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C O N TA C T U S407.423.3441
To ge bptismCotct Woship x1451
To ge weddigCotct Weddigs x1453
To ge fuel o memoil seviceCotct Pstol Ce x1455
To donate owers for worship servicesCotct Woship x1451
With questios bout you pledge,dotio, o budget
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With chge of ddessCotct Membeship x1471
To puchse semo CD o DVDCotct x1438
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Fo child ce esevtios - Ely Childhood
Cotct x2250
To reach the Security OfceCotct 407-415-9793
Fo Weekdy SchoolCotct 407-996-5864
Fo moe ifomtio o dult Sudy schoolclsses, cotct Spiitul Fomtio x1463
With questios bout the FPCO websiteo this Colums publictio
Cotct Commuictios x1467
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Hospita Cas:Hospitls e o loge ble to otify us wheou membes e hospitlized. If you kow
someoe who is i the hospitl, plese otifythe Pastoral Care ofce at x1455.
Pastora Emerencies:Fo pstol emegecies outside of the 8:30m-
5pm church ofce hours, please leave a voicemil messge t the mi chuch umbe. Themessge cete will pge the miiste o cll,
who will eply s soo s possible.
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gief suppot, divoce ce, ifetility goup,plese cotct Cogegtiol Life x1159.
www.twitte.com/fpcoldo
www.facebook.com/rstpres
On The“‘For this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and be united to his wife and
the two shall become one fesh.’ This is a
profound mystery–but I am talking about
Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32
WITH Dr. DaVID
M arriage is taking a beating these days. No matter where
you look, marriages are in trouble. From the recent ail-
ings o those holding political oce, to the constant drumbeat
in many states to allow same-sex marriages, to denominationa
battles over what “denes” marriage, to the prolieration o “a
mous” couples who are passing on marriage altogether, there is
much that is painul and conusing about the current state o mar
riage in our culture.
And yet, God’s Word is so clear to us about the git that He has
given us in marriage. He has laid out the plan and purpose o
why a man and a woman are to be joined together as one, the pri
mary reason being that we might bear witness to the love o Christ
or His bride, The Church. Our marriages are not just or us, but
they are intended to point the world, in part, to the enduring love
o God in Christ. I that’s true, then don’t you think God wants
your marriage to be incredible? You bet He does, yet so many
Christian couples are foundering these days in a pit o busyness
poor communication, and cultural stereotypes.
That is just one o the reasons why Leigh and I have such a
commitment to marriage ministry. We believe that marriage is a
critical building block or both the church and the culture, and
unless marriages are kept strong, we are going to continue re
peating our mistakes and suering the consequences. Out o tha
sense o call, Leigh and I led the FPCO Marriage Retreat a
Mission Inn last year. It was a marvelous weekend with 83
couples rom our church and community–a time to laugh
share, pray, play, and study both as couples and as a com-
munity. It was truly one o the highlights o our year.
Because it was such a blessing to us, we are going to
lead it again this year. The Marriage Retreat 2009 wil
take place at Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills Novem
ber 6-8. Our theme is “So You Think You Can Dance?”
We’ll be teaching completely new lessons building on
the idea that marriage is a partnership–a dance–and
both husband and wie need to learn the steps!
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Way
Now, let me
speak to a ew
questions I al-
ways get:
1) Yes, it will be
un or the hus-
bands. For some
reason, men
think we’re go-
ing to lock you in a room and make you read and study and
pray the whole time. There is a lot o ree time on Saturday–
plenty o recreation activities–plenty o downtime–plus a lot
o laughter.
2) Yes, it’s or couples o all ages. I picked up on an inter-
esting theme last year: Some couples married 25-plus yearselt they didn’t need a marriage retreat. Interesting. No matter
how many years you’ve been married, there is still more that
God can teach you. Plus, the cross generational community
that we experienced last year was a great blessing. (We had
couples married only three weeks all the way to orty years–
and everything in between!) So, no matter how long you’ve
been married, this is or you.
3) Yes, the ood is wonderul. Really.
4) Yes, you can register online at www.pco.org/register RIGHT NOW. Even better, you can make your $100 deposit,
and then pay it o gradually each month leading up to the
retreat.
5) Yes, Danny and Franny will be back. (I can’t reveal much
about that, but we had two characters that led us into side
splitting laughter each night.) Actually, it won’t be Danny
and Franny, but two new characters sure to bring
down the house. (Hint: They’re dancers.)
6) No, you will not be put on the spot to talk about your mar
riage. The purpose o the weekend is to give you and your
spouse time to talk to each other. We create time or couples
You will not be asked to share your “marriage story” with the
group!
7) No, attendance at a marriage retreat does not mean your
marriage is in trouble! Funny–people think that i they tell
others they are going on a marriage retreat, it is the same
thing as saying, “Our marriage is on the rocks.” Just because
I go to the gym does not mean I’m near death. It just means
I’m trying to improve my condition. Same with the marriage
retreat–we can all stand to improve our current condition
Some may be more “in shape” or “out o shape,” but we all
need to be there!
In closing, we have increased our capacity to 115 couples thisyear, but there was also a waiting list last year. Take some time to
look at your calendar, make it a priority, sign up online, and do
something to make your marriage all that God intends. Leigh and
I are already working on it, and we look orward to the oppor
tunity to be with you in November. May God continue to bless
the marriages in our church that they might bear witness to His
sacricial love. With joyul expectation, I remain
In His Grip,
David
SWanSOn
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RECREATION
MINISTRy SPOTlIgHTBy alice Fotuto, Diecto of recetio Miisty
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T he Recreation Ministry houses Fitness@First, Com-
munity Fitness Center, which has commercial grade
strength training and cardiovascular equipment, treadmills,
elliptical trainers, a rowing machine, and resistance ma-
chines to work every muscle in your body.
We are home to an NBA-sized gymnasium that is in con-
stant motion. We have an ongoing group
o Noontime and AM Basketball players,
some o whom have been playing togethersince we opened. We start with a prayer
and, depending on the number o play-
ers, pick teams to go either ull-court or
hal-court with two games at once. There
are men o all ages and walks o lie with
one common purpose, basketball! AM
Basketball is rom 6-7am on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays and Noontime
is rom 12-1:30pm on Mondays, Wednes-
days, and Fridays. Basketball member-
ships are available.
Group Fitness Classes
Not only does it take a village o many
minds, talents, and passions to orm a vi-
brant ministry, but it takes a calling rom
God. The Recreation Ministry has a great,
diverse pool o talents.
Blackbelts or Christ
Joe and Martha Morejon came to us three years ago and
asked i they could use our space to teach both children
and adults the physical discipline o martial arts with
the spiritual discipline o Scripture and respect that we
learn rom the Bible. They created Blackbelts or Christ. A
community member rom a downtown business who was
coming to our group tness classes said her son was having
a hard time in school and asked what Blackbelts or Christ
was all about. He started coming or classes at night and
is still taking classes. Joe hails rom the Bronx and learned
hard lessons on the street in his early days. Ater studying
and becoming a teacher, “sensei” in Japanese, he decided
that becoming strong in body, mind, and soul was what
he wanted to pass on to young people and also adults. For
more specic inormation on classes, call 407.704.7851 or
go to www.aikijitsu.com.
Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Dawn Byram – Dawn has a Ph.D. in psychology and a great
passion or tness. She currently teaches a boot camp class
on Thursdays at noon and is a personal trainer. She loves
running, training and the Lord. For more inormation, con-
tact her at 407.687.9082 or [email protected].
Kris and Simon Morgan – The two came to us by way ojoining the church and have a wealth o experience and
knowledge about the tness proession. Simon, a ormer
“Mr. Universe,” has physical expertise at its highest level,
but will also tell you that it isn’t just about the physical
training. Kris’ wealth o nutritional and natural body build-
ing techniques rom 17 years o experience coupled with
her lie coaching skills and commitment to her aith, will
get your peak perormance both physically and mentally!
Learn about both o their journeys and reap the benets o
their knowledge. They are also teaching a Sunday class se-
ries, Become Fit, in the all. For more inormation, contactKris at 407.756.7468 or [email protected].
Stephanie Brady – Stephanie is an FPCO church mem-
ber who started working out here a ew years ago, is now a
mother o two young children, and is sharing her passion or
tness as a personal trainer and as a group tness instruc-
tor. She volunteers, teaching three classes a week, while
balancing her duties as a wie and mother. We have been
incredibly blessed with her talents and passion! For more
inormation, contact her at 407.721.3208 or steebrady@
hotmail.com.
Thomas Sapp – Thomas started as a Noontime Basketball
player and has continued with his passion or personal
training and basketball as a coach, reeree, coordinator, and
mentor. We have enjoyed his enthusiasm, aithulness, and
expertise or 12 years! For more inormation, contact him at
407.758.6202 or [email protected].
We are incredibly blessed with the gits and talents o
our greatest resource: Our people! n
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‘yOUR bOdy IS A TEMPlE of The holy SpiriT’By Kisti Dvis, Stff Wite
A s a business executive in the healthcare industry, member
David Heine understood the benets o exercising and eat-
ing healthy. But, between pulling long hours at work and main-
taining a hectic personal lie, he was always able to nd a good
excuse to skip the gym and hit the couch. “We’ve all heard or
read about the supposed physical, mental, and spiritual benets
o staying t,” David says. “Having a well-conditioned body was
something to be desired, but was not a priority with all the other
demands in my lie.” But, ater being diagnosed with degenera-
tive arthritis in his right hip and borderline Adult-Onset Diabe-
tes, his priorities—and attitude about health—began to change.
His doctor told him to stay o o his eet as much as pos-
sible, and that a hip replacement might be necessary i the pain
became too intense. “He suggested that I try bicycle riding to
strengthen the hip muscles, and that marked the beginning o
my training eorts,” David says. In addition to bike riding, Da-
vid began working out several times a week at Fitness@First,
FPCO’s Community Fitness Center, where then personal trainer
Deborah Gartner helped him develop a workout program that ca-
tered to his specic needs. Ater several months o maintaining
a regular workout regime and healthier eating habits, he started
to notice a change in his physical appearance, along with drastic
improvements to his overall health.
“My blood sugar returned to normal, my cholesterol dropped
rom 200 to 150, and my blood pressure went down,” he says.
He adds that by making small liestyle changes, he was able to
achieve big results. Three times a week, he paired cardio work-
outs with strength training and began eating leaner meats, such
as chicken and sh. He started to notice a decrease in the pain in
his right hip, along with a decrease in weight. Ater eight years
at the Center, he has lost a total o 25 pounds.
Now 72, David still trains at Fitness@First three days a week
with the help o personal trainer and ormer Mr. Universe title
winner, Simon Morgan. “Simon is a very knowledgeable traine
and a very good example, both o physical tness and spiritual
ity,” he says. David is still an avid bike rider and could probably
pedal circles around most people his age. But, more importantly
he can play with his 12 grandchildren again, without being in
pain. “I you’re healthier, you’ll be happier and have a better
mental attitude,” David says. “When you’re eeling on track you
eel closer to God.”
For more inormation about how you can take advantage o
the acilities or program oerings at Fitness@First, please cal
407.206.2406 or visit www.pco.org/ftness. n
WHAT dOES IT COST?
WHERE CAN I FINd THE
ClASS SCHEdUlE?
“if you’re healThier,
you’ll be happier and
HAvE A bETTER MENTAl
aTTiTude. When you’re
FEElINg ON TRACk yOU
FEEl ClOSER TO gOd.”
dAvId HEINE USES THE FITNESS CENTER TO MAINTAIN HIS PHySICAl ANd SPIRITUAl HEAlTH.
WHAT dOES IT COST? FPCO Members: $225 per year
Community: $325.00 per year
Corporate: $265 per year
Basketball: $225.00 per year
Classes only: $225 per year
WHERE CAN I FINd THE
ClASS SCHEdUlE?
For more inormation about the classes oered or
the current schedule at Fitness@First, please call
407.206.2406 or visit www.pco.org/tness.
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FOOd FOR THOUgHFOOd FOR THOUgHTEating right is just as important as exerci
when it comes to getting t. Here’s one o
our avorite recipes to help you get starte
on the path to good health.
Roasted Herb SalmonIngredients
4 5-ounce salmon llets, about 1 1/2inches thick
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons resh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced resh thyme (or 1teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon minced resh rosemary (o1 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Cooking spray
1 small yellow onion, thinly-sliced
2 tomatoes, thinly-sliced
Directions
Make three to our 2-inch-long, 1/4-inc
deep, evenly-spaced slits along the top
o each salmon llet.
In a shallow dish, whisk together
mustard, lemon juice, thyme, rosemary
oregano, salt and pepper. Add salmon
and turn to coat both sides. Cover withplastic wrap and rerigerate 15 minute
(I you are using a whole sh, do the
same. The marinade will seep into the
slits.)
Reserve marinade.
Preheat oven to 450° F. Coat a shallow
baking pan with cooking spray. Arrang
onion and tomato slices in the bottom
the prepared pan. Place salmon on top
onion and tomato. Pour remaining mar
nade over salmon. Roast 10-15 minute
until sh is ork-tender.
Note: You may substitute thick llets o
cod or founder, or whole snapper or trou
or the salmon i desired. Round out the
meal with steamed spinach and cooked
quinoa.
*This recipe was ound at www.shape.com.
WHAT TyPE OF ClASSES dOESFITNESS AT FIRST OFFER?
WHAT TyPE OF ClASSES dOESFITNESS AT FIRST OFFER?
Class Descriptions:
Body Pump:
strength training moves are combined with simple cardio exer-
cises to give you a ull body workout
Cardio Kickboxing:
high energy or all levels; bounce, punch, kick, and have a great
time working out muscles you never thought you had
Chisel & Sculpt:
total body workout to improve muscular strength; high intensity
H.I.T. Boot Camp:
ones and twos with high intensity training
Hard Core:
circuit workout o athletic drills, strength training, and Plyomet-
rics; high intensity with some impact
Indoor Cycling:
great cross-training benet or all tness levels; high intensity/
low impact
Latin Cardio Dance:
low-impact interval and core workout incorporating Latin dance
moves rom Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata, and Merengue
Sajility:
strength, speed, endurance, stamina, and fexibitlity
Yoga:
stretching, core strengthening, overall body toning and aware-
ness; low impact
YogaFit:
overcomes the mystery o yoga; a practical, user riendly style,
accessible, understandable, and doable by individuals at any
level o tness.
Yogalates:
a mixture o yoga and pilates-stretching, strength, and abdominal
work
Zumba:
a usion o Latin and International music-dance themes or a
dynamic, exciting, and un workout
Community Class Description:
Akijitsu:
all ages to learn sel deense, improve discipline, strength, ocus,
and sel condence
For more inormation about the classes oered or the current
schedule at Fitness@First, please call 407.206.2406 or visit www.
pco.org/ftness.
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SEEkINg gOdON SUNdAy EvENINgSBy rev. Do McClell, associte Psto of Pye d Spiitul Fomtio
T he vision o First Presbyterian Church o Orlando is to
empower a diverse body o conessing believers to seek
to know and worship God, share His eternal love, and humbly
serve a broken world.
Two things immediately come to my mind when I think o the
phrase in our vision statement “seek to know God” (the primary
ocus o the Prayer and Spiritual Formation department).
The rst thing that comes to mind is that no matter where we
are in our search or God, God is already seeking us. He sought us
out (and continues to seek us) beore we ever gave Him a thought
and He loved us beore we ever knew Him. Isn’t that AMAZING?In the words o Henri Nouwen, “God is always wanting to visit
us, but we are oten not at home.”
The second thing that comes to mind is the childhood game
Hide & Seek. I loved nding those great hiding places but then I
could not wait to be ound! I would make noises or stick my oot
out because I really did not want to be alone and hidden.
God made us with a desire to be ound by Him. He made us
or relationship and the most essential relationship we will ever
have is our relationship with Him. That is why we continue to
try to provide opportunities or the people o FPCO to know God
more ully. It is why we encourage all o our adults to come to
Sunday School…and it is why we will once again oer classes
on Sunday evenings.
Classes will begin September 13 running 10 consecutive weeks
through November 15 rom 4:30–6:30pm. Child care is provided
and we have children’s programs so this can be a amily eventCheck out the oerings below and think and pray about which
class might best meet your need to seek to know God. Let’s do
it together! n
Women’S
MINISTRyHAS AbOOk ClUb!By Loi needhm, Wome’s Miisty
I
you didn’t already know, take note! Chapter and Verse, a
women’s book reading club, meets on the third Tuesday o each month, rom 7-8:30 pm in the Edington Ministry Center in
room 300. When they gather, there is great ellowship and the
opportunity to get to know other women through discussion o
the selected book.
Everyone is welcome to join and you can check the website
or a list o the current book selections. They take a break or
the month o July but will resume again on August 18, 2009. At
that time, they will discuss The Hawk and the Dove by Penelope
Wilcock. It is a large book so the extra reading month o July will
help you complete this reading. On the website, under Prayer
& Spiritual Formation, go to Women’s Ministry. There you will
nd a menu tab specically or Chapter and Verse.Recently, Margee Richardson joined this group and here’s
what she had to say:
“I was new to the church and love[d] to read. I walked into
Chapter and Verse that rst night to discuss The Shack. The
women were very welcoming and lots o un. The discussion
was lively, and sincere aith in Christ was evident. It was very
easy to eel at home with these great women. Come join us.”
I you have questions or need additional inormation, contac
Zonetta Glenn and 407.699.0059 or zlee950009@embarqmail
com. n
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AdUlT EdUCATION
OFFERINgSAmazing Glaze Ceramics Studio: We provide all the materials
and a vibrant, energetic atmosphere to inspire your imagination!
You provide the creativity to design your unique, handmade
masterpiece. Prices vary, but include use o all materials, unlim-
ited paint choices, clear glazing, and ring.
The Bethel Series: This is a continuation o the Bethel class par-
ticipants who have completed the Old Testament series. This
all, this group will begin the study on The New Testament.
Become FIT: This 10-week class will oer three topics eachweek:
1. Nutrition 101–How does your body burn what you con-
sume? What are the best oods to be consuming?
2. Exercise 101–We will explore the three components to op-
timal health, and take a hands-on approach to the most e-
cient and eective resistance training exercises.
3. The obstacles that keep us rom being good stewards o the
body which the Lord has given to us and what Scripture says
about it all. Dress comortably. All ages and tness levels are
welcome to come and have un! Hosted by Kris and Simon
Morgan. Cost is $25 or materials.
Crown Ministry: Journey to true nancial reedom! Join others
in this small group study as you learn to apply God’s nancial
principles to your lie; topics include earning, giving, saving,
spending, investing, getting out o debt, and training children to
handle money. Pre-study is required with attendance at a Crown
Ministry Orientation on Sunday, August 30. Single study kit is
$45 and Couple study kit is $55. Registration deadline is August
30!
Evangelism 101: The Biblical Model and a 21st Century
Model:
Part A–Paul’s Missionary Journeys (ve weeks)
Part B–Just Walk Across the Room (ve weeks)
In preparation or Dr. Swanson’s 2010 sermon series through the
book o Acts, join Dr. Thorp or the rst ve weeks o this series
as he provides an overview to Paul’s missionary journeys us-
ing the Biblical text, observing ancient methods or starting and
growing the church, and creating an understanding o the time-
line o Paul’s ascinating lie.
The second ve weeks will be spent applying the latest evan
gelism approaches to today’s context utilizing the Willowcreek
curriculum by Bill Hybels called, “Just Walk Across the Room.”
This series is a natural and empowering approach to evangelism
modeled ater Jesus Himsel. This dynamic ve week experience
will equip and inspire you to ollow His lead by taking simple
walks across the room to extend care, compassion, and inclu-
siveness to people who might need a touch o God’s love today
Class ee is $10 to support cost o materials.
LIFE 101: A class designed to clearly and comprehensively present (in an open discussion ormat) the Biblical oundation o a
LIFE Community and to motivate, challenge, and inspire all to
participate in a LIFE Community in 2010. The class will be led
by Kent Sterchi, Director o LIFE Community, and supported
and taught by other leaders as the subject dictates.
All class oerings require registration and can be done at www
pco.org/register or stop by the lobby o the Edington Ministry
Center to complete a class registration orm.
Child care will be oered or inants through age 4. Older chil-
dren may participate in the Children’s/Music Ministry oer
ings.
For additional inormation or i you have questions, contact Rev
Donna McClellan at extension 1488 or [email protected] or
Lori Needham at extension 1463 or [email protected]. Unless
noted above, registration deadline or all class oerings will be
Wednesday, September 9. This will help us prepare or your par
ticipation and to make sure the appropriate study materials are
ordered. n
SUNdAy EvENINgSSEPTEMbER 13 –november 15, 20094:30-6:30PM
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HEARTbEATTHE HEART OF THE
CITy FOUNdATIONHONORS IRENE MIllER
By Do Bow d amy Bishop,Het of the City Foudtio, Ic.
I rene Miller would have considered
hersel “just an ordinary person.”
And by almost every worldly measure,
she was just that. She lived in an ordi-
nary house, maintained a very low prole,
was never ront-stage at any great social
unctions. She taught school, attended
church, and in all visible ways, lived the
lie o “just an ordinary person.”
Yet, those people ortunate enough to
have been close to Irene Miller would
never think o using the word “ordinary”
to describe her. Those people would re-
act negatively to any use o that word to
portray anything about her; they would
tell you that everything about her was ex-
traordinary.
By any account,
Irene Miller was a
highly trained and
highly proessional
educator. But Irene
Miller did not teach
school to support her-
sel. She taught school
to give hersel to those
she taught. She cared
supremely about each and every student,
wanting or each o them the nest edu-
cational result. She believed in the “great
mind” and did all she could to keep her
mind continually updated so that she
could use it or the benet o those she
educated. She was among the most disci-
plined o individuals, and she expected
her students to be disciplined. Some o
her students would coness that they did
not possess her sel-discipline, but they
will tell you that they were always disci-
plined in her presence. Irene Miller’s de-
meanor demanded discipline.
Irene Miller attended church. That is an
understatement! Her attendance at church
was as natural or her as taking nourish-
ment. The church was integral to her lie
and values. She had a great and truly re-
markable love or Jesus Christ. Everything
she was emanated rom the Christ who
lived within her. Because Christ was the
center o her lie, His church was the cen-
ter o her living, as well as the center o
her giving.
Each o us maintains
a calendar and a check-
book. When all o our
lie is complete, those
two documents tell an
important story about
each o us. I you were
to examine the calendar
and the checkbook o
Irene Miller, you would
discover the incarnation o Christ in her
everyday lie: All that she was and all that
she had was ocused upon the Author o
lie and love, Jesus Christ. It is no sur-
prise, thereore, that the legacy Irene Mill-
er let is the legacy o her lielong minis-
try to others and her diligent stewardship
o the resources God entrusted to her. In
death, as was true or all o her lie, Irene
Miller continues to build the Kingdom o
God by making her substantial resources
perpetually available or the Lord’s work
through the ministry o the Heart o the
City Foundation o First Presbyterian
Church o Orlando.
Irene was generous on every occasion
and transormed a tiny mustard seed into
an enormous blessing. When Irene died
our Church was stunned to learn her es
tate was valued in the millions o dollars
and she gave it all to establish an endow-
ment so her passion or excellence in edu
cation and missions would continue or
years to come. HOCF awarded more rom
her endowments on this year’s Scholar
ship Sunday than she ever earned in a ul
year o teaching.
Irene’s generosity has made it possible
or HOCF to award scholarships to more
than 35 students this year in spite o the
current economy. Each o these recipients
share three o Irene’s most dening quali-
ties: discipline, the value o education
and a deep love or the Lord.
Above, the scholars are pictured at a
celebration held in King Parlor on Schol
arship Sunday. This gathering included
the students and their amilies, the HOCF
board, and donor amilies. As these stu
dents leave or college ater summer
break, we pray they will use their experi
ences and knowledge to draw closer to the
Lord, and that the scholarships awarded
will enable them to honor the legacy o
Irene Miller. n
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All ON THE SAME PAgEBy Ket Stechi, Diecto of LIFE Commuity
A cts 2:42 ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teach-
ing…”
On a Sunday morning in early 2010, Mr. and Mrs. First Pres (a
typical amily o our church) along with their daughter, Grace, a3rd grader involved in the children’s ministry and Peter, a 9th
grader and active participant o the Student ministry, are riding
home rom church and have the ollowing discussion:
Dad: Ater we read through Acts 1 and 2 in our daily devo-
tions this week, what did you all learn in your Sunday School
that helped you learn more rom our church-wide Bible read-
ing plan?
Mom: Yeah, in our adult class we were taught rom Acts 2: 42-
47, and learned o the daily practices o the ollowers o Jesus
in the rst century and how they worshiped, prayed, cared orand served together as we are seeking to do in our LIFE Com-
munity.
Grace: My class leader had us read the same passages you
did, Mom and Dad, and then we talked about what the word
“ellowship” really means, because I thought it was just the
name o the building we eat dinner in at the church…but it re-
ally means what you and your LIFE Community practice each
week when you share your lives together and care or each
other’s needs and the needs o others in our neighborhood.
Peter: Well, Browning had us do a really cool thing where
we learned how some students and their amilies have been
aected by the recession and what their specic needs are
and we prayed or them. And next weekend we are holding a
weekend long car wash to raise money to help these amilies
out, by giving the money away to provide or next week’s gro-
ceries. I am so excited about putting my aith into practice and
helping meet real needs o those within our church amily!
Mom and Dad: I love the act that we are all on the same page
and are growing together, as a church amily, in the reading,preaching, teaching, and practice o our aith, through the
Church-wide Bible reading plan!
What is the Church-wide Bible Reading Plan?
The church sta has been studying the book, Simple Churchthis quarter and have been praying and planning ways to bring
simplicity, ocus, and alignment (with the children, student, and
adult discipleship initiatives all on the same page) to the dis
cipleship process. In an eort to move us towards a simpler pro
cess o making disciples, we will introduce a Church-wide Bible
reading plan in 2010, where our church amily will be encour-
aged to be engaged in daily devotions, while reading through
Acts and Paul’s Letters (Epistles) to the churches he helped plan
through his missionary journeys. The plan will be integrated into
the abric o the entire church in the ollowing ways:
1. The website will detail the daily readings rom Acts and theEpistles and provide a daily devotional that will be e-mailed
to all, refecting on the Bible reading or each day (ve days a
week).
2. Every Sunday, Dr. Swanson and the pastors will preach
through the same Bible texts that each o us is reading through
in our daily devotions.
3. The Children, Student, and Adult Sunday School classes
will teach through some other portion o the week’s Bible read
ings, so we grow in depth o our understanding o the Bible.
4. As LIFE Communities grow and multiply in the year(s
ahead, each LIFE Community will refect more deeply on theBible readings or each week and live out, or put into prac-
tice the Biblical truths that are taking root in their hearts and
minds.
In the coming months, we will be developing website suppor
and recruiting daily devotional writers, so on January 1, 2010
we will begin the exciting adventure o growing in our aith to-
gether as we are all on the same page! I you would like to write
a devotional (we have an online template to guide you in the
process), please contact Reagan Perkins at [email protected], or
call her at 407.423.3441 x1497 and she will assign you a passage
and guide you to the devotional template. n
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THE blESSINg OF COMMUNITyBy Cy Buchk, Membe
D oing lie together. It’s one o lie’s greatest privileges. It’s
what God-ordained community and love are really about.
As God knits our lives together, He is the connector; the One Who
orms the sweet bond o divine love. As we invest in another, we
are indeed laying up “treasure in heaven.”
God designed us to need each other. Lie is so much richer
i we share it with others. Relationships are built as time is
invested, hearts are touched, and stories are shared. Community
is based on caring, praying, loving, and learning what it means to
walk with Jesus together. And as we grow together in Jesus, welearn to love as Jesus loved.
When my daughter, Kelsey, was baptized at FPCO as an
inant in 1992, there were many in the church who promised to
support, teach, nurture, and guide her. Now, as I see my daughter
entering her senior year o high school, I can look back over the
past 17 years and see evidence o the community o Christ as it
has tangibly touched her lie.
My daughter has been blessed with a multi-generational
wealth o individuals who are living out what it means to love
Jesus by loving each other. God brought Kelsey into their sphere
o infuence purposely to ulll His perect plan or her. Theseare individuals who have poured into Kelsey’s lie to help her
become the young woman God created her to be.
Beth Nolen was my daughter’s rst-grade teacher at The Christ
School. She is an individual who knows what it is to invest in
another. More than a teacher, she has been an avid encourager,
a devoted mentor, and a lie-long riend. She has aithully
demonstrated the law o the harvest, sowing into the lie o my
daughter persistently, careully, intentionally, and lovingly.
Rachael Aldrich, involved in the youth department at First
Presbyterian, stepped up as a mentor and small group leader
when Kelsey was in the 6th grade. She so diligently and lovingly
guided a small group o girls through the sometimes-turbulent
years o middle school, and to this day, is still involved with
each o their lives. She has taught them the value o riendship
and accountability and living a lie that refects Christ. I am
eternally grateul or the git she has given my daughter.
And the small group o girls that began meeting as 6th graders
is still together, looking ahead to their senior year o high school
They have a commitment to hold each other accountable. God
has absolutely been the One Who binds them together. Theyshare “highs and lows” and delight in their time together. These
are true riendships–riendships that have been hard-won over
years o time and talk, prayer and purpose, laughter and love.
Recently the big picture o what it looks like to “do lie
together” came ull circle. Beth Nolen, ever encouraging and
supporting, made her interior design store available or Kelsey
to have her rst art show. Friends and amily were invited
Community gathered. And o course, Rachael Aldrich and the
small group o girls who have grown, and continue to grow so
beautiully in the Lord, were all there to support and celebrate
their riend’s accomplishment. Now that’s community. That’scaring. That’s Christ!
“Lie is a steep climb, and it is always encouraging to have
those ahead o us ‘call back’ and cheerully summon us to higher
ground. We all climb together, so we should help one another
The mountain climbing o lie is serious, but glorious, business
it takes strength and steadiness to reach the summit. And as
our view becomes better as we gain altitude, and as we discover
things o importance, we should ‘call back’ our encouragement
to others.” - Streams in the Desert n
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FINdINg yOUR WAyBy Hyley Ludquist, Membe
O ne Sunday morning in the all o 2006, I
sat eating a bowl o cereal with no intent
to leave the couch or hours. While fipping
through the channels, I ound mysel watch-ing a sermon rather than the “Law & Order”
marathon that had already started. I can’t say
that I remember what the sermon was about,
but it grabbed my attention. About hal-way
through I noticed the bottom corner o the
screen: First Presbyterian Church o Orlando.
I had heard enough. I let my couch or my
computer where I looked up the directions
and service times, jumped in the shower and
made it to their 11am Genesis service.
About 10 minutes into Dr. Swanson’s ser-mon, he made a reerence to Popeye and Olive
Oyl to demonstrate his point. At the time, I was
e m p l o y e d
at Univer-
sal and cast
in the role
o Olive Oyl
at Islands o
Adventure.
As I heard
him tell thecartoon story,
I looked all
around me;
did anyone
else hear
him? How
did he know that’s what I do every day? The
expressions on the aces o the congregants
seated around me were unknowing. It elt like
your birthday when you go to the store and
you eel like everyone there should know it’syour birthday just by looking at you. But no
one here knew me, or anything about my lie;
at this moment, they were not involved. It was
my time to listen and hear.
Ater the service I made my way to the ront
o the Sanctuary and waited my turn to talk to
the preacher. I introduced mysel and couldn’t
stop the tears as I told him how I had seen the
service on TV just that morning. I told him
that I had been “church shopping” because
ater a breakup not only do you eel like cer-
tain romantic places are sacred but somehow
stepping into the doors o the church that
you shared becomes too much to handle. Itold him o the reerence in his sermon that
I elt had been just or me, a little wink rom
God saying, “You’re supposed to be here now,
Hayley.” He smiled with listening eyes.
Late this spring I joined a First Connec-
tions class. Ater over two years o attendance
I was considering membership. Not growing
up Presbyterian, I wanted to learn what the
denomination was dened by, where it came
rom and what it had to oer me. At the same
time, I wanted to know those things about FirstPresbyterian Church. I there was a class being
oered to provide all o these answers then I
wanted to be included. As a girl who rarely
got picked rst or any kind o team sports, I
was excited to see the pre-assigned tables in
the room on the rst day. My appreciation or
organization had me delighted with the class
notebooks, structured and divided to create a
six-week lesson schedule. The rst Sunday we
talked about lie with Jesus and what it means
to have a relationship with Him. Dr. Swansonled the class lesson but then we got an oppor-
tunity to discuss the topic at our tables too. It
was nice to know that in these moments, other
people were involved and it was not just me,
alone. Together we would learn not only rom
Dr. Swanson but rom each other. I let with a
First Presbyterian coee mug in my hand and
eager or next Sunday.
Throughout the next ew weeks, all o my
questions were answered. Although now I
had new questions: Where do I t in? How
can I be a unctioning part o this body o
Christ? Thankully, someone rom every min-
istry group came to our class to share their
mission and personally invite each o us to
join them. Now, whether it’s singing His glory
in the Genesis service or going to South Amer-
ica to share His love, I know I have a place, a
purpose, and an opportunity or these things
as a member o First Presbyterian Church o
Orlando.n
Feel the
Connectio
to God’s
Love,
Christ’s
Church,Your Faith
August 23
October 49:30am – 10:45am
320-EMC
Register online:
www.fpco.org/registe
For more information co
tact Amy Heck
407.423.3441 x1474
or visit www.fpco.org/fir
connections
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Women’S CanCerSUPPORT gROUP
Women’S miniSTry inviTeSyOU TO A FAll bIblE STUdy
T he Women’s Cancer Support Group meets every month and
we invite you to join us in a comorting place or women
to come and share, compare notes, and get the inormation andhelp that they need while dealing with cancer. Each meeting is
planned to educate and encourage women o all ages and stages
o cancer. Guest speakers are brought in rom the church and
community to share their knowledge and experience.
Our group is acilitated by Laurie Cook, a survivor o lympho-
ma; Diana Larsen, a survivor o a rare breast cancer; and Judy
Albert, a breast-cancer survivor. We want to honor your courage,
give love and support, and share your journey with hope, heal-
ing, and God’s power.
We meet on the 3rd Wednesday o the month in EMC-340 Ster
chi room rom noon until 1pm. Lunch will be served—salad
rolls, and beverages. (No charge or the lunch, but donationsare appreciated!) Come join us or a light lunch, a great speaker
sharing, ellowship, and encouragement. We look orward to see
ing you! Parking is available in the Parking Garage at the corne
o Rosalind and Jackson.
For more inormation, please contact Linda McCallister/Con
gregational Lie Ministry at 407.423. 3441 x1159 or e-mail lmc-
C oncerned you haven’t participated in The Amazing Collec-
tion study thus ar—or perhaps only attended one study
installment?
Not to worry! That’s why the Women’s Ministry Council loves
this study series. The studies are divided so you do not have to
rely on attending the previous oering to gain benet rom the
current oering!
I you haven’t joined us yet or The Amazing
Collection, consider participating in September
when we study The Post-Exilic Books. Here’s a
preview o this study…
By the end o 2 Kings, both the northern and
southern kingdoms had been conquered. Isra-
el, the northern kingdom, was conquered and
scattered by Assyria while 150 years later,
the Babylonians destroyed Judah, the south-
ern kingdom. Those who survived were ex-
iled to Babylonia. The temple lay in ruins,
the land was desolate, and it appeared that
all hope was lost or the exiled remnant.
As they struggled to survive as aliens in a
strange culture and still maintain their Jewish iden-
tity, God was working behind the scenes in unimaginable ways.
He had promised that Judah would be exiled or 70 years. But He
had also promised to bring His people back to the land. In these
books you will see that God keeps His promises!
The Post-Exilic Books were written ater the Exile, to and abou
this group o God’s chosen people. First and second Chronicles
were written to the people to encourage them in the land ater
they returned to Jerusalem, reminding them o their identity and
heritage. Ezra and Nehemiah continue the history o the Jews
rom where it let o in 2 Kings. Esther is a beautiul story o
the providential hand o God moving to protect His
people.
We’ve enhanced the study even more by
oering our gited teachers time to engage
us in each book an extra week–delivering
messages that are relevant and applicable
to us while sharing their aith stories in a
transparent way! Kelly Ballard and Barbara
Francis continue to encourage us in this nex
installment.
Come…spend time with other women in
His Word and be amazed! Register now at
www.pco.org/register or pick up a registra
tion orm in the lobby o the Edington Ministry
Center. This 10-week study begins Thursday
morning, September 10, or Monday morning
Se pt em be r 14, 9:30-11:30am or Monday night, 6:30-8:30pm
Registration is $20 and includes the study guide and materials.
I you have questions or need additional inormation, contac
Lori Needham at 407.423.3441 x1463 or [email protected]. n
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STEPHEN MINISTRy COMMISSIONSNEW MINISTERS
ANd lEAdERSBy Tmms Smith, Diecto of Pstol Ce
O n Sunday, June 7, 2009, our congregation commissioned
ve new Stephen Ministers at the 11am service. Through-
out history, when God has called people to special ministry,
members o their community have commissioned them or the
important new work they are taking on. This commissioning ser-
vice oered an opportunity to show our support or this ministry.
The new Stephen Ministers are Beverly Burijon, Frank Cawthon,
David Heine, Vicky Mixson, and Elaine O’Neal.
Our Stephen Minis-
ters will be depending
on our support in the
time ahead as they as-
sume the duties o their
care-giving ministry.
How can we help?
First o all, we can
pray or our Stephen
Leaders, our Stephen
Ministers, and their new
care receivers. This min-istry calls or both time
and eort. At times they
may eel tired, discour-
aged, or convinced that
they are not accomplish-
ing anything. The assurance o our prayers and appreciation will
help them keep moving orward.
We can also arm and show our appreciation or this valuable
ministry. We can tell them how much their hard work means to
us, tell others how much we value our Stephen Ministry, and o-
cus attention on our Stephen Ministers to bless and arm themin special ways—as we do with our commissioning services.
We can become involved in this ministry in many ways. Some
o us may recognize a call to use our special gits in this minis-
try and may apply to be a Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader.
Others may accept the care o a Stephen Minister. We can be
ministers o reerral, watching or people in need and suggest-
ing a Stephen Minister’s care. We all can give our enthusiastic
support by keeping Stephen Ministry always beore us and by
praying and arming those who have answered God’s call to
serve in this way.
As we commission our newly trained Stephen Ministers, let
us thank God or all that they will bring to this congregation
in providing care to others, and let us promise them our daily
prayer and support as we send them out to minister among us.
New Stephen Ministry Leaders, Linda McCallister and Rob
ert Smith, attended the Stephen Ministry Leadership Training
Course in June. The course is run by Stephen Ministry St. Lou-
is and equips laity or leadership in this care-giving ministry
Robert says o his experience, “
eel that the training we received
this past week has empowered
me with so much knowledge that
I will be able to use in the sup-
port o this caring ministry and
eel that I can work alongside my
ellow Stephen Ministers giving
them support.”
I you are interested in having a
Stephen Minster or learning more
about the ministry, please calTammas Smith at 407.423.3441
x1455.
“As a Christian, I think all o us search or
ways to use our Spiritual Gits and to serve
our Lord in our daily lives. The answer to my
search came with an invitation [more than] 10
years ago to become a Stephen Minister and
more recently, to serve as a Stephen Leader.
The 50 hours o training was a lie-changing
experience as we learned how to listen with
compassion, comort, and encourage those
who are hurting in so many ways, pray with
them, and walk with them to help bear their
pain. No one should suer alone. I am hum-
bled and honored to serve our church amily
and community.”
Linda McCallister
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kIdSACROSS
AMERICABy Jey aiso, Diecto of afte School Outech Mii
K ids Across America is not just any summer camp. Kids Across America is a Christi
sports camp (or “Kamp”) specically designed or urban youth. It is an escape rom
inner city—a sae place, nestled in the middle o God’s majestic Ozark Mountains where k
continued on the next pa
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can be kids, be loved, and learn about the Lord. It is a place
that challenges the physical and spiritual limits o all who
attend. “Kampers” are taught to overcome emotional and
spiritual obstacles through sports, challenge courses, and
the “Tree Tops”—a high ropes challenge course “Where
Turkeys Soar Like Eagles.” It is a place where “Kounselors”
love their Kampers with the love o Christ, even through dis
cipline. They run a tight ship where there are consequence
or every action—rom push-ups to three-mile runs at 7am
But, in the sacricial example o Christ, the Kounselor does
the discipline along with their kamper and, more oten than
not, discipline is where real ministry takes place. At KAA
every moment is a teaching moment. Scriptures such as
Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me” are taught in wrestling and ootball classes
Chants, cheers, and hard core hip-hop music all sing o the
glory o God.
Many Kampers do not want to leave KAA ater their
“mountain-top” experience with God. But we must remem
ber that KAA is not a magical place, it is simply a Chris
tian place. It seems magical because it is set apart rom the
world, inhabited and run by strong, loving Christians and
unortunately, our world is not so. We are blessed to nd a
ew Christians in our own world, but we are surrounded by
darkness. At home, we must choose to ollow Christ daily
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hourly, even minute by minute—especially when our world
is polluted with drugs, prostitution, abandonment and abuse.
Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Live as children o light.” KAA teaches
children that there is another way. The way is Christ. In Him, we
are a new creation. And, with Christ, we can walk as the light
o God no matter where we are. But don’t take my word or it…
below are some powerul words rom some really Kool Kampers,
who were only able to attend through the generous contributions
o FPCO members and others in the community;
I Come rom Parramore
A Poem by Sasha Mills, ASOM Student
I come rom a place ull o black people so I identiy mysel as
the majority.
I come rom a place where your amily is very close, a place
where your heart comes rst, and you must dream or hope.
I come rom a place where you have to have the heart o a lion
to be at the top o the ood chain, where dying is not a surprise,
but we still care or each other.
I come rom a place where we see the police more than our
own amilies, where temptation can live on your doorstep.
I come rom a place where money is not easy to nd, but love
is still shared, a place where kids are hungry or success, but
where going to college is like winning the lottery.
I come rom a place where people are cold-hearted because
they think kindness is a weakness, a place where i you can’
fy you can’t reach the sky.
I come rom a place called the bottom so I have no other des
tination but the top.
I come rom a place called Parramore.
I Come From God
By Sasha Mills, ASOM Student
From all the things that I have written in my poem, I do know
that I don’t always have to think as the majority and that some
day in my lie I won’t have to have the heart o a lion to be at the
top o the ood chain because I have ound God.
The Ater School Outreach Ministry is where I was rst intro-
duced to Christ, where I started reading the Bible, learning the
Ten Commandments and about who God really is.
I became even closer with God at Kids Across America when
really came to understand who He is and that He died on the
cross or my sins. That is where I realized that it wasn’t too late
or me to give my lie to Christ. Each year, as I keep going to
KAA, I get more encouraged by my Kounselors and Kaleos,
get stronger in my aith, am reminded to keep reading my Bible
and stay involved in activities at First Pres. I also know that jus
because I grow up in Parramore does not mean I have to become
Parramore or the rest o my lie. I no longer come rom Par-
kAA TEACHES CHIldREN THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAy.The Way iS ChriST. in him, We are a neW CreaTion.and, WiTh ChriST, We Can Walk aS The lighT of godNO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.
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ramore. I come rom God and God lives in me. My destination is
to be at the top with God.
Lie Lessons rom Kids Across America
By David Deme, ASOM Student
I learned something at Kids Across America and it is something
that is really important and I don’t want to keep it or mysel. I
want to spread the news. I want everyone to know about it. I like
to share what I know and what I believe. I learned about God.I learned that what we have we should share with the poor or
anyone. An example is i you have some money, don’t keep it
or yoursel, share it with the poor and you will have treasure in
heaven. The treasure is not gold or money, it is going to heaven
and living happily ever ater.
I learned some more stu and more things at KAA. At KAA, they
help you stay out o trouble. I you do bad things, you have con-
sequences. And when you go home, you have to remember to
think beore you do bad things because even though other people
might not see you or hear you, God always does. I also learned
that you should not make un o people just because you have better shoes or better things.
KAA is a nice place that has some nice things like the pool, a high
ropes course, and shing. I you don’t know God and you go to
KAA, you are going to change completely. I you know some stu
about God, you are going to learn some new things about Him. I
learned that God can do anything. For example, He can move a
mountain with His pinky. I learned that when you accept Christ,
you should take it seriously. You might know all the verses in
the Bible and all the stories, but i you don’t ollow or believe in
God in your heart, you will not go to heaven. The theme o KA
this year was “Walk It Out” rom Ephesians 5:8. You can read th
Bible, ollow what it says, walk it out and believe that God ca
do anything!
I Brought Home Faith
By Cristal Cooper, ASOM Student
I learned more about God through my counselors and the speak
ers at Kids Across America. My relationship with God grew lot because KAA showed me how to walk it out, to have aith i
everything I do, and to trust in God. I am a lot dierent now.
don’t get angry as quickly, I read my Bible more and I learned
lot more about mysel. I brought home aith and trust and a lo
more … like a KAA hat, T-shirt, and a lot o dirty clothes!
God Saved Me at Camp
By Nathan Robinson, ASOM Student
I got saved at camp because my counselors, Mike and Ralph, tol
me so much stu about God and Jesus so I thought I should giv
my soul to Him. They told me how He sacriced His lie or m because He loves me. He paid the cost or our sins so we can liv
eternally. What I brought home with me rom camp is God. He i
inside me now and orever.
To fnd out how you can volunteer to serve our ASOM studen
or to sponsor a student or camp next year, please take a look a
our Volunteer Opportunities or contact Jenny Arrison, Director o
ASOM at 407.423.3441 x2306 or [email protected]
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AN ExCERPT FROM dR. CASEThorp’S diSSerTaTion
POSTMOdERNITy UNdERSTOOd
D
avid Bosch describes postmodernity as a paradigm shit in
philosophy produced by the break up o Enlightenment-era thought and perspective on the human condition.[15] The
Enlightenment began when Descartes, Bacon and Newton devel-
oped rational methods or discerning truth in the geosciences
and biology. The Enlightenment’s infuence expanded when
theological and humanities scholars adopted similar rationalistic
methods in their elds o study. Philosophers began to question
the promises o the Enlightenment ollowing the two world wars
o their era. To understand these Enlightenment promises and
shortcomings, seven key characteristics o the modern world-
view are shown to have broken down in today’s world and, par-
ticularly, in relation to Christian theology and praxis.[16]First, a alse hope, according to Bosch, emerges during the
modern era. Enlightenment scholars predicted rational thought
and the scientic method could discern all truth and subse-
quently guide behavior. This approach would eectively replace
one’s reliance upon religion with reliance upon reason, logic,
and truth as discerned through the scientic method. Many
predicted religion would ade away as the Enlightenment pro-
gressed.
Bosch points out, ironically, that the twentieth century saw a
resurgence in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam and the devel-
opment o Christian Pentecostalism, which eventually came toexceed the combined membership o the Lutheran, Reormed,
and Anglican Communions.[17] The promise o modernity, that
rational thought would replace religious experience and adher-
ence, ailed to deliver. Religion actually grew in spite o the ra-
tional shape o the Enlightenment. Berger concurs with Bosch’s
observation acknowledging “the reappearance o the religious
legitimation o the amily” among the American middle class
[18] Bosch acknowledges the diculty o adequately explainingthis resurgence o global religious renewal. He ties its resurgence
to the shortcomings o rational thought; its inability to answer
the human condition or explain all that is observed and expe
rienced.
Next, the Enlightenment’s objectication o nature and subjec
tion o the physical world to human achievement ails to convince
the postmodern worldview. Bosch claims this objectication has
enslaved humanity to machines, production, and an ecological
crisis rather than liberated humans. Postmodernity is an age tha
“think(s) holistically, rather than analytically, emphasiz(ing) to-
getherness rather than distance, break(ing) through the dualismo mind and body, subject and object, and emphasize ‘symbio-
sis.’”[19] The expression o Christianity that thrived throughou
modernity, as we will see, prevents the authentic nature o com
munity so desired by postmodern audiences.
Third, Bosch describes the benet o logical, cause-and-eec
thinking among the privileged classes o the West. Westerners
utilized it to build complex societies, conquer medical myster-
ies, and shape thriving economies. They hoped rational though
would better society and uncover the mysteries o lie and the
world. In many ways it did.
Peter Berger argues that the “capitalistic-industrial complex”is supported by modern religious institutions.[20] Since the ra-
tional worldview becomes objective reality, Berger argues, “re-
ligion maniests itsel in its peculiarly modern orm, that is, as
a legitimating complex voluntarily adopted by an uncoerced
clientele.”[21] The private, voluntary nature o religion in in-
dustrial societies undermines the construct o a “common world
Postmodern, postmodernism, postmodernity … these terms are appearing more requently in the media, in sermons, and in mov
ies. Yet, the actual meaning o the term is quite conusing. When leaders use the term in church, some become concerned that it
means the church and/or her leadership have embraced the popularly understood notions concerning postmodernity, namely tha
all truth is relative. However, a deeper understanding o the term helps us to understand its application in society and thought so
that the church can respond with the Gospel in a way that contradicts postmodernity’s erroneous truth claims, but also strategi-
cally ministers to those that do embrace a postmodern perspective. Below Dr. Case Thorp sheds some light on the subject with an
excerpt rom his recently published dissertation entitled, “Developing Missional Leaders or the Central Florida Presbytery Through
Theatre.”
[15] David Bosch, Transorming Mission: Paradigm Shits in Theology o Mission (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1991), 349-362.
[16] Ibid. [17] Ibid., 352. [18] Peter L. Berger, The Sacred Canopy: Elements o a Sociological Theory o Religion, (New York:
Doubleday, 1967), 133. [19] Bosch, Transorming Mission, 355. [20] Berger, The Sacred Canopy, 132. [21] Ibid., 133.
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within which all o social lie receives ultimate meaning binding
on everyone.”[22] Berger insists this was the “traditional task o
religion” in pre-industrial settings.[23]
However, Berger’s prophetic prediction o the postmodern
epistemological reality ails to adequately view religion’s classi-
cal task. He sees the uture where “the world-building potency
o religion is thus restricted to the construction o sub-worlds,
o ragmented universes o meaning, the plausibility structure
o which may in some cases be no larger than the nuclear am-ily.”[24] What Berger ails to realize is that religious worldviews
have always unctioned as competing universes o meaning. He
is analyzing the history o civilizations and religious expression
using the very monolithic metanarrative that modernity sup-
ports supposing the ocially sanctioned theology or practice
was the adopted worldview o all its adherents. He ails to rec-
ognize modernity’s description o the past and its construct o
reality whereas a postmodern view sees the monolithic metanar-
rative as an exertion o manipulative power uniying and con-
structing reality, and the story or acts about that reality. Rather,
a postmodern view seeks the sub-universes o meaning and theirclaims as binding on others whether or not others acknowledge
them.
In reaction to the Enlightenment’s move away rom a clear
causality with meaning readily identiable with the human
experience, theology shited during the modern era towards a
deeply eschatological view. I reason and logic could produce
no denable hope or uture or the Christian, the predictions o
the prophets would be resurrected to shape the eschaton. Bosch
writes:
The notion o repentance and conversion, o vision, o re-
sponsibility, o revision o earlier realities and positions,
long submerged by the suocating logic o rigid cause and
eect thinking, have suraced again and are inspiring people
who have long lost all hope, at the same time giving a new
relevance to the Christian mission.[25]
Fourth, Enlightenment thinking shited the church’s ocus
rom Christian charity to societal development among Western
missionaries, and likeminded NGOs and non-prots. It proved
unsuccessul. Missionaries began to discover in the late modern
era that a transer o power rom Western hands to indigenous
leadership was necessary and rare. This, according to Bosch,
challenged the modern era’s hope that all problems would be
solved through progress thinking by those with break-through
insights, power, and resources. Although the powerul, smart
and able rushed to the more primitive cultures to “Christianize”
them, which became a euphemism or “modernization,” mod-
erate successes ailed to build the Kingdom o God so touted
by theologies o the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Bosch
writes, “The problem was not the relationship between back-
wardness and modernity, as those steeped in the thinking o the
Enlightenment had thought, but the relationship between de-
pendency and liberation.”[26]
Fith, acts and values can no longer remain separate catego-
ries or consideration by postmodern thinkers. “It has been dis-
covered that it is not possible to observe reality without, in a
sense, altering what one sees. Every act o knowing, says Poly-
ani, includes an appraisal.”[27] Rational, modern thinking sepa-
rated acts and values, and it led to the great ideologies o the
twentieth century, and the two worst wars the world has everknown. Bosch writes that Marxism, capitalism, ascism, and Na-
tional Socialism are utilitarian systems that sought to operate
in a world o acts independent o values, ethics, and morality
For the postmodern person, acts and values become intertwined
and are dicult to distinguish even when needed.
Sixth, the rational age succumbed to the reality that not all
problems are solvable. Optimism is chastened when evil is rec-
ognized and hope becomes a guiding principle, particularly or
Christians. And, seventh, the radical individualism o the ratio-
nal age contrasts with the recognized interdependence o society
embraced by postmodern thinkers. Bosch calls or humanity ina postmodern age to reject the “spurious doctrine o autonomy”
and rearm commitment and interdependence.[28] Bosch re-
ports that scholars are unable to discern exactly what the current
era will mean philosophically or epistemologically; meanwhile
they use the term postmodern to describe this time o transi-
tion.
In summary, a postmodern epistemology is a reaction to the
rationality o modernity and the assumptions o the Enlighten-
ment. Postmodern advocates, such as Bosch and Polyani, assert
that rational thought and logic are insucient, and meta-narra-
tives provided rom a mechanistic worldview are highly suspect
and subject to reinterpretation by radically autonomous individ-
uals. In reaction, postmodern individuals desire community and
a symbiosis o environments, agendas, and truth claims.
While Bosch paints the grand picture o the church’s mission
rom the modern age to the postmodern era, Barna measures
thriving churches during this time o transition rom one age
to the next. Reacting against modernity’s truth claims and the
mechanistic drive or a corporate eciency, postmodern Chris-
tians desire choice and uniqueness. This drive causes “boutique
churches” and megachurches to meet the desires o the “reli-
gious marketplace.”[29] Churches are working to provide expe-
riences along with truth proclamation. Their leadership knows
that or the postmodern individual the existential experience
matters as much as the logic o truth, i not more. Barna notes
that smaller, contextualized ellowships will make up more o
the church in the uture. Non-traditional models will bring peo-
ple together, like small groups, as a basis rom which growth in
God and service to the community begins. Smaller communities
allow or greater authenticity and trust is more easily given in
[22] Ibid., 134. [23] Ibid. [24] Ibid. [25] Bosch, Transorming Mission, 356. [26] Ibid., 358. [27] Ibid. [28] Ibid., 362. [29]
Barna, Revolution, 63.
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close relationships. This shit is in response to postmodern indi-
viduals’ suspicion o the meta-narratives condently claimed by
the mainline denominational expression o church.[30]
The impact o postmodernity upon the church, especially in
the Central Florida Presbytery, is substantial. Barna notes that
postmodernity provides a new view on absolute truth. Postmod-
ern thinkers suspect singular truths do not exist, or at least are
not discernable. In response, the existential nature o relation-
ships become the primary context or discerning truth, sharinginsights, and building, what is dened to the postmodern per-
son, as a good lie. While these actors have become positive
building blocks or churches thriving in the emerging context,
postmodern ideas are problematic due to Christianity’s truth
claims and conessional paradigm.
Murray’s denition o postmodernity aligns with Bosch and
Barna. Additionally Murray notes a deep suspicion and de-
construction o all things, most especially Christianity, occurs
within postmodern pessimism. He suggests a “hermeneutics o
skepticism” is a guiding method or interpreting the world. Yet,
Murray does identiy the hopeulness some Christian postmod-ernists have ound due to a postmodernist’s “critique o the pre-
tensions o modernism…oering resh possibilities or telling
the Christian story.” [31]
POSTMODERNITY DEFINED
• Truth is learned through experience and logic, which for
everyone may be dierent.
• Nature is one part of a complex system within an interre
lated whole.
• Unique worldviews have a variety of ways to leading to
“smart decision.”
• Religions offer several of many narratives about human ori
gin, truth, and the uture o the world.
• Facts are inuenced by values; values are inuenced by
acts.• Some problems can and never will be solved because the
world is evil.
• The community matters most.
MODERNITY DEFINED
• Truth is discovered only through rational thought and the
scientic method sidelining religious experience.
• Nature is an object to be understood, manipulated, and con
trolled or human ends.
• Logical thinking leads to smarter decisions.
• Religion is best utilized in solving social problems as it is the“heart” o society.
• Facts are best understood independent of values.
• All problems can be solved with the right logic and rational
ity.
• The individual matters most. n
[30] Ibid., 65. [31] Stuart Murray, Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World (Bucks, UK: Paternoster, 2004), 1
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neWs & nOTicesbETA TesterWant to get a sneak peek at what’s new on www.pco.org? Be-come a BETA tester or the new FPCO website to be unveiledthis coming September. Although it might sound a little tech-nical, you don’t have to be a computer whiz to help. We justneed 12 volunteers who are willing to provide honest, thor-ough eedback or new online applications. Please contact An-
drea Dianni at [email protected] i you are interested.
Q&A With dr. Swanson To be Hoste on Auust 23 an 25You’ve got questions; they’ve got answers. Dr. Swanson andthe associate pastors will be hosting a Q&A session on Sunday,August 23 in the Lee Fellowship Hall ollowing the 11am ser-vices. There will also be an online meeting held on Tuesday,August 25 rom 7:30-8:30pm. Check out www.pco.org/live towatch Dr. Swanson live and post your questions on the Inter-net or him to answer.
Intereste in worin with chiren or music?Children’s Music is looking or volunteers that either play pi-ano or enjoy singing to assist during Children’s Choir rehears-als. Children’s Choirs meet during the Sonday Times programon Sunday evenings rom 4:30-5:30pm, and each session runsapproximately 10 weeks during the all and spring. The Ce-lestial Choir and Seraphim Singers assist in leading worshiptwice a session and the Cherub Choir (4-5 years) assists onceduring the spring. I your talents lie elsewhere, we can alwaysuse your help preparing or special events or even just to havean extra adult in the room during rehearsals! There are alsoseasonal needs like costumes that need repair and events thatneed extra set up. A background check is required and pro-vided by Worship Arts. I you are interested in volunteering inthis ministry, please contact Stephanie Mixner at 407.423.3441x1186 or [email protected]. For urther inormation about ourministry, visit our website www.pco.org/childrensmusic.
Conratuations to:Lindsay and Elliott Drake, on the birth o their daughter, AveryElizabeth Drake, born June 4, 2009. The proud grandparentsare Michelle and Kent Sterchi, and the proud great grandmoth-er is Happy Sterchi.
Smpath to:The riends and amily o Peggy Redding, who died June 4,2009.
Carol Welker on the death o her sister, Linda Carey, on June7, 2009.
Sonie Braun on the death o her husband, Joe Braun, on June11, 2009.
Patty and Bill N. Laubach, on the death o his ather, WilliamLaubach, on June 15, 2009. Mr. Laubach was the grandathero Bill R. Laubach.
Lynne and Jim McKnight, on the death o her brother, JohnMorton, on June 20, 2009.
The amily and riends o Kay Gillespie, who died June 22,2009.
Sydney Patterson on the death o his wie, Mildred “Millie”Patterson, on June 24, 2009.
The amily and riends o Margaret Beery, who died June 27,2009.
Yvonne and Brant Clayton, on the death o her brother-in-law,Mike Grady, on June 28, 2009.
Wilbur Sikes, on the death o his wie, Audrey Sikes, on June
29, 2009. Mrs. Sikes was the mother o Gayle Johnson.
Marcia Van Zyl, on the death o her son, Kurt Van Zyl, on June30, 2009.
Catie and Dr. Tom Cook, on the death o his brother, Jim Cook,on July 2, 2009.
Allison and David Reed, on the death o his ather, David Reed,on July 7, 2009.
The amily and riends o Annie Bell Johnson, who died July7, 2009.
June ’09 Giving Snapshot
General Contributions Budgeted Surplus/
Operating (Defcit)
June Gits $486,419 $564,198 $(77,780)
Fiscal Year-
to-date Gits $6,775,982 $7,384,379 $(608,397)
Line o Credit $0
Immeasurably More Outstanding Balance $4,336,446
IM June Gits $33,224
IM Fiscal Year-to-date Gits $1,816,553(net o 10 percent tithe to Missions)
Contact Finance or a ull revenue & expense summary.
Summer Photo Contest Winner!
Catch o the Day
“My 3-year-old son, Luke, and
I went fshing on Lake Silver in
College Park just behind a late a-
ternoon rainstorm,” Scott Ander-
ton says. “I gave him a toy fshing
rod to keep him occupied with a
hook and purple worm on it whileI fshed o the back o the boat.
I hooked up with about a three-
pound bass and was reeling [it]
in when Luke yelled, “Fish on.” I
looked up and sure enough he had casted and hooked this
seven-pound bass. He ought it all the way to the boat, then
looked at me and said, “Daddy, where is your little fsh?”
Scott Anderton
www.fpco.og
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First Presterian Church of Orano106 e. Cc St., o, fl 32801
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ps d ast 8, 2009
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407.423.3441 | www.fpco.og
Tditiol Sevices: Sudys, 8:30 &11m i the Sctuy
Geesis Sevices: Sudy, 8:30 &11m i Lee Fellowship Hll
IMMERSEd INgod’S graCe
By D. Dvid Swso, Seio Psto
Over the past ve years, First Presbyterian Church has enjoyed a
growing relationship with the Heart o Mercy Community Church
and their pastor, William Andrews. Pastor Andrews, at one timehomeless and sleeping under our Angel Wing, has led a strong re-
newal on the Mercy Drive corridor that our church has been blessed
to be part o. Through shared ministries like Jobs Partnership and
the HIV/AIDS Consortium, many o the manmade barriers that have
oten separated us have come down—things like race and class and
economics and worship orm. Part o the vision or our church is
to be a “diverse body o conessing believers,” and this partnership
has truly led us in that direction.
For that reason, it was particularly powerul on June 27 when our
churches hosted an outdoor service o baptism ollowing HOM’s
weeklong vacation Bible school. From 10am to 1pm that day, anyonewho wanted to be baptized by immersion could come and receive
that sacrament. With a large portable pool lled by a truck rom the
Orlando Fire Department, twenty-two people came, including two
rom First Presbyterian Church. As the pictures attest, there was
nothing ormal about it—just the honest, heartelt declarations o
God’s grace and love, leading people to descend beneath the waters
in death, and rise rom those cleansing waters to everlasting lie in
Jesus Christ. What a day!