First Pres Magazine July 2012

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Dear Members and Friends of First Pres, This month we celebrate the extraordinary ministry of Jim and Sara Singleton and the wonderful legacy they leave with us. How good and gracious it was of God to loan them to us these last seven years!

We know that not everyone in our community was able to join us for the church picnic that was held in the Singletons’ honor. On page 4 you can read an article in which Jim and Sara share their thoughts on their ministry here. As we go through these next weeks, we would encourage you to pray for them and reflect on the impact they’ve had on our congregation in general and your family in particular.

Jim and Sara have been with us through many of our most significant moments.

They’ve baptized, married and buried loved ones. They’ve taught us, sang with us, told us moving stories, mentored and led us. They’ve cast a vision for a missional community and have opened our world to new opportunities and new ideas. Most importantly, through their teaching and preaching of the Gospel, they’ve reminded us that it is only God who can ultimately change and transform our hearts. It is only Jesus who can rescue and redeem our culture. And they’ve reminded us that it’s this same Jesus who wants to use us —broken pots and all—to join him on the journey.

To paraphrase the words of the apostle Paul (Phil 1:3), in the years to come, we will thank our God every time we think of them.

With grateful hearts, First Pres Elders Dorothy Alvarez Paul Batura Howard Brooks Randy Case Craig Engelage

Jeffrey Freyschlag Kathryn Fugate Carol Galambos Ralph Gates Warren Gerig

David Jenkins Leah Landolfi Stuart Lark George Lenz James Martin

Annie Moore Curtis Olson Ruth Quinlan Richard Schultz Cynthia Sparks Peter Teets

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! ­—2 Corinthians 9:12-15 12

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JULY 2012 contents Farewell Interview with Jim and Sara Singleton . . . . . . . . . 4 Alison Murray Jean Cauvin: The Father of Reformed Beliefs . . . . . . 8 Hugh Eaton Triumph Over Tragedy . . . . . . . . . 10 Matt Holtzman Inquiring Minds Want to Know . . . . . 11 The Kids of First Pres

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In Faith Alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Junior McGarrahan Letting God Out of the Box . . . . . . . 14 Kirkie Morrissey Contributing Writers: Hugh Eaton, Matt Holtzman, Junior McGarrahan, Kirkie Morrissey, Alison Murray

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Contributing Editors: Becky Armstrong, Alison Murray 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 July 2012, Volume Four, © First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, CO. Published

by First Presbyterian Church, a non-profit organization.

To contact First Pres Magazine: 719-884-6231 or 219 E. Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1392 or magazine@first-pres.org. Printed in the U.S.A. We welcome volunteer writers, photographers, editors and proofreaders to the magazine team! Contact Becky Armstrong at becky.armstrong999@gmail.com if you are interested.

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Vol. IV No.7

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ALL THE NEWS WE SEE FIT TO PRINT

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Summer 2012

HALL OF FAMER SINGLETON BLASTS HOMER TO WIN GAME! E XC LU S I V E I N T E RV I E W W I T H O U TG O I N G S E N I O R PA S TO R J I M S I N G L E TO N A N D PA R I S H A S S O C I AT E S A R A S I N G L E TO N

— By Alison Murray — FPM: Jim, a year from now when you look back at your time here, what will be your dominant memory of First Pres?

Jim: The dominant memory will be the two congregational votes we’ve had in April and May. The heartfelt sharing and yet enormous sense of unity in the body was powerful.

Not everyone voted yes on everything, but we are finding ways to agree to disagree and still love each other. I am just so grateful for all we experienced on those two Sundays.

“Jim’s a game changer—an inspired and gifted teacher.”

FPM: What do you like most about being here at First Pres?

enthusiasm of the people in the room is always such a joy.

Did you know there are just 19 rows from back to front?

It feels like I can almost touch the back row and I can reach out and hug the whole bunch of you. I am going to remember Big Blue, our contemporary worship and all the special things we have done in worship over these last years. It’s special!

Jim: First Pres Sanctuary is the absolute very best place to preach the Gospel. The

FPM: Sara, tell us what you will take with you from here?

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Sara: Seven years ago, I had just graduated from Seminary.

It had taken a lot for me to go to Seminary in the first instance. When we arrived, I had my degree, but I still wasn’t sure if I belonged in the pastorate. I began work here as Quinn Fox’s administrative assistant, mostly responsible for GTW and the Sunday Schools. When I couldn’t find a Sunday school teacher, I volunteered. I was in 23 different classes over those years. Then Cliff Anderson, who was retiring from being

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wanted to change careers and could he, his wife and daughter stay with us for a short time while they got back on their feet. It was a joyous and demanding time, made all the more special by our granddaughter, Olive.

Around this same time, my

and demanding job, and one can easily become harried and lose your sense of self. For me, this time has been a positive one. I thank my family and my extended First Pres family for the gift of rooting and settling me during these challenging times.

“ Jim exudes a warmth and comfort from the moment you meet him that is an ideal quality for a pastor. . . maybe its the beard.” the Pathfinder’s Sunday School teacher, asked me to help with Pathfinders. It was Pathfinders that gave me the support and the sense that I was called to be a minister. It really has been this church that took me scared to death, wet behind the ears and allowed me to teach and engage in spiritual formation.

It taught me that I could do this thing called ministry.

father died in Richmond and we asked my mother, Peggy Long, if she wanted to come to Colorado. We’ve had the joy of having her very close by and I’m with her every day. Not wanting to be left out, when our daughter in Texas realized that the entire family was back in Colorado, she wanted to know why she couldn’t live with us too!

FPM: Sara, it’s been a busy seven years for you with family too. Tell us about that.

I know many of you are also raising children, grandchildren and taking care of aging parents. It is a tough

Sara: Three years ago, our son called and said he

FPM: What’s next for the two of you?

Jim: Sara and I carry this church with us. We’ve had more things to learn here than any place we’ve ever been. I really thought when I left Austin, Texas that I would teach full-time. God sent me to First Pres instead.

Now I look at where we are and I realize that God put me here intentionally for this season. I know it ➳

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backs up to a state park and bird sanctuary. We are going to name our house “Sparrows Nest” from Psalm 84.

“ The Singletons gave themselves fully to Christ, the staff and the congregation.” feels short for some of you, but we have accomplished many things: we have understood who we are as a congregation, we have begun to see how a local congregation can impact the kingdom, we are moving to a new denomination and seeing God’s call on our lives in whole new ways. For all these things, as difficult as they have been, we celebrate and praise God for leading us to this place.

As I leave here, God has finally called me to teach full-time. In August, I begin at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

My job is in the Practical Theology Department training pastors on how to be pastors in churches. I will 6 | www.first-pres.org 7/12

also continue in my role as President of The Fellowship of Presbyterians and on the weekends I will travel to talk with churches who are considering either ECO or the Fellowship.

Sara: I am continuing to be the best friend and caregiver to my Mom. It was last fall when we shared the news with my mother and she and I began looking at houses online. My mother found our house, it’s in Ipswich, and it

I will continue a leadership role within the Lausanne Movement, as well as my work with the Elder Leadership Institute (ELI) at Whitworth University.

When our great friend and mentor Bill Johnson went to be with the Lord last year, he and his wife Rachel established a fund to create an institute to prepare lay leaders for the spiritual leadership of churches.

Through Bill’s gift, Jim and I will be able to realize a lifelong dream of providing a place for lay leadership to receive spiritual mentoring and leadership training for the purpose of raising up the local church.

FPM: Do you each have a last word for First Pres?

Sara: Good byes are hard to do! I don’t like good byes. I don’t want a hard landing.

The only way I can leave is with a better image. I believe it comes from the stands of aspen trees. The aspen is the largest living organism

“ I will miss the way he would scan the congregation on Sunday morning with a knowing and somewhat sneaky smile. Nobody is just a number to Jim Singleton. He’s made all of us sinners feel like beloved saints.”

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on planet Earth. Each tree is connected. I believe that my seven years here have connected me with you, that we are one big aspen grove, and we will maintain our connections forever. Our primary tree is the one Lord that is Lord of us all.

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING ABOUT JIM AND SARA: • Hospitable

• Big brother

• Welcoming

• Friends

• Missional hearts

• Open-minded

• Expanded our vision of kingdom work

• Leader

• Thoughtful • Thought-provoking Jim: We’ve had great times, good times and not so good times in these last seven years. We’ve had to respond to an economic recession that has hurt so many. We’ve had personal crisis in so many families. We’ve had congregational crisis as we’ve moved through these last two years determining how to react to the changes at the denominational level.

Through it all, we joined hands and set our eyes on God. He has been faithful to us as we’ve been faithful to him. Pastoring this church has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I take with me enormous encouragement, great memories and above all friendships of a lifetime. We will miss each and every one of you.

• Intuitive • Truly care about people • Sacrificial • Atmosphere of grace and kindness • Live Christ’s love • Command of people’s names • Transparent • Joy-filled • Mentor

• Helped us become a church of many generations • Radiate the love of Christ • Thank you, Sara, for sharing your beautiful smile and making me feel special • Thank you for bringing young children into our church services • Jim loves children and children love Jim! • They love Jesus more than themselves

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Cauvin The Father of Reformed Beliefs

By Hugh Eaton

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By Matt Holtzman

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ne of the great joys of being a worship leader is unearthing the stories that are tied to particular praise choruses or hymns.

Throughout history, people have written lyrics that have stemmed from their personal experiences and emotions.

Unforgettable is Horatio Stafford’s unimaginable personal tragedy; after watching his 4-year-old son die of scarlet fever, only to grieve the death of all four of his daughters in a shipwreck off the coast of England just three years later. Stafford would soon express the prayer of his heart, writing the words to the now historic hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. For over 130 years this beloved hymn has led people from the darkness of their circumstance back into a place of trust and assurance in God. Many of the praise songs we use in worship are also connected to meaningful, even lifealtering experiences lived out by their authors.

One song that we have recently added in the contemporary services is God is Moving by Jon Abel. A few years ago, Jon’s worship leading and songwriting career was threatened when he lost the use of one his fingers in a lawnmower accident.

“In a split second, everything changed,” Jon reflects. “Without my ring finger on my left hand, it felt like everything was in jeopardy. How could I play the guitar now, when that finger was so crucial to almost every chord I played?” Everything had suddenly come to a halt. Later during a time of 10 | www.first-pres.org 7/12

solitude, Jon came across Proverbs 16:9 which states, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Jon was reminded of God’s faithfulness in the midst of his uncertainty and personal hardship.

Over the next few months, Jon discovered a new way to play his guitar, without his ring finger. He continued leading worship and writing praise songs, now with the God-given perspective that he would minister out of his weakness. The lyrics, later co-written with Chad Cates and Lee Black, would testify to the movement of God: God is moving, God is moving still He always has, he always will.

At First Pres, we stand at a very pivotal moment in our story. As we journey into a new movement together (ECO), as we say “goodbye” to the Singletons and say “hello” to the Bairds. and we wrestle in our individual lives with the unknown of what’s to come, may we all live into what Ephesians 5 exhorts: “Be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Matt Holtzman works as the worship leader at First Pres. He is also a songwriter and piano soloist. Matt is happily married to his lovely wife, Brooke, and they are both taking great delight in raising their three boys: Samuel, Luke and Micah.

How does it feel to speak in front of thousands of people?

(Grace 4th grade) It was initially frightening to speak in front of so many people, but with practice I have learned to enjoy it. (Jim Singleton) How long are you here on a Sunday?

(Nick 4th grade) I arrive before 6 a.m. and then go home about 1:00 p.m. I then return at 4:30 p.m. for a few hours. (Jim Singleton) How long ago did you become a pastor? Why did you become a pastor?

(Dani-4th grade) I started serving in church ministry in 1997. I wanted to be a business man, but God changed my heart and led me into service of his church.

Even though I did not plan to be a pastor, I love being one now! (Joe Farrell) What kinds of pets do you have?

(Justin, Kindergarten) Right now I have 2 dogs. I have also had fish, cats, and a pet snake. (Joe Farrell) How do you use the scriptures to make decisions in your life?

(Sam, 3rd Grade) I want to make the teachings of the Bible real in my life, in everything I do, from the ways I treat my family and talk to strangers, to the way I take care of others and myself. I think the Bible is more than advice, it is a road map of truth about who God is, who we are, and how God has really designed us to live.

(Joe Farrell)

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In Faith

Alone

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW THE NUMBER of people who get public credit for a movie has skyrocketed? Everybody gets recognized for their work on the film, including the guy who brings the bottled water to lunch. This is probably as it should be, because no story can make it to the big screen without all the support that enables the promise to become a reality. Everybody gets credit.

That’s why it’s so hard for us to hear the words from Ephesians: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”1 It is clear from this, as well as from so many other New Testament passages, that we do not get any credit for our salvation. There is nothing we can contribute to the process…at all.

Since the source of our being brought back into relationship with God is his grace alone,

Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV

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we can’t take credit for that. We know that grace is the gift of God, but what about faith?

That’s something we do, isn’t it? That brings us then to the third watchword of the Reformation—sola fide—faith alone.

If God gives grace, then with what shall we experience that grace? It is faith and faith alone. Faith is the act of trust in unseen spiritual realities that allows us to experience all that God has to offer. I’m sure you’ve heard the analogy that compares an act of faith to sitting in a chair. It’s an image that helps us think about how faith alone brings the blessings of God’s grace into our lives.

As we go about our lives, trying to bear the burden of our sin and guilt on our own, we become very weary. We yearn for rest and relief. A chair appears. It clearly offers to bear the load and there is no rental fee for its use.

How do we get the restful benefit of the chair?

We just sit in it and as we rest in it, we no longer have to bear the weight we’ve been carrying around. We don’t try to hold up the

UNDERSTANDING OUR REFORMED FAITH PART THREE IN A THREE-PART SERIES

By Junior McGarrahan

chair, ourselves or our burdens. The chair does all the work and we relax, able to enjoy others and to do other things. The chair is the offered gift (grace) and sitting in it (faith) is what gives rest. Even the faith to trust is a gift.

We don’t get credit at all for our salvation.

Why would God arrange things this way?

Wouldn’t it make sense to contribute to our own reconciliation with God? Perhaps, but consider these things: (1) What can spiritually dead people contribute to their own spiritual resurrection? (2) If we are partners in our justification before God, then what would happen to our community life? We would either be boastful or despondent. (3) We’d be so full of ourselves that there would be no room for Jesus in our lives. John Calvin said, “Faith, then, brings us empty to God, that we may be filled with the blessings of Christ.”2 One of those blessings is the ability to be able to do the good works that God has already planned for us to do. While we take no credit for our salvation, neither are we

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John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians, Ephesians, page 227

passive. Martin Luther wrote “… a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith.

Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever...Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!”3 Scripture alone, grace alone and faith alone—these watchwords from the Reformation assure us that God speaks to us, removes our guilt and enables us to live faithfilled lives. All the credit be to God! After thirty-plus years in youth ministry, Junior was called into ordained ministry. She served for seven years in the Office of Theology and Worship for the PCUSA and for almost nine years as associate pastor at The National Presbyterian Church.

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Luther: An Introduction to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, pages 124-125

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o we tend to “keep God in a box”? Do we find ourselves praying for a person or a situation, giving God common instructions on ways we expect he could act? In Isaiah 55:8-9, God proclaims that his ways are not our ways—they are higher! What does this mean for us practically?

God is the “God of the Unexpected!”

Throughout history the Living God surprises us with actions “out of the box.” For example, when God’s people, fleeing their enemies, faced the impasse of the Red Sea, God parted the waters. Another time when the fortified city of Jericho seemed impossible to take, God caused the city’s walls to collapse instantaneously as the Israelites shouted.

Later the Promised Messiah came to earth as a baby, being born in a stable! Certainly, God operates “out of the box.”

One day the Lord revealed to me how my praying was “cramping his style.” Someone I

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love was struggling painfully. For some time I’d been praying fervently for this person within certain parameters of expectations of what God should do. Yet circumstances grew worse. One day while praying, I had an unusual experience. In my mind there appeared the image of a gray cardboard box.

All of a sudden, the box blew apart with force and beautiful fireworks powerfully exploded from within. God’s message was, “Let me out of the box!” In an instant I realized I’d inadvertently been keeping him within certain boundaries that seemed right to me.

Immediately I was convicted and asked forgiveness. As I “let God out of the box” things at first grew worse—then gradually the Lord used those hard things to accomplish wonderful results in ways unanticipated. Today I celebrate all God did! I learned then to release God to be God, praying protection for the person and for the fulfillment of God’s purposes. I am growing to trust God’s ways and his higher purposes in lives and circumstances. It’s revolutionized my walk with him!

By Kirkie Morrissey Definitely, there are times when God gives insight into his purposes and leads specifically in how to pray. Then his Spirit is released to work in significant ways. However, there are other times, as seen in the example above, when trials are allowed to come into our lives for “higher purposes.” Too often I focus on the “immediate”—expecting God to do what is “good” in my eyes to make a situation better. The Lord certainly cares about easing circumstances, but I have found that his primary focus is working in us, for our well-being and for his glory. Throughout God’s Word I discover his heart is to transform us, conforming us to the likeness of his Son! While that is exhibited in the uniqueness of our personalities, his Spirit is at work within us, ridding us of our “self-nature” and filling more and more of us with Jesus! This is a lifetime process, but as we let him be God, we benefit! And the Lord is delighted and glorified.

Kirkie Morrissey is a wife, mom and grandma, as well as a published author. She has been a member of First Pres since 1967, and coordinates and teaches in Women’s Life WOW on Tuesday mornings.

Persevering in hard times can be challenging. Below are some steps helpful to me, enabling me to persevere and allowing God to accomplish his purposes. In these hard times today, I pray these steps are helpful for you as well, and that you, too, will be delighted with the work God does.

• Offer yourself and the situation to the Lord. Seek his guidance regarding any steps he would have you take or how he would lead you to pray.

• Pray proactively! Intentionally unite your will with his, yielding to him and praying for his purposes to be accomplished.

Specifically ask him to use your discomfort or difficulty to rid you of “self” and fill more of you with his Spirit.

• Pray for protection from the enemy’s intents. (Jn. 17:15, 1 Pt. 5:8-11) Put on the armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18) • Stay in God’s Word, seeking to know him better and asking him to strengthen your faith and trust. Draw on all of his resources.

• Keep an eternal perspective.

(2 Cor. 4:16-18) • Praise him for his constant love and faithfulness. Then trust!

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