Samuel J. Lindamood Jr.

Sam Lindamood was born in Columbus, Mississippi and moved to Tucson, Arizona when he was 7 years old. He had nearly all his schooling in Tucson. He was a tennis star in both high school and college. He received his B. A, in philosophy from the University of Arizona, and also received a B. D. degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was ordained in June 1955 at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Tucson.

His first year in the ministry was spent as a hospital chaplain at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia while working for his M. A. degree at Temple University's School of Theology. He left before completing this work to become the Assistant Pastor at the Mountain View Church in Tucson. In 1959 the Assistant was changed to Associate.

The Mountain View Church had a membership of 1900, with 1500 enrollment in the Church School. Rev. Lindamood’s area of work was primarily in visitation, counseling and young adult work. He also performed all the duties of a Pastor.

To quote from one of the letters Orangewood received concerning him, "The Rev. Lindamood is very outgoing in his personality, friendly, open and frank. He excels as a preacher and youth worker and is a very good organizer and pastor counselor. He is considered one of the most promising young men of our Synod.”

 He was chairman of the National Missions in the Southern Presbytery and was vitally concerned and interested in new church development. He assisted in a building program at Mountain View with the Rev. David Sholin, adding a beautiful new section to their educational facility.

 While at the University of Arizona he met the future Mrs. Lindamood, a North Carolina girl. Mary Ann majored in sociology. They were married in 1954 and had four daughters.

 Orangewood Years

 In the spring of 1961 Orangewood conducted a search for a new head pastor.  The Pulpit Nominating Committee evaluated the dossiers of one hundred and ten candidates.  By unanimous vote this committee selected Rev. Sam Lindamood for Orangewood.  His first Sunday in the pulpit was on July 30th 1961.  Rev Lindamood served as head Pastor until July 1972.

 Preaching Philosophy (From the Arizona Republic dated July 26, 1970)

 In a random survey in Phoenix, The Arizona Republic asked the clergy of five faiths what they thought about the role of the sermon.  The response of Rev. Lindamood follows:

 The Rev. Samuel Lindamood, Orangewood United Presbyterian Church, said he preaches on social issues "all the time". Some of his topics have included divorce, race, sex, alcoholism, pollution, pornography, Vietnam and poverty. Unlike the other clergy interviewed, Mr. Lindamood has preached against the Vietnam War from his pulpit.

 He said his outspokenness has not divided the congregation.  "We have lost not more than a dozen families and they were unresponsive to social issues," he said. "Most newcomers listen to a few sermons before they join," he added. "The trouble is that a lot of guys play footsie with the congregation in the first six months and then try to change. That's when all, hell breaks loose. "

 He ranks himself as .a "progressive modern Calvinist. “Theologically I think of myself as a conservative, but the way I apply my theology is, I suppose, 'liberal'." However, the idea that if all men are "saved in Christ," social evils will disappear is, to Mr. Lindamood, "the stupidest idea ever advanced. Faith and works are hand in hand." he dec1ared. "There is no way to do one without the other. If you have grace it will inspire you to do good works. Those who do nothing but works and those who have only faith are making a false distinction.”

 SAM  SEZ (A mini-collection of Sam's “Sayings”)

Remember these favorite sermon topics?

 One of Sam’s favorite poems - Lord How Quickly Time Flies

Lord, how quickly the time flies,
we no sooner arrive than we say our goodbyes.

The moments and days go flitting by,
it will all be over before I can sigh.

There stands a couple with three little girls,
feeling "deja vu" my memory unfurls.

All those good years so swiftly gone by
that I can't relive, but I'd like to try.

How difficult it is to keep up with time,
before you know it you're past your prime.

Getting older is not bad, it's just hard to believe
that no matter how hard you try you cannot retrieve.
Even one lost moment in the space of a life,
or the many ideas to which you have been midwife.

I feel grateful for the time that I’ve had,
I really wouldn't change it, not even a tad.

The good Lord blessed me with so much favor,
but the Greatest talent is the ability to savor
each moment as it goes by, and not wait
for the future when it may be too late.

Reverend Samuel J. Lindamood, Jr. passed away on November 25, 1997.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Ann Lindamood, of Phoenix, along with his four daughters Robin, Wendy, Peggy and Missy and two grandchildren: Samantha and Andrew.  His daughter, The Reverend Peggy Roberts, is currently serving in the family tradition as minister at the Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 3535 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, Arizona.

In the 1966 Annual Report Sam wrote the following: 

It is hard to believe that 1966 will see the conclusion of my first five years as pastor of Orangewood.  It seems like I just started yesterday, and yet it also feels like I have belonged to this community for a long time.  They have been very gratifying and enriching years for me and my family, and I hope they have been the same for the family of Orangewood.  We look forward to the years ahead. 

My activities in the larger community have been less this year but still pressing.  I now enter my second year as President of the Board of Arizona Boy’s Ranch.  I have served the Presbytery as chairman of the Christian Education committee and a special Ad Hoc Committee.  I have served the Synod on its committee of Christian Education, a Special Committee of Five, and chairman of the Commission on Religion and Race.

 For our congregation 1965 has been a year of growth  and many activities.  This has been our first full year in our new sanctuary.  Certainly our worship of God has been enriched in this beautiful setting.  Last summer saw a new approach to Vacation Church School that was well received.  In September the Tele-course started and had an amazing response (175 adults enrolled).  Our experiment with the Junior Department program of Wednesday has had a fine response (averaging almost 70 per week).  Our united efforts with the Church of the Beatitudes and Cross Roads Methodist Church (nicknamed W.O.A., “With One Accord”) has grown with each new endeavor.  This local effort in ecumenicity offers great promise.

 Too much cannot be said about the addition to our church life brought by Bob Joyce Page.  A ministry of music is an integral part of church life, and this has certainly been validated for us many times in these last months.  I marvel and rejoice at a choir program of some two hundred persons in just four months’ time.  The quality of performance and the choice of music have been outstanding.

 The Reverend Dr. Lawrence Manross (“the grand old man”) continues to do his fine work in a very quiet but strengthening way.  Certainly he makes my work much easier as he performs his many tasks with dignity, grace and good humor.

 I could go on and on passing out bouquets.  Our staff is as dedicated as any I have ever known and we all owe them many thanks for the caliber and quality of work they do.  That goes for all of them:  Jean Chitterster, Ione Bullard, and Doris Chapel in our office; Murrell Simpson and Lee Griffiths on the building and grounds.

But ….. we press on to the future.  One of our greatest needs at this time is to do some long-range planning.  What is the potential of our church?  What sort of programs do we anticipate?  What facilities will be needed to house those programs?  The Session has authorized the appointing of a committee from the congregation-at-large to be convened in the immediate future with an elder as chairman.  For me this is urgent!   Your pastor tends to think in segments of time.  Having completed one five year period, we now look to another.  Some of the programs with which we have experimented and in which we believe will take this length of time to bear fruit.  Let us, then, confront the future with imagination, courage and resolve.

“Now unto Him who by his power within us is able to do infinitely more than ever we dare ask or imagine – to Him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen!” 

Sam J. Lindamood, Jr.