First Presbyterian Church

Old Presby Days For June 22, 2008 to June 21, 2009

Old Presby Days For June 21, 2009

Celebrating 140th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara

Featuring:   VIII.  Global Outlook Era,  1986 to Present

 This eighth and final era recognizes the “global outlook” of our country and congregation.  The age of “information technology” has brought events worldwide into our businesses, into our living rooms, and into our sanctuary.  Many members have traveled extensively though-out the world and are concerned with the hunger, squalor, disease, sickness, hatred, death, and suffering by so many.  We ask ourselves what can we do - we pray, study, give and serve. 

Starting at home, our church along with others began feeding the growing homeless population, through Transition House, Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, and other local agencies and organizations in 1988.  We added a Preschool Children’s Center on our new campus as an outreach in 1991 under the direction of Helen Pasley.  We entered into an agreement with the Red Cross to use our facilities as a disaster evacuation center.  In 1994 eight banners depicting the Historical Creeds of the Reformed Faith were hung in the new sanctuary.  Each one was hand-made by a member of the congregation.  We were blessed to have Dr. Emma Lou Diemer, a UCSB faculty member and renown composer, become our organist.  She retired in 2002 to work full-time as a composer, but occasionally substitutes.  We were fortunate to have Julie Neufeld as director of all the choirs – Youth, Chancel, and Bell – during this era.

To complete our new campus development, a Christian Fellowship Center, with a large kitchen, stage, and meeting facilities was completed in 1999, along with the memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd, the Garden Room for informal meetings, an elevator and chimes tower, and a covered parking area.  The chapel was made possible by church members Jim and Shirley Bartlett.  These attractive new facilities were made available to community organizations for concerts and meetings, as well as to families for weddings and receptions.

In this era we added new programs for the congregation.  A contemporary worship service with modern music was added as an outreach to younger members on Sunday mornings in the CFC.  Our Parish Nurse, Sharon Troll, is supported to aid those in need of health care information.  As an outreach to Seniors, a special program is offered in the Garden room on Fridays.  For some years our offices were used by Rev. James Witty, DD, as a base for his Care Corps International missions to the Balkans, to Central Africa, and other areas where his message of reconciliation, reconstruction, and Christian love are demonstrated for those most in need.  On going in church service are the Flower Guild, Craft Guild, and the many Circles of the Presbyterian Women.

In 2000 Rev. Pryor retired after nearly 20 years.  The Rev. Dr. Gary Demarest provided the interim ministry along with Rev. Witty.  Rev. Peter Buehler was called in 2002, and Rev. Judith Muller continues as Associate Pastor.  The traditional worship service music has been led since 2002 by Nelson Huber, serving both as organist and choir director with inspiring offerings of classical music.

 The congregation has dealt and aided with the death and destruction of the 9/11 Terrorist Attack on New York and Washington, DC, the Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, and other disasters, not to mention ministering to those serving in the wars in Afganistan and Iraq. 

As we celebrate 140 years of witness and service in this community, we continue our devotion to serving Jesus Christ by reaching out to the people of the world.