Here you can learn more about First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino, a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Synod of Southern California & Hawaii, and the Presbytery of Riverside.
We are a Protestant Reformed Christian community of faith striving to live by the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. We are an open community and all who seek to discover forgiveness, faith and freedom are welcome.
First Presbyterian Church was established in 1874, and we are the oldest congregation within the Presbytery of Riverside (our regional governing body) and one of the oldest congregations in all of Southern California. Over the years we grew and worshiped in two previous locations in San Bernardino prior to moving to our current location in 1953.
We welcome you and hope you will visit us!
We have recently completed a new Mission Action Plan, including statements summarizing our Values, our Vision, and our Mission. We welcome you to read the full document or the excerpts below.
Values, Inspiration, Vision, & Mission
Values
“Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.”
-St. Teresa de Avila
(15th century Carmelite nun, Spanish mystic, and religious reformer)
Vision Statement:
With open eyes, open minds, open hearts, and open hands, we are becoming God’s love in action.
Mission Statement:
Moved by the Spirit, we strive to create an open and inclusive community embodying the love, forgiveness, and grace of Christ which we extend to ourselves, each other, our neighbors, and our world through nurturing relationships, creative celebrations, continuous learning, and transformational service.
From this place, we serve our immediate neighborhood, city, and world through food ministry, Life Skillz circles and internships for kids at San Bernardino High School, providing clean water systems, and living intentionally as an Earth Care congregation with solar power and water-wise landscaping. Learn more about how we are Serving our Neighbors.