First Presbyterian Church of Moorhead meets on 5th Street South in Moorhead, Minnesota, part of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. The congregation calls itself "a progressive church where everyone belongs," and over the years it has built a reputation for two things in particular: a community garden that has expanded from a small plot to 1,600 square feet since 2017, and Sausage Fest, a fall fundraiser that has grown from a small church event into one of the bigger gatherings on the Fargo-Moorhead social calendar.
Worship at 10:30 on Sundays
Sunday worship is the rhythm of life at First Presbyterian Church of Moorhead, and it takes place at 10:30 AM each Sunday morning in the church building at 2900 5th Street South. The service is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, so members who are traveling, feeling unwell, or simply at home can join the same service online. Visitors who want a sense of the preaching and music before attending in person can browse past services on YouTube.
A fellowship hour with coffee follows each Sunday worship, giving visitors and longtime members a relaxed setting to introduce themselves, ask questions, and catch up before heading out. Members tend to linger in the entry and hallway well after the closing prayer.
Sunday School for Children in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to Sunday School from 9:15 to 10:15 AM on Sunday mornings during the program year, which begins each September and runs through the school year. The Sunday School hour is scheduled so parents can drop children in their classrooms and arrive in the sanctuary in time for worship. Confirmation is also part of the church's ministry with young people, and Confirmation Sunday each spring is a high point in the church calendar, marking the welcome of new members into the congregation.
A Progressive Church Where Everyone Belongs
The congregation frames its ministry as a shared exploration of "faith, questions, and love - together," and that openness shows up in its public life. Members regularly turn out for KidFest, PRIDE Fest, and Night to Unite, the annual neighborhood gathering organized with local law enforcement. The church takes "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" from Galatians 5:14 as the heart of how it talks about itself, and that verse shows up in everything from the welcome at the door to the long-running community garden out back.
The Community Garden on Fifth Street
Since 2017, the congregation has cultivated a community garden on the church grounds. What started as a small plot has expanded to 1,600 square feet, and the produce now supports an increasingly vulnerable population in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The garden has drawn regional news coverage for its growth and its partnership with local food security efforts, and it offers members and neighbors a way to serve one another with their hands, not just their voices. It is a small but steady ministry that ties the church's progressive theology to practical, year-round work, and it has become one of the defining marks of the congregation in the wider community.
Sausage Fest: A Fundraiser That Became a Fargo-Moorhead Tradition
Each September, First Presbyterian hosts Moorhead Sausage Fest, the church's signature fundraiser and one of the bigger events on the Fargo-Moorhead social calendar. The afternoon and evening fill the church grounds with Oktoberfest-inspired food, German wines and craft beer, a fall harvest vendor market, live music, and contests and games for all ages. Proceeds from the event underwrite the church's mission and ministry. The festival started a few years ago as a small church fundraiser and has grown into a major community event, complete with its own Facebook presence, Eventbrite ticketing, and regional press coverage from outlets across the metro. It is also a chance for the congregation to invite the wider Fargo-Moorhead community onto the church grounds for an afternoon of food, music, and neighborly fun.
Sharing the Year with Other Presbyterians
First Presbyterian belongs to a wider network of Presbyterian congregations across the region and the denomination. Each year the church takes part in One Great Hour of Sharing, the largest annual Presbyterian offering, which supports work for justice, resilience, and sustainability around the world. Members also take part in Presbyterian Women events, and the church has helped underwrite a spring leadership conference called Empowering Women to Become Spiritual Leaders, held at Baker Downer Presbyterian Church in Sabin, Minnesota, with subsidized tickets made possible by a Presbyterian Women grant. Some Holy Week services, like the Tenebrae service, are shared with First Presbyterian Church of Fargo, and a spring luncheon and bake sale at Baker Downer supports local missions.
Staying Connected: Newsletter, YouTube, and Online Giving
The church publishes a monthly newsletter called The First Epistle, available as a PDF online, with announcements, seasonal reflections, and ministry updates. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and giving is available online through a secure form. The church is also active on Facebook, where members share updates and event photos throughout the week, and where regular posts keep the broader community informed about Sausage Fest, the garden, and other ongoing ministries.
What a First-Time Visitor Finds
Worship begins at 10:30 AM on Sunday at 2900 5th Street South in Moorhead, with on-site parking. Sunday School runs from 9:15 to 10:15 AM for children in kindergarten through fifth grade during the program year. Dress is casual and the atmosphere is unpretentious, and the fellowship hour with coffee after worship is a natural setting for newcomers to meet regulars. The church's progressive identity and visible presence at events like PRIDE Fest reflect its commitment to welcoming people across backgrounds, family structures, and stages of belief.