This document was copied from an original typescript in the church archives. Most of the history was written in the church's centennial year in 1973, but the ending was apparently added in 1979.

The Rev. Albert Lindsey was FPC's longest serving Pastor. This document was apparently written in the late 1950s.

Read the FPC worship bulletin from Nov. 1, 1964.

Read the FPC bulletin for Christmas Eve Sunday in 1939!

Read the worship bulletin for March 27, 1938.

Read the program for the official dedication celebrations opening our church building in September 1925.

Learn about the programs and activities of FPC in 1924, as it prepared to move into its new building in 1925.

Explore the FPC worship bulletin on December 1, 1918.

Explore the church bulletin from January 28, 1917.

From classical to contemporary, from gospel to the hymns of the Reformation, our Chancel Choir normally leads the congregation in worship from September-June and also plays a key role in our Community Christmas Concert in December, our Christmas Eve Service, our Good Friday Service, and our Easter Celebration Service.

For more information on how to participate, contact Dr. Daniel Perrin, FPC’s Minister of Worship.

FPC offers short-term small groups regularly throughout the year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have moved the small groups online. Questions? Contact Michelle Martinez at mmartinez@fpctacoma.org or (253) 272-3286. Check back on this page for announcements about future small groups.

The office of Deacon established in Acts 6:3 supports the church, and its Elders, by providing pastoral care and compassion to the church family and broader community. Ordained officers of the church, the Deacons visit and serve Communion to homebound members, organize memorial services, administer food basket programs at Easter and Thanksgiving, prepare and serve communion for Sunday service, provide meals to members with short-term urgent needs and support selected community-focused Christian ministries through the Deacons’ Fund.

Bridges Of Love NW
The Deacons pay utility bills and/or rent for families in crisis through Bridges of Love NW, whose mission is to mobilize the Church to transform lives and communities. Families apply to the agency, which screens all incoming requests for genuine need. Payments are made directly to the utilities. The Deacons also support Bridges of Love NW’s Jobs for Life ministry. This program equips men and women experiencing poverty to find dignity through the experience of work by providing mentorship, Biblically-based soft skills training and an ongoing community of support.

Care Net
Care Net of Puget Sound provides life-affirming support to those facing unplanned pregnancies, teens and young adults making choices about sexual integrity and individuals seeking support for pregnancy loss and abortion recovery. The services, provided in King and Pierce Counties, are confidential and provided free of charge.

The Coffee Oasis – Tacoma
The Coffee Oasis is a regional nonprofit supporting youths experiencing homelessness through shelter beds, Biblically-based social support and jobs through their local coffee shops. Opening in Tacoma in 2019, they are providing six shelter beds currently with plans to grow to 12 beds. A location for a Tacoma coffee shop has not yet been identified but is planned.

Hilltop Christian Center
The Hilltop Christian Center conducts local outreach programs to reach Tacoma’s Hilltop community for Christ, including a street ministry and annual block party.

Neighborhood Clinic Tacoma
The Neighborhood Clinic provides medical and dental care to those who cannot afford it out of their facility on S Yakima Street. They welcome all potential patients regardless of citizenship status and foster an emotionally supportive atmosphere with holistic care.

Network Tacoma
Seeking to address the root causes of homelessness, Network Tacoma provides 33 housing units, seven of which are transitional housing and 26 of which are long-term low income housing. The Network provides Christ-based structured support programming for its residents with a goal of stability and self-sufficiency.

Pat’s Closet
Pat’s Closet is a ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tacoma. It provides meals, essentials and new and lightly used clothing to residents of Tacoma’s Bryant neighborhood as a physical manifestation of Christ’s love. Beyond financial support, the Deacons collect clothing in a barrel marked for this purpose in Fellowship Hall.

REACH Ministries
REACH fosters safe community for children, families and young adults affected by HIV through ongoing support, special events and creating a Christ-based support network with a mission of acceptance, community, joy and trust.

Southeast Asian Ministry
Dr. Sahara Chea, Pastor of First Cambodian Presbyterian Church, leads worship services in the Salishan community in Tacoma in both Cambodian and English. The ministry’s services include outreach to those in jail and deportation centers, and provides citizenship training for those desiring to become U.S. citizens.

Victory Outreach Tacoma
This ministry provides a residential, Christian environment for men to help reclaim lives that have been disrupted by drugs, alcohol or other substance abuse. Focuses are on commitment to Christ, restoration of families and development of a positive work ethic.

It’s a time of change and transition. Your kids are out of the house. You may have grandchildren here or on the way. You’re retired or starting to think about it. You’re ready to begin pursuing those hobbies and interests you put off for years while you raised your family. You’re finding you have more free time to invest in critical areas of the church. You are a PrimeTimer, and you’re an important part of the First Presbyterian Church community.

PrimeTimers is a ministry to those individuals and couples who are 55 years of age or older. Everyone is welcome, including those who do not attend First Presbyterian Church.

The Chapel Bell Ringers is a choir designed for grades 5 through 8. This is a training group that rings three octaves of bells.

The Lindsey Bell Ringers (named after our pastor emeritus, Dr. Albert J. Lindsey), is composed of grades 9 and up.  This group rings 5+ octaves of bells at an advanced level.

No prior music knowledge is needed to join a bell choir (it helps, of course). We will train you to read your notes. Our bell choirs use a double set of bells so each new member is partnered with an experienced ringer. Rehearsals are planned with fun in mind and our ringers enjoy the rehearsals and ministry to our church and outside groups.

For more information please contact the Bell Choir Director Daniel Heath.

Our Worship Band leads the congregation in worship from January-December, focusing on contemporary songs and fresh renditions of old classics. The Worship Band is led by Jon Hillstead. For more information on joining, contact Dr. Daniel Perrin, Minister of Worship.

The goal of the Prayer Ministry at First Presbyterian Church is a church filled with people who listen to God, who are growing in faith, love, and obedience, and who pray continually about everything with confidence that God is hearing their prayers and answering them. The Prayer Ministry organizes seminars on prayer, encourages people to pray, coordinates First Presbyterian Church participation in the National Day of Prayer, and has opened a prayer room in the South Chapel.

“These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” —Isaiah 56:7

“Prayer is our side of the friendship we experience in our relationship with Almighty God.”—Earl Palmer

“What if God does not demand prayer as much as gives prayer?  What if God wants prayer in order to satisfy us?  What if prayer is a means of God nourishing, restoring, healing, converting us?  Suppose prayer is primarily allowing ourselves to be loved, addressed and claimed by God.  What if praying means opening ourselves to the gift of God’s own self and presence?   What if our part in prayer is primarily letting God be giver?  Suppose prayer is not a duty but the opportunity to experience healing and transforming love?” —Martin Smith

Do you play a musical instrument? At FPC, we love music, and there are lots of opportunities for those gifted in music to participate throughout the church year. For more information, contact our Minister of Worship, Dr. Daniel Perrin.

You are welcome to join us for in-person worship every Sunday @ 10:30 am.

A few things to keep in mind if you want to join us in person for worship:

• We encourage those in high-risk populations to stay home and worship with us via our livestream of the service.
• Each person must self-screen for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving at church. Any individual with a temperature above 100.4° will not be permitted to attend. Any individual with a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or with symptoms of COVID-19 (including a fever above 100.4°F) may not attend.
• Face coverings are required except for children under the age of five or unless medically excused. We will have face coverings available for any who need them. (Those in attendance without a face covering due to medical reasons will not be allowed to sing.)

You may find it helpful to watch our short video about what to expect in our in-person worship service. We hope to see you soon!

Because of COVID-19, our Session (Board of Elders) has decided to let individuals and families take the Communion elements in their own homes along with those worshipping on Sundays in-person.

Pastor Eric has come up with some guidance for in-home Communion. If you haven't taken communion at home yet, we ask that you please read the instructions before the worship service begins, as we want to maintain the sanctity of this important sacrament in the life of the church.

Click on the button below to read the guidelines.