MacArthur Payne “Mac” Parish Chaplain

My faith journey has crossed careers, states, multiple church denominations and churches. I understand how healing art, music, nature, community, and the joy of dancing can be. My love of singing brought me to First Presbyterian singing in the Praise Band at the 8.30 New Stone service.

I have been involved in church Activities all my life. It began as being baptized as a Methodist in Alexandria. After my father’s death at 10 years of age, I joined the Salvation Army eventually becoming a Captain working in West Virginia and Washington D.C. as director of an Alcohol Program for skid row alcoholics.

After the Salvation Army, I helped in the Ministry at Buckton and Ninevah Presbyterian churches in Front Royal while working in IT at Dupont. My passion for combining science and healing led me to training and volunteering as an EMT and a Paramedic. After my retirement from Dupont, I continued this endeavor going back to school and becoming a Physician Assistant. I have been a Physician Assistant for 18 years starting in Corrections and also working at the Veteran Hospital in Martinsburg in ER and Primary Care. I have spent the last 6 years working at Central State Hospital in Petersburg, VA as a Psychiatric Physician Assistant in Maximum Security with the seriously mentally ill. I continue to work there part-time both seeing patients and training new nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Wanting a deeper understanding of God’s word and work in our lives, I recently completed the Credentialed Ruling Elder program at Union Seminary in Richmond. I also completed a 400-hour Chaplain Internship Program at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick Maryland last year.

I am looking forward to serving the members of First Presbyterian and the Winchester Community.

During our Pastor’s sabbath on Fridays, I will be available for prayer concerns and for those who experience immediate needs.