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Here at Mountain Shadows Church, we're blessed with an extraordinary staff of both professional and volunteer leaders.
Our Pastor
Reverend Rachel Srubas was installed as the Pastor of Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church on November 4th, 2006. Prior to coming here, she served as Interim Pastor for Saint John on the Desert Presbyterian Church, as Director of Compassion Ministries for Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ, and as Director of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Care for Southside Presbyterian Church. Rachel has lived in Tucson since 1998. Prior to that, she lived in Chicago, where she received Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from McCormick Theological Seminary, and Master and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Rachel is a writer whose works have appeared in numerous periodicals, including The Christian Century and Horizons: The Magazine of Presbyterian Women. Her books include: Oblation: Meditations on Saint Benedict's Rule, a collection of prayers reflecting on ancient-yet-modern Christian wisdom, and City of Prayer: Forty Days with Desert Christians, a conversation between the wise and colorful early desert ascetics and a contemporary seeker (click here for more info). She is an oblate (non-monastic affiliate) of Tucson's Benedictine community and teaches on the faculty of the Hesychia School for Spiritual Directors at Tucson's Redemptorist Renewal Center. Rachel is dedicating to balancing the active and contemplative dimensions of spiritual life, and is joyfully married to Ken McAllister, as Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English on the faculty of the University of Arizona.
Our Music Director
Mary Frances Fest is our new Music Minister. More information is coming soon!
Our Session
In the Presbyterian Church(USA), the leadership of the congregration happens through a faithful partnership among the clergy (pastors) and of the congregation who are ordained to ministries of governance and guidance. These women and men are called "elders" and together they comprise the "session," the governing board of the local church. Each elected elder assumes responsibility for a major component of our congregation's life and ministry. Our current session members are:
Rachel Srubas, Moderator
Shirley Singer -- Clerk of Session
Shawne Cryderman -- Personnel
Cassi Fraley -- Christian Education and Nurture
Dean Gibbs -- Facilities
George Gregg -- Adult Faith Formation
Joyce Hopson -- Mission and Outreach
Gene Klett -- Gifts, Memorials and Stewardship
Dan Linegar -- Evangelism & Communications
Dennis Nelson -- Worship and Music
Mike Penner -- Finance
Rita Smith -- Membership
Carlton Wiens -- Technology
Our Deacons
In the Presbyterian Church(USA), deacons are men and women called to ministries of sympathy, witness, and service. As such, they are responsible for helping with the day-to-day operations of the church, as well as for ensuring that both members and new friends of the congregation are cared for. Mountain Shadows' congregation has been divided into nine mini-parishes. Each Deacon is responsible for about fourteen families or individuals. These deacons pass urgent needs along to the minister, as well as special joys and concerns. In addition, there is a deacon who is specifically responsible for arranging flowers for each service, and another deacon who is responsible for coordinating church technologies (like this website). Deacons also assist in serving communion, and are often ushers and greeters. When someone with a smiling face and a warm "hello!" greets you at the door of the sanctuary, that's probably a deacon! Our current deacons are:
Kathy Rogers, Moderator
Penny Gibbs, Secretary
Janice Ahlquist
Mary Ann Butler
Sherry Gregg
Elizabeth Houle
Karen Koopmans
Martha Macrander
Pamela Schultz
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