BRANCHES

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august 2012

Ruling Elder CandidatesTHEIR PASSION AND PRAYER FOR SOUTHWOOD

#untilHUNTSVILLErejoicesTHIS IS YOUR CITY

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#untilHUNTSVILLErejoicesProverbs 11:12 says, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.” I still remember the fi rst time I heard that passage of Scripture. It was from a pastor named Fred Harrell who had just moved from his long-time RUF post at the University of Tennessee to San Francisco, California to “scratch-plant” a church. For those of you unfamiliar with the term “scratch-planting,” it means that you start a church from scratch, just you and Jesus. Fred was doing that in San Francisco. I honestly thought he had lost it a little bit.

I assumed a city like Nashville or Birmingham might rejoice at the fl ourishing of the righteous, but San Francisco is the last bus stop before Sodom and Gomorrah, right? Fred did “crazy” things like ask random shop-owners how he might pray for their success in business. He moved toward the disenfranchised and the untouchable. Fred believed that the Word of God was more true than how he or others might feel at any given moment. Today the church is fl ourishing and it is reaching the city. In many ways the city is rejoicing at the existence of City Church of San Francisco.

In order for Huntsville to become our “San Francisco,” we need to ask three questions: 1. Who are the righteous? 2. What is our city? 3. Why would they ever rejoice?

First, who are the righteous?We are. I am. You are. You are righteous, aren’t you? If you are in Christ then you are. You are perfect. You are holy. You are blameless. Your goodness is unassailable. Your perfection is unblemished. Your character is impeccable. You have kept the Law of God in every detail. There is not one stone of obedience left unturned in your life. As Christians we believe this because we have been given the imputed righteousness of Christ. Righteousness was something belonging to him and it has been credited to us. Martin Luther called it “alien” righteousness, meaning it was foreign to us. Beloved of Jesus, you ARE righteous and this imputed righteousness has trajectory in our lives. It transforms us into men and women who are more

“righteous” than we could have ever been by simply trying to be good people or upright citizens!

What is our city?Look around. If you are reading this at home, then put down BRANCHES, walk to your front door and look to the left and the right. That is your city. If you are reading this electronically, then stop for a second and look at the names in your inbox. That is your city. If you are browsing this while at work, then walk down the hall and take note of who is there. That is your city. If you are at Starbucks getting coffee, then the Barista is your city. The hipster guy with headphones is your city. The gal who just got out of Zumba class is your city. And don’t miss it, the guy sitting outside Starbucks asking for change, he is your city, too.

Why would they ever rejoice?Our theology informs us that those who have yet to believe have no reason to rejoice at our Christian faith itself or because of Christ himself, right? So why would non-religious people rejoice? Why would they rejoice at the prosperity and blessing of God’s people? The next verse tells us, “Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper…” Proverbs 11:11a (NLT) The answer is simple: when the righteous fl ourish their blessing is understood by them as having divine intent that is greater than their own greatness. They are blessed to be a blessing. They understand that prosperity isn’t about prosperity. They see the plight of the poor, the widow and the orphan to be their responsibility. Only the righteous consider the church to bring more security to society than Social Security ever could.

Why is this? It is because the Gospel is transformational. There is something about the imputed righteousness of Christ that transforms unrighteous men and women into “righteous” men and women. We become jaw-dropping examples of love, grace and mercy to the world. When that happens the city is blessed and it rejoices. The whole process starts with us seeing our own poverty and is further cultivated by a continual diet of God’s grace where we see that God loves unrighteous, ungrateful and unaware people like us.

I have started adding a “hashtag” to my Twitter posts that reads: #untilHUNTSVILLErejoices. The point is very simple. We must barrage our own hearts with the scandalous truth of the Gospel until we see the hardness melt away. When we do that, then pagans, misfi ts, engineers and stay-at-home moms will look at our lives and say, “we don’t know what this city would be like without you…” Keep hashtagging your life with nourishing morsels of grace and don’t stop #untilHUNTSVILLErejoices!

P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

1000 Carl T. Jones Drive | Huntsville, Alabama 35802

(256) 882-3085 | www.southwood.org

BRANCHES

JEAN F. LARROUX, III Senior PastorMELISSA PATTERSON Executive AssistantBOB BRADSHAW Executive Director/Director of Adult Ministries

Adult MinistriesBILL NASH Associate Pastor/Director of Small GroupsSARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/AssimilationJAMES PARKER Chief MusicianWILL SPINK Associate Pastor/Director of ShepherdingSHARON DUTCHER Administrative Assistant

Student MinistriesKIM DELCHAMPS Administrative AssistantNINA BANTA Director of Creative ArtsKEN STUART Associate Pastor/Director of Children’s MinistryNANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director of PreK - 2ndCHAD TOWNSLEY Associate Pastor/Director of Junior High-Life KEN LEGGETT Associate Pastor/Director of High-LifeKAYLA STANFIELD Assistant Director of 11th & 12th GradeWINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director of 9th & 10th Grade

Ministry SupportPAT TRAPANE BookkeeperJULIA VESS ReceptionistJONATHAN BARNETTE Director of CommunicationJACKI GIL Graphic DesignerJANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/OfficeLYNDA CLAYDON FacilitiesMIKE MARREN FacilitiesJEFF TOWNSLEY Facilities

Editor-in-Chief Jonathan BarnetteDesigner Jacki Gil

CONTRIBUTORSBill NashLarry BilliterWill SpinkKatherine SpearingSarah Niemitz PHOTOSJonathan Barnette

pastor’s note

˜

cover photoPhoto taken by Jonathan Barnette of Jones Valley.

Jean F. Larroux, III

august 2012

beyond small groupsFar too often getting involved in “church stuff” leads us to a check-the-box mentality.

I speak from experience: Been there, done that - I’ve checked the box! A Small Group

is a “church stuff” thing that can feel like box-checking especially when, chances

are, you haven’t seen the people from your group since last meeting a week ago, or

maybe you only saw them from across the church parking lot on Sunday. What does

it take to break out of the rut of check-the-box church stuff and to view the group of

people you have committed to gather with on a weekly basis as more than just people

you have committed to gather with on a weekly basis? Answer: Let your life outside of

small group come with you to your small group meetings. Let me explain.

A big challenge to connecting with the people in a small group is finding the things

you have in common beyond the small group. One thing that all small group members

immediately have in common is that they spend most of their time somewhere else

other than the small group meeting. The natural rhythm of our lives puts us in contact

with a whole other set of acquaintances and friends on a much greater frequency and

regularity - or at least it could. Much of the time we miss the opportunities we have to

create and participate in rich community with the people God has already put us among

in the natural rhythm of life in our neighborhoods,

the school your kids attend, little league, the softball

league you’re in, the book club you love, the wait

staff at the restaurant you frequent, etc.

We all struggle to see and genuinely engage

in real friendships with the people that we are

around in these natural rhythms of our lives.

Imagine if the small group you were in was

viewed as a place to connect and walk with

others who struggle with the same thing? What would a small group look like

that believed that an essential part of its reason for existence was inviting your

life beyond the small group to follow you into the weekly meetings?

Imagine a small group meeting where there’s a buzz of excitement in the air

because you know that one of the couples is bringing to the meeting their de-

churched neighbor they have become great friends with over the years. The

idea of introducing friends to friends is something the group has been doing

since it started meeting and so this isn’t the first time this has happened. In fact,

the group is so committed to this idea of letting their life beyond small group

follow them into the weekly meetings that once a month the meeting is held at

a different house for a party, or a game night or Saturday morning brunch where

they invite the neighbors from around the host’s home to join them.

Imagine a group like this that so values creating and participating in

community in and among the natural rhythms of life beyond the group,

that missing a small group meeting to spend time with your neighbors isn’t

frowned upon, but encouraged. Imagine how the common struggle we all

have to engage, love and serve the people right around us could actually be

a common thread that binds us together. Imagine then, how - rather than a

check-the-box “church stuff” meeting - the weekly time together becomes

something more. It becomes an environment

of camaraderie, encouragement and prayer as

we struggle to engage, embrace and genuinely

become friends with people who don’t normally

move within our Southwood rhythm. It’s an idea we

stole from Jesus (Mark 2:13-17).

If you can imagine yourself in an environment

like this, the next small group Next Wave

deadline is Sunday, August 12. You can take the

survey anytime in the Guest Center or online at www.southwood.org/

growingsmall. It involves checking a box, but don’t let that stop you! New

groups will be launched and existing groups re-launched after Labor Day.

by Bill Nash

by Stated Clerk Larry Billiter

temporary session updateWhen the Temporary Session of Southwood (TSS) was established in April,

it had two primary objectives during its season of leadership of Southwood:

1) Oversight of the reconciliation process, which is still ongoing, and 2)

Establishment of a new permanent Session for Southwood.

This second objective was the primary focus of the Session’s July meetings.

The TSS spent considerable time and prayer laying the groundwork for

formal examinations of all elder candidates. Reconciliation Committee

Chairman Alan Judge reported on the status of his Wednesday evening

meetings with the elder candidates to discuss peacemaking. Members of

the TSS reported on individual interviews they had conducted with each

of the men, and this spurred discussion of how to conduct the formal

examinations. More information on the men approved for potential election

to the office of elder and on the Congregational Meeting called for August

12 to elect the new Session follows in the rest of BRANCHES.

In addition, Diaconate Chairman Rick McCann reported on the following

deacon resignations that were approved by the TSS: Dale Bowen, Jack

Duncan, Bryan Johnson, Joe Scrip, and Jon Wren. These were all

approved as a dissolution of the formal deacon relationship between

them and Southwood, so all of these men remain deacons in the PCA

and members of Southwood. The TSS also received the resignation

of Dee Petcher as nursery coordinator with great appreciation for her

years of service at Southwood.

Shepherding Director Will Spink provided an update on the progress

of the shepherding plan, in which Southwood elders are meeting with

families of the church. The shepherding report also included discussion

of discipline cases and the approval of new members.

The August stated meeting of the Southwood Session will be on

August 20, following the installation of the newly elected Session. The

members of the TSS intend to attend this meeting as invited guests to

help the new Session determine priorities going forward. Please send

all correspondence to tempsession@southwood.org.

Ruling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesMark BaginskiAge: 51Family: Melissa (wife), Laura, Anna LynneMembership: 2005Deacon ElderProvisional Session, The Village ChurchSunday Seminar Teacher

Greg CarterAge: 56Family: Deborah (wife), Jenna, BlakeMembership: 2000Deacon Elder Sunday School TeacherAdult Small Group Leader

My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is for us to unite, as true brothers and sisters in Christ, under the infl uence and leadership of the Holy Spirit and the whole counsel of God’s Word, to joyfully and passionately pursue and fulfi ll Our Lord’s Good, Accept-able, and Perfect Will, and His Eternal Purposes for us as His saints, for Southwood as His church, and for Huntsville/Madison County as His community. I am persuaded that The Lord Our God is about to do a mighty work among us as He redeems the suffering and confl ict He has providentially permitted. May we one day declare, with one voice, “the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes!” Ps. 118:23

Ruling Elder CandidatesRuling

ElderCandidates

My passion and prayer for Southwood moving forward: I enjoy see-ing people mature in the Lord, and especially that the more timid ones such as me are given space to contribute and grow. This has been a diffi cult time in the life of Southwood, however I have been through similar experiences as an elder in my past, and I am eager to see Christ’s work through to completion. If I am elected again to serve in this capacity I solicit your prayers for wisdom and grace in our time of need.

Mike CashAge: 54Family: Karla (wife), Heather Morris, Jessica, JoshuaMembership: 1992DeaconElderSunday Seminar Teacher

My great desire and longing for Southwood as we move forward is to continue to faithfully preach the gospel to ourselves and our community, to see God’s peace reign in the lives of the members, to promote unity among the community of believers, and to have each member grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord. I desire to see fellowship and depth of relationship expand within our congregation while also welcoming and caring for those God brings to join us. May God tune our hearts to his grace so that we in turn long to share it with others.

Todd GandyAge: 45Family: Amy (wife), Abby, Anna, ParkerMembership: 1990Deacon and ElderHigh-LifeSunday Seminar TeacherHost Team

My prayer and passion for Southwood moving forward: That God will continue to use the people of Southwood to build up His kingdom. That Southwood would truly be a church where people would come to experience the Grace of Jesus Christ, and be so changed by the Gospel that their natural response would be to offer the Grace of Jesus to others. My passion is that Southwood would be a place that loves sinners (not sin), and that people from all different stages of life and maturity would desire to be part of our community because of the Gospel and our love for each other.

Vinit MaheshAge: 52Family: Marcelle (wife), Thomas, Benjamin, Kellyn, JennecaMembership: 2002Deacon and ElderProvisional Session, The Village ChurchAdult Small Group LeaderNursery Committee

My passion and prayer for Southwood is that we will always remain in a broken posture before God and our community. The essence of a church should not be large numbers and excellent programs. Our reputation must be fi rst and foremost as needy recipients of God’s grace before we are known as a benevolent resource for others. I believe we have grown closer to and more dependent on God during this recent season, and we can best move forward, love one another, and advance His kingdom in our current humble posture.

august 2012august 2012august 2012august 2012

Ruling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder CandidatesRuling Elder Candidates

august 2012

My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is that we would experience the grace and love of God in a way that we would “comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you [we] may be fi lled with all the fullness of God.” I know that as this occurs, we will have the intense, true, unbreakable union with each other because we are all joined to the Father just as Jesus prayed in John 17. One of the effects of this will be that we have the mind of Christ, and will think and love like God thinks and loves. Then we will notice that we will “do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” and He will be glorifi ed in the church to all generations, forever and ever. Amen? Amen!

Chris MorrisAge: 42Family: Heather (wife), Luke, ClaraMembership: 2003Sunday Seminar TeacherChildren’s Ministry Small Group TeacherAdult Small Group Leader

My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is that we would continually grow in love for Christ, that our faith and reliance on Him would increase, and that more and more we will repent from all the idols we build in our lives. My prayer is that, as we do this, we will humbly and thankfully grow to love all the things He loves, shun the things that He hates, and love each other and our neighbors more deeply and effectively.

Brock WarnerAge: 45Family: Jana (wife), Hannah, Sarah, Elle, Kate DuncanMembership: 1989Deacon and ElderHigh-Life and High-Life Small Group LeaderReconciliation Committees

My desire for Southwood is that we continue to move towards Jesus Christ with reckless abandonment. I realize this statement may seem reckless in and of itself, but is there anyone and anything safer to run recklessly toward than Christ himself and the Grace he offers? I believe a congregation that is willing to trust Christ and his fi nished work so much that they can own their sin will be prepared to transform a city. I believe this because a congregation like that will not see itself as a church that fi xes, but as a church that can love without the need for the fi g leaf of perfectionism or the false promise of a victorious life. A congregation like that can rest in the reality of the righteousness of Christ for them and live, work and play harder because they are free from the bondage of religion.

Jeremy McCoyAge: 37Family: Chandler, Lexi, CampMembership: 2006Deacon & Pastor (Southern Baptist Churches)Children’s MinistryVBSSunday Seminar Teacher

My passion and prayer for Southwood is that we as a church would be excited about what God has begun in our church and what God is going to do in and through us in the coming months and years. I am encouraged by the direction that God is leading us and about the myriad of opportunities that we are going to get, moving forward as a family, to experience and express grace to others in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for his glory and for our joy.

Josh TreenAge: 31Family: Leah (wife), Lake, MollyMembership: 2002DeaconChildren’s Ministry TeacherAdult Small Group LeaderA/V for Worship

My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is.... That we would see redemption. That we would humbly see our brokenness and understand that we have a desperate need for God. So that within Southwood, we run recklessly, headlong into the arms of our Father knowing that we have been robed with Christ and stand justifi ed. That we would use our position as children and heirs to obtain a boldness to share our redeemed brokenness with our neighbors, schools, workplaces and communities so that Huntsville will see in and through us the glory and love of Christ given to us through his gospel so that he may be glorifi ed.

Brad WoodsAge: 30Family: Kristen (wife), JasonMembership: 2008Nursery VolunteerSunday School Teacher/FacilitatorAdult Small Group Leader

My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is....to see God glorifi ed in the midst of a season in which Southwood would see the mercy of God as He restores broken relationships and uses them as a new solid foundation rooted in the truth of the Gospel from which God would make known His love to a hurting city.  I pray that God would use me, a broken jar of clay, to always point to the sovereignty of God the Father, to the beauty of Jesus Christ the Savior, and to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in every situation we encounter as the Bride of Christ.”

Ray SheppardAge: 41Family: Heather (wife), Sam, Evan, PeytonMembership: 2001Affi nity Group FacilitatorVBS

Below is a sample copy of the ballot that will be used

on Sunday morning, August 12th for the election of new

Ruling Elders. Behind the names are hundreds of hours

of prayer, contemplation and the leading of the Holy

Spirit. Your Temporary Session has examined each of

the men on this ballot and encourages you to vote

for each of them. Their personal qualifi cations,

background and history with the church were

all considered before their names were given

fi nal approval. The next chapter in the history

of Southwood is as signifi cant as the previous

pages that have already turned. The men elected

will lead, love and pastor the sheep of Jesus’

beloved bride, Southwood Presbyterian Church.

August 12th is a very signifi cant day.

As a congregation member, your vote is more

than just a vote. It is further affi rmation in the

lives of these men of God’s calling to this

signifi cant task. It is reported that when

Earnest Shackleton recruited men for his

expedition to the Antarctic he placed

the following words in an advertisement

in the London Times, “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.” Over

5,000 men responded to his ad. Men

have always longed for challenges

and adventure even in the face of

great obstacles. In the Kingdom

of God men are no different, but

in this undertaking ‘safe return’ is

actually guaranteed, not because

of great men, but because of

their great God. Please be

in prayer as we anticipate

embarking on the next leg of

this great journey together.

election on august 12thBelow is a sample copy of the ballot that will be used Below is a sample copy of the ballot that will be used

on Sunday morning, August 12th for the election of new

Ruling Elders. Behind the names are hundreds of hours

of prayer, contemplation and the leading of the Holy

Spirit. Your Temporary Session has examined each of

the men on this ballot and encourages you to vote

each of them. Their personal qualifi cations,

background and history with the church were

all considered before their names were given

fi nal approval. The next chapter in the history

of Southwood is as signifi cant as the previous

pages that have already turned. The men elected

will lead, love and pastor the sheep of Jesus’

beloved bride, Southwood Presbyterian Church.

August 12th is a very signifi cant day.

As a congregation member, your vote is more

than just a vote. It is further affi rmation in the

lives of these men of God’s calling to this

signifi cant task. It is reported that when

Earnest Shackleton recruited men for his

expedition to the Antarctic he placed

the following words in an advertisement

in the London Times, “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.” Over

5,000 men responded to his ad. Men

have always longed for challenges

and adventure even in the face of

great obstacles. In the Kingdom

of God men are no different, but

in this undertaking ‘safe return’ is

actually guaranteed, not because

of great men, but because of

their great God. Please be

in prayer as we anticipate

embarking on the next leg of

this great journey together.

Don’t forget!No Christian Education on August 12th. The Elder Election will take place during a Congregational Meeting at 9:45am.

I am two different people. First, I am the person who rises to a challenge. If someone says “you can’t,” that automatically means “try it.” “Don’t” is the best way to get me to “Do.” 

But then I see the second person who is my own worst enemy. I have pushed myself beyond my limits and failed miserably. As a result, I like very much to wrap myself in the comfortable and the easy, staying

safe and warm with nothing to bother or scare me. Feelings of embarrassment springing from moments of vulnerability or weakness are on my Top 10 Biggest Fears list. 

Last week, I did a short gospel presentation in Spanish. Sounds simple enough. However, I had noticed with other team member’s presentations, that the children had diffi culty focusing when we used a translator. As soon as the team member would begin speaking in English kids would begin picking on one another or rolling around in the grass.

So, I determined that I would try and do my whole devotional in Spanish. Without a translator. Once I had the idea, I knew I would not back down. I could not let myself; this was a challenge and person number one would rise to it.  

Unfortunately person number two was right on my heels, and the fears assailed. One hundred things went through my head in the days before my presentation. Phrases like, “You are only doing this to show off,” or  “You are only doing this to practice your Spanish, you don’t really care about presenting the gospel to the kids” sounded like sirens as I mulled over the presentation and jotted down ideas for what I was going to say. 

The worst part about these voices in my head was they were all saying the truth. For that reason I was sure I would fail. Fully aware that I was undeserving of help, I simultaneously assumed this would be a perfect opportunity for God to show up and perform a miracle that involved me speaking in tongues. 

Like I said at the beginning, I am two different people.

That morning, as I stood in front of the kids asking them questions to begin my presentation, I thought things were going well. Then I looked down and saw that my hands were shaking. The fumbling began and the rest of the presentation was unpolished and fragile.

When it was over no children rushed forward to ask for more information. Only one team member made the effort to tell me that I did well, while the rest said nothing. This was it - the moment of weakness that I usually try to avoid. At one time I might have seen this episode as a type of failure. But instead, it reminded me of the part of God’s character that I love so much it makes me ache - the fact that God redeems “both of me.” He takes weakness and turns it into an opportunity to display His strength. He takes the impossible and creates possible. He chooses to use those who do not deserve His mercy or His grace as a very vessel for displaying that same undeserved mercy and grace to His world. He takes our failures and our “but dust” physiques to show us who we are and how much we can do nothing of ourselves. And at the same time, through Christ, we can do all things.

august 2012

by Katherine Spearing

both sides of me

This summer Katherine Spearing is working with our partners in Monterrey Mexico. She is serving Vida Nueva and other church plants in Monterrey by coordinating the short term mission teams and assisting in a variety of other roles as needed. Katherine has volunteered with Vida Nueva in previous years, and is currently exploring God’s call to missions or vocational ministry.

FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY MOVIE MOVIE MOVIE

NIGHT ISNIGHT ISNIGHT ISAUGUST AUGUST AUGUST

10TH10TH10TH

6PM AT 6PM AT 6PM AT THETHETHE

LODGELODGELODGE

$3/$12 DINNER$3/$12 DINNER$3/$12 DINNER$3/$12 DINNER$3/$12 DINNER$3/$12 DINNER

AUGUST 19

One service at 11am for Ruling Elder Ordination/Installation.Southwood Kids “Move Up” to their new school grade in Sunday School.

Ordination/Move-Up

SEPTEMBER 9

Senior High-Life Sundays at 7pm.

Junior High-LifeWednesdays 6pm.

High-Life Continues

Let us help you find your Small Group

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Fill out your information sowe can contact you about Small Groups.

Rate your preferences so we can help find the Small Group that is best for you.

Click the “Submit Your Info” button and someone from our church office will contact you.

@southwood.orgLet us help you find your Small Group

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