A House of Welcome on Walnut Street
First Presbyterian Church sits in the heart of Leavenworth, Kansas, on Walnut Street, just off the town's historic downtown. The congregation has gathered under Presbyterian leadership since 1855, only a year after the city itself was founded, and it has been at its current corner for more than a century. A member recently summed up the spirit of the place this way: "The FPC is a small community of faith with a close-knit church family feeling." That welcome is taken seriously. The congregation intentionally opens its doors to young and old, wealthy and poor, liberal and conservative, every sexual orientation, and every race and culture. In the words of its mission statement, the church strives "to recognize and nurture the Christ in ourselves and each person that we encounter along the way."
From 1855 to the 1909 Sanctuary
Presbyterians were among the first Christian communities to take root in Leavenworth. The first Presbyterian sermon in town was preached in 1855, just a year after the city was founded in 1854. Over the next two decades, three more Presbyterian congregations formed in the growing town: United, Cumberland, and Westminster. They eventually merged or gradually disappeared, leaving First Presbyterian as the continuing witness.
The congregation moved several times before settling at the present corner of Walnut Street, where a sanctuary was erected and dedicated on January 3, 1909. The exterior of the building still looks much as it did on that dedication day. One exquisite Tiffany window anchors the sanctuary, with several other windows in the same richly colored Tiffany style. The bell tower was removed in the 1960s for structural reasons, and the interior has been updated many times over the years. Even so, a member of the 1909 congregation would feel at home worshipping in the sanctuary today, surrounded by the same woodwork, stained glass, and traditional pipe organ. As programs have evolved, the commitment of First Presbyterian to its mission has remained the same: to serve the Lord in its congregation, community, and world.
Worship in the 1909 Sanctuary
Worship is the heart of life at First Presbyterian. Each Sunday at 10:30 a.m., the congregation gathers in the sanctuary for a service that runs until about 11:45 a.m. The pastoral team leads a traditional service built around joyful singing, the reading of Scripture, and the sermon. Music is anchored by a traditional pipe organ and a choir under the direction of Music Director Freda Proctor. Children are part of the service, and the space is open to anyone who wants to be there.
Services are also livestreamed on YouTube, and recordings of past services remain on the church's channel for anyone unable to attend in person. The Session authorizes the celebration of the sacraments, the preaching of the Word, and the leadership of worship from Sunday to Sunday, ensuring that the same rhythms that shaped the 1909 congregation still shape the 10:30 service today.
Morning Prayer and Online Connection
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., the community gathers for morning prayer, lifting up the needs of one another and the needs of the city. A Zoom link is available for those who cannot be there in person, and a prayer liturgy drawn from commonprayer.net guides the time. A song list is published so that those joining online can follow along, and the prayers of the people regularly include the concerns of the wider Leavenworth community.
Adult Reflections on Sunday Mornings
Sundays at First Presbyterian begin earlier than the main service. Adult Reflections meet from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. each Sunday, giving adults a weekly hour to explore, reflect, gain knowledge, enhance compassion, and strengthen their faith together. The church describes itself as "a learning community with a longstanding commitment to providing opportunities for adults," and Adult Reflections is the centerpiece of that commitment, combining study, conversation, and service.
The Choir and Music Ministry
The choir is an open invitation. Anyone who enjoys singing is welcome to lend their voice to Sunday morning worship. Rehearsals are organized through Music Director Freda Proctor. The choir sings regularly during the 10:30 service and is supported by the church's traditional pipe organ. The music program is a warm way for newcomers to plug into the rhythm of the congregation, and the church regularly welcomes both returning singers and first-timers.
The Community Table
Fellowship is built around food at First Presbyterian. On the second Sunday of each month, the congregation gathers for a potluck dinner after worship. On the third Tuesday of each month, the church opens its door facing 6th Street from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for a free community meal, open to anyone in the neighborhood who could use a hot, nutritious plate. The meal ministry is part of a broader network of community meal programs coordinated through the LV Community Meals network on Facebook, and other Leavenworth congregations host similar gatherings through the week.
Children and Families
Children are welcome in worship. The church describes itself as offering "a child and family-loving environment with nurture and delight," and every effort is made to include children in program planning for the church family. The intention is to help children grow in the knowledge of the goodness of God's love until they claim the faith as their own. Sunday morning programs include intergenerational elements alongside Adult Reflections, so that families can worship and learn together.
Mission Beyond the Building
Outreach is woven through the congregation's life. First Presbyterian partners with CASA of Leavenworth, which since 1994 has provided trained court-appointed volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children and youth in the area. The church also supports the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, a shelter that has expanded its hours during extreme cold so that guests can stay 24 hours a day. Pastor Tim has urged the congregation to stay connected to the Richard Allen Cultural Center and Museum, an institution dedicated to telling the stories of African American life in Leavenworth, particularly those of soldiers connected to Fort Leavenworth. The church has longstanding ties to international mission as well, and members have traveled on mission trips to Northern Mexico and Arizona in years past. Volunteers from First Presbyterian serve in worship, music, hospitality, children's ministry, community outreach, pastoral care, the Backpack Buddies program, and international mission efforts.
A Theology of Welcome
First Presbyterian is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a denomination rooted in Reformed theology and governed by elders. The church teaches that God meets us in Jesus Christ with grace and love, that the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, and that the work of the church is to continue the ministry of Christ: teaching truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers. Scripture is read in worship as a collection of stories, songs, and characters who have walked paths of joy and suffering before us, and the Bible is heard in worship as the Word is preached.
The church's own mission statement is short and clear: "We will love God with all our being and our neighbors as ourselves. We will nurture a vibrant congregation growing in faith and serving the Lord in our church and community." Members strive to recognize and nurture the Christ in themselves and each person they encounter along the way.
A Pastor's Journey and a Session of Elders
Head Pastor Rev. Tim Gray leads the congregation. Pastor Tim grew up singing in the choir and developing friendships in Southern California church youth programs, then watched up close as the church struggled to respond to abuses in leadership. The brokenness he saw pushed him to walk away from the church and his faith for a season, but his heart kept longing for meaning and understanding. As he puts it, "I may have turned my back on God, but God did not turn away from me." After searching through other traditions, he returned to the Presbyterian Church because his faith language was rooted there, and he found that being a gathering of broken people is exactly what makes room for grace.
Pastor Tim is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA, a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a former pastor of churches in Georgetown and El Paso, Texas. He and his wife, both originally from Southern California, are raising three school-age sons in Leavenworth. He writes regularly in the Pastor's Corner, where his reflections cover Holy Week, Black History and Faith, the theology of shelter, and the discipline of prayer.
The church is led by an active Session of ruling elders, elected by the congregation, with responsibility for worship, sacraments, membership, mission, financial stewardship, and property. A board of Deacons ministers to those in need, the sick, the friendless, and anyone in distress both within and beyond the church. Trustees care for the buildings and grounds. Working committees include Building and Grounds, Christian Education, Communications, Endowment and Memorial, Mission and Faithful Discipleship, Nominating, Personnel and Administration, and Worship.
Getting Here, Getting Connected
First Presbyterian is at 407 Walnut Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048. Two parking areas serve the building: spaces along Walnut Street north of the building, and a lot on the west side, just off the one-way Market Street. The building is completely wheelchair accessible, with a ramp on the west side for drop-offs and an elevator on the entry level serving the downstairs Fellowship Hall and the upstairs classrooms.
For anyone who needs a ride, the church has an arrangement with Veterans Cab Service. Riders can call (913) 682-7200, say they are headed to First Presbyterian in Leavenworth, and the church covers the fare.
Office hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The phone number is 913-682-6891, and emails go to office@fpc-lvks.org.
The church publishes a monthly newsletter called The Leaven and a weekly email update. Three scholarships are offered to students through the church: the William and Genevieve Boatright Scholarship for church members in higher education, the Carol Ann Lowe Scholarship for active high school seniors of the congregation, and the Cory Community Scholarship for needs-based county high school students.
Giving is accepted online, by mail, or in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. Visitors are welcome to stop by the Welcome Bulletin Board just inside the entrance and visit Friendship Hall.