First Presbyterian Church
Las Cruces, NM

 

The church and the community

This page contains an extensive description of the church and the community. It was produced in 2002 to assist in the search for a pastor, but will serve as a good introduction to anybody wishing to learn more about this particular church. Many of the particulars of the church and the community are essentially unchanged. For more up-to-date information on committees and other organizations, see the subsequent annual reports and the individual pages in this site.

The Table of Contents which follows is interactive. Click on the item which you want to read. At the end ot that item you will find a link to return to this table.

Table of Contents

Part I - Church Profile

    A. Introductory Statement for the Church
    B. Introductory Statement for the Community
    C. Church School
    D. Organizations Within the Church
    E. Annual Events

Part II - Narrative Information

    A. The Church and the Neighborhood
        1. The Church
        2. The Neighborhood
    B. Programs
    C. Viewpoints
 

 

PART I - CHURCH PROFILE

A. Introductory Statement for the Church.

The richness of First Presbyterian Church lies in the diversity of ages, occupations and experiences uniting in a common commitment to show God's love in this community. We are a vibrant multi-generational church family, with a youth program which involves and interacts with the entire congregation.

The congregation is comprised of mainly middle-class, well-educated families. Many members are employed by New Mexico State University, the public schools and White Sands Missile Range. Occupations include educators, military personnel, business people, builders, farmers, health professionals, realtors, college students, scientists, engineers, and others. Retirees form a large and active part of our membership.

Key events during the year that bring the church family together include: Easter and Christmas celebrations, a hamburger fry sponsored by the deacons, a summer weekend at the Presbyterian Camp Chimney Spring retreat in the mountains, additional weekly services during Lent, and summer church picnics in the quadrangle. Key youth events include annual retreats for middle and senior high students, attending summer conferences, Dallas, (Gunnison, CO; Montreat West). The annual senior high mission trip will be to go to Juarez to build a home for a needy family.

First Presbyterian Church is seeking a Pastor who lives out a Reformed understanding of the Christian faith based on Scriptural Truth and the Confessions. From this basis the Pastor will lead the entire congregation to continue to be a warm, thriving, caring evangelical Presbyterian Church. The Pastor will be involved in the life of the Church, and in planning and leading a program for church growth. He/She will provide administrative leadership for the congregation and for the staff.

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B. Introductory statement of the Community.

This congregation serves a community that encompasses an area within 20 miles of the church.

Las Cruces, the county seat of Dona Ana County, is a community of over 80,000 people. Dona Ana County, with a population of 140,000, is in south central New Mexico and shares a common boundary with Texas and Mexico. The city is located 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. Las Cruces is nestled in the Mesilla Valley, a semi-arid plain at 4000 feet elevation, drained by the Rio Grande River. The southern New Mexico climate is temperate with mild winters and hot summers. Freezing nights occur from late November to early March and are moderated by warm clear days in the 50's to 60's. Sunny skies dominate throughout the year, interrupted by occasional summer thunderstorms that produce most of the average annual 8 1/2 inch rainfall. Cultivated vegetation is dependent upon irrigation water from the Rio Grande River and deep wells.

The city population is complemented by nearby communities of historic Mesilla, La Mesa, Mesquite, Organ Radium Springs, Dona Ana village, and Tortugas, most representing rural Hispanic and Native American populations. White Sands Missile Range, a military installation 35 miles to the east, with a noontime population of 7,000, adds to the employment and diversity of the community.

New Mexico State University, the state's land grant institution with a Las Cruces campus enrollment of over 15,000 students, offers undergraduate and graduate programs in agriculture, business, education, engineering, and arts and sciences. The university is a major cultural center in the community with a wide range of programs in music, theater, and art as well as serving as a frequent host to traveling national tour groups. Dona Ana Branch Community College, with an enrollment of over 3,000, is a thriving, growing addition to the community.

Our public schools are very competitive in academics and sports. They compare favorably with schools in Arizona, Colorado and Texas. There are four high schools and twenty-two grade schools. Private schools include Mesilla Valley Christian School, Immaculate Heart School (Catholic) and Holy Cross School (Catholic). In all of the schools there is a very good mix of people from all ethnic backgrounds; and the teachers are dedicated, hardworking individuals. It shows in the performance of the students. Some schools are designated as "magnet" schools and high technology courses and equipment is stressed as part of the educational curriculum. The Dona Ana Community College offers undergraduate courses in many fields as well as courses in the trades and has several campuses in the region. New Mexico State University offers outstanding bachelor, graduate and postgraduate programs in the arts and sciences and in engineering. Tuition costs are very reasonable as compared to some of the other highly rated universities.

Swimming, golf, tennis, horseback riding, square dancing, as well as other team and individual sport activities are available in the Las Cruces urban area. This Southwestern region provides good hunting and fishing as do other parts of New Mexico. Nearby are opportunities for hiking and mountain climbing in the Organ Mountains, boating and water skiing at Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs 60 miles to the north, and winter sports activities in the Sacramento Mountains 120 miles northeast. Backpacking trails and additional camping opportunities exist in the Gila Wilderness, 80 miles to the northwest. The Hispanic and Indian influences greatly contribute to the regional flavor of the southwest, providing ample opportunity for enjoying cultural activities throughout the area.

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C. Church School:

Grades Number enrolled  Curriculum
Pre. Kinder & Kinder  12 Gospel Light
1st - 5th  28 Rotation Workshop *
Mid-School  11  Variety of Materials
High School  14 Variety of Materials
Adult  30 A variety of videos, books, and the Bible.

*Rotation Workshop - Biblical themes are chosen and various workshops, etc. (Temple, Cinema, Game room, Community Center, Puppet room, music, computer lab, etc) are used to teach the themes on a rotation basis. Curriculum material varies.

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D. Organizations Within the Church (List Boards, committees of Boards, and

number of members on each.)

Session - 18 members and Clerk of Session

 

Deacons - 18 members

A Deacon also serves on each of the Session Committees.

 

List other organizations, men's women's groups, choirs, etc.

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E. Annual Events

Camp Chimney Spring Retreat: This years retreat was led by Marcus Burr and focused on prayer. Fun time around the campfire and hiking through the beautiful campsite helped make this a rewarding weekend for all those who attended.

Hamburger Fry: Beautiful weather, good hamburgers and great fellowship combined to make this a successful event.

Deacon's Christmas Outreach: As always, it was a wonderful success. Seven families under Hospice care were touched by generosity at Christmas time.

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PART II - NARRATIVE INFORMATION

A. THE CHURCH AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

1. The Church

a. Describe your congregation as it might look to a person leading worship.

On Sunday mornings approximately 265 worshippers attend our services. The large majority of these are Caucasian. While congregational members are over fifty, there are a number of young families and strong representation from all ages. There is a children's time with 15-20 children from pre-school through fifth grade. Those younger than first grade leave the service following the children's time to attend a teaching program designed for their age. Many mid-school and senior high youth attend, and once each month, participate in the service as liturgists and ushers. The outstanding chancel choir, comprised of twenty or more voices, regularly present anthems and lead the congregation in musical worship from September to early June. Our youth and children choirs also sing once a month. Because of the excellent climate there are many winter visitors.

b. As you consider the membership of your church, what are the occupations, educational levels, etc.?

The congregation is composed mainly of middle-class families; most are well educated. Many members are employed by New Mexico State University, the public schools or White Sands Missile Range. There are educators, military personnel, farmers, business and professional people, builders, health professionals, realtors, college students, scientists, engineers, homemakers and others. Retirees form a large and active part of the membership. There are many families where both parents work outside the home and a number of single parents.

c. Where do members live in relation to the location of the church?

First Presbyterian draws members from the entire community as well as the surrounding rural area. Most parishioners come to the church by automobile. Some senior citizens from local retirement centers are transported by church van. Many people live within 15 minutes of the church.

d. Are there seasonal events that alter the routine of your church's program?

Neither the order of service nor the hour changes for the summer. Summer musical presentations are made by soloists or small groups, and are often of a more contemporary nature. The order and the elements of the service may be rearranged.

e. Describe the church's properties, including the manse. Comment on any major needs or plans concerning buildings.

The church property comprises 6 acres. four separate buildings totaling 28,570 square feet, surrounding a grassy quadrangle, make up the campus. The buildings include a Sanctuary; Jones Hall (offices, library, classrooms); Branigan Hall (nursery, church school office, classrooms); and Reeves Hall (kitchen, large assembly room, classrooms, min-school and senior high meeting rooms). The quadrangle provides space for outdoor activities and includes a playground. Paved parking and beautiful landscaped grounds enhance the beauty of the 35-year-old edifice. In May 1996, A garage and workshop (1500 square feet) was built in a single weekend by the congregation. In 1997, because of a 2- to 3-fold increase in use, primarily due to our expanding Salt and Light Program, the kitchen was remodeled and expanded. W e are currently in the process of remodeling our heating and cooling systems, and have plans to do some major remodeling to the entire church. Because the church does not own a manse, a housing allowance is provided.

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2. The Neighborhood

a. Describe the area served by the church. Specify the radius used. For example, where is it located geographically? What is the population of the town, city or village in which the church is located? How far is the church from the nearest commercial center? What is the church's ministry to the area? What other churches (Presbyterian and others) are within the area?

First Presbyterian Church serves the local surrounding community including Dona Ana County and White Sands Missile Range that lies 35 miles to the east. Las Cruces is a growing community of 80,000 residents and is the county seat for Dona Ana County, which has an overall population of 140,000. Many smaller communities within a 20-mile radius of our church include historic Mesilla, La Mesa, Tortugas, the village of Dona Ana, Organ, and Radium Springs. In addition, Las Cruces hosts New Mexico State University, which has an enrollment of around 15,000 students and Dona Ana Branch Community College with over 3,000 students. El Paso, Texas, lies 45 miles to the south and borders its neighbor, Mexico. Together they form a metropolitan area of approximately two million people in the nearest large commercial center to Las Cruces.

The local ministry of our church includes support for the Gospel Rescue Mission, the Christian Day Nursery, the Salvation Army, an interdenominational soup kitchen and health clinic, and the Presbyterian Campus Ministry. There are nearly 100 congregations in the community. The two local Presbyterian Churches (U.S.A.) relate to many of these congregations through the Las Cruces Ministerial Alliance. The Deacons minister to transients by providing sack lunches and supporting activities of Community Action and the Gospel Rescue Mission. The Deacons also organize a Christmas outreach to the terminally ill and their families through Mesilla Valley Hospice.

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b. What lifestyles, housing patterns, employment and community or economic concerns are in evidence? How does the membership of the congregation compare with the neighborhood with regard to these factors?

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico State University, and the Las Cruces Public School System are the major employers in the area. Agriculture is another contributor to the economy. Dairy, beef cattle, cotton, chile, onions, lettuce, and pecans are the main crops. A wide range of retail outlets, light manufacturing, and government and professional services complete the economic base of the area. Housing in Las Cruces includes low-income housing, mobile homes, apartments, townhouses and single-family homes. The area has challenges. Las Cruces is one of the poorest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. One of the challenges the church faces is how to respond to the societal problems that result from these conditions. Population of the Las Cruces area is 48% Anglo, 48% Hispanic, with a small percentage of other racial minorities making up the remaining 4%. Membership of First Presbyterian Church is predominately Anglo and middle income.

c. What educational, cultural and medical facilities are available in your community or nearby?

New Mexico State University provides many educational, cultural, and entertainment opportunities including museums, the Las Cruces Symphony at NMSU, a theater group, public television and radio stations, and a variety of sports and sporting events. Other educational institutions include Dona Ana Branch Community College, public schools, church-related schools, and the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum: A 47 acre interactive museum. The city of Las Cruces has a cultural center, two libraries, community concerts, many community choral groups, a craft faire sponsored by the arts council, a community theater, chamber ballet, and various fiestas. The town of Mesilla, which is adjacent to Las Cruces, is an historical area with many older homes, a museum and a variety of shops and restaurants. This part of New Mexico is enriched by the Hispanic and Native American cultures. There are two general hospitals and many medical specialties in Las Cruces.

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B. PROGRAMS

1. Describe your church's corporate worship life, including regular Sunday and weekday services, special worship services and programs. Were any changed in the past ten years? How?

Sunday worship services are held at 10:30 am each Sunday with communion held on the first Sunday of each month. Worship includes liturgy, prayers, scripture, sermon, children's time, general confessions and creeds, congregational singing , choir anthems and special presentations by the adult and youth choirs, soloists, and instrumentalists. Middle school youth and senior high youth are liturgists periodically. The new Presbyterian Hymnal is used. Large print bulletins and hymnals are available. The sound system in the sanctuary has been redone, improving sound quality and providing wireless receivers for the hearing impaired. Worship services are taped and these tapes are made available to those not able to attend.

Special services are held regularly on Easter, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday. These services creatively utilize music and scripture and often involve the youth choirs and special liturgical dance or drama. Congregational singing, prayer, scripture readings and general confessions are a part of these services, though the order of the service may be quite different. There is a Sunday service during the summer held at Camp Chimney Springs, a Presbyterian camp in the mountains, in late summer.

A weekly children and youth (grades 1-12) program is held during the school year. It is based on the LOGOS System Inc. and is called The Salt and Light Company. Weekly activities include recreation, dinner, worship skills (music, readings, drama, etc.) and Bible study for about 65 young people. Adult volunteers (about 50) from our church provide the necessary support for these activities.

New programs/changes: Salt & Light Co.; greater participation of youth in worship services; greater use of liturgical dance and reading; increased participation in the Camp Chimney Springs retreat; and creation of a new Presbyterian-Women circle.

2. Describe the educational programs in which your church is involved. What facilities are available? Include adult education, leadership development and weekday programs. When do these take place?

Sunday School classes meet each Sunday morning for ages two through adult. There are currently three adult classes. Various curricula are used from pre-school through high school. Grades 1-5 do rotation workshops. Presently, there are no college classes, but college students are encouraged to attend classes and activities that are part of the Presbyterian Campus Ministry.

During the school year our weekly Salt and Light Company program (based on LOGOS System Inc.) meets. Children and youth (grades 1-12) are divided by age and each age level experiences four components each week; Worship skills, recreation, dinner and Bible study. This mid-week program provides an excellent continuous teaching opportunity, with better regular attendance than in Sunday school. Adult participation in the program is high. A parent of each child enrolled participates in some way in the running of the program. This ranges from helping on a kitchen crew, teaching, being a table parent, working in the nursery of helping with recreation. In its fifth year, it has grown each year.

Bible study groups and Circles are held on a weekly or monthly basis at various times and locations. There are several other groups of adults that meet primarily on a social basis approximately monthly, often including a church oriented activity.

Middle school fellowship meets once per month during the school year. There is also one special event scheduled for each of these months. These meetings are accomplished by the youth director and middle school youth advisors. Currently, we have no Christian Education Director as of August 2001 and no Youth Director as of March 2002. A search committee has just been formed to look for a CE/Youth director.

Senior high fellowship meets approximately twice per month on Sunday evenings during the school year. Fellowship activities are primarily interpersonal and social in nature. If scheduling permits, a special event occurs each month. The meetings are lead by the youth director and senior-high youth advisors. During the summer, scheduling is very flexible in order to accommodate mission trips, comps or conferences and vacations.

Middle school and senior high hold separate winter retreats annually. Recently the focus of these retreats has included sexuality and group building. Fund-raising activities for both groups occur throughout the year. Both groups have been actively involved in our annual Vacation Bible School with some senior high students serving as teachers.

To support these activities, the church has stereo equipment, TV's, VCR's and a video and audio tape library available for educational and recreational programs. There is one 15-passenger van used regularly for youth trips and transporting senior citizens to Sunday worship.

Our church is also the host for a girl-scout group, a boy-scout group, and the National Association for the Mentally Ill group. Each of these groups meets weekly. There are other associations and groups and they meet on an unscheduled basis during the year (i.e. Organist guild, Las Cruces Public Schools, musical recitals, etc.)

3. Describe some programs and organizations that have been/are most meaningful in your church's ministry.

Certainly our Salt and Light Program, begun in 1992, has had a great impact on the growth, spiritual development and relationships between generations in our congregations. Through S & L and Workshop Rotation, our church has experienced a growth in youth and younger families and greater participation of youth activities. We began Workshop rotation in 1996, and it has been an innovating and exciting learning experience for the elementary students as well as the teachers. VBS has also involved both our mid-school and senior youth. The senior high students have served as teachers or teachers' helpers in preparation for presenting the VBS as part of their summer mission trip. There are several choirs, a Director of Music, one of the finest pipe organs in the area, and frequent guest musicians. A family weekend mountain retreat is held each summer at Camp Chimney Springs. The men of the church host an Easter breakfast. Several summer after-church picnics are held in the quadrangle, providing opportunity for relaxed fellowship (and good food). This year 8 women attended the national Women's Gathering in Louisville. Programs that reach into the community are organized through the Deacons, and include Agape Care Givers, a ministry dealing with loss and grief recovery, serving at the local soup kitchen, shut-in visitation, hospital visitation, providing meals to transients and a Christmas outreach to terminally ill in conjunction with Mesilla Valley Hospice.

Music plays an important part in the life of the church.
The Youth Choir is made up of children in grades K-5 and performs at Sunday services two or three times a year. The Young Adult Choir involves our youth from 6th - 12th grades, and also performs for Sundays service two or three times a year. Also the youth produce an annual musical, play, or other dramatic work and present this work in our theatre located on our own campus. Our Chancel Choir is made up of adult volunteer members from our congregation, along with paid musicians that serve as section leaders within the choir. The Chancel Choir currently has around thirty-five members, and we are recruiting more everyday. The choir room, located at the rear of the main Sanctuary, was recently renovated and we are told that it will have central air conditioning in time for the start of our fall season. First Presbyterian Church has had a strong tradition of excellent music for the Sunday service, and fantastic musicians on staff all around.

First Presbyterian Music Personnel include a Youth Choir director, an adult Choir director who also serves as Hand Bell Choir director, and a truly wonderful and talented organist. Our Youth Choir director is Mrs. Beth Borchert-Thomas, who also teaches Choir at Mayfield High School  in Las Cruces. Ms. Borchert-Thomas has earned many prestigious honors for her work with Mayfield Choirs. The Adult Choir and Hand Bell Choir director is Mr. Bo Rogers who also teaches Choir at Onate High School here in Las Cruces. Our organist is the talented Dr. Howard Smolleck. Dr. Smolleck also teaches electrical engineering at New Mexico State University. First Presbyterian Church is very proud to have such learned musicians on staff, and pledges to continue to make music in our worship a focus for the future. First Presbyterian Church has made substantial efforts to secure music instruments of the highest quality.

There are two grand pianos in our sanctuary. The one in the chancel area is a Steinway Concert Grand, and both are tuned frequently. We also have a two-manual, tracker pipe organ that is used by New Mexico State University’s Music Department as the main instrument for their Organ Performance Majors. The organ instructor, Dr. Janet Loman, is a member of our church and gives most of her lessons on our organ. At least twice a year First Presbyterian Church hosts a special organ tuner, who was brought in from out of state to tune our organ.

First Presbyterian Church hosts many musical events in our Sanctuary every week. The various events and activities include: lessons being taught on our organ; numerous piano recitals throughout the year; NMSU faculty recitals; private recitals; piano lessons; voice lessons; and then there is the wonderful music at Sunday’s worship.

4. What skills and style of pastoral leadership would best enable your congregation and the person filling the position to work together in fulfilling the mission of your church? Is this different from the past?

 

5. What mission causes, both denominational and non-denominational, does your church support? Include amounts or percentages of total budget.

Detailed information on Mission Giving is in our annual report which is available upon request.

Non-Budgeted Mission Total is: $37,820.00

A missions budget is part of the formal church budget and this budget supports (17) seventeen local, national and international missionary efforts.

Total all Mission Support is: $87,691.00.

(Represents 25% of 2001 Budgeted Expenditures)

6. Describe the functioning of the governing boards of your church. For example, is there a committee structure? How frequently does each board meet? What is the usual amount of time expected of the Pastor?

The Session (18 elders) has monthly stated meetings and occasional called meetings. The Deacons (18 members) has monthly stated meetings.

The Pastor serves as ex-officio member of Session & Deacons, with regular participation as needed. See I. D. for more detailed information.

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C. VIEWPOINTS

1. Comment on your understanding of some of the major issues which your community and the world will be facing in the coming decade. Do you think your church should respond?

The fragmentation of family life is one major issue that we experience and attempt to counteract as a congregation. Related problems of illiteracy, school drop-outs, substance abuse, unmarried teen pregnancy and crime (petty to drug/gang related) cry out for the strengthening of families and provision of an extended-family environment in the congregation. Birth control and disease control are major concerns in this state.

We directly experience the worldwide movement of peoples because of oppression, population pressure and poverty in the considerable influx of both legal and illegal migration across the border. Low incomes, plus a disparity of job skills, income and education are symptoms of immigration pressure and resulting under-employment.

We live on a main drug traffic route, compounding the problem of drug use within our area and heightening violent crime. High rates of alcohol consumption exacerbate family problems and contribute to a high DWI rate in New Mexico.

Our congregation's education level and the number of well-educated retirees in the whole community offer a resource pool to address many of the basic educational and literacy challenges. The influx of retirees and an aging population will require expansion of ministry to and with the elderly and their families.

Outreach and mission across cultural lines will offer hope to the disadvantage and a vital mission purpose for the congregation, particularly as it addresses the cultural interaction of Anglo and Hispanic Christians. The combination of personal and corporate initiatives to address these needs requires community leadership of our membership.

2. In consideration of the goals of the church, what changes would you, the congregation, hope to experience within the next five years?

We expect to see First Presbyterian Church grow. This growth will come from: a deepening of our life in Christ through service and study together, resulting in an even more informed and evangelical congregation; a compassionate response to the needs of both the elderly and the young; a reach across cultural and class barriers to encourage and include the Hispanic population, plus new-church development in conjunction with our presbytery; and direct ministries of compassion with elements of education and family resource-building. Additionally, we want to engage the college population in our ministry and worship.

First Presbyterian Church is mindful of the many opportunities of service available. To grow and address the needs of our membership and community, we face the continual challenge of increasing giving to avoid budget deficits.

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