I’m told there is a Church Militant which is we who claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and there is a Church Triumphant for those in heaven who have gone on to their reward. Stuart Wood and Christine Wright are two saints who are now with their Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, and all the faithful.
Stuart was the pastor of St. Andrews, Indio congregation for nineteen years. He was ordained by Trinity Presbytery in 1961. He came to us from Santa Barbara Presbytery where he was the Interim Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Maria. He had received his training at Princeton Theological Seminary and completed a Doctor of Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary while in ministry in Indio. He was a fine preacher as illustrated by the sermon his widow Ruena circulated upon his death. After leaving St. Andrews in 1999, Stuart, Ruena, and son Alden moved to Long Beach where they were part of Grace First Presbyterian Church in Lakewood. Stuart was a recipient of a Shared Grant from the presbytery and the Board of Pensions in the last year and half of his life.
Diana Wright was ordained by Santa Barbara Presbytery in 1990. She became the associate pastor at Magnolia Presbyterian Church in 1993. She stayed at Magnolia for over 7 years at which time she blessed many by their request to host a memorial service for her shortly after her death last month. After Magnolia Christine became a mission-co worker in West Africa for the Presbyterian Church (USA). She returned to pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Corona for two stints, once in the late 2000s and another time in 2014. She retired to the San Diego area where her son lived.
Diana is remembered for her emphasis on Christian spirituality and prayer. While at Magnolia Diana completed a course of study at Creighton University in Nebraska that made her a more valued pastor, spiritual director, and retreat leader. Prayer was essential to Christine, and she lived and taught it in her ministry and throughout her life.
Although we believe in the parity of all the baptized we honor these two humble servants for their lives and work.
