Hope Lutheran Church sits on the northwest corner of North Fresno Street and East Barstow Avenue in Fresno, a long-standing neighborhood landmark whose entrance now faces Fresno Street. As a member congregation of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a recognized Reconciling in Christ (RIC) community, Hope centers its life on the phrase that runs through its printed materials: "Extending Hope in Jesus." The congregation publicly names its welcome with a sweeping list - races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, ethnicities, and abilities - making it clear from the first visit that the doors are open wide.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
Hope gathers for one main worship service each Sunday at 9:30 am, followed by an Education Hour at 10:45 am. During the school year that hour includes a year-round Adult Bible Study alongside Sunday School for children. On the first Sunday of each month, a second, distinctly different service is offered: Jazz Mass at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary, running September through May and taking the summer months off. The Jazz Mass brings together jazz music, preaching, and Holy Communion around a monthly theme, and is led by musician David Aus together with the pastoral team.
The musical character of the 9:30 am service changes from week to week. Some Sundays lean traditional with organ, piano, choir, and bell choir; other weeks are carried by the New Hope Band with a more contemporary sound; many services blend all of these. Each Thursday the upcoming week's music and hymns are previewed in the church's e-newsletter, News from Hope, so visitors can get a sense of what to expect. The bulletin, projection screens, and spoken directions from the pastor and worship leaders carry anyone unfamiliar with liturgical worship through the service.
Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday, and all are invited to participate. Ushers are on hand to answer questions, and the church office is glad to field a call ahead of time for anyone wanting to know what to expect.
Music at Hope
Music is woven into nearly every ministry at Hope. The Adult Choir, which the congregation has welcomed back in recent seasons, rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 pm and sings every other Sunday. Membership is open to anyone age 16 and up, no audition required, and Choir Director Miranda Barton welcomes new singers at any time.
The Bell Choir, directed by Laura Shaghoian, rehearses on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 pm and adds a handbell sound to traditional services from time to time, occasionally joined by the organ and choir for a fuller arrangement. Reading music is expected for bell ringers.
The New Hope Band, under Director Norene Foin, leads the more contemporary services and supports the worship life of younger families and anyone who prefers a modern sound. David Slonski serves as organist for services that call for the full classic palette.
Children, Youth, and Family
Children, youth, and family life is led by Kelly Duncan, Minister of Children, Youth and Family Ministries, and organized around four sequential programs named after Jesus' words in John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life."
Sunday School meets during the Education Hour, 10:45 to 11:45 am, for children from preschool through sixth grade. The opening gathers everyone for song and prayer, and then classes divide by age. The curriculum is Sparkhouse, which pairs Bible stories with videos, hands-on projects, and discussion that draws children and their teachers into real conversations about faith. Registration for each new school year opens in the spring.
The Way works with third through sixth graders through Sunday School plus special events and retreats, giving older elementary children room to grow in relationships with God and with one another.
The Truth is the Confirmation program for seventh through ninth graders. Students gather on Wednesday evenings for Confirmation class and continue in Sunday School, walking through two years of study, fellowship, and service. At the end of the program, ninth graders are invited to affirm their baptisms in a public service.
The Life is the high school ministry for ninth through twelfth graders, with weekly classes, retreats, events, service trips, and informal gatherings that build community and invite young people to live out their faith in everyday settings. Each program uses a Remind text channel for updates from leaders.
The Learning Tree Preschool
Since 1974, the Learning Tree Preschool has been a ministry of Hope Lutheran Church, offering a Christian early-childhood program for children from six weeks through six years old. The preschool shares the campus with the church and is staffed by a dedicated teaching team under Director Vonda Calhoun, with Myra Squeo serving as Campus Administrator for both the church and the preschool.
Families interested in a tour or more information can fill out an interest form on the church's site. It is important to know that the Learning Tree is a separate program from the church's Sunday ministries, though it shares the same faith foundation and physical home.
Adult Education and Fellowship
Adults at Hope have several ongoing opportunities to study and connect. The Adult Bible Study meets during the Education Hour at 10:45 am each Sunday morning, year round, and is open to anyone who wants to dig into Scripture. A Midweek Bible Study adds another touchpoint during the week.
For those who prefer reading and conversation, the Book Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm in the church Conference Room and via Zoom. Anyone is welcome, and current selections and the Zoom link are posted on the church calendar.
The Men's Bible Study, Men of Hope, gathers every Friday at 7:00 am at Denny's on East Shaw Avenue. Participants read ahead from the lectionary texts listed in News from Hope and take turns reading aloud, then share impressions, questions, and applications.
Women of Hope is a fellowship for women of the congregation and their friends, now framed as a place to foster friendships, seek support, and have fun. Activities include a Summer Sampler of weekly gatherings and a fall retreat at ECCO. Quilters meet at the church as well, working on projects that often support ministry outreach.
Hope for the Homeless and the Food Pantry
Two outreach ministries put the congregation's faith into daily practice. Hope for the Homeless, the long-running ministry whose mission is to support unhoused neighbors, partners with Thrivent and other local organizations to provide meals, cold drinks, sleeping bags, tents, hygiene packets, socks, gloves, and handmade hats and scarves. Volunteers meet needs as they arise and walk alongside their neighbors with Christ's love and compassion.
A weekly Food Pantry operates on Tuesdays at 6:00 am, with service on a first-come, first-served basis. The pantry is one of the most direct ways the church reaches into the wider Fresno community each week.
Funding for ministry beyond the operating budget is channeled through The Omega Project, the congregation's Mission Endowment Fund. The fund supports congregational, community, and global synodical initiatives that fall outside the regular budget.
The Columbarium
Hope maintains a columbarium on its grounds for the inurnment of cremated remains of members and their families. The columbarium grounds were completely redone in 2018. Each niche holds two urns, and the price includes an engraved bronze urn and a granite face plate inscribed with the deceased's name and years of birth and death. Niches are available only to Hope members and their families and are not offered for sale to the public; inquiries go through the church office.
Becoming a Member
Hope receives new members several times a year. Before each New Member Sunday, the pastors offer a New Member Orientation where prospective members learn about the congregation's priorities and programs and the leaders get to know each person's faith journey. The pastors are glad to schedule a personal conversation with anyone curious about membership before or after joining. The next new member class is planned for fall 2026.
Visiting, Parking, and Staying Connected
Hope Lutheran is located at 5435 N Fresno Street in Fresno. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and is closed Friday through Sunday. The main phone line is 559-439-4320, and the general email is hope@hopelutheranfresno.org.
On-campus parking is plentiful under the church's solar-panel structure, with overflow parking available at the office complex just north of the campus or across Barstow Avenue to the south. Visitors are greeted warmly at the door, handed a bulletin, and invited to find a seat.
Worship services are livestreamed each week, usually the Sunday 9:30 am service, on YouTube and Facebook Live. A virtual Blue Card is available online for prayer requests, comments, or contact information updates; submissions go directly and privately to the church staff. News from Hope, the weekly email and text newsletter, is the easiest way to stay current with everything happening at Hope, from the upcoming week's music to special events and seasonal programs.
Giving is offered in person in the Sanctuary before or during worship, through Planning Center Giving online with ACH or debit and credit cards, by bank bill pay, and through the previous Vanco platform as a legacy option. Personal giving envelopes are ordered once a year in November.
Hope Lutheran Church extends its hope in Jesus through Word and sacrament, music, education, fellowship, and service to neighbors near and far. Whether someone arrives for the first time at the 9:30 am service, slides into a pew at a Jazz Mass, joins a Wednesday night choir rehearsal, drops off a child at Sunday School, or volunteers at the food pantry, they find a congregation that has been gathered for the long work of faith in Fresno.