First Orlando Memorial Prayer Gardens
The First Orlando Memorial Prayer Gardens is a place of prayer and meditation, a place away from the cares of life--a refuge dedicated to the glory of God.
Contiguous to the Welcome Center A entrance, the Gardens are designed with decorative gates, fountains, special lighting, seating and structures for areas of remembrance.
Is there someone dear whom you would like to honor or memorialize? Within the Gardens are paths containing bricks to be inscribed with the names of those who are precious in God's sight. Memorial walls with bronzed plaques celebrating those we love and honor can be viewed from benches and resting areas.
For those who choose to utilize the cremation process rather than burial, a stately columbarium, its architecture enriching the decorum and beauty of the Gardens, safeguards the ashes (cremains) of those we love.
If you are interested in securing a niche, the Foundation is scheduling appointments to meet with individuals regarding their personal needs and preferences. Burial rights in a niche may be secured for $2,500. Each niche will accommodate two urns. You may make your payment by credit card if you choose.
Donations are also being received by The First Orlando Foundation for bricks, plaques, benches, and other features in the Garden.
Finding the location of a particular plaque, brick or niche will be simplified by utilizing a master indexing computer which will be placed in Welcome Center A in the Church entryway. The index may also contain a biographical history of the individual being honored or memoralized.
Pastor Ragan Vandegriff and Assistant Kathy Emery are available to answer any questions you may have. For more information, please call our office at 407-514-4480 or email KathyEmery@firstorlando.com.
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Q: What is a columbarium? A columbarium is a permanent structure designed to hold cremated remains that are known as cremains. Each niche will hold the cremains of two persons. The placing of the ashes is called inurnment, while burial of a body is known as interment.
Q: Why is our Church presenting the option of cremation? Traditional burial costs are soaring and cemetery lots are limited. Cremation rapidly reduces the body to ash through intense heat, while the natural process does the same thing over time. In addition, historically, church grounds often have included a site for the final resting place of members. The First Orlando Memorial Prayer Garden will provide a resting place of beauty and grace, allowing loved ones easy access and visitation. Also, in our mobile society, cremation allows cremains to be moved with the family, if they so desire, if they transfer to a different city. Cremation exceeds 50% of interments in today's society primarily due to the escalating costs of in-ground burial or mausoleum interment (estimated 80%-90% cost reduction).
Q: Is the practice of cremation Biblical? In Genesis 3:19 the scripture informs us that God created us from dust and eventually we all return to dust. The God who created us and raised Christ from the dead has the creative power to frame us anew as He resurrects us for life with Him in our eternal dwelling place.
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