Church Family,

As you may be well aware, we have been searching for a full-time worship pastor for the better part of a year.  Several years ago, Steve May retired. Steve Storms has been doing an admirable job filling in as our interim worship pastor.  This past summer, Sean Moore came in to lead us as our summer worship leader.  Each of these men have done a tremendous job of organizing, leading, coordinating, and facilitating our Sunday morning worship gathering.  Now, we are ready to begin zeroing in on our long term candidate who can lead us into the next season of ministry.  Over the next two weeks, we will be led in worship by some friends who we have been speaking with about our open worship leader position.  

In case you are wondering, “What in the world is a worship pastor?” Or “Does he mean music minister?” Or “does he mean Choir director?”  Let me clarify a few things. The term Worship Pastor is the preferred nomenclature for what is a modern day choir director, music minister, music director, and so forth.  Over the past 30 years, there has been a development of leadership styles for most churches across the globe with a strong preference and shift towards pastoral leadership over all areas of worship ministry, including musicians, vocalists, production, technology, and instrumentation.  A Worship Pastor is someone who can make disciples through the development of volunteers and paid musicians who can lead the church congregation in weekly worship services, special events, and so forth. Typically this person has a college or masters degree in music and theology, can preach, make hospital visits, and lead at funerals.  Finally, a Worship Pastor is responsible for Sunday mornings. 

We want to make sure to get this kind of information out to you so that you, the congregation, can begin praying and processing with us as we look to receive our new worship pastor soon. 

In that spirit, I want to invite you to a special meeting on Sunday 11/9 at 6:30pm in the sanctuary.  I have invited Rocky Bara, a worship pastor consultant who has been helping us with the search, and Steve May, our former music minister, to come and converse with us about the shifting trends of music ministry, the market for worship pastors, and all manner of expectations related to worship ministry.  We will have an open q and a so that you can ask questions and gain better reflection on the process.

If you can’t make it, we will be recording the conversation and will post to our social media and YouTube pages for your convenience and review.

We are really exited about the next season of ministry, and I want you to be excited with us! 

The best is yet to come.

Cheers,

The Sacred Power of Eating Together

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re all thinking about food, but what if we paused to think about what happens around the table? For Christians, sharing a meal is more than eating; it’s an act of fellowship (koinonia), community, and discipleship. When we gather at the table, as families or as a church, we live out the Gospel together.

In Acts 2:42 the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Jesus shared meals with friends and strangers alike, and the Bible shows that eating together deepens relationships and reflects our unity in Christ. The table has always been a place of connection, generosity, and grace.

Modern research confirms what Scripture already taught, showing what it matters for families:

- Families who eat together regularly show stronger relationships and better communication.

- Kids who share meals with parents at least 3–4 times a week tend to have higher grades, lower stress, and fewer behavioral issues.

- One study found 91% of parents said family meals help reduce household stress.

Family meals provide more than food, they offer security, conversation, and belonging. They’re a built-in pause button in a noisy world.

Here are a few ways to put this into practice and make mealtime meaningful:

1. Be intentional. Set aside at least one night a week for a shared family meal.

2. Turn off screens. Create space for face-to-face conversation.

3. Ask good questions. “Where did you see God at work today?”

4. Invite others. Use your table to practice hospitality and build community.

5. Give thanks. Make gratitude part of every meal and not just Thanksgiving.

As a church family, when we share meals as a congregation, we model what it means to belong to the family of God. The upcoming Thanksgiving meal isn’t just a tradition, it's an opportunity to connect, to encourage one another, and to celebrate the goodness of God together.

I’m deeply thankful to serve such amazing students and families. Your partnership in shaping their faith at this church means the world. This Thanksgiving, let’s make our tables places of gratitude, laughter, and gospel fellowship.

Church Family, 

Mark your calendars for our Christmas Family Movie Night on Wednesday, December 3rd!

Join us for a cozy evening of fellowship, snacks, and a heartwarming Christmas movie as we celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth together. More details will be shared soon, but for now, be sure to save the date and plan to bring the whole family!

"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

Please let us know if you have any questions!  Let’s journey together!

Community Events

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

We’re excited to invite you to our First Baptist Winter Park Thanksgiving Meal on Wednesday, November 19th at 5:30 PM in the church gym. Join us for a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner and a meaningful time to build community together.

Get tickets online through the church website or click the link below (under the giving section) or visit our ticket table on Sunday after the church service . 

Thanksgiving Dinner Tickets

Suggested donation:

$7.00 per person

$25.00 for families of 4 or more

We are ordering Poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary this Christmas Season. If you would like to donate a poinsettia, please click the link below.  The Poinsettia will be available for you to pick up after the Christmas Eve Service on December 24th.  

To donate, click the link below, choose “one-time gift," then choose poinsettia in drop down.

Poinsettia Donation

Member Corner

Welcome Caroline and Lindsey Brinson! 

They enjoy being part of the Library Group, volunteering for Kids Ministry, and serving as Hosts.

Meet Ann Anderson and Rachel Cahill!

They are members of the Bible Prophecy Small Group and sing in the Thriving Adult Choir.

Holy Spirit

Trust in God

What a Beautiful Name

Weekly budget goal:  $21,296