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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions other visitors have asked about First Church. If your question isn't one of them, please feel free to contact one of the persons listed at the end of this section.

Parking Directions: There are a number of parking lots and a parking garage available on Sunday morning and evening. Some are self evident when you approach the church or by posted signs. However, for your convenience, we would suggest looking at the large parking map located on the First Church Buildings page (PDF). That is a map of the entire First Church campus, showing all the buildings and the locations/times for Sunday Classes, Worship and other Sunday activities.

1. Where do I park? See the Parking Instructions above and/or visit the First Church Buildings page (PDF). On special occasion such as Easter, other parking areas can be available so revisit this page for updated information.
   
   
2. Where is the Nursery? Our nursery is located on the first floor of the Ledbetter Building, which is the building just behind the sanctuary. Our nursery staff cares for infants age 6 weeks through preschool age. Parents are given a pager that will vibrate if your child needs you, and all parents register with their children and are photographed to help keep everyone secure.
   
   
3. Who works in the Nursery? Our caring nursery staff are employed by our church. They all have been interviewed, have background checks, and have been hired because they enjoy working with our children! All staff also have updated infant and child CPR training. Several staff members are also teachers at our Wesley Child Development Center.
   
   
4. Where is the main entrance to the Church Sanctuary? The main entrance to the Sanctuary is under the Rotunda area off the Courtyard, on the Southwest corner of the Sanctuary building. It can be accessed by steps and ramp from Magnolia Ave. There are three other access doors, one on the Northwest side of the building and two at the East end of the Sanctuary. A good view of all the Sanctuary entrance ways can be seen at first church buildings. For a visual view of the Sanctuary click the Panoramic Tour icon on the right side bar of this web site's frong page.
   
   
5. What about bringing children to the Worship service? Children are always welcome in worship! Your child may enjoy a ‘busy bag,’ which is available at the front doors and has various coloring pages and crayons for your child to use. There are also pink drawing papers and pencils in each of the pews. Children ages 4-second grade may participate in Children’s Church during the 11:00 worship, which involves coming to the front and hearing a story during ‘children’s moment’ and then going with adult volunteers to participate in other child-centered learning and play activities. Children may be picked up after worship on the 2nd floor of theLedbetter building, which is the large white building behind the sanctuary. Also, the Nursery is available for younger children and you can be assured they will be loved and cared for while you worship.
   
   
6. I am not a United Methodist. What are the Christian beliefs of your church? For a comprehensive look at our beliefs I would suggest visiting one of our web pages dedicated to that subject at We Believe. In addition there is a separate page for our understanding of Baptism at UMC on Baptism. This extensive paper deals with our position on infant Baptism.
   
   
7. Since I am not a United Methodist, will I be able to participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion? We have what is called an "Open Table" approach to Holy Communion. A person does not have to be a United Methodist or a member of this particular church. We invite all who honestly are seeking the presence of Christ in their lives and desire to receive God's grace with an intention to lead a transformed life in God's world.
   
   
8. I am a Catholic. Can I participate in the worship of your church? Absolutely. We welcome all persons to worship, participate in the sacraments and in all activities of the church, regardless of religious affiliation, race, color or nationality. The United Methodist Church motto is "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors." Many Catholics have found a church home at First Church, sometimes through marriage to a non-Catholic, sometimes because they are have not been active in a church. However, we do not encourage anyone to leave a church in which they are active, but we welcome seekers who need a spiritual home with other Christians. As United Methodists we understand ourselves to be part of a "catholic" church, meaning the universal totality of Christendom.
   
   
9. I am not a Christian. Can I still attend worship at your church? Certainly. We know that the age we live in can be troublesome, confusing and heartbreaking. In times such as these it isn't unusual for persons to seek something deeper in life, something that offers hope, a sense of purpose and family. We worship an inviting God ready to heal the heart and transform life itself. We always stand ready to be part of God's work in peoples' lives, and being in worship is a wonderful place to begin.
   
   
10. Does your church have the typical "Sunday School" classes? We like to call it the "The Sunday Experience." There are classes for all ages with a number of choices for Children, youth and adults from young adults to seniors. I invite you to visit the "Sunday" Web Page at First Church on Sunday for brief descriptions and meeting places for these classes. We even have a class for shut-ins at home, using a conference call method.
    
    
11. Are there other opportunities for Bible study apart from Sunday? Yes, there are many. On Wednesday evenings there are a range of classes available following a fellowship dinner. An up-to-date list can be found at Wednesdays at First Church. Also, there are long-term studies which are part of the United Methodist Disciple Bible Study series and the Alpha Bible Study. You can look at a description of these at The Disciple Page and The Alpha Page respectively. These usually start in January and/or September on Wednesdays evenings, and occasionally there is one or more on Sunday afternoon depending on the demand. Shorter term studies occur on Wednesday evenings, early Tuesday and Thursday mornings. You can see these and other activities on the Church Calendar at First Church Calendar which really shows all the activities of the church and the Church Messenger (Newsletter) which gives upcoming events and news about the church.
    
    
12. How would I find information about becoming a member of First Church? About once a month we have a New Member Orientation class that gives information about our church, the meaning of church membership, the United Methodist Church, our church's mission, and the various activities and classes we offer here. You are welcome to attend a class just to learn more about us, or to join our church. After attending a New Member Orientation, joining involves professing faith in Christ and pledging to support His church with your prayers, presence, gifts, and service.
    
    Starting on August 17, newcomers and regular attendees will be welcomed at a Visitor Open House. They will meet our three pastors and their wives in our church parlor, immediately after the 11 a.m. Worship Service. While there, they will be introduced to a “Fellowship Friend,” an active member who will shepherd them through the process of becoming a part of our church family. Later, those who decide to become members will then attend three classes that will equip them to become active members of this congregation. Dr. Spencer and Reverend Gilmore will be teaching the classes and will hold them on Sunday mornings. The first class sessions will be offered on October 5th with additional sessions approximately once every quarter. Please contact Ava Newsome at 407-849-6080, or email her at ava@fumc-orl.org for information on upcoming classes
    
    
13. What kind of Ministries does your church offer? We not only offer ministries we encourage members and non-members alike to take part in ministries. There is always room for a person to share their spiritual gifts in the church and the community. In fact, we are convinced that being in ministry is a vital part of being a faithful Christian disciple. We invite you to look at two web sites which will give you a general view of the core ministries of First Church, and a more detailed list of ministry opportunities in which you can participate. These important sites are First Church Ministries and First Church Ministry Opportunities.
    
    
14. You mentioned sharing my spiritual gifts. What does that mean? We believe God has given every human being certain spiritual gifts to be used within the Christian community and in society. We also believe a person's gift (or gifts) has been given by God to be used, not to remain idle. Sometimes we don't think we actually have a spiritual gift, or we don't know how to discover what it is. The church periodically offers a class which will help you discover your gift. Once you do you will understand the difference between being the casual volunteer and the committed Disciple of Christ. Keep an eye on the Sunday Bulletin and Wednesday evening web page at Experience It Wednesdays for class schedules.
    
    
15. What opportunities are their in the church's music ministry? They are extensive and too many to list here.In the above "Worship & Music" menu you will get a good idea of just how diverse the Music offerings of First Church are. If you want to know more or want to participate in the Music Ministry, contact the Director of Music & Worship Arts, Bill Shortal at fumcomusic@fumc-orl.org or call him at 407-849-6080, ext. 138. The Web site also gives the schedule of musical events presented during the year.
    
    
16. Where would I find more information on the offerings for children and youth? Both of these core ministries have their own dedicated web pages. For children see The Children's Place; for youth see The Skylight. These sites (with links in the above menus) will give you up-to-date information on all activities and class schedules.
    
    
17. Is your church involved in mission work? Yes, we are very involved in local missions such as Harbor House, The Christian Service Center, the Coalition for the Homeless, Habitat-for-humanity and many others. In the national and foreign mission fields we generally do at least two adult and two youth missions a year. In the past few years, including 2004-2007, our missioners have traveled to Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala. Mexico, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. The mission work always includes both elements of sharing Christ and providing assistance with the physical needs of the people, including building, repair work and other projects. Beyond these regular missions, we have specialized missioners who have traveled to Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Kenya and other countries. In addition, the United Methodist Church is what is called a connectional church. This means we are "connected" with over 30,000 other congregations which pool resources to fund a worldwide missionary and disaster relief effort. Through this global effort we fund over 220 missionaries and a host of projects too many to list.
    
    
18. I am a Senior Citizen. Is there anything besides a Sunday class for me? Yes, on Friday mornings beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Skylight on the third floor of the Ledbetter Building, a group of persons 65 and over, called "Senior Friends," meets for fellowship, games, lunch ($2.00) and a program. The group often takes "field trips" in the church bus. Many non members from the downtown high-rise retirement centers take part in this program as well as our members. It is open to everyone. The church van travels to the downtown high-rises for those who wish to attend. Regarding the Sunday classes, there are several classes that a number of persons 65 and over participate in. There is also a unique telephone class for those unable to attend class for health reasons. It uses a conference call system so everyone can be on the line with the teacher at the same time.
    
    
19. How do you fund all of the ministries and programs of your church? Like most churches we have a budget that contains everything the church does and how much we plan to spend to do our work and do it well. Budgets are supported through the pledges of church members as well as regular participants in the worship and other events of the church. Once a year, usually in November, we have a Stewardship Campaign inviting everyone to share in the work of God in this community and beyond. Our understanding of Stewardship goes well beyond giving money. We understand that God calls every Christian to be a good steward of time, talents, as well as finances. This is why our members take a personal vow before God to support the church with their Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service
    
    
20. Who can I contact if I have other questions that are not on this page? You can contact the church office at 407-849-6080 or by email at fumco@fumc-orl.org, and ask to speak to someone who can answer the question. You can look at the Pastor/Staff web page to find a link to a member of our church staff who might answer your question or refer you to a church leader who can. Or you can email our Visitor Coordinator for more specific information.

page updated August 6, 2008
webmeister cstopford@cfl.rr.com