Ministry Menu
Descriptions of opportunities for ministry and service at FCCWP where …
We are all called to serve God in many ways, with many gifts. Serving one another with our time, energy and talents is a vital ministry, whether in Winter Park, around the nation or across the globe. First Congregational Church volunteer ministry opportunities offer ways for you to serve. Below is more information on each of these important ministries. Contact the church office at 407-647-2416 if you have any questions about the opportunities described below or have an interest in volunteering.
As part of our safe church program, all key volunteers working with children must undergo and pass a background check before being allowed to participate. Anyone driving children or youth for the church must pass a driver’s license screening.
Please use the following links to go directly to an area of interest to you or simply scroll down this page to view all available opportunities.
Adult Music, Choir and Bells
Carol, Children’s and Youth Choirs/Joyful Noise! Wednesdays
Christian Education
Diaconate
Membership Board
Board of Trustees
Outreach Board and Programs
Preschool Board
Jeremiah Programs/Gurtler Center
Office Volunteers
Coming ’08 and ’09
Adult Music, Choir and Bells
Music Committee Member Provides general leadership for the music program of the church in close cooperation with the Director of Music who is responsible for the daily operation and direction of the choirs and other church music organizations. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Music Committee, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Adult Chancel Choir Members The Chancel Choir at First Congregational Church of Winter Park is directed by Dr. John Sinclair, who is also the Director of Music at Rollins College and Director of the Bach Festival Choir. The Chancel Choir sings on most Sunday mornings during the academic year and is often accompanied by guest soloists and musicians. It meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. from late August through May for choir practice and warms up on Sundays prior to the 10:00 a.m. service of worship. New adult choir members are always welcome.
Chancel Bell Choir for youth 7th – 12th grade and adults interested in playing hand bells is directed by Larissa Hardesty. Rehearsal is Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and childcare is available.
Children's Bell Choir meets on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. for children who are interested in learning bell playing for the worship service. Sign up with Larissa Hardesty. Help with Bells is needed to set up and tear down bell tables for performances.
Carol, Children’s and Youth Choirs
Joyful Noise! Wednesdays
The children’s choirs always need assistance with many tasks, which help the children shine! Our Children and Youth Choir Director Molly Conole is the main contact for all choir ministry opportunities listed below.
Singers New singers in grades K-12 are always welcome for the three young choirs: Carol, Children’s and Youth.
Photographer / Videographer of Sunday choir performances.
Robes Once per year and as needed we need help with sizing and assigning robes on Sunday mornings when choirs sing. Robes are given out before church and returned to hangers when children leave the church.
Joyful Noise! Choir Party May ’08 Overall helpers are needed for the Choir Party along with supervisors and helpers for the water slide and several food booths.
Choir Registration Forms These need to be distributed, and collected at the beginning and end of each season.
Music Library The children’s music library needs someone to assist with cataloging.
Musicians and Instrumentalists are needed to accompany choirs.
Christian Education
Serve as Christian Education Board Member Plans and supervises the Sunday School and other educational activities of the church such as the All- Church Christmas Party, Easter Eggstravaganza, W.I.N.G.S., Jr. W.I.N.G.S., FledgeW.I.N.G.S., other family events, and adult education opportunities. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Board of Christian Education, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Background Checks All church members working with infants, children or youth must undergo background checks as part of our safe church program. All who wish to prepare to work in programs involving children in the future may undergo a background check in anticipation of that. All who drive youth must also undergo driver checks. Due to our safe church policy, there is a standard 6-month waiting period before a volunteer will be assigned a formal role working with children or youth.
Adult Christian Education Classes are offered most Sunday mornings during the academic year. Pastor Bryan Fulwider's Bible Study meets at 9:00 a.m. A book study led by Dr. Sherie Lindamood meets at 11:30 a.m. Contact the church office if you would like to volunteer to lead a Bible Study.
Joyful Noise! Wednesdays/Lenten Series Parents and other adults attend pottery classes, computer workshops, or discussion groups while children and youth engage in choir, liturgical dance and other activities. Contact the church office if you would like volunteer to lead a discussion group or workshop.
Vacation Bible School (VBS 2008: July 7 - July 11) The main contact for VBS is Director Kerry Weisner.
- Teachers and Aides are needed Childcare for teachers (4); PreK-4’s (4); K- Grade 1 (3); Grade 2 (4); Grade 3-4 (3); Grade 5-6 (3); Crafts Leaders (5);
- Special Projects Coordinators Registrar, Communications, Photographer, Technical Support, 100 VBS music CD’s, Music Leader, Snacks (5); Purchasing, Missions; Skit Coordinator; Set-up (8); and breakdown (8); Teacher Breakfast (4); VBS Volunteer Thank You Luncheon (4); and special final event
Sunday School Assistant Teacher Team up with one of our Lead Teachers to help with Sunday School.
W.I.N.G.S. Meals Prepare and serve a meal on a Sunday evening to our W.I.N.G.S. youth group. The meal is a very important part of this program.
W.I.N.G.Nuts A W.I.N.G.Nut is an adult volunteer leader assistant for the youth group.
Liturgical Dance Assistants Assist Rev. Talia Raymond teach liturgical dance to children and youth.
Summer Youth Mission Experience: Assist the youth in planning and fund raising for the annual mission trip. Help is also needed in these areas:
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Car Park during the 48th Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival from March 16-18, 2007
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Computer record keeping for the mission trip i.e. health forms, registration forms, etc.
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Shareholder Dinner Coordinator
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Recruiting Shareholders with the youth
Assist with Jr. W.I.N.G.S.: Assist Kerry Weisner, our Jr. W.I.N.G.S. Coordinator, with planning and chaperoning events for this program.
Assist with FledgeW.I.N.G.S: Assist Kerry Weisner, our FledgeW.I.N.G.S. Coordinator, with planning and chaperoning events for this program.
Diaconate
Serve on the Diaconate Board The ministers' "cabinet." Acts in an advisory capacity and serves as assistants to the ministers in the administration and maintenance of the spiritual life of the church. Duties revolve primarily around worship, planning and serving communion, planning special services, coordinating ushers and greeters, and lay care-giving and flower delivery. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Diaconate Board, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Diaconate Ministry Opportunities
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Lay Care-Givers
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Meals for Sick Members
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Funeral Receptions
Flower Guild This ministry is accomplished by teams who purchase and arrange flowers for worship and special holidays. Teams rotate months. Special help is needed for:
Men’s Group -- Host or plan a group event.
Serve on the Board of Membership Develops ways and means for the general attraction, cultivation, hospitality, orientation, and assimilation of new members. Conserves the membership through maintenance, inspiration and activation of the potential of all members. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Membership Board, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Extravagant Welcome Committee of the Membership Board It takes a friendly congregation to plan for and offer an extravagant welcome to visitors. Greet our visitors and help new members get to know others in our large congregation. There are many different roles to play. You may volunteer once a month or once a quarter in this on-site ministry to guests and visitors. It is fun and a great way to get to know others, especially if you are new to this church.
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Comma Crew Be a friend for a year
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Extravagant Welcome Rove during fellowship hour and greet our guests
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Welcome Table Staff this table on Sunday mornings following church
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“Pride Item” Table Help with the sale of FCCWP “pride item” after church
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Door Step Visitors
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Parking Lot Umbrella Ushers
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Singles Group Help start up a new singles group scheduled to kick-off in early 2008.
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Coffee/juice Servers Sunday mornings
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Visitors Phone Follow-up
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Membership Conversation Luncheon Volunteers are needed to order and set up lunch for new members.
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Membership Sunday Morning Volunteer
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New Member Packet Assembly
New Member Dinner Host Host a new member dinner. These dinners help new and prospective members become acquainted with our church, what we believe and what we do.
Publicity We need people who would like to serve as a church reporter, photographer, and make videos/DVD of our church for communication purposes and write articles for the newspaper.
Board of Trustees
Serve on the Board of Trustees Administrate the business affairs and policies of the church from property and finances to budgets and investments. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Board of Trustees, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Investment Committee This is a committee of the Trustees and is set by the Trustees. Establishes the investment guidelines, monitors investment policy, recommends spending policy, and is an advisory committee to the Trustees.
Stewardship Committee Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and evaluates all aspects of Christian Stewardship. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Stewardship Committee, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Staff Relations Committee Encourages effective leadership between staff and the congregation. The committee provides a framework so that conflict might be addressed promptly and creatively. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Staff Relations Committee, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Building and Grounds Committee Help on a regular basis with the upkeep of the church facilities. Many projects are planned. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Building and Grounds Committee, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Volunteers Needed We need your help on specific weekends and some evenings throughout the year for:
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Landscaping
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Light Carpentry
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Painting
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Pressure Washing
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Tell us your skills
Members assist the ministers in providing the congregation with information concerning the national and international missions of the church and to bring the motives and insight of the Christian faith to bear upon the critical social, economic and political problems of our time. The board seeks to relate the church to organized agencies of the community. The board allocates and distributes an annual benevolent budget. By signing up as potential nominee to serve on the Outreach Board, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Terms begin in February of the following year. There are six open slots each year on the Board of Christian Outreach, and some unfilled terms.
Social Justice Committee (SJC) Member The SJC is an informal committee of the Outreach Board and is comprised of concerned citizens associated with First Congregational Church of Winter Park. The SJC seeks ways within our community, from local to world, to bring awareness and lend support to a myriad of causes that will help our world become a more humane, environmentally responsible, sustainable, economically equitable, socially just and loving place.
SJC Yahoo Group The committee communicates regarding issues through a Yahoo! email group. Registration is required to receive information through the Yahoo group. Several sub-committees and projects of this committee are listed below.
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Fair Trade Coffee Sales Fair Trade coffee, tea and other products are available for on Sunday mornings after church. You may help -- sign up by dropping by the coffee table any Sunday. The coffee is offered at cost in support of farmers.
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Environmental Concerns Volunteers are needed to take this fledgling program to the next step. The purpose of the program is to recycle church waste and lead the church in a "keep it green" initiative. We need people to manage the church recycle bins located in Fellowship Hall, and move with an overall plan to be good stewards of God’s gifts. Open and Affirming (ONA) Committee This is an informal sub-committee of the SJC. Newly forming, this committee will study and explore our church becoming an Open and Affirming Church according to United Church of Christ guidelines in the coming years.
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South Africa Student Committee Working through Global Missions, the UCCSA, and Rollins College, our congregation welcomed Lindinhlanhla Mngadi (pronounced Lindi—n-hlan-hla), an international student from the Republic of South Africa, on August 10, 2007. "Lindi" is part of our congregation and will spend four years as a student of Rollins College where he received a four-year scholarship. He is living at Rollins for four years we have the opportunity to get to know Lindi and learn from him. Lindi is going to help with our W.I.N.G.S. youth program.
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South Africa Mission TripThis mission trip is being planned for 2009 and will include adults and families. All youth participating must be accompanied by a legal guardian and be 10 years of age. There is much to do in terms of coordination and fund raising.
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Foster Care Ministry: Foster care kits help youth aging out of the foster care system upon reaching their 18th birthday to begin life on their own. Items are collected at specified times of year and kits are made that are given to the Foster Care Transitions Project for distribution. Sally is setting up a central website where former and current youth can go for needed information. She is spearheading a Thanksgiving Day gathering, with feast and movie for older foster care youth at our church. Email LafinPlace@aol.com to volunteer.
Habitat for Humanity Orlando’s Family Support Committee The Family Support Committee is a guide for the partner families through the “sweat equity” and through the first year in their new home. There is a bond created between the committee member and the families, used as support and a friend, to keep the family on track and a resource for the family through this time of change. Committee members are needed. The group currently meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with a separately scheduled meeting with an individual family for a total of three or more hours per month.
FreshStart We need helpers on the 20th of each month to heat and serve dinner for men at FreshStart, a residential alcohol and drug rehab program, located at the Christian Service Center in Orlando. The meal is pre-prepared every month and is oven ready. Responsibilities include putting the food in the oven, adding vegetables later, delivering the food with 4-5 other volunteers to FreshStart at the Christian Service Center by 6:30 p.m. The group dines with the men, cleans-up, returns to the church and finishes kitchen tasks at the church.
Winter Park Family & Emergency Services (WPFES) of the Christian Service Center FCCWP has a weekly food donation program called “Little Dab. Everyone is invited bring canned and packaged food to share. The food is then delivered to the local food pantry. Hands are needed every week to deliver donated food to WPFES located near the police station in Winter Park. A strong back is required to load your car with donations the church and deliver it to WPFES during their hours of operation.
Daily Bread Each year the church coordinates serving a noon meal for a week at the Daily Bread “soup kitchen” in Orlando. Volunteers for the Soup Kitchen arrive at Daily Bread, assist with last minute lunch preparations and serve lunch for over 100 people. This event will take place the week of Spring Break, March 31-April 4, 2008.
“Into Africa” Gala & Silent Auction First Congregational Church of Winter Park is planning an exciting and evocative event as part of our Mission Outreach program to send aid and support to South Africa in 2009. This exotic evening gala and auction can only take place with YOUR help. We need YOU in so many ways. Our exotic evening will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2008. This is a relatively short-term commitment on your part, less than six months. But it’s Long on Fun. Wear a different hat than you usually do. Be creative or administrative, or sell like you’ve never sold before.
Take on whatever opportunity appeals to you, just so long as you participate. Loan us your skills and talent for as much or as little time as you like, just take part. You won’t be working alone; you’ll be part of the Gala Committee!
Supports the Weekday Preschool faculty and administration, oversees budget, and establishes policy. By submitting your name as a potential nominee to serve on the Preschool Board, you are making your name available to the Nominating Committee that meets in December to propose a slate for the coming year. Nominees are contacted to confirm nomination. Terms begin in February of the following year.
Preschool Opportunities
- Carpentry – projects may include minor repairs, light maintenance, assembling or repairing classroom equipment, building or installing closet organization systems, etc.
- Supply Closet Organization – projects may include organizing supply closets, etc.
- Library – projects may include shelving books, cataloging books, organizing music (CDs, tapes, and records)
- Landscaping – projects may include removal and replacement of mulch and/or sand in playground areas, minor trimming of trees, etc.
Jeremiah Programs Volunteer opportunities are available in the pottery room, drama room and computer room for the Jeremiah Project and Jeremiah Summer Camp programs.
Pottery Studio Volunteers in the pottery studio help with hand-building and wheel throwing projects working with at-risk middle school aged students from Eatonville and the West side of Winter Park.
Computer Room Volunteers in the Computer Room help individual students during classes in digital imaging, increase their knowledge of Internet search engines, educational web sites, digital photography and image manipulation.
Improvisational Drama Teach improvisational Drama techniques that increase students’ ability to think and act on their feet under pressure while having fun and learning to listen to others. Volunteer assistants are needed who have expertise and college level drama.
Jeremiah Marketing We also need help producing and publishing brochures, flyers and other promotional materials.
Jeremiah Snacks Feed the hungry students. Prepare and serve a mid-class snack to the students. Provide snacks weekly on Wednesday afternoons and/or during the month of June.
Train and volunteer on an as needed basis in the church office. Office volunteer opportunities include:
- Answering Phones
- Assisting with Mailings
- Collate the weekly Bulletin
- Filing
- Shredding
- Attendance Data Entry (weekly)
Walk Through Bethlehem 2008: Walk Through Bethlehem is conducted in December of even numbered years. Volunteers serve as "players" in vignettes, set-up, clean up, costuming, set/prop repair and construction. A Master Coordinator is needed. Preparation begins in September. Hundreds from the community come to visit this scene of scripture come alive.
All-Church Retreat 2009: The All-Church Retreat takes place in early spring in odd numbered years. Great fun for all ages, the All-Church Retreat requires large numbers of volunteers to plan and execute programs for the event. This event and the Silent Auction Mission Fundraiser are held in opposite years.
Winter Park Christmas Parade Float December 2009: A Christmas themed float is entered in the City of Winter Park annual Christmas Parade in odd numbered years. Volunteers plan, construct and deconstruct the float, costuming, etc. We also need a truck and trailer to take into and out of the parade.
