Author: devadmin

7 packed SUVs

One of the ways we encourage multi-generational service in our community is through Sharing Christmas. This initiative is one of those unique opportunities for the entire family to join together in service. For instance, parents have the opportunity take their children to the store to pick out gifts for other kids! Whether they select toys for kids their same age, or a different age, it allows our young ones to actively patriciate in being Christ-like servants to those in need. Our missions team collects all the gifts our families collect to ensure the toys make their way to the Christmas mall! This year we collected 7 vehicle loads full of toys for families in need.

Historically as a church family we collected toys and held a Christmas mall at our South Street location. This store offered an opportunity for those in need to purchase gifts at a discounted rate so that they could purchase toys with dignity for their kids. This year, we shifted from hosting a mall at our South Street location to partnering with Women of Hope and UP Orlando. These two organizations host a Christmas mall with the same intent as our mall downtown Orlando each year.

2,500+ Toys

Because of your generous contributions, FUMCWP took part in the 117 bicycles, 2,500 toys, and $15,000+ in donations to support this effort during the holiday season. This is just one example of the many ways we reach out and make an impact in our local community.

Steeped in Tradition  

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us: authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6, NRSV 

During the Advent season, there is activity, movement, and dynamic experiences within our vibrant family here at FUMCWP. These experiences are tools to help guide our focus during this time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of Christ. These events also build community and allow us to grow in discipleship together. Over the years, Festival Gloria – a special Christmas concert that our Music Ministry hosts – is one of those experiences that has become a Christmas tradition for many in our congregation and the local community.  

Michael Roberts, our Director of Music Ministries, conducted the concert early in December to kick-off the Advent season. One of the interesting elements of this event is that we not only use the talent within our own congregation but we reach out to the community to expand those in the orchestra and choir.  

Festival Gloria is not just a musical presentation, but those who joined with us that Sunday morning where truly blessed with this annual celebration, pointing our focus to the arrival of Christ. Unique to Festival Gloria is the audience’s opportunity to sing with the Festival Choir and Festival Orchestra as Michael turned from the front to encourage the congregation to join in song.  

During the Advent season, we host several events across our campus. These events range from our upcoming Longest Night Service and Candlelight services to the recent Women’s Advent Celebration and even the Breakfast with Santa Event. Whether it’s celebrating the joy of the season or realizing that some of us are weary, overwhelmed and in need of rest – we create environments to reach all with God’s grace.

The complete list of Advent services and times can be found here.

Our Vibrant Family, A Saturday Morning, and A Breakfast Fit for A King

A unique aspect of our Vibrant Family is the preschool ministry. We benefit from both the Methodist School for Early Education (MSEE) and the Trinity Christian Academy (TCA). These schools support the discipleship process of our children and provide safe environments for them to learn. MSEE hosts a Breakfast with Santa Event every year where families come for a time of fellowship while enjoying some of the typical holiday festivities such as writing letters to Santa, crafts, and photo-ops. Another neat component to this event is that a group of volunteers serve and organize the event. Our Hospitality Ministry works in conjunction with the group to ensure the food logistics go off without a hitch, but it is a very lay driven event to encourage the excitement of the little ones during the holiday season.

Food by Numbers

Have you ever wondered about all the food preparation for an event like this one? We serve breakfast to over 500 guests, teachers, and volunteers in two shifts all within a matter of hours. The MSEE volunteers and our Hospitality Ministry worked together to expand the menu to include scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, Munster cheese biscuits in addition to the traditional staples.

In addition to the months of planning and prep-work, here are some stats on the food preparation:

• 1200+ prepared eggs
• 500 servings of hot chocolate
• 400+ foil wrapped biscuits
• 60+ lbs of strawberries
• 15 cases of yogurt
• 3 cases of bagels

If you’re interested in serving on the hospitality team and supporting events such as the Breakfast with Santa Event, reach out to Randy Parsons, our Director of Hospitality, at RandyP@fumcwp.org.

One of the benefits we have as members of FUMCWP is to experience and be part of an intergenerational family. Because of this, we are afforded opportunities to grow in faith with others outside of our own contexts. As we gear up for advent and the launch of our new church vision, our vibrant family is already at work living into this vision of energy, grace, passion, and servitude. 

Family Dinner Anyone?

Our family has many different dynamics and facets. Two of which include Forum and Kinfolk.  

The Forum is a Sunday School class for those who would not otherwise attend Sunday School. The class is most often a led-conversation among its mixed participants on topics encountered in current life which is woven in theological and secular insights. The goals of the class include:

• Empowering individuals to strengthen their spiritual gifts.
• Extending care to those in need. 
• Welcoming and discussing new ideas in a safe setting. 

Kinfolk is our Young Adult Ministry led by Jon Tschanz. Recently Kinfolk shifted from a traditional weekly meeting model to one that fully embraces all aspects of life. This model consists of 3 elements:

• Large, corporate settings that rotate through events shaped by action: Eat. Worship. Serve. Play.
  
• Small, intimate settings that include relational groups and non-traditional meet-ups. For example: Pub Night (Thursday nights).  
• Leadership development through an innovation lab that encourages members to understand personal calling and individual gifts. Through this development component, members are able to cultivate ministries and creative experiences that use their backgrounds, skills, and gifts to create new ways to engage others within their faith journeys. 

Now, flashback to the night of November 6, 2017. Forum and Kinfolk met together for a time of food, family, and fellowship at Bill and Beth Neidlinger’s for a joint family dinner. “This is the second year we’ve held a joint dinner. There were around 40 people – half from Forum and half from Kinfolk” says Jon. Bill is known for saying ‘Get into the kitchen!’ Dinner and conversation are great ways to build relationships and community. “We challenged the group to eat with someone they didn’t already know from the other group” he continues. A family dinner – it really is as simple as that.  

With Anticipation and Excitement

In Pastor David’s Legacy series, he paved the way for the new church vision the Leadership Team has been developing over the past year. As we anticipate and eagerly wait for this new launch, we are afforded the time to prepare our hearts for embracing this concept of a vibrant family. In Andy Stanley’s book Visioneering, he states, “It is interesting that Nehemiah never prayed for God to rebuild the wall. What he prays for is an opportunity to go rebuild it himself. That is the difference between a dreamer and a visionary. Dreamers dream about things being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference. Dreamers think about how nice it would be for something to be done. Visionaries look for an opportunity to do something” (2016, p. 34).  

As we look forward to January and the launch of the new church vision, several of our staff members had to opportunity to attend the Deep & Wide Tour discussing: 

• Aligning church mission. 
• Catalysts to faith.
• Approaching the next generation.

“The conference challenged our definition of discipleship and really pushed me to discern the mission of the church” says Andrea Levreault, Assistant Director for Student Ministries.  

Fall is here!

 As the leaves begin to turn and the mornings become a bit more crisp we, at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, are blessed to experience fall across our campuses. 

Our vibrant family hosted a few events where we had to opportunity to connect in community in the midst of autumn. These on-campus events included: The Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) Pumpkin Patch and The Methodist School for Early Education (MSEE) Fall Festival and Silent Auction!  

Did you visit the Pumpkin Patch? 

The front lawn at TCA transformed October 14-31, 2017 to a field of pumpkins and gourds, welcoming the local community to enjoy the outdoor weather and spirit of the season. From bounce houses to baked goods – and of course pumpkins – the proceeds benefit TCA as we strive to provide a safe, Christian caring place for children to learn and grow. Whether you saw the Pumpkin Patch signs that lined South Street, journeyed to TCA because of annual tradition, or visited the TCA Pumpkin Patch for the first time – we appreciate your support as we continue to broaden our children’s ministry. “The Pumpkin Patch is not just a way to raise support for TCA but it is a venue for creating family memories. We are excited to be part of the lives of our families as they stop by to select the pumpkins families decorate their homes with, carve for fall festivities, and use to welcome the season of Thanksgiving. The precious fall experiences made during these years in a child’s live stay with families as memories” says Stacie Wilson, Early Childhood Director at TCA.

Another Fall Festival Success

The annual Fall Festival and Silent Auction took place Saturday October 21, 2017 on the MSEE campus. This year the Fall Festival fell on the same day as the Panua 5K Race in Baldwin Park. “We felt the community of the church as many folks came over after the Panua 5K and carried the fellowship from one ministry to the next” says Rosemary Ubinger, Director of MSEE. All the preparation and 6-months of passionate planning came to fruition with in the warmth from the sun on Saturday afternoon as our campus welcomed visitors and supporters alike. A few of this year’s highlights include: 

• A performance from Studio 150 and an interactive class in afternoon.  
• The front lawn showcasing the petting zoo – ducks, goats, donkeys, and more.  

“This festival is a way we are able to welcome the Winter Park community, current families within the school, and our alumni. Through this event, we have an opportunity to reconnect with members of the community who may not be a part of the daily life at MSEE,” says Rosemary.  

Silent Auction in Review

The Silent Auction followed the Fall Festival. In addition to over 300+ traditional auction items such as vacation, entertainment, dining, toys, etc. we benefited from a series of Gifts from the Heart. Some of these unique items that were up for auction: 

• A Dynamic Storytime with Pastor David.  
• An Interactive Nativity Experience with Pastor Jayne during the holiday season. 
• A Creative Dinner from the hands of Randy Parsons, Director of Hospitality.  

One of the advanced features of this year’s auction was the ability for mobile bidding. Those interested in supporting MSEE were no longer limited to being on site during the event. “We were able to engage out-of-state family members and supporters who moved from the Winter Park area. I’m excited to see how this technology will continue to grow the reach of MSEE,” says Rosemary.  

Over 40 third grade students received a Bible at the 11:00 worship service this past Sunday, Oct. 8. We celebrate this step in their journey with God.

125 children from Noah’s Ark and Promiseland had the opportunity to sing on Panua Sunday in the 9:30 worship service. It was a joy to watch our children praise God!