A Pocket/Greenhaven Church Rooted in the Great Commission
Faith Presbyterian Church sits at 625 Florin Road in the Pocket/Greenhaven neighborhood of South Sacramento, just west of Interstate 5. The congregation belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and lives out a stated mission of being a community loving Christ, building disciples, serving all. On any given Sunday morning, two services fill the sanctuary built in 1992, parents shepherd children into Sunday morning classrooms, and a steady stream of volunteers heads for the patio after worship to share coffee and tea. It is a church with a clear sense of place, a deep affection for its neighborhood, and a remarkably long reach that stretches from Sacramento to Abaya, Ethiopia, and Kisumu, Kenya.
From the Upper Room on South Land Park Drive to 625 Florin Road
Faith Presbyterian traces its beginning to a single Sunday in July 1967. On July 19 of that year, a small but determined group of believers gathered for their first worship service in what was called the "Upper Room," on the second floor of a business in the South Hills Shopping Center on South Land Park Drive. The Reverend Walter Link served as the organizing pastor. Within twenty-nine months, the Sacramento Presbytery voted to formally organize Faith Presbyterian Church as a new congregation.
The land at 625 Florin Road had been purchased by the Sacramento Presbytery in 1965, and by 1980 the first building on the current campus was completed. The present sanctuary followed in 1992. Across six decades of leadership changes, the mission has remained constant. As the church tells it, the people are committed to becoming "a community loving Jesus, building disciples, and serving all," with Christ at the center of everything they do and are.
Sunday Worship: Two Services, One Blend of Old and New
Worship is at the heart of life at Faith. Two in-person services are held in the sanctuary each Sunday morning, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The 9:00 service is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and recordings are posted afterward for anyone who wishes to catch up. Both services are described as a balance of traditional and contemporary styles, drawing on a chancel choir, a praise band, and a brass ensemble along with other instrumentalists.
The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and on other special occasions throughout the church year. After every service, members and visitors are invited to the patio for coffee or tea and a chance to connect. A team of elders and deacons also remains available after worship in the front left pew of the sanctuary for confidential prayer with anyone who would like it.
For those ready to go a little deeper, a Sunday morning prayer gathering meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room to pray for that day's services and everyone who will be joining in worship.
Apprenticeship with Jesus: The Congregational Rule of Life
Faith describes the Christian life as an apprenticeship with Jesus, inviting the congregation to let Jesus teach us how to live life as he would live life if he were in our shoes. To help make that real, the church has developed a Congregational Rule of Life, a set of eight practices rooted in scripture and the witness of Benedictine communities. The eight practices are: Daily Engagement with Scripture, Corporate Worship, Prayer, Stewardship, Sabbath, Mission, Life Groups, and the Sacraments. Each is treated as a means of abiding in Christ, following Jesus' words in John 15:5 that without him his followers can do nothing.
Sermons over recent years have walked the congregation through these practices in long series, including studies on the habits of Scripture and prayer and a sequence called Christ in Us exploring the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A more recent sermon arc through the book of Romans, paired with preaching on communion and the Lord's Supper, reflects the church's stated conviction that sacraments are a visible sign of an invisible reality and an essential part of the Christian life.
Children and Families: A Lifelong Rhythm of Worship
The Family Ministry aims to equip parents and others as they disciple children and teach them to love, obey, and follow Jesus. Three Sunday morning classes are offered during the 9:00 service: a Nursery for children ages 0 to 3, Godly Play for ages 4 to 6, and Worship & Wonder for ages 7 to 11. Teachers in each class work to create an atmosphere of worship, learning, and joy.
On two Wednesdays a month during the school year, children in kindergarten through sixth grade gather for Kids Club, a space to play games, share dinner, and reflect on a scripture encouragement. The program strengthens Sunday morning friendships and prepares children for the transition into youth group in seventh grade. Lindsay Stanford serves as Director of Family Ministry.
Youth Ministry: Sunday Nights, Mission, and Memory-Making
The Youth Ministry at Faith is led by Associate Pastor Brett Shoemaker and reflects the church's wider mission to love Christ, build disciples, and serve all. Youth Group for grades 7 to 12 meets Sunday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the youth room. Weekly meetings combine teaching, fellowship, and community-building with a steady schedule of special events and service projects.
Parents are encouraged to be part of the rhythm through fundraising that supports summer camp scholarships, snack provision, carpooling for service projects, and fellowship with other parents of youth. Summer mission trips and the annual summer Bible school known as Vacation Bible School give the wider church a chance to serve alongside young people.
College and Young Adults Around a Table
College students and young adults are invited to regular gatherings "around a table of good things to eat and drink," a chance to connect, study God's Word, and pray together. The group meets Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Pocket area. Pastor Jeff Chapman is the point of contact.
Adult Formation: Sundays Between Services, Plus Life Groups
Between the two Sunday services, from 10:10 to 10:55 a.m., adults gather for a time of study and discussion on a rotating slate of topics, ranging from book-by-book Bible studies to classes on spiritual practices and contemporary ethical questions. Midweek daytime and evening classes are offered throughout the year as well, taught by leaders from within the church and guest speakers from outside.
Life Groups are the small-group counterpart to Sunday formation. They meet regularly for sermon-centered Bible study, fellowship, and prayer, and exist to make it possible for members to truly know and be known by others. A Marriage Course, a series of eight sessions designed for couples at any stage, is offered once or twice a year.
Music Ministry: Choir, Band, and Brass
Music at Faith draws on a chancel choir, a praise band, a brass ensemble, and additional instrumentalists to support both traditional and contemporary expressions of worship. Mark Tootle has served as Director of Music Ministry since January 2017, and Eunice, who holds degrees in composition from UC Davis and piano performance from CSU Sacramento, is a regular presence at the keyboard. Musicians and music lovers of all kinds are welcomed into the ministry.
Mission: Sacramento, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Wider World
Mission has shaped Faith Presbyterian from its earliest days, and the congregation maintains an extensive portfolio of partnerships at home and abroad. The church has been part of a World Vision Area Development Program in Abaya, Ethiopia, since 2010, supporting education, food security, healthcare, water and sanitation, and sponsorship program management. Members have sponsored more than 100 children from the region, and six teams have traveled there to see the work in person.
Each spring, the church holds Walk 4 Water, a one-mile walk to the Cabana Club South and back with empty water containers to benefit World Vision's water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. Each fall, runners and walkers raise money for clean water through Team World Vision's Urban Cow race, with training taking place in the months leading up to the October event.
In Kenya, the church supports One Child One Hen, a poverty-alleviation project that teaches women and children how to raise hens and sell eggs. The project is funded by donations and by the collection of recyclable cans and plastic bottles, which can be dropped off at the church on Sundays or during weekday office hours. Pastor Jeff and Esther Chapman have been part of the team that started Angaza, a four-week spring Bible school for young adults in Kenya that is affiliated with Torchbearers International and emphasizes biblical discipleship within a global, cross-cultural community.
Closer to home, Faith partners with the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet (SSIP), supports Family Promise, and takes part in Reaching Out, a monthly resource fair held on Saturdays at Bethany Presbyterian Church that distributes clothes, toiletries, children's books, and prayer to community members. A scholarship in memory of longtime Mission elder Conney Willis helps Faith members pursue mission-related study, travel, or service projects.
Pastoral Care: Deacons, Heart to Heart, and Prayer
Faith's fifteen deacons provide meals, prayers, and a personal touch during times of family illness, crisis, or need. Everyone who attends Faith on a regular basis is assigned to a parish, with deacons listed by parish on the church's leadership page.
A volunteer group called Heart to Heart extends that care with rides to appointments, meals for those recuperating, calls and cards of encouragement, and handyman and professional referrals. A team of elders and deacons is available after each worship service for prayer in the front left pew of the sanctuary. Prayer requests submitted online are lifted up by the community, and an email prayer chain stands ready for specific needs.
A weekly time of prayer led by Pastor Jeff meets on Zoom on Tuesday mornings from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m., using the Psalm of the day or the Lord's Prayer as a guide. Cameras are kept off, so participants can join in pajamas if they wish. The pastors are also available for confidential pastoral counseling.
Retreats: Tahoe, the Redwoods, and Auburn
Three annual retreats shape the spiritual rhythm of the year. The All-Church Fall Retreat is held at Zephyr Point Conference Center on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe and features a guest speaker, vibrant worship, special programs for youth and children, and time to rest and play together. The Men's & Boy's Retreat takes place in the spring at Westminster Woods in Occidental, in the redwoods of Sonoma County, and welcomes men and boys of any age. The Women's Retreat is held at Mercy Center Auburn, a setting that has long been described by attendees as a spacious, unhurried weekend for rest and renewal.
Presbyterian Women and Bible Study Fellowship
On the fourth Wednesday of most months from September to May, the women of Faith meet in Link Hall for fellowship and a guest speaker, with participants bringing their own lunch and the church providing drinks and dessert. The group, known as Presbyterian Women, sponsors a child through World Vision and supports the church's wider mission. Women's Bible Study Fellowship meets on the church campus on Tuesday mornings from September through May, with a concurrent program for children two years old through kindergarten.
Recovery and Community Use of the Campus
The Greenhaven Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets on and off the church campus throughout the week, with in-person gatherings in Room 2 on Sundays at 7 p.m., Mondays at 7 p.m. (women only), Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (men only), and Thursdays at 8 p.m., plus a Birthday Meeting on the last Friday of each month at 8 p.m. in Link Hall.
Library, Library on Wheels, and Lifelong Learning
The church library in the Fireside Room holds a curated collection of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children, with topics ranging from discipleship and prayer to parenting, grief, and Christian education. Members and regular attenders may borrow materials for a month at a time, while visitors are welcome to use the books within the building.
PresbyNews, the Pathways Booklet, and Staying Connected
A monthly newsletter, PresbyNews, keeps the congregation informed about upcoming events, classes, mission opportunities, and the people of Faith. The newsletter is archived back to 2021 and is supplemented by a weekly "This Week @ Faith" email. A booklet called Pathways describes the many ways members can put their time and talents to work in the life of the church.
Visiting Faith: What to Know
Faith Presbyterian Church is easy to find from Interstate 5: take the Florin Road West exit and head to 625 Florin Road, between Gloria Drive and Havenside Drive. There is ample parking on site. The 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services follow a blended pattern that draws on both traditional and contemporary music, and the bulletin for the day is available online. After either service, the patio is open for coffee and conversation.
Visitors who want a more personal introduction are warmly invited to the "Look @ Faith" reception, held the last Sunday of every month from 10:15 to 10:55 a.m. in the Fireside Room, where newcomers can meet leaders, ask questions, and connect with others who have recently begun attending. Kids are welcome, and free childcare is available on request. To reserve a spot, contact Laura Anderson in the church office.
Faith Presbyterian Church is supported by the gifts of its members and friends. Online giving is available, and gifts can also be made during worship or by mailing a check to the church office. The sanctuary built in 1992 is home to a congregation that has, for nearly six decades, defined itself by the same three commitments: loving Christ, building disciples, and serving all.