Our Purpose
God's purpose for the Church is made very clear in the book of Acts. In Acts 2:42-47, we read:
"[The early Christians] devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (NIV)
Based on this and other descriptions of the early church in the New Testament, we at University Presbyterian are committed to five Biblical purposes:
I. Worship and Prayer
"Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise."
Psalm 96:4a
University Presbyterian Church believes that worship is the highest privilege as well as obligation of all human beings - indeed, of creation itself. Worship is giving God the glory, thanks, praise, and honor that he deserves. While it's important for Christians to worship God individually and as families, the gathering of God's people for worship on the Lord's Day (Sunday) is normative for the church. Our worship services are informal and "contemporary" in style but with a deep respect for the liturgy and songs of the church throughout history. We hold worship services every Sunday morning at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. In addition, we gather for worship on other special occasions, such as Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We strive to plan services that engage the whole person: mind, heart, and will.
The sacraments are an important part of worship. Just as the early church was devoted to "the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42, a synonym for celebrating communion), we celebrate the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month. Baptism is administered to new converts who have not already been baptized, and to the children of believers.
Prayer is also vital at UPC. We have a Prayer Team that leads regular times of intercession. Prayer Partners meet with people who request prayer after each worship service, and prayer requests are sent out to the church family each week. Occasionally the church is called to special times of united prayer and fasting.
II. Learning and Discipleship
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18
Just as the early Christians "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching" (Acts 2:42), we at UPC are committed to growing in our knowledge of the Word of God. Each Sunday one of our pastors preaches a sermon that explains and applies a portion of the Bible. Sunday School classes help our children, youth, and adults become familiar with Bible passages and principles. Occasionally, special speakers teach on interesting topics. An abundance of Life Groups and Bible studies are available on just about any day of the week. Most of these groups are open to any adult whether married or single, male or female. Other groups are intended just for men or just for women.
The goal of teaching is discipleship: the shaping of the whole person into the image of Christ. The apostle Paul speaks of Christ being "formed" in us (Galatians 4:19). Discipleship happens in the context of life-on-life relationship with other believers. As Jesus invested three years in his twelve disciples, so we at UPC encourage mature believers to invest in other believers for the purpose of mentoring, transferring the faith, and helping people grow. We offer D-Groups that follow a curriculum designed to help groups of two to four people grow more wise and mature in the Word.
III. Fellowship and Community
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
1 John 4:11
The early Christians were fiercely committed to each other. They met every day in the temple courts and in homes (Acts 2:46). They shared their possessions with each other (Acts 2:45). They knew that human beings were not created for isolation but for community. They "were one in heart and mind" (Acts 4:32). We believe that Christians today should try to experience that level of community.
At UPC, the majority of our people participate in Life Groups. These are small groups of five to fifteen people who meet regularly for Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service. In addition to Life Groups, we plan frequent activities that simply pull people together to have fun, get to know each other better, and enjoy being the church. We believe that a vital part of our witness to East Orlando is our love for one another (John 13:35).
You will often see members of UPC staying at church long after the worship service is over, dining or going to movies together, hanging out in coffee shops for accountability and discipleship, and serving together. This is because they know "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).
IV. Outreach and Evangelism
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Mark 16:15
The early church was constantly growing by conversion. "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). It's our desire at University Presbyterian Church to see lost people regularly coming to faith in Christ. Therefore we preach the gospel and keep the gospel in the forefront at all times. We encourage our members to reach out in their schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces, make friends of non-Christians, and share their faith by word and deed. From time to time we have "Invite a Friend" Sundays and other events particularly relevant to the non-Christian. We try to create a welcoming atmosphere on Sunday morning. In addition, we offer children's activities like Vacation Bible School to which it is easy for our members to bring unsaved friends. D-Groups equip people to reach out to non-Christians and engage them in the Word of God.
In short, we believe that rather than separating from the culture around us, we need to be redemptively engaged in the culture, seeking creative ways to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
V. Mercy and Social Service
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? ...[F]aith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James 2:14, 17
The early Christians "gave to anyone as he had need" (Acts 2:45). In this way they resembled Jesus, who fed the hungry, healed the sick, and set the captives free (Luke 4:18). The Bible makes it clear that God does not just save souls; he redeems all of life. He is restoring all things: broken social structures as well as broken hearts. God defends the unborn and the orphaned, he cares for the fatherless and the widow, and he lifts up the poor and overlooked of the world. He cares about people's physical and emotional needs as well as their spiritual needs. Therefore, we at UPC seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that is in need of healing in every part of life.
There is a huge homeless community around UPC. Each Saturday morning our Manna volunteers provide a hot meal for the homeless in nearby Downey Park. At Thanksgiving and Christmas we provide a meal and program at the church for our homeless neighbors. We are a satellite location for Christian HELP, which provides job counseling, food, and other supplies for the homeless and unemployed. We are engaged in a community-wide effort to create a service center for the homeless in East Orlando, the goal being to help those without jobs and life skills get off the streets and into productive labor and safe, secure housing.
In addition, we provide a Sunday worship service at the LifeCare Center and The Bridge, an assisted living/nursing center a mile north of the church. We volunteer at True Life Choice, a crisis pregnancy center in Orlando. Moreover, we are a part of the Converge network of East Orlando churches, which ministers in various ways to the physical needs of area residents.