns to walk in the image of God. Testimony by Jenie Kolar When I first heard of the IMOG class, I wasn’t sure if my son, Clayton, would participate. After all, it required nightly work to learn 10 biblical vocabulary terms, a Bible verse and New

CHILdrEN: THE fUTUrE Of
By Megan Ellis, Member
change my life so completely, so wonderfully, and end up bringing me closer to God than I’d ever been in my entire life. In fact, what evolved into a new way of worship and praise started out as a quick way just to get volunteer hours for school. It was the summer before my sophomore year in high school and I reluctantly agreed to help out Children’s Ministry by volunteering for two hours every Sunday morning. It embarrasses me now to admit that I was less than thrilled; I had stopped coming to church every Sunday, and wasn’t looking forward to making a solid commitment to waking up early on the weekend. However, I desperately needed volunteer hours, and figured that this would be the easi-

OUr CONgrEgATION
W
hen I first started volunteering with Children’s Ministry more than two years ago, I never imagined that it would staffed on volunteers, but the lack of willing adults was what let me to teach Children’s Worship nearly every Sunday. I also occasionally volunteered in Junior Worship and Sunday School, and I sat behind the desk and answered questions for parents. I helped decorate and set up for Vacation Bible School, and I assisted in a classroom. I started volunteering on Wednesday (and then on Sunday) nights as a teacher. At Camp Geneva, I went from being a junior counselor to a staff member working as a lifeguard. I was also called this year to center my Girl Scout Gold Award around the Mission Project for Camp Geneva. Over these past two years, I’ve slowly begun to have a more active role in the Ministry. I had started out just helping the adult in charge, but now the person in charge was me. I began to bond with the children I saw every Sunday, and they soon recognized me as a person who they respected. We quickly figured each other out; I soon knew who shouldn’t sit next to each other, who had a problem cutting with scissors, and who was actually paying attention to the Bible story. The greatest joy came after a couple of months, when I heard a cry of “Miss Megan!” from down the hall before church, and saw one of the children running towards me to give me a hug. There had been a volunteer in Children’s Worship the week before, and that child had missed me when I wasn’t teaching the class. It was that enthusiasm and that connection that firmly cemented in my mind that Children’s Ministry was where I belonged. I realized that I had found my home within a Church where I had previously felt like I was just a visitor, even though I’d been a member for years. Two years later, I’m still there every Sunday. Those kindergarten children who brought me back to Church are now going into second grade, and I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. While there are more volunteers now than when I first started, the lack of committed volunteers requires me to substitute in at least one classroom or activity every Sunday. And I love it. Volunteering with Children’s Ministry has not only helped me grow spiritually, but also personally. I have learned how to be a leader and how to be a follower. I have learned how to be flexible when dealing with children, how to create time fillers, and how to explain complicated Bible stories to first graders. Mostly, though, I have learned that volunteering with children is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. I feel inspired by the love these children have for God, and for their Church. The children are the future of this congregation, and of the Christian world. If we don’t invest our time in them, then what hope do we have? n

I HAvE LEArNEd HOW TO BE A LEAdEr ANd HOW TO BE A fOLLOWEr.

est way to earn them. I remember saying to myself, “They’re just children. How hard can it be? I’ve babysat before. Surely this will

be a piece of cake.” I showed up on the first day, and my arrival time coincided with the change of Church to Sunday School. It was perhaps the best example of organized chaos that I’d ever seen. But after swimming upstream like a salmon and slipping behind the front desk of Allen-Yowell Hall, I began the first day of the rest of my life. That first day, I was thrust immediately into the fray. I was under the impression that I’d be shown the ropes for a few weeks first before being put in charge of keeping the nametags straight, let alone teaching a Children’s Worship class full of kindergarten children. But due to a lack of volunteers, that’s where I ended up. I walked into the class practically shaking with nerves, sure that I was going to be the one responsible for turning these children away from the Lord. But then the children filed in, ready to learn, and I realized that maybe this wasn’t going to be as hard as I thought. We read a Bible story. We colored pictures. We did a craft shaped like a cross. And then they went home. At the end, I wondered what it was that I was so afraid of in the first place. The day that I’d been dreading ended up being one of the most rewarding and spiritual days I’d had in a long time. And at 12:30pm, I wasn’t yet ready to leave; I was ready to teach again. I hate to call it lucky that Children’s Ministry is often short12 | www.fpco.org

my TImE HErE
By Daniel Mills, Member
snapped me out of what I had been thinking about and seized my attention. “What do you mean?” I leaned closer. She had caught a cold sometime during the previous three weeks and her voice was hoarse and raspy. “Well, my host family has a lot of love for each other, and I think that, someday, I want to have a family like that. I want to have a Christian family, and marry a Christian man.” I smiled and thought to myself, “This is what it’s all about; this is why God gave me a passion for Japan.” When I woke up one morning in late 2005, I felt a strong sense of urgency that I needed to go to Japan for a year. This thought persisted and it was strange because I didn’t know any Japanese people and had never thought about Japan. I had, however, been praying that God would show me what to do next. I‘d graduated from college and spent a year working for Purpose Orlando. The campaign was drawing to a close and my job would soon be over. I grew up in First Presbyterian Church with my two younger brothers. I sang in Roger McMurrin’s boy choir, was active in youth activities and went on mission trips. My parents were on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and were encouraging me to go to Japan. They advised me to check out mission groups. After some research, I applied and was accepted to go to Tokyo for a year with Campus Crusade for Christ. While raising support, I prayed about three things. I didn’t know any Japanese people, I wanted to be more comfortable with the language, and my old car had just died. The really amazing thing was that the Lord answered all these prayers in less than a week! First, I heard about a Japanese adult-ed class near my home for $30. Next, someone told me about a homestay organization called Mission to Japan that brings college students to Orlando for a month at a time. I called about it and found that a group was arriving right away, and they could use another volunteer to help out. Third, a friend was getting rid of his car and wanted to donate it to a missionary. Only a few months later, I was off to Tokyo with the goal of reaching college students for Christ. My year in Japan was the best year of my life! God developed in me an unwavering passion to study the language, a love for the people, a grief for their sin, and a desire to share the gospel message with them. This passion only increased upon my return to America, yet I didn’t feel called to return to Japan with Campus Crusade for a second year. Instead, God led me to work with Mission to Japan, the homestay group I had worked with while I was raising my support. I’ve helped teach English and lead during each homestay program since I joined staff in the summer of 2007. I’m always overwhelmed by how spiritually open the students are. They can see the love that we have for them, and they respond. Mission to Japan has had 14 percent of students who come on the program accept Christ. They are then discipled upon their return to Japan through our partner church in Osaka. This is amazing for a country that is less than half a percent Christian. This past summer, Junko (pronounced June-ko) and I got engaged. Junko became a Christian on the homestay program in Orlando 13 years ago, and has either volunteered or been on the staff of Mission to Japan ever since. What started as a friendship with Junko in early 2008 became a relationship by the end of the year. We’ll be getting married at First Presbyterian Church on February 20, 2010. We are excited about returning to Japan to start ministry there. Until the wedding, I have a lot more support raising to do. How can you get involved? In December of this year, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando will be hosting our homestay program. We usually have between eight to 10 students (usually ages 16-22) on the December program. The biggest need that we have during this time is for host families. Host families are 100 percent volunteers and see this as a mission and ministry opportunity. These families provide a room, some meals, and friendship to their Japanese student from December 17 - January 5. If you would like to be involved, or if you have any questions about other ways that you can support Mission to Japan, please contact Daniel Mills at 407.616.7613. n
www.fpco.org | 13

“M

y time here has been really encouraging,” she said. “I think I want to become a Christian.” Her words

fALL SUNdAy NIgHT OffErINgS
rEgISTEr NOW TO JOIN OTHErS fOr ONE Of OUr fALL AdULT CLASS OffErINgS. CLASSES WILL mEET ON SUNdAy EvENINgS frOm SEPTEmBEr 13-NOvEmBEr 15 4:30–6:30Pm.
Amazing Glaze Ceramics Studio – The holidays are fast approaching and there are plenty of masterpieces to be made. All that is necessary is your creativity! Purchase green ware and all materials, paints, clear glazing, and firing included. Child care for infants through age 4 available with a reservaBecome FIT – Learn to care for your body using biblical practices of being good stewards. Understand the components to optimal health. All ages and fitness levels are welcome to come and have fun! Cost is $25 for materials. For more information, contact Rev. Donna McClellan at Evangelism 101 – The Biblical Model and a 21st Century Model. Join Dr. Case Thorp through Paul’s missionary journeys and fast forward to the latest evangelism approach using Willowcreek curriculum. Class fee is $10 to support materials. LIFE 101 – Kent Sterchi, Director of LIFE Communities, will present the biblical foundation of doing life together; this is a pre-cursor to LIFE Communities forming in 2010. Mission Focus Class: Bridges – Do you want to know more about Islam and your international neighbors? This series was designed to educate Christians about Islam and pave the way for building relationships with the Muslims in your community. A video series will be the foundation of this study, but local Arab and Iranian Christians will share their stories and insights. Special guest speakers are featured throughout this eight-week course. Cost is $10 for workbook. 407.423.3441 or [email protected] or Lori Needham at 407.423.3441 x1463 or [email protected]. Unless otherwise noted, registration deadline is September 9. tion. All offerings require registration at www.fpco.org/register or hard copy registration forms available in lobby of Edington Ministry Center.

Seek to know and worShip God
14 | www.fpco.org

PUT fEET TO yOUr fAITH
Our Adult Sunday School Classes Vision/Mission Statements If you would like to join one of our Adult Sunday School classes, please review class descriptions below. For additional information on our Adult Sunday school offerings, please contact Rev. Donna McClellan at 407.423.3441 x1488 or e-mail her at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you then. ANSWERS for LIVING: 310B-EMC: “To provide members with thought provoking study and lively discussion in a friendly environment that will encourage them in their faith and equip them to intelligently answer questions for daily living” Contact: Chris Bolan [email protected] BASICS CLASS: LFH: “BASICS stands for Brothers And Sisters in Christ’s Service. Various biblical topics are taught by rotating gifted teachers in a large, lecture style class.” Contact: Larry Kreider [email protected] BEREANS: 300-EMC: “Intense Bible study with lively discussions!” Contact: Carolyn Ragan [email protected] COUPLES CLASS: Young Adults 312CLC: “The Couples Class, exists to bring couples together for fellowship, scripturebased teaching and local and global outreach.” Contact: Chad Cahill [email protected] CROSSROADS: 305-CLC: “A group discussion based on the sermon scripture and how to ‘put feet’ to the scripture in our daily lives. This is a lively small group QUESTERIAN CLASS: 340-EMC: “Our class name is our mission statement–we are on a quest to fortify ourselves to serve Christ.” Contact: Joe Stine [email protected]
www.fpco.org | 15

format that strives to build community.” Contact: John Guglielmi [email protected] FORUM CLASS: 310A-EMC: “We are a multigenerational class established in the early 1980s with the goal of providing an open forum for discussion on Christ’s life as it relates to the Bible, the community, and to the church.” Contact: Margaret Fail [email protected] FOUNDATIONS CLASS: 240-EMC: “If you are looking for an energetic class with lots of class participation and discussion, taught by lay teachers just like you, then the Foundations class is for you!” Contact: Jack Prevost 407.422.6430 GROWING CLOSER: Young Adults 304CLC: “To grow closer to God, to church, to family, and to the community.” Contact: Kyle Taylor [email protected] PASS the WORD: 241-Yowell Hall: “We are a class made up of people who love studying the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter. A class that is serious about individual and corporate Bible study– that is willing to invest itself in the lives of those in the class, is mission minded, reaching beyond the class to embrace others and to help meet the needs of those we come in contact with.” Contact: Cleatous Simmons [email protected] EMC – Edington Ministry Center CLC – Clayton Life Center THEOLOGY 201: 330-A EMC Do you have questions about God, but are afraid to ask? Everyone needs a safe place to ask questions, like, “What is the trinity? How does forgiveness work? What in the world does ‘covenant’ mean, anyway?” We have some—but not all—answers and our class will be a safe zone for questions. Come and join us for a six-week introduction to reformed theology and find out why your thoughts about God make a difference in what you believe, how you live, and who you are. Contact: Amy Heck [email protected] 407.423.3441 x1474 YOWELL: Reformation Chapel: “Led by various teachers, with fellowship and traditional hymns.” Contact: Jack Sneed [email protected] SERVANTS in the SON: 330-B EMC: “The members believe strongly in the Word and each lesson is wrapped in prayer. The class strives to live up to their name and serve in many ministries within our church and the community.” Contact: Al Williams 407.275.8756

fALL vOLUNTEEr
Children’s Ministry:
Title: Children Worship Leader (Kindergarten)

Description: Need drivers to deliver flowers to patients at local hospitals. We make small arrangements on Monday mornings to be delivered to members who are hospitalized. Must use your own vehicle. Hours: Monday mornings Contact: Glenda Morgan at 407.423.3441 x1272 or gmorgan@ fpco.org

OPPOrTUNITIES
Description: Worship commitment is once a month and all materials and lessons are provided. Hours: 8:30-9:30am and 11am-12pm, during regular worship hours. Contact: Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482

Heart of the City Foundation:
Title: Heritage Research Description: As projects arise, utilize the Heritage Center to research the lives of FPCO’s and HOCF’s heroes of the past. Assist in the development of the “Hall of Saint.” Hours: Five hours per month based on volunteer availability Contact: Amy Bishop at 407.423.3441 x1484 or [email protected]

Children’s Ministry:
Title: Junior Worship Leader (Grade 1-3) Description: Worship commitment is once a month and all materials and lessons are provided. Hours: 8:30-9:30am and 11am-12pm, during regular worship hours. Contact: Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482

Heart of the City Foundation:
Title: Scholarship Alumni Database Admin. Description: Utilizing past files, create a HOCF Scholarship Alumni Database. Hours: 20 hours total based on volunteer availability Contact: Amy Bishop at 407.423.3441 x1484 or [email protected]

Children’s Ministry:
Title: Sunday School Teacher (K-Grade 5) Description: Nine month every Sunday commitment. Materials and lessons are provided. Hours: 9:45-10:45am Contact: Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482

Compassion Corner Ministries:
Title: Shopper Description: Shop for toiletries and ministry supplies. Hours: Flexible Contact: Dawn Neff at 407.617.3370

Church Administration:
Title: Book Inventory Volunteer Description: Recording Library and Bookstore inventory Hours: Hours will vary based upon volunteer availability Contact: Janelle Hurst, Administrative Coordinator, at 407.423.3441 x1459 or [email protected]

Mercy Corridor Initiative: The Jobs Partnership:
Title: Résumé Coach Description: Work with one-two students in The Jobs Partnership class to help them create an effective résumé. Hours: Thursday, October 8 6:30-8:30pm; Thursday, October 15 6:30-8:30pm in EMC 320 Contact: Tami Kaiser 407.977.9715 or [email protected]

Church Facilities:
Title: Support Volunteer Description: Volunteers are needed to help our Special Services team with set up and clean up for special events. Some of the labor may require heavy lifting. Hours: On call; when needed Contact: Jack Walston, Director of Facilities and Technology, at 407-423-3441 x1470 or [email protected]

Mercy Corridor Initiative: The Jobs Partnership:
Title: Refreshment Providers Description: We are looking for small groups or families to provide a light supper for our volunteers and students for one of our Tuesday or Thursday night classes, who can drop off food or stay and serve. Hours: Tuesday and Thursday nights, September 1 – November 19; drop off food by 6pm. Contact: Tami Kaiser 407.977.9715 or [email protected]

Flower Ministry:
Title: Flower Assistants Description: Work with teams to arrange flowers for Worship Services. No experience necessary. Hours: Friday and Saturday for two-three hours Contact: Glenda Morgan at 407.423.3441 x1272 or gmorgan@ fpco.org

Mission/Urban Ministry Conference:
Title: Administrative Support Description: We need individuals to help us with mailings and other administrative tasks for our upcoming Urban Ministry Conference featuring Tony Campolo in January.

Flower Ministry:
Title: Flower Delivery Drivers
16 | www.fpco.org

Hours: Daytime hours, flexible, October Contact: Carol Hafer, Director of Mission, at 407.423.3441 x1460 or [email protected]

Contact: Rachael Aldrich at 407.423.3441 x2350 or raldrich@ fpco.org

Telecare Ministry:
Title: Telecare Caller Description: Make phone calls to church members to say “hello,” remind them we are thinking about them and to find out if they have any needs or concerns for which their church family can pray. Hours: You can either make calls from the church office the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm or from your home. Contact: Linda McCallister at 407.4233441 x1159 or [email protected]

Global Mission:
Title: Global Mission Team Member Description: Do you have a heart for a particular area of the world? Come care for and pray for our mission partners, and help educate our congregation about what God is doing in different parts of the world. Geographic teams include: Europe, Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and The Muslim World. Hours: Monthly meetings, vary Contact: Carol Hafer, Director of Mission, at 407.423.3441 x1460 or [email protected]

William E. Alexander Infant Child Care Center:
Title: Pre-K Spanish Teacher Description: Habla Español? Le gusta estar con niños de cuatro años? The Pre-K children of the Infant Child Care Center are taking a giant “leap into learning” this year and including spanish lessons in the curriculum. Hours: One hour weekly commitment to teach basic spanish vocabulary for the 2009-2010 school year. This includes half an hour actual instructional time, supported by regular ICCC staff. ICCC will accommodate your needs for occasional absences as well. Contact: Sue Pollock, Director Infant Child Care center at 407.425.1126 or [email protected] To view more opportunities, visit www.fpco.org/volunteer

Hi-Tech Tutoring Center:
Title: Tutors Description: Come help elementary, middle, or high school students with reading, homework, or computer skills. Hours: Flexible; the center is open weekly, Monday-Friday, between 3-7pm Contact: Ernestine Mosley or Holly Mosley Cooper at 407.872.1200 or [email protected]

Mission Ministry:
Title: Urban Ministry Liaison Description: Serve as a liaison with one of our local urban ministry partners. Get to know key leaders, find out specific needs, and ways we can work in partnership. Hours: Flexible Contact: Carol Hafer, Director of Mission, at 407.423.3441 x1460 or [email protected]

Student Ministry:
Title: Bulletin Board Coordinator Description: Design and update Student Ministry bulletin boards. Hours: 5-10 hours per month based on volunteer availability

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

eat. drink. dance.

10.01.09 6:00PM-10:00PM
THE TAP ROOM AT DUBSDREAD
www.feedtheneedorlando.com

THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER

BENEFITING THOSE IN NEED THROUGH

www.fpco.org | 17

fPCO mISSION dINO, dWIgHT, mAkES IT TO AfrICA!
bela, Kenya. Inspecting the work of FPCO mission partner, Global Hope Network International (www.ghni.org), Dwight met some of the men constructing a teacher’s dorm. The elderly gentleman thought Dwight was very interesting. Allison reports that everyone was laughing at Dwight and the nature of his squishy make-up! Dwight was nonplused. n

A

fter a jaunt through Ethiopia, Dwight was recently spotted with church member Allison Beck in Gam-

18 | www.fpco.org

neWs & nOTices
Tough Questions Sermon Series Available on CD and DVD Tough Questions Sermon Series CD and DVD sets will be available for purchase. Sets may be purchased online at www.fpco. org/cddvdorder or by contacting Aaron Rupp at 407.423.3441 x1438. The Healthy Reality of Parenting Classes Registration Opens September 6 Please join us for a new opportunity to look at and discuss what it means to have a healthy view of parenting. This is a six-week class that will cover the relationships of parenting led by Lynn Young, M.S. and her husband Scott. Class size is limited to 30, so registration is required. Classes will be held on Sundays, from October 4-November 15. There will be no class on November 6 due to the Marriage Retreat. Register online at www. fpco.org/register starting September 6 or contact Stacey Kirk at 407.423.3441 x1480, or [email protected]. Once the class is full, a waiting list will be compiled so for the next class session for which those on the waiting list will be contacted. Women’s Bible Study Continues with The Amazing Collection: The Post-Exilic Books This fall, the Women’s Bible study begins the third installment of The Amazing Collection with The Post-Exilic Books. Thursday meetings begin on September 10 and Monday meetings begin on September 14. For more information, visit www.fpco. org/womensfallbiblestudy. Register at www.fpco.org/register or pick up a form in the EMC Welcome Center. Fall Adult Sunday Class Offerings Begin September 13 Register now to attend one of the adult class offerings this fall on Sunday evenings, from 4:30–6:30pm. Registration forms are available in the lobby of the Edington Ministry Center or at www.fpco.org/register. Classes will begin September 13 and conclude November 15. For more information, contact Rev. Donna McClellan at 407.423.3441 x1488 or dmcclellan@fpco. org. Divorce Care for Adults and Children is Now In-Session Divorce Care for Adults and DC4K (Divorce Care for Kids) is now in session for the fall/winter sessions in CLC 106 for Adults and CLC 312 for kids, from 6:30-8:00pm. We meet for 13 sessions and you can join in at any time. For questions or to let us know if you are coming, please call Linda McCallister at 407.423.3441 x1159 or [email protected]. SONday Times for Children Begins September 13 Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will enjoy incredible music experiences, fun recreation, and engaging Bible study. This joint effort by Worship Arts and Children’s Ministries starts Sunday, September 13, from 4:30-6:30pm. Bible study this year will be scientific adventures that show us Jesus. No pre-registration necessary. There is a $10 fee for annual church insurance. For more information contact Carol Welker at 407.423.3441 x1490. Registration for IMOG (In the Image of God) Discipleship Class Begins September 13 Open to children in second and third grades, this class takes place during the Sunday School hour and children will learn about the reliability of the Bible, personal prayer, stewardship, FPCO church history, and why worship is important. The class begins October 4. A commitment of class attendance, memory work, and homework assignments are required. The fee is $20 and includes a class notebook and all special class supplies. The registration deadline is September 30. This is the first step toward confirmation. For more information, contact Carol Welker at 407.423.3441 x1490. Congratulations to: Scott and Caroline Miller, on the birth of their son, Thomas Michael Miller, born July 13, 2009. The proud grandparents are Tom and Kathryn Miller. Chuck and Tam Costar, on the birth of their son, Charles Baker Costar, born July 17, 2009. Lynne and Doug Rhea, on the birth of their son, Owen Matthew Rhea, born July 25, 2009. The proud grandparents are Bud and Bonnie Rhea. Rebecca and Shawn Buchanan, on the birth of their son, Kelson Buchanan, born July 21, 2009, and the proud grandmother is Diane Buchanan. Sympathy to: Tami and Jim Kaiser, on the death of Renee Kaiser on July 22, 2009. Peola Dews Jackson, on the death of her husband, Dr. William Roland Jackson, on August 1, 2009. Sue and Alex Hartley, on the death of his mother, Cynthia Hartley, on August 2, 2009. Mrs. Hartley was the grandmother of Joshua and Jerrod Hartley. Loni and Dr. Matthew Hurbanis, on the death of his grandmother, Mary Hurbanis, on August 3, 2009. Mrs. Hurbanis was the great grandmother of Peyton, Mandy and Luke Hurbanis. July ’09 Giving Snapshot General Operating July Gifts Fiscal Yearto-date Gifts Contributions $413,292 $413,292 Budgeted $415,800 $415,800 Surplus/ (Deficit) $(2,508) $(2,508)

Line of Credit $0 Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance IM July Gifts $39,045 $39,045 $4,336,446

IM Fiscal Year-to-date Gifts

(net of 10 percent tithe to Missions) Contact Finance for a full revenue & expense summary.

www.fpco.org | 19

first Presbyterian Church of Orlando
106 E. Church St., Orlando, fL 32801
The First Presbyterian Columns (USPS 604-040) is published once per month, by the First Presbyterian Church. Circulation: 4750. (3750 by US Mail, 1000 by on campus distribution). Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. POSTMaSTEr: Send address changes to COLUMnS, 106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390. ©2009 First Presbyterian Church of Orlando COLUMnS.

PErIODICaLS raTE US POSTaGE PaID OrLanDO, FL

106 East Church Street Orlando, Florida 32801 407.423.3441 | www.fpco.org Traditional Services: Sunday, 8:30 & 11am in the Sanctuary Genesis Services: Sunday, 8:30 & 11am in Lee Fellowship Hall Live Online Worship: Sunday, 11am www.fpco.org/live

POSTmASTEr: Time Sensitive material Please deliver by September 15, 2009