Inspiring Creativity and Community
First Presbyterian Church’s new visual art ministry invites artists and art lovers to create, inspire, and give thanks. Led by a six-person team, the ministry shares members’ work and plans future events that let others create art, connect with the broader community, and support the church’s outreach to local nonprofits. Artists and volunteers are welcome to join.
FPC Launches Visual Arts Ministry
by Karen Sterling
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms (First Peter 4:10).
How often have you heard an artist referred to as “talented” or “gifted”? Like most of us, artists strive to share their gifts with others. The new visual art ministry (VAM) at First Presbyterian Church encourages artists to create, inspire, and give thanks. Painting, photography, sculpting, sewing, or weaving- the various media used to create visual works of art- speak to our sense of beauty, our emotions, and our appreciation of God’s creation.
The ministry has a six-person team that has come together to help define what it means to develop an art ministry. Our first efforts have focused on sharing the fruit of the artist’s labor. We are also planning future events that will let others get involved in creating art, share our love of art with the broader community, and use art to support the non-profit ministries our church has identified as part of our community outreach.
As one artist who participates in the new art ministry, Karen Sterling says, “I would share my perspectives in the following way. Art can speak to us when words are not enough. Art can lift our spirits or let us ‘stop and smell the roses,’ capturing a memory that would otherwise be too fleeting as we go about our busy lives. The creative process engages us in ways that focus our thoughts, require certain physical abilities, reflect our perceptions, and highlight our life experiences. While some people do not see art as essential, others find it to be a true celebration of life.”
Another contributing artist, Madgetta Dungy, believes art's power lies in its ability to reveal the inner significance of the things around us, transforming the mundane into something extraordinary. Art connects with our souls, prompting us to look inward and explore our deeper emotions and thoughts. It is like a language that speaks directly to our hearts, helping us understand ourselves more profoundly.
If you would like to be part of this ministry as an artist or a volunteer, please contact David Dunbar or Karen Sterling.
The Visual Art Ministry’s Holiday Art Show runs from November 15, 2026, to February 15, 2027, and its theme is The Art of Family and Friends. Do you have a painting by your grandmother, a framed photograph from a cousin who lives out of state, or a piece by an artist friend? We invite you to share these treasured creations with our congregation for three months. Because display space is limited, please submit no more than two to three works. To let us know you're interested, please contact David Dunbar or Karen Sterling.
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Willkommen
FPC is delighted to announce the upcoming tour of the Reine Männersache from Zellhausen, Germany. The name loosely translates as “Purely a Men’s Affair,” and the choir is about 30 men strong, singing in a wide variety of styles and genres. Members of the FPC Sanctuary Choir and Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will host them while they are here, from Tuesday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 14.
FPC welcomes German men’s chorus Reine Männersache this fall
by Dr. David Dunbar
About 18 months ago, I received an unexpected email from a friend in Germany. He sings in a community men's chorus there, and the group was considering a tour of the United States. Naturally, I said, “Come to beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado!” They loved the idea, and long story short—they are coming to First Presbyterian Church!
I’m delighted to announce the upcoming tour of the Reine Männersache from Zellhausen, Germany. The name loosely translates as “Purely a Men’s Affair,” and the choir is about 30 men strong, singing in a wide variety of styles and genres. Members of the FPC Sanctuary Choir and Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will host them while they are here, from Tuesday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 14. Their performances are listed below.
My connection with the Reine Männersache Zellhausen (RMSZ) goes back many years. My mother, Frieda, and her sister, Inge, were both born in Zellhausen, a small town approximately 25 minutes SE of Frankfurt, in the 1930s. My cousin, Günter, my aunt's son, sings in the chorus. When RMSZ toured Costa Rica many moons ago, Günter bought me a plane ticket so I could join them to sing on the tour! It was a wonderful experience, and RMSZ is like family to me. This is their first visit to America, and I am overjoyed to welcome them to our beautiful state and city and to introduce them to my family here—all of you at FPC!
The RMSZ tour will be a highlight of our fall concert series, and all of their appearances are free, so get them on your calendars today! You won't want to miss this wonderful cultural and musical exchange. It’s also a great opportunity to brush up on your German just in time for Oktoberfest. ;-) Tschüss!
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Concert: Prost Brewery in Northglenn, Friday, October 9, approx. 6:00 PM
Concert: First Presbyterian Church, Saturday, October 10, 7:00 PM
Service of Worship: First Presbyterian Church, Sunday, October 11, 10:00 AM
Concert: New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Sunday, October 11, approx. 6:00 PM
P.S. My cousin Gunter sent me an article that ran recently in the local German paper. The translation is below:
The choir “Reine Männersache” under the direction of Roman Zöller (left) will perform in the USA. | PHOTO: KORDULA EGENOLF
From Hessen to Colorado
The Zellhausen choir “Reine Männersache” travels to the USA
ZELLHAUSEN — “Reine Männersache” is going on tour. The community chorus's roughly 30 tenors and basses from Zellhausen are preparing for a major trip. On the other side of the Atlantic, they are eagerly awaited. The ensemble is preparing a special program before setting off on October 5th for the tour entitled “From Hessen to Colorado.” During a 10-day trip to the Rocky Mountain region, they will share in a musical exchange and, of course, perform in concerts under the direction of conductor Roman Zöller.
From Franz Schubert to Comedian Harmonists
Planning for the trip began about two years ago. “The fact that it is coming together,” explains Holger Wolf, chairman of the Liederkranz, “is due to a family connection within our own ranks. One of our members has a cousin there, David Dunbar, who directs two choirs.” A broadly diversified program featuring a cross-section of German choral literature was designed specifically for this event to offer insight into the tradition of German song. The choir will perform pieces by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Carl Orff, among others, as well as the Comedian Harmonists.
Choral culture is deeply rooted in Germany. The Goethe-Institut also provides financial support for this venture. This renowned institution sets strict criteria for financial support. The institute checks repertoire for quality, and singers must have a high level of vocal competence. Here, the choral community—formed in 2014 from singers of the Liederkranz and the Harmonie Gesangverein—has earned numerous first prizes at regional, national, and international competitions, such as in Somborn/Freigericht or Llangollen/Wales.
In the USA, the singers will join an ensemble that is not a pure men's choir but a mixed one. The number of choir members is roughly equal. “The main concert takes place at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins,” explains Holger Wolf, “since most choirs in the United States are formed within religious communities and are not organized into clubs/societies like ours.” A special highlight of the performance will be two songs composed specifically for this occasion by American composer and choir director David Dunbar, and rehearsed with the American choir. A workshop will also take place beforehand, which conductor Roman Zöller will co-lead as a musical history lesson. “Through words and song, a short outline of the history of German song from Romanticism to the 20th century will be presented,” he says. “Furthermore, I am personally looking forward to finally having an international exchange after COVID brought everything to a standstill.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for this, as the participants will not be staying in hotels, but with American choir members. A reciprocal visit may take place in 2028. [This refers to the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers' planned tour to Germany in 2028]. In addition to other performances, the itinerary includes a concert at the Prost Brewing Company in Northglenn, featuring drinking songs similar to those penned by well-known composers such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Friedrich Silcher, or Carl Orff. The 30 singers from Mainhausen can hardly wait to pack their bags to engage audiences against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Before their departure, the chorus invites everyone to a final performance/dress rehearsal at the concert, “Zusammenklang,” on Saturday, October 3. —KORDULA EGENOLF
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Best-Laid Plans
Every youth trip starts with a grand plan: take a bunch of kids someplace different to serve, learn from the community, and grow together and in their faith. In the end, you have Instagram-worthy photos and the highlight reel of the trip. What is missing is the reality of the trip—the little bumps that make the journey worthwhile.
by Carlie Hoskins
Every youth trip starts with a grand plan: take a bunch of kids someplace different to serve, learn from the community, and grow together and in their faith. In the end, you have Instagram-worthy photos and the highlight reel of the trip. What is missing is the reality of the trip—the little bumps that make the journey worthwhile.
BEST-LAID PLANS
You can organize a trip down to the last detail: when to depart the church, how long the drive will take, who has food allergies, what to bring for snacks, where to stop for meals and fuel, which forms to collect (there are a lot), how to organize them, and how to coordinate with the organization. You plan for your best-laid plans to go off without a hitch. However, reality is that there are always bumps in the road.
This summer’s youth trip was scheduled to leave the church at 10:00 AM and arrive at our destination at 4:00 PM, but that did not happen. We arranged to stop for dinner along the way—nope. While the “bumps” weren't my plan, maybe they were God’s. Because of the delay, I saw the kids (and volunteers and parents) rally and make the best of it. They attended church together, ate lunch together, and stayed patient and understanding through it all. For what felt like hours, they hung out at the church, played games, and told jokes. By the end of the day, we made it to South Dakota, ate dinner, met a few new people, and participated in our first night of worship. Back on track!
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY
Our group was divided into two parts. The boys visited an all-boys organization in South Dakota, where they spent their time working with local youth. During their stay, they got to know the community, made new friends, played ALL the games, went on bike rides, and organized a small fair for the local kids. Every day they came back with a new experience and story about someone they met. Some might say the boys' time at the camp felt more like hanging out than actual service, but it gave them the chance to meet people from the community and learn from them — sometimes service doesn't look the way you expect it to.
The girls, on the other hand, had a drastically different experience. They (and I as their chaperone) spent our time at a local camp, where we cleaned bathrooms — a first for a few of the girls, and one they swore would also be their last. We picked up trash, cleaned the dining hall, and eventually helped out in the kitchen. While most of these tasks weren't anyone's typical definition of a good time, we still found moments to laugh, sing, and get to know one another. If you asked the girls what their favorite part of the experience was, they'd say it was helping in the kitchen—they learned how to cook for over 150 people and wash dishes in a professional kitchen. The experience wasn't necessarily what the girls would have chosen, but they worked incredibly hard to make the most of it.
STRANGERS BECOME FRIENDS
One of my favorite things about doing these trips is watching the kids make new friends and learn from others. The first night, we participated in worship. The groups from four churches there mostly kept to themselves, sticking with people they already knew rather than mixing with the other groups. That first night, the group sang very little, and very few hands were raised to participate. This certainly was not the Instagram-worthy expectation I had! The last night was a completely different scene. All of the FPC kids were united with the other churches, arms around each other, singing at the top of their lungs. After a week of working, breaking bread, serving, and worshiping together, these kids found a common thread in each other—a shared love for Jesus and a commitment to living a life that honors him. They came to learn more about themselves and their community, but they discovered something deeper: a bond rooted in faith.
During the last evening, as we were in our final small group, one of the kids asked if we could come back next year, and the other kids agreed. Honestly, I was a little shocked by their eagerness to return. This trip was one of the most challenging trips I’ve ever led. It did not start well, and there were some bumps along the way. But now, when I look back on the trip, I get it. These kids bonded as a group, made new friends, laughed together, struggled together, and grew in their faith together. Why wouldn’t they want to go back and experience that all over again?
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Windows of color
An update on our Chapel windows from Willet Stained Glass Studios.
Editor’s note: FPC contracted Willet Stained Glass Studios to create two stained glass windows for the new Chapel space. Design Manager Jonathan Mayer sent this update on the process:
Since we have not made a window that combined leaded glass with faceted glass in several decades, our first task was to run some test pours to find the best way to create the epoxy panels so that they could be captured by a lead came [a metal channel designed to hold pieces of glass together]. We came up with a creative solution that was very successful, so we moved forward with the plan.
I was tasked with selecting the glass, so I filled some boxes with slab glass from our inventory that matched the design and labeled them according to where they should go in the design. Other team members matched the slabs to the patterns, saw-cut them, and then faceted them with a hammer.
After faceting, they put a dam of putty around the beveled edges of the glass to prevent epoxy from spilling onto the facets during the pour.
According to our project plan, we are pouring between June and July. We haven't done any of the final pours yet, but they're all prepped and ready to pour in the next few weeks. The machine-rolled and antique glass are starting to be cut as well.
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Welcome to the Messenger online
Welcome to The Messenger online!
REFRESH—For many years, The Messenger has been at the center of First Presbyterian Church communications. As a printed newsletter, we have been able to share stories of faith, service, and friendship. We have presented ministry updates, human interest stories, personal testimonies, profiles, and reflections, reminding us again and again how God is at work in our community.
But times change, and so do the ways we share information. In order to better serve our congregation, The Messenger is moving online. What does this mean? Instead of waiting for a quarterly issue to arrive, you’ll be able to read stories as soon as they are posted. Ministry news, event details, and biblical reflections will be posted in real time, keeping us more connected and engaged with one another.
This new format allows for greater flexibility and immediacy. Whether it’s a photo gallery from the youth mission trip, a closer look at ministry experience, or a story highlighting volunteers, you’ll be able to access it right away. Plus, our online format makes it easier to share with friends and family—helping our church’s witness reach beyond our walls and into the world.
The Messenger remains a tool to inform, inspire, and celebrate the life of First Presbyterian Church. The medium may be changing, but the mission remains the same.
We invite you to be a part of this new chapter. If you have a story idea, an experience to share, or photos from a recent event, please send them to Cathy Richardson, Director of Communications.
So, welcome to the new Messenger! Check in often, share widely, and celebrate how God is working among us in real time. Together, we will continue to tell the story of our church for years to come.