What's Happening: FCCWP August 2026 Newsletter
- Shanylah Whittaker
- 9 hours ago
- 13 min read
This class is hybrid so you may attend in person (in the Conference Room) or via Zoom.
225 S. Interlachen Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
Office: 407-647-2416
Mobile: 321-333-0092
FCCWP TREE OF LIFE
New Leaves Sprout on the FCCWP Tree of Life
Seven new leaves have been added to the FCCWP Tree of Life - the church’s display celebrating those who have joined the Legacy Society by making a bequest to the church. The Tree is on the wall in the alcove of Fellowship Hall (look up when you are getting coffee on Sundays).
The new leaves represent the following people:
1. Roger Sell
2. W.C.and Nancy Wiese
3. Libby Ward
4. John and Laurie Houck
5. Martin and Amy Wareing
6. Jim and Jeanette Schreiber
7. Naan Ling Lung
YOU can join the FCCWP Legacy Society simply by making arrangements for a bequest and notifying the church office - no details required! Pick up the FCCWP Legacy pamphlet in the church office to learn more about the Society and how to make a bequest or a life gift to FCCWP. Your gift will endure long beyond our generation!
Staff Summer Connections & Welcome to Raul!
This summer, we are excited to officially welcome Raul to the FCCWP staff as our new Sexton! Raul has already jumped in with a warm smile and helping hands, and we hope you’ll take a moment to introduce yourself and say hello during Coffee Hour on Sunday mornings. We are so glad to have him as part of our church family!
As we head into the summer season, we also wanted to share a quick reminder of our church office staff and how we can best help you:
For calendar reservations, bulletin announcements, facility scheduling, or general church office questions, please contact Megan Taylor at mtaylor@fccwp.org.
For all things financial, including giving statements, pledges, and payments, Jacki Churchill can assist you at jchurchill@fccwp.org.
Questions about children, youth, family events, Sunday School, or Faith Formation programming can be directed to Kerry Weisner at sunshineday365@aol.com.
Pastoral care, worship, spiritual support, and church leadership questions can be directed to Rev. Shawn Garvey at revgarvey@me.com.
We are grateful for this wonderful church family and look forward to all that summer will bring at First Congregational Church of Winter Park!
Connections a group for women who have lost a spouse, living alone, caregivers or just feel like you need to connect.
Join us the 4th WEDNESDAY of each month
August 26th, @ FCCWP 10am - 12pm
Our FCCWP Family Continues to Grow
A Message from the Board of Membership
Welcome to August!
A Place to Belong, A Community to Call Your Own
One of the great joys of our church is the people who walk through our doors. Some come for a season, some are still exploring what it means to be part of a faith community, and some may not yet be thinking about becoming members—and that's okay! We hope that wherever you are on your journey, you feel welcomed, encouraged, and at home among us. We are grateful for your presence and for the joy you bring to our church community.
At the same time, there is something special about choosing to become a member. It is a commitment to this community and a way to say that you are proud to be part of the life and future of our church. It opens the door to deeper connections, opportunities to serve, grow, worship, and build relationships with others. When we join together, we send a message that we believe in this community and want to help our church prosper and continue its mission for years to come.
We are excited to share that we have a brochure highlighting the many ways to get involved at FCCWP—from boards and committees to fellowship, and other opportunities to connect. We will be giving this brochure to those who attend our New Member Conversation. If you know someone who has been attending and might enjoy learning more about the many ways to become involved, please reach out to us. We would be happy to provide a copy for you to share with them.
New Member Conversation
Sunday, August 16 | After Church | The Parlor
If you have been wondering about membership, want to learn more about FCCWP, or simply want to explore how you might become more connected, we invite you to join us for a relaxed conversation in the Parlor following worship. There is no obligation—just an opportunity to ask questions, meet others, and learn more about what it means to be part of our church family.
New Member Sunday
Sunday, September 13 | Kick-Off Sunday
We look forward to welcoming and celebrating our newest members during our Kick-Off Sunday celebration!
And remember, associate membership is also an option for those who are active members of another church—whether that church is here in our area or in another community. Associate membership allows you to become more connected to the life of FCCWP while maintaining your membership in another congregation.
Whether you are simply visiting, finding your way into deeper involvement, or ready to say, "I'd like to join," there is a place for you here. We are grateful for everyone who helps make FCCWP the vibrant, welcoming, and caring community it is—and we hope you'll find your place among us.
The Board of Membership
The Board of Education & Fellowship invite you to an Intergenerational Summer Fellowship night.
August 2nd - ALL Children WILL STAY IN CHURCH FOR
COMMUNION SUNDAY - Fun bags for all.
August 9th - All ages ~ SUNDAY SCHOOL WATER DAY!!!! Come to church ready for water fun during Sunday school.
August 9th - Youth rising 6th grade - graduated youth before you leave for college!
Water Day just for you!
Watch your emails or contact Kerry
Save the Date ~ Youth Group night Kick-Off Sept. 13th
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
I hope you are having a relaxing and restorative summer, with more time to enjoy your families. Summer is a time when things slow down, including Neighborhood Groups! A few groups have been doing some low key activities.
If your group hasn’t gotten together, and you’d like to, call or text your group leader with an idea and offer to help! The leaders are really happy to hear new ideas! Don’t forget to put FCCWP on the subject line, so your leader isn’t afraid to open your text or email.
I have deleted texts and wondered if I was deleting a legitimate text. If you need something, contact me, Jane White- 407-637-1958. I’ll do my best to help.
Know Your Voter Rights! |
On August 30, join the Outreach & Social Justice Board after the service for a presentation on voting rights and recent changes to voting practices in Florida. We’ll have volunteers available to help you check your registration status and answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the upcoming primary elections is August 6th by 5pm. To request a mail ballot: Click for Orange County or Click for Seminole County We Did It! Many thanks for your help gathering school supplies and backpacks to support Family Promise’s 7th Annual Back to School Bash. Local families were able to gather supplies and information about community resources to help students start the school year ready to succeed. More Ways To Help We always need volunteers to help prepare and deliver meals to the homeless families staying at Family Promise. For more details, contact Cara Dobrev, cmhallmon@gmail.com |
The Stewardship Committee
Stewardship: We All Have a Part to Play
It’s that time of year again! As we prepare for our 2026 Stewardship Giving Campaign, beginning September 13, we want to take a moment to reflect on what stewardship really means—and why it matters to all of us.
Stewardship is about more than simply giving money. It is about sharing our time, talents, resources, and hearts to help our church thrive and to support the work we do together in our community and beyond.
Each year, we hold a Stewardship Giving Campaign because we are a church that operates with a balanced budget. We are not part of a denomination with a “mother ship” providing financial support. Everything we do—from worship and ministry to outreach and keeping the lights on—is made possible by the generosity of our church family.
This year, we hope to see 100% participation in pledging. Your pledge does not have to be a large amount. If you aren't sure what you will be able to give, you can always start with a faith promise and fulfill it with more later. Every pledge matters, and every amount is welcome. Even a $1 pledge is a meaningful way to say, I am part of this. I believe in this church, and I want to help it continue to grow.
We invite you to take some time between now and September 13 to prayerfully consider what you would like to contribute in the coming year. Then, on September 13, we will gather to share this year's theme, our shared goals, and all the exciting things we have planned.
We can't wait to show you what we've got in store!
Together, we are the stewards of this special place—and together, we make our possibilities a reality.
Lil' Dab
FCCWP supports Ward Chapel and its food pantry which helps to feed our neighborhood families. Your donations to our Lil' Dab Box are sorely needed, especially while school is back in session. Please consider bringing in non-perishable food items and placing them in the box in Fellowship Hall. Don't forget that BOGOs at your favorite grocery store are perfect opportunities to stretch your donation dollars! Thank you!
Please no perishables.
Please check and make sure all food items are in date! (no expired food items, please)
THE CARING COOKS
The Caring Cooks: Serving with Love in Times of Loss
The Caring Cooks is a compassionate ministry dedicated to supporting families during one of life’s most difficult times—the loss of a loved one. This faithful team lovingly prepares, serves, and cleans up after receptions following church member funerals, offering hospitality and comfort at no cost to the family.
To help continue this important ministry, we invite you to support The Caring Cooks by donating toward supplies such as food, tablecloths, plates, cutlery, and more. Your gift ensures that we can keep showing up with love, warmth, and a good meal when it’s needed most.
Want to join the team?
We’re always looking for more helping hands! If you’d like to be part of this meaningful ministry, please contact Barb Brostrom at bjbrostrom@cfl.rr.com.
Thank you for helping us care through cooking.
Hello Come Alive! Friends,
Happy August!
What a fun summer we've had! We have loved gathering together at Matilanz Giftery, Haraz Coffee House, and here at church. Each event has given us another opportunity to connect, make new friends, and enjoy time together.
We were also proud to support the Board of Outreach's backpack drive with Family Promise. Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make this effort such a success. It is wonderful to see the Come Alive! community supporting our church and our wider community in so many ways.
This is an event reminder for this Thursday evening, July 30th (6:30-8:30) for Christmas in July led by Cari Rotenberger. This is a free event. All supplies are ready and all are welcome. Please RSVP to this email so that we can set the room up for the correct number of guests. Also, feel free to bring refreshments if you'd like! I know a couple of you have replied that you are bringing a few things.
As we look ahead to the fall and holiday season, mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
🍫 1. Come Alive! Kickoff Sunday Table
Sunday, September 13 | After Church
Stop by our Come Alive! table after church for a little chocolate treat and a sneak peek at what's coming up! We'll have information about our upcoming gatherings and events.
Start thinking now about a friend you'd like to invite to join you. We'd love to welcome new faces and introduce them to the fun and fellowship of Come Alive!
🍕 2. Pizzamore in Mount Dora
Saturday, September 19 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Join us at Pizzamore in Mount Dora for an afternoon of pizza, good food, and time together. After lunch, plan to explore charming Mount Dora with friends—browse the shops, enjoy the town, or simply spend some time visiting together.
This will be a self-pay event, and carpooling is encouraged.
🎭
🎭 3. Winter Park Playhouse
Saturday, December 5 | 2:00 PM | Tickets: $46
Join us at the newly renovated Winter Park Playhouse for a special afternoon together! We'll enjoy a performance of A Christmas Survival Guide and the opportunity to relax and enjoy the show together.
More details about purchasing tickets will be shared soon, so mark your calendars now!
Whether you're a regular at Come Alive! or joining us for the first time, all women are welcome. And as always, feel free to invite a friend!
We look forward to spending time together and making more wonderful memories in the months ahead!
The Come Alive! Leadership Team
Lisa and Kathryn
Wuz Happenin' with the Spirit Keepers?
Whew... summer in Florida has us all moving about as fast as butter sliding off a hot biscuit! Our Spirit Keepers' game plan is pretty simple: Stay Cool. Stay Connected. Stay Fed.
Our July TRIPLE T (Third Tuesday Table) found us hanging out at Lazy Moon, where we caught up with our summer travels, and a few professional storytellers gathered around the table. The pizza was mighty fine, but the fellowship was even better! Where else can you solve a plumbing problem, plan your next vacation, debate the best fishing hole, and discuss Scripture—all before dessert arrives?
This August we'll continue our annual "Beat the Heat Tour" by finding another cool indoor spot where the A/C is strong, the food is good, and the laughter is contagious.
Around here we live by the KISK Principle: Keep It Simple, Spirit Keepers.
No agendas. No speeches. No fundraising. Just good food, great friends, and enough laughter to make the calories disappear... well, almost.
We'd love to see your smiling (or slightly hangry) face at the next TRIPLE T! If you're not receiving our monthly invitations and want to join the fun, send me a note at w.martinwareing@gmail.com or text 407-383-0190.
Life is Sweet at FCCWP!
See y'all soon!
Strength and Courage to Carry the Light,
Marty Wareing
Elizabeth Hooker Book Club
Elizabeth Hooker Book Club-August 2026 Update:
I hope you’re enjoying the long, HOT summer and have great vacation memories to share when we gather again to discuss “The Book of Lost Names” by Kristen Harmel on August 23, with David and Lisa Rotenberger leading.
“The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel is a dual-timeline historical novel that follows Eva Traube Abrams, a librarian who discovers a looted WWII religious text in Berlin that she helped encode decades prior. The story flashes back to 1943 Nazi-occupied France, where Eva worked as a brilliant document forger, secretly recording the true and fake identities of hundreds of smuggled Jewish children in the book.
The Two Timelines:
· Present Day (Florida & Berlin): 80-something Eva is a semi-retired librarian who sees a magazine article featuring an 18th-century religious text looted during the war. The book has baffled researchers with a mysterious code inside its pages. Recognizing it as The Book of Lost Names, she flies to Berlin to help unlock its secrets and potentially reunite survivors with their true identities.
· The Past (Paris & Aurignon): In 1942, after her Polish-Jewish father is arrested, Eva flees Paris for the mountains with her mother. There, she is recruited by the French Resistance to forge baptismal and identity papers for hundreds of Jewish children being smuggled to neutral Switzerland.
All are welcome to attend our meetings, and regular attendance is not required. We meet in the Parlor on the fourth Sunday at 6:30 pm every month (except June/July summer break and December holidays). Please call (407) 832-0348 or e-mail abwareing@gmail.com to be added to our list. I hope to see you there!
abwareing@gmail.com to be added to our list. I hope to see you there!
Prayer Shawl Ministry At FCCWP
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is on hiatus until September.
We will not be meeting in person in August.
Our next gathering in person will be Monday, September 21.
You are encouraged to continue working on your prayer shawls at home
and bring completed shawls to the church office
during daily church office hours or on Sunday mornings.
Please attach a note with your name on it so we know who created the shawl.
Thank you!
Questions: contact donnaborko@gmail.com
Donna Borko, Prayer Shawl Ministry Coordinator
Church Calendar
Hello Church members! I want to ensure that all events are scheduled smoothly and efficiently. To help me manage our facilities and avoid any scheduling conflicts, please remember to contact the church office before planning any events in the church’s
rooms.
Due to the nature of some private events, not all reservations are listed on our public calendar. By reaching out to the office first, you can ensure that your event is properly booked and avoid any potential conflicts with other activities.
To schedule an event or book a space at the church, please contact the church office: Phone: 407-647-2416
Email: mtaylor@fccwp.org
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping us keep our scheduling organized and efficient. We appreciate your cooperation!
Warm Regards,
Megan Taylor
Church Office Administrator
The Visitation Committee
Visitation Committee: Reaching Out with Love and Care
At the heart of our church is a deep commitment to caring for one another. The Visitation Committee lovingly connects with members who may be going through difficult times—whether they’re in the hospital, grieving, or unable to attend church.
If you know someone who could use a visit, a call, or a kind word of encouragement, please let Megan (mtaylor@fccwp.com), or Sally Schott, Chair of the Visitation Committee (sarahpschott@yahoo.com), know.
Together, we can make sure every member of our church family feels seen, supported, and surrounded by love.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4
"Praise be to the God… who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
Ways to Volunteer: Click Here
What more can you do?
I will do more than belong – I will participate.
I will do more than care – I will help.
I will do more than believe – I will trust.
I will do more than dream – I will work.
I will do more than teach – I will inspire.
I will do more than earn – I will enrich.
I will do more than give – I will serve.
I will do more than live – I will grow.
I will do more than be friendly – I will be a friend.
I will do more than talk – I will listen.
I will do more.
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Acolyte Ministry
Please sign up for Acolyte service. You can Call Jenni Franz at 407-810-2261 or:
All active FCCWP Members are invited to join the Facebook page titled Member Group of the First Congregational (UCC) of Winter Park.
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Please note that if you unsubscribe to any Constant Contact emails from FCCWP you are unsubscribing from all emails from the church. For example, if you receive an email from Family Ministries that no longer applies to you and you no longer wish to receive, please call the church office to have your name removed from that particular list. If you unsubscribe to Family Ministries (or any other group), you are removed from all lists, including the What's Happening newsletters. Best to just delete the email that doesn't interest you.
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