FPCO Columns March 2010

8/14/2019 FPCO Columns March 2010

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First Presbyterian Church o Orlando March 20

Seeking. Sharing. Serving...All to the Glory o God

A blessing To Past, Present &Future Generations

First Presbyterian Church o Orlando March 20

Seeking. Sharing. Serving...All to the Glory o God


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ON THE WAY

Time ies when youre having un.

I must coness, the past ve plus years have not always

been un, though un has certainly been a part o it (Danc-

ing With the Pastors? Come on.that was pure un!) They

have, however, been tremendously enriching, satisying,challenging, and joy-lled, which may well be why they

have gone by so ast. Time has indeed fown.

It seems like yesterday that many o us were standing

on the Great Lawn under an enormous tent, enjoying el-

lowship and preparing to launch the Immeasurably More

Campaign or the uture o our church. That was Palm Sun-

day in 2006. Here we are, only days away rom Palm Sun-

day in 2010, and much has happened in those our years.

Church experts will tell you that raising money or debt is

the hardest sort o undraising that can be done, yet in the

past our years, First Presbyterian Church has proven to be

the exception to the rule. God, through your generosity,

has done immeasurably more!

However, as you will read in these pages, we are n

done. We need to nish strong, and there is much wo

still let to do. This is vitally important to our ministry a

to the uture o this church, so I implore you to read th

issue. Read the inormation on how we will conclude t

campaign by the end o this calendar year. Digest aprayerully consider what we are doing, and what the Lo

has been doing among us with the additional dollars t

campaign has reed up or us.

Seek the Lords counsel. Pray with your spouse. Co

sider the opportunity you have to practice generosity a

aithul stewardship. Ask what He is calling you to give

Immeasurably More, over and above your regular givi

to First Presbyterian, and then commit to making that g

by the end o year. You dont need to tell anyone at t

church. Tell the Lord, and then be aithul to that promi

God has done amazing things through this entire jo

ney, so I am expectant or how He will conclude it. I a

looking orward to a day o celebration next Octob

when, together, we will give glory and thanks to the Lo

or doing immeasurably more through the saints at Fi

Presbyterian Church. With a joy-lled, expectant hear

remain

Under His Mercy,

David D. Swanson

WITH DR. DAVID D. SWANSON

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all

we ask or imagineto Him be glory in the church...Ephesians 3:20

Ask what He is

calling you to give to

Immeasurably More...


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CONTACT US407.423.3441

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hospitalized. I you know someowho is in the hospital, please

notiy the Pastoral Care oce x1455.

PASTORAL EMERGENCIESFor pastoral emergencies outsio the 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. chuoce hours, please leave a voimail message at the main churnumber. The message center wpage the minister on call, who w

reply as soon as possible.NEED HELP?

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please contact CongregationLie x1159

www.twitter.com/pcorland

Group: First Presbyterian Chu

o Orlando

4 Immeasurably More:Finishing Strong

6 Immeasurably More:Giving to Missions

8 Immeasurably More:Taking Worship to the NextLevel

11 Heart of The City FoundationHames Scholarship

18 Second Annual ChiliCook-Off Recap

21 Leigh Swanson to be Hon-

ored for Ministry in Jails

22 Hey Kids!

23 News & Notices

IN THIS ISSUE:

12 Sunday Family Tradition: Joe & Traci Ort An up-close look at the benefts o Sunday School rom one

couples perspective.

16 Camp Geneva Experiencing the joy o camp with the Nivison girls.

12 1612 16

4 ON THE COVER:Immeasurably More.

We hear rom three o our pastors asthey cast a vision or fnishing strong.

4


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In the all o 2004, First Presbyterian Church carried a debto just under $15 million. Paying more than $1 million ininterest that year, it became clear that we could not moveorward with Gods plan or our uture until that issue wasaddressed. Thus, the Immeasurably More Campaign waslaunched, and now, through the generosity o many, ourdebt rests at $3 million.

When the campaign theme was chosen, it was chosen ora specic reason. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God can

do immeasurably more through His power at work in us,even more than we could imagine. It has no doubt cometo pass. In just our years, $1 million dollars has been reedor the ministry o Christ and slightly more than $900,000has been given to mission causes in Orlando and aroundthe world. That alone would be a huge success.

Even so, were not done. Since 2006, when the campaignwas launched, we have had 1371 new members join ourchurch. Our youth and childrens ministries have exploded.The needs in our community have multiplied. God has putour church in a unique position o infuence, and we need

to be aithul to the ministry He has entrusted to us. Webelieve He wants to do immeasurably more through FirstPresbyterian Church, not just in the past our years, butcontinuing orward into the uture.

Thus, we need to pay o the last portion o this debt. Weneed to nish strong! In doing so, we accomplish severalkey priorities:

The debt, while nancial, is also a spiritual issue. It has

become instructive or us over the years, teaching us aboGods aithulness and provision while reminding us o Hcall to be wise stewards o what He has entrusted to us. is only as we have grown in this area, through Crown Mistry and others like it, that we have been able to reduthe debt. Even so, we need to continue that growth. Wmade a commitment, and we need to honor it.

With local and global mission agencies acing massicuts, we need to continue giving 10% o our IM unds

these causes. I we were able to continue this giving one more year, it could sustain ministries that otherwimay not survive. This is the key component in God doiimmeasurably more.

Completing the campaign and paying o our note (dOctober 31, 2010) would be a huge victory or our churcone that would ree us to consider what needs to happenthe uture. We have not made any needed capital expeditures because the debt has been our priority. Howevwith the debt gone, and i God were to do immeasurabmore in these next ew months, we could start to addre

three glaring needs:

A need or updated youth and childrens ministry spacThese two ministries are the astest growing areas o tchurchs lie. They are exploding, yet their rooms are sustandard and not nearly large enough to accommodathe hundreds o students who are coming to our campeach week.

A need or new video equipment. Our current equipmeis teen years old and analog. You may have heard thour entire world has gone digital. That means that ea

Sunday, we are patching together equipment that we otcannot get parts or, and that makes even the most basadjustments impossible. Further, we need equipment thwill allow us to work back and orth between the Sanctuaand Fellowship Hall. Right now, that equipment only woin one direction.

A need or a stronger cash reserve. We want to be scly responsible, and it would help us immensely i we bua cash reserve to see us through the summer the monthinstead o our normal practice o going to the bank o

In just our years,$1 million dollars has

been reed or the

ministry o Christ.

Finishing Strong in 2010By Dr. David Swanson, Senior Pasto


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line o credit. There are costs and ees in such a line thatare unnecessary expenses.

Thereore, believing that God has a great plan to useFPCO in this community and around the world, we are go-ing to extend the Immeasurably More Campaign through2010 with a our-tiered strategy that is already happening:

Prayer. Beore we ever put pencil to paper to create theIM campaign, Steve Cahill led us to spend three monthsin prayer. We need to do the same thing now. Prayer isessential, and Donna McClellan will be leading our PrayerTeam and our Stewardship Committee as we pray each dayor the conclusion o IM. Please join us in prayer!

We are inviting the 1371 members new to our churchsince the campaign to prayerully consider an Immeasur-ably More git to the Lord and to His uture work in ourchurch.

We are inviting everyone who completed their our yearpledge to prayerully consider extending that pledge onemore year, essentially turning a our-year campaign into ave-year campaign. Giving 25% o ones total pledge in2010 would get us well down the road towards this goal.We are inviting those who have not ullled their pledge,

many o whom having had crushing nancial changes in tpast our years, to discard their pledge and simply give whthey are capable o giving in this calendar year.

We are hopeul and expectant or what God will dand ask that you join us, prayerully and nancially, as wconclude the Immeasurably More Campaign this year. you have urther questions, or would like to sit down wisomeone and talk directly about your git or pledge, eree to contact:

John Watts, Church Business [email protected]

Chris Stowers, Chair, Stewardship Committee

[email protected]

David Swanson, Senior [email protected]

Ralph Veerman, Executive Director,Heart o the City [email protected]

May God be gloried as we move towards the conclusioo our Immeasurably More Campaign!

DearGod,

Thankyousomuchforalltheblessingsthatyoupouroutonme.


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Immeasurably More Gives

Almost $1 Million Dollars to

Mission MinistriesBy Dr. Case Thorp

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From the inception o the IM Campaign it has been the pri-ority o the Session to see the rst-ruits o the campaignreturned to the Lord in the orm o mission work. The rst 10%o each dollar that is received towards the campaign is placedin a separate Money Market account. Once that und reaches$250,000, ater $2.5 million in unds are received, distribu-tions are made to nine pre-approved projects. These projectswere careully considered using the ollowing guidelines:

What work will interace and support the direction o ourgrowing Mission Department?

What projects will provide a healthy balance between educa-tion, relie, and community development?

What projects will provide a balance between local youthministries, urban concerns, and global work?

What projects will allow our people to be involved and trans-ormed by doing mutual mission together in Christs name?

Three global projects, ve local youth ministries, and a newchurch development project were selected prior to the cam-paign and we have remained deeply committedto making animpact or God. To date, the gits to the Immeasurably More

Campaign have given out almost one million dollars!

$240,000 invested in Global Discipleship to Overseas CouncilInternational or investment in seminary education.

$240,000 invested in Global Mercy to Compassion Interna-tionals AIDS/HIV initiative.

$240,000 invested in community development with MissionEmanuel.

$25,000 invested in a Downtown Evangelism initiative withApartment Lie.

$240,000 invested in Local Youth, split evenly among the lowing ve youth ministries: Frontline Outreach, Fellowsho Christian Athletes, House o Hope, Campus Crusade Christs Student Venture, and Young Lie.

An extra blessing o $1,500 was allocated to the ve youministries listed above, which are in need during these toueconomic times, and a $1,500 git or Haitian relie was ered to the Mission Emanuel.

Total: $994,000!

Thank you or sacricing over the past ew years or this eoWe are truly doing immeasurably more or Christ throuthe work o these mission partners. To God be the glory!

Global Mission as a Two-Way Street:

A priority o the FPCO Mission Ministry is or mission to a two-way street. The Immeasurably More campaign allowthis to happen in a tremendous ashion, helping us meeMission Department goal o cultivating global citizenship. Wdont just go over there to see the work o God in a oreicontext, but we bring our brothers and sisters o the glochurch here to be a positive infuence on our congregatioSince the inception o the IM Campaign, the ollowing echanges have occurred:

Teams o FPCO men and amilies have continued to serwith Mission Emanuel in the Dominican Republic

Javier and Rosie de la Cruz o Mission Emanuel have givtestimony in FPCOs worship services.

Jack Larsen, Lindsay and Elliot Drake: Mission Emanuel staare regularly with the FPCO community.

A team o ve rom FPCO visited the work o CompassiInternational in Ethiopia.

Wes Staord, Compassion International President, preachedFPCOs worship services.

Compassion International Sponsorship Sundays resultedhundreds sponsored by FPCO members.

Dr. Oleg Turlac o the College o Theology and EducatioChisinau, Moldova, has given testimony in FPCOs worshservices.

Thank you or sacrifcingWe are truly making adierence or ChristTo God be the glory!


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Ihaveprayerfullysoughtoutyourguidanceinmygivingforthisyear.

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Dr. Riad Kassis o Overseas Council led a conversation aboutministry in the Middle East.

In Focus: FPCOs Stans Project:

The Immeasurably More Mission Tithe git to OverseasCouncil is targeted to make an impact or Christ in the Mus-lim world. OC (www.overseas.org) is an organization that as-sists Western donors and churches with evaluating, training,and monitoring support or third-world seminaries who aretraining indigenous leadership or the local church. $100,000o the $240,000 git given to Overseas Council is going tothe College o Theology and Education (CTE) in Moldova, aormer republic o the Soviet Union, to deepen their trainingin the Muslim countries o Central Asia.

CTE has a campus in Chisinau, Republic o Moldova, whereapproximately 180 (120 ull time; 60 part time) students study.In addition, approximately 145 students, many o whom areMuslim converts, are studying in CTEs extension centers inKazahkstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Students are romMoldova, Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus, and Central Asia andrepresent 30 nationalities.

Throughout the year, students are involved in social work/compassionate care projects, including work at orphanages,retirement acilities, and hospitals where they lead Bible stud-ies, counsel, and provide humanitarian aid to amilies. CTErecently began a joint program with Peter Deyneka Jr.s or-

ganization o Russian Ministries, called School without Wawhich provides a two-year curriculum or training ministersthe grass-roots level in three regions in Moldova. Taught

CTE aculty, the program emphasizes missions, youth mintry, and church planting.

In Focus: Young Lie:By Bret Allen, FPCO Member and Area Director or YoungLie Heart o Orlando

In September o 2009 Young Lie at Jones High School hits rst club meeting. Jones Young Lie meets every Tuday night in Parramore near the Amway Arena. Average tendance is between 20-30 students. This has been a muneeded and prayed or ministry. It allows Young Lie to cotinue our ministry with students rom Howard Middle Scho

who move into Jones and to reach new students at the hischool level.

Also, in November o 2009, the rst ever Young Lie Capnaum club was held. Capernaum is the name given to YouLies ministry to kids with disabilities. Capernaum will hamonthly meetings in the winter\spring and take kids toweek o camp in the summer o 2010.

Both o these ministries are examples o Gods leading aYoung Lies commitment to reaching ALL kinds o kids wthe gospel.


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Taking Worship to

the Next LevelBy Dr. Rebecca Bedell, Minister o Worship

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FPCO is on the cusp o being able to take worship to thenext level. You might be asking yoursel Worship? Whatmore can be done in worship?, The worship at FPCO is ne

just the way it is why change? or What in the world is thenext level?

At FPCO we are blessed to have both Traditional and Con-temporary worship experiences that are excellent in their con-tent and realization each and every week. The caveat to thatstatement is within the current parameters and reality or our

church. But what happens when our reality and parametersare dierent? Paying o the IM debt will indeed bring us intothat new reality, which will enlarge our ability to dream, create,serve, and worship our God! We need to be ready to moveinto that new reality to dream and discern how God wouldhave us Seek, Share, and Serve within our new boundaries.In worship, it will mean being able to expand the quality oour experiences and our opportunities or service by our laitywithin those services.

In a paper by Zac Hicks o Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church

(Englewood, CO) I recently read, he clearly states the justica-tion or having multiple worship expressions.

So as we think about the content o worship, we are per-ectly comortable with seeing that substance (the content othe worship service) thoughtully clothed in what would beour cultures natural expression o thanks and praise to its Cre-ator. So ater asking about the kind o worship that is pleasingto God, we can then ask how our culture would express his-torically-based, Christian worship unto God. The way peoplein our day and age might most naturally express their worshipunto God isones cultural heart expression.

Having Traditional Worship and Genesis meets those ctural heart expression in their most basic orms. The twprimary dierences in the services are musical style and ormaliHowever, those two things alone will not allow, as Hicks statpeople in our day and age to ully use their cultural heaexpression in worship. People in our day and age. No matwhat your age, socio-economic strata, or education level, ware all people o this day and age.

What does that mean or the church and specically or wo

ship? It means that we do not engage with our world in tsame way even the last generation did yet, many churchare still engaging in worship in the way we did generatioago, particularly in Traditional Worship. The majority o peoptoday dont use encyclopedias or dictionaries we look it online. Many do not have land lines anymore cell phonand texting ll those needs. Letters are not the only meao communication email is considered standard protocPeople o our day and age, i.e. you and me are a tecnological people and we are highly visual. Many churchstill oer worship experiences that are primarily aural/vocalnature. You sit and listen. Sometimes you speak or sing. Bthe engagement o your person is predominately access

in those ways.

Current orms o presentation can enhance the experienor draw in people who would not ordinarily be interestedsomething. Let me briefy share three examples. The circusan event La Nouba is a circus experience. Andrew Rieu hbrought millions to a new love and appreciation o Classicmusic by taking music rom being an auditory experiencethe orm o a concert to a multi-sensory experience. (www.adrerieu.com/site/) Groups like Celtic Women and River Danhave reinvigorated Celtic olk music. What do all these thinhave in common? They utilize the visual and other art or they converge a visual world with a world that used to

only aural. People are intrigued and interested again.

You might think o those examples as perormance aworship is denitely not that, nor do I want it to be, but Gis the rst and oremost creator. He has given us a ull paleo paints in many colors but in worship, many churches stto one or two colors while the rest go unused. Our dreaand desire to move orward in worship at FPCO is to use mocolors. How do we do that? We begin by thinking dierenabout the arts, including the Technical Arts, in worship. Wwork to use everything we have at our disposal so that wcan most ully express our heart to God. Doing this will a

...dream with us aboutthe beautiul and

engaging worship oour uture.


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Ipledge,inobediencetoyou,togiveofmyfirstfruits.InYourEternalGrasp, YourFaithfulSteward

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allow us to engage ourselves in worship in new and ullerways. Zac Hicks uses the word convergentto describe thismerging although he specically targets that term regard-ing contemporary worship experiences. I really like the termconvergent, but I see applications or all types o worship. All

o the people who attend worship at FPCO live in this dayand age and even i internet, email, and cell phones arenot used, the typical U.S. home has at least one television.Thus, the current age o visual image is something we all havein common.

The rst step in this process or worship is to bring a long-needed visual upgrade to both the Sanctuary and Lee Fellow-ship Hall. We need to move those two rooms into the 21stcentury - without making any structural changes. Enhance-ments are needed in LFH to bring the visual/image capac-ity to where it needs to be. The Sanctuary proves to be themore challenging space. One only gets a true representationo what can be done in our Sanctuary or worship at an eve-ning event. The Christmas Rejoice Concerts and the IM kick-o event are both great examples o the stunning visual pos-sibilities that room holds. On Sunday mornings, a dierentscenario unolds. At both services, but particularly at 11am,the screens are very light due to the infux o light rom thewindows. Using images on existing screens is virtually uselessdue to the light washing them out. Dierent lighting instru-ments are needed in order to have a truly artistically conver-gent service on Sunday mornings. A way to manage the lightis also being considered. The ollowing link oers a peek intothe what can be.: www.visualworshipper.com

The second portion o the visual upgrade deals with camerand video equipment. The ederal governments mandato move all television signals to High Denition (HD) Formrendered all o our cameras and other equipment antiquate

With the upgrade to HD cameras and supporting equipmewe will be able to broadcast with the required ormat. Ocurrent state o equipment only allows us to simulcast the semon rom the Sanctuary into LFH. Our technology will nallow us to broadcast in the opposite direction. The visuupgrade will provide the cameras necessary to simulcast roeither room into the other. Increased equipment and posbilities also brings increased opportunities or service.

This has already been the case as we have developed oTechnical Arts area over the last year. We have already icreased the opportunities or volunteers (laity) to serve oSunday mornings. Many people think that the only way yocan serve in worship is i you are musical. Not true. Theare many opportunities to serve in worship and the curreand uture Technical Arts area has many opportunities.

I hope that you will take the time to visit some o the websites that are in this article and begin to dream with us abothe beautiul and engaging worship o our uture. Dream how we can make an even more excellent oering o worshto our creator God, worship more ully, and draw in a worlso that they may have the opportunity to ully experience Hlove and redeeming power.


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Heart o the City Foundation has awarded over 900scholarships to students, and these scholarships notonly assist in nancing education, but they also inspireby providing stories o the lives o those who have madethese scholarships possible. Many students are providedwith biographies o those who established the scholarshipendowments, and these lie stories build bridges between

the qualities and legacys o those who have come beoreus and current generations. Erin Fish was a 2009 recipiento the Hames Scholarship, and she has been inspired bythe lie and legacy o Cliord Hames.

What have you learned while attending college this year?Erin Fish: This year o college has been one o growth andlearning, as a student and as a Christian. The classes I tooklast semester and presently are really interesting and chal-lenge me to open my views and see the greater contexto the world. I am gaining a better understanding o theBible, Christianity, and the historical context o the time,

through my religion courses.

How has the Hames Scholarship helped you to achieveyour goals?EF: This scholarship has allowed me to aordably attendthe college o my choice, even though it is a private insti-tution. Growing up in a single-parent household has, attimes, been a struggle nancially, but I am thankul thatwith scholarships such as this one, my education has notbeen hindered. The environment in which I work, study,and live, is one that nurtures and challenges me. I couldnot nd it anywhere else than at Presbyterian College.

What are you currently studying?EF: I am currently double-majoring in English and Germanand minoring in Religion.

What are your career goals?EF: I do not know exactly what I want to do with my degree,but I would like to do some sort o writing work, possiblywith a mission organization. I began working in PCs WritingCenter last all, which has helped me become a better writerand given me the opportunity to help my ellow students.

What is your avorite Bible verse?EF: I am particularly ond o Psalm 28:7 The Lord is mstrength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I ahelped. My heart leaps or joy and I will give thanks to hin song. This verse speaks to me about how much Gwill guide me when I let Him, and how ull my lie is wheI entrust it to Him. In return or Gods love, it is impossib

to keep quiet; singing to God is one o my avorite wayspraise Him (maybe that is why I chose a verse rom Psaland I oten nd mysel singing a hymn or praise song.

I you could have met Cliord Hames, what would yohave asked him?EF: I would have asked Mr. Hames about his lie, how achieved his goals, and how God worked in his lie to pohim in new directions. I nd other peoples stories asnating and I hope to one day be able to share my lie amy knowledge with someone like Mr. Hames shared hwith his community.

How do you identiy with Cliord Hames? How does inspire you?EF: I identiy with Mr. Hames pride in public schools. I ceived a wonderul education growing up in public schooMy public school experience exposed me to a broadspectrum o people and lie in downtown Orlando. MHames commitment to urthering his education, despthe political climate at the time, is inspirational. His lshows that dedication to God and perseverance throuthe world is rewarding.

Erin is an exceptional student with a heart or the Lorand she has ully embraced opportunities to grow intelletually, spiritually, and socially. The Heart o the City Foudation is honored to be a part in supporting her continueducation and in sharing the legacy o Cliord Hames to prvide a new source o inspiration as she pursues her goal

I you are interested in applying or a scholarship this yeplease visit www.orlandoheartothecity.org to apply onlinScholarship applications are due April 2, and late applicatiowill not be accepted. To learn more about the Heart o the CFoundation, legacy gits, or how to become involved, co

tact Amy Bishop at 407.423.3441 or [email protected].

Heart of the City Foundation Scholarships Build Bridges

Between Past and Present Generations

Heart of The City FoundationHames Scholarship

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Our Sunday School Classes at First Pres oer a wealth oteaching and relational opportunities to those who in-vest the time. I recently met with Joe & Traci Ort to discusshow God used our Sunday School Classes to repeat His bless-ings in their lives , the same way He did in Tracis parents lives:

TM: Can you rewind in your minds to the rst time you con-sidered going to Sunday School here at First Pres, and whatwas the process o nding a class?

Traci: I think we were both a little hesitant about going: wewere happy coming to the services, and we didnt know i wewould be able to nd a Sunday School class that would t us.

TM: How long had you been attending the services?

Traci: Maybe six months; we started coming here in Februaryo 2008 and we started going to Sunday School here some-where around October.

Joe: In my mind-set you couldnt convince me to go to acouples class 3 years ago, because the rst thing a typicalguy is thinking, oh a bunch o couples sitting around sharingeelings-yeah Id rather watch ootball or poke my eyes out.But when we got married, her dad gave me only one piece oadvice, nd a Sunday School class and go to it. Ive beento their Sunday School class: theyve had the same class or35 years, theyve all had kids together, now theyre havinggrand- kids together.

TM: The conversation sounds like it was very important toyoulike this was a big moment with your uture ather in-

lawnot like you were just playing gol and oh by the wago to Sunday School

Joe: Yeahwe were actually playing gol! When I met Tracamily I was struck at how strong her parents relationship waso just the act that out o everything else he could have tome thats what he told meit was enough or me to get ovthe initial barrier. Then when I got there it was very dieent than what I thought it would be. It wasnt just a bunco couples sitting around talking about their eelings singinkumbaya. I guess every Sunday School class is dierenbut ours is led by Case Thorp, and Case has his doctoratand knows so much about the Scripture that its a class. Hteaches a class. He has an agenda, a criteria, and I think iamazing because well get a piece o scripture that Ive reabeore, but then Case will teach on it and hell tie in otheportions o scripture. It takes you to a whole new level o uderstanding or scripture.

TM: So that aspect is not to do with the social environmenhes challenging the development o your aith, your dotrine, and your personal belies.

Joe: Absolutely.

TM: How did you choose that class?

Joe: I think we were just about to get married and we thougit might be a good idea to go to thatit was targeted twards couples in their twenties and thirties: So that was us.

Traci: I think we received some kind o postcard, or we sasomething in the bulletin about a couples class just startingWe elt very welcomed when we went in there. Chad anBridget came straight up to us and said Hi Im ChadIBridgetthanks or coming to the classso they were juextremely welcoming.

TM: Aside rom the academic part o itwhat happenewith the other couples?

Sunday Family Tradition:

Its definitely been one of the best things in our marriage and in our lives.

- Traci Ort

Joe & Traci Ort

It take s you to a whole new level of

understanding for scripture .

- Joe Ort

Joe & Traci OrtInterview by Todd McLennan

photo by Todd McLenna


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Traci: I eel like socially we were keyed in pretty quickly: wemet so many dierent couples in the class and they were allin similar stages o lie as we were, either recently married,or about to start a amilya positive group o people withChristian values.

Joe: There are a lot o outside Sunday School activities: likewhen Case has a party at his house every year. Or a couple otimes a year we do this thing called Widow Project wherewe go and help a widow with projects around the house.

Once you become riends with people other things begin toopen up; you start going to dinner and hanging out together.

TM: How long have you been in this class?

Traci: Since October 2008

TM: And how about or you Traci: has that been cool to seethat youre repeating the blessing that you had in your am-ily?

Traci: Yes, and just being there or a little over a year, I see howthe riendships have developed and how close were gettingwith other amilies. We have a lot o riends that have new ba-bies or little children and were pregnant right now expectingour rst, so its really exciting to see all o the babies that ourkids are going to grow up with. Weve already been throughso much with them in just a years time. So, its denitely beenone o the best things in our marriage and in our lives.

TM: What would you say i you had a chance or a minute totalk to people who are in your previous situation now: may-be theyre new to the church, or or whatever reason theyhavent decided to try a Sunday School class?

Joe: Id say you have no idea whats in store or you. Try it!I would say that church experience without getting pluggedinto the community has got to be just so dierent than whenyou actually have people who can support you and that youcan spend time with and go through lie together. David is an

amazing preacher, but I think part o what drives us to con-tinue in our aith and come to church is the act that we haveriends here and people who hold us accountable.Itll probably be awkward the rst time you gobut, thats thesame way it was when you started the rst day o school, oryour job, and pretty quickly those barriers start to all.

TM: Have you seen any impact on your appetite or abilityto talk to other non-believers about your aithhas this em-boldened you at all?

Traci: Yes, we have some riends who say they are Christiansand believers, but they dont go to church and they dont have

a Christian group o riends they hang out with; but we spea lot o time with them and weve gotten into a ew discusions where theyre just kinda playing devils advocate to gsome answers and gure out why we are so passionate aboit. We have told them about our experience with the relatioships weve developed in our Sunday School class and timpact we get out o Davids sermons, and the Crown nancministry that we went through. They ask, why are you teing us all o this?, we tell them, because its been so goor us and yall are good riends o ours and we want you

experience it also.

TM: In other words you care enough that you need to shawith them?

Traci: We want them to experience all the growth that weexperienced because I eel like they want that, but they ahesitant to take that rst step maybe because o previous eperiences growing up in the church that have not been positive.

Joe: I think our close riends that dont go to church see hooten we hang out with our church riends and I think at lea

on one occasion thats led one o my riends to say, hwhats this thing that youre always doing, like who are thepeople youre always hanging out with? We shake each oers hands in the regular service, but thats like 30 secondsIve been doing that since I got here and I dont think Iwalked away with a riend just rom doing that. So, I can show you could come here or 2 or 3 years and i you dont taany steps to get plugged in, you could come here and nrecognize or know any o the people here by name-whichpretty sad(with our riends) theres kind o a net that catchyou and brings you back into the old.

TM: Nowfashing orward tolets just say youre havingdaughterand its time or you to give her advice when shgetting marriedwhat would you say to your daughter aher uture husband?

Joe: Id denitely convey the same message as Tracis dabecause youre giving so much advice in that one small setence. when you go to Sunday School , when you spend timstudying Gods blueprint or marriage, thats what buildshealthy marriage. Leigh Swanson came in and taught a claabout parenting and how to raise children and Id never heao some o the stu that she had said: Im so glad I heait. Tracis dad could have sat me down and lectured me parenting and how to treat Traci andhe could have sat mdown and tried to teach me every lesson, but instead he sago get a good teacher which is a Sunday School class in ao itsel. Its like that old phrasedont give a hungry persood, teach him how to sh.

They were just extremely

welcoming.

- Traci Ort

We have friends here and people who

hold us accountable.

- Joe Ort


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Includes these specia

sections:

Book Introductions: historical, emo-tional, and spiritual context or eacBible book

Walking In: Ways that are pleasingGod

Our God Is: Discovering who God isand what He does, based on Hiswords and actions

Godly Character: exhibiting godly

qualities in daily living Passing It On: creating a legacy o

aith to inspire the next generation

Moms in the Bible: lessons romsome o the Bibles most amousmothers

Insights: short, practical thoughts oBible passages rom a moms perspecti

Wonderul Counselor: issues acing

moms rom the perspective o a Chrtian therapist

Questions Kids Ask: answering thetough questions about God, theBible, and Christian lie

First Touch Verses: verses to mullover throughout the day

Topical Index

Gods Wisdom for Mothers

Notes By Bobbie Wolgemuth

Moms Bible

Available in the New Century Version and drawing

on solid Bible teaching, it encourages women at

every stage o lie to strengthen their relationship

with God.


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Yes. It is that time again. Time to talk aboutcamp. Well this year Im going to letsomeone else do the talking! The Nivisonswere a new amily this past summer and theyhave much to say to encourage you to cometo camp with them this year. Below are theirtestimonies about their experiences at CampGeneva.

Elizabeth Nivison MomInitially I was comortable with sending my

girls to camp. I prayed about it and thoughtwhat a great experience it would be. Therewas some worry or my youngest to be with-out mom and dad or our straight days, but Iknew both girls were in good hands.

I signed up to volunteer one day at campand was assigned to crats. My youngest, So-phia, happened to have crats that day withme. I realized she was totally happy when shedidnt ask to go home.

I eel every child should experience CampGeneva even i it is just once. The last daywhen my husband and I went to pick up thegirls, Sophia actually started crying beoreleaving. Both she and Samantha made strongconnections with their counselors and espe-cially their Jr. Counselors. It was a un wayto learn more about God and experience somany dierent activities. Both my daughtersgrew in their aith and as individuals. All I hearabout is how they want to go back. Samanthaalready has plans on being a Jr. Counselor.They talked about prayer time and the riend-ships they made, as well as the songs they

sang and the wonderul time they had.

Samantha Nivison - 10 years oldMy avorite thing about Camp Geneva

was going to the lake and playing with my

Jr. Counselors and riends jumping o the dock. We played all kinds o games and we talked a lot.

I learned that you shouldnt sit around all day and be lazy and do nothinYou should get up and go outside and go do something or God.

At camp you do nothing that is not un. You get to play a lot and you woget sad. You learn new things and make new riends.

I would denitely encourage other kids to go. At rst I was really nervous, bater a while I just had un. The counselors are super nice and learning aboGod makes you eel good. You know you are someone special in his eyes.

Sophia Nivison 8 years oldMy avorite part o camp was the mud pit! I remember learning to get

and go and to always be with God.I youre a kid I would tell you that you will make lots o new riends, yo

learn a lot about God, and youll have lots o un.

I would say you need to go to Camp Geneva because you will learn aboGod in a very un way and you get to make lots o new riends and there alots o un activities.

This year at Camp Geneva, we will be studying James 1:2, Consider it joy, my brother, whenever you ace trials o many kinds because you knothat the testing o your aith brings perseverance. In the last couple o yethat have been dicult or everyone, including our children, how do you

joy? And whats the dierence between joy and happiness? We will look

how to live lives o joy, lled with Gods spirit, that overfows to others. Ao course all the un craziness that makes camp.

So dont take it rom me. Take it rom these olks; Camp Geneva is nsomething to miss! Come and join the experience that changes lives!

By Carol Welker, Director o Childrens Ministry

Both my daughters grew in their aith and asindividuals. -Elizabeth Nivison

... you will make lots o new riends,youll learn a lot about God, and youll

have lots o un.

all photos by Don T


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Saturday aternoon, January 23, the Angel Wing was properly decorated or a esta! The annual competition betwethe adult Sunday school classes oered eleven dierent chili recipes to sample, elaborate table decorations, grecornbread, brownies, and beverages. Add all o that to the mingling and ellowship, and un was had by all! Contribing to the enhancement o the chili tasting experience were great hot dogs and canned sodas.

The discerning palates o the judges, our esteemed pastoral sta, enjoyed chili prepared by each class and individally scored each entry. The combined scoring revealed a new winner or 2010. The Servants in the Son Sunday schoclass will enjoy the coveted chili pepper hat as the trophy or best chili. However, the Peoples Choice Award or avorchili rated the Pass the Word Sunday school class as winner.

This year, in partnership with Congregational Lie and Childrens Ministry, amilenjoyed the event with childrens games and activities on the Great Lawn. W

over 300 mingled, ate their way through the Angel Wing, and perhaps clapsed on the Great Lawn watching children enjoy playing and rolicking

giant infated obstacle courses.

I need not say more! Take a look at some o the un and i you missthe event, theres always next year!

For more photos, visit www.acebook.com/rstpres

Second Annual

Chili Cook-Offa Fun Event for All!

By Lori Needham, Programming/Special Events

8 | COLUMNS

all photos by Todd McLenna


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Please mark your calendars to attend the annual banquet or the Orange County chapter oGood News Jail & Prison Ministry on April 15, rom 7-9 pm at First Baptist Church o Orlando.Come out to support our own Leigh Swanson, who will receive the Ray D. McCleese Award. Eachyear the community honors a recipient who has made a signicant impact on the lives o inmates,sta, and amily members o all aliated with the incarcerated o Central Florida.

The award is named ater Ray D. McCleese, who as director o the Orange County CorrectionsDepartment, was an ardent supporter o aith-based initiatives in the jail as a means o increasingpublic saety. As a committed Christian and deacon at his church, he seamlessly and tirelessly ad-vocated or Christians to ulll Christs calling to minister to those behind bars. Upon his death aew years ago, the chaplains suggested presenting this award to a local individual or group whoseadvocacy in the community and/or service behind bars were o a similar nature to those o Mr. Mc-Cleese. Past award recipients include:

2004: Joel Hunter, Pastor o Northland, a Church Distributed2005: Jim Henry, Pastor Emeritus o First Baptist Church o Orlando2006: John Crossman, Crossman & Co. and past chair o the Presidents Council2007: Ken & Nona Odom, Former Senior Chaplain or Orange County and his wie2008: Richard T. Crotty, Mayor o Orange County

2009: Bill Austin, Chaplain, Orange County

The speaker or the banquet will be Pastor William Andrews o Heart o Mercy Church, who will tell the story o how Goreached him as an inmate. Complimentary tickets are available by contacting Kathy Ikonomidis at 407.423.3441 or [email protected]. Table sponsorships ($500) are also available or those who wish to reserve group seating. Please contact ChaplaJim Schrader at 407.836.3625 or [email protected] to sponsor a table.

Leigh Swanson to Be Honored or Ministry in JailsBy Scott Lee, Good News Jail & Prison Ministry

Leigh Swanson to Be Honored or Ministry in JailsBy Scott Lee, Good News Jail & Prison Ministry

kalo05 02 10

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Hey Kids!God made each o His Children special and dierent romeach other. Can you circle the ten dierences between thetop photo and the bottom photo?(Turn page upside down or the answers).

Hey Kids!God made each o His Children special and dierent romeach other. Can you circle the ten dierences between thetop photo and the bottom photo?(Turn page upside down or the answers).

(Keep count o the dierences youfnd by checking o these boxes.)

Theyellowstriponthebouncerisnoworange.2.)Theboyinthefrontnowhasagreenshirtinsteadofblue.3.)Thegirlinthefrontrowtotheleftnowsapinkbowinsteadofwhite.4.)Oneofthepinksandalsonthebluematisnowblue.5.)Aboyinthefrontrownowhassolidbluesocks.6.)Aboyin efrontcenternowhasapurpleshirtinsteadoforange.7.)Attherightofthephoto,thepatchesonaboysorangeshirtaregone.8.)Attherightoftheoto,thestripesonaboysredshirtarenowgone.9.)Atthetoprow,theskullonaboysblackshirtisnowgone.10.)TheFPCOsteeplehasdisappeared.


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FPCOs Response to the Haitian CrisisOur Mission Ministry is continuing to work with mission part-ners on their eorts to provide nancial support, ood, medi-cal personnel and medical supplies. For updates rom Mis-sion Emmanuel and Clean the World, and to see how you canhelp, please visit www.pco.org/haiti

Donate to Mission Aviation Fellowship at www.ma.org tohelp them as they become a logistics point or aid organiza-tions bringing ood, water, medicines, and other relie sup-plies into Haiti.

Donate to Mission Emmanuel at www.missionemmanuel.orgto help them send trucks o puried water rom the Cielo Wa-ter Treatment Plant that many o our own olks have helpedbuild.

Donate to Clean the World at www.cleantheworld.org

Volunteer Opportunities or Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School will be held July 12-16 rom 9 am12noon. There are opportunities to volunteer to becomemembers o the Planning Team in charge o crats. These vol-unteers will be required to attend monthly meetings, organizethe crats, and give crat directions to the teachers as well asmake crat samples. Volunteer teachers and assistant teach-ers are also needed or the week o Vacation Bible School.To volunteer, contact Susie Dunlap at 407.423.3441 x1482 [email protected].

Easter Flower DedicationsI you would like to make a dedication in memory or in honoro someone special this Easter season, please go to www.pco.org/fowers. A $10 donation is requested or eachdedication, which will be printed in our Sunday Easter Bul-letin. The unds are used to purchase fowers that are placedthroughout the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. The deadline tosubmit your dedication is March 15. For more inormation,contact Glenda Morgan at 407.423.3441 x1272 or [email protected].

Join Us or Walk With MeJoin us in our church-wide Bible reading plan Walk With Me

as we ollow Jesus through the Scriptures with daily readingsthrough Acts and Pauls letters. Dr. Swanson and the pastoralteam will be preaching through the same passages we arereading together throughout the week. To participate daily,visit www.walkwithmedaily.com. I you have any questions orwould like to write a devotion, please contact Sarah Mattheusat 407.423.3441 x1497 or [email protected].

Congratulations to:William Christopher (Wil) Brown, II and Natalie Grace Pattonwere married January 29, 2010 in the Reormation Chapel.Wil is the son o Rebecca and Mike Bedell o FPCO, and Chris

and Cheryl Brown o Navarre, FL. Natalie is the daughter o

Tom and Dianna Patton o Longwood.Jesse Noyes Stein and Jennier Lynn Estes were married Janary 30, 2010 in the Sanctuary.

Sympathy to:Kaye and Peyton Keaton, on the death o his mother, Avis Katon on January 5, 2010. Mrs. Keaton was the grandmotho Kristie Keaton Yarger and Peyton Keaton IV.

Marjory Linton, on the death o her husband, Dwight Lintoon January 11, 2010. The Lintons were ormer missionaries

Earl K. Wood, on the death o his wie, Mary Louise Wood, January 16, 2010.

Dedra Jenkins, on the death o her mother, Christine McCledon, on January 23, 2010. Mrs McClendon was the gran

mother o Gaius, Jeremiah, Enoch, Benjamin and Nathanie

Wes and Amy Bishop, on the death o his grandmother, Caterine Smith-Warden, on January 22, 2010.

The amily and riends o Margaret Snyder, who died Janua26, 2010.

The amily and riends o Lora Dunlap, who died January 22010.

Heather Comer, on the death o her husband, Troy Comer oJanuary 29, 2010. Mr. Comer was the ather o Brett Come

January 2010 Giving Snapshot

Gen. Operating Received Budgeted Surplus/(Defcit)

January Gits $419,262 $537,000 $(117,738)

Estate Gits $2,541 $800 $1,741

YTD OperatingContributions $4,005,558 $4,362,500 ($356,942) YTD Estate Gits $365,227 $5,600 $359,6

Line o Credit $0

Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance $3,752,446

IM Jan. Gits $15,554IM Fiscal Year-to-date Gits $575,302(net o 10% tithe to Missions)

Contact Finance or a ull revenue and expense summary.

News & Notices

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First Presbyterian Church o Orlando106 E. Church St., Orlando, FL 32801

The First Presbyterian Columns (USPS 604-040) is publishedonce per month by the First Presbyterian Church. Circulation:3300. (3000 by US Mail, 300 by on-campus distribution).Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to COLUMNS,106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390.2010 First Presbyterian Church o Orlando COLUMNS.

POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive MaterialPlease Deliver by March 3, 2010

106 East Church Street | Orlando, FL 32801407.423.3441 | www.fpco.org

TRADITIONAL SERVICES:

Sundays, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.in the Sanctuary

GENESIS (CONTEMPORARY)

SERVICES:

Sundays, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.in Lee Fellowship Hall

PERIODICALS RA

US POSTAGE PA

ORLANDO, FL

Lent is a season o repentance and contrition.Our hearts cry to be cleaned and our only hope

or that is in the cross and Jesus Christ.

Holy WeekMarch 29-April 2

Meditative Services12 noon Chapel

April 1Maundy Thursday Service

6:30 pm SanctuaryApril 4

Easter Sunday Services8:30, 9:45 and 11 am

Sanctuary & Lee Fellowship Hall

JOIN US FOR WORSHI P DURI NG

THIS S EASON OF LEN T

JOIN US FOR WORSH IP DURI NG

THIS SEASON OF LE NT

Documents

FPCO Columns March 2010