On The

C O N TA C T U S
407.423.3441
To arrange a baptism
Contact Worship x1451

with Dr. David D.

To arrange a wedding
Contact Weddings x1453
To arrange a funeral or memorial service
Contact Pastoral Care x1455
To arrange a memorial donation
Contact Finance x1479
“When you were dead in your sins, God
To donate flowers for worship services made you alive with Christ. He forgave us
Contact Worship x1451
To place a notice in the bulletin or newsletter
all our sins; he took it away, nailing it to
Contact Communications x1467
the cross.” Colossians 2:14
With questions about your pledge or donation
Contact Finance x1479
We are in the time of the church’s year known as Lent,
With a change of address
Contact Membership x1471 but perhaps it is more easily understood as “the season of the
To purchase a sermon CD or DVD CROSS.” From Paul’s words to the Colossian Christians, we see
Contact x1438 yet again that the cross is the fulcrum of human history – the
To let us know when you or a loved one are hospi- central point – the dividing line – for all who would come to gaze
talized - Contact Pastoral Care x1455
upon it. It is the moment upon which Christian faith rises and
To join the Chancel Choir
Contact x1273 falls, and therefore, the predominant symbol for believers around
For child care reservations - Early Childhood the world. Though often seen, the cross is rarely understood. I
Contact x2250 pray that in this season we will consider its power and grandeur
With questions regarding the budget yet again and know of its transforming power, not only for our
Administration - Contact x1459
lives, but for our world.
To reach the Security Office
Contact 407-415-9793 To that end, our church has planned a number of opportu-
For Weekday School nities for you to pray, reflect, worship, receive instruction, and
Contact 407-996-5864 share with others on this sacred gift of our God.
To find out about Sunday school classes
• The “Cross Witness” campaign. If you have not had a
Contact Spiritual Formation x1463
chance to get one yet, it’s not too late! Drop by the church
With questions about the FPCO Web site
or this Columns publication office and get one for your yard or porch. Become a “cross
Contact Communications x1467 witness” in your neighborhood!
To reserve meeting space • Church Lenten Devotionals are available to you through
Contact Special Services x1469
our Prayer and Spiritual Formation office. These will
Hospital Calls:
Hospitals are no longer able to notify us when walk you daily through the steps of Jesus.
our members are hospitalized. If you know • A prayer service will be offered each day during Holy
someone who is in the hospital, please notify
Week at noon in our Reformation Chapel.
the Pastoral Care office at x1455.
• Also, as you make your plans, we have planned six
Pastoral Emergencies:
For pastoral emergencies outside of the 8:30 services for Easter morning: Traditional (Sanctuary) at
a.m.- 5:00 p.m. church office hours, please leave 8:30, 9:45 and 11; Genesis (Lee Fellowship Hall) at 8:30,
a voice mail message at the main church number.
The message center will page the minister on 9:45 and 11. Take note and take part. I know you will be
call, who will reply as soon as possible. blessed!
Need Help? The cross is the ground of our unity; for it is there that we
Dependency assistance, cancer support group,
face our common need and find our common salvation, offered
grief support, divorce care, infertility group,
please contact Pastoral Care x 1455 solely and sacrificially in Christ. May these days and weeks of

2 | www.fpco.org
Way
Swanson Save
the
Date!
April 21, 2009
this journey continue to draw us together as a true community of faith,
reflecting the unity of our God by the unity of our common mission and The 6th Annual
Taste of Compassion
purpose: seeking, sharing and serving….to His glory.
We SEEK the Lord through our worship and our commitment to dis-
cipleship, instruction and community. We SHARE the Lord through our
Held on the First Presbyterian
investment in evangelism, faithfully taking the good news of the gospel to
those in our sphere of influence – our families, our workplace, our neigh-
Church campus, Taste of Com-
borhoods, our friendships. We SERVE the Lord by giving ourselves for the passion is a night of superb din-
needs of others, both in this community and in our world, extending the ing. Orlando’s top chefs prepare a
ministry of Christ even as we seek to meet the basic needs of others and scrumptious feast combined with
alleviate human suffering. street performers, a jazz band,
Finally, I want to say a word of thanks to all those who took part in our and all of the entertainment of a
first Sunday School Chili Cook off at the end of January. It was a fabulous downtown street party. In addi-
time as each of these classes - Altared, Answers for Living, Basics, Couples tion, there will be a live and silent
Class, Crossroads, Forum, Foundations, Pass the Word, Questerian, Ser- auction featuring several large
vants in the Son and 1 A-Chord – prepared and shared their own version items including overnight stays
of the classic dish! Community is so important, and it was a joy to see
at popular resorts, restaurant gift
so many having such a great time as we decided to not take ourselves so
certificates, and more.
seriously! (I wore a red chili pepper hat!) I look forward to more shared
moments of community with you. The proceeds provide the operat-
May God bless each of you in this Lenten season and may His hand of ing funds necessary to support the
blessing remain on this, His bride, the church. I remain ministry expenses of Compassion
Corner for the coming year. Come
Under His Mercy, to Taste of Compassion knowing
that through your attendance, you
will be richly blessing the men,
women and children who live on
David
the streets of downtown Orlando.

See page 14 for more information

on Compassion Corner.

www.fpco.org | 3

happenings & events
at first presbyterian…
an update!
By Lori Needham, Prayer and Spiritual Formation
Economy Of God Bible Study:
As I pen this update on The Econ-
omy of God Bible study, we have just
completed week three and God is mov-
ing through these study groups, con-
victing us of His Word and how we are
to be good stewards of everything with
which He has blessed us! However, by
the time you read this, we will be well
on our way to concluding this great
sermon series and study on March 22.
Without a doubt, lives will be changed
because of the Sunday morning messag-
es and the commitment to studying and
applying His Word in practical ways
that will impact the way we live and
Summer offerings are under development so watch for opportunities to be engaged in study
throughout the year!
4 | www.fpco.org
eventually influence His Kingdom!
There are 375 people participating
in this study – 192 of them come each
Sunday afternoon to make up 18 differ-
ent groups meeting throughout the cam-
pus. There are an additional 183 people
taking this study through their existing
small groups.
There was great excitement as we
launched into this study by hosting an
Orientation and Dessert on Sunday eve-
ning, January 11. Lee Fellowship Hall
was ‘standing room only’. However, long
before we gathered for that event, facilita-
tors participated in training sessions and
prayed for everyone taking the study.
Economy of God orientation
This church is appreciative and
blessed to have so many leaders pouring
their lives, time, talents and gifts so that
we may grow closer to God and under-
stand His plan for each one of us. n
_____________________________________
Women’s Bible study,
The Amazing Collection;
The Kingdom Books
Women’s ministry experienced a
strong enrollment for the second install-
ment of The Amazing Collection study.
Once again, three study sessions were
offered to accommodate busy sched-
ules. At this writing, 210 women are
enrolled and will work through the
next seven books of the Old Testament.
When we conclude this study season
in late April, many women will know
much more about the first twelve books
of the Bible! Our Amazing Collection
study will pick back up in September
with the Post-Exilic Books, 1 Chronicles
through Esther. n
SOUTHWIND
W hat in the world would make
a guy in his mid-forties even
consider going on a trip with middle
school students to the Ocala National
Forest for a weekend retreat? I have
no idea, but he did. For the past three
years, I have become good friends
with and very much encouraged by a
buddy of mine, Keith Holcomb. He’s
grown up in this church, but has re-
cently joined forces with us here in
the youth ministry. It’s funny because
when we approached his wife, Daph-
ne, we were cautious as to just how
much this straight shooting, deadly
honest man could handle from kids.
So we went to the boss. Now, Daphne
told us we should start him kind of
By Browning Wood, Director of Student Ministry
slow; maybe with some upper class-
men, so they could have a decent
conversation. So what did we do? We
did just the opposite! We stuck him
where the need was greatest - mid-
dle school 7th grade boys. And guess
what? Yep, it was a perfect fit.
He started teaching class and help-
ing out at events like the Red Neck
Round Up, and that was all she wrote!
He was hooked. Keith was so hooked
that he even volunteered to go on the
middle school fall retreat to Southwind.
There, he served as a cabin leader, just
got to know kids on his own terms and
they loved him! At the end of the week-
end, Keith slipped me a note which
said, “Bra (that’s Spanish for bro, just
sounds funny for us to call each other
ladies apparel) dealing with middle
schoolers is like training Shetland
ponies and herding cats at the same
time! BUT AWESOME! Youth ministry
makes Corporate America seem like
Hell.” I couldn’t agree more. Thanks to
God for teenagers and thanks, too, for
good friends who get what our youth
ministry is all about, like my friend
Keith. Keith is a believer.
How about you? Do you want
to serve in a different type of
ministry? Try staring 100 middle
school students in the face and
not falling in love with them like
Keith and I have. There’s room
for more. Come On! n
www.fpco.org | 5
 Camp Geneva
Get up…
And Go!
By Joe Losch, Elder

A bout five years ago, Tracy and I were sitting

in church when they showed pictures of
Camp Geneva. The kids and counselors all ap-
peared to be having a great time. I leaned over
to Tracy and said, “That looks like something
we should sign Joshua up for.” She agreed,
but under one condition; I would have to go
with him as a counselor for his first year. I re-
luctantly agreed. I started feeling better about
going after talking with my men’s Bible study
group. Their encouragement even helped me
feel like I was doing something good. Some of
Joshua’s friends’ parents also helped me to
feel good because they said, as long as I was
going to be there, they would send their child
– wow! Then, on the first day of camp, as par-
ents were dropping off their kids, they stopped
to thank me and told me what a great thing I
was doing. I was really feeling pretty good
about myself – I was on a roll! the kids what to wear, to sit up straight, to not talk or fidget, etc.
I was doing something good. I realized that this camp was Rather, the worship is on their terms. The first time I saw my
not about me. It was about the amazing things that God was cabin of boys put their arms on each other’s shoulders and sway
doing in the lives of these kids. Every day at Camp Geneva in- back and forth as they sang and worshipped, it brought tears to
volves a lot of fun activities, but it also includes a morning as- my eyes (ok, at the risk of sounding wimpy it brings tears to my
sembly with worship time, an afternoon Bible study and a big eyes every time I see it). It also made me think about one of my
evening event with worship built in. I’ll let you in on a family favorite Bible verses, “Let the children come to me and do not
secret that I’m sure only pertains to our kids; sometimes Tracy hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” –
and I have a tough time “dragging” our kids to church for one Matthew 19:14. I learned that Camp Geneva was a place where
service each week. Yet somehow at Camp Geneva these kids are children could come to Him, and that is what it is all about!
going happily to three worship activities every day. Now, to be This year will be Joshua’s final year as a camper, but he is
fair, worship at Camp Geneva doesn’t include parents telling already making plans to come back as a Junior Counselor. Our

6 | www.fpco.org
daughter, Olivia, will be back for her third year. The
good news for me is that despite this being my fifth
and final year as counselor of Joshua’s group; next
year our son, Caleb, starts camp, and I will be able
to join his group as they grow and develop for the
next five years. Then it will be time for our newborn
Noah to start Camp Geneva, and I will get started all
over again!
If you are considering sending your child, I en-
courage you do that. If you are considering being a
counselor because you want to do something good
too, I encourage you to do that as well! But let me as-
sure you that you will walk away from Camp Geneva
with much more than you could ever put into it!
This year’s theme will focus on Jesus’ challenge
to His disciples to “go!” take what you have heard
and experienced, even if it is brand new to you, and
go and share this with others. Studies and worship
will be based on Jesus’ call to the disciples to first
come and follow, the Samaritan woman whose words
about Jesus changed her and her town, the shepherds
who left to tell what they had seen and heard, and
our own commission to go and tell.
As usual, the activities are UNbelievable! The
annual favorites include the giant waterslide, paint-
ball, wet and gooey recreation, the snack bar, the in-
sane big events, and most of all the friends.
If you have never been…come! If you have
been before…come again! Bring your friend, your
neighbors, and your parents (we need counselors).
But most of all bring your heart because it will be
changed.
Camp Geneva is located between Leesburg and
The Villages, one hour from downtown Orlando.
Camp dates are Sunday, June 14–Thursday, June 18.
Kids who have completed 1st through 5th grades are
eligible to be campers. Junior counselors must have
completed 7th grade. Adults are needed and are
critical to the camp’s success. Pray how you can be
a part of the greatest week of your life!
Registration packets are available from Chil-
dren’s Ministry. Costs are $325 for campers, $250 for
junior counselors and $100 for adults. Scholarships
are available upon request.
For questions or more information, contact Car-
ol Welker at cwelker@fpco.org or call 407.423.3441
x1490. n
Respite from the Storm
on Wednesday Nights
By Cary Burchack, Member
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest.” Matthew 11:28
We wake to the morning news and the news is not good. Life seems a
little shaky, uncertain, and downright scary at times. The circumstanc-
es of our lives could easily overwhelm and consume us, and we often
wonder how to find peace in such a storm. “Meanwhile the disciples
were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen and
they were fighting heavy waves.”
“Heavy waves” could be defined in countless ways: grief, loneliness,
sickness, unemployment, divorce, worries, fear, depression. Many
days it does seem as though we are “fighting heavy waves” and at
times we fear that the storms of life might actually consume us. We
long for peace in our storms and comfort in our circumstances. We
want to quiet our minds from the multitude of worries and find rest
for our weary spirits.
In the midst of each of our life storms, Jesus bids us to “Come….
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you
rest.” His invitation never changes.
When life rages around us and we try to hang on…
When we reach the end of ourselves and realize that we just can’t do it
“on our own”…
Ultimately, it comes down to the very same invitation, spoken from the
One whose love passes all understanding,
Whose compassion never fails,
Whose faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
Jesus bids us “Come”
“Come to me….come to me….and I will give you rest.”
He alone provides the rest and the peace and the comfort and the strength
and the hope we require to take the next step in the hard places of life.
He invites us to “come”. He stands ready – arms spread wide - to wel-
come and hold us to Himself. The invitation is clear. The response is
up to us.
There is a time and a place of “rest” specifically set aside each week.
The Wednesday night prayer service is a respite from the storm and a
safe haven from life’s “heavy waves”. It is a holy place where you can
meet the Person of Jesus Christ and abide in His Presence. Prayerfully
consider responding to Jesus’ invitation to “come”, to lay your burdens
at His feet, and to find peace as the Master’s Voice reassures us, “It’s all
right. I am here! Don’t be afraid.”
It is HIS invitation….please come. n
The Wednesday night prayer services are held Wednesdays at 6:30pm
in the Lee Fellowship Hall. For more information, please contact Rev.
Donna McClellan at 407.423.3441 x1488 or dmcclellan@fpco.org.
www.fpco.org | 7
 ‘It’s About
God First’
How Putting God First Made One Couple’s
Love For Each Other Stronger.
By Kristin Davis

8 | www.fpco.org
L ike any married couple, members Chris, 31, and Courtney Quarles, 28,
don’t always agree. Take how they met for instance. “Do you want to
tell the story?” Courtney asks. “I’ll let you tell your version and then I’ll tell
mine,” Chris says jokingly. They met at the Dr. Phillips YMCA, Courtney says,
where she worked at the front desk and Chris was a gym member. Although
they said “hi” regularly, it took Chris several months to ask her out. When he
finally invited her to go to the YMCA’s Valentine’s dance, she told him she had
already made plans to go with her dad. But when Courtney’s mom decided
to go to the dance too, she found herself dateless. “I told Chris and he said,
‘I already asked you once, I’m not asking you again.’ So I said, ‘Will you go
to the Valentine’s dance with me?’” Chris’ recollection of the event is a little
different: “She asked me out. That’s how it went down.”
One thing they have always agreed on is that God comes first, their marriage second and their children third. “You
can’t be parents if you can’t have a relationship together,” Courtney explains. Their daughter, Kimble, just turned 17
months old in February and Courtney, a stay-at-home mom, is now pregnant with baby number two, Josephine. Chris
supports the family financially through his job in commercial real estate. “Relationships, even really good ones, take
work,” Courtney says. That’s a lesson they learned at FPCO’s weekend marriage retreat in 2008. The retreat was led
by Dr. Swanson and his wife, Leigh. “It’s a moving weekend,” Chris says. “It’s about how to interact with each other.
I think that’s what some couples forget; that you’re still married to someone when you have kids. Yeah, it’s about the
kids, but it’s about God first, my wife second and my kids third.”
The retreat also taught them how to communicate more effectively with each other and gave them insight into how
other couples interact. They talked to couples of all ages, some of who had been married for 30 years, others who had
been married only a few weeks. “It was really the first time since Kimble was born that we took time to look at each
other and our relationship and realize, OK, maybe we should spend a little more time together,” Courtney says. “Maybe
continue on page 10

www.fpco.org | 9
 we aren’t on the same page because we aren’t trying to be.”
They returned home from the retreat with a new aspiration
to make their relationship a public example of God’s love.
“We’re here with God and we’re focusing on our relationship
in private; we need to let that go public, too.”
Courtney’s parents have been an inspiration to her own
marriage. Together for more than 32 years, their relationship
has created a solid foundation for Courtney, her sister, Ash-
ley, and her brother, Charlie. When Chris came into the pic-
ture, they quickly took him under their wing as well. “Chris
was spending a lot of time with my family and to see them
joke around and have such an easy, comfortable relation-
ship was huge for me,” Courtney says. Although Courtney’s
parents liked Chris, her dad had a few reservations—mostly
about Chris’ facial hair. “His comment to Courtney after I met
him was, ‘I’m not sure about this guy … goatee, spiky hair? I
don’t know,’” Chris recalls. After dating for just six months,
Chris was ready to propose to Courtney, but wanted to ask her
“I’m not sure about this guy …
goatee, spiky hair? I don’t know”
parents’ permission first. One Fourth of July weekend, when
Courtney was away on a trip with some friends, Chris went
to spend some time with her family and asked for their bless-
ing. “Over some fireworks, her parents and I talked about me
asking Courtney and they approved,” Chris says. The two tied
the knot on December 30, 2004.
Unlike Courtney, Chris’ parents divorced when he was
only 6 years old, but he’s never let his past affect his future.
10 | www.fpco.org
“I see how lonely my parents were and I don’t want to be
like that,” he says. “With a Christ-centered life, you begin that
walk with someone and begin weaving something that’s very
special.” As a child, Chris remembers going to church with
just his mom. “That’s not how it works,” he says. “It makes it
difficult because the kids don’t really understand.”
Courtney and Chris say that their relationship with God
has made them stronger as a couple. They began attending
First Pres together, through the recommendation of friends
and family. “[When] we came to church here for the first time,
Courtney and I remember wanting to interact after a sermon
that Dr. Swanson had given,” Chris says. “We could relate
to [it] and talk with each other about it. I think that’s when
Courtney was like, ‘This is where we’re being called to.’” Al-
though it was their first time at FPCO as a couple, Courtney
had been there several times as a young adult. “I grew up
coming here on and off,” she says. “First Pres has had a pres-
ence in my life.”
Before joining the church, Chris and Courtney got in-
volved in the 40 Days of Purpose Bible study, which involved
a daily reading they would discuss together. “It was the first
time that we were discussing God on a regular basis and ac-
knowledging that [it] was an important part of our relation-
ship or needed to be,” she says. “It was about setting aside
that time for us to talk about God.” Their friends were also
a part of the Bible study and they grew to become a system
of support for each other. “You go to church, but to set aside
time during the week to meet with your friends to talk about
God is huge,” Courtney says. “Not only are you seeing these
people at church, but you’re meeting them outside of church,
so there’s more accountability and you’re more open with
your faith.” From that Bible study, they became members and
went on to participate in three other Bible studies with the
same friends.
Those friends were also there for Courtney and Chris dur-
ing one of their lowest points; the death of Chris’ best friend,
Joseph. “Memorial Day weekend three years ago, [he] was in a
boating accident and broke his neck and basically drowned,”
Chris says. Jody (Joseph’s nickname) had been friends with
Chris for more than 10 years and was Chris’ best man in his
wedding. Chris blamed himself for not being there with Jody
that weekend. He also questioned why God had chosen to
take his best friend. “I prayed about it,” he says. “I prayed for
him. I prayed for his family. It’s still a struggle today because
there are a lot of things that I wish he was a part of.” The sup-
port Chris received from family and friends got him through
the dark times. Friends of Chris’, that had never met Jody,
drove two hours to Bradenton to attend his funeral service. He says it
still bothers him that he never got to say goodbye, but he’s thankful that
so many people were by his side in his time of need, especially Court-
ney. “We cried a lot together,” Chris says. “You don’t know why things
happen, but you have to trust that God has a plan,” Courtney adds. “I
don’t think I said much. We prayed a lot, all in desperation.”
After the loss of Jody, Courtney worried that Chris’ faith in God
would waver. But in the end, it only made it stronger. “My fear was
that Chris would be like, ‘How did God let this happen? I’m done with
God.’ [But] the way that Chris dealt with it was amazing. I think, in
turn, it has made Chris stronger and value the people in his life more.”
The tragedy gave Chris the confidence that, with Christ, he and Court-
ney could make it through whatever obstacles life had in store. Their
second child, Josephine, is named in Jody’s memory. As a new chapter
in their lives begins with Josephine on the way, Courtney and Chris are
ready for anything. They may not always agree about everything along
the way, but one thing they are both certain of is their love for God and
their love for each other. “We talk about this every day and we pray
for it every day: that our relationship becomes stronger, that we follow
in the footsteps of Christ and make sure He is the center of our lives,”
Chris says. n

www.fpco.org | 11
12 | www.fpco.org
Raise the Roof!...
You Bet We Can!
By Carol Welker, Director of Children’s Ministry
B ack in 2007, a journey had begun; a journey of faith and
incredible odds. Would it be possible that the elemen-
tary children of this church could, on their own, work for and
raise $6000 to put a roof on a school in N’gombe, Zambia?
Let’s back up for just a minute and be reminded of how we
even got there. During FPCO’s Global Mission Conference in the
spring of 2007, I was presented a list of missionaries that would be
visiting our campus. I was asked which one I would like to have
speak to our children. I chose Debbie Shawa from Zambia and the
N’gombe Presbyterian Church and Community School. Little did
I know, God had really already chosen her to be with us. Debbie’s
visit was simply astounding. Never before had I seen, nor have I
since seen, all of our elementary children gathered in one place at
one time, being so attentive and tuned in to what was being pre-
sented. Debbie spoke about and shared pictures of the compound
where she has built a church and then a school. She shared of
the absolute poverty and disease that is ram-
pant in the lives of the children that attend her
school. Most of them are orphans and live in
literal shacks with no electricity or water or
family. And yet, they come to school every
day recognizing that the opportunity to go to
school is the only thing that can, or will possi-
bly change, their lives because it is more than
just a school; it is the Gospel of Christ.
In the midst of silence, a young man
raised his hand, and with complete sincer-
ity and a true desire to fulfill whatever the
answer might be, he asked, “What can we do
for you?”
Debbie’s response was somewhat hesitant, as she knew
what she was about to say was a step out and it was huge for
the audience in attendance. “We could use a roof on a build-
ing for the children. They generally cost us $6000.” The hush
in the room thickened. Suddenly my heart burst out in words
from my mouth and I said… “We can do that, can’t we, kids?”
Suddenly the silence was broken as the room was filled with a
very loud cheer of “Yeah!” We closed in prayer and class ended.
As I exited the room I realized what I had just committed our
ministry to and thought…”Are you crazy?”
Suddenly, plans were being made, partners were found in
Rick and Wendy Conant, proposals had to be approved, and the
“Raise the Roof” mission project began Easter of 2008. Through-
out the year, several projects were placed before the children
and they responded with the greatest of enthusiasm. As the
year ended, books were closed and all the 2008 accounting was
tallied. We discovered that our children kept me from being
crazy! They raised $6000; truly an amazing accomplishment by
our children and this church.
So, if you were to ask me now, “Can your kids raise a roof
for $6000?” My certain reply would be, “You bet we can!” I went
back and talked with Brian Walsh, the young man not afraid to
ask the question that opened the door to this blessing. Without
his asking, God could not have answered. Our conversation was
a real blessing.
I asked Brian what he thought Mrs. Shawa’s response
might have been when he asked what can we do. He respond-
ed by saying he thought she would ask us for prayer or for a
collection of school supplies or perhaps some money for a
couple of kids. Yet when he heard her re-
sponse of a roof that would cost $6000, he
said he suddenly thought, “Can I take back
my question?” He added that he never ex-
pected such a response because in his life
“certainly all buildings have a roof. That’s
just the way they are and how in the world
could I, a kid, get her a roof?” He said he
realized that one person really does make a
difference. I asked “how’s that?” He went
on to explain that if one kid didn’t do what
they did then, as a group, we would not
have reached our goal. It took every effort
by every kid to make the whole. Our dis-
cussion ended with me asking Brian if he felt he had learned
anything from this whole thing that he would take on in life
with him. His true and honest answer touched me deeply.
He simply said, “Yeah, I know that God will provide, and He
will move in people’s hearts and spirits to make the things
happen that He wants to happen.”
It’s hard to find words with which to finish, but I know
that as $6000 is being delivered to Debbie Shawa and her chil-
dren, their lives will be changed. I know for certain of at least
two lives here that have been changed as well; all because of
one question. Don’t be afraid to ask that question. God has the
answer waiting for us, and if we never ask, He can never an-
swer! Thank you, God, for your answers! n
www.fpco.org | 13

After Ten Months,
The Compassion Corner
Has a New Home!
Rev. Case Thorp, Associate Pastor for Mission & Evangelism
O n April 27, 2008, I wrote a very
difficult email to the volunteers
of the Compassion Corner, a portion
of which read as follows:
Friends of Compassion Corner-
This past Friday was a quiet, but im-
portant day that I know was not lost on
many of you. Compassion Corner closed
its door after seven faithful years of ser-
vice to the homeless of Orlando in the
name of Christ.
Over the years, tears have been shed,
souls have been saved, fights have been
reconciled, family members have reunited,
and new commitments have been attempt-
ed. You and others have faithfully served
in that small, but holy, space serving as the
very hands and arms of Jesus Christ.
And yet, I have hope. I’m hope-
ful that we can transition to (another
location) for a season of good ministry.
I’m hopeful we can find a partnership
with St. George’s Orthodox Church (the
Homeless Services Center on Wall Street)
that will enable us to look back and won-
der how we ever got by on a few hundred
square feet. You will always know how it
14 | www.fpco.org
was able to happen. Greatness is surely
not measured in square footage, but lives
touched, and many, many over the years
were blessed because of your faithful-
ness. Thank you and may God’s blessing
be upon our transition for His glory.
Be well, Case
Little did I know how long and hard
it would be to negotiate with a variety
of churches for a new home, to struggle
to keep the vision alive in the absence
of day-to-day ministry. However, God is
faithful and the leadership of the Com-
passion Corner, led by Dawn Neff, is pas-
sionate enough to conquer any obstacle. In
late January, the new Compassion Corner-
Magnolia site was dedicated by over 130
joy filled visitors and the homeless started
being served on February 9. Yet, getting to
this point of success was no easy feat.
After negotiations with several
churches, but two in particular that went
very deep, the perfect sized space became
available at 425 N. Magnolia, opposite
the Orange County Courthouse. Trin-
ity Evangelical Lutheran Church, which
faces Livingston, owned this adjacent
property having bought it over ten years
ago with the hopes of one day using it for
outreach. A mortgage and a very faithful
tenant kept the church from using it as
such until the Compassion Corner need-
ed a new home, the mortgage was almost
paid off, and the tenant moved out! The
men of Central Care Mission, the Naza-
rene men’s recovery ministry that part-
ners with us each Sunday morning to
conduct the Good News Breakfast in the
Lee Fellowship Hall, came and worked
diligently putting in a new tile floor,
closet space, fresh paint, and a hanging
ceiling. Without their partnership and
assistance, such a fresh and welcoming
home would not have been possible.
A year lost in ministry might doom
your normal initiative; but not First Pres-
byterian’s ministry to the homeless. Dur-
ing the transition, the Compassion Cor-
ner volunteers and resources were freed
up, providentially some feel, to launch
the IDignity initiative which is a month-
ly push to secure IDs for hundreds of
poor and homeless (www.idignity.org).
The relationships formed through this
effort, mostly among the five downtown
churches, has been the seed-bed from
which the larger Homeless Services Cen-
ter on Wall Street may come about.
The Compassion Corner-Magnolia
site is the temporary home of the minis-
try until we hope to make a final move to
the 15,000 square foot Homeless Servic-
es Center (formerly Drop In Center) on
Wall Street. Until that day, however, the
homeless of Orlando will have a place to
call home, a place where strangers meet
to hear the Gospel, to find referrals and
help for their suffering and to build com-
munity. To God be the glory! n
__________________________________
To serve or learn more…
Compassion Corner-Magnolia:
Dawn Neff at mslavelle1@aol.com
IDignity: Michael Dippy at
mdippy@earthlink.net or www.idignity.org
Homeless Services Center on Wall Street:
Case Thorp at cthorp@fpco.org
Telecare Invite
to Deacons
By Margie Ball, Deacon
A
bout a year ago, Rev. Sam Knight
and a small team started the
Telecare Ministry. We are small but
dedicated and, every second Tues-
day of each month, we meet and
call church members to say “hello”
and remind them that we are think-
ing about them, and if they have any
prayer needs, their church family
can be of help to them. Sometimes
our calls last less than a minute and
sometimes longer because
we’ve called on the very day
the person needed our call
the most. One of our team
members gave a great ex-
planation of what we do and
how we enjoy reaching out
to our church members:
“Being on the Telecare Team
has provided me an opportunity
to interact with many members
of the congregation with whom I
might not have had the chance to
visit with otherwise. It has been
encouraging to see how grateful
people are to have someone con-
tact them personally just to check
in on them. As is typical in min-
istry, we are the ones who feel
blessed by having given our time
in service for someone else.”
We do provide a training workshop,
but once you make your first few calls,
you realize that it’s all very natural.
We call a fellow church member to say
“hello” and “how have you been,” and
because the call is coming from their
church, they welcome a friendly voice.
In our training, we are reminded how Je-
feed others. When we show our love for
sus commanded Peter to “take care of my
others, we are not only feeding
them, but we are also fed. As
We call a fellow church deacons, we know exactly how
member to say “hello” and it feels to show our love and
compassion for others.
“how have you been,” We’ll be praying for each
of you and look forward to lots
of phone calls telling us you
would like to join us. Please call or email
sheep” (John 21:15-17) and Peter then
one of us soon:
turned to the Elders and said “be shep-
Sam Knight at 407.423.3441 1159 or
herds of God’s flock that is under your
sknight@fpco.org
care.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)
We are inviting each of you to take Tammas Smith at 407.423.3441 x1455
a few moments and ask God if this min- or tsmith@fpco.org
istry might be a way for you to serve at Linda McCallister at 352.243.7345
First Presbyterian Church. As Dr. Swan- after 6pm n
son said in his sermon, “Full, Round and
Packed,” God never allows us to sit on
the sidelines, and he expects us to help
www.fpco.org | 15
 1st Annual
Chili Cook-Off
Was A Huge Success!
By Rev. Donna McClellan, Prayer and Spiritual Formation
T he first annual Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by our adult
Sunday School classes and held in the Angel Wing on
January 18, was a great event for our FPCO church family.
Even the weather was perfect.
Members from eleven classes participated with decorated
tables, great tasting chili, and much enthusiasm…one table was
observed serving margaritas that tasted suspiciously like lemon-
ade… (however no extra points were given).
Competition was tough, but after much prayerful debate
and many bowls of chili, the winners for the Pastors’ Choice
Awards were declared. The winning entries were as follows: 1st
Place: Foundations, 2nd Place: Pass the Word, and 3rd Place:
Questerians. The 1st place winner was awarded the much cov-
eted red chili hat (shown in pictures modeled by both David
Swanson and the chef of the winning recipe, Lacey Gray). The
chili will now be housed in the Foundations class room until
next year’s competition.
The winner of the People’s Choice was announced to the
congregation the following week. It was a close competition, but
Answers for Living came away with the award. They also have
a trophy which they will keep for the year when they will once
again have to vie for the winning entry.
All the judges agreed that there was not a bad chili entry in
the bunch… although, Rev. Sam Knight was seen taking a num-
ber of the TUMS pills that had been discretely left on the judges
16 | www.fpco.org
table. Perhaps they do not serve chili in Wales?
Be looking for those great chili recipes so that you will
be prepared to represent your Sunday School class in next
year’s event. If you are not currently in a Sunday School class,
please contact me at dmcclellan@fpco.org, so that I can tell
you about the great classes that are offered. Sunday School is a
great way to learn more about Scripture and also to get to know
other FPCO members…it is just one more way to make a large
church small. n
__________________________________________________________
If you would like to join one of our Adult Sunday School class-
es, we have included class descriptions below. For additional
information on our Adult Sunday school offerings, please con-
tact Rev. Donna McClellan at 407.423.3441 x1488 or email her
at dmcclellan@fpco.org. We look forward to meeting you.
ANSWERS for LIVING: 310B-EMC: “To provide members with
thought provoking study and lively discussion in a friendly
environment that will encourage them in their faith and equip
them to intelligently answer questions for daily living”
Contact: Chris Bolan at chrisbolan@comcast.net
ALTARED: Young Adults: 304-CLC: “The Wikipedia approach
to Sunday School. Come connect with a community of 20s and
30s where your gifts can be discovered, affirmed, and nurtured.
This is a class that is engaging, thought provoking, challenging,
enlightening, debatable, strengthening, and connecting. All
levels of spiritual journey are welcome. Happy hour (coffee
and bagels) begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings in room 304
of the Clayton Life Center with other young adult classes. Class
follows at 9:50 a.m. in the same room!”
Contact: Seth Baker at sethuelb@gmail.com or Amanda Gibson
at amandaegibson@gmail.com
BASICS CLASS: LFH: “BASICS stands for Brothers And Sisters
in Christ’s Service. Various Biblical topics are taught by rotating
gifted teachers in a large, lecture style class.”
Contact: Larry Kreider at larry@thegathering.org
BEREANS: 300-EMC: “Intense Bible study with lively
discussions!”
Contact: Carolyn Ragan at iclr@aol.com
COUPLES CLASS: Young Adults: 312-CLC: “The Couples
Class, under the care of the 20’s and 30’s ministry, exist to bring
couples together for fellowship, scripture based teaching and
local and global outreach.”
Contact: Chad Cahill at ccahill@cahillhomes.com
CROSSROADS: 305-CLC: “A group discussion based on the
sermon scripture and how to ‘put feet’ to the scripture in our
daily lives. A lively small group format that strives to build
community.”
Contact: John Guglielmi at jguglielmi@cfl.rr.com
FORUM CLASS: 310A-EMC: “We are a multigenerational class
established in the early 1980’s with the goal of providing an
open forum for discussion on Christ’s life as it relates to the
Bible, the community, and to the church.” Contact: Jack Sneed at jsneed3@cfl.rr.com
Contact: Margaret Fail at mpeake123@yahoo.com
FOUNDATIONS CLASS: 240-EMC: “If you are looking for an
energetic class with lots of class participation and discussion,
taught by lay teachers just like you, then the Foundations class
is for you!”
Contact: Jack Prevost at 407.422.6430
GROWING CLOSER: Young Adults 308-CLC: “To grow closer to
God, to church, to family, and to the community.”
Contact: Kyle Taylor at kyle@providentconsultant.com
PASS the WORD: 241-Yowell Hall: “We are a class made up of
people who love studying the Bible, book by book, chapter by
chapter. A class that is serious about individual and corporate
Bible study – that is willing to invest itself in the lives of those
in the class, is mission minded, reaching beyond the class to
embrace others and to help meet the needs of those we come in
contact with.”
Contact: Cleatous Simmons at cleatoussimmons@gmail.com
QUESTERIAN CLASS: 340-EMC: “Our class name is our mis-
sion statement – we are on a quest to fortify ourselves to serve
Christ.”
Contact: Joe Stine at stinejoe@bellsouth.net
SERVANTS in the SON: 330-B EMC: “The members believe
strongly in the Word and each lesson is wrapped in prayer. The
class strives to live up to their name and serve in many minis-
tries within our church and the community.”
Contact: Al Williams at 407.275.8756
UNITY: 330-A EMC: “Bible study, historical perspective and life
applications.” Contact: Tony Frilingos at afrilingos@cfl.rr.com
YOWELL: Reformation Chapel: “Led by various teachers, with
fellowship and traditional hymns.”
EMC – Edington Ministry Center
CLC – Clayton Life Center
www.fpco.org | 17

A Planting
of the Lord
By Katy Becker; Seminary Student Volunteer
“A re you serious?” Two tenth
grade girls exclaimed. “You
want us to make our hair look like
roots?” “How are we going to do
that?” What followed involved bottles
of gel, hair spray, hair teasing, wire
hangers, wax, and two groups trying
to turn a head of hair into the elabo-
rate root system of a tree. After the
time limit, both teams held their vol-
unteers upside down in a handstand
position to better display their mas-
terpiece and the weekend was rooted
into place.
From this hilarious race to turn locks
into roots, the Disciple Now 2009 week-
end unfolded into a deeply impacting
time of discovering how true character
can only be found rooted in the Lord. I
spent the weekend staying in a house to
18 | www.fpco.org
were scattered in over 30 other homes
around the greater Orlando area and di-
vided among more than 40 other leaders
from all over the country. It is so easy to
get absorbed in the events of the weekend
that pertained to my group alone but, as
with most works of God, the reality of His
big picture is astounding. Saturday night
took my breath away as close to 300 of us
filled Lee Fellowship Hall for a worship
service. It was one of those beautiful mo-
ments to see seniors in high school forget
how old they are and 6th graders forget
how young they are. The only thing they
worried about that night was lifting their
hands high enough and raising their voic-
es loud enough; not because of what peo-
ple might think, but for the simple need
to lay it all out for their Lord who’d been
cultivating their hearts all weekend.
The weekend came full circle for me
at the end of the worship service, when
all of the leaders went up front to give
the students an opportunity to approach
their leaders for prayer. As I stood up
there with my teaching partner, Courtney
Williams, I can’t tell you how humbled
I was to have our girls come to us with
some of the most tender and personal
prayer requests. As we held each girl in
our arms, it was as if they handed their
lead twelve 10th grade girls. Little did
I know, they would end up leading me
in many ways. There is truly something
hearts to us to lift up to the Lord on their
behalf. At one point during this prayer
time, I looked to my left and to my right
about being real with yourself, with God,
and saw the other leaders holding their
and with others that forever changes
students in prayer just as we held ours.
you. For three days, I sat amazed among
It was then that I realized how precious
15 and 16 year old women who had the
that weekend was for our 10th grade girls’
strength, bravery, and faith to be so hon-
group and for everyone else involved.
est and vulnerable. As we all lounged in
Then it hit me. While God was using
a circle discussing both the darkness and
the leaders to help cultivate individual
the light within our hearts, I watched the
trees with His greater purpose, He was
Lord’s graceful hand move among those
actually cultivating an entire forest of
girls and work in their hearts and lives.
rooted followers. Isaiah 61 states, “they
I’ll never forget the experience of watch-
may be called oaks of righteousness, the
ing the roots of their hearts grow deeper
planting of the Lord, that He may be glo-
into Him and witnessing their faces be-
rified,” and that is exactly what God did
ginning to take on a distinct shine.
during Disciple Now as He strengthened
That was just what happened with
and grew the roots of an entire forest…
the 12 “root systems” under my care!
incredible! n
That weekend more than 250 students
Easter
Egg Hunt
by Dr. Swanson as he prayed with everyone before the start of
the festivities. Then it was time for the children to release the
butterflies that had been anxiously waiting in their boxes. The
children shrieked with delight as they watched their butterfly

By Kristen Welker, Member enter this beautiful world that God has blessed us with. After
the release, it was time for the Easter egg hunt. What a sight see-
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; ing all the little ones, dressed in their spring best, running and
the old has gone, the new has come!” searching for their treasures. The delight on their faces when
2 Corinthians 5:17 they discovered the treats hidden inside each egg was some-
thing to cherish. Once the hunt was over, many children and
parents settled down on blankets in the shade to enjoy a picnic
lunch. As lunch was finished, the children played in the park
while family and friends took time to visit.
Personally, I found this event to be a wonderful opportu-
nity to invite friends to come and experience First Presbyterian
Church. What a great ministry this simple Easter egg hunt has
provided to people seeking a church home. It has given them
a way to meet other families in a fun and casual atmosphere. It
is a perfect way for people seeking a church home to see what
we are all about!
So invite a friend and join us at the Easter Egg Hunt and
Butterfly Release. This year it will be held at Phelps Park on
April 10 beginning precisely at 10:00am. The day will begin
with Dr. Swanson leading us in prayer. Be sure to bring a blan-
ket and pack a picnic lunch to enjoy after the festivities. If you
have any questions regarding this event, please contact Kathy
Mangascle at kmangascle@fpco.org. n

Friday, April 10, 2009

10:00 a.m.

E very year, Early Childhood Ministry celebrates Christ’s

resurrection by hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and But-
terfly Release. What a perfect way for our children to cel-
Phelp’s Park
Free Event
ebrate Christ’s promise of everlasting love!
Children birth – 5 years old
Reminiscing on last year’s events, I have fond memories
of seeing adorable children walking up to the park holding
Contact Kathy Mangascle at 407.423.3441
their giant baskets with the look of excitement and anticipa- x2250 or kmangascle@fpco.org
tion on their faces. The children and families were greeted

www.fpco.org | 19
 THE Fruit
Of The Spirit
Are Present At
Weekday School
By Erin Summer, Member
G alatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faith-
fulness, gentleness and self-con-
trol”. This verse is a special one to
me and one that I hope to model for
my three children, Emma, Harrison,
and Connor. My prayer is to teach
them these important traits so that
they will someday know and demon-
strate “The Fruit of the Spirit” them-
LOVE is found everywhere
at Weekday School.
selves. As they say, “It takes a vil-
lage,” and I have found a great place
to help my husband and I in our effort
to raise Godly children-The Weekday
School at First Presbyterian Church
of Orlando.
LOVE is found everywhere at Week-
day School. Teachers love their students
20 | www.fpco.org
and students love their teachers - making
it easy to love going to school. JOY is on
the face of each child as they master new
skills, make new friends, and climb into
their car every afternoon, eager to share
the news of their school day. PEACE is
the feeling you have leaving your child in
the hands of such caring teachers know-
ing that, no matter what, they are going
to have an excellent day. PATIENCE
overflows from all of the teachers at
Weekday School, even when
our sweet little angels aren’t
being so angelic! KIND-
NESS, GOODNESS, and
SELF-CONTROL are encour-
aged and modeled when they
teach “The Golden Rule”.
GENTLENESS is abundant at
Weekday School…in the way they take
your child’s little hand and lead them to
a welcoming and loving classroom each
morning, in that cozy and comfortable
feeling you get upon entering the school
and especially in the way everyone there
genuinely loves our children, making
their safety and well-being a priority.
Recently, we have witnessed the
FAITHFULNESS of with the Weekday
School staff and many of its families.
Our daughter Emma, who is currently
a four-day student at Weekday School,
was born with a severe heart defect.
She had her first surgery when she was
nine weeks old and is scheduled for her
second surgery on February 19. Upon
hearing the news of Emma’s surgery,
our Weekday School family has flooded
us with love. They have lifted us up in
prayer and given us amazing
Words of encouragement, reminding
us of God’s love and lightening the heavy
burden that is upon our shoulders.
Over the last several years, I have
come to love this precious little pre-
school. I have learned that it is a
special place where love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithful-
ness, gentleness, and self-control are

abundant. “The Fruit of the Spirit” are
easy to find at Weekday School and
my family and I are blessed to be a part
of it!
_____________________________________
Weekday School’s mission is to provide
a loving, Christ-centered environment
for God’s precious young children as
well as help parents come to know the
school as a partner in guiding their chil-
dren and in maintaining their Christian
homes. One of the ways we do this is to
provide events that enhance a parent’s
knowledge and experience in parenting
with Christ-centered ideals. Each year,
we see transformation in the lives of
moms and dads; our parents tell us how
they themselves have grown spiritually
both from the materials and events that
Weekday School provides. During the
months of March and April, we have
scheduled two special days, each de-
signed just for moms or dads.
Mothers’ Brunch:
A delightful morning spent with
other Weekday School mothers, grand-
mothers and friends. Bruch will be
served and our moms will receive a
take-home treasure created by their
children as well as time spent view-
ing our children’s artwork. Our guest
speaker is Mrs. Leigh Swanson; her
topic is titled: “Why I Don’t Want to
Raise Happy Kids!” The brunch is fun
for all. Please plan to attend on
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 from
9:30–11:30am. There is a charge of
$15.00 to cover each person’s meal.
Please contact the Weekday School
Office if you would like to make a
reservation: 407.996.5864 or e-mail
weekdayschool@fpco.org.
Daddy and
Me Day:
This is a special day
for our Three and Four
Day children and a spe-
cial dad in their life. On
Wednesday, April 15,
2009 from 9:30–10:30 am
the dads come to spend
time with their children
at Weekday School. Dur-
ing this time they will
enjoy a snack, share worship time, read
a story and join in some outdoor games
with their dad.
Each dad will receive a special keep-
sake from this fun morning spent with
their child. “Dad” can be dad, granddad,
a friend of the family or another Week-
day School dad, so don’t worry if it hap-
pens to fall on a day when dad cannot be
there. n
www.fpco.org | 21
 Preparing

AND
Giving
Your Testimony
By Rev. Case Thorp, Associate Pastor for Mission and Evangelism

“…sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart, always being

ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you…”
1 Peter 3:15

T
here are usually two types of farm knows his owner well and is the stories offered by ‘wild stallions’
testimonies that convey how comfortable in the confines of the because they are more sensational and

God found us and called us into corral. God sometimes moves very exciting. However, the ‘wild stallions’

a faith relationship. There is the,
“Horse who grew up in the corral”
work of God or the “Wild stallion
brought in from the plains” sto-
ryline that can be more sensational.
God clearly works slowly and subtly
bringing people to faith in the same
way that a horse growing up on a
clearly and dramatically and we can often long for the experiences of the
‘corral horse’ because that path is of-
often name the time and place it oc-
ten less bumpy and painful. The ‘cor-
curred. This is akin to that wild stal-
ral horses’ need to know their journey
lion that comes into the corral sud-
with God is valid and ‘wild stallions’
denly and over time learns the ways
need to share the parts of their stories
of the farm. Either way is legitimate
that help others draw closer to the Lord
and either way is understandable.
rather than seek undue attention.
Some ‘corral horses’ are jealous of

22 | www.fpco.org
 One structure for framing your per-
sonal testimony is as follows:
• 3 sentences describing, “My life
before Christ…”
• 3 sentences describing, “My
encounter with Christ…”
• 3 sentences describing, “My
life since being in relationship
with Christ…”
now in your life rather than acting
as sensational attention grabbers.
Strong doses of authenticity and
brokenness are often appreciated
by others who can identify, for we
are all broken, sinful people.
• Have two people review your
testimony for flow, clarity, and
theological appropriateness.
3 sentences describing, “My
encounter with Christ…”
It was through the friendship and
influence of our Director of Christian Ed-
ucation that God’s love and message of
grace began to emerge in our family. I en-
countered Christ during Vacation Bible
School at the age of ten and I opened my
heart to the presence of the Holy Spirit

As an exercise, write these 9 sen- I would be honored to review and thus securing the salvation Christ offers

tences out, and boom, you have an artic- comment on your testimony if you me from the cross. While I didn’t feel

ulated testimony that others can under- email them to me at cthorp@fpco.org anything physically and there weren’t

stand and appreciate. • Practice, practice, practice. Good any major fire works in that classroom,
verbal communication only God began a good work in the young life
Key points to remember:
happens with intense preparation of a child who honestly clung to the Gos-
• Keep your regular testimony
and repeated performance. Get pel’s message of hope.
no more than 5-7 minutes.
your testimony to the point that [Main message here: I encountered
• Prepare a 3 minute version for
it flows naturally from your heart the message of salvation through a dis-
those with short attention spans.
rather than a rehearsed paragraph. cipleship type relationship. My entire
• Choose your words carefully, so that
• Pray that God would give you family was affected by the DCE’s disci-
they reflect Reformed Theology.
opportunities to share your pleship. Accepting Christ as one’s Lord
• Jesus did His “saving” work
testimony, that God would send and Savior is not necessarily a physical
2000 years ago on the cross.
His Holy Spirit to prepare the encounter, although it may be.]
Rather than using the phrase
hearts of your hearers and that
“when I was saved,” say, 3 sentences describing, “My life
your faith would be nurtured by
“When God opened my eyes since being in relationship with
seeing the fruit of your testimony.
and ears to His saving grace and Christ…”
I responded...” Notice the Since being in relationship with
An example from my life: Christ at such an early age I was able to
action in the latter sentence
3 sentences describing, “My life avoid many of the pitfalls that teenagers
rests with God as does our
before Christ…” and college students encounter. Sure, I
salvation. You didn’t “find
My life before Christ was rooted in wasn’t perfect, but I feel as if my motive
Jesus.” God/Jesus/the Holy
a church-going home, but one without a to keep my relationship with God good
Spirit finds you.
true relationship with God. My parents and pure allowed me to avoid a great
• Rather than saying, “At the age
felt it was the proper thing for the chil- deal of sin and further dedicate my gifts
of 10 I asked Jesus into my
dren to be in church to receive a moral and time to His service. He called me
heart,” since it implies you are
foundation. Also, we went because it into ministry during my college years.
the active agent, rephrase the
was the appropriate social thing to do in Seeing my life’s work as a reflection of
sentence to say, “At the age of
Southern culture. His glory gives me such joy, peace, and
10 God revealed His love and
[Main message here: I was a cor- fulfillment.
grace to me.”
ralled horse who had to be awakened to [Main message here: relationship
• Mention and summarize sinful
the Spirit’s presence. Just because one with God allows for purity from relation-
encounters and mistakes along the
attends church functions doesn’t mean ship and fulfillment (joy, peace, hope)
way. However, make sure they add
they are in relationship with Christ] from service] n
to the power of Christ’s presence

www.fpco.org | 23
 To The Amazon
With The Banner Of Christ!
T he Amazon River and surround-
ing jungle is a place that holds
much mystery for the rest of the
world. Many are in awe with the sta-
tistics concerning this place. Fifteen
thousand tributaries; flowing water
at 1.5 miles per hour velocity, eight
trillion gallons of water per day
emptied into the Atlantic (60 times
more than the Nile and 11 times
more than the Mississippi); 300 feet
deep in parts; 117 species of trees.
Besides the natural wonder, the Ama-
24 | www.fpco.org
zon basin is home to over 20 million peo-
ple that include over 400 people groups.
Six and a half million of these people
live in rural areas and about 300,000 are
considered indigenous. Quite a few of
them have never even been discovered
by the outside world, much less heard
the Gospel of Christ.
The rural, indigenous people of the
Amazon live mostly off the land for ev-
erything: housing, clothing, food, and
medical care. You can imagine that such
subsistence living can be freeing from our
modern ways of life, but can also carry
with it many of the unnecessary suffer-
ings that modern medicine has helped to
alleviate.
World Hope Missions Ministry, a
long time mission partner with First
Presbyterian Church and a ministry
founded within our own congregation,
has grown in impact over the years by
taking people from around our country
to bless the people of the Amazon with
medical care and the Gospel. World
Hope took 10 medical mission trips in

2008 with a total of 153 American vol-
unteer missionaries.
In partnership with the Presbyterian
Church of Manaus, in a two million per-
son city, in the heart of the Amazon rain
forest, World Hope takes around eighteen
short-term missionaries on seven-day
trips of mercy to these forgotten people
in remote villages. Doctors, nurses, den-
tists and other professionals donate their
time and talent. These ‘missionaries’
show God’s love by ministering to the
physical and spiritual needs of people
far from the main stream
of society.
During the day, vil-
lagers are examined,
prescriptions are filled
and teeth are pulled. By
night, the Word of Christ
is spread. Non-medical
missionaries paint hous-
es, teach village children
about Christ through crafts and songs,
distribute clothing and toys, soccer balls
and Bibles.
Boats owned and maintained by the
Presbyterian Church of Manaus are spe-
cially equipped with examining rooms,
a pharmacy and a dental office. Stops
at small villages along the river are
not random. The Manaus Presbyterian
Church makes preparation in advance.
The youth of the church volunteer
their time to go along as interpreters.
Cooks on board the boat provide freshly
cooked meals throughout the day; state-
rooms and the dining salon are air-con-
ditioned. Each day begins with a short,
encouraging Bible lesson from Pastor
Jonathas Moreira, founder and former
pastor at our church. Missionaries have
time for reflection and meditation as
the boat travels down the wide Amazon
River. Beautiful sunrises and a canopy
of jeweled stars at night create unforget-
table memories. And most importantly,
medical care and the saving Gospel are
delivered to people in need for which
God gets all the glory and the partici-
pants get a big dose of love, love, love.
Join Rev. Thorp August 1-10, 2009,
as he joins Dr. Moreira in leading 18
people from FPCO up the Amazon for an
exciting adventure in ministry. For more
information, please attend an Informa-
tional Dessert on March 11 at 7:30 pm
in the King Parlor for details and costs.
More information can be found at www.
amazon-mission.org. n
www.fpco.org | 25

Sharing The Gospel
In Bolivia
By Emily Brown, Member
I n June of 2007, I went on a life-
changing adventure with e3 part-
ners to plant churches in Santa Cruz,
Bolivia. I had been attending FPCO
for three years and hadn’t felt a call-
ing towards missions, but a mentor
of mine asked if I would consider
going. I did what I normally do when
making really important decisions -
act on them and then think about the
consequences at a later time!
While in Bolivia, I met a 12-year
old girl named Natalie, who was dying
from kidney failure and could no longer
walk on her own. Her family of six wel-
comed us into their home, a one-room
apartment. They truly greeted us with
open minds and hearts. After sharing
the Evangecube and the story of the Gos-
pel, Natalie and her mother both prayed
with us to receive Christ into their hearts
and lives. That same week, we even pur-
chased Natalie a wheelchair so that she
26 | www.fpco.org
would be able to attend church.
Three months after I left Bolivia, I re-
ceived word that Natalie had passed away.
Instead of being sad, I was overcome and
awestruck by God’s plan and His ability to
provide a dying girl with the promise of
spending eternity with Him. At the begin-
ning of the trip, would I have been able
to believe that I was capable of delivering
this critical message? No!
Last year as I was preparing to go on
my second trip to Bolivia, I was asked at
a large gathering how long I had been a
Christian. I answered, “three years.” (Pri-
or to coming to FPCO, I was a Christmas
& Easter Christian in the Roman Catholic
tradition). The question, posed in front of
this large group was, “Well in those three
years before going on this trip, how many
people had you shared the Gospel with?”
“None” I sheepishly answered.
“And how many people did you
share the gospel with during the nine
days you were in Bolivia?”
“Seventy five,” I answered.
“And how many of those
people accepted Christ into their
hearts?”
“Twenty five,” I answered and
this was coming from someone who
never thought she had the capabil-
ity of sharing the Gospel. It’s quite
amazing how God uses those who
are inadequate on their own.
_______________________________
Emily Brown is part of FPCO’s
20s & 30s community, part of the
2009 Latin America Mission Team
and is really excited to be living
out her calling to share God’s mis-
sion to the world. In 2007, Em-
ily joined a translator and a member of
the local church in the neighborhoods
around Santa Cruz, to share with others
what God had done for her and could do
for them. She returned to Bolivia on her
second trip last year and is looking for-
ward to going on her third trip in July.
e3 is one of FPCO’s newest mission
partners, working worldwide to build
and strengthen local churches. Church
members from around the world team up
with local church members and transla-
tors to share in neighborhoods and intro-
duce people to a particular church. A
relationship is formed; a connection is
made between the local church and their
community, and the transformational
message of Jesus Christ is shared with
each person.
_____________________________________
You can join e3 on their next trip!
Because they believe in the work being
done and want to build up local church-
es everywhere, e3 is offering full scholar-
ships to any FPCO members who would
like to go on future trips. For more in-
formation, contact Emily Brown at emi-
lybrown332@gmail.com
For more, visit www.fpco.org/mis-
sion and www.e3partners.org n
News & Notices
Bring Your Heart to Church for the Christian Service
Center During March
Bring Your Heart to Church for March involves pantry items
for the Christian Service Center. The increased demand upon
the food pantry due to the economy is creating extreme stress
on supplies. Please bring canned items such as canned meats,
rice and pasta, and other non-perishable items. Collection
bins will be located in the EMC Lobby and Angel Wing each
Sunday during March.
Attend Amazon Mission Trip Dessert
Join Rev. Case Thorp and others as we hear Jonathas Moreira,
of World Hope Mission Ministry, FPCO member, and former
FPCO pastor, present the vision and plans for a short-term
mission trip up the Amazon River set for August 1-10, 2009.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 7:30 p.m., King Parlor. For more
information go to www.amazon-life.org or by contacting Case
Thorp at cthorp@fpco.org
Save the Date for the ICCC Golf Tournament for the Tots to
be Held on April 8
Mark your calendars for April 8, 2009 and come join us for
an afternoon of golf, refreshments, fun and fellowship to ben-
efit FPCO’s William E. Alexander Infant Child Care Center’s
Scholarship Fund at Dubsdread Golf Course. For more infor-
mation please contact Sue Fulford at 407.859.01968.
Homeless Ministry Seeks Volunteers for March 26
On Thursday, March 26, volunteers are needed to help with
the IDignity event at the Orlando Rescue Mission. The IDignity
program helps the homeless obtain birth certificates, ID’s, legal
counsel and other documents. To serve, contact Dawn Neff at
407.617.3370 or MSLavelle1@aol.com. www.idignity.org
Economy of God Sermon Series Available on CD and DVD
The Economy of God Sermon Series CD and DVD sets are
available for purchase. Volume 1 CD and DVD sets con-
tain sermons 1-5 and are currently available. Volume 2
CD and DVD sets contain sermons 6-10 and will be avail-
able March 29. Sets may be purchased immediately fol-
lowing both services or by contacting Aaron Rupp at
407.423.3441 x1438.
Congratulations to:
Elizabeth and Brian Coates on the birth of their son, James
Brian Coates, Jr. The proud grandparents are Nancy and
Bruce McAllister. The great grandparents are the late Ruth
and Don McAllister.
Margaret Ashlyn Dominick and Jonathan Tate Cooper, mar-
ried on January 17, 2009 in the Sanctuary. Ashlyn is the
daughter of Deborah and Jay Dominick.
Sympathy to:
Linda and Kevin Hunsicker on the death of his mother,
Martha Hunsicker, on December 24, 2008. Mrs. Hunsicker
was the grandmother of Margaret, Emma, Aubrey and Dinah
Hunsicker.
Maria Kaempfer on the death of her mother, Marilyn Stock,
on December 30, 2008.
The friends and family of Jeanne Seybert, who died January
9, 2009.
Pam and Mark Oldham on the death of their niece, Linnea
Oldham, on January 15, 2009.
The family and friends of Kathy French, who died January
17, 2009.
The family and friends of Mary Bailey, who died January 21,
2009.
The family and friends of Iris Wrenn, who died January 25,
2009.
Karen and Sam Oswald, on the death of her father, Dr. J.O.
McCullough, on January 25, 2009. Dr. McCullough was the
grandfather of Emily, Sam Hill and Claire.
The family and friends of Dr. Charlotte Little, who died
January 27, 2009.
Lori and Dan Needham on the death of his step-mother, Shirley
Needham, on January 29, 2009.
The friends and family of Dr. John Anderson, who died
January 31, 2009. Dr Anderson was the minister of FPCO
from 1958-1965.
January ’09 Giving Snapshot
General Contributions Budgeted Surplus/
Operating (Deficit)
January Gifts $ 483,512 $ 743,416 $(259,904)
Fiscal Year-
to-date Gifts $4,203,301 $4,622,93 $(419,638)
Line of Credit $0
Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance $4,909,649
IM December Gifts $51,031
IM Fiscal Year-to-date Gifts $1,282,873
(net of 10% tithe to Missions)
Contact Finance for a full revenue & expense summary.
www.fpco.org | 27
Lent 2009
Save the Date Save the
By Rebecca Bedell; Minister of Worship and Culture
Dates &
join us
In our society, not only do we get invitations and announce-
ments to important events, now we get a card telling us that the
invitation is on the way! The card asks us to “Save the Date”,
because our presence is requested. Friends, you are requested to
attend Lent. You are important to us and we want to share this im-
portant season with you. We hope that you will save some dates Sunday Worship
to pull away and draw near to Christ. Being an active participant March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29; 8:30 & 11am
in the Lenten season will be a blessing to your soul and help you Sanctuary & LFH
to prepare for the wonder of Easter!
During worship on the Sundays of Lent, we will be extin- Palm Sunday
guishing candles to symbolize the increased darkness of our sin April 5; 8:30 & 11am
and the darkness that came with the impending death of the Light Sanctuary & LFH
of the World. We will let flowers die before our eyes to symbolize
the death and decay that comes with sin. Holy Week Noon
During Holy Week, we will have noon day worship servic- April 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10; Noon
es themed “A Walk with Jesus” that will take us though the last Reformation Chapel
week of Jesus’ life.
On Maundy Thursday, we will remember the last supper Maundy Thursday
through worship and a hand-washing experience. April 9; 6:30pm
On Good Friday, the night of Jesus’ death, we will celebrate the Sanctuary
Tenebrae (service of darkness or shadows) worship service, with
the magnificent Requiem of Gabriel Fauré. As a symbol of Christ’s Tenebrae Worship
ultimate sacrifice, the final Lenten candle will be extinguished. April 10; 7:00pm
On Holy Saturday, challenge yourself to a day of silence as
Sanctuary
you remember Christ’s time in the grave. n

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