FPCO Columns December 2009

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First Presbyterian Church o Orlando December 20

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


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ON THE WAY

Markers. In lie, we need markers. They help us nd our way.They keep us on Gods path. They remind us o Gods aith-ulness. Its why I love the text rom 1 Samuel 7. Israel had beenghting the Philistines, and it appeared they were headed ordeeat. However, the Lord intervened, turned the battle around,and gave them a great victory. It was a victory clearly rom Hishand. So, Samuel set up a stonean Ebenezer to mark theplace where God had acted on their behal. It was a markeraremindero Gods activity and aithulness. And yes, its wherewe get the line rom the amous hymn, Come Thou Fount o

Every Blessing.

Sunday, October 25, was a day I will remember or a longtime. It was a day in which I wanted to set up a stone so thattogether, we might remember it. Part o the reason I am writingabout it now is to remind you and help you remember. I supposethis letter is my stone. I preached on James 5:16 that day, callingus as a community to conession. It was not an easy message togive. It was one I had prayed about and anguished over. Its nev-er easy to remind a group o people that they have issues andfaws, even when you know it may lead to healing and growth.

Conession, I said, is the true ground o Christian com-

munity. It is what allows us to break down all the barriers and allthe social dividers. It is what unites us at the oot o the cross. Weall mess up and we all need Jesus.

At the end o the service, I invited people to come orward,not to me, but to the cross, that they might coness whateverGod had laid on their hearts that morning. What happened nextcould only be the work o the Holy Spirit. I have given invitationsbeore and meaningul moments have been shared, but this wasdierent. People just started coming. In all our services, it wasthe same. People came. Weeping, bowing, smiling, hugging,they came. Let me share an email I got rom Barbara describingher experience that morning:

Dear David,

My name is Barbara and I am a sinner.Thank you or that powerul message today. I needed thatmessage, desperately. What a powerul time o prayer andsharing at the close o the service. I wanted to share with youwhat may seem like an insignicant event but was really avery powerul moment or me. As we stood at the ront o thechurch, my eyes lling with tears, I heard a snife next to me.I reached out and put my arm around the woman that stoodnext to me and she did the same. Ater the prayer we stoodand held hands. I have never met this woman beore, I do notknow her name but I do know that God brought us togetherthis morning to put an arm around each other and support

each other as we admit-ted we were sinners andloved each other anyway. Tears arelling my eyes again as I rememberthat moment. My husband on oneside and a loving sister in Christ onthe other, while I was conessing my horrible sins, God wshowing me unconditional love. I dont know what else to sbesides God is good.

That moment and many others like it played out through tmorning. It was holy, sacred ground. I cannot ever remembactually sobbingheavingin a service beore, but I did thmorning as I was conronted by my own sin and the joy o tcommunity that stood beore me as one. It was a marker momein the lie o this church, and so I write to remind you o it againthe commitments you made that day, the way in whGod drew us together as a body, the way in which he shaped ochurch.

It has been my prayer or many months that God would knodown the walls that have kept us rom true community. I haprayed that God would allow us to be known in this commun

not as the movers and shakers as one person said, or the riwhite church as another said, but instead as a humble bodyChrist-ollowers, a grace-lled community united around Goredeeming love. We were moving and shaking that day, buwas the Spirit who was moving, and the walls that were shakand alling. What a joy it was to be there that day.

I pray that in this Advent Season, we will remember the go that day, the git o Christ coming. May we rejoice in Gogoodness, the blessing o His coming, and His relentless grathat constantly does abundantly more than we could ever hoor or imagine. In thanksgiving to God, I borrow rom the clashymn to close:

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Here by Thy great help Ive come;And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Saely to arrive at home.

May God continue to bring us home, shaping us as a true comunity o aith. With humble thanks and praise to God, I rema

Under His Mercy,

David D. Swanson

WITH DR. DAVID D. SWANSON

...Remember The Gift

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.

He named it Ebenezer, saying, Thus far has the Lord helped us.

1 Samuel 7:12-14


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CONTACT US407.423.3441

To arrange a baptismContact Worship x1451

To arrange a weddingContact Weddings x1453

To arrange a uneral ormemorial service

Contact Pastoral Care x1455

To donate fowers orworship services

Contact Worship x1451

With questions about yourpledge, donation, or budget

Contact Finance x1479

With a change o addressContact Membership x1471

To purchase a sermon CD or DVContact x1438

To join the Chancel ChoirContact x1273

For child care reservations -Early Childhood

Contact x2250To reach the Security Oce

Contact 407.415.9793

For Weekday SchoolContact 407.996.5864

To nd out about SundaySchool classes

Contact Spiritual Formationx 1463

With questions about the FPCwebsite or its Columns publicatContact Communications x14

To reserve a meeting spaceContact Special Services x146

HOSPITAL CALLS:Hospitals are no longer able tnotiy us when our members ar

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?

Dependency assistance, cancesupport group, grie supportdivorce care, inertility group

please contact CongregationLie x 1159

www.twitter.com/pcorland

Group: First Presbyterian Chu

o Orlando

ON THE COVER:

TRUST THE SIGN:Thereore the Lord Himsel willgive you a sign: Behold, a virginwill be with child and bear ason, and she will call His nameImmanuel. Isaiah 7:14 NIV

This Beautiul Nativity was created

by Nancy Hannah, Marian Phalin andPepper Ausley and has been dis-played in the Edington Lobby everyChristmas season since 2002. Photoby Todd McLennan.

12 WALK WITH ME:Following Jesus throughthe Scriptures.

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7 MUSIK4Lie

8 ECM - Seeking, Sharing &

Serving

9 ECM - Wanted: LovingHands

10 Stephen Ministry

12 Walk With Me

15 Heart Beat

16 ECM: Smith Family

18 Musik Garten FAQs

21 Christ Over Clothes:Spiritual Fashion

21 Sick Sisters: A Ministry orWomens Hearts o All Ages

23 News & Notices

24 IMOG: In the Image o God

IN THIS ISSUE:

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4 LIFE Community

Moving rom going to church to being the church.

22 Wanted: Singing Men Real men can fnd ellowship and deeper meaning in an

unexpected place.


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group day

Sunday, January 24, 2010all images, Jason Frazier


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In Early Childhood Ministry, we have been called to wel-come our youngest to their frst experience with church!

Their experience is truly one that is based on what theyreceive rom us and the environment we have created orthem here. To some, our area o ministry (birth pre-k)may be considered babysitting (nursery), but experts inchildrens development agree that a young childs capacityor learning about God has been greatly underestimated.There is a window o opportunity in a childs youngest yearsto instill in them a knowledge o God, His love, and Jesusas a riend orever.

Our goal in Early Childhood Ministry is to lay a frm spiritual

oundation in the hearts and minds o our youngest, thatwill be the frst layer upon which a strong aith and walkwith the Lord are built. That includes providing a happyexperience at church and spiritual training experiences: in-teractive Bible lessons and praise and worship experiences(SEEK), time with riends (SHARE), and opportunities togive to God through mission/outreach projects (SERVE).

Here are things about God young children are ready tolearn by age 4:

Knowing who God is Knowing what God has done You can have a relationship with God

You can be all God wants you to be

The spiritual component o achilds development is so impor-tant!

George Barna says, human

development is a complex mixo growth in fve core areas: themoral, spiritual, physical, emo-tional, and intellectual dimen-sions o liethe basis o eacho these areas is ones spiritual oundation. (TransformiChildren into Spiritual Champions, pg.53)

Our purpose is to interlock what we do in Early ChildhooMinistry with what Childrens Ministry does, by providichildren with a good frst step in a oundation o aith thprepares our children or the next step o spiritual growthChildrens Ministry.

December Activities

Take home parent-child activities:Advent Wreath in a Cup and Worship Book - Parents achildren assemble a simple advent wreath and use taccompanying booklet to prepare their hearts or the biro Christ.

Journey to Jesus - Parents and children enjoy taking Santhe camel on a journey to Bethlehem, reading scriptualong the way.

Christmas Eve childcare available or the:3pm and 5pm Family Services and 8pm Traditional ServiNO childcare at 10pm ServiceDoors will open 1 hour beore services.

The words Jesus speaks into your heart are like a timustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest all seeds, but becomes the largest of plants.

~Matthew 13:

Aun part o our curriculum or our 3-year-olds and prechildren is to help them memorize scripture. They lo

it! The scriptures we choose each quarter are taken roour curriculum and children practice learning the scriptureach Sunday in their classrooms. At the end o each quter, children are given small prizes or their eorts. Parenare encouraged to learn the scriptures too, and to hetheir children work on their memory verses at home. Pents provide wonderul modeling or their children whthey memorize the verses along with their children. Tis another way in which you help lay a oundation o ain your childs heart to teach them early in lie that God

Word is precious!

discipleship

mustard seed club

In Early Childhood MinistryBy Kathy Mangascle, Director o Early Childhood Minis

all images, Jason Frazier


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Stephen Ministers have caring hearts and sympatheticears. Our role is not to x the problemwe are thecare-givers, not the cure-givers. God is the cure-giver andthrough thoughtul conversations and prayer, God will pro-vide His guidance.

Stephen Ministers are the Ater People. They comealongside the hurting personater a loved one has died,ater the divorce papers have been served,ater the layo or orced retirement,ater the cancer diagnosis is given.

As you struggle with dicult situations, you can be com-orted in knowing that our church amily has Stephen Min-isters who are willing and well prepared to walk alongsideyou in your crisis. There are over 500,000 people trained asStephen Ministers in the United States and other countries,and Florida is ranked #4 as having the highest number ocongregations enrolled in the Stephen Series.

Three o the spiritual gits that emerge as the most valu-able to Stephen Ministers are: Faith, Mercy, and Encour-agement. Many o us are caregivers every day o our lives:

or our children, our parents, our amily, our riendswelisten and we care.

Stephen Ministers are provided with 50 hours o train-ing in Christian caregiving. So they are equipped to meetwith their care-receivers as a compassionate riend, a goodlistener, a rm believer in God, and always keeping theshared inormation condential.

Stephen Ministers meet with their care-receivers weeklyor about one hour. To encourage each other and havecontinuing education or the Stephen Ministers, we meet

twice monthly in peer supervision groups. The initial comitment is or two years o service, but many recommit serve additional years, once they have experienced tblessings o this caring ministry. This is a ministry o preencewe just have to show up and care.

We encourage you to take time to pray and listen where God may be calling you to serve your church am

Or, you may be in the midst o a crisis or struggle in yolie and would like to have a Stephen Minister walking wyou. No one should suer alone. You are not alone

For more inormatiocontact Tammas Smin the Pastoral Care oat 407.423.3441 x145The new Stephen Ministraining class will beginJanuary 2010.

People Dont Care

What You Know Until

They KnowYOU CARE

photography, Jason Frazier

By Linda McCallister, Member & Stephen Minis


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Read All About IT:The First Pres family digs into the Bible together in 2010! Walk With Me.Following Jesus Through the Scriptures together as a church family in 2010

By Kent Sterchi, Director o LIFE Community


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The Apostle Paul wrote to his young son in the aith, Timothy, Allscripture is God-breathed and useul or teaching, rebuking, cor-recting and training in righteousness, so that the man (and woman) oGod may be thoroughly equipped or every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16,17). I you are like me, I long to spend more time reading, studying andapplying Gods Word, but oten do not have a plan or regular account-ability and encouragement to persevere in my pursuit o Truth.

Paul reminds us that the Scriptures are the very Word o God andthrough our exploration o them, we will be trained in right living andcompletely equipped to love and serve Him wherever we are. A hugepart o the spiritual transormation o our hearts will come through ouractive pursuit o studying Gods Word individually and together in com-munity.

Starting January 1st, 2010, each member o the church amily willbe challenged and encouraged to join together in the daily readingo Acts and Pauls letters. Throughout this all, members o the churchhave been prewriting daily devotionals (on the daily reading o Actsand Pauls letters) that will correspond to a daily devotional in 2010.

These daily devotions will be sent to you via e-mail, or available on thechurch website, www.pco.org, by clicking on the Walk With Me (thetitle/invitation to engage in daily Bible reading) button on the homepage.

Additionally, Dr. Swanson and the pastoral sta will be preachingthrough the same portion o Scripture that will correspond to our dailyreadings. The Childrens and Student ministry will also be studying Actsand Pauls letters, so we can all be on the same page together. Manyadult Sunday School classes are choosing to study this same Scriptureand all new LIFE Community groups will journey together in the studyand application o the weekly readings.

It is our humble desire and vision to create a gospel community thatdevelops a love or the Word o God and thereore is inspired to beagents o Christs love to one another and the world around us. Join us,as we begin the journey together and are drawn to Jesus in His invita-tion to Walk With Me!

NOTE: We are still in need o people that would write one o the dailydevotionals. The process is easy as we will supply the passage and tem-plate to guide you in the writings. Please contact Sarah Mattheus at407.423.3441 x1497 or by email at [email protected] to indicateyour interest and receive urther directions. Thanks!

COLUMN


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Robert A. Robertson, betterknown as Bob or Robbieto his amily and riends, had along and distinguished historyin the Central Florida area andin particular with The First Pres-

byterian Church o Orlando.He was generous to both withregard to his time and money.

Born into a amily o Pres-byterian ministers, he becameactive in the church at a youngage, becoming a deacon attwenty-ve and an elder in

later years. The nance committee was among the manycommittees that he chaired or several years, helping toraise money or the sanctuary, Allen Hall and Lee Fellow-

ship Hall. He also served as President o the Trustees. Inall, he served the church in many capacities, beyond hisaithul membership, or ty-eight years.

One o Bobs strong belies was that education was a vitalkey to equal opportunity and contributed to the making oa better community and world, enabling those with little toraise them to a higher level. In addition to sending his ownchildren to college, he also provided unds or the collegeeducation o several others. Upon his death in 1995, The

Robert A. Robertson Memorial Scholarship was establishin the Heart o the City Foundation to urther his legacythis area. Currently, 3 scholarships are awarded rom tendowment annually, supporting a child at the Inant Chicare Center, the Weekday School, and The Christ SchoHe would be pleased to know that his money is continui

to be used to educate people in need today.

Robert is survived by his wie, Julia, who married him1949. She remembers Robert or his honest integrity astrong morals and recalls the high importance that he ways placed on tithing. She and Robert both sharedtheir git o service. Julia taught Sunday school or 14 yeahad a womans circle, and started the rst Girl Scout trooJulia currently resides in Winter Park Towers and joyulives a busy and ull lie.

Robert A. Robertson has let a legacy o service, integr

and education, and the scholarship endowment will cotinue to give and impact the lives o children as he nowalks with the Lord.

The Heart o the City Foundation exists to urther the mistry and mission o First Presbyterian Church o Orlandoyou are interested in learning more about the oundatior giving to its Mission, Scholarship, Facility, or Seed FuEndowment, contact Amy Bishop at [email protected] x1484.

Just a closer walk with Thee,Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.Daily walking close to Thee,Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strongJesus, keep me rom all wrong.Ill be satised as longAs I walk, let me walk close to Thee

In this world o toil and snares,I I alter, Lord, who cares?Who but Thee my burden shares?None but Thee, oh Lord, none but Thee

When my eeble lie is oerTime or me will be no moreGuide me gently, saely overTo Thy kingdom shore to Thy shore

Heart o the City Foundation Honors

JUSTa closer walkwith THEE

HEART BEA

Robert A. Robertson

Roberts Favorite song was Just a Closer Walk With Thee


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We have been attending FPCO or nearly a decade. We gotmarried here and started all three o our children in EarlyChildhood Ministry at 12 weeks o age. We believe in this pro-gram and what it has taught our children. They read rom theBible, sing songs, color and do crats pertaining to the scrip-ture and lesson every Sunday. They started the Mustard SeedClub which got the children learning to memorize scripture.The frst scripture my children memorized was perect or anissue I was having at the house: Colossians 3:9, Do not lie toone another. I use it to this day, asking them, What doesGod say about lying?

It brings comort knowing it will be the same teacher romone Sunday to the next. That has given our amily the chance toreally know the teachers. We have to stop by and give hugs to some that we had inyears past. The kids look orward to church because o the environment and the love they eel rom the EarlyChildhood Ministry sta. My husband and I eel strongly about this ministry and support it through volunteering monthThis opportunity gives us a chance to see what it is like in the classroom, gain a riendship with the teachers, and leamore about some o the other children at our church.

The experience as parents and volunteers has made us ever grateul or this church and all the godly servants that hemake it possible!

With Grateful HeartsBy The Smith Family (Tad, Trista, Tate, Sage, and Sawyer), Members

Our Senior PastorPracticing to be a Parking Attendant!


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First Presbyterian Church o Orlando welcomes Tony Campolo, speaker, au-thor, sociologist, pastor, social activist, and passionate ollower o Jesus.Tony has boldly challenged millions o people all over the world to respond

to Gods boundless love by combining personal discipleship, evangelism, andsocial justice.

We invite you to join us as we hear his powerul message o hope.

When: January 16, 2010, 7-8:30pm

Where: Sanctuary - Open to the Public

Cost: $10

Contact: Amy Heck at 407.423.3441 [email protected]

Register at www.pco.org/register

Tony Campolo is Proessor Emeritus o Sociology at Eastern University in St.

Davids, Pennsylvania. He previously served or ten years on the aculty o the

University o Pennsylvania. He is a graduate o Eastern College and earned a Ph.D. rom Temple University.

Founder and President o the Evangelical Association or the Promotion o Education (EAPE), Dr. Campolo has work

to create, nurture and support programs or at-risk children in cities across North America, and has helped establi

schools and universities in several developing countries.

Dr. Campolo is a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, having guested on television programlike The Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfre, Politically Incorrect, The Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, CNN Daysid

CNN News and MSNBC News. He co-hosted his own television series, Hashing It Out, on the Odyssey Network, and pre

ently hosts Across The Pond, a weekly program on the Premier Christian Radio Network in England. He is also a high

respected and sought ater guest on radio stations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia an

New Zealand.

He is the author o 35 books, with the latest releases in February 2008, Red Letter Christians, A Citizens Guide to Fa

and Politics (Regal), and July 2007, The God of Intimacy and Action (Jossey-Bass). His other recent titles are Letters

a Young Evangelical(Basic Books), Speaking My Mind, Which Jesus (W Publishing Group), Everybody Wants to Chan

the World, Practical Ideas for Social Justice (Co-authored by Gordon Aeschliman, Regal), Adventures in Missing the Po

(Co-authored by Brian McLaren, Zondervan), The Church Enslaved(Co-authored by Michael Battle, Fortress Press), Let MTell You a Story: Life Lessons From Unexpected Places and Unlikely People (W Publishing Group), The Survival Guide f

Christians on Campus (Co-authored by Will Willimon, Howard), Revolutions and Renewal(Westminster John Knox Pres

Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God(W Publishing Group) just to name a ew.

Dr. Campolo is an ordained minister, has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is pre

ently recognized as an associate pastor o the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. Dr. Campolo and h

wie, Peggy, live in the Philadelphia area and have two grown children and our grandchildren.

Tony Campolo Red Letter Christian

For more inormation about Dr. Campolo himsel, visit EAPE web site at www.tonycampolo.org.


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Q: Why should I pursue early childhood musieducation for my child?A: Music awakens and stimulates neural pathways in the brain that aassociated with higher orms o intelligence, such as abstract thinking, empathmathematics, and science. Musics melodic and rhythmic patterns providexercise or the brain and help develop memory. Remember singing the ABsong to learn your ABCs? Studying music helps children establish good listeninhabits, which are essential or achievement in school. Overall, music activities aperect or child development. Music immerses the child in language, evokmovement, stimulates the brain, and osters physical coordination all ingroup setting that builds community a holistic experience.

Q: What does it mean when you say MusikGartehas a 9-year developmental plan for my child

A:Only MusikGarten has a program that addresses the unique develomental needs o children at each age. [All] o the classes are interrelated, they were written or children to grow up with MusikGarten. This sequent

planning also makes it easier or the students to grow in their musical comptence and graduate to instrument playing [i they choose to do so].

Q: Should Parents attend and participate in thclasses?A: Parents are an integral part o class in the younger years. As studenget older, they participate by themselves, but parents take part in the classtowards the end o each lesson. For all classes, parents are asked to includ

active music making in their childs lie. Sing along with the CD. Play echo gamemaking up patterns, as we do in class. Put the picture cards or notation gameon your rerigerator and play identifcation games with them as you get reador dinner. More structured practice is required when the children get to MusMakers: At the Keyboard.

Q: Why do the students get [Family] Materials? Are wsupposed to practice at home?A: Children and parents can have so much un at home and in the car with MusikGartesongs and dances. In class, you learn the songs, but at home is where you really have uwith the songs and dances. Its a great amily bonding time. Try it and you wont have ask this question ever again!

FrequentlyAskedQuestions

fromwww.musikg

arten.org

all images, Jason Frazier


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Q: As my child gets older, there seemto be more and more activities forhim/her to do. Why should I continuewith music and movement training?A: Ater being in the program or a while, you can see thebenefts your child is getting rom class. It is our view that

the singing, dancing, and playing (in class and at home) isthe best or your childs holistic development: Language,movement, math skills, and physical coordination all in agroup setting that builds community. While other activitiescan be un too, the primary building block o your childsdevelopmental time should be spent with MusikGarten.

Q: Do you have a class that wouldallow me to bring several of mychildren of different ages to classat the same time?A: Yes! We oer a Family Class or siblings and mixed agesor those amilies that have multiple children o dierentages as well as a amily with one child that restricts themrom registering or any o the age-specifc classes.

Q: Why are the classes separatedby ages as opposed to offering allmixed ages classes?A: All early childhood music programs share a commongoal o exposing children to music, however they each havea dierent approach. MusikGartens curricula are separatedby age because each age group develops dierent skillsat dierent stages o their lives. For each age grouping,there are specifc activities presented in music class that aredevelopmentally appropriate.

Q: How much training has each teacherhad to be MusikGarten certifed?A: Each MusikGarten curriculum requires 2 3 days o jam-packed, intense training. We learn about age-appropriateactivities, learn how listening is just as important as singingand playing instruments, observe a demo class o each age

grouping, as well as many other aspects o the program.

Q: I have a baby that isnt walkingand cant hold an instrument. ShouldI wait to enroll my child in musicclass?A: The sooner you expose your child to music, the better.Babies curriculum teachers are trained to approach musicin a dierent way which allows babies to experience musicat their developmental level! Babies gain more rom seeingand eeling music, such as patting the beat on your child,

fnger plays, and bouncing. Parents are more active in eposing their baby to the music than i the child were oldand more able to move themselves, thus your child learthrough the parent(s). Its a very rewarding moment to seyour baby react to music or the frst time!

Q: Why do you incorporate faithbased songs into music class?A: Its been proven that children retain Bible verses anstories through music. We believe that Bible songs anhymns are just as important as learning olk songs o oand other cultures.

Q: My child will not sit still for 4minutes. Is it still appropriate tenroll my child into a program likthis?A: Absolutely! We appreciate extroverts and introveralike! Children learn in dierent ways: some children leaby observing, and others learn by doing. As long as yochild is not hurting themselves or anyone else, they amore than welcome to move about the cabin. I theyin the room, theyre still learning and experiencing the msic! You wont know it until your child surprises you outsido class by singing a song or doing a motion or movemeacted out during class.

MusikGarten will be starting again in January 2010! Oline registration opens Jan. 11 and classes begin Jan. 2Mark your calendar and come see what MusikGarten is aabout! I youd like to know more about MusikGarten FPCO, visit our website www.pco.org/childrensmusic . Further questions and to be put on our email list, contaStephanie Mixner at 407.423.3441 x1186 or smixnerpco.org.


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B

ack in August, Katy Becker and I sat down and decidedthat we wanted to create ways to specically minister to the

young women in the Student Ministry. We have noticed that theworld expects these girls to be women long beore they seem ready,and we want to come alongside them, helping them to become youngwomen o God. So, we put our heads together and began brainstorming.In the end, two events were born.

On September 18, we held our rst event, Christ Over Clothes. We challenged the middleand high school girls to go through their closets and collect clothes that they dont wear anymore. They brought thoclothes with them, and we had a clothing drive or a homeless shelter downtown. It was great to see so many piles clothes! When we dropped the clothes o at the shelter, they seemed amazed that we had collected so much. It was sua un and selfess experience.

Katy and I also took the opportunity to challenge the girls when it comes to materialism and modesty. They realizehow blessed they are, and that they really do have more than they need. Some girls even elt challenged to go on a msion trip this summer, to help those that are less-ortunate, and to learn what it means to be a servant! We talked to theabout how they represent Christ with what they wear, and why modesty is important. All in all, they learned that wearithe love o Christ should be more important than the clothes in their closets. God really showed up that aternoon, ablessed our rst Young Womens Ministry event!

Spiritual FashionBy Julianne Shirek, Student Ministry Coordinator

Christ Over Clothes:

The sitting room walls held up both childhood pictures rom long ago andgreat-grandchildren learning to walk. A lietime o collected treasures adornedtables along with that days newspaper. I sat in an embroidered chair sur-rounded by high school girls, as we visited with a great-grandmother and talk-ed about times beore we were born and the Florida Gators. We sat in severalsitting rooms that day, each one as unique as the stories we were told.

On Saturday October 25, Julianne Shirek and I took a group o middle and highschool girls to visit with women at the Westminster Towers who are members at FPCO.At the beginning o the school year we wanted to create ways to minister to our girls

hearts and in so doing, teach them to minister to others hearts; SickSisters was born.

The girls made riendship bracelets or each womanwe visited. We prayed over them beore we let, weaving, along with the vibrant stran

o string, the prayers o young women or the hearts and lives o those wiser and loger lived than us. Like prayer shawls, the bracelets were given as a tangible symb

o the prayers we wrapped around each woman beore we visited them. But t joy ound that Saturday morning went ar beyond bracelets; riendships we

ormed. As we let the Towers, the girls were asking when we could go baand i we could go all the time. Hearts o women were nurtured that day, matter i just over a decade old or almost a century.

Sick SistersA Ministry For Womens Hearts o All AgesBy Katy Becker, Student Ministry Coordinator


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As we continue on our quest or moremen to join the Chancel Choir atFPCO, I wanted to give you an oppor-tunity to hear rom a couple o men whocurrently sing with us. Norm Pricher and

Franklin Jennings have both agreed toshare Norm is a long time member oFPCO and Franklin is new to our church.I hope that reading their stories will in-spire you to join us!

Franklin Jennings

Why is there a band director singing inthe choir? My students and colleaguesare oten conused and perplexed whenthey discover me in the choir lot on Sun-day mornings and hustling out o schoolon Thursday nights or rehearsal. I am

in the midst o my tenth year teachinginstrumental music in the public schoolsystem. Currently, I am the Director oBands at Freedom High School in theHunters Creek community o southwestOrange County. I have earned a Mas-ters Degree in Conducting while learn-ing lessons in bus travel, middle schoolgirl hormones, and the illusory superior-ity o high school boys. I am responsibleor creating music in six classes a day,plus nine hours ater school each week,countless ootball games, concerts, and

community engagements. In my reetime, I sing in the First PresbyterianChurch Chancel Choir!

I rst came to singing in my high schoolmens choir. Now that Im involved in thechoir at FPCO, I truly have ound a newhome inside an amazing church.

Singing in the choir IS NOT:

Pretty anthems during the oering Sitting up straight or the cameras

when Dr. Swanson goes or a walk

around the ront platorm. Endless hours o rehearsal and

stress.

Singing in the choir IS:

Creating a worship atmo-sphere that allows the wordo the Lord to be its mosteective.

Putting aside worries aboutsitting in the right seatand thermostat settings.

Illuminating the Christianjourney by adding inspiredsettings or amazing text.

Ater my initial visit withthe choir, I ound it simpleto commit mysel to the re-hearsal schedule. I ound thatmy week was incomplete without the el-lowship o Thursday nights and Sunday

mornings. The rst reason is musical.Some music is very simple and I am ableto sing it at sight. Some is quite dicultand requires me to actually go homeand do some work. Some requires meto sing notes and pronounce texts thatare quite oreign to me. Through thesimplicity and great eort comes greatreward. Every Sunday, I participate inleading the church to illuminate deepermeanings o the days message beyondthe outline in the bulletin.

The second reason is the amazingpeople who are aliated with WorshipArts. I have connected with a commu-nity o young adults who are close to myage and who are in similar spots in theirspiritual journey. I am able to networkand communicate with them to helpme in my journey. I also have a gainednew group o mentors who have a moreseasoned view o the spiritual journeyand the wisdom o their age helps me toknow the amazing payos o this some-times rustrating journey.

Many men come to singing with ahuge number o preconceptions. Whenmen say that they can not sing at all,

they usually mean they can not sinas well as somebody amous, they nsome notes dicult to reach, or th

cant read music. What we THINK wsound like and what ACTUALLY sounlike are oten quite dierent. We havall had the experience o hearing orecorded voice or the rst time anrealizing that it sounds nothing like tvoice we have in our head. We have tinternal perception o how our voisounds and we dont believe that it posibly could be acceptable in any ormmusical setting. This voice dysmorphleads to ear o joining the choir. I call all gentlemen, FEAR NOT! You havesinging voice that will t in the choir. DBedell is well-trained in helping you nit. Come on a Thursday night and wather work her magic!

Norm Pricher

Its hard to describe what singing the Chancel Choir means to me. I haa music background, but I dont havany vocal training. We have some greproessional singers and they are so wing to help you ...that is what makesso un. The best part is working with tbest teacher in the world, Rebecca Bdell. She really enjoys bringing the mustogether. So give us a try, its un.

Real Men Do Sing!By Dr. Rebecca Bedell, Minister o Worship


23/24COLUMN

Family Christmas Celebration on December 13

Join us or Family Christmas Celebration: our annual eventor amilies o all ages, which will be a dinner theatre held

on December 13, rom 5-7pm. We will have a amily riendlybuet with some kid-riendly crats, ollowed by a presenta-tion o Seussical Jr. perormed by the Orlando ReparatoryTheatres youth theatre group. Register online at www.poc.org/register.com. For more inormation, contact Stacey Kirkat 407.423.3441 x1480 or [email protected].

Annual Poinsettia Sale To Be Held on December 13

The William E. Alexander Inant Child Care Center AnnualPoinsettia Sale will take place December 6 and 13. We knowyou can buy poinsettias anywhere, but there is only one placeyou can buy beautiul poinsettias and make a dierence inthe lie o a child. The blooms will ll the driveway in ront o

the Clayton Lie Center beore, during, and ater each service.The proceeds rom all sales will benet the children o theICCC. For more inormation, please contact the Inant ChildCare Center oce at 407. 425.1126.

December HOPE Packing and Distribution on December 20

Join the Student Ministry this Christmas season in their annualservice project: December HOPE (Helping Our People Eat)by donating a box o ood to a needy amily in the Orlandoarea. The Student Ministry will provide and pack the ood andgive the box to a amily in need. The box contains ood orChristmas dinner along with other needs or the amily. Join usin helping with the packing and distribution o the boxes on

Sunday, December 20.FPCO Welcomes Tony Campolo on January 16

FPCO welcomes Tony Campolo to a community-wide eventas he speaks on his new book, Red Letter Christians, January16, 2010 at 7pm. Seating is limited, so register online today,at www.pco.org/register. This community outreach event is aperect opportunity to invite a riend or neighbor to hear oneo the oremost voices in American Christianity and politics.

Urban Ministry Conference to be Held on January 15

Be a part o FPCOs Urban Ministry Conerence on Friday,January 15, 2010 eaturing Tony Campolo and Ruby PaynesBridges Out O Poverty workshop. Join us or a day o Insight,Inspiration, and Ideas. Visit us at www.pco.org/urbanconerenceand register today! Early registration ends December 20.

Register Now for The Amazing Collection-The Poetical BooksWomens Bible Study

Register now or the Winter/Spring womens bible study ThePoetical Books. We will continue the Amazing Collection serieswith another ten-week study beginning January 21. Threestudy sessions will be oered. For more inormation and toregister, visit www.pco.org/womensallbiblestudy.aspx. Reg-istration orms will also be available in lobby o Edington Min-istry Center.

Congratulations to:

Kelly Brooke Walters and James Wallace Dixon, who wemarried October 9, 2009 in the Reormation Chapel. Jam

Jay is the son o Mrs. and Mr. James Chip (Edith) DixoMarianna MelloandSteven Daryl Paonewere married October 12009 in the Sanctuary. Marianna is the daughter o Dr. aMrs. Jonathas (Lilian) Moreira

Bridgette and Chad Cahill, on the birth o their son, ColtMarshall Cahill, born October 14, 2009. The proud grandpents areSteve and Rose Cahill.

Traci Dalton Jacobs and David Vaughn Hayes, who were marriOctober 17, 2009 in the Reormation Chapel.

Emily and Dyar McComb, on the birth o their son, ChaAndrew McComb, born on November 11, 2009. The prou

grandparents are Pam and Dave McComb.

Sympathy to:

Amy Sinns on the death o her ather, Tony Thomas, on Setember 19, 2009.

Lisa and Don Bliss on the death o her ather, Richard Smiton September 30, 2009.

Trish Wilson and Lynda Strickler on the death o their mothMary Bowles Strott, on October 12, 2009.

Tina Harboldon the death o her grandmother,Verna Harboon October 18, 2009

Sue and Greg Voorhees on the death o her ather,WilliaPotter, Sr, on October 19, 2009.

The amily and riends oErin Voorhees, who died Octob22, 2009.

News & Notices

October 09 Giving Snapshot

General Operating Contributions Budgeted Surplus/(Defcit)

Oct. Gits $357,502 $515,800 $(158,298)

Fiscal Year-to-date Gits $1,591,438 $1,882,200 $(290,762)

Line o Credit $310,000

Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance $4,093,446

IM Oct. Gits $77,212IM Fiscal Year-to-date Gits $237,709(net o 10% tithe to Missions)

Contact Finance or a ull revenue and expense summary.


24/24

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:4750. (3750 by US Mail, 1000 by on-campus distribution).Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to COLUMNS,106 E. Church St. Orlando, FL 32801-3390.2009 First Presbyterian Church o Orlando COLUMNS.

POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive MaterialPlease Deliver by December 11, 2009

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

TRADITIONAL SERVICES:

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

GENESIS SERVICES:

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

Congratulations to the thirteen 2nd and 3rd graders who completed the Image o God class on November 15. Tclass, being the rst step towards conrmation, taught the children the basics o their aith, such as the reliabilityprayer and the Bible. It also covered the importance o bible study, worship, stewardship, and church participation.highlight or the children was learning abit about the history o First PresbyterianChurch o Orlando. The children werealso required to do at home assignmentsand memorize certain verses rom thebible.

It has been a joy or me to be a parto the IMOG class or the last ew years.It all starts when the children arriveor class wondering what they havegotten themselves into. Duringthe next seven weeks I marvel atthe way they get excited learn-ing about their church. At the

end o the class I watch them attheir graduation ceremony, smil-ing and holding their certicateknowing that they have beentaught well and encouraged to bethe best they can be to serve God.

IMOG: In the Image of GodBy Rhonda Simons, Memb

PERIODICALS RA

US POSTAGE PA

ORLANDO, FL

Documents

FPCO Columns December 2009