All Are Welcome
Following the way of Jesus and joined together by God’s Spirit, we are committed to loving and welcoming all people. Regardless of the color of our skin, our gender identity or sexual orientation, our physical or mental ability, what we’ve done or haven’t done, no matter what questions or doubts we have, we are all equally loved, worthy of belonging and invited to serve.
Worship Services
First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica streams our worship services via our live feed each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. You are invited to join us in worship and celebrate God’s presence in Santa Monica, or from anywhere around the world.
Love this church. Great people. Inspired minister. Great sermons. Fantastic music. Worship service includes a cool mix of traditional and contemporary Christian music with both a choir and a band. Fabulous children and family ministry. Relaxed and casual “come as you are” style and vibe.
What’s going on at First Pres?
Easter Lily Dedications 2024
Church NewsOur incredible team
Tim grew up in a small town in Western New York never imagining that a larger world existed outside of what he knew. But along the way he stumbled into new experiences with new people in new places, including a move to Seattle where he fell in love, got married, drove a school bus, and eventually became a pastor.
Tim has served churches in Oregon, Paris (France) and now Santa Monica. When not doing pastor-type stuff, he likes to ride his bike, play basketball, and spend time with his wife, Maija, over a good cup of coffee or good food. Finally, Tim and Maija have three children who (in all the ways) continue to expand their world.
Peter Earhart grew up in a Presbyterian family of eight children in Pittsburgh, PA. His journey westward to southern California included a sixteen-year stop in Washington, DC, and a seven-year stay in Tucson, AZ. He completed his Master of Arts in Christian Education degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 2008. He served as Director of Children’s Ministry at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Tucson, AZ for three years and then Director of Children’s, Youth, and Family Ministry here at First Pres since 2011. He is married to Laurel and they have four grown children
Paula Lowe is passionate about children, families and education, and has been in the field of early childhood education for over thirty years. She was a teacher and Director of The Growing Place Child Development Center for twenty years. She is a teacher of our preschool and kindergarten children’s groups which meet on Sunday mornings and during the week. She and her husband Rob are the parents of two wonderful young adults.
Jen Philbin was born and raised in the South Bay and served at the Presbyterian church they grew up in for over 10 years. Throughout their service to the church, Jen invested in children’s, youth, worship team, and missions ministries and has brought energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to everything they do. They graduated from California State University Long Beach with two degrees in Family Life Education and Child Development & Family Studies. “I feel so grateful to be welcomed into a church community that loves and accepts all of me. Serving here has transformed my faith in the best way.”
Mark Alan Hilt is the Director of Traditional Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica. He began as organist in 1999 and continues to lead the choir, accompany the service on organ and piano, and collaborate with his colleagues in music, Noah Needleman and Irene Navarro. Mark began his study of the pipe organ at Wichita State University in Kansas with Robert Town, and continued his work with Marianne Webb at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is the Orchestra Conductor at Harvard-Westlake School, where he works with 10th, 11th, and 12th-graders in Symphony, Camerata Strings, Beginning Music Theory, and Advanced Placement Music Theory. Mr. Hilt is co-founder and Music Director of Jacaranda, where he has led a variety of ensemble works, concerti, chamber symphonies, and varied works for large ensembles, including the US premiere of Olivier Messiaen’s Song of the Deported (1945) for large chorus and orchestra.
Bio coming soon…
Bio coming soon…
Bio coming soon…
Bio coming soon…
Bio coming soon…
Our church community
At First Pres, we understand and appreciate that God has not only blessed each of us with an individual and unique character, but also has worked through us to create a church community with its own distinct characteristics. We are a church that welcomes all people, wherever they are on their spiritual journey.