An Open Door on Beechmont Avenue

Mount Washington Presbyterian Church sits on Beechmont Avenue in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Cincinnati, a few minutes from Anderson Township and Newtown and roughly twenty minutes east of downtown. Members also travel from west Clermont, Amelia, Batavia, and Eastgate, so the parking lot on Sunday morning pulls in cars from across Greater Cincinnati. The church has built a reputation as a congregation that says so plainly, in its own words: "It doesn't matter to us if you are gay, straight, married, or single, vote Democrat or Republican. We welcome all people." That affirmation comes straight from the Session, the church's local governing board, and shapes everything from the greeters at the door to the way new ministries are launched.

MWPC belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and grounds its life in the conviction that "everyone belongs." Worship is described as blended, drawing from older hymns and more contemporary music, and the building is set up so that anyone walking in for the first time - whether in jeans or a suit - can find a seat, a cup of coffee, and people who want to know their name.

Sunday Morning at MWPC

Worship begins at 10:15 a.m. each Sunday in the sanctuary and is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, so anyone who cannot attend in person can follow along at home. Doors open early. The nursery, called the Cribbery, welcomes infants and toddlers up to age 2 at 10 a.m. and stays open through 11:30 a.m. Just outside the sanctuary, the Nesting Place offers a cry room with privacy for nursing, a bottle warmer, snacks, comfy chairs, and a television monitor so parents can still see and hear the service.

Worship itself is intergenerational. Children six years old through sixth grade begin the service with their parents and are dismissed after "Time with Children" to walk to their Sunday School classrooms. Worship bags are available as children head into the sanctuary, and parents pick kids up from their classrooms afterward. Coffee is free in the Gathering Area, the dress code is "whatever makes you comfortable," and Lead Pastor Debbie Whaley makes a point of finding first-time visitors after the service to say hello.

Children, Youth, and the Nesting Place

Children are central to the life of MWPC. Sunday School classes are designed around age and learning style. The early childhood classroom is set up as a hands-on space to "experience God rather than learn about God," with a Bible story presentation followed by invitations to respond at art, prayer, or reading stations. Kindergarten through third graders work through Sparkhouse's "Holy Moly" curriculum, while fourth and fifth graders use Sparkhouse's "Connect" program, which walks tweens through tools for interpreting the Bible. Ashley Ross, the Director of Children and Youth Ministries, oversees this work, supported by Rylee Boland as Sunday School Coordinator and a deep bench of volunteer teachers.

For older students, the 6th through 12th grade Sunday School class runs September through May and uses a custom curriculum built around the youths' own questions - from "being a Christian outside of church" to finding God in pop culture references like Harry Potter or Star Wars. Youth Group meets after worship during the school year for fellowship, fun, and Bible study. Confirmation is offered January through May for ninth graders who want to explore their faith, learn about the sacraments, and study PC(USA) polity while discerning their own beliefs. Vacation Bible School rounds out the year with a one-week summer program that wraps up with a "VBS Sunday" where children lead parts of the service.

Hunger Ministry at the Heart of Outreach

Hunger Ministry is the beating heart of MWPC's outreach, overseen by the church's Serve Ministry Team and coordinated through a dedicated hungerministry@mwpc-church.org inbox. The philosophy is straightforward: feed people in dignified ways and work toward long-term structural solutions, while inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to serve side by side.

The flagship effort is the Mobile Food Pantry. Four to six times a year, thousands of pounds of groceries are distributed from the church to more than a hundred families in need. Senior Boxes, organized through the Freestore Foodbank, delivers shelf-stable food and cheese to senior citizens in the area each month. The Community Meal, served on the third Sunday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., offers a hot dinner and fellowship to neighbors, with volunteers cooking, setting up, serving, and cleaning up. A Little Pantry on the church grounds provides emergency food around the clock, and a Pantry Shelf in the Gathering Area accepts non-perishable donations. Produce from the MWPC Garden, tended by volunteers on Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings during the growing season, flows back into the Mobile Food Pantry, the SEM Food Pantry, and the Community Meal.

Other Ways MWPC Reaches Out

Beyond food, the church has built a constellation of local partnerships. The Backpack Project sends more than 250 backpacks filled with school supplies tailored to students' specific needs to area children each year. Family Service Days, held at least twice a year, send groups of volunteers to agencies such as "The Hub," Matthew 25 Ministries, and the Freestore Foodbank. The Mt. Washington School Food Distribution supplies groceries to families at the church's partner elementary school throughout the year. Intergenerational mission trips are organized on a rotating basis, and the church funnels support to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the denomination's national disaster relief network.

Inside the congregation, MWPC also cares for its own. Compassion Ministries reach out to members who are homebound, hospitalized, or grieving. Cooks on Call delivers home-cooked meals to anyone experiencing a health crisis, bereavement, or the arrival of a new baby. The Health and Wellness Team supports body, mind, and spirit, and a Connections Team makes periodic visits to members in need of company.

Music That Lifts the Room

Music is woven into nearly every corner of MWPC. Organist and Accompanist Daniel Wicks leads from the keyboard, supported by the Celebration Choir, which rehearses Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. and welcomes high school students, college students, and adults with no audition and no requirement to read music. JuBELLation, the church's handbell choir, rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and plays regularly in worship. Music reading is required to join JuBELLation, but the group welcomes beginners alongside experienced ringers and teaches the techniques newcomers need. Both ensembles take a break over the summer, and both make room for singers who can only commit to special services and holidays.

Music Ministries overall is open to singers and instrumentalists of all ages, so anyone with a guitar, a flute, or a steady voice can find a place to plug in.

Small Groups for Every Season

Small groups are described as "at the heart of our vision for developing mature disciples," and the church has built enough variety that almost anyone can find a fit. WINGS (Women In God's Study) meets Friday mornings from September through May in Room 100 for Bible study, with occasional summer lunches. The Presbyterian Women Joy Circle gathers over lunch on the second Thursday of each month for the Horizons Magazine Bible study and to support Presbyterian Women's mission endeavors.

For men, the Monday Men's Coffee Group meets at 7 a.m. at Servatii's on Beechmont Avenue for an informal "water-cooler" chat, while the Men's Discovery Group gathers Saturday mornings at 7:30 for coffee and fellowship followed by a program and discussion at 8 a.m., with a Zoom option for those who can't make the trip in person. Mariners is a fellowship of older adults with seasonal gatherings, including a June breakfast, a fall picnic, and a Christmas luncheon. Common-interest groups include In Stitches, which knits, crochets, and sews projects for veterans and beginners on the first and third Thursday afternoons at MWPC (and second and fourth Thursday evenings on Zoom); Church Softball, which plays Monday evenings April through July at Riverside Park; the Lee Davis Poetry Circle, which meets the second Monday of each month at 11 a.m.; and the MWPC Garden group. Anyone can start a new small group with the help of a how-to guide and a Shema Series curriculum the church provides.

Presbyterian Preschool

Presbyterian Preschool is an extension of the church's mission, serving children from 2.5 years old through Pre-K with a play-based, developmentally appropriate program. Amy Rile, the Director of Presbyterian Preschool, oversees a staff of teachers who aim to stimulate each child's love of learning and self-discovery in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. The preschool operates on the church's campus and draws families from the surrounding neighborhoods. Registration typically fills well before the school year begins.

The Staff Behind the Welcome

The ministry team is intentionally lean. Lead Pastor Debbie Whaley brings more than a decade of pastoral experience from California, an MDiv, and a deep love of the Holy Land and Palestinian Christian and Muslim neighbors. She leads worship most Sundays and preaches in nearly every sermon series. Associate Pastor Hannah Quick, who holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, focuses on care and serve - in her words, being a "neighborhood pastor" who extends the reach of the worshiping community through the simple act of being neighborly. Claire Noack, the Director of Operations, draws on more than twenty-five years in operations, HR, finance, technology, and facilities. Ashley Ross directs both children and youth ministries with thousands of miles of van driving and more than a decade of experience under her belt. Amy Rile leads the Preschool, and Rylee Boland, a recent Thomas More University graduate, coordinates Sunday School. Daniel Wicks accompanies services on organ and piano.

Behind the scenes, a Bookkeeper and Communications Coordinator keeps the newsletters, social media, and finances moving, an Administrative Assistant keeps the office running, and a Tech Team handles the livestream.

Beliefs and Vision

MWPC's stated vision is to be a community where a person with no church background can come, feel comfortable, and enjoy the services in a friendly atmosphere where all are treated with honor and respect. The church feels called to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8), welcomes LGBTQ+ siblings, believes that upholding the dignity of all people and caring for the planet are among the most Christ-like things it can do, and frames itself as Jesus' hands and heart in the world. In its own words: "Whatever your journey in life is, we believe that everyone belongs. Together, we can love more and make a difference through Christ."

Worship is livestreamed on YouTube every Sunday at 10:15 a.m., the sermon library keeps every recent series online with small-group question guides, and giving can be made online or by check. From a Sunday morning in the sanctuary to a Wednesday in the garden to a third-Sunday community meal, the rhythms at MWPC are designed to make room for whoever walks through the door.