Profile of the Orlando Reformed Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Profile of the Orlando Reformed Presbyterian Church About our Congregation... Our Mission and Vision Statements Core Values A Brief History Our Leadership and Membership Our Ministries and Activities Our Facilities and Location Our Community 1

2 Church Address & Web Site 324 E. Livingston Street, Orlando, FL Church Office: (407) Web Site: Our Vision To glorify God by communicavng the truth of Holy Scripture to our community, while expecvng believers to become fully dependent on Jesus Christ and obedient to His infallible Word. Our Core Values We, the Orlando Reformed Presbyterian body of Christ, value reformed truth, teamwork, clear and open communicavon and loving care in our efforts to grow spiritually and, through evangelism, numerically. In a pastor, we value a loving Shepherd and leader who relates well with all ages, models Christ in his own life, and provides vision and direcvon in a team oriented approach that movvates and unifies the flock. 2

3 Brief History In the fall of 1916, when the Lord led J. C. McKnight and his family of four from Olathe, Kansas, to Orlando, Florida., they did not know He was calling them to plant a church. They came so that his daughter, Ada, might abend Rollins College. Over Vme, seeing the need for Covenanter convicvons south of the Mason Dixon line, Mr. McKnight began to invite other Reformed Presbyterians to come and see the locavon, experience the warm climate, and appreciate the agricultural and business opportunives in Orlando. The first service was held March 21, 1920 and on Dec. 2, 1920, the church was officially organized with 49 charter members. The present building was completed in 1926 and has maintained a witness in downtown Orlando for over 80 years. In the early 1980 s, feeling a need for larger facilives, and because many members has moved toward the suburbs, property was purchased in Ocoee, west of Orlando. A covered pavilion and restrooms were built and the property was used for recreavon and outreach. However, the historical designavon of the downtown building limits possible changes and uses, and the congregavon was unable to sell it. Believing that God was calling us to remain in our present locavons, the Ocoee property was sold to another church and we have moved ahead with renovavons to make our facilives as funcvonal and abracvve as possible. Some of the ministries which God has brought to us over the years include sharing the building with a Korean Presbyterian Church for several years, a very acvve Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) ministry in the 1990 s, and various ways of meevng the needs of the homeless in the downtown area. Currently, we are seeking ways to increase our witness to the neighborhood and to draw in more visitors. Previous Pastors: Wilbur D. McBurney D. Raymond McCracken Stated Supply David B. Russell James M. Wright Alvin W. Smith D. Ray McCracken Associate Pastor for Outreach Donald W. Felker David R. Smith Keith E. Copeland 3

4 Our Worship Our Lord s Day acvvives begin with an informal coffee hour and visivng in the Fellowship Hall. Prior to corporate worship, we welcome visitors and highlight announcements that are significant to the social, prayer and worship life of the congregavon. Our children are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary for a special instrucvonal Vme focusing on a key scriptural lesson. The choir then transivons our abenvon to the worship of our Lord through an appropriate Psalm and the congregavon is called to worship by the presiding elder. The reading and preaching of the Word of God is central to worship as is congregavonal singing from the new edivon of the Book of Psalms. Occasionally, we include within the worship service, responsive reading, praying the Lord s Prayer together, or The Apostles Creed. The congregavonal prayer Vme focuses on the great and holy God, his works most wonderful among us and our thankfulness for his grace. Prayer is also offered on behalf of mission work, our governments, our church courts, individual needs and congregavonal mabers. Personal prayer requests are listed on the back of the bullevn and addressed during corporate prayer. During the school year, with the excepvon of Communion services, a Children in Worship Vme is planned for children ages three through first grade. This separate Vme, under the oversight of the Session, is led by a group of trained teachers from the congregavon. The older children remain in the worship service and are provided Kid s Pages to encourage their focus on the message and parvcipavon in worship. Evening programs provide a less formal Vme for Bible study, praise and prayer, Mission night emphases and fellowship for all age levels. On special occasions, we join with other reformed churches within our community for worship or fellowship. Evening programs are not usually held on major holiday weekends and during peak vacavon Vmes in the summer. 4

5 Our Leadership Elders: Joe Worsham, Jonathan Schaefer Elder Emeritus: Ed Forest Moderator Pro Tem: James Pennington ConsultaVve Elders: James Wright and James Pennington Deacons: Scob Bailey, Chuck Bloom, David Tacey Our Membership CongregaVonal Officers President: Steve Garrow Vice President: Jonathan Schaefer Recording Secretary: Mary McCracken Co Secretary: Peggy Terry CongregaVonal Treasurer: Bob Terry The members of our congregavon range in age from 90 years to preschool aged children. Although small in number, we desire to do things well. The core group is commibed to one another and to the congregavon s ministries. Our youth and children abend ChrisVan schools, public schools and others are home schooled. Adult demographics include families, couples, singles and revred people. Though a number of our adults are revred, this group provides a core of experienced and available workers. Year Total Membership Average Abendance Communicant Members BapVzed Members

6 Our EducaVonal Ministry ChrisVan educavon is an important part of the ministry of the Orlando Reformed Presbyterian Church. The educavonal program for all age groups is supervised by a ChrisVan EducaVon (C.E.) Board appointed by and under the oversight of the Session. A session member is the chairman of the commibee. The adult educavonal plan is developed by the Session with other age levels developed by the C.E. Board and approved by the Session. Bible studies are under the direcvon of Session and currently include a Women s study on Tuesday morning, a Wednesday study each week at the church and a bi weekly study in the west part of the community. AddiVonally, a men s breakfast meets the last Saturday of each month. The C.E. Board presents a Bible to each child entering second grade and a Psalter to each child entering third grade. The CE Board plans summer educavonal acvvives. In recent years, different families have hosted a one day special event in their homes at various Vmes throughout the summer. The events are Ved together by a common Biblical theme and have been an effecvve way to reach out to our neighborhoods, to focus on a parvcular theme of instrucvon for the summer, and to provide opportunives for service to the community. The CE Board also oversees the raising and distribuvon of funds to help members abend Presbytery conferences as well as the quadrennial RP InternaVonal Conference. In recent years, we have been able to pay the envre cost of camp registravon for anyone choosing to abend a summer conference. 6

7 Social Fellowship Ministry Fellowship is an important part of our church life here at Orlando RPC. We enjoy being together at various planned social events each year. Those planned this year include a Bunco Party, a Fondue Dinner, a Memorial Day picnic, a Progressive Dinner and a Christmas Party. We try to focus on outreach for at least one of these events although we always encourage invivng others to our social acvvives. We honor recent graduates at a Night On the Town dinner. Other Vmes of fellowship occur at weekly Bible studies, monthly men s breakfasts, fellowship dinners, movie nights, youth acvvives, the Stepping Stones summer program for children, and special events such as the Walk for Life, Presbytery camps and conferences. 7

8 Our Care Ministry In addivon to pastoral care and deaconal ministries, we have the following opportunives: Meals: We prepare and deliver meals to those in the church body who need help with meal preparavon for a variety of circumstances such as a new baby, recuperavon at home amer hospitalizavon, dealing with a serious illness or hospitality needs around a death in the family. Cards and Flowers: A member sends cards and notes when anyone in the church body needs addivonal encouragement or a word of thanks. Birthdays and Anniversaries are also recognized with a greevng card. In addivon, we have a birthday celebravon once each month (following worship) to honor all who celebrated birthdays during the current month. Flower arrangements are sent when individuals are hospitalized for illness and when there are special events to celebrate. Bible Study and Fellowship Groups: Throughout the week there are Bible studies conducted both at the church and in homes in various neighborhoods. Currently, we have one bi weekly evening Bible study/fellowship meevng in a home on the West side of Orlando, and one weekly evening study/fellowship group meevng at the church. In addivon, a weekly women s Bible study is held at the church every Tuesday morning, and a men s breakfast group meets monthly on Saturday mornings. In addivon to prayer and Bible study, the groups are designed to offer support and encouragement as needed. 8

9 Our Outreach Ministries Local and World Missions In response to the Great Commission given to us by Jesus before his ascension in Mabhew 28:19, the Orlando Reformed Presbyterian church desires to be a part of spreading the good news of salvavon through Jesus Christ our Lord and making disciples in Orlando and throughout the world. Prayer needs for missions are listed in the bullevn each Lord s Day and prayed for faithfully from the pulpit. WMF organizes several Fellowship Meals on selected Sabbath evenings throughout the year at which we present the work of a parvcular mission work. On these occasions a congregavonal offering is received in support of that mission. The Women s Missionary Fellowship meets regularly to keep current on the work and needs of our denominavonal mission works, both home and foreign. We support the plan of work suggested each year by the RP Women s Synodical by praying for and supporvng financially our missionaries as well as other boards and organizavons, such as ReformaVon TranslaVon Fellowship, the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pibsburgh, PA and the Board to Address Disability Concerns. For many years, we have sponsored an Annual Rummage Sale each fall and donate the majority of proceeds to the Reformed Presbyterian Home for the Aged. We also support the work of the local Prison Chaplain Ministry by meevng two or three Vmes each year to prepare folders with paper and pens to be used in Bible classes and correspondence at a local women s prison. We seek to keep the congregavon aware of local ministries by bringing in speakers and/or providing literature about organizavons such as the Prison Ministry, the Gideons, a local pro life organizavon, Wycliffe, and Campus Crusade. In recent years, the congregavon has parvcipated in the annual Walk for Life (a pro life fund raising walk) around nearby Lake Eola. Our Junior group supported a Rwandan girl through World Vision for several years and currently supports a member of the military in Afghanistan through lebers and gims. 9

10 Our FaciliVes The Orlando RPC facilives consist of two buildings and a parking lot located on the corner of Broadway & Livingston Street in downtown Orlando. The locavon is in the heart of the city in the Lake Eola Heights historic district. The area is beauvful and provides opportunity for connecvons with the community. The main building is a two story building with the upper level containing the sanctuary, offices, a vesvbule with an adjacent nursery cry room and a restroom. To accommodate individuals with disabilives, there is an outside ramp leading to the sanctuary. The downstairs area consists of a newly remodeled fellowship hall and kitchen, restrooms, storage rooms, a lovely new library, and a children s recreavon room called The Fold. These areas are used for classes and fellowship on the Lord s Day, fellowship dinners, Tuesday morning women s Bible Study, Men s Breakfast meevngs, commibee meevngs, and social events during the year. The other building is what we call The Annex. It consists of classrooms, a nursery, storage areas and a restroom. The annex facilives are used for children s classes, youth group meevngs and acvvives, nursery, and child care during the Tuesday Women s Bible Study and on other occasions when child care is needed. 10

11 Our Community: Orlando City Profile Orlando is located in the central region of the state of Florida and is the 5 th largest city in the state. The Greater Orlando metropolitan area has a populavon of 2,100,000 while the city itself has 230,000 residents. The Orlando Reformed Presbyterian Church is located on the edge of the Eola Heights Historic District, with older residences surrounding it on the east, and major commercial office buildings, including the county courthouse to the west. Originally Orlando was the center of citrus and ranching in Florida, but is now an urban city with a variety of industries. The area is the 3 rd most visited American city and is the home to Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, and Disney World Resort and AbracVons. Although the Orlando economy relies heavily on tourism, it is home to a rapidly growing technology industry with more than 150 internavonal companies represenvng 20 different countries. The populavon of the Orlando is culturally, economically and socially diverse. Fimy seven percent of the populavon is white, 16% Hispanic and 26% black. There are 90,000 households in the city with 24% having children under age 18 and 9% over age 65 and living alone. The median family income is $41,000. The public educavonal system is administered by the Orange County Public School System and there are numerous private and ChrisVan schools in the area. Orlando is the home to the University of Central Florida, Valencia Community College and Florida A&M Law School. In addivon to these public insvtuvons, Orlando has two major Seminaries: Asbury Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. Orlando is also home to Campus Crusade for Christ, Ligonier Ministries and Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. 11