A New Calling • Page 4
Dear First Pres Family, I have been impressed at the response to our Year of the City challenge. So many people came up to me on January 19 following the message, and so many more have written in the days and weeks since to express excitement about this initiative. We heard more about this focus during our Annual Meeting, and I can’t wait to see the way God is moving through First Pres in the Colorado Springs community in 2014. Beginning this month, we’ll be exploring Colorado Springs, what’s happening here, stories of this congregation already loving our city and how you can get involved. I also want to express my excitement about Jennifer Holz taking on the position of Senior Executive Associate Pastor. I was moved, as I know you were, when she shared her heart, vision and call to our city on February 23, and I know the Lord will use her to do great things at First Pres. To learn more about Jennifer’s background and vision for her new role, go to page four! We launch a new Lenten series this month. Beginning March 2 and through to Palm Sunday, we explore the book of Romans. Rome was the largest, most influential city during Biblical times, and it was a place of challenge for Christians. In fact, many of the exhortations offered by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans were meant to strengthen and encourage Christians there during a time of tremendous struggle and persecution at the hands of Roman authorities. Our Lenten series is called Epic, and it focuses on how the smallest faith movement met the greatest city in history. One of the great things about this series is that we’ll also explore the themes and music of “Les Miserables.” Written by Victor Hugo in 1862, “Les Miserables” was an influential book in its time. In 1980, the book became the basis of one of the most popular musicals of all time. The themes explored in this dense literary work align with the themes the Apostle Paul explored in Romans. I can’t wait to share this series with you, and I know you will be moved by this exploration of faith and the beautiful music of “Les Miserables.” I hope you’ll make it a point to be a part of services each Sunday during Lent. In Christ, Graham Baird Senior Pastor First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs
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March 2014 contents A New Calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Matthew Fox Together is Better . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Alison Murray Taking Love and Logic from the Church to the City to the World . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Adam R. Holz Take a Journey to the Cross . . . . . . . 10 Katie Dayton
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Knowing Colorado Springs . . . . . . . 11 Matt Fox Members Caring for Members . . . . . . 12 Phil Mace Accumulating Assets How Much is Enough? . . . . . . . . . 14 Dave Phillips
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Contributing Writers: Katie Dayton, Matthew Fox, Adam R. Holz, Phil Mace, Alison Murray, Dave Phillips, Contributing Editors: Matthew Fox, Alison Murray Graphic Design: Beryl Glass Cover Photo: Beryl Glass Proofreading Team: Mary Bauman, Deb Berwick, Christine Dellacroce, Betty Haney, Daisy Jackson, Marty Kelley, Karen Kunstle, Linda Pung All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, © 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. First Pres Magazine March 2014, Volume Six, © First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, CO. Published by First Presbyterian Church, a non-profit organization. To contact First Pres Magazine: 719-884-6175 or 219 E. Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1392 or magazine@first-pres.org. Printed in the U.S.A.
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n 1987, Rev. Tammy Letts became the first ordained woman called by First Pres. She, along with her husband Tom, served in youth ministry. Tammy Letts’ ordination into the Presbyterian Church USA and subsequent call was a big moment for First Pres, and an even bigger moment for one of the high schoolers in the audience. Jennifer Oraker Holz — then a junior in high school — watched that service and began to see her future in a new way. “I remember having this overwhelming sense from God that the path Tammy was taking was the path God was calling me toward, ordination and ministry in the church,” she said. “It was a big moment for
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this church and for me.” In 2002, Jennifer was ordained in the PC(USA) and called by this congregation to serve young adults. On February 9 the Congregation again called Jennifer to the new position of Senior Executive Associate Pastor. “I’ve always loved this church,” she said. “I’m excited to be a part of the strategic conversations about where our church is headed and how we’re thinking about being an effective church for a new generation. Those are the kinds of things I love to think and talk about with others.” There is great excitement among leaders at First Pres about what she’ll bring to the ministry in this new position. Jennifer leads
“Jennifer is gifted, wise and passionate about following Jesus, in her own life and as a leader at First Pres.” — Elder Leah Landolfi the Session Ministry Leadership Team, a group of Elders that come alongside ministries at First Pres. Those Elders have seen first-hand the gifts Jennifer brings to ministry. “Jennifer is gifted, wise and passionate about following Jesus, in her own life and as a leader at First Pres,” said Elder Leah Landolfi. “She has, quite literally, grown up in this church. Jennifer’s new role gives her the opportunity to help others grow in their faith and explore their gifts in service to Christ. With tremendous intellect and humility, Jennifer will seek God's will for our church. I am excited to see how God will use Jennifer to enrich First Pres and further His kingdom.” Her selection as Senior Executive Associate Pastor is the culmination of a journey that began on that day in 1987 when she was inspired by a path to ministry. Following high school, Jennifer headed to Amherst College in Massachusetts. It was at Amherst that she first got involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. After graduating, Jennifer took a position with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship working with chapters at Amherst, Mt. Holyoke and Williams colleges. She was also responsible for leading and training interns during her time with InterVarsity. While working with college students, Jennifer continued her education by enrolling in Fuller Theological Seminary. That meant studying hard during the summer and applying what she’d learned on campus the next fall. “I just have a strong conviction that education is an important piece of ministry,” she said. “I would fly home during the summers and take a bunch of classes then
fly back to New England in the fall and practice everything I learned over the summer.” Jennifer graduated from Fuller in 2001 with an M. Div. and an emphasis in film and theology. She won the Hooper-Keefe Preaching Award. During her time there, she served as a teaching assistant to Rob Johnston and Craig Dettweiler and assisted in preaching practicums. Jennifer also worked as a mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution in L.A. County's small claims court system and she served on the church planting team for Stony Brook Community Church in South Hadley, MA. In 2000, Jennifer returned home to First Pres, taking a position as Director of Young Adults. In 2002, she was ordained and called as Associate Pastor of Young Adults,
Vitals Husband: Adam Holz, married in 2004 Children: Henry, 7, Annabeth, 5, and Maggie, 3 Education: B.A. in Psychology from Amherst, 1992; Masters of Divinity (MDiv.) from Fuller Theological Seminary, 2001 Ordained at First Pres: 2002 Began work at First Pres: 2000 First Attended First Pres: 1973
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completing a circle that began that day in 1987 when she watched Tammy Letts become the first ordained woman at First Pres. “It felt like the end of a long process of preparation for ministry, but also the beginning of a new chapter of being wide open to how God would use me in the church and in Colorado Springs to be a part of His work here,” she said. As a leader in the young adult ministry, Jennifer worked to get members active in community organizations — including Family Life Services, Marian House Soup Kitchen and the Dale House — and led mission trips to Kenya and Mexico. In 2007, she transitioned to overseeing Adult Ministries, where she’s been instrumental in working to grow discipleship and education through programs like Growing Together Wednesdays and the Adult Sunday Communities. Discipleship is one of her passions. “It’s a good fit for me because I have a strong commitment to education, the life of the mind and being a part of how we work as adults to be thoughtful Christians in this city,” she said. In addition to her work at First Pres,
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Jennifer has been active in helping train the next generation of ministers. While First Pres was part of the PC (USA), she served as a member, and chair, of the Committee for the Preparation for Ministry, the body that helps young ministers through the process of ordination. When First Pres made the move to ECO, Jennifer became a part of ECO’s new ordination team and helped write the ordination manual for the new denomination. “It felt like we got to take the best practices from the PC(USA) and combine them with new ways of thinking about how to do ministry and how to prepare people for ministry,” she said. “In ECO we have the freedom to really tailor the process to each individual candidate.” Her work with ECO has been a vital part of starting this new denomination. “Jennifer has played a significant role in the formation of ECO over these first 18 months of our life together,” said Rev. M.J. Romano, former Executive Presbyter for the ECO Presbytery of the West. “The Presbytery of the West's Pastoral Ministry Ordination Team manual has become the template for pastoral formation across our new denomination. We are blessed beyond measure to number her as one of our colleagues.” While Jennifer will continue to oversee the Adult Ministries at First Pres, in this new position she’s excited about the challenge of working on discipleship with the First Pres staff and congregation. “I love being in a place to serve and shepherd this staff, who I love and think are incredibly gifted,” she said. “The other thing I’m excited about is being part of the alignment process for our church. We have a gifted congregation and a gifted staff and I’m excited to see how God will continue to move us forward as a church family. First Pres is a special place and a very special place for me.” Matthew Fox is the Manager of Communications at First Pres.
By Alison Murray Each month, this column will look at ordinary, everyday places in Colorado Springs where ministry is happening in extraordinary ways!
ave you ever looked at a painting by Vincent Van Gogh? From afar, the vibrant colors, swirling patterns and brush strokes all combine into a recognizable picture. Have you ever had the opportunity to get close, really close, nose-to-canvas-close, to a Van Gogh? Say the Haystacks? All you can see are brush strokes of color in all directions. In fact you can’t really see any cohesive pattern or make out any picture at all. Each brushstroke stands alone. It truly is the trees for the forest. On a Thursday morning in February, I had the privilege of attending the Youth in the Arts breakfast. Performances were given by the Colorado Springs Youth Orchestra, the Pikes Peak Youth Ringers, the Ballet Society of Colorado Springs, and the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale. It was a great celebration of youth in the arts. Over the years, you can find First Pres youth in every one of these organizations and First Pres members and friends providing support in all kinds of ways. The story for us, though, was the more than 450 adults in attendance. Yes, it was a fundraiser and yes, there were a number of parents. But the majority of adults attending
were there to support youth in our city. Whether their own children had once participated in these organizations, whether they were neighbors, or whether they understood the importance of supporting youth in their God-given giftedness, it was a room full of brushstrokes making a magnificent picture of a community at work. There were many members and friends of First Pres in attendance. First Pres is a community within a community, hard at work. Said First Pres member Audrey Grand, “It is so wonderful to see our youth, knowing that their entire lives are in front of them. It gives me hope.” Audrey, it goes both ways, you gave these youth hope for their future, too. God created us all with distinct gifts, but He intends for us to work as one body. (1 Corinthians 12:19) But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. Whether you are involved in the arts, sports, your neighborhood, your local school, wherever God has called you, know that you are an important brushstroke in a beautiful picture created and recreated every minute of every day. Together is better. Alison Murray is the Executive Director of First Pres.
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Taking Love & Logic From the Church to the City to the World
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f you’re a parent or a grandparent, at First Pres, there’s a good chance that you’ve taken the Parenting with Love and Logic course taught by longtime members Dave and Susan Strehlow. It’s a curriculum that teaches practical strategies for helping children become healthy, independent decision-makers who have a strong sense of the consequences of their choices. What you may not know is that the Strehlows are also taking that class beyond the church walls, into our city and beyond. First Pres Magazine (FPM): Dave and Susan, tell me a little bit about the new venues where you’ve been teaching Love and Logic. Susan: We started teaching Parenting with Love and Logic at the Marian House about four years ago. We have had many people participate who come from the community. First Pres purchases the notebooks, so there’s no charge to those who come. We’ve
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had just a huge variety of participants: parents, people who are court-ordered, grandparents. Dave: We love seeing the enthusiasm of the couples, how they get involved, how they’re talking. This year, both of the groups we’re leading are just talking and sharing, confronting and asking. They’re very interactive. They want to see, “How does this really work?” At the Marian House, as
By Adam R . Holz Susan said, we sometimes get people who are court-ordered. And it’s gratifying to hear them say, “Wow, this is giving us tools we need.” And the curriculum does indeed give folks some tools to help them maintain control. This isn’t the only parenting program out there. But it gives parents some practical “arrows” to use. That’s important, that you have some foundation. So you can say, “OK, I’m going to try empathy with consequences: Oh, that’s so sad. What are you going to do about that?” Getting your kids to solve problems and understanding that there are consequences is a big deal, because we have many kids in our society today who are not suffering consequences because their parents keep bailing them out. FPM: And you’ve also had a chance to teach the course on your First Pres mission trips to Mongolia? Susan: That’s right. At the end of March we’ll be taking our ninth trip. Dave: The population of Mongolia is around three million. But of that three million, about half of them are under the age of 17. In our trips, we’ve worked with Mongolian teachers, school administrators and Young Life staff — almost all of whom are influencing these kids. On our trip last September, the doors opened for us to teach Love and Logic to a group of moms and dads in the Mongolian military.
FPM: What would you say to someone who feels a sense of calling to participate in one of the many ministries of First Pres? Susan: I think we all have a calling. So we need to pray about it. And talk to others who have been out in the ministry, either locally or internationally. Then, just take that first step when God calls. Dave: Right now I’m reading Transformation by Ed Silvosa. He emphasizes the fact that we’re all ministers for Christ. So we’re ministering out of who we are and where we are. Before we retired, we were in education. We had the opportunity to share Jesus Christ through Young Life in our home, through our example in the classroom and through coaching. Since retiring, we have more time to give to classes like Love and Logic and to missions activity. The book says that we’re all ministers inside our own area, wherever we are. So it’s all about paying attention to the question, “How are we going to share the love of Jesus Christ?” Then just listen to Him. Where’s He leading us? Sometimes I think as Christians we get too busy, and we forget. All we need to do is simply stop and pray. And then let the Holy Spirit lead us. Adam Holz is a member of First Pres and a writer for the Website www.pluggedin.com.
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Take a
Journey to the Cross By Katie Dayton Come, follow me. That is the invitation.
That is the call. That is the beautiful life Jesus bids us to. And where exactly is Jesus going? Where will this journey take us? The turning point of the gospel of Luke comes in Luke 9:51. “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus is headed to the city of Jerusalem, and He knows exactly what awaits Him there. In a city rife with brokenness and grief, Jesus would go to the cross. The road for us as we follow Jesus is a path marked by the cross, by suffering. And yet, in one of the deepest paradoxes of our faith, we know it to be a road marked with joy and purpose. It is on this road that we find life itself. It is the Way traveled with the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ. It is the road we travel together. This Lent we will again participate in Journey to the Cross. There are two aspects to this Journey. The first is the 40-day devotional series. Each day during Lent you will receive an e-mail that contains Scripture, a short
meditation, reflection questions, action steps and prayer points. We pray these devotionals help you enter more deeply and fully into Lent that you might turn again to the Way of Jesus. As we continue in The Year of the City, these devotionals provide great resources for action and reflection that we might love the city more. The second component of Journey to the Cross is the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week. During Holy Week, “stations” are set up all over the city. These stations help us enter into the suffering of Jesus, the brokenness of our city, and the redemption that is springing up all around us. As we try to engage more deeply with the city this year, I believe you will find these stations to be particularly meaningful and helpful. I pray during this season of Lent you find yourself deeply drawn to Jesus. Through action and reflection, may you find yourself swept up in the love and power of Christ and may you know more of His purpose for you, this city and this world. Katie Dayton is the Associate Pastor for Missional Strategies.
What is Lent? Lent is a season in the life of the church where we enter into a time of action and reflection as we turn back to Christ and prepare for the celebration of Easter. Lent is a 40-day period (not counting Sundays) that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends April 19. Sign up for the devotionals at www.first-pres.org/journey
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By Matthew Fox
Knowing
Colorado Springs
Reading is Fundamental! The foundation for a healthy and vibrant society is a good education. One of the foundational building blocks of a good education is the ability to read. It’s long been thought that affluence impacts literacy rates, but in studies of Colorado Springs and other metro areas in Colorado, that hasn’t proven to be the case. In a study on quality of life indicators put out by the Pikes Peak United Way, nine school districts in and around Colorado Springs were compared. The study found that each of the districts ended up around the same level of proficient and advanced readers — a range from 53 to 45 percentile. The statewide standard is the 50 percentile. Further, in comparing those districts to districts in the Denver and Fort Collins metro areas, it found the rates were identical.
Colorado Springs Metro Area for 2013 Academy 20 Colorado Springs 11 School Districts
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his is the Year of the City, and we encourage everyone to find a way to let God’s light shine through you in service to the city this year. But in order to serve, you must know what the needs are. In this space each month First Pres Magazine will explore one facet of our city.
Ellicott 22 Falcon 49 Fountain 8 Harrison 2 Peyton 23 Widefield 3 Woodland Park RE 2
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Percent of proficient readers
Data from Colorado Department of Education
Get Involved! Helping children learn helps them achieve, and helps our city become a more vibrant place. To volunteer, check out opportunities at your neighborhood school or visit the Children’s Literacy Center at www.childrensliteracycenter.org to learn about volunteer opportunities in Colorado Springs. Matthew Fox is the Manager of Communications at First Pres.
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Members caring for
Members O u r F irs t P res P as t ora l C are Team
By P hil Mace
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everal years ago the possibility of creating a new ministry of the laity began to take shape in discussions led by Jim Smith and John Goodale. Initial goals were modified and refined, resulting in what now exists as the Pastoral Care Team (PCT).
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There are two major elements of caring seeing her son struggle with a chronic and provided by the PCT. The Calling Team calls deteriorating medical condition. every member who has been hospitalized “When I asked if we could pray together, roughly two weeks after they have been she requested prayer for God’s guidance and released, to check on them and let them know wisdom,” the team member shared. “I also they are still a priority of care. prayed for comfort, peace and strength for The Visitation Team, initially focused on her at this time. She told me that she apprecivisiting members in Nursing Homes and ated my visit so much, that having someone Assisted Living facilities, now visits mostly to talk to and someone to pray for her helped elderly members who are home bound or to relieve some of her anxiety. “ who need a bit of special attention due to Another team member recounted a similar illness or other issues. experience. The Core Values of ECO state that, “The most meaningful visit I had was “We believe in living out the whole of several months ago to a man who had the Great Commission — includend-stage cancer,” the team member ing evangelism, spiritual formasaid. “It was a wonderful visit. Therefore, tion, compassion, and Both this man and his wife were redemptive justice — in our so full of God’s love! This man however you want communities and around the would soon be home with the people to treat you, world.” To contribute to Lord. He died shortly after meeting the value of this visit. It definitely was a so treat them, compassion extended to visit that touched my soul!” for this is the Law those in our city who need The sad fact is that 80 a bit of extra care, the PCT percent of those in assisted and the was formed using trained living or nursing homes never Stephen Ministers. Addihave a one-on-one visit from Prophets. tional members have been anyone. The Pastoral Care Team Matthew 7:12 added who have felt this is a hopes that no one who is related calling they want to fulfill. in any way to First Pres, member or Emphasis has been placed on callnot, ever falls into this category. ing and visiting members of First Pres, Visits and calls are made to express but visits have also been made to nongenuine care, with no element of “return on members where a need has been identified. investment” other than to do the will of Whenever possible, visits are coordinated Christ. with respective Deacons so that their work is All of us will one day likely experience a complemented. hospital stay or find ourselves with unpleasBoth the Visiting Team and the Calling ant loss of mobility that can easily result in Team have had very positive responses from feelings of being “disconnected” from our those who have been called or visited. One church. Realizing this, we can all keep as our spouse was so pleased with the call that they highest priority the need to carry out what contacted the church saying that the call was, Jesus commanded in Matthew 7:12: “There“a turning point in recovery.” Just knowing fore, however you want people to treat you, that “someone followed up and cared even so treat them, for this is the Law and the though I was home and recovering” has been Prophets.” a common note of appreciation. If you’d like more information on the A member of the visiting team recently Pastoral Care Team, contact Angie Forman in recounted an experience with a woman in her Caring Ministries at 719-884-6145. home. The woman expressed a sense of loss Phil Mace is the coordinator for the Pastoral Care Team. after losing her husband and daughter and 3/14 | www.first-pres.org | 13
By Dave P hillips
Accumulating Assets How much is enough?
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ow much accumulation of assets (home, investments, cars, material goods) is enough? We need Biblical instruction to answer this question because we are battling a pervasive value of our culture that says, “Get all you can.” When asked, “How much is enough?” John D. Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.” It is easy to have the tug to want a little bit more, but we must be guided by Romans 12:2 when it says, “Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.” * Here are some warnings in the Scripture about a focus on accumulation of assets. • “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself!” Proverbs 23:4 • “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 • “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust, or worse, stolen by burglars.” Matthew 6:19a The last part of Matthew 6:19 gives us direction on the topic of accumulation, saying, “Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moths and rust and burglars.” Here are some thoughts about ‘stockpiling treasure in heaven.’ • Our primary goal as a follower of Jesus is to be a good manager of God’s resources. Our assets belong to Him. 14 | www.first-pres.org 3/14
• Accumulating assets is certainly not wrong. The key issue is whether we are using what we accumulate to advance God’s Kingdom or our own. • The size of our assets is not a measure of our significance. What is important is our “life-worth” not our “net-worth.” The answer to “how well off am I” depends upon how well invested I am in God’s Kingdom. • Randy Alcorn wrote, “You can’t take it with you but you can send it on ahead.” I take that to mean that the material goods we accumulate in this life will mean nothing in heaven, except as we have used them to advance God’s Kingdom. The Scriptures teach that those efforts will be rewarded. So what else can we learn from Scripture on this topic of accumulation? • Prayerfully seek God’s guidance regarding management of the assets we hold. “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do.” Proverbs 3:6 • Keep our focus on the right things “Tell them to go after God . . . to do good, to be rich in helping others, be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.” I Timothy 6:17b-19 *The Message translation is used for the verses in this article.
Dave Phillips serves part-time on the First Pres Church staff working with members and friends of the church in legacy planning.
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