This season at First Pres, we have plenty of exciting activities, services, and more! Please see our schedule of events below:


Shine Christmas Choir in Worship
Sunday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Shine Christmas Choir has been working hard to bring you some Christmas songs that will spread Joy and Love! We welcome all to attend the service at 10am to see them perform for you. This is something you don’t want to miss!!


Christmas Festival
Sunday, December 15 at 11:15 a.m.

Come and be part of our First Pres Christmas Festival where you can enjoy a Pasta Lunch, Hot Chocolate Bar, Live Christmas Music, Crafts, a Gingerbread House Raffle, and Gift Bags for all kids. Register here.

* Financial assistance is available so everyone can attend — please contact Peter or Jen for assistance or questions!

Christmas Eve Cookie Drop-Off
Anytime before Tuesday, December 24

Attention all bakers,

Nothing adds joy to a Christmas Eve service like cider and home-baked Christmas cookies!

Sign up to bring cookies on or before Sunday, December 24. Earlier deliveries can go in the freezer. Cookies can be delivered in storage bags or on serving platters. Please put your name on anything you want returned.

Just so we are all on the same page:

• Brownies are Christmas cookies
• All bar cookies are Christmas cookies—especially Karen’s lemon bars
• Muffins can be Christmas cookies if of no significant nutritional value
• If they can be eaten daintily, cupcakes are Christmas cookies
• Candies are Christmas cookies when festively decorated and/or dark chocolate

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve Fellowship
Tuesday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m.

Children’s Christmas Pageant in Worship

Sunday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Festival

Sunday, December 15 at 11:15 a.m.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve Fellowship

Tuesday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Thank you to everyone who donated and dedicated a lily for our beautiful Easter service! The full list of donors and dedications are below:

 

  • Stacy Wilkins
    In memory of
    Edith & Vaughn Wilkins
  • Stacy Wilkins
    In memory of
    Wealthy & Spencer Schantz
  • Cory Bales
    In memory of
    Evelyn Schroeder
  • Cory Bales
    In memory of
    Kenneth John
  • Pat Alston
    In loving memory of
    her beloved grandmother,
    Nina Mikesell Smith Humphrey
  • Bill & Ellen Ireland
    In memory of
    Tom & Sarah Brand, Jonathan
    Davis, Jim Timmermann, Fred Armitage
  • William Pierce
    In celebration of
    Marvin Pierce
  • William Pierce
    In celebration of
    Balthasar Pierce
  • The Edstrom Family
    In celebration of
    our children Bruce, Betty, & Elise
  • Kent Lewis
    In memory of
    Rose & Howell Lewis
  • Kent Lewis
    In memory of
    Grace & Dan Hurley
  • Kent Lewis
    In memory of
    Murl & Richard Lewis
  • Kent Lewis
    In memory of
    Phoebe & James Herbert
  • Kent Lewis
    In memory of
    Keith Gamet
  • Steve & Louise Pesce
    In memory of
    Valerie Bell
  • Karen Register
    In memory of
    John Register
  • Lowell Harris
    In loving memory of
    Our son Jimmy
  • Lowell Harris
    In loving memory of
    Inga Swenson
  • Lowell Harris
    In celebration of
    Our son Mark’s birthday
  • Karen Register
    In memory of
    Carole Reed
  • Judy Sommer
    In memory of my parents,
    Adolf & Dorothy Sommer,
    & In memory of Tom
  • The Iorio Barton Family
    In honor of
    Densie Iorio
  • The Iorio Barton Family
    In memory of
    Edwin & Barbara Barton
  • The Iorio Barton Family
    In memory of
    R. Alden & Miriam Clarke
  • The Iorio Barton Family
    In memory of
    Katherine McDonald & Duke Iorio
  • Robert Bracken
    In memory of my parents,
    Robert & Margaret Bracken
  • Robert Bracken
    In memory of my parents,
    My sister Sarah Margaret Bracken Porter
  • Robert Bracken
    In memory of my parents,
    My spouse George Thomas Applegate
  • The Earhart Family
    In memory of
    Samuel Earhart
  • The Earhart Family
    In memory of
    Jim Lamb

The Vawters’ Daughters gathering on the first Friday evening of each month is an informal affair attended by women of the congregation. Active members, regular attendees, and visitors alike are always welcome.

Jennie C. and Emma K. Vawter, founders of the Sunday School

The gatherings started with a couple of dinners in the late 1990s to introduce the wife of our new pastor to the women in the congregation. From there, it blossomed into a great way to socialize on a regular basis.

The new group initially met at a restaurant for dinner, drinks, and delightful diversion. One evening, after a few drinks, someone mentioned the name of an historic First Pres family: Vawter. A riff ensued, and, voila! “Vawters’ Daughters” became the official name – we being the spiritual offspring of the church founders, Emma and Jennie Vawter. The group’s name also rhymes nicely.

The next iteration of the social event was to move to in-home potluck dinners to allow for a more intimate and less expensive experience. Soon afterward, the gatherings were organized using Evite.

Occasionally, the gatherings centered around a theme, such as a mid-century cuisine (which was so bad it was funny), donuts (when the first Friday in June one year fell on National Donut Day), or a holiday (Valentine’s Day and Halloween among the favorites). Almost always, December brought a lively gift exchange that included thievery and trickery as participants aimed to go home with their favorite gift. (Yes, we realize this is conduct unbecoming of church ladies.)

With the first lockdown of the pandemic in 2020, Vawters’ Daughters gathered mostly via Zoom for a couple of years, with a few people occasionally gathering in-person at someone’s home. But we’re back in person again – and so happy to celebrate our Vawter heritage with First Pres friends – old and new.

Don’t be shy! We’d love to have you join us.

Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Children’s Christmas Pageant in Worship

Sunday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Festival

Sunday, December 17 at 11:15 a.m.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve Fellowship

Sunday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m.

From it’s beginnings at Compassion Camp this past summer, our Shine Children’s Music Ensemble, led by Emily Audras, has become the place where kids, music, and love for Jesus come together. Join us on Sunday, October 22, Harvest Festival Sunday, as the Shine Ensemble will sing in our worship service and add their voices to our community praise of  God and God’s love for us.

First Pres is excited to announce that the 2023 Harvest Festival will be on Sunday, October 22 from 11 am to 1 pm. You’re not going to want to miss out on all the fun. For kids there will be pumpkin painting, awesome inflatables, face painting, balloon twisting, an amazing petting zoo, carnival games, and arts and crafts. For adults, there is our Food Garden where the coffee and donuts are free and lunch is available for purchase. We’ll also have a harvest festival themed photo area where individual, family, or group photos can be taken. So sign up now to attend! Proceeds from the event support the Rebecca Hall Children’s Fund. To help raise money, sponsor a booth or activity. You can check out our Instagram video from last year’s festivities!

We are excited to have the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus singing in worship on Sunday, October 15. The GRAMMY® Award-winning Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC) provides choral music education of the highest quality to young people who represent richly diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

You’re invited to join in after worship on Sunday, October 8 for Pizza & Bingo. Come to the Ren Room following the service for fellowship, fun, and great prizes. Everyone is welcome! To sign up click here or use the Church Center app.

The Great Bible Giveaway continues through the month of September. We’re giving out Bibles to anyone who requests one. We have a Story Bible for families with young children, a Children’s Bible for elementary-aged kids, a thinline Common English Bible for youth, and the latest translation of the New Revised Standard Version, the Updated Edition, for adults. And all you need to do to get your very own Bible is to sign up and pick your Bible. There is no cost but donations will be accepted. So come and be a part of thee Great Bible Giveaway! Register to receive a Bible online or via the Church Center App.