Church Family,

Easter draws us again to the surprising center of our faith. The resurrection of Jesus assures us that sin and death do not have the final word and that grace meets us not as a reward but as a gift. 

This is good news for us to receive AND to share.

As we prepare for our services at 9:00 and 10:30, I want you to consider investing in and inviting those around you. 

To invest is to prayerfully offer your time, energy, and generosity so others might encounter the hope we have found. 

Inviting is more simple. It is just noticing someone and deciding they matter enough to include in our fellowship, even if just for Easter Sunday. Who knows, they may end up returning on a future Sunday.  Stranger things have transpired before — like the resurrection. 

Most people are more open than they appear and more uncertain than they admit. Easter meets people right there.

Show up. Bring someone. See what happens.

Cheers,

It’s hard to hear something important when there’s noise all around you. We’ve all had that moment, someone’s talking, but between the distractions, you miss what they’re trying to say.

As we prepare for Easter, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to help remove anything that could pull our focus from what matters most: hearing the message of Jesus clearly and responding to what God is doing in our lives.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been getting things ready in a number of ways: installing new A/C in the Sanctuary, doing roof repairs, upgrading our internet, strengthening our safety and security team, adding parking signage, doing repairs in the balcony, improving our kids check-in systems, and much more.

Most of this won’t be noticed on a Sunday, but it goes a long way in helping keep the main thing the main thing. There’s certainly still more to do, but I'm proud of our team and the meaningful progress we've made as we prepare for Easter and get ready to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together!

In Christ,

Power House students genuinely love to serve! It’s part of who they are, and who we are as a group. We never have to manufacture excitement or rally them just to get involved, when an opportunity is in front of them, they step into it with energy and ownership. That was on full display at the Easter Festival, where nearly 50 of our students showed up ready to make a difference. Whether they were hauling tables, guiding families, or kneeling down to help young visitors feed ducks, they were all in from start to finish.  

As a student pastor, there’s something deeply rewarding about watching students not only serve, but also problem-solve, take initiative, and lead in real time. Even more encouraging is the unity they demonstrate while doing it. They serve as one team with one purpose. Our students and their leaders were involved in nearly every aspect of the day, from parking logistics to face painting to running the Egg Hunt itself. And maybe the best part? Seeing younger kids light up when “big kids” choose to play with them. That kind of joy, connection, and Christ-like example is what makes moments like this so meaningful and so impactful beyond just a single event.

Registration for Kingdom Quest VBS is officially open today! We’re so excited to invite kids ages 3 through rising 6th grade to join us for an unforgettable week of fun, adventure, and discovering what it means to follow Jesus and find life in God’s kingdom. Spots will fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up today! We can’t wait to see your family there!

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!

Sunday, April 26, 3-5PM 

A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief and help you move through the grief process. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief and gain solid support each step of the way. 

Events

We are so excited to share our schedule for Easter Week! Be sure to save the date for Good Friday Service today at 6pm and Easter Sunday Services at 9 and 10:30am!

He Arose

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Holy Forever

All Hail King Jesus

Weekly budget goal:  $21,296

We are delighted to hear how much our church family is enjoying the new Text-to-Give option! Many of you have shared positive feedback about how easy and secure this feature is to use, and we are grateful that it has been a helpful addition to your giving experience.

Thank you for your continued generosity and for faithfully supporting the gospel ministries of First Winter Park. Your giving makes a meaningful impact in our church and community.

With gratitude,