Table of Contents

Our Mission Statement

Our Vision Statement

Worship and Celebration

Teaching and Learning

Church Community and Care

Service and Witness

Who We Are: Past and Present

 

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Mission Statement

It is the Mission of First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship and celebration, and teaching and learning, so that lives are transformed and members are encouraged to use their special gifts to care for and value, as God's Beloved, each other and the community in which we live.

Vision Statement

We believe we praise God with the message as presented in the art of the beautiful sanctuary (including amazing stained glass windows), chapel, and meditation garden that radiate a feeling of the sacred. Art is important to this congregation. Generations of committed Presbyterians, inspired by God, have created, maintained and added to this striking campus and sanctuary.

Worship services that combine a creative fresh approach with beloved traditions resonate with this congregation. The heart of the worship service is the preaching of the Word of God based on the scripture as read from the Bible. The message should speak to the heart as well as to the intellect. Following the lectionary helps all members feel connected with each other, and with all Presbyterians, even when apart. Our pastor honors and values what is already in place while creating an atmosphere of worship and celebration that is attractive to a growing congregation. The prayers of the worship service vary from silent and personal prayer to prayers of the congregation voiced by the pastor to the wonderful joining of hearts and voices in the corporate reciting of the Lord's Prayer.

Music may be the part of worship that speaks to the greatest number of people. This congregations loves to sing and views music as a way of giving voice to the sacred. Our congregants warmly embrace small up-beat changes in both our liturgy and music style.

Participation in worship experience by the laity is important to this congregation. We are in the process of welcoming children as participants in the planning and implementation of worship, making us truly intergenerational. Worship is a time when all attending are members of the family of God and all should be made to feel included and loved. We recognize the need to be consistent in the integration of new worshippers into the church community.

We believe that all members of First Presbyterian Church, San Bernardino need to be included in continuous Christian education, which should be accessible to all ages and abilities. Our vision is to focus on Christian formation and increase the opportunities for changing and transforming the members and community.

Education is highly valued within this congregation, with most members educated well beyond the high school level. Two state universities, prestigious private universities, and a Presbyterian seminary are within commuting distance of the church, creating the opportunity for an abundant pool of highly educated leadership. Participation in many types of retreats is robustly encouraged. Secure financial support is in place for continuing formational experiences including bringing renowned speakers and scholars to the congregation and sending lay-people to retreats and seminars. The Leonard Family Scholarship provides college scholarships to church members who are proven scholars at the college level and have demonstrated Christian commitment.

Lay leadership for ongoing and short term adult Christian education classes are in place; however, we need to add groups for men, college-aged students, and young adults. There are regular membership classes for both adults and youth. There is diverse theological content in our existing program. Classes that offer a wider variety of topical issues could strengthen our adult education program, and encourage participation in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

A Sunday church school program is in place for pre-school through high school youth. Session recently authorized a separate education hour so all can worship together. Working towards a way to introduce children (and adults) to a new worship experience demands patience and sacrifice by all. Ongoing intentional communication between participants in the church school program, session, and the entire congregation is necessary.

A dynamic youth program is a high priority. A vibrant junior and senior high program has served this congregation well. Currently an interim part-time Christian education director helps with our youth program. In partnership with our pastor, an associate could help bring intergenerational Christian formation, creative ideas, energy and enthusiasm to our programs.

We believe Christian formation is the work of the church. Adding new members is desirable, but it is not the focus of the congregation. Providing an atmosphere of hospitality for both our members and visitors allows us to increase the opportunity to transform and change lives. This congregation is outstanding in supporting and encouraging the members. A strong Presbyterian Women's (PW) group helps to hold the church community together. Parish associates, deacons, PW, and others serve our homebound members by visiting, offering Communion, and sending cards and delivering remembrances. Family Camp, a retreat that embraces the entire church family, has been a tradition for over 34 years, and offers an extended weekend of intergenerational worship, Christian education and fellowship. Our popular after-worship coffee hour, hosted by the largest Mariners fleet in the nation, feeds our bodies as well as our need for fellowship.

Communication with members is done through a regularly published newsletter, the weekly worship bulletin and website. Important occasions, including birthdays and anniversaries, are acknowledged in print. New parents or grandparents receive a rose and cradle cross to signify our joy, as a congregation, at the birth of a baby. At baptisms the congregations vows to nurture and love those being baptized, and then words to live these promises. Second grade graduates of our church school program are given Bibles. School graduation as well as career milestones are recognized in the newsletter.

We believe this congregation is called to be a beacon of faith in this neighborhood and community. The congregation is very generous to the community it serves, both with resources and talents. However, learning to be hospitable and to accept the diversity of the community is both a challenge and hesitancy for many. Learning to be open, and able to receive as well as give, especially from the neighborhood surrounding the church and learning to practice hospitality to the community as a gift of the Spirit is an opportunity of growth for this congregation. Hospitality is at the heart of our biblical faith; it is, in fact, welcoming God.

One source of congregation pride is the deacon's food ministry, supply groceries to over 300 people each month. We recently partnered with another congregation to provide a once-a-month mobile medical clinic on our campus that supplies servcies to those that may not have access to regular medical care. The Child Care Center has served families of varying economic backgrounds for over 16 years. Over 1200 children have enjoyed and benefited from this exceptional Center which provides infant care, preschool, a meal program, and childcare to the community and neighborhood. The congregation rejoices in these two mission projects that have become successful because of generous gifts from the congregation in time, prayers and financial support. We have a newly formed mission committee that has helped us understand and expand our vision of global mission.

Because we believe, our Vision is to:

  • Minister to the spiritual and physical needs of all members, and to the community at large;
  • Welcome and practice hospitality to all we encounter;
  • Grow spiritually and acknowledge our individual needs for God's grace
  • Invoke the presence of God in all we do through prayer, worship, and celebration.

Worship and Celebration

We believe that worship which praises God and proclaims God's Word not only connects us with God, but transforms us and reminds us of our identity as God's own.

How we worship and celebrate:

 

  • Building and grounds offer a sense of the sacred.
  • Beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary and in Fellowship Hall.
  • A quiet meditation garden outside the chapel.
  • Artistic elements such as banners and specially designed bulletin covers.
  • Creative services for special occasions often include special music, dance, drama symbolism:

How we might enhance worship and celebration:

Teaching and Learning

We believe that all members of First Presbyterian Church, San Bernardino, need to be included in continuous Christian education, which should be accessible to all ages and abilities. Our vision is to focus on Christian formation and increase the opportunities for changing and transforming the members and community.

How we teach and learn:

  • Adult Christian education:

How we might enhance teaching and learning:

  • View all that we do as Christian Education*
  • Hire a Christian Education director*
  • Hire an associate pastor who will partner with the pastor to provide Christian education for all members.*
    • Higher priority on youth education and programs.
    • Adult classes that cover a wider variety of topics
    • Greater emphasis on workings of PCUSA, General Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery.
    • Greater awareness of, and participation in mission projects.
    • Men's study and fellowship groups
    • Young adult group--college-age and beyond
    • Integenerational classes

Church Community and Care

We believe that Christian formation is the work of the church. While adding new members is desirable, it is not the primary goal. We need to increase opportunities for changing and transforming our members that we might provide a hospitable atmosphere for one another and for visitors.

How we care for one another:

How we might enhance our caring for one another:

Service and Witness

We believe this congregation is called to be a beacon of faith in this neighborhood and community. Robinson, in Transforming Congregational Culture (chapter 11), reminds us that hospitality (caring for one another) goes well beyond mere friendliness. It may mean caring for a stranger, or even a most unpleasant person. Hospitality is at the heart of our biblical faith; it is, in fact, welcoming God.

How we care for our community:

How we might enhance caring for our community:

Who We Are: Past and Present

The First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino was established in 1874. Not only is it the oldest church in Riverside Presbytery (unless you side with the Colton church, est. 1876, and claim to be the oldest), it is one of the oldest churches in the Inland Empire and all of Southern California. The San Bernardino church has grown over the years, and includes members of several intergenerational families. Members are also drawn to the church by strong traditions of Reformed theology, worship services enhanced by an exceptionally fine music program (adult choir, children's choir, bell choir and chimers), intellectually challenging adult education and the kindness and caring of our church family. During the 130 years of its existence, the church either rebuilt or moved twice in order to accommodate the increase in membership and the needs of the congregation.

We currently occupy a beautiful urban campus built in 1952. It includes a large impressive sanctuary, which seats over five hundred worshippers. The choir loft is home to our awesome 32-rank pipe organ. The many stained-glass windows found throughout the church are stunning and inspirational. Our Fellowship Hall, often hosting congregational and community activities, features a large commercial kitchen, a stage with theatrical lighting and sound, and a seating capacity of our three hundred. We have a cozy Fireside Lounge which accommodates small to medium groups for study and fellowship, a detached chapel with outdoor meditation garden, an educational wing containing a nursery and nine classrooms which are used as a child care center during the week and for Sunday church school, an office and library complex, a caretaker's apartment, and three courtyards.

Statistically, we have a current membership of 479 with an average worship attendance of about 200 (2006 Statistical Report). This number of members represents an increase of 17 this year, after a steady decline due to a number of factors that include the closure of the local air base and a shift in the ethnic and economic makeup of the surrounding community. There are approximately 85 members in the 25 to 35 year age category, 145 members between the ages of 36 and 55, 90 members who range in age from 56 to 64, and roughly 165 members over the age of 65. The average age of the respondents to the mission study survey is 59.8. The racial-ethnic makeup is primarily white, non-hispanic (89.4), with the next largest group (5%) being hispanic.

There are 51 households with children living at home; most of them are in middle school and high school, with a little over a fourth of them in elementary and preschool. There is a significant number (36%) of post high school age children living at home. Our Sunday church school program includes a nursery, and classes for preschool through high school, plus periodic and ongoing adult education classes.

Most of our members (66.7%) are married. About 12% are single, 7.4% are divorced and 14.3% are widowed.

Over half of our members have an annual household income of over $50,000 with the average being $66,917. However, the survey shows that in our financial giving, the average for each household is less than 3% of family income.

In this congregation, 71% of those who responded to the mission study survey have educations reaching beyond high school graduation. Twenty-six percent hold post-graduate degrees. Occupations of our members are diverse and include legal, medical and dental professionals, craftsmen, defense workers, teachers and professors, educational administrators, judges, contractors, corporate employees, homemakers and technical service personnel. Approximately on-third of our adult membership is retired.

One of the factors, which the mission study committee has examined closely, is the distance that members live from the church campus. The majority of those who are active in the church live between 5 and 15 miles from the church property, primarily north and east of the campus and closer to the foothills. Most members live in single-family dwellings, whereas low-income families and multiple family dwellings increasingly surround the church site. Ten miles is the average distance driven to worship and other activities. This factor leads to discussions about our role in the immediate neighborhood.

84% of the survey respondents felt that they are either somewhat or strongly involved in the life of the church. This percentage is very similar to involvement ten years ago.

Leadership and participation on committees and small groups is spread somewhat evenly, with about 45% of the respondents serving in one or two positions, and 25% in four positions.

In the survey, concerns which ranked unusually high were community problems and spiritual/personal concerns. Faith involvement and preference for historic Christian religioius affiliations was ranked extremely high. This also held true in the worship style preference being traditional. It is significant that as a group of people becomes older, the potential for change becomes more difficult.

First Presbyterian has been blessed with many fine pastors over the years. Our most recent pastor was James C. Huffstutler, who was with us for forty years, serving in the capacities of assistant pastor and associate pastor, and since 1978 as our called pastor. During his tenure, Rev. Huffstutler preached the Gospel in the Reformed tradition, both taught and wrote church school curriculum, wrote and developed creative worship material, and encouraged and exceptionally fine music program.

In 2006 we called the Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice to serve as our pastor, and there is energy and enthusiasm about sharing in Christ's work together.

Our history is rich with talent, devotion and enthusiasm, and we celebrate those who have gone before us. We remain a vibrant and creative congregation, working to carry out the mission of Christ in San Bernardino.