First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

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Orlando, Florida ● Presbyterian (EPC) ● 08:30am, 09:30am, 09:45am, 11:00am

About Us

We are a covenant community, making disciples who light the world.

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando has been a staple of downtown Orlando for over 135 years. Surviving fires, hurricanes and the changing winds of time, the church continues to grow and serve the surrounding community.

In the summer of 2004, the church called its 16th Senior Pastor, Dr. David D. Swanson, from the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Ft. Myers, Florida. Dr. Swanson began his ministry in September of that year.

Following 30+ years of participation in renewal efforts in the Presbyterian Church (USA), in 2010 the Session and congregation began an 18-month discernment process for a new denominational home. In 2012 the congregation voted to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), with Presbytery concurrence, due to the shared Essential Tenets of Faith and clear theological center the EPC provided. The denomination provides an accountable, connectional home for First Presbyterian Church that is evangelical in outlook, Presbyterian in governance, Reformed in theology, and Missional in methodology.

First Pres has no intention of slowing down. The congregation has a passion for ministry and a vision for the future.

Vibe: Casual, Traditional Liturgy, Downtown, Friendly, Historic, Multigenerational, Young, Young families, Lots of kids

Programs: Community Service, Social Justice, Faith and Work, Young Adults, Youth Group, Choir, Missions, Nursery, Adult Education, Daycare, Preschool, School, Seniors Ministry, Children's Ministry

Music: Traditional Hymns, Contemporary, Organ, Praise and Worship

Denomination: Presbyterian (EPC)

Size: Medium

Language: English

Founded: 1876

Contact

Phone

407-423-3441

Website

http://fpco.org

Our Services

Sunday

08:30am: Traditional in the Sanctuary
09:45am: Genesis in Lee Fellowship Hall
09:45am: Adult Sunday School
11:00am: Traditional in the Sanctuary
11:00am: Genesis in Lee Fellowship Hall
09:30am: Middle & High School Students in Allen-Yowell

Wednesday

05:30pm: Middle School
07:30pm: High School

What to Expect

What are services like?
Our Traditional worship service gathers at 8:30am & 11:00am in our Sanctuary, a space rich with our church’s heritage and historic expressions of artistry. Stained glass, light-filled architecture, choral and organ music and a liturgical journey are part of how we illustrate our worship and celebrate our Creator God in this service. Our Genesis worship service gathers at 9:45am and 11:00am in our Lee Fellowship Hall. In a casual atmosphere, Genesis praises God through modern and ancient worship music (typically played by a band), and incorporates inspired video, lighting, and dramatic stage design. Creative and visual arts are part of the experience, and the congregation is often invited to participate in those, too.

What is the community like?
We are followers of Jesus, in covenant relationship with one another. We are united in our love for God, have been transformed by our faith, and are committed to humbly serving the city of Orlando and beyond. We are not perfect – in fact, we have each been broken and challenged in our lives to the point where we recognized our own need for God’s grace. So we joyfully share life together, and invite you to do the same.

What if I'm not a Christian?
God creates each person on earth in His image, according to what He has told us in the Bible. We believe that makes individuals sacred replicas of God’s design; worthy of respect and the knowledge of God’s saving love for each of us. As such, we believe there is a place for you in our covenant community, and more specifically, in a life-giving small group who seek to honestly but lovingly encourage one another and help create an atmosphere of accountability. So in each of our Life Communities, we keep an open seat for anyone who wants to join.