FPCO Columns - July 2008

8/14/2019 FPCO Columns - July 2008

1/24Vol 48, #7 July, 2008

UNEXPECTED

BLESSINGPage 6


2/24

Not long ago, I had a dif cult conversation with someone whose life had becomequite painful. With a bewildered look on his face he said, I just dont know how I gothere. In his mind, he was clearly off the path lost and couldnt gure out how hehad arrived there or what he needed to do to get back.

I think many of us reach such a place at some point in our lives. Were a bit likethe prodigal son making our own choices, defying our Father, and living in a far away place until we realize that we need to get back home. I came across a story in theWall Street Journal that reminded me of Gods faithful, enduring love for His children.It was about a 15-year-old girl in China named Huimei who was caught in the terribleearthquake that took place last May. Her parents, Liu and Tang, were migrant workersliving in Beijing, earning enough money to send their daughter to school, but still 800miles from the tiny mountainside village that was home.

On the Monday of the earthquake, all they knew was that Huimeis school hadcollapsed. Her fate was unknown, and so they began the grueling 800 mile trek back home, a journey that took three days by boat, by foot, and by train. With no money and little food, they traveled with 16 others from their home village. The destructionaround them created additional hardship roads and railways destroyed crevicesto somehow get over but they kept going. Carrying all their worldly belongings ontheir backs, they climbed the last stretch to their village and found the school director,only to receive the crushing news that Huimei had not survived. She was one of 270students lost in that schools collapse.

Such news is dif cult for us to hear. Loss like this seems so unfair, so void of Gods

presence, and yet it mirrors physically what is happening spiritually. We live in a dan-gerous time where the moral and ethical foundations of our culture seem near collapse. And sometimes we get caught in it. Sometimes, people perish. Yet the hope of the gos-pel is the relentless, sacri cial nature of God who comes to us pursues us sacri cesHimself for us. No matter the obstacle even death He comes.

I hope you know that today. I hope you know that Gods love for you is so deep sorich so complete that He will pursue you to the ends of the earth that you may notperish. In light of that, how could you see yourself as anything but precious in the sightof God? My hope as your pastor is that we can create a community of faith in whichthat love is known, felt and shared.

Be in prayer for our church as we move through a busy summer and get ready foran exciting fall in which we will explore the question of Who is God? The works of

Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins are pushing thequestion, so Im going to spend ten weeks looking at it. Thesemen say God does not exist and they give plenty of reasonsto support their thesis. Well look at their statements, at the world and at Scripture, and see how it all holds up.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you soon. In themeantime, I remain

Yours in the Ministry of Christ,

David

ON THE WAYwith Dr. David D. Swanson

Dear FPCO Family and Friends,

WHEN WAS THE

LAST TIMEYOU INVITEDSOMEONE TO

CHURCH?

The topic of this falls sermonseries, beginning

September 7 ,is appealing to

those seeking tounderstand more

about Christianity .Why not Commit

to praying over thesummer about who

you might inviteto church to hear

this message .

| www.fpco.org


3/24www.fpco.or

On Sunday, June 8, First Presbyterian Church of Orlandocommissioned seven new Stephen Ministers for service. They are: Lee Ballard, Debbie Barnhart, Betsy Guerrero, Betty Rice,Maitreya Sims, Robert Smith and Brenda Tompkins. These sev-en people have been through 50 hours of specialized training inChristian care giving and join a team of 30 Stephen Ministers atFirst Presbyterian. Stephen Ministers provide con dential one-on-one Christian care to people experiencing a crisis or goingthrough a dif cult time.

Here is the story of one of the new Stephen Ministers,Robert Smith:

It was on November 14, 2007, that I received a letter and application form giving me an overview of the forthcomingtraining program for Stephen Ministers. This was to commence from January, 2008, and would entail intensive training and study. It would be a commitment for not less than two years. I did not respond for some time as I felt that if I was to take on theresponsibility of becoming a care giver, I needed to feel that this

was the path to follow and it was the Lords will and not mine.Upon my arrival for the rst training session, I wasgreeted warmly by the course principle. With warmth and understanding, she showed this was without a doubt, a car-ing and loving ministry that was Christ-centered and not man-centered. This rst meeting was to get an overview of the program and meet our fellow students. In total twenty-one, fourteen ladies and seven men, were from different denomi-nations, backgrounds, cultures and age groups - from earlytwenties to the more senior years. Without exception, puttingaside our religious doctrine, we all had the same desire to be

open to the will of our Lord Jesus, by letting His spirit ll usand work through us and build a caring relationship withthose that need support during a crisis time in life.

Over the weeks and months that followed, the bond be-tween us became stronger it felt that as strong as any fam-ily (in some cases more). The openness and trust that we dis- played to each other were evident: that we ourselves, are not without fears, hurts and disappointments in our lives and need to feel the that we can share our intimate and personal issues within the con nes of con dentiality, compassion and Christian care. It is these qualities that I believe every Stephen

minister has. We are armed with this belief, and acknowledg-ing that we will only be effective in our ministry if we are opento the Lord, to let Him work through our short comings, never to impose our will on the care receiver but to be there to support and to show the love of Christ through our commitment tothem during their time of need.

We see families that are broken by divorce, violence,drugs, alcohol addiction, child abuse, grief of losing a partner,loneliness, homelessness. I believe that we should do the thingswe can do, and let the Lord do the things that we cannot do. If only more of us took the time to extend the hand of friendshipand to show kindness, a smile to that one person that we meet in our daily lives, who knows what doors would open for us all to become care givers to a hurting world?

I am con dent that anyone reading this will, with the power of the Holy Spirit, take this challenge and become a caregiver. Just start in your own family and see where it leads. I would simply ask for your prayer support to keep us humbleand to seek our Saviors guidance in a caring ministry. n

C ME TO ME ALLWHO ARE HEAVY LADEN


4/24| www.fpco.org

In the Spring of 2005 a newly formed Mens Ministry Com-mittee took shape. The purpose of this group was to serve themen of FPCO in their journey of faith. The question that wesought to answer was, What do men need to grow in their walks with the Lord? Two issues quickly surfaced. First, aregular time to gather with friends both new and old for fel-lowship and spiritual input. Thus, Thirsty Thursday emergedunder the tireless leadership of Keith Holcomb and his crew.Second, there was a strong sense of conviction, mostly from ourown personal experiences, that men needed a place to connect,to be known, to love and be loved in order to grow.

By the Fall of 2006, with leaders in place, it was time to chal-lenge every man at FPCO to Rise Up and join a small group Bi-

ble study. Our goal was that no man be left behind. The response was incredible, although we still have a ways to go before we seeevery man in our church experiencing this sort of community.

For many of the men who signed up this was a rst. My faith is a private matter, had been their mantra for years. Although our spiritual journeys begin because of a personalchoice to accept Jesus Christ as our savior, the Christian life isnot a private one. The Bible refers to the church as the body of Christ and no part of the body operates in isolation. Even theepistles were written to a community of believers in Ephesus,Corinth, etc.

Below is the story of one man of FPCO, Greg Ickes, and his journey to the reality that faith is not a private matter.I can remember being in church a couple years back

and I believe it was Paul Ellis & Daryl Carter who spokeabout a Mens Ministry initiative to form small groups within the church. At the time, I can remember being in-trigued by the thought of the small group concept but prob-

ably not intrigued enough to go sign up on my own. Personally, I had been going to church for most of my life

but I had not consistently attended any type of extracurricu-lar church activity since I was involved with a youth group inmiddle school. Also, I was the type of person that would tell you that my religion was a private matter and I was not real comfortable discussing Christian ideas/concepts with other people. Well, my wife and I walked out of church one Sundayand went over to say hello to Paul Ellis and he handed me asign-up form and said you NEED to sign up. That was about all the pushing I needed and within a few weeks our small group had formed, consisting of approximately 12 men that were in a similar season of life.

Our group was led by Paul Ellis & Coy Tipping. At our rst meeting we all decided the best time to meet was Tuesdaymornings at 6:30am. I have to say that I initially wasnt thrilled with the early morning time slot but it didnt take long for meto look forward to getting together with everybody on Tuesdaymornings. We have been meeting now for over 20 months and the group has grown pretty close to each other during that peri-od. We have shared many life experiences together, which haveincluded new babies, career changes, baptisms, family deaths, parenting struggles and the list goes on & on.

Around a year or so after the formation of our group, we had

completed a few different studies and started to talk about what we should do next. Dr. Bill Cain came to speak to our group and he challenged us to consider putting together our own 10-week Alpha course. I can speak for the group that this fell outside of everybodys comfort zone and personally, I quickly went backto my roots of religion is a personal matter for me. After sev-eral weeks of discussion, deep thought & prayerthe group de-cided that Alpha was the way to go for us. Over the next coupleof months, many of us stepped far outside our comfort zone and extended invites to family, friends, co-workers, etc.

We are almost nished with our Alpha series and it has far exceeded my expectations. We have consistently had 40 menin attendance and the mix of people includes non-believers, people from other religions, general skeptics, people raised inthe church but who are apathetic with their faith, and believ-ers looking to build on their faith. The series has provided asafe environment for these men to talk openly about the toughquestions of faith and attempt to seek answers to those ques-tions. The general consensus from the Alpha group is theywant something to go on. Therefore, we are putting together another series that will provide a weekly opportunity for thissame group of men to come together and continue to exploreChristianity.

MY FAITH IS A PRIVATE MATT

The Man in the Mirror

EXPERIENCECONFERENCEOctober 18, 2008

8am 1 pmLee Fellowship Hall

By Daryl Carter


5/24


6/24| www.fpco.org

For years, I was one of those who insisted, Handicaps hap-pen to other people, other families. Wheelchairs will never beseen in our home. I wasnt being a snob; I was simply beingrealistic. My family was the athletic type, always up for a gameof tennis or packing a knapsack for a hike. Why, my three oldersisters and I never so much as sprained an ankle.

All that changed on a hot July afternoon in 1967 when my sister Kathy and I went to a beach on the Chesapeake Bay fora swim. The water was dark and murky in the later afternoonsun and I didnt bother to check the depth when I hoisted my-self onto a raft anchored offshore. I positioned my feet on theedge, took a deep breath and plunged intothe water. Sprong! My head hit somethinghard and snapped back. I felt a strangeelectric shock in the back of my neck. Un-derwater and dazed, I felt myself oating,drifting, unable to surface to the top.

My lungs were screaming for air, but just as I opened my mouth to breathe water, I felt my sisters arms around me,lifting me to fresh air. Kathy, I spluttered when I saw my lifeless arm slung overher shoulder, I cant feel! A sunbatherrushed into the water to bring his raft.Someone called an ambulance. Within anhour, nurses in the hospital emergency room were cutting off my wet bathing suit,rings and necklace. My head was spinning and I began to loseconsciousness when I heard a buzzing drill near my head.

My diving accident catapulted me into the strange, fright-ening world of antiseptic smells, tubes and machines. Formonths I lay on a Stryker frame, a long canvas sandwich,on which I was face up for several hours and then ipped facedown to prevent pressure sores. It didnt help. I lost so much

weight those rst months that my bones literally began to stick to my esh. That meant more operations and more months onthe Stryker frame. Deep, dark depression set in. How could you have allowed this to happen to me, God? I asked. I was aChristian before my accident and if this is your idea of an an-swer to prayer for a closer walk with you, then Ill never trust you with another prayer again!

Little did I realize that friends were praying for me aroundthe clock. As weeks wore on, I began to sense a difference. My anger was subsiding. My depression was slowly lifting. God,unbeknownst to me, was wearing down my resistance throughthe power and pressure of prayer.

I really noticed the change in oc-cupational therapy. Weeks earlier, Ihad stubbornly refused to learn how to write with a pencil clenched be-tween my teeth. But that was beforeI met Tom, a young ventilator-de-pendent quadriplegic who was much

more paralyzed then me. His attitude was buoyant and enthusi-astic as he willingly permitted the therapist to put the pen in hismouth. I was ashamed of my grumbling and complaining.

God used the prayers of my friends and the example of Tom to show me the truth of Romans 8:28, In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. Maybe Gods ideaof good for me might not include being back up on my feet, but

His good would include a more exible attitude, an apprecia-tion for small things, a deeper gratitude for friendships, and acharacter which would re ect patience, endurance and joy thatdid not depend on circumstances.

And now, more than 30 years later, I would say the same. Ithasnt been easy, but Gods power and strength still come shin-ing through. Besides, He knows exactly how I feel. He once suf-fered, too. And because Jesus could turn His cross into a sym- bol of hope and freedom, can I do any less? My wheelchair isthe prison God has used to set my spirit free!

Learn more about Jonis Ministry: www.joniandfriends.org. n

SET MYSPIRIT FREE By Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni and her dad at the beach.


7/24


8/24


9/24

of Christian leadership. We ensure that our curriculum is aligned with national standards and that our teachers are equipped withthe best tools including integrated classroom technology andresearch-based professional development opportunities. 98% of our 2008 graduates have been accepted into a private high school

or public high school specialized program of their rst choice.Some of the colleges TCSalumni are currently at-tending include: ClemsonUniversity, Florida StateUniversity, Harvard Uni- versity, Rollins College,the U.S. Naval Academy,

University of Alabama, Univer-sity of Central Florida, Universi-ty of Florida, Stetson University,

Swarthmore College, VanderbiltUniversity, Wake Forest Univer-sity, and Yale University.

The spiritual developmentof our students makes our schooldistinct from other downtownschool options. We believe asPaul wrote in chapter 2 of Colos-sians, that our students should be encouraged in heart andunited in love, so that they may have the full riches of completeunderstanding, in order thatthey may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whomare hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We be-lieve that it is our responsibility to foster the Biblical epistemolo-gy of our students; that is, to helpthem understand the answer to

the following questions: 1) How do we know what we know and2) How do we know that what we know is true? Our students

begin each day with chapel and study Gods word in Bible class. All of our teachers are Christians and are expected to integratefaith development in their teaching of reading, writing, mathe-matics, science, social studies, physical education, and the arts.It is through our faith integrated curriculum that we seek toestablish a Bible-based platform from which our students will

view themselves and the world.The physical development of our students is fostered

through many opportunities for activity. Physical educationclasses are offered daily and TCS students have access to FirstPresbyterians NBA-regulation gym, as well as outdoor green

spaces and playgrounds. Students also have the opportunity toparticipate in ne and performing arts programs with classes inart, band, dance, and drama as well as inter-scholastic sportsprograms that include basketball, cheerleading, cross country,golf, softball, tennis, track and eld and volleyball. Addition-ally, TCS students who excel in sports outside of school suchas competitive gymnastics and tennis are provided with ex-ible scheduling that allows them to further develop their talents while remaining enrolled in school.

The social development of our students provides them withexperiences to grow their faith from their head to their heart

and hands. Our downtown location provides hands-on expo-sure to local government, urban arts, and the business district.Students regularly participate in walking lunches to downtown venues. Additionally, our students demonstrate their faith by serving others through school-wide, community, and interna-tional service projects. In middle school, our students furtherdevelop their leadership skills through participation in the Fel-lowship of Christian Athletes, Student Government, and theNational Junior Honor Society.

The Christ School is proud to be a ministry partner withthe First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. We ask that you pray for the work of our school as we develop Christian leaders who will re ect Gods glory. Additionally, we would be more thanhappy to provide you with a tour or more information aboutour school. We are currently enrolling students for the 2008-09school year. n

www.fpco.or

You are Invited toThe Christ Schools

OPEN HOUSE

Friday, July 11 at 11am-1pm

Lunch is provided

RSVP: 407.849.1665 [email protected]


10/240 | www.fpco.org

Dr. Swanson is honored to hear from members about how God is transforming their lives. May this re ection on a spiritual journey inspire all and encourage your own relationship checkwith God.

your small group programs, and this church in general, have been of particular importanceto me recently. Although I know it is my fault, this past year has easily been the worst year of my life, but yet it has also been the most spiritually productive year of my life. For that reason, I alsoconsider it to be the best year of my life. Quite a paradox. I have had no job, no income, no self-esteem, and most importantly, no pride in anything whatsoever that I have ever done. I have losteverything nancially that I had earned over my entire career. I told my wife that I started out of college with three pieces of furniture and a broken TV. I went on to be successful by most peoplesearthly standards, but other than stuff accumulated during that period, I have returned to exactly where I was when I got out of school (with the exception of not even having a job to go to eachday). That is why I can call it the worst year of my life. On the other hand, the good things thathave happened this year are eternal, and FAR outnumber those temporary things. I dont evenknow how to cover it because it is so huge and I have to get my thoughts organized, but the high-lights of the good that has happened over the last year are these:

THE WORST YEAR,THE BEST YEAR

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

I have learned what a personal relationship with our Lord is. I always thought I had one, but I didnt. I prayed almostevery day. We went to church. We said a blessing before each meal. We have Christ ian symbols on our cars. We hadour child in Pre-K at the church and made sure to teach her all of the Bible stories and that Jesus is the only person who loves her more than we do. I told anyone who asked that I was a believer. Beyond that, we went about our liveslike I suppose many other families do. Long story short, I have come to learn more of what constitutes a relationship

and dependence on God for everything. Those things we were doing were part of being a Christian, but have little or nothing to do with having a personal relationship with the Lord. This jobless period (or what I call my time in the wilderness) has been used by God to force me into a personal relationship with Him. One I could have read about and studied in Sunday School for yearsand not gotten until this kind of adversity hit me. I am quite sure that the adversary intended to use this experience to break upmy marriage and family and my faith in God, but I must praise God for turning the tables on Satan.

I have learned that even though I thought I was not a prideful person, I was. I would have never, ever bragged to

anyone on how much money I earned (not that I was by any means rich) or how good something I had was, but I would have been quick to tell you that I was proud of how I was able to provide for my family in terms of the basics food, shelter, etc. Well, through an unbelievably generous gift to my family from my father-in-law (which was really a blessing from God the whole time and I was too prideful to see it), I have learned that I NEVER did provide any

of those things GOD provided everything and always had. My pride had me thinking my hard work paid off with my ability totake care of my family. Yes, I went to work each day, but God not only provided the job originally years ago, but also gave me thephysical and mental strength to accomplish each and every daily task. I knew this as a concept before I lost my job and I did thank God for my job, but that did not teach me a thing. It was just something I repeated each night. Despite having almost no nancialresources right now, God provides for my family in abundance. Keith Wright once told me that I would be amazed at Gods provi-sion, and he was and still is correct I am amazed each day. I have no job and have not earned a single penny since last June, but yet I have wanted for nothing. My family starts each day with a group prayer and we thank God for all of His blessings none of which we deserve and all of which are from Him.

1)

2)


11/24www.fpco.org

IS GODMOVING INYOUR LIFE?

Share your testimony with other mem-bers through our Web site. MYFPCOis a social community where churchmembers can share their experiences,engage in discussion and build rela-tionships. Whether in person or online,First Presbyterian seeks to be a vibrantcommunity of believers who experi-ence life together.

MYFPCO.org

I have learned what spiritual warfare is from a personal per-spective. This is something else I could go on and on about, but I have learned that ghting the adversary is real and re-quires constant attention. This war has consisted of many battles some of which I have lost to be sure, but my hope

and prayer is to win the war. I realize that God uses spiritual warfare toaccomplish His will and I am con dent His purposes will be ful lled, butgetting there is not easy AT ALL. This spiritual WAR has caused me to real-ize that I will not be content with being a Sunday Christian like I have beenmy whole life. I want to work to advance Gods Kingdom. I have always been a Christian, but now I want to be a true FOLLOWER of Jesus Christand I want to ensure others make the same commitment. I just need somedirection while I get the rest of my life/career gured out. I pray daily forthis direction and guidance. It is really my prayer that the two can go hand-in-hand somehow and am eagerly awaiting Gods answer.

3)

I have had countless family experiences that would not havehappened if I were working each day or if my life had re-

mained as it was. God blessed us through our families tomake it possible for my daughter to go to The Christ School,so I have been able to drive her to school and go on almost all

eld trips. I have also been able to watch my son grow through his wholesecond year of life. My relationship with my wife has also been strength-ened through this period of my life. At no time have I ever been more surethat she was the answer to prayer as I have been from the moment I lostmy job. I have not heard a single disparaging comment from her. All of her words have been of encouragement. Every time I got down on myself, she was there to pick me up.

4)

www.fpco.org



On Saturday, April 24, 2008, walkers crowded Lake Eola indowntown Orlando. The event was the annual AIDS walk andMarnie Waldrop and I were among the walkers. I was struck by the diversity of those attending; there were families with chil-dren in strollers, groups, couples, singles, and many four legged walkers. While diversity surrounded us, the common goal wasto raise money and awareness for a disease that has claimed thelives of more than 25 million people since it was rst recognizedin 1981. In 2007, it is estimated that the AIDS pandemic killed2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. In the face of such overwhelming statistics, could our donations and a few laps around Lake Eola really make a difference?

That morning I met a childhood friend of Marnies, JohnBarber, who suffers from the disease, as well as a group of doc-tors whose life work is with HIV/AIDS patients. As we circled thelake, I listened to these individuals talk and watched the close ca-

maraderie of friendship and support. With each lap, HIV/AIDS became less of a statistic and more personal. I was surrounded by bright, talented, and articulate people, some of whom sufferedfrom the disease and others who loved people who suffered. Iconfess that, at times, I was challenged by my own discomfort. What if I said the wrong thing or offended someone? Many knew that Marnie and I were walking on behalf of the AIDS Task Forceat First Presbyterian and I wondered what they thought of ourchurch. Would they come to worship if we invited them? And if they came, would they nd First Presbyterian to be a place thatministered to their needs, that encouraged them to grow spiritu-ally, and supported them relationally?

Jesus said, For I was hungry and you gave me somethingto eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was astranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothedme, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:35-36). I believe that withthese words, Jesus calls us into service to those in need. I washonored to be a very small part of a morning that raised over$130,000 for outreach and education programs, case manage-ment, testing, counseling, food pantry, and insurance servicesto those with HIV and AIDS. It is my prayer that this is just the beginning for me and for our church in our ministry to those with HIV and AIDS. We may be taking baby steps but let uscontinue together on the race that is marked out for us. Letus x our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.(Hebrews 12:1-2). n

HIV/AIDS Ministry Next Step: Our HIV/AIDSteam will launch a downtown support group on Septem-ber 18. Andy Blanchard, an FPCO Coalition Counselor,and Allison Reed, Stephen Ministry, are working with Dr.Swanson to develop this program. The Ministry team willreach out to downtown church pastors and doctors of cesto help get the word out. If you would like to join this team,please contact Paula Lindrum in Dr. Swansons of ce.

WALKING TO HELPTHOSE IN NEED

By Melissa Ramb


13/24www.fpco.org

The Christian Service Center provides thehurting of our community with programs designedto meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.In 1977 First Presbyterian helped to establish TheCenter, which is now supported by area churches, businesses, civic organizations, foundations, andindividuals.

On May 2, the Christian Service Centers Daily Bread Program celebrated the serving of its threemillionth free meal! The Daily Bread programserves free noontime meals from soup kitchensand dining facilities in downtown Orlando andOcoee. Dr. Swanson and Rev. Thorp participatedin marking this milestone of service.

First Presbyterian member Londra Meadshares her familys Daily Bread experience:

My oldest daughter and her family, wholive in Texas, visit me every Christmas. This past

year I thought that my two teenage grandchil-dren might wish to share their Christmas joy with those less fortunate by serving lunch to the homeless.

As a liaison to the Christian Service Center, I naturallythought of our volunteering there. We included other familymembers as well as younger grandchildren, ages 9 and 10, inthe group. To see a homeless family with nothing but the clotheson their back during the holiday period when theres so muchoverabundance of food and gifts in our own lives, is an experi-ence that you, and your children, will never forget. We weretruly doing Gods work, and it was a privilege to serve them.

My sixteen-year-old grandson Alec shared:I had no idea that there were so many children and fam-

ilies on the street. When you think of the homeless, an older mans face always comes to mind. This experience gave me aglimpse into their lives and it was sobering. I really enjoyed knowing that I was helping them to survive. Actually, it lled me with great joy and I hope it did for them. I am very grateful for all that I have and am grateful for the opportunity to serve. It is just one way of giving back.

I would encourage the families of our church to take advan-tage of this opportunity both to serve and educate your families

about the realities of our community and the opportunity to be Jesus to others.

Each year First Presbyterian serves free lunches duringthe rst week of July to those in need at the Daily Bread pro-gram. If you would like to help, please call Susie Kemper at407-273-0687.

July is Food Share Month. Help restock the Christian Ser- vice Center food pantry with canned goods. Bring your dona-tions to church every Sunday in July. Look for collection bins inthe Welcome Center and under the Angel Wing. n

JULY BRINGS MISSION FOCUS TOCHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTE

www.fpco.org



The Compassion Corner Ministry Team remains active in service since the physical space for ministry was closed in

late April. IDignity is a joint effort among the downtown churches to bring together the elements necessary for a home-less individual to get the identi cation necessary to obtain a job, rent an apartment, and take advantage of the many social

services offered in the city. Alex Hartley, a faithful volunteer in FPCOs homeless ministry, re ects on his experience:

Our goal was to assist the homeless and others in need of state issued I.D.s like Driver Licenses. These I.D.shelp make it possible for our brothers and sisters in need to receive services, apply for work, and establish or

re-establish themselves in the community. Prior to being involved with this ministry, I had no idea the extraor-

dinary need that exists regarding something I take for granted daily. Just having the ability and resourcesnecessary for obtaining personal identi cation is such a blessing! However, it can be very challenging to obtain

if you are homeless and having dif culty with daily living.Upon entering the mission, there were dozens of people awaiting this important offering. I was impressed

with the incredible effort put forth by so many volunteers to gather names and information then direct peopleto the different services being provided. It was encouraging and spiritually uplifting to work along side fellow

believers and getting to know members of other congregations.We had volunteers from several local churches and representatives from the state to assist in providing the

I.D.s. We were clearly putting feet and hands to our faith, creating an opportunity to share Christ by simply be-ing available and teachable. Having spent many hours over the past three years leading Biblically-based stud-

ies at Compassion Corner with the homeless, I learned that small gestures of love, encouragement, hope, and

charity can make a great deal of difference in the lives of those we touch. Knowing people by name and listeningto their stories, then praying with them and for them honors Christ and our commitment to Him.

It is my hope to serve with IDignity again in the future and I would encourage others to volunteer as well.Through Gods grace and the spirit of giving time and talent to those in need, lives were positively impacted,

including each of us that were able to serve.

IDignity founding churches are The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, FPCO, First United Methodist Church of Orlando,St. James Catholic Cathedral and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Two events have occurred already and a third is scheduled for Thursday, July 17 at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.If you would like to serve on that day, please contact Dawn Neff at [email protected] or by calling 407- 647-3940. n

DOWNTOWN CHURCHES

UNITETO SERVE HOMELESS

By Rev. Case Thorp


15/24www.fpco.org

UPDATE:COMPASSIONCORNERA special taskforce appointed

by the Mission Committee andSession continues to work withthe leaders of Compassion Cor-ner to nd a temporary site todo ministry. One option camevery close to working, but didnot go through. Two other po-

tential options are being pur-sued. Meanwhile, our churchleaders are praying through anopportunity for a permanenthome and greater scope of ministry to bless the homelessin the name of Christ. Compas-

sion Corner Transition Task-force members include: BuzAusley, Sara Holcomb, ChrisKing, Dawn Neff, Jack Wal-ston, and Rev. Case Thorp.

www.fpco.org



This is a word that I have always been familiar with, buthad not really experienced until the parting of this graduatingclass of 2008. If I am honest with myself, my heart sinks alittle bit when I realize that this group will not be darkeningthe doors of the high school Haze room anymore. You see, thishas been an exceptional class. From the moment I met themas sophomores they have impressed me. This is a group thatgenuinely cares about growing in their faith, a group that askschallenging questions, and a group that gets excited when they make spiritual discoveries. Whether it has been through youthgroup attendance, leading underclassmen in small groups ormaking new people feel welcome, this group has exhibited anuncanny gift to lead others. It is for all of these reasons that ithas been slightly bitter to bid them farewell.

But, living up to its de nition, I am thankful that the

word bittersweet has two sides. You see, the reasons thatmake their departure bitter are the very same reasons thatmake their transition so sweet. In my estimation, close to20 schools across the country will get to experience what theStudent Ministry at FPCO has experienced: remarkable individuals who love people and really love the Lord. That meansthat small colleges, military academies and large universitiesalike are in for quite a treat this fall! I believe that the spiritualfootprints this class will leave on their respective campuses will not only advance Gods kingdom but grow it as well. It is when I come to this realization that the sweet overtakes thebitter in my mixed emotions and I nd myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to play a small part in sucha phenomenal class.

God bless you all! n

GRADUATING SENIORS CELEBRATE WIT

THEIR CHURCH FAMILYBy Jonathan Christian, Student Ministry High School Coordinatorbittersweet (adj) both pleasant and painful or regretful


17/24www.fpco.org

SUNDAY MORNINGADULT DISCIPLESHIP

CLASSESPASS THE WORD!

I have loved the class taught by Cleat, says a memberof the Pass the Word Sunday School class. He is always well

prepared and it is always a challenge to my spiritual growth. We are currently studying the book of Revelation and Cleat

takes care to always present different points of view for the book and closes with a personal application to ponder for the

following week. I believe that anyone who seriously wants a

good study would bene t from taking this class. The people who attend are friendly and caring and it serves as a small

group for my husband and I since it is dif cult for us to getinto downtown midweek to participate in other groups.

Cleat Simmons (pictured above) welcomes new members to this diverse small group that enjoys studying from

the Bible while extracting the ancient wisdom and discuss-ing the practical applications of that wisdom to our modern

times and culture. Pass the Word meets at 9:45am in Room241-Allen Hall. Bring your Bible! n

YOWELLCLASS

By Michael D. Ashington-Pickett

Diversity in how we worship is one of thequalities that First Presbyterian Church values

and strives to achieve. This is seen not just in

our worship services at 8:30 and 11:00, but in

our Sunday School classes as well. The Yowell

class is a great example. By far, this class has

been in existence the longest (since 1906) and

demonstrates on a weekly basis a tradition of

fellowship, hymn sing and great Bible teaching.

Long time church members Buz Ausley, BillODell and Leon Handley do a superb job teach-

ing from both the Old and New Testaments and

provide in-depth insight as they communicate

the message in a practical way that encourages

spiritual growth.

If you are looking for that special class that

will stimulate your morning of worship and

study, join them at 9:45am in the Reformation

Chapel.

If you have questions about Sunday School

offerings, please contact Rev. Donna McClellan

at 407-423-3441 x1488 or email dmcclellan@

fpco.org. All classes extend an open invitation

to join! n


19/24www.fpco.org

SECOND MILE FUNDESTABLISHED TO HELP CHANGE PEOPLE LI

C.J. BELLAMBy Amy Bishop, Heart of the City Foundation

C.J. Bellamy was a junior at Edgewater High School and a

member of the varsity basketball team when a random drive-by

shooting at a gas station on Colonial Drive left him paralyzed

from the waist down. He is a bright student and well respected

in the community, but his parents are nancially stretched in

caring for C.J. and his two siblings.

Two members of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando,

Mike McClanahan and Doug Woodman, were moved to make

a difference in C.J.s life and in the lives of other disadvantaged youths in the future. Their vision brought The Second Mile

Fund to life through The Heart of the City Foundation. The

Second Mile Fund has donated $23,000 in conjunction with

a $15,000 donation from Wayne Densch Charities to retro t

the Bellamys home to allow C.J. to have some independence

and live more comfortably. The Bellamys home can now ac-

commodate CJ with ramps and a handicap accessible bedroom

and bathroom.

The goal is to continue to build the endowment in theSecond Mile Fund so that it can continue to help families

with special circumstances like C.J.s. The Heart of the City

Foundation exists to fulfill the ministry and mission of First

Presbyterian Church of Orlando and its members and wel-

comes the opportunity to explore ways to help members

give to Gods work in creative ways. Please consider a tax-

deductible donation to the Heart of the City Foundation

Second Mile Fund. n



SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATUR

0 | www.fpco.org


21/24www.fpco.org

First Presbyterian is excited about this falls opportuni-

ties for youngsters, youth and adults to be on campus en-gaged in study opportunities that will promote our spiritualgrowth while deepening our connection to this faith commu-nity. This year, our study time on campus will be late Sunday afternoon, from 4:306:30pm, beginning September 14. Of-ferings will include:

A dult Bible Studies: Watch for further details on in-depthBible class offerings hosted by pastors and leaders that will whet your appetite to be in The Word!

Drug Proofng Your Kids: A class for parents with chil-dren between the ages of 8 and 13. Developed by Focus on theFamily the class provides parents insight and education aboutdrugs and the consequences of children getting involved inthis addiction. It will equip you to recognize signs of childrentaking drugs, it will help you educate your children in makinggood choices and will offer prevention tools. This is an eight week course with a fee of $30 per participant which coversmaterials.

Fit for Life: Great emphasis is placed on our physical health

today, but there is much more to health than just our bodies.Join two-time Mr. Olympia Simon Morgan and his wife, Kris,as they help us become Fit for Life. Each class will includetraining on one element of nutrition (i.e. proteins), one part of the body (hamstrings), and one truth of Scripture (forgiveness). Youll get in a good workout all the way around! Put on your workout clothes and join us in the gym!

Life Group Support: For existing Life Communities, Disciple-ship & Spiritual Formation will provide appropriate meeting spacefor your group to gather on Sunday afternoons. There are many great studies available for check-out. If youd like to review the

study offerings in the Resource Center or reserve meeting space,contact Lori Needham at 407-423-3441 or [email protected]

Also available on Sunday afternoons will be child care forchildren through Pre-kindergarten, Childrens and StudentMinistry offerings and family style meals. If you have ques-tions, contact Rev. Donna McClellan at [email protected] 407-423-3441 x1488. n

Coming this fall, September 14 to be exact, is a whole new program on Sundays. We are of cially moving Wednesday to

Sunday. And in that move, we are expanding. We will gather fortwo hours of music, music activity, recreation and Bible study.

Sonday Times is a time for children Kindergarten thru5th grade to come together for incredible sound and mu-sic experiences, fun and crazy recreation and relational andengaging Bible study. A joint effort by the Worship Arts andChildrens Ministries, your kid couldnt get a better way tospend Sunday afternoons!

Programming will take place between 4:30-6:30pm, fromSeptember 14 through November 16. Between 4:30-5:30pmkids will be with our Worship Arts staff experiencing music

in ways in which they have never dreamed. Song, drums, bells, and who knows what else will come resounding from

the rooms as kids learn and participate in music in creative,fun and interactive ways. At 5:30pm they will transit to be with our Childrens Ministry staff for some energy-filledgames that will not be forgotten. To be followed by Biblestudy that will bring practical help from God into the kidsdaily lives.

So to answer the question, how do you spend your time with the Son? I spend my time engaged in music, relationships,and having fun. And best of all theres no traf c. So make plansnow to get your kids involved on Sunday afternoons in Sonday Times! n

COMING THIS FALLSUNDAYS!By Lori Needham, Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

SONDAY TIMES: HOW DO YOU SPENDYOUR TIME WITH THE SON?

By Carol Welker, Director of Childrens Ministry



SUMMERFACILITIES PROJECTBy Dr. Keith Wright, Executive PastorDuring the summer months, we will be conducting a number of facility projects on the

FPCO campusto spruce things up, to address maintenance issues, and to assure that our

buildings are in the best possible condition for the fall ministry schedule. You will notice ourstaff and outside contractors hard at work on several large scale projects:

Great Lawn ConditioningBy the end of the school year, combined with the impact of the drought, the Great Lawn looks more like the Great Weed Patch. We will be laying downtopsoil, over-seeding, and treating the lawn for weed and insect control to restore it to itsintended condition.

Reformation Chapel Roof ReplacementFollowing the hurricanes of 2005, we mademajor repairs to the Sanctuary Roof and the Clayton Life Center. Then our premiums

for our wind policy increased dramatically, forcing us to nd a new insurance car-rier. The good news is that we found coverage at an acceptable price. The bad news

is that they would not cover the Chapel roof for wind due to the age and structural

integrity of the existing roof. A new Welsh Grey slate roof will be installedmuch to the joy of Rev. Sam Knight.

Yowell and Allen Hall ProjectsDue to normal wear and tear, carpeting inselected rooms in Allen and Yowell Halls will be replaced. We will also replaceall 218 window blinds in the building.

Edington Ministry Center Lobby and Great Hall FloorsThe EMC lobby is not only our main campus entry point, but also our receiving area. After

several years of foot traf c and receiving shipments, some marble tiles arecracked and the grout needs replacing in some areas. We will recondition

the EMC marble ooring to prevent further damage, and to restore thetiles beauty.

Lee Fellowship Hall Floor ReconditioningDuring the rst two weeks of August we will strip, sand, clean, seal, and coat the LFH

oor. The Lee Fellowship Hall is one of our most used rooms, andis also the venue for our two Genesis worship services. Pleasenote that the LFH will be closed on Sunday, August 10, in orderto accommodate this project. We will combine worship services in the Sanctuary on that date, and the BASIC, class willnot meet.

Our staff will also be doing our normal summer routine of painting, planting, mulching, deep cleaning, pressure washing,

and general maintenance. n

2 | www.fpco.org


23/24www.fpco.org

NEWS & NOTICESCongratulations to:Jan Piatt and Scott Freeman who were married May 10, 2008in the Reformation Chapel.

Ashley and Ross Johnston on the birth of their son, BennettLawrence Johnston, on May 9, 2008. Proud grandparents areLacey and Tony Gray.

Melissa and Terrence Hart on the birth of their son, BrennenJoseph Hart, on May 9, 2008. Proud grandparents are Barbaraand Craig Clayton and great-grandparents are Mary Damonand Malcolm Clayton.

Sympathy to:Marian Sunny Driver on the death of her daughter, LynnStokely, on January 27, 2008.

Laura and Day Dantzler on the death of her father, WilliamCarl Laughlin, on May 9, 2008. Mr. Laughlin was the grandfa-ther of Lauren Ashe and Day Dantzler, Jr.

Dianne and Mac Gifford on the death of his father, Arnold Gif-ford, on May 9, 2008.

Leslie and Mark Sand on the death of her father, William Hen-ry Ebling, on May 10, 2008. Mr. Ebling was the grandfather of Justin, Matthew, Ryan and Chris Sand.

Catherine and Rich Gaines on the death of her father, BobScott, on May 12, 2008.

The family and friends of Jo Adams, who died May 12, 2008.

Pam and Kris Bonhagen on the death of his father, Jerry CarlBonhagen, on May 15, 2008. Mr. Bonhagen was the grandfa-ther of Wesley and Will Bonhagen.

Millie and Ray VanOrman on the death of their son, Randy VanOrman, on May 18, 2008.

Betty and Jim Smeenge on the death of his mother, JoanSmeenge, on May 28, 2008. Mrs. Smeenge was the grandmoth-er of Jim Smeenge III, John Smeenge and Elizabeth SmeengeHeiden. Ann Hughes on the death of her husband, Wallace Hughes, onMay 29, 2008.

Lynne and Charles Gill on the death of her mother, Janet Day,on May 28, 2008.

Healing and Wholeness ServiceTaking Summer HiatusPlease take note that our Healing & Wholeness Service regular-ly held on the third Sunday of the month will not occur duringthe summer. No services will be held July or August.

Columns is Available PaperlessThe option is now available if you would like to receive theFPCO Columns newsletter electronically. Register to receivean email with the Columns in PDF format which you can view,save or print from home. To register for the Paperless Columns,please visit fpco.org/paperless.

Upcoming Events:July 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Childrens Vacation Bible School

July 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High School Fun in the Son Trip

Middle School Great Escape TripJuly 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Student Katrina Mission Trip

Aug 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Called to Serve sermon series begins

Aug 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined worship services in sanctuary at 8:30 & 11am

Sept 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prayer Service

Sept 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Discipleship Sundays begin

Sept 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DivorceCare (adults & kids)begins 13 week session

Sept 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celtic Healing Service

Nov 7-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marriage Retreat withDr. David and Leigh Swanson

May 08 Giving SnapshotGeneral Operating Contributions Budgeted Surplus

(Defcit)May Gifts $495,315 $486,041 $9,274Year-to-date Gifts $2,488,979 $2,747,215 ($258,236)

Cash In Bank $626,966 Line of Credit $0

Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance $6,389,649

IM May Gifts $53,893

Year-to-date Gifts $593,368

Contact Dr. Keith Wright for a full revenue & expense summary


24/24

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando106 E. Church St., Orlando, FL 32801The First Presbyterian Columns (USPS 604-040) is published onceper month, except for twice in March, by the First PresbyterianChurch. Circulation: 4750. (3750 by US Mail, 1000 by oncampus distribution). Periodicals postage paid at Orlando,Florida. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COLUMNS,106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390.2008 First Presbyterian Church of Orlando COLUMNS.

POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive MaterialPlease Deliver by June 28, 2008

PERIODICALSUS POSTAGE

ORLANDO,

106 East Church StreetOrlando, FL 32801

FPCO Main Of ce: ( 407-423-3441www.fpco.org

Traditional Services: 8:30am & 11amGenesis Services: 8:30am & 11am

CHILDRENS MUSIC MINISTRCHANGING & GROWING!

By Dr. Rebecca Bedell

The Childrens Music Ministry at FPCO is indeed changingand growing. We are excited about teaching your children in thefall and wanted to give you a sneak peak at our new staff, Chil-drens Choirs and Pre-school Music Ministry!

The Worship Arts Ministry would like to welcome Stepha-nie Mixner as our new Coordinator for Childrens Music Minis-try! Stephanie has just completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree inMusic from Rollins College. Stephanie has been an active teacherfor both the pre-school music program and with our childrens

choirs at FPCO for several years. Welcome aboard Stephanie!Childrens Choirs (Kindergarten grade 5) will be held on

Sunday afternoons. The childrens programming in coordina-tion with Childrens Ministry will be from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. We look forward to having you join us!

Pre-School Music: For ve years our pre-schoolmusic program has been growing. We have used acouple of different curricula, but didnt quite feel wehad found the right t for our children and familiesat FPCO. After some extensive research, we havefound our glass slipper! Beginning this Fall, our pre-school children will be able to participate with theirparents in Musikgarten. We chose Musikgarten dueto its comprehensive pedagogy, its teacher train-ing and teacher standards, and because it contains

a Christian component called Gods Children Sing . The Musik-garten program is the most pedagogically sound available, cov-ering children birth to age nine a complete bridge from early childhood to piano lessons. The curriculum is uniquely effective because it has been designed with learning sequences that re-peat and build patterns to continually reinforce and stimulateour students. Students will enjoy their classes more and want tocontinue with their musical training! For more information logon to www.musikgarten.org.

Please watch the August Columns for registration informa-tion for Musikgarten and Childrens Choirs, or check the Wor-ship Arts Web site! n

FPCO Columns - July 2008

Documents

Transcript of FPCO Columns - July 2008