March 2013

u find jesus

this lenten season | 8 diving into 2013 | 12 loving well | 15

Dear First Pres Family, What an incredible start to the year we’ve had. I want to thank everyone for the responses you gave me during our grief series, which kicked off the year. The stories and concerns you shared were powerful, and I really felt God moving through this congregation as we looked at that hard topic. I want to encourage any of you out there who still feel like you’re in the midst of grief and seeking the “Dawn of a New Day” to consider our Grief Workshop. Registration begins this month and the Grief Workshop kicks off on Monday, April 1. It can be a great place to explore your grief and find the strength and support to move forward.

This month we continue our Lent series as we push on toward Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. We are blessed to be able to feature another incredible guest speaker as part of our series on justice and mercy as Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International, will deliver the message during the morning services on Sunday, March 17. This will be a time to learn more about another organization working to help children in need around our world, and it will be a chance to hear from another incredibly passionate speaker. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Wess Stafford on March 17.

In addition, during Lent, we will continue live art in our worship services. We have received a great deal of comments about the live art — which we did during Advent as well — and I want to thank you all for your input. I see this as another opportunity to showcase the talent and passion of this congregation, a new way to connect people with God and a chance to explore a new dimension to worship. I want to thank the artists for their dedication and passion, and I hope this experience will enhance your worship of God during our Lent season.

Finally, I hope you’ll join us for one of the eight services we’re offering this Easter. This year we will offer a special Sunset Service on Saturday, March 30 at 5 p.m. that will kick off our Easter celebration. On Sunday morning, Nate Stratman, Director of Family Ministries, will lead a Sunrise Service on the Weber Street lawn at 6 a.m. Then, I will be speaking at six different worship services Sunday morning — at 7, 8:30, 10, and 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary and 9 and 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

I hope you’ll join us as we celebrate our risen Lord this Easter!

In Christ,

Graham Baird Senior Pastor First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs

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MARCH 2013 contents What's At Stake in Worship? . . . . . . . 4 Eunice McGarrahan

By Our Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Caty Rozema Find Jesus this Lenten Season . . . . . . 8 Amy Erickson Leaders Set Sights on Sustaining ECO ‘Movement’ . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Matthew Fox

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Diving into 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Matthew Fox Loving Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Matthew Fox

Contributing Writers: Amy Erickson, Matthew Fox, Eunice McGarrahan, Caty Rozema

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Contributing Editors: Matthew Fox, Alison Murray Contributing Photographers: Beryl Glass, Mattea Norman Graphic Design: Beryl Glass Proofreading Team: Mary Bauman, 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 2013, Volume Five, © 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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By Eunice McGarrahan

As part of the focus on 2013 being “The Year We Are to Worship,” Junior McGarrahan, director of Parish Associates for First Pres, will be offering a sixpart series focusing on lessons learned from The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton.

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uman beings worship. Everyone may not be in a pew on Sunday, but everyone worships…in football stadiums…at rock concerts or political rallies…or in front of a mirror or a bank account. We want to give ourselves over to something that seems greater than ourselves. We want to get lost in something that seems to matter. But it is important that we worship the right

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thing because, in many ways, we become what we worship. That’s why John Calvin, our theological forerunner, has said that we have to get two things right: (1) how we understand our salvation and (2) how we worship.

Mark Labberton has said, “Worship names what matters most: the way human beings are created to reflect God’s glory by embodying God’s character in lives that seek righteousness and justice. Such comprehensive worship redefines all we call ordinary. Worship happens to be the dangerous act of waking up to God and to the purposes of God in the world, and then living lives that actually show it.”

Worship matters and 2013 has been designated as The Year We Are to Worship. Since we have worshiped here for more than 140 years week in and week out, what makes this year different? Well, some things will not be different. Each Sunday we will gather to give thanks and praise to the One who has given us everything. Each week we will hear God’s Word proclaimed, praying that we will be renewed in heart, mind and will. And each week, we hope we will leave worship transformed. What we want to do this year, though, is think about what worship is while we are worshiping. The guide for our reflection on worship will be Labberton’s book The Dangerous Act of Worship.

Why do we care so much about worship?

We care because God cares. The Old Testament is filled with God’s desires for worship.

It began when Adam and Eve spent a day of rest with their Creator before they began to tend the Garden. We see it in the giving of the Ten Commandments that, in summary, tell us that we are to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. And, because our love of God must be total, we will then love our neighbor in ways that honor them, their relationships and their possessions. Worship in both the Tabernacle and the Temple were the center of life for the people of God. When

they lost the Temple and were sent into exile because of idolatry, they hardly knew who they were anymore. The Old Testament describes God’s continual call to true worship and the people’s continual worship of false gods.

In Isaiah 58, God tells the people that He wanted them to delight in the Sabbath, a time for relinquishing control and trusting God to provide for all their needs. Instead, the people decided that their preferred spiritual practice would be the self-controlled discipline of fasting. The problem was their self-control morphed into self-centered oppression of others. You see, worship is not just about our relationship with God, but how our relationship with God affects our relationships with others.

Jesus explains this quite succinctly in Matthew 5:23-24. He says that worship should result in the reconciliation of wrongs. In other words, worship is the place where we realize how things should be and our worship experience is not complete until we have gone into the world to set things right, then always...always… returning to worship.

It is in the worship of a holy and merciful God that we learn what the Lord wants for His world. When we take delight in the Lord, whether in corporate or personal worship, His desires become our desires. This is what is at stake in worship — not whether I feel good about God, but whether what the Lord wants becomes what I want. That could be a very dangerous outcome of worship.

Junior McGarrahan is director of Parish Associates for First Pres.

Next Time: Why Worship is Dangerous

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...by our love

By Caty Rozema

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ow can we show the world we are Christians by our love? During Holy Week we will journey through the Stations of the Cross alongside our neighbors, those consumed by injustice, heartbreak and despair. We will give them our time and our hearts. And they will know we are Christians by our love.

Tangibly, we love through One Great Hour of Sharing. This annual offering allows us to rain down blessings on God’s children who are “the least of these.” And they will know we are Christians by our love.

This year the offering will go to organizations that love by alleviating injustice near and far.

Those organizations being supported include: The Outreach Foundation — Our gifts will go directly to those displaced by the conflict in Syria, providing food, medicine, housing, fuel and school fees through the Refugee Assistance Program.

Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) — In addition to feeding the hungry, SRM provides residential recovery programs for men and chronically homeless families, as well as support services for many in need and facilitates mentoring teams working with homeless families.

Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM) — Through its Direct Services, Housing and Jobs Programs, Food Pantry and Mental Health Services, ESM provides more than 60,000 services to more than 20,000 individuals annually.

Urban Peak — Located just blocks from our building, Urban Peak gives shelter, food, clothing, medical care, GED classes and counseling to some of the 1.6 to 2.8 million youths who are homeless.

This Holy Week, may we unabashedly give our time, hearts and riches. May the world know that we are Christians by our love.

Look for a letter in the mail regarding this year’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering just prior to Palm Sunday, March 24.

Caty Rozema is part of the Local Missions Team.

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Join us for Easter 2013 Saturday, March 30 5 p.m. - Sanctuary Sunday, March 31 6 a.m. Sunrise Service Weber Street Lawn • 7, 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m. - Sanctuary • 9, 10:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall Nursery opens at 8 a.m.

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Find Jesus this Lenten season

By Amy Erickson

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t the cross we find out that God shows carried Jesus’ cross, but the crosses people up where we would least expect Him. carry today may not be made of wood. A The divine Creator makes Himself known as a single mom trying to feed her family. A man bloodied, convicted and dying man abanwho has been deployed, wanting to care for doned on the outskirts of a First Century his wife and children back at home. A town. In the Catholic tradition, monasterwoman who lived on the streets, learning ies contain artwork known as the “stations that the forgiveness Jesus offers is for her of the cross” that depict moments as Jesus and she can be made clean. The evening carried His cross outside of Jerusalem. was so well done, so theologically rich it They were originally used to teach medi- THE was truly a holy time during Holy Week eval illiterates but still exist today to to meditate on the difference Christ’s encourage reflection on Christ’s suffering death should make in how I live my life.” on our behalf.

We believe This year will the God of the mark First Pres’ universe has third year of entered into our “Journey to the territory to Cross.” Like the Catholic tradition, it redeem and make it new — even the includes a progression of “stations” places of brokenness and pain in Coloparalleling Jesus’ own Holy week journey. rado Springs. Our God destroys evil by These stations, however, are not works of enduring the suffering it inflicts. And art, they are actual places in our city. The while we find Him in the most unlikely week before Easter we visit them to find places, we also know the story does not out that our God still shows up where we end on a cross on Friday night, but at an least expect Him — in the abandoned, empty tomb on Sunday morning. hurting and broken places.

Our journey is to see where His story This year there will be 14 stations scatintersects with our own, here and now, and tered throughout our city. We will reflect to enter into it in light of his story of on moments of Jesus’ passion — His bloodredemption. In the words of renowned theosweating prayers in the garden of Gethlogian Karl Barth, this redemption “did not take semane, His betrayal by Judas, His denial by place in heaven or in some remote planet or Peter, His last breaths and His burial. Our even in some world of ideas; it took place in our reflection will take place in the context of time in the centre of the world-history in which suffering in our city. We will step into God’s our human life is played out.” We are sent to work in our city through ministry partners experience the pain of our city in light of the like Compassion International, the Mesa hope of the resurrection. Our God is redeeming House and Urban Peak. and making all things new, not without our “I was so moved by the range of ways they brokenness and pain, but in spite of it. gave image to, created a picture of, what it For a full list of the stations of the cross look means to carry someone else’s cross,” said for the bulletin insert on Sunday, March 10.

Dorothy Alvarez of her experience last year at Amy Erickson is an intern at First Pres. the station at Solid Rock. “Simon of Cyrene

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Stations of the Cross 2013

3/25 Mon

SCRIPTURE STATION Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane Every Home Matthew 26:36-41 For Christ

3/25 Mon

Jesus betrayed by Judas and arrested Mark 14:43-46

Mission Medical Clinic

3/26 Tues

Jesus condemned by Sanhedrin Luke 22:66-71

IHN

3/26 Tues

Jesus denied by Peter Matthew 26:69-75

Compassion International

3/26 Tues

Jesus judged by Pilate Mark 15:1-5, 15

Dale House

3/27 Wed

Jesus scourged & crowned w/ thorns John 19:1-3

Spring Rescue Mission

3/27 Wed

Jesus takes up His cross John 19:6, 15-17

ESL

3/27 Wed

Jesus helped by Simon to carry His cross Solid Rock Mark 15:21

3/28 Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem Th Luke 23:27-31 3/28 Th

Jesus crucified Luke 23:33-34

Human Trafficking Inn at Garden Plaza

3/29 Fri

Jesus promises His kingdom to repentant thief - Luke 23:39-43

3/29 Fri

Jesus entrusts Mary & John to each other Fostering Hope John 19:25-27

3/30 Sat

Jesus dies on cross Luke 23:44-46

Monument House/ Mesa House

3/30 Sat

Jesus laid in tomb Matthew 27:57-60

Waldo Canyon Fire Area

Urban Peak

For more information about the locations, addresses and times of Stations of the Cross visit www.first-pres.org/journey.

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Leaders Set Sights on Sustaining

‘Movement’

By Matthew Fox

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n January 2012, Presbyterian church leaders from around the country gathered in Orlando, Florida to learn about a new vision for church. Rev. John Ortberg, of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Northern California, laid out a vision for a new denomination — ECO (The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians).

In the months that followed, churches began populating the new denomination — with First Pres joining ECO and the Presbytery of the West in June 2012. In January 2013 Presbyterians again gathered in Orlando — this time not to discuss starting a new denomination but focusing on how to sustain one.

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ECO currently has 31 church members with another 48 churches in the process of joining. In addition, there are more than 100 churches in the discernment process about joining ECO. But the challenge is to keep the vision that sparked the new denomination moving forward.

The opening message — given by Willow Creek Association President Jim Mellado — focused on sustaining the momentum of a movement. His keys were remarkable ideas, courageous leadership and creating models that embody the remarkable ideas and courageous leaders.

John Crosby, Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota, and Rich Kannwischer, Pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California, followed with some tangible foci for those in attendance.

One is to see each church in ECO have more baptisms than funerals by 2018.

In 2012, First Pres had 60 deaths and performed 64 baptisms — including 42 infant baptisms. Last year marked the first time in four years that baptisms exceeded deaths, showing First Pres is on track to accomplish the goal set out for ECO congregations.

“It was challenging thinking of new ways of measuring success, not just using the three B’s — Budget, Buildings and Bottoms in Pews — is a refreshing challenge and brings us to the challenge of evaluating what God is doing in our midst,” said elder Ralph Gates, a First Pres commissioner at the conference. “I heard the challenge to throw off our addiction to

safety and comfort and to follow Jesus into those places where justice and mercy are needed as part of the direction we need to go as followers of Christ.”

Another primary focus is lifting up the Scriptures.

“We want to restore the primacy of the Gospel in our churches in our time,” Kannwisher told the crowd.

In addition the pair outlined three objectives for the coming year. ECO wants to help call the next generation of leaders, prioritize innovation in the church and commit to the idea of creating an atmosphere of relational accountability among churches. A primary means of accomplishing that goal is through Mission Affinity Groups — partnerships with other churches — to share struggles, concerns and best practices. First Pres is in the process of developing those relationships and will continue to solidify that moving forward.

“We want to make sure that as a church we work out the direction we believe God is calling us to go and develop a plan to accomplish that vision,” Ralph said. “We want to work on our relationship with other churches in ECO and those in the process of heading in ECO’s direction.”

Mike Thiel, who served as a commissioner for First Pres. “The conference validated that we have joined an organization that is seeking to spread the Gospel in creative ways with energy and passion.”

Among the topics discussed during the Synod meeting was a passion for church planting, an exploration of the new ordination procedure and updates to the ECO polity.

The Synod also heard plans for outlining the creation of additional Presbyteries.

Currently there are 30 churches in ECO, divided into a Presbytery of the West and Presbytery of the East divided by the Mississippi River. With 92 churches in the process of joining, additional Presbyteries will be formed and existing Presbyteries will be reconfigured to meet the ECO mandate of 10-20 churches per Presbytery.

We “want to

restore the primacy of the Gospel in our churches in our time

ECO Synod Meeting One of the changes with ECO is the form of governance. In the old Presbyterian Church USA model there were four levels of government — the local church, the Presbytery, the Synod (a regional body) and the General Assembly. The ECO model simplifies this by eliminating the General Assembly and using a Synod meeting as a way to bring the whole denomination together.

The first ECO Synod meeting was held during the conference in Orlando, allowing delegates from all ECO churches to gather and review business for the denomination.

“I thought the conference was exciting and highlighted some growing ministries,” said

Considering the French Confession Among the foci for the denomination is taking time to study the Confessions that are a part of our faith tradition. This year the focus will be on the French Confession, authored in 1559. As part of the focus on the French Confession, a nine-part Bible Study based on the confession and rooted in Scripture will be available as a ministry resource.

“I like the idea of studying a different confession each year,” Mike said. “It really brings home the confessional nature of our church and what we believe.”

The study for this year was written by Junior McGarrahan, lead Parish Assistant for First Pres. Junior was in Orlando to present the initial session of the study and share details about it with those gathered. All the sessions will be made available via the ECO/ Fellowship Website.

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To find a copy of the French Confession, visit the First Pres Library or view the online documents at www.fellowship-pres.org.

Matthew Fox is the manager of Communications for First Pres.

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diving into 2013 FIRST PRES YOUTH

By Matthew Fox

he New Year is barely two months old, but already plenty has taken place with the First Pres youth department — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg in 2013.

In December, First Pres bade goodbye to the year and to two key staff members as administrator Kathy Freyschlag stepped away to spend more time with family and high school ministries associate Spencer Norman stepped away from full-time ministry to pursue other paths. Those departures paved the way for new additions to the First Pres ministry team.

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Angie Powell has stepped into the role of associate of ministry development for the youth department while Scott Boss has

stepped into the role of high school ministry associate. Both bring fresh energy to the program in 2013.

“Both Scott and Angie were very strategic hires as we as a church get serious about integrating young people into the whole life of the church,” said Nate Stratman, director of family ministries. “They will help as the family ministries department attempts to make a greater impact not only for families but also the greater church.”

Scott came to First Pres from Glenkirk Church in Southern California. Both Scott and his wife, Kristen, are adjusting to life in a new state, at a new church and in a new area of ministry. At Glenkirk, Scott worked with junior high students and part of the challenge of coming to First Pres was engaging a new age group.

“It felt like it was time to take a step into the unknown, into something I hadn’t done,” he said. “It was a big step of faith in trusting God in the way He is going to lead me and stretch me.”

Angie took a different route to joining the First Pres team. She and her husband — J.P. — were in the military, which led to 21 moves in a 27-year span. The Powells first came to Colorado Springs in 2002 for three years before heading to Texas. But Angie and her children returned to Colorado Springs when J.P. deployed, and have chosen to remain as

he’s retired from active duty.

Angie is no stranger to teens, with three kids who’ve all moved through junior high and high school. Her oldest, Alison, is 25, middle son Casey is 21 and youngest daughter Kate, 17, is a senior in high school.

After firmly committing to First Pres during the midst of the ECO dismissal last year, Angie has volunteered in a variety of ministries. But she never imagined she would join the team — nor was she seeking a full time job. But when she was asked to take up the administrative role in the youth department, after praying and talking it over with her family, she decided to take on the challenge.

Though she’s still getting used to the ins and outs of the job, Angie said she loves being a part of the team at First Pres.

“It’s been very rewarding in many, many ways,” she said. “When I watch our team interact with the students and leaders I am in awe and humbled. Everything about what we do here makes me want to be a better follower

Youth gather around the campfire at winter camp.

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of Christ. There’s lots of life in this building.

For me, that’s been the most rewarding part.”

Scott got a chance to dive right in as the high school group headed to winter camp February 1 to 3 at Frontier Ranch in Buena Vista, Colorado. A group of 45 students and 15 leaders partnered with other high schoolers and leaders from Woodman Valley Chapel for the camp. Scott said it was a great time of learning, bonding and fellowship.

“That was the first time we’ve partnered with another church, which was great,” he said. “It’s great to be able to have students look around the room and realize they’re not alone in following Jesus Christ. It think it made a big impact; I know it did when I was in high school.”

Though it’s a new area of ministry, Scott said he’s really enjoyed working the First Pres team, getting to know the kids and making new connections. He said he’s excited about what First Pres does, the Sticky Faith concepts and the ministry happening in this community. He’s also excited to find ways to help students grow in faith.

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“I think the biggest thing we’re missing is the small group aspect,” Scott said. “Our goal with high school is to prepare them for life, for college or for the next step. The emphasis of Sticky Faith is to help them continue their faith after they graduate. The goal is to create deeper relationships with the students and their families.”

High schoolers will have a chance to explore their faith in a new way during Spring Break as First Pres heads on a mission trip to Arkansas March 22 through March 30. There, First Pres students and leaders will be partnering with First Presbyterian Church in McGehee to serve in a variety of ways.

In addition to the high school trip, the First Pres youth department will have a busy March. From March 1 to 3 students in fifth through eighth grades will head to winter camp at Camp Elim in Woodland Park, Colorado. About 100 First Pres students are already registered for the camp.

In March the emphasis on Sticky Faith events will take off as well. Each month on the third Friday First Pres will host Sticky Faith events. Events will fall into three categories — family game nights, parents’ night out or home gatherings. On Friday, March 15, First Pres will host a family game night.

For more information on upcoming youth activities, call Angie at 884-6220 or visit www. first-pres.org/students.

Matthew Fox is the Manager of Communications for First Pres.

Winter Camp photos by Mattea Norman

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n January, Jourdan Foran joined the staff at First Pres as the interim associate of the college ministry program. Jourdan has been a part of First Pres since 2005, volunteering in a number of areas including spending the past two years as a lay leader in the college program.

“She loves people well,” said Katie Dayton, associate pastor for Missional Strategies.

“Walks with students with the desire to see them live fully into their passions, gifting and calling. She comes into a room, into a community and brings life. She notices people, and makes them feel like they are the most important person. She can bring people together for a bigger cause and purpose.”

The First Pres college group meets at 9:45 a.m. at Café 225 on Sunday mornings and gathers for Worship Nights the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Jourdan also spends a good deal of time meeting students where they are on the campus at Colorado College, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Community College. First Pres Magazine sat down with Jourdan to explore her passion for college students and vision for the ministry.

FP Magazine: What drew you to this position?

Jourdan: I just love this age. I love the vulnerability, the impact that can be made in

this four years with them and to be able to provide community for this group. We provide the spiritual aspect, the emotional aspect and just a good environment for them to be around.

FP Magazine: What’s been the best part of the experience so far?

Jourdan: There’s a lot of new energy this semester. I really feel like the students are taking ownership of their ministry, which is encouraging to see. They want to lead and I want to facilitate that in them.

FP Magazine: What’s your vision for the program?

Jourdan: I want to create in the group a spirit of service and discipleship, and I want them to feel empowered to live out the Gospel and to understand what it means to encounter the Gospel. I really want to help them live out the Gospel on their campus and for the church to understand this is an empowered generation.

March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th – Journey to the Cross Lunch Discussion March 12th – Worship Night at 225 March 15th – Church Family Game Night March 22nd-30th – Arkorado Mission Trip March 24th – Serving at Shove Chapel Soup Kitchen

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