What's Happening: FCCWP July 2026 Newsletter
- Shanylah Whittaker
- 2 hours ago
- 11 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
July 22nd, @ FCCWP 10am - 12pm
Our FCCWP Family Continues to Grow
A Message from the Board of Membership
Welcome to July!
The Board of Membership has been enjoying a productive season of meeting together and serving our church community. We are grateful for a dedicated team that shares a passion for helping people connect, build relationships, and feel at home at First Congregational.
Recently, we gathered for Lunch Bunch, where 22 people enjoyed brunch at The Imperial. Sharing a meal, catching up with friends, and welcoming new faces made for a wonderful afternoon. Moments like these remind us of the many ways God continues to strengthen and nurture our church family.
While summer often brings a slower pace, we have been encouraged by the number of visitors seeking a church home. Many tell us they found First Congregational while searching online for a congregation that is welcoming, inclusive, engaged with the world around it, and committed to both faith and community. We are grateful that so many people are discovering the warmth and spirit of our church.
As summer continues, we encourage everyone to stay connected whenever possible. Whether you are attending worship, participating in a church activity, or simply sharing conversation before or after a service, your presence helps create the welcoming atmosphere that makes our church so special. A friendly greeting, an invitation to coffee, or a simple conversation can make a lasting difference for someone who is new.
We wish you a joyful, safe, and blessed summer and look forward to seeing you throughout the season.
The Board of Membership
Have you ever thought about teaching
Sunday school?
*schedule is flexible
*curriculum and guidance provided
*children and youth are so much fun
*Sunday school provides a safe, loving space for youth and children to ask questions and begin their own journey.
July 5th - ALL Children WILL STAY IN CHURCH FOR
COMMUNION SUNDAY - Fun bags for all.
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.
Backpack Drive!
It’s time for our congregation to help gather school supplies and prepare backpacks for Family Promise’s Back to School Bash. Watch your email for more information. All donations must be received by July 19th. Backpacks will be distributed on Saturday, July 25th. For more info directly from Family Promise Click here
We Did It!
Many thanks for your generous summer donations. We’ve collected hundreds of children’s books to support Fly Into A Book’s quest to support literacy throughout the summer, and we were able to fund a week of special summer housing for 4 families in need. Our congregation does not disappoint!
A special thank you goes out to Steve Hoel and the Winter Park Pride Project for the informative talk and the festive swag celebrating Pride month (See pictures above.).
More Ways To Help
We 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 SIGN UP HERE
The Stewardship Committee
Welcome to July! We hope you are enjoying your summer and any travel and family time you get to experience.
As we enjoy these summer months, we invite you to remember your financial commitment to FCCWP and stay current with your pledge whenever possible. Thanks to your faithful generosity, our church has experienced a tremendous first half of the year, supporting worship, ministries, outreach, and the many ways we serve our community. We are grateful for your continued support as we work together to keep that momentum strong.
The Stewardship Team will be meeting this summer as we look ahead and plan for the future. We welcome new voices and ideas and would love to have additional members join us. If you are interested in learning more about stewardship or serving on the team, please contact the church office.
Thank you for all the ways you support the life and ministry of our church.
We wish you a joyful and refreshing summer season!
The Stewardship Team
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 Summer!
We have two fun opportunities to gather together in July, and we hope you'll be able to join us for at least one. Whether you'd like to get creative, enjoy good conversation, or simply spend time with friends, we'd love to see you there.
Please RSVP by replying to Lisa Rotenberger.
1. Summer Social – Thursday, July 9 | 1:30–3:00 PM
Join us at Matilanz Giftery, located at 5474 Lake Howell Road, Winter Park.
Lando, the shop owner and a friend of Lisa's, has graciously offered to host us for an afternoon of creativity and fellowship. We will be making adorable crochet hearts (pictured above), and all supplies and instruction will be provided at no cost.
No crafting experience is needed! Even if you'd rather not make a heart, Matilanz Giftery is a beautiful and unique space to explore, shop, and enjoy time with friends. Come for the conversation, stay for the fun!
2. Coffee Pop-Up – Thursday, July 23 | 5:00 PM
Join us at Haraz Coffee House on Lee Road for an evening of coffee, conversation, and connection.
Haraz Coffee House celebrates Yemeni coffee culture and offers a wonderful selection of coffees, teas, specialty drinks, and delicious baked goods and desserts. If you haven't visited before, you're in for a treat!
Whether you're a regular at Come Alive! or joining us for the first time, all women are welcome. Feel free to invite a friend.
We look forward to spending time together this summer!
Warmly,
Lisa and Kathryn
Wuz Happenin' with the Spirit Keepers?
Summer is officially here, and with temperatures climbing faster than a teenager's grocery bill, the Spirit Keepers have adopted a simple strategy: stay cool, stay connected, and stay fed.
Our June TRIPLE T gathering landed at 4 Rivers, where a diverse crew of rock stars, clergy, teachers, engineers, car buffs, authors, general contractors, and travel agents gathered around the table. The barbecue was excellent, but the conversations were even better. Where else can you get advice on home repairs, vacation destinations, classic cars, and theology all before dessert?
For July, we'll continue our annual "Beat the Heat" tour by finding another casual indoor spot to enjoy good food and even better fellowship. When it comes to TRIPLE T, we firmly believe in the KISK principle: Keep It Simple, Spirit Keepers.
No agendas. No speeches. No fundraising. Just good food, great friends, and plenty of laughs.
Hope to see you at the table!
We’d love to see your smiling/hangry face at the next one! If you’re not getting our event emails and want in on the fun, just shoot me a message at w.martinwareing@gmail.com or text 407-383-0190.
Life is Sweet at FCCWP!
See you soon. And until then— Strength and Courage to Carry the Light,
Marty Wareing
Elizabeth Hooker Book Club
Elizabeth Hooker Book Club-July 2026 Update:
We had a great meeting in May when we gathered to discuss “Framed” by John Grisham and Jim McClusky. Thank you to all who attended!
We are not meeting in June and July for our summer break. We will gather again on August 23, to discuss “The Book of Lost Names” by Kristen Harmel with David and Lisa Rotenberger leading.
“Inspired by true stories from WWII, a young Jewish woman who flees Paris with her mother after the arrest of her father finds herself committing to a forgery ring whose primary goal is to create documents that will help hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis. The story is told in dual timelines from the present-day perspective of Eva who is a semi-retired librarian living in Florida and the young Eva as she flees Paris and joins an underground forgery operation in a small mountain town near the Switzerland border. The Book of Lost Names becomes an important link between the two timelines.”
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!
Prayer Shawl Ministry At FCCWP
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry will be on hiatus until September.
We will not be meeting in person in July and 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.
LIVE STREAMING OF CHURCH SERVICES
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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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