5 Florida United Methodist Review Online

Downtown church reaches out to business community

By Michael Wacht

ORLANDO — The hot Florida sun is at its brightest when the occupants of downtown Orlando office towers head into the streets looking for lunch or a midday break. Most find traffic, long lines and noise. A few have discovered a time of quiet meditation inside downtown’s First United Methodist Church.

Each Wednesday at noon, the church holds a midweek worship service for downtown business people. Between 15 and 40 gather in the sanctuary for a half-hour service that includes prayer, meditation and a brief message, said the Rev. E. Wayne Curry, the church’s senior pastor.

“It’s the pause that refreshes,” he said. “It’s a pause for quiet time in the midst of a busy day.”

The Rev. Jack Jackson, the church’s associate pastor, said the worship committee designed the midweek service as a way to reach out to and serve the downtown community. “The people who planned it found there was no need for a big, boisterous praise service,” he said. “There is more need for a quiet, contemplative, meditative time.”

In addition to quiet time, the service includes elements of both traditional and contemporary worship. The hymns are played only on the piano or organ, the congregation reads from the Psalter and prays the Lord’s Prayer, and communion is offered once per month. The pastoral message, however, does not start with the typical Bible reading.

“Traditionally, we use a reading from a book that we’re reading,” said Jackson, who alternates leading worship with Curry. “We follow that with a brief discussion or commentary on what we’ve read.”

After the service, the church offers a fellowship lunch. For $3 participants receive a hot boxed lunch they may eat at the church or take back to the office.

Ronald Wilson works at Orlando City Hall and attends the service with his wife, Veronica. He said the worship time helps strengthen their relationship. “This is a recharge of our batteries. The service gives us the opportunity to become more harmonious with each other,” he said.

Wilson, who is not a United Methodist, said he discovered the service when he was assigned to park in a new parking lot. Passing by the church on his way to work, he saw signs in front of the sanctuary advertising the service. Now, he said he often switches lunch times with co-workers so he can attend.

Curry said the church is very intentional in not putting any requirements on people who attend the midweek service. No offering is collected, and attendees are not obligated to join the church.

Finding effective ways to promote the service is still one of the worship committee’s challenges, Curry said, explaining that many companies prohibit religious advertisements. “What is the best way to get the word out when you can’t put brochures or bulletins in these places of business?” he said.

Word of mouth advertising and signs in front of the sanctuary have been the two most effective means of spreading the word, Jackson said. The church has also placed ads in fax broadcasts sent to many downtown businesses.

“The benefits have been intangible,” said Jackson. “The value is that we’re reaching out to people beyond ourselves.”