Find a Place to Belong this Summer ›› 19
Dear First Pres Family, With May we come to the end of the school year and the beginning of a new season. Summer brings the hope of rest, fun and family — all things we look forward to celebrating as a church community. Our preaching team began a new series this month, “Ancient Truths For A New Day.” This series explores the themes of I and II Samuel, and how they relate to our current season as a Congregation. We’re excited to share this series with you, and I hope it will resonate with all of you during this season. The series began May 11 and runs through August. This summer season we hope you’ll find ways to get involved in the life and ministry of this church, as well as finding ways to bless our city. One of our priorities as a church is, “Proclaiming and demonstrating God’s kingdom by engaging our city through opening doors, celebrations of God’s presence and service.” In this Year of the City, we have an opportunity to live into that vision as we become the hands and feet of Christ in our city. This issue continues our year-long celebration of the Year of the City, and highlights ways you can get involved. First Pres is proud to join with Colorado Springs District 11 to host a Summer Food Program site at Memorial Park. Learn more about this partnership, and how you can get involved, on page 10. During this time of transition we know you have questions. In this issue we offer updates on this season in ministry on page 4. You can also learn more about the role of Session, as well as meet our Elders, on page 12. First Pres has a rich history and tradition. Learn more about one of our long-time leaders, Howard Hansen, in a special piece by Archivist Dale McClure on page 16. To learn more about Hansen’s ministry at First Pres, visit the display on the first floor gallery. Finally, summer is a time for play. First Pres offers a variety of ways for kids to engage and grow in faith. Learn more about this year’s camp offerings on page 19. Warmly in Christ,
Jennifer Holz Senior Associate Executive Pastor
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MAY/June 2014 contents A Season of Discernment . . . . . . . . 4 Love Never Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alison Murray Together is Better . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Alison Murray Knowing Colorado Springs . . . . . . . . 7 Giving Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Adam Holz
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Feeding the Hungry . . . . . . . . . . 10 Matthew Fox What is a Session? . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Alison Murray First Pres Elders 2014 . . . . . . . . . . 14 Know Your Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Dale McClure
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Find a Place to Belong this Summer . . . 19 Contributing Writers: Matthew Fox, Adam Holz, Dale McClure, Alison Murray Contributing Editors: Matthew Fox, Alison Murray Graphic Design: 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®, © 2011 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. First Pres Magazine May/June 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. Cover photo: Upward Bound campers
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A Season of
Discernment
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n May 4 we gathered to celebrate the ministry of First Pres and talk about what comes next. It was a time of prayer, worship and coming together as a First Pres family. The passion for this church, its future and how it impacts the city, state and world is evident. The Session of First Pres thanks all those that attended and all those that continue to ask questions, show their support and, most importantly, pray for the future and ministry of this church. We believe this is a season of discernment for First Pres and an important time to stop, take a breath and listen to what God is telling us about His mission and His plan for the future of ministry here. Where Do We Go From Here? This is an important season of discernment for First Pres. We will move slowly and intentionally, taking time to consider this past season of ministry, what we can learn and what God is teaching us through this time. Through the passionate input of this Congregation, which cares so deeply for this community and the future of ministry here, we will seek to discern how God calls us to serve this community. This is part of the summer series, Ancient Truths For A New Day. The deep and talented team of pastors and ministers is excited about exploring the themes of 1 and 2 Samuel, and gleaning the connections to this current period in the life of First Pres. This is a time to reflect on who we are, who God calls us to be and what we need to do to get there. This includes moving forward in the Interim Pastor process. Session continues to collect names of nominees and will begin the work of developing this process at its June meeting. 4 | www.first-pres.org 5-6/14
How Will I Know What’s Going On? During this season of discernment we plan to give as much information as often as possible and in as many ways as possible. Look for a monthly newsletter from Session — First Pres in Action — available at the reception desk and online. In the June issue we will explore the strengths of our ministry and the challenges during this season. We will continue to post frequent updates about the process, including Frequently Asked Questions, on our Session Web page. You can find that at www.first-pres.org/ session. If you have any questions or need any more information, please contact your Elders at elders@first-pres.org. We appreciate the passion of this Congregation. Let us continue to be in prayer for First Pres as we move through this season.
By AlisonMurray
Love Never Ends
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nvesting in the Kingdom for today and for the future is a gift from God. The tangible gifts we give, whether they be our time, our God-given giftedness or our money are part of our faith, part of the journey we walk with God. We are so grateful for the giftedness of this church family. As of the end of April, we are under our contribution budget by only $8,000. Ministry and support activities have spent less than we budgeted to spend at this point in the year — all this to say that we are in a healthy place for this point in 2014! Thank you to every person connected to our community for all you do for your community and for others.
Here are some highlights of activity in the first quarter of 2014! Mission trips to Egypt, Cuba and Mongolia Volunteers and funding for 23 local agency partners 2 Winter Camps for students active in our Student Ministries 1 concert by our Children’s Choir along with several appearances in Worship 39 new members 202 First Time Visitors 24 Deacons and Stephen Ministers regularly visiting and calling our housebound and those in skilled care. A successful Spring Growing Together Wednesday program A new Outreach program called God Questions
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By AlisonMurray
Together is Better ast month, I was the recipient of two random acts of kindness that made a huge difference in my day! The first was a Monday. It was a day filled with the usual collection of thorny Monday problems. Why these things stack up over the weekend, who knows, they just do! I received a text message from my neighbor. “Don’t worry about dinner, ur coming over here, c u 6 pm.” As a Mom who works, not being able to provide a cooked meal around the kitchen table at home each night is one of those current life-stage regrets. I love to cook, love the fellowship of eating and wish it could happen every night. On this Monday it was going to happen with our neighbors, too. What a treat. The other act was a Saturday. It was a morning filled with hair gel and hairspray, bobby pins, hair nets, stage make-up (lots of it), finding ballet shoes, tights, the usual assortment of leotards, packed lunches, water bottles and constant reminders “we have to leave NOW!” After dropping my two ballerinas at Mitchell High School, I headed to church for choir rehearsal. After choir, back to Mitchell High School to get in line for seats for the ballet performance. The performance was beautiful. Afterwards, I realized no flowers. What Mom forgets the flowers? Our friends, who came to the performance, had the flowers. “Friends have done this for us in the past and it was such a blessing, we wanted to do this for your girls,” they said. Are acts of kindness really random? I believe that acts of kindness are an extension of Christ’s love for us. As we give the gift of kindness, we extend the love of Christ to others. Whether we simply steady a person wobbly on their feet, ask the cashier how their day is going, open a door for a young Mom with a stroller, say hello to a homeless person or extend a child-free hour to a stay-at-home dad who won’t ask for help, we are the extension of Christ’s love to others. In Galatians 5:22–23, kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Doing for others and expecting nothing in return. Acts of kindness. Not random. Part of who we are called to be. Daily proof that together is better! Alison Murray is the Executive Director of First Pres.
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By Matthew Fox
Knowing
Colorado Springs
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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. But in order to serve, you have to know what the needs are. In this space each month First Pres Magazine explores one facet of our city.
Poverty Among Our Children Throughout His ministry, the Bible shows us Jesus reaching out to the little children. Jesus knew these little children are the future of the faith. “But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16) What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ? It means getting involved when the little children suffer. The United Way of the Pikes Peak Region commissioned a survey of quality of life indicators in the greater Colorado Springs area. That survey found that more than one in six children in El Paso and Teller counties lives in poverty. This marks an increase from just 10 percent living in poverty during a similar survey in 2000. As the report notes, poverty has a profound, lasting impact on the physical, social, intellectual and emotional well being of these children.
Get Involved! First Pres knows the summer can be a tough time for children in poverty who survive on the assistance of the free and reduced lunch program. Programs like Hunger Free Colorado seek to combat this loss of support during summer months. First Pres will be serving these children in need through the Summer Food Program. To learn more, see page 11. Matt Fox is manager of communications at First Pres.
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Giving
shelter By Adam R. Holz
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ou may only know Jim McRae as an always-smiling usher at church, a task he fulfilled faithfully for several years. But you may not know that Jim, who owns and operates Colorado Wildfire Mitigation and Landscape Specialists, has also been involved serving one of Colorado Spring’s longtime ministries for many years. Recently, I sat down with Jim to talk about Family Life Services, his volunteer work there and how others might get involved as well. First Pres Magazine: You’ve spent a lot of time volunteering at Family Life Services. Some people may not know about it, so tell us a little about this ministry.
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Jim McRae: Family Life Services began as a two-year program for single mothers looking to get out of bad situations. Family Life Services offers them a place to stay and a curriculum to help them move toward healthy independence. Participants work through the program, then graduate into some sort of transitional housing through another agency, often Greccio Housing. And some remain in the program longer for more intensive counseling. Recently, Family Life Services has begun working with another agency, Women of Courage, and entered into a partnership with Greccio Housing, which runs low-income housing in the Springs. The folks from Greccio have begun to do some of what we
as volunteers used to do, remodeling-type stuff, for instance. It’s a good partnership for both agencies. Greccio has the ability to use Family Life’s programs, and Family Life has access to the housing Greccio can offer when women complete the program. FPM: How long have you been volunteering at Family Life Service? Jim: I’ve been doing projects for about five or six years now. FPM: What kinds of work have you been involved in? Jim: The property began as an orphanage around the year 1900. Some parts have been renovated through the years since Family Life took over in 1942. Others haven’t had as much attention. For instance, a while back we remodeled one of the original units. It was this little cottage that sat off to the side of the main house that had never had much work because it was in extremely high demand in the program. We got access for six months and completely remodeled it. Projects range anywhere from something like that to cleaning up the garage, which has kind of become a catch-all. It’s a variety of jobs, really, and Family Life almost always has needs. FPM: Do you work on your own or do you work with teams? Jim: It depends on the project. Sometimes if the project needs a team, I’ll lead it. On the cottage project, I worked as a general contractor-type with subcontractors. I made sure they could get into the unit and do what they needed to do, and that they had the material they needed. So it was anywhere from that kind of management to being there myself, you know, putting in some labor in
areas where I’m skilled. My role has evolved from actually being on the property working to more of an oversight role. FPM: What would you say your biggest contribution has been? Jim: I keep coming back to the cottage project. We took that building and redid everything. We redid all of the plumbing. We rerouted walls. Stuff like that. It was very satisfying. FPM: If somebody wanted to participate, but they’ve never turned a screw or installed drywall, is there a place for unskilled labor? Jim: There is a place for unskilled labor. Up to a point there’s a lot of stuff that those folks can do and things that can be taught right there. Beyond that, there are also opportunities within some programs to volunteer. For example, once a week they do a big meal for all of the residents. They’re always looking for folks to come in and cook those meals. And for people who do have the right skillsets, there are sometimes opportunities to offer counseling and mentoring as well. Adam R. Holz is a member of First Pres and a writer for the Website www.pluggedin.com.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Family Life Services at 719-632-4661.
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Food, Friends & Fun A
ccording to statistics compiled by Hunger Free Colorado, the state has the fastest growing rate of childhood poverty. Between 2002 and 2010, the rate of child poverty increased 86 percent in the state. During the school year the free and reduced lunch program closes the gap for hungry children throughout the city. But what happens when the school year ends? Heather Briggs, a member at First Pres, saw the needs of hungry kids first hand when she took a position with Hunger Free Colorado last summer. “On the last day of class every May there are kids all over town that are dreading the days ahead because they know they won’t be able to rely on the filling and nutritious food they count on every day at school,” she said. “It breaks my heart to think of kids stressing about securing healthy meals.”
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By Matthew Fox Inspired by what she saw, Heather approached the First Pres Children’s Ministries Department about getting involved. A year later, First Pres — through a partnership with Colorado Springs District 11 — will co-host a Summer Food Program site. The First Pres site — which will run from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. Monday through Friday — begins on May 27 and runs through August 1. Lunch is served from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. with activities offered from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The site will be hosted at Memorial Park, part of an effort to reach a wider group of kids and make the site inviting to those that may be leery about coming to a church. Kathy Dobyns, Children’s Ministries Associate, sees it as a great chance to live into the Year of the City mission. “This offers opportunities for our church family to engage in our city by getting out of the church to meet, eat and play with other families in our community,” she said. The program provides a nutritious meal to any child 18 or younger who attends the Memorial Park site. Children of volunteers, and even First Pres Youth Group volunteers, will be able to share a meal with kids from the community each day. In addition, teams of volunteers from First Pres and the Pikes Peak Library District’s Summer Reading Program will provide daily activities for the kids who come to eat. A number of different First Pres ministries — including MOPs, Children’s Ministries and Youth Ministries — have already jumped on board to host activities different days of the week. Heather will also be volunteering, teaching kids about nutrition and healthy food options. She’s excited to be part of a First Pres team joining with District 11 to fill a vital need in the community. “District 11 is our downtown school district, and they happen to really rock summer food,” Heather said. “They have a huge heart for trying to reach kids in the
summer time and have even pioneered the use of retrofitted food trucks to take the food to where kids need it the most.” Kathy noted that the program also energizes kids to eat healthy and exercise, helps fight summer learning loss and engages them in experiential learning. It also helps First Pres reach out and build new relationships with children and parents in need in our community. All are invited to be a part of the Summer Food Program. Please join us any day of the week — there’s a place for everyone! Call the Children’s Ministries Department at 719-884-6126 or e-mail Kathy at kdobyns@first-pres.org. Another way to get involved this summer is by donating new or gently used books to support kids in their summer reading. Books can be dropped off in the Plaza May through July. Matt Fox is manager of communications at First Pres.
Summer Food Program Monday through Friday 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. May 27 to August 1
Memorial Park Activity Schedule: Mondays — Hosted by Children’s Ministries Tuesdays — Hosted by Heather Briggs, Cooking Matters Wednesdays — Hosted by MOPs Thursdays — Hosted by First Pres Youth Fridays — Hosted by Penrose Public Library
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What is a session?
T
he word “Presbyterian” actually refers to our form of government, not to our theology. We follow a theology referred to as the Reformed Faith and it traces its roots to John Calvin. What makes us Presbyterian is our representative form of governing, the top of which is the Session. The role of Session is prescribed in the ECO Polity and Discipline (page 7, you can find a copy of the Polity in our First Pres Library or on the web at www. eco-pres.org/resources/key_documents/). The Polity describes a number of items such as budgets and insurance policies, regular business items that we would expect a Board of an organization to review and maintain. What makes a Session different than a corporation or non-profit board is the responsibility that a Session has for the spiritual health of a congregation, or as is stated in the very first item under the Responsibilities of the Session. . . . [The Session provides for] the worship and educational life of the congregation; provide a place where the congregation may regularly worship; provide for the regular preaching of the Word by persons properly approved; oversee the planning and the ordering of the worship services of the congregation; lead the congregation in ministries of evangelism, compassion, and justice; and develop and nurture relations with other congregations.
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As we reintroduce you to your Session for this 2014-2015 year, we thought you might have a few questions regarding how the Session is formed and how it works. Be in prayer for this committed group of men and women who continue to work with great faith and commitment to our Lord and to you.
What is a Session?
The First Pres Session is comprised of 21 Elders (Ruling Elders) and the ordained and called Pastors (Teaching Elders) of First Pres. This body is the First Pres governing group. Lead Pastor Rev. Jennifer Holz moderates Session each month. The Session establishes the goals and priorities of our church while the staff is employed to execute the mission and strategies as outlined by the Session.
Who chooses the church members who are elected Elders?
It is the Nominating Committee’s responsibility to nominate church members for the position of Elder or Deacon.
Where do I find the qualifications and characteristics of a good Elder?
The qualifications for being named an Elder are clearly delineated in Scripture. The Apostle Paul wrote about the qualifications for leadership in 1 Timothy chapter three and Titus chapter one. Those principles help guide the process of selecting those who will lead the church.
By AlisonMurray
What else does the Nominating Committee consider when recommending Elders?
The Nominating Committee looks for candidates who are involved in and lead ministries in the church. It is critical that Elders understand our community and are involved. The committee also ensures that the Elders come from a variety of ministry areas and represent both newer members and those who have been in our community for decades.
How long does an Elder serve on the Session?
Each Elder serves a three-year term. The terms are staggered so that only a portion of the Elders turn each year allowing for continuity of leadership while still providing fresh voices to serve each year.
How do the Trustees connect to the Session?
The Nominating Committee also identifies Elders to serve specifically as Elder-Trustee. There are seven Elder Trustees. The Trustees specifically oversee financial matters, facilities and staffing, among other things, and report monthly to Session.
What is the Session Ministry Leadership Team?
Developed in 2013, the Session Ministry Leadership Team, or SMLT (SMELT) as we
have come to know it, comprised of nine Elders who work with our Pastors and lead ministry Staff on ministry planning and ensuring ministry alignment with our priorities. This group’s goal for the next six months is to provide a connect point for ministry lay teams that provide programming, planning and ministry to our congregation and community.
What is the Executive Ministry Team?
Five Elders serve on the Executive Ministry Team. Provided for in the new First Pres Bylaws passed at the Annual Meeting in February 2013, this team of Elders works with the Pastoral leadership to help focus the work of Session and provide advice to the Pastoral leadership. This team is not a decision-making team but an advisory team that can meet between Session meetings and prepare issues for Session discussion as needed.
Can I attend a Session Meeting?
Yes. All Session meetings are open meetings. They typically take place on the third Tuesday of the month beginning at 6:45 p.m. in Room 435. If you plan to attend, please leave a message at Reception, 884-6100, so that we can look forward to greeting you and let you know if there has been a change in schedule for any reason. Alison Murray is the Executive Director of First Pres.
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FIRST PRES ELDERS 2014
Dorothy Alvarez Session Ministry Leadership Team
Paul Batura
Linda Boyles
Howard Brooks
Ralph Gates
Warren Gerig
David Jenkins
Paul Moede
Curtis Olson
Ruth Quinlan
Executive Ministry Team
Executive Ministry Team
Jim Martin
Session Ministry Leadership Team
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Strategic Finance Task Force
Session Ministry Leadership Team
Session Ministry Leadership Team
Trustee
Executive Ministry Team
Trustee
Session Ministry Leadership Team
To help you put faces to the names, below is the current board of Elders at First Pres. Elders come from a variety of ministry areas and represent both newer members and those who have been in our community for decades.
Keith Bryant
Craig Engelage Trustee
Session Ministry Leadership Team
Marlene Kort
Leah Landolfi
Stuart Lark
Cindy Sparks
Stan Stevens
Steve Williams
Session Ministry Leadership Team
Worship Arts
Trustee/Executive Ministry Team
Session Ministry Leadership Team
Executive Ministry Team
Kate Fugate
Trustee
George Lenz Trustee
Trustee
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By Dale McClure
Know Your Bible
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oward Hansen was born on a farm near Dannebrog, Nebraska. The tiny village was originally populated by Danes and its name means “Danish flag.” After high school, Hansen attended a business college for one year, but found nothing compelling there, so he went to work for a drugstore. While stocking shelves and guiding customers to whatever they required, the pharmacy attracted his attention. He enrolled and graduated with highest honors from the College of Pharmacy of Creighton University. The fact that he delivered the valedictorian address could have been a precognition of his real calling, but he became a registered pharmacist. While filling prescriptions he listened to the Nebraska farmers and ranchers describing their pains and ailments. In 1924, he heard another voice; it was God calling. The former pharmacist entered the Presbyterian Seminary in Omaha and graduated in 1927. Subsequently, he became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Clay Center,
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Kansas. Clay Center is the seat of Clay County, but not much larger than Dannebrog. Even with a small population to draw from, Hansen cultivated a thriving ministry there and attracted the attention of our pastoral search committee after Dr. Wallace Carver had left for New Jersey in 1937. For some time it was generally known to the Clay Center church that we had issued a call to Hansen to come to Colorado Springs. As the word of his possible departure began to permeate the small municipality, attendance in their worship services swelled. Not-so active members, visitors and former members, thinking that this could be their last opportunity to hear Hansen preach, became active once again. When Hansen actually tendered his resignation to the Clay Center congregation, they refused to accept it. They said that the bond between the pastor and congregation was so unusual, beautiful and dear that they did not want it broken. It was only after several meetings with the session and the congregation that the presbytery was able to dissolve the relationship between Hansen and the Kansas church. The session of the Clay Center congregation mailed a letter to Colorado Springs to make sure that we knew of their great distress. They wrote, the only “reconciling feeling in the whole matter is that the Rev. and Mrs. Hansen feel that they are being led by the hand of God to this new field of labor.” Hansen was installed as our pastor on March 10, 1938. Creating a Bible study does not seem unusual to First Pres members today, but in Hansen’s time it was considered an innovation. He had taught an overview of the Bible at the Clay Center and thought it would bear repeating here. The course was called “Know Your Bible,” and included mimeographed
study questions each Wednesday night. That was another innovation. It was a good fit for our church, too, and it continued for four years. In the 1960s, Hansen introduced a similar study, called “The Bethel Series.” Helping people understand Scripture was his passion. In his book To God Be the Glory, Jim Smith wrote this about Hansen’s preaching: “His gifts drew people to Christ and into active participation in the church. In 1939, radio station KVOR began broadcasting the Sunday morning services of the downtown churches. As Dr. Hansen’s sermons were heard over the airwaves, he gained a reputation as a strong evangelical preacher. At a time when other ministers were using social issues and psychology as a basis for their sermons, Dr. Hansen’s sermons were Biblically based and Christ centered. Though by nature, a reserved, and even a shy person, he spoke with confidence and conviction each Sunday morning and evening. His style was engaging and easy to follow and he used a masterful blend of personal stories, humor and a wide variety of illustrations from his vast reading of theology, the classics, poetry and current literature. By 1941, so many requests were being made for copies of his sermons, the church began making them available in leaflet form.” In 1953, to mark his first 15 years of ministry in our church, Hansen was given a three and a half month tour of Europe and the Holy Land by the Congregation. The redoubtable Florence Stote presented the tickets at the award ceremony. She said, “Dr. Hansen was
chosen to lead us out of the spiritual lethargy of the Depression and had succeeded! The tickets are for a round trip because we want you to come back refreshed and ready to lead us into an even greater era.” He and Mrs. Hansen sailed on the Queen Mary. While in Palestine, Hansen took some water from the Jordan River and brought it back to the States. On October 26, 1953, he baptized his granddaughter with it. Photography was one of Hansen’s hobbies. He took many snapshots while on the excursion. Upon the Hansens’ return in the fall, they started a series of slide shows of their travels after the Sunday evening service. Often these ordeals are boring events of interest to only those who were behind the camera. That was not the case with these pictures. The interest was so great that they had to do two showings each week – one before the service and another after. Hansen was a member of the Pikes Peak Camera Club. On September 5, 1949, he won two first place awards in a photography contest with the club. The theme subject was railroading. He won first place in the subject category and in the open category as well. Being involved in the community of Colorado Springs was also something that Hansen enjoyed. He was president of the Ministerial Left: Presentation of trip tickets by Florence Stote Right: Baptizing granddaughter Below: Breaking ground for Hansen Hall
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But where were we to put all of these Sunday scholars? The old 1911Sabbath School annex was overflowing. Several lots east of the alley were purchased and a modern educational structure was erected in 1951. It had only three floors then, and did not extend all the way to Weber Street. In spite of his objections, the boards of the church named the new The Hansens marked Howard’s 20th anniversary at First Pres with a dinner party at their home in 1958. Photo courtesy of the Special Collections Department of the PPLD. 43-room plant Hansen Hall. Alliance, the Rotary Club and the first presiThe 1888 sanctuary was a problem, too. dent of the Knife and Fork Club. He was part Even the overflow areas of the Lecture Room of the Pikes Peak Council of the Boy Scouts, and Dome Room had reached capacity. Most on the city’s Board of Family Counseling and of the worshipers in those spaces could not a board member of the Young Life Institute. even see the pulpit, but most of them did have He liked the citizens of our city and enjoyed a good view of the choir members from being with them, even if they didn’t come to behind. In April of 1959 the new $1,026,000 hear him preach. Sanctuary was dedicated to God’s purposes. April 1967 brought a tragic event for Our pastor was a frequent speaker at commencement and baccalaureate services in Hansen and all who were part of the church. the city and around the state. In 1955 he spent Emma, his wife, lost a two year battle with several weeks preaching at “cowboy churches” cancer. The chimes in our tower were given to in Nebraska. These were outdoor meetings us as a memorial to her. around campfires where men who herded After more than 2,000 sermons, 1,100 cattle on ranches from miles around would weddings and 1,400 funerals, after a million gather to hear him break open the truths of dollar building campaign and after tending a God’s Word. congregation that grew from 1,100 to 3,100, Hansen knew that if our people were to Hansen announced his retirement in March have a thorough understanding of Scripture, of 1970. In recognition of his 32 years of ministry, Mayor Eugene McCleary they would need more than just his sermons proclaimed May 31, 1970 as Howard Hansen and his Wednesday evening Bible study. To Day in Colorado Springs. that end, a Director of Christian Education was hired. Her name was Mary Frances Two years later, he and the second Mrs. Redding. The quality of the education Hansen were killed in an automobile accident improved measurably by training Sunday while vacationing in Arkansas. On April 24, school teachers and using professionally writ- 1972, with Pastors Wecks, Lockyer, Flanagan, ten graded curriculum. After Mary Francis, Edwards and Stevens officiating at his memoHansen hired June Pauline Gardner, who rial service, they all said goodbye to the man who wanted them to know the Bible. built on the foundation that her predecessor had laid to create one of the fastest growing Dale McClure is the archivist for First Pres. Sunday schools in the nation.
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Find a Place to belong this Summer Summer camps at First Pres! We offer a host of camps and activities for kids of all ages. Below is a listing of the camp opportunities for summer 2014. Ascent Camps • Upward Bound, June 1 to 6, 3rd to 6th grade, Camp Elim Cost: $350 (Must register by May 24) Upward Bound overnight camp offers campers the opportunity to connect with friends in cabin groups, adult counselors and God through Bible studies and talks. Campers also get to experience ziplines, skits, archery and make crafts.
Summer Music and Art Camps • Handbell Camp, July 7 to 11, 3rd to 12th grade, 9 a.m. to noon, First Pres Cost: $15 The participants will be divided into groups according to ability. Instruction groups, directed by Jan Weiser, will be held at First Presbyterian Church in the Adult Choir room and the Youth Choir room.
• Summit Camp, June 8 to 13, 5th through 8th grade, Camp Elim Cost: $350 (Must register by May 24) Summit Camp offers campers time to bond, have fun and have adventures, while challenging them to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Fine Arts Workshop, July 14 to 18, ages 12 and up, 9 a.m. to noon, First Pres Cost: $80 This faith-based Fine Arts Workshop is offered to 16 participants who are 12 years old and up and are interested in advancing their skills in drawing and painting. There will be a unique opportunity for artistic expression of music culminating with the students’ art exhibited in conjunction with the Orchestra Camp concert on the evening of July 18 at 7 p.m.
• Upbeat Camp, June 23 to 27, 3rd to 8th grade, First Pres Cost: $110 (Must register by May 24) Campers will learn an entire musical in one week and perform the show on Friday evening. The free final performance will be Friday, June 27 in the Fellowship Hall, followed by a dessert potluck. VBS VBS Under the Stars, July 7 to 11, ages 4 to fourth grade, 6 to 7:30 p.m., First Pres Cost: $10 VBS Under The Stars will help kids learn what it means to follow Jesus as we serve the needs of people in our city. Each evening we will lift up a specific need while engaging kids in service projects to support local community agencies. The week concludes with a family gathering at 5 p.m. on Friday night in America the Beautiful Park.
• Orchestra Camp, July 14 to 18, middle school to college age, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Pres Cost: $80, $65 for winds This camp is for intermediate and advanced instrumentalists, middle school through college-age. For five days students will engage in individual and group instruction and the five days will conclude with an evening concert, allowing students to perform with professional coaches in a city-wide ensemble. The camp culminates with a concert on Friday, July 18, at 7 p.m.
To register for camp this summer, visit www.first-pres.org/camps. 5-6/14 | www.first-pres.org | 19
address
20 | www.first-pres.org 5-6/14
SERVICE
REQUESTED
Non Profit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Colo. Spgs. CO Permit No. 419
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Registration deadline June 27
July 7-11, 2014 •