What To Expect
We worship at the Peninsula Church Center. Since three different congregations share the facilities, Sundays are a busy time! There is usually always someone close by in the church lobby or in the social hall that will help direct you to the right place at the right time.
Ocean Beach Presbyterian worship service starts at 11 am in the sanctuary. St. Peter's Episcopal begins their worship service at 9 am in the sanctuary. St. John's Lutheran begins their worship service at 10 am in St. Nicholas Chapel.
There is no dress code. Many wear jeans, some get a little fancier but we do live at the beach, so casual attire is welcome here.
Godly Play, our Sunday School program for ages 3 - 12 begins at 10:15 am in the Fireside room, next to the sanctuary, and ends at 11:00 am. Parents are welcome to drop their children off at Godly Play and then join other parents in the social hall for coffee, treats, and to learn a bit of what your children are learning. Or you can simply share a time of coffee and fellowship that is ongoing in the social hall area. After you pick up your children, join us for worship!
Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of every month. All are welcome at the Lord's Table, but there's no pressure to participate if you don’t want to. Services are usually an hour long, then you’re welcome to hang out, meet, and talk with all the great folks that make up our church family.
Our Story - A Unique Partnership
The roots of Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church trace back to 1893 with two Presbyterian churches, one in Long Beach and one in Ilwaco. Fast forward over 80 years and several merges later, and a single congregation of Presbyterian worshipers remained. Ocean Beach Presbyterian and St. Peter's Episcopal Churches joined together to build the Peninsula Church Center which was completed and dedicated in 1974.
Facilities are shared and managed jointly by Ocean Beach and St. Peter's. Ocean Beach is primarily responsible for Social Center and Christian Education side of the church while St. Peter's is primarily responsible for the Sanctuary and Chapel side.
In 2024, the Peninsula Church Center celebrates 50 years of joint ministry with St. Peter's Episcopal Church. We have been pleased to welcome the congregtion of St. John's Lutheran Church as part of our church center family.
In 1990 an addition was added to the church center and houses the Church Center Daycare. The Social Hall and Kitchen also provide a place for the community of the Long Beach Peninsula to hold special meetings and celebrations, including an annual 2-day bazaar and author's fair.
Godly Play is our joint Sunday School program, serving children ages 3-12. Adult Education is also a joint effort. The Men's Group has a monthly luncheon and Bible Study. The Women's Bible Study also meets monthly. In addition Two AA groups meet here regularly, as well as a book club that meets monthly.
Our history is unique. It is the story of community, faith, cooperation, and dedication. We have been blessed.
What We Believe
Following Jesus. It's about love. Love for God, love for ourselves. Loving those we interact with every day. Not the emotion of love or the feeling of love, but the kind of love that frees us so we can serve others. It's about becoming so completely free that instead of living under the bondage of constantly striving to be perfect, trying to fulfill the law of God that Jesus already fulfilled, we are free. Free to love and serve our neighbor, our community, and all those we come into contact with throught the day.
Jesus Paid the Price for our sins. There is absolutely nothing we can do or add to what Jesus already did to make ourselves more worthy. Nothing we are able to add to what Jesus already did. There is no condemnation to those who are willing to accept and believe.
Learning from Jesus How to Live. There will always be areas of our lives that Jesus wants us to grow in and change in our lives. There always will be. It's just that Jesus helps us grow and become more like him, not through bondage, but through freedom, through relationship, through the Holy Spirit, and through love.
It's not about a bunch of do's and don'ts. Don't ever think following Jesus is about following rules. Don't let anyone ever convince you that you first have to get your act together and sort yourself out before you are welcome. Don't let anyone tell you that being a part of the church is nothing more than a checklist and only after you check all the boxes is when you are good enough to belong. Have you been hurt by religion? Is your soul broken? Do you think you aren't good enough? Jesus says you are forgiven, you are free, and you belong in his family.
Leadership @ OBPC
