A Church on Preston Avenue in Pasadena
First Presbyterian Church sits at 4647 Preston Avenue in Pasadena, Texas, where it has been a steady presence for more than eight decades. Tucked into a residential stretch of the city, the church is best known for its intergenerational life: a Sunday morning sanctuary filled with longtime members and young families, a licensed Early Childhood Program that has served the community since 1958, and an active calendar of Bible studies, choirs, yoga classes, and quilt-making that runs well beyond Sunday. As of fall 2026 the congregation is in a season of pastoral transition. The Rev. Dr. Fairfax Fair has honorably retired, and the church is being led by a series of guest preachers while a Pastor Nominating Committee works to call a new settled pastor.
Sunday Morning Worship
Worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., in person and via livestream on the church's YouTube channel. Previous services can be viewed there at any time, and a current worship bulletin is posted each week for those following along from home. The service follows the Presbyterian pattern of Word and Sacrament, with children of all ages welcome in the sanctuary. A nursery is available for ages five and under. Worship is followed by coffee in Fellowship Hall, and visitors are warmly invited to stop by before or after the service.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday school begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs during the school year. Adults may choose among three long-running classes. The Men's Bible Class meets at 8:45 a.m. in the library and works through books of the Bible using commentary from author John MacArthur. Current Christianity gathers at 9:00 a.m. in Room 8 and reads books on contemporary Christian topics. Stepping Out in Faith meets at 9:00 a.m. in the Bride's Room and studies the scriptures used in that morning's worship.
Children and youth classes meet from September through May. Junior and senior high students work through the Deep and Wide and Faith Questions series, while elementary children use the Growing in God's Love curriculum. Sunday school is part of a broader youth ministry that welcomes all 6th through 12th graders and includes special events during the year with youth from other churches in the Presbytery.
The Early Childhood Program Since 1958
The Early Childhood Program (ECP) is one of the cornerstones of the church's ministry to Pasadena and the surrounding communities. Founded in 1958 and directed by Heather McDonald, it is a state-licensed Mother's Day Out and Preschool housed within the church's facilities. The mission of the ECP is to promote a Christian education that emphasizes God's love and the love of others, to provide a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment that fosters physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth, and to prepare a place where children learn through active exploration and relationships with adults and other children.
Classes are organized by age as of September 1 of the school year. Little Stars serves infants 3 to 12 months in a two-day program only. Little Monkeys serves 12 to 24 months. Busy Bees serves 2-year-olds. Early Pre-K serves 3-year-olds who are fully potty trained. Pre-K serves 4-year-olds who are fully potty trained. Families may choose a two-day (Tuesday/Thursday), three-day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday), or five-day program, with low student-to-teacher ratios and a daily rhythm of music, outdoor play, and one-on-one attention. The school calendar aligns closely with the Pasadena Independent School District. Tuition is paid monthly through Procare or by mail, and a sibling discount is offered for families with two children in the five-day program. Inquiries go to ecp@fpcpasadena.org or 281-991-4020.
Music in the Sanctuary
Music is described as a vibrant, active, and essential part of the life of the church, drawing singers, ringers, and instrumentalists of every level of experience. Marilyn Wilkins serves as Music Director, Ron Ollis as Organist, and Jamie Taylor Adams as Handbell Director. Three ensembles make up the core of the program: the Chancel Choir, an intergenerational Handbell Choir, and individual instrumental presentations during worship.
The chancel choir rehearses on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room behind the sanctuary. The handbell choir rehearses on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. and is open to anyone who has played before or who would like to learn. The music ministry has been a consistent presence in the church's special celebrations as well; the recent 85th anniversary concert featured the choir, handbell choir, dulcimers, and brass.
Bible Studies, Books, and Prayer
Brown Bag and Bible has long been a Wednesday lunchtime staple, gathering adults in Fellowship Hall from noon to 1:00 p.m. for conversation around scripture. The study is currently on hold while the church waits for its next settled pastor, but for years it has been a place where people bring their lunch, gather early to eat, and dig into the Bible together. Stepping Out in Faith complements the Sunday morning worship by exploring the texts used in that day's service.
Presbyterian Women meet in two circles. The Day Circle gathers on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall and the Night Circle meets the same day at 6:30 p.m., with both groups also connected on Zoom. Light refreshments are served, and recent studies have included United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other: Paul's Letter to the Corinthians by Rev. Dr. Rhonda Mawhood Lee.
The Brunch and Book Group meets on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall and on Zoom. Members bring a dish to share and discuss a book chosen by the group. The Intercessory Prayer Group meets on the first Friday of the month at 2:00 p.m. in the library to pray for members, the community, and the world.
Quilts, Yoga, and Senior Fellowship
Chain Stitchers meet every Thursday at noon and at 6:00 p.m. to make quilts, runners, and other sewing projects. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level, and the group's work has been a tangible ministry of the church for years. Yoga is offered every Tuesday and Thursday under the instruction of Carey Coker, with chair yoga at 5:00 p.m. and mat yoga at 6:15 p.m., meeting in Fellowship Hall or the Narthex. There is a $5 charge per session; participants should bring water and, for mat yoga, a mat of their own.
Young at Heart, a fellowship for those 55 and older, meets in Fellowship Hall on the third Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. to play games, plan field trips, and eat together. Recent trips have included the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with transportation leaving the church at 9:15 a.m. and returning about 3:00 p.m. Cut-Ups meets quarterly at 11:30 a.m. for lunch at a local restaurant and then returns to the church for arts and crafts projects chosen by the group. First Sunday Lunch takes place in Fellowship Hall on the first Sunday of each month after worship, with most attendees bringing a dish to share.
Men's Fellowship and a Breakfast at Frank's
The men of the church gather in several ways. Men on the Move meets regularly for Bible study and fellowship, takes care of maintenance around the building and grounds, tends the community garden, and travels annually to Mo-Ranch for service projects. Women are welcome to help as well. The Men's Breakfast takes place on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at Frank's Grill, 3807 Spencer Highway in Pasadena, a weekly ritual of eggs, conversation, and connection over a familiar booth.
Missions and Outreach Beyond Preston Avenue
Outreach is central to the church's identity and is carried out through several long-standing partnerships. Pasadena Community Ministry (PCM) provides food and clothing assistance to those in need, with limited funding also available for utilities, prescriptions, and similar emergencies. First Presbyterian supports PCM with budgeted financial help, volunteers, and donations of money, food, and clothing. Members are encouraged to bring gently used clothing and shoes and place them in the tubs at church, or to designate monetary gifts to PCM when giving.
Kairos Prison Ministry is a Christian, faith-based ministry addressing the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, and youth and their families. Members of First Presbyterian provide leadership and support through writing letters of encouragement, decorating placemats and tote bags, creating prayer chains, and committing to pray for participants. The church also underwrites weekend costs when donations are directed to Kairos.
Pasadena Interfaith Manor is owned by Pasadena Interfaith Housing Foundation, Inc., a non-profit subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The foundation brings together three faith traditions - B'nai B'rith, the Knights of Columbus, and First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena - to provide safe, affordable, comfortable housing for residents. Lavinia Brown, Brian Davis, and Milo Wharry currently represent the church on the foundation's governing board.
The church also supports the Presbyterian International Seafarer Ministry, a multi-denominational outreach to seafarers on ships calling at the Port of Houston. The congregation financially supports the Presbyterian chaplain, Rev. Tom Edwards, who visits ships, provides transportation, and assists in crises. Each Christmas, members pack gift boxes that chaplains distribute to seafarers, and in past years the choir has joined others to sing Christmas carols on board. Members are also encouraged to give to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, supporting communities affected by natural disasters and other catastrophic events, and gifts can be designated to that work through the church.
A Church Between Pastors
First Presbyterian is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is governed by a Session of twelve elected elders who provide spiritual and administrative leadership for three-year terms, and by a Board of Deacons elected by the congregation to assist with pastoral care. The Rev. Dr. Fairfax Fair has honorably retired, and the church is now receiving a variety of guest preachers each Sunday. Members are invited to pray for the Pastor Nominating Committee as the search moves forward.
What the Church Believes
The church's stated beliefs are anchored in classical Reformed and Presbyterian teaching. God exists in the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christ is the Son of God, the revealer of God, and the Savior of humanity. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the world and in the believer. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, with its reading, hearing, preaching, and confessing at the center of Christian worship. Baptism is a sacrament that unites believers with Jesus Christ and makes them members of God's family, and Holy Communion - also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist - is a sacrament in which the congregation is united with one another across time and space and with the Lord who is spiritually present.
Getting in Touch and Giving
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and can be reached at 281-991-8700 or office@fpcpasadena.org. The address is 4647 Preston Avenue, Pasadena, TX 77505. Members and friends can give online, by mail, by stock donation, or through the Presbyterian Giving Catalog, and gifts can be designated to specific mission projects by emailing Financial Secretary Kimberly Waggett at kimberly@fpcpasadena.org. The church's livestream is available on YouTube, and a current calendar, worship bulletin, and newsletter are posted each week for those who want to follow along from home.