Dear Church Family,

When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” He is inviting us into a posture of daily trust. That is to say, He is helping us break our human tendency towards a daily stockpiling. God’s provision is meant to sustain us one day at a time.

In simpler times, we understood this rhythm better. In the 1980s, for example, you didn’t binge an entire television series in one sitting. You waited patiently each week, trusting that the next episode would come. And it always did. Daily bread works much the same way.  

The Israelites learned this same lesson in the wilderness. Manna fell daily with no leftovers and no hoarding. God was teaching them faith, not food storage.

May we learn to pray for today’s provision, confident that our faithful God will meet us again tomorrow.

Cheers,

One of my favorite books is called The Trellis and the Vine because it offers a simple but powerful picture. The vine represents the life and growth that only God can bring, things like changed hearts, people coming to faith, and growing discipleship to Jesus, people coming to faith. The trellis is the structure that supports that growth.

If the vine is growing, we need a strong trellis to hold it up so it grows in healthy direction.

For us, that trellis includes our facilities, financial systems, personnel structure, communication rhythms, and the operational systems that allow ministry to flourish. These things are not the mission, but they protect and support the mission that God is calling us to do.

I am incredibly grateful for our pastors and staff, and for the faithful partnership of our committees, as we work together to strengthen that foundation. Because of God’s provision and your generosity, we are beginning the year in a very strong financial position. We are making great progress on the new Kids classroom spaces and updates to the Food Hall, and we are thrilled to welcome Caleb Holtz as our new Worship Pastor.

God is doing incredible work and growth in our church and I am excited to keep wisely building the support structures together so the vine can continue to grow in healthy way.

This past Sunday night, Bronwyn and I watched our 6th Super Bowl with Power House students. What started as a simple tradition has become one of those markers of how much we’ve grown as a student group.

Our first Super Bowl together was actually at our house, the parsonage here on property. The house is perfect for just us (and King), but not much else. We were small enough that it worked fine. Our second Super Bowl was during the pandemic, and we all sat outside under the carport at the parsonage. Small group energy, fresh air, and lots of blankets. Super Bowl three was in the basement back when we met down there, before the flood sent us back up. Since then, we’ve been using the space we’re in now. We’ve got bigger TVs and better tech, but it’s never lost the intimacy of those first few years.

We still meet at our regular time 5 to 8 so we don’t see the whole game. Those who get picked up usually leave just before halftime, and I let our drivers stay through halftime before sending them home. It’s a fun tradition and also an important one.

As Christians, we’re called to be in the world, just not of it, which means sometimes brushing up against culture and not hiding from it, but experiencing it.  And we experience it together. The Super Bowl is one of the most watched events in the world, with tens of millions tuning in across the globe each year, a cultural moment shared by people of all backgrounds.

 Engaging culture together isn’t about embracing everything the world celebrates. It’s about being present with people where they are, experiencing life alongside them, and grounding ourselves in community and faith. We strengthen one another by entering the world with eyes to love well and hearts anchored in Christ so the world doesn’t overwhelm us.

This tradition reminds me of who we were, who we are, and who we’re becoming not just a group that watches a game, but a family that does life together.

Child Dedication:

This Sunday after church, we’re holding a Child Dedication Interest Meeting in the choir room at 12:30 PM. Come hear more about what to expect and how you can be part of this special celebration.

VBS:

Save the date for Kingdom Quest VBS happening June 15–18! Kids ages 3 through rising 6th grade are invited to join us for an exciting week of adventure, fun, and discovering what it means to follow Jesus and find life in God’s kingdom. You won’t want to miss this incredible week filled with games, music, Bible stories, and unforgettable memories. Mark your calendars now. More details coming soon!

Did you know that community is a gift from God that he has given us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  The writer of Hebrews urges us not to give up meeting together and encouraging one another. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We are thankful that so many are gathering together in small groups before worship on Sunday and during the week. We encourage everyone to find a small group. If you need to find a group reach out with the connection card below and we will help you get connected.  Many of our Sunday groups are in temporary locations while we undergo renovations and we are so thankful for all the continued help and flexibility during this time.

Sunday Small Groups: 9:30 Sunday morning Small Groups for all ages, including kids and students. 

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 Choir Room

6:00 PM – Life Discipleship with Pastor Isaac – Choir Room 

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 Library

Thriving Adult Bible Study – Thursdays at 10:30 AM in the Conference Room

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!

Member Corner

Meet Lewis and Carol Rutland (Pictured with their grandchildren)

The Rutland’s enjoy preparing Wednesday night meals and cooking for other church events.

They also enjoy being a member of the Bible Prophecy Small Group.

Thank You Rutland's! 

Welcome New Member Jim Dekle! 

Jim has enjoyed meeting many new people and participating in the CIA Small group!

Welcome Jim!

Events

The First Winter Park Thriving Adult’s celebrated Valentine’s Day this week with a wonderful lunch and a thoughtful message from Pastor Jim Henry. 

Thank You to all that helped with decorating and serving! 

Join us for Ash Wednesday as we kick off the Easter season with prayer and reflection. Drop in on Wednesday, February 18 between 8–10 am to optional ashes and take a moment to reset your heart and mind, starting this new season with greater spiritual focus. Come as you are and begin the journey toward Easter together.

Come Thou Fount Come Thou King

Goodness of God

Glorify Thy Name

Dear Church Family,

Thank you to everyone who has already moved their recurring offerings to the new Church Teams giving platform.

Please be aware that the Fellowship One giving platform account will be closed on February 16th. If you need any assistance canceling your recurring offering in Fellowship One, please contact the Lisa Bowman at 407-644-3061 or email lbowman@fbcwp.org

Our Finance Team is also available to assist any member who would like to begin giving through Church Teams.

Thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity.

All the best!

Weekly budget goal:  $21,296