Church Family,

I was chatting with a new church member a few weeks ago and in the course of the conversation, she asked a question I wasn’t prepared for. She said she wanted to make sure to give extra to our church this year and wanted to know what our highest needs were. I scheduled a meeting with her later that week, shared my heart, told her a little bit about my vision for some interesting projects we want to fund in 2026. She told me thank you and promptly walked into the finance office to make a lead gift towards that project. Incredible.

Just this past week a church member stopped by for an appointment and told me that he needed to make sure he took care of his end of year giving and asked me the same question – what is the greatest need for our church? Likewise, I told him about some of our projects for 2026 and he told me the check would be in the mail.

After these conversations it occurred to me that there may be many more of you who are wondering the same kind of question. What is our churches greatest need?

In the spirit of this question, I want invite you join me for a time of sharing my heart and vision that I believe God is giving me for some really cool projects in 2026. 

This Sunday evening, we will have the first of two identical quarterly meetings to give an update on our personnel processes, talk about our greatest needs, and share some of the vision for 2026 and beyond.

The first opportunity will take place on Sunday, December 7 at 6 PM in the choir room. The second gathering will take place on Wednesday, December 10 at 6 PM in the choir room. There’s no need to register in the meetings are open to anyone who calls our church home and who is invested in our future.

I want to encourage you to attend one of these meetings as you prayerfully consider what generosity looks like for you at the end of 2025 and into 2026.

Cheers,

In my time at First Winter Park, our student ministry, Power House, has had a few different homes. What’s funny is that no matter where we’ve met, I’ve always called it Power House. I call the students Power House, and even the time we meet is Power House. So the sentence, “Power House, let’s go meet in Power House for Power House,” makes perfect sense to me.

Over the years, the space has changed, the students have changed, and even our meeting time has changed. When we first arrived, we met in a small upstairs classroom, and with just a handful of students, it worked perfectly.

Then came the COVID season, and we moved under the carport. We were still small back then, and meeting outside was the safest option, so we made it work.

After that, we moved into the Basement. Yes, our church actually has a basement. It was great… until the flood. Water stood down there for months, so we had to move again.

Now we’re in the Fellowship Hall, and honestly, it has been the best spot yet. The Basement was cool, but it lacked natural light and felt a bit dank and musty. Ever since moving into the Fellowship Hall, I’ve wanted to give it a makeover, but there is always a gap between what I hope to accomplish and what I realistically have time to do. Plus, décor and design are not exactly my strong suit.

That is why I am so grateful that God brings the right people at the right time, people who can do the things we cannot, whether because of time or ability.

Jenna Keller became a Power House intern at the end of the summer after already serving in our finance department. Not only is she incredible with our students, but she also has a degree in interior design. And here’s the amazing part: she has completely transformed our Power House space.

It is not even finished yet, and it is already the best teaching environment I have ever had. I am all about function, and normally I do not care much about aesthetics. Form feels pointless to me if it sacrifices usability. But Jenna has made the room more functional than it has ever been, even with some changes I was originally unsure about.

When we had 25 students, teaching from a chair worked just fine. But when you have 65, you need height and visibility. So we added staging and literally turned the front of the room. It has been painted, reorganized, and outfitted with furnishings that make sense for how we teach and gather. And the best part is that it is still Power House. It has not lost any of what makes it warm, welcoming, and meaningful for our students.

Thank you to Jenna, and to everyone who has helped make this space more beautiful, more usable, and more ready for the ministry God has given us..

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the greatest gift we’ve ever received—we have a special opportunity to share His love with families in our community. All month long, we’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages.

You can drop off toys in the Kids Area or at the front of the sanctuary. 

Thank you for helping us shine the love of Jesus and bring joy to children this Christmas season! 

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."                    Acts 2:42

Ready to get involved and devoted?

We would love to help you find out more about First Winter Park and get connected! 

Discovery Lunch - If you have recently become a member or want to hear more about membership, our Discovery Lunch is your next step.  Join us at the next Discovery Lunch December 7 after service to hear more about what it means to be a member at First Winter Park, what members can expect from pastors, and what the church can expect from members. Please register below so we can prepare accordingly. 

Community Connect Group With Pastor Doug - On Sunday at 9:30 AM, Pastor Doug and his wife Natalie have have a small group in the Food Hall. It starts with fellowship at 9:15, then transitions into small group discussion at 9:30. This group welcomes adults of all ages and life stages—whether you're new to our church or haven't yet joined a small group, this is perfect for you! Childcare will be available starting at 9:15.

Wednesday Community Night Our Wednesdays are packed with opportunities to connect:

4:30 PM – Thriving Adult Choir (65+)

5:30 PM – Family Meal in the Food Hall

6:00 PM – Life Discipleship with Pastor Doug 

6:00 PM - Season 5 of "The Chosen" Viewing Group

6:00 PM – Kids Ministry and Power House 

Weekly Bible Studies

Ladies Bible Study – Tuesdays at 6:45 PM in the Choir Suite

Thriving Adult Bible Study – Thursdays at 10:30 AM in the Choir Suite

Just click the link below to get connected to a small group. Please let us know if you have any questions!  Let’s journey together!

Community Events

Save the Date for our Christmas Eve Family Service on December 24 at 5:00 PM. 

Save the date for our Christmas celebration on December 14th at 6PM. Join us for an evening of Christmas worship and songs, powerful testimonies, and community rooted in fellowship celebrating the birth of our Savior. 

Come join our Thriving Adult Ministry (65+) for a Christmas themed lunch and music from our Thriving Adult Choir this December 9 at 11:30 AM. 

Member Corner

Welcome New Member Elaine Thompson 

Elaine loves serving on host team and serving on Wednesday night. Welcome Elaine!

Meet Janice and Hamp Conley

They love praying for all and getting to know everyone.

Thank You Hamp and Janice! 

O Come, All Ye Faithful

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Angels We Have Heard on High

Weekly budget goal:  $21,296

Dear Church Family,

As we approach the end of 2025, we want to take a moment to thank you for your incredible generosity and faithfulness this year. Your support has made a real difference in what God is doing through First Winter Park, and we are so grateful to have you as part of this mission.

Because of your generosity, students and children experienced life-changing camps, our children’s ministry area was beautifully refreshed, and we launched an intern program-empowering students to impact their community for Christ. These are just a few of the tangible ways your giving is transforming lives and advancing the mission of sharing God’s love. If you are planning to make a year-end gift, please remember:

All donations are tax-deductible.

To count for 2025, gifts must be received no later than December 31, 2025.

You can give online by clicking the link below, by mail, or in person. Thank you for being a vital part of what God is doing at First Winter Park