MISSION BOOK OF PRAYER AND STUDY

PRESBYTERY DE CRISTO

2008

 The prayer, dream and work of two or three gathered together in Jesus’ name, came to fruition in the installation of the Rev. Mary Jane Miles as pastor of Papago United Presbyterian Church, Sells, AZ in March, 2007. The dream was to have a full-time, resident, Native American pastor for this congregation of Tohono O’odham people. The name means “desert people” and aptly describes the people and landscape of their vast reservation.

 

The dream began with the Rev. Buzz Hargelroad, one of a series of pulpit supply, part-time supply and interim pastors that served the Papago UPC for many years. He was moved by the faithfulness of the congregation. The church has four chapels, scattered at some distance from one another; San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Sells and Topawa. On three successive Sundays they worship in the chapels, gathering together once a month for worship, Communion, fellowship and a shared meal. After the Rev. Hargelroad left, the Rev. Mike Smith, who followed, picked up the dream and began networking by twos and threes to fund the dream.

 

Trinity was the first church that gave to the cause and challenged the other churches in the Presbytery to do likewise. Another break-through came when Elder Dick Kampa from St. Andrew’s and the Rev. David Fife, Presbytery’s Mission Committee Moderator agreed that. St. Andrew’s would give a large amount of money over a three year period to ensure a pastor’s salary and benefits, and the Presbytery would ensure giving for that period, if other churches in the Presbytery would join the cause. The dream was partially fulfilled when Christ, Immanuel, Northminster, St. Mark’s, and Valley PCs joined the other two churches.  

 

As funding was established, the church’s Pastor Nominating Committee discovered the Rev. Mary Jane Miles, a Nez Perce Native American. Having attended seminary as an older student, she offered the wisdom of life experience, the enthusiasm of a recent seminary graduate and her gift of music to a congregation who loves to sing. The dream was fulfilled at her installation. Church and pastor are part of the 30 churches, 8855 members and two PCUSA Border Ministries of the Presbytery de Cristo located in southern, AZ and western NM.

 

Jesus truly is present as two or three gather in prayer, worship and work to make God’s vision and the dreams of humankind join together in celebration.

INSTALLATION OF MARY JANE MILES, NEW PASTOR FOR PAPAGO UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MARCH 11, 2007 AT SELLS,AZ 

L to R, Rebecca Cook, Presbytery de Cristo Moderator;  Rev. Josephine Dickson; Rev. Mary Jane Miles; Rev. Mike Smith;  Dick Kampa, Elder

St. Andrew’s together with some other churches in the Presbytery collaborated with Presbytery in funding the support necessary to bring Mary Jane to her call at Sells. The pulpit had been filled for 3 years by Rev. Smith.   The details of the story are told in the following article prepared by Presbytery de Cristo Interim Executive Lynne Myers. It will appear in the 2007 edition of the Mission Book of Prayer and Study.