On our Corner, in Our City, and in the World
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Old First Presbyterian Church enthuiastically invites all people into our community!
This church was the first Protestant congregation established on the west coast of the U.S. during the gold rush. And we are proud now to continue sharing Christ's love, justice, and welcome to modern seekers who arrive in San Francisco now 175 years later. We have taken a leadership role both locally and nationally welcoming LGBTQIA+ Christians into full participation in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church. We strive to bring hope, joy and justice reaching out to people of all ethnicities, incomes, races, and life situations, and like Jesus, we always try to offer a smile and welcome the outcasts.
We hope you will come visit and consider becoming part of our community. We want to know you and share your own particular gifts, experience, and insights with us on our corner, in our city, and in our world.
We worship every Sunday at 11:00 am both in person in our beautiful sanctuary and on line via YouTube livestream. We celebrate communion on the third Sunday of the month. Worship is our joyful praise and thanks to God - our celebration of God's Love.
We have a wonderful choir singing a mixture of classical and modern music and singers are always welcome. Our organ is one of the most renowned in the city. We founded and support an amazing variety of new artists each week in our Old First Concerts programs.
Bringing God's love, welcome, justice, in our neighborhood, city and world and working to make the world a better place for all are important to us. We are a founding member of the weekly interfaith food pantry every Saturday and host a free community meal on the 4th Saturday of each month. We work with many local, national, and international groups to promote racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and other human rights, to end gun violence, and to help immigrants.
We feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, and work for justice. We always need volunteers to help with all of these projects.
We believe that learning and growth are important for all ages. We offer regular book studies, Bible studies, theological discussions, and topical classes for adults on issues important in our culture. Small groups meet on Zoom and in members' homes for study and support. We make time and space for children in worship and offer regular, broadly graded children's church school every 1st and 3nd Sundy. We also have excellent childrens' and adults' libraries.
We love to read and support the Little Free Library on Sacramento Street. Bring you books to share with the community.
This Advent I started reading the book Hope: A User's Manual by MaryAnn McKibben Dana. (I highly recommend it.) When I read a book I get out my favorite pencil - a Blackwing Matte - yes I have favorite pencils cause I am old school. I underline passages, make checks and stars to highlight items and write in the margins things like “ponder this” or “this will preach.” My Hope: A User's Manual pages are covered in pencil marks.
This week I reading the 5th chapter "Practicing Hope," and it seems so right for this start of 2026. McKibben Dana offers, “After a lot of discernment, I’ve realized that my ability to access hope boils down to the presence or absence of three essential elements…My first essential for hope is beauty.” She quotes Sam Wells who reflected on what he would want on his tombstone and offered “If it can’t be happy make it beautiful.” Then she says, “My second essential for hope is relationships. When I’m neglecting relationships, I see others as burdens or obstacles, or myself as a 'doing' machine.” and her third essential is action. She quotes Gregory Ellison, professor at Emory University who likes to quote his auntie who would say 'Greg, I am not be able to change the world but I can change the three feet around me.'"
This coming year, or really this week, I am going to seek out and note beauty in this wonderful and complicated city of San Francisco. I am going to reach out to friends when their name enters my mind and not wait till I have time. Lastly, I am going to work on entering into the three feet around me with compassion and joy.
May it be so. Pastor Maggi
Get the book at your local library or click on the book to order your own copy
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January 18
Many of us grew up in churches with regular pot luck dinners. And quite often those churches published their own little cookbooks with members sharing their favorite recipes from those potlucks. On Januay 18, we will celebrate those old, wonderful potlucks. Look in the back of the closet and find those old cookbooks, and while you're there look for that jello mold - you'll need it. Let's have lots of tuna mac casseroles, and deviled eggs, and lime jello with carrots in a pineapple shaped mold! If you don't have your own church cookbook, Old First can share theirs, just ask in the church office. Or you can check out the website below for some real winners that southerners will especially enjoy!
Click here to find online some classic, old, church pot luck dishes
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January 2026
Presbyterians are led by elders and deacons chosen from among the people. Each year we seek people who feel called to serve God and the church in leadership roles. If you feel that call or would like to recommend someone for the Session or the Board of deacons, please let us know. Click below to send your name or your suggestions to the nominating committee. The election will be in February.
What's Happening at Old First