Grow Christ's Life in Every Heart
On Woodsworth Lane in Pleasant Hill, California, Faith Lutheran Church opens its doors every Sunday at 9:00 AM with a single purpose in mind, captured in its mission statement: "Grow Christ's Life in Every Heart." For nearly seventy years, this Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation has been a center of worship and ministry within the Pleasant Hill community, anchored in Lutheran heritage and actively engaged with the neighborhoods around it. Members describe the atmosphere as Christ-centered, welcoming, and eager to step out in faith whenever a need becomes known.
A Lutheran Home in Pleasant Hill for Nearly 70 Years
Faith Lutheran has served Pleasant Hill for almost 70 years, building a Lutheran heritage that is both a cherished anchor to its past and a valued guide for its future. As a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Faith belongs to a national body of more than 6,000 congregations, 1,100 parochial day schools, and 2.5 million members, with missionaries in thirty-seven countries and a Concordia University system of thirteen college campuses and two seminaries. Locally, Faith is part of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, which supports new mission congregations and ministries throughout the region. Faith's members underwrite this district work through their giving; the congregation itself does not receive monetary support from the national church body, and its congregational ministry is funded by the generosity of its members.
Sunday Worship at 9 AM
Sunday morning worship begins at 9:00 AM and is livestreamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person. The regular service is a deliberate blend: traditional Lutheran liturgy paired with contemporary Christian music performed by the congregation's own Christian rock band, LivingFaith. Sermons are biblically centered and relevant to the challenges of daily life. Communion is celebrated regularly, and Faith takes at face value the words of Jesus, "Take, eat, this is my body," and "Take, drink, this is my blood," believing that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in and with the bread and wine.
On the 4th or 5th Sundays that fall in any given month, Faith sets aside its blended style for a traditional Divine Service. This liturgical service follows a fixed order of worship including responsive confession and prayer, scripture reading, classic hymns, creeds, and the Lord's Supper. The Greek term for this format, Leitourgia, means "the work of the people," emphasizing the active participation of everyone in the pews.
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Questions can be directed to the office at (925) 685-7353 or info@welcome2faith.com.
Kingdom Kids, Kids Club, and Footprints Preschool
Faith takes seriously its call to the next generation. Children preschool through 5th grade join the congregation for the opening of worship and a children's chat, then are dismissed to Kingdom Kids for age-appropriate Bible lessons, activities, and fellowship. They return to the sanctuary in time to share Communion with their families. Kingdom Kids launched in mid-September and meets during the sermon portion of the 9:00 AM service.
Beyond Sunday mornings, Faith partners with a local elementary school for Kids Club, a free, once-a-week after-school program that resembles a mini-VBS. Children play games, sing songs, and learn Bible lessons in a setting designed to reach into the wider community. Volunteers from Faith help lead the program and are always welcome additions.
Each year in early July, Faith hosts a week-long Vacation Bible School and Day Camp for children ages four to eleven. With the help of Footprints Preschool leadership and congregation volunteers, the day camp fills its days with water play, jump houses, crafts, singing, and visits from the local fire department and animal shelters. The annual theme shapes the Christian-based lessons and activities.
The largest outreach to children in Faith's recent history is Footprints Preschool, which opened in January 2019 with a mission to bring the love of Jesus Christ to the children and families of Pleasant Hill. The preschool offers a developmentally appropriate Christian environment for preschool-aged children of the church and the broader community. Footprints currently has a waiting list for openings, evidence of the trust families place in its faith-based teaching.
Three Music Ministries Under One Roof
Music is central to worship at Faith, and three distinct ensembles share that calling. LivingFaith, the congregation's Christian rock band, has been part of morning worship for more than 17 years, playing familiar contemporary Christian music that brings energy and excitement to the service. Vocals and instrumentalists interested in auditioning can contact Director of Contemporary Music Jeff MacDonald.
The Adult Choir welcomes both adults and youth voices under the direction of Dave Engelbrektson. Each Sunday the choir offers thoughtful, expressive anthems that complement the sermon and liturgy. The Bell Choir adds a beautiful sound to worship on the occasions it performs; many of its ringers are beginning musicians, and new members are always welcome. Together, these three ensembles give the church the flexibility to move from classic hymns to contemporary praise songs without missing a beat.
Bible Studies, House Groups, and Young Adults
Faith encourages members to grow in the Word beyond Sunday mornings. Bible studies and house groups meet at various times throughout the week, and interested newcomers can contact the church office or Pastor Dave at pastor@welcome2faith.com for current schedules and locations. Young adults (ages 18 to 40) gather periodically for game nights and fellowship, sometimes partnering with neighboring congregations like Holy Cross in Concord.
Walking the Neighborhoods in Prayer
Members of Faith regularly participate in neighborhood prayer walks, canvassing the streets and shopping areas around the church to pray for the families in local residences, the businesses that serve the community, and the individuals they meet along the way. All are welcome to join this meaningful ministry. The prayer walks reflect a broader commitment to take faith beyond the building and into the daily lives of the people who live nearby.
Service Beyond the Church Walls
Faith's outreach extends well past its own campus. The Backpack Project has for years sponsored local underprivileged school children, equipping them with the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. Faith is also associated with the Monument Crisis Center and New Day for Children, two organizations that serve vulnerable populations in the wider region.
The Women of Faith support causes locally and around the globe, raising funds through a semi-annual Rummage Sale that offers gently used clothing, housewares, games, appliances, books, and other items to the community at reasonable prices. The Creative Crew meets once a month to work on crochet, knitting, cross-stitch, and quilting projects. Members often collaborate on a single group project so anyone can drop in and contribute. Some of their handmade pieces, including banners and ornaments, are used to enhance worship in the sanctuary.
The Over the Hill Gang and Men's Fellowship
Retired gentlemen gather on Wednesday mornings for the Over the Hill Gang, a relaxed time of coffee and fellowship that often leads to hands-on projects around Faith's campus. The group also attends a monthly Men's Breakfast at a local restaurant, combining a good meal with continued conversation. Newcomers are welcome alongside the group's self-described "gentle spirits as well as grumpy old men."
High School Youth Group
The high school youth group offers a safe, non-judgmental space for teens to gather for fun, fellowship, and Christ-centered relationships. The youth typically meet Friday evenings for game nights and movie nights, led by adult youth leaders, and Sunday mornings after worship for Bible study and conversations about topics relevant to today's teens from a Christian perspective. The group faithfully attends the triennial LCMS National Youth Gathering, traveling with other Lutheran teens from across the country.
Elders and the Altar Guild
Six elders serve the congregation under the pastor's guidance, providing spiritual and emotional support to members, assisting during Communion services as assistants, and regularly visiting shut-ins and those bound to bed.
The Altar Guild is a team of dedicated servants responsible for caring for the vestments, vessels, altar linens, and altar within the sanctuary. They prepare the elements for Holy Communion, create flower arrangements, hang banners, and fill candles. Though they work largely behind the scenes, the reverence of their efforts is felt by everyone who walks through the doors.
What Lutherans Believe
Faith teaches that the Bible, composed of sixty-six books, is the infallible Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The church confesses the Holy Trinity, one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It affirms the deity of Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning sacrifice through his shed blood, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father, and it looks forward to his personal, glorious, and bodily return.
Salvation, in the Lutheran understanding, is God's free gift given through grace. Humans cannot make up for sin by self-improvement or good works; only through Christ's sacrifice on the cross can they be saved. Those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ by faith are declared righteous before God, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and preserved by God's grace and power. Baptized and repentant believers who agree with this understanding of Holy Communion are welcome at the Lord's Table.
Faith also confesses the universal church as a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members; the call to make disciples of all nations; the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust for final judgment; and the full consummation of the Kingdom of God in the New Creation, where all sin and its effects are forever removed.
Staff and Leadership
Pastor Dave Floyd leads Faith Lutheran Church and can be reached at pastor@welcome2faith.com. Mary-Margaret Robbers serves as Footprints Preschool Director. Director of Music Dave Engelbrektson oversees the Adult Choir, and Director of Contemporary Music Jeff MacDonald leads LivingFaith. Gloria Chuang serves as Organist and Pianist. Together with six elders, the Altar Guild, ministry leaders, and a wide circle of volunteers, the staff and congregation work to make every Sunday and every ministry an opportunity to grow Christ's life in every heart.
Fellowship Center and Facility Rental
Faith makes its facilities available to those who share its commitment to "Grow Christ in Every Heart." The Fellowship Center is the main rental space and can be set up for dining events of up to 170 people or assemblies of up to 364 people. A smaller attached Choir Room accommodates up to 32 people and can be added to the Fellowship Center for larger events. The campus is an alcohol-free zone. Inquiries can be sent through the church's rental inquiry form or by contacting the church office.