At 10 Moraga Valley Lane in Moraga, Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church is known for putting “joyful surrender” at the center of its life. Its mission is to make disciples who encounter God, explore a life with Him, and engage others with the gospel. The church describes itself as a diverse group trying to live out Jesus’ teachings in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Its vision is a multiplying gospel movement rooted in Christ, reaching the East Bay, and raising resilient disciples with the next generation. “Rooted & Reaching” captures that emphasis on both discipleship and service.
A Sunday Gathering at 9:30 AM
Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church gathers in person every Sunday at 9:30 AM at 10 Moraga Valley Lane in Moraga, California. The same gathering is available through the church’s YouTube livestream. A Sunday service lasts about 60 to 75 minutes and includes a message from Scripture, lively worship, and an engaging, welcoming community. The church office phone is (925) 376-4800.
The preaching is shared by a team that may include a Teaching Pastor, an elder, a trained member of the Teaching Team, or another trusted person. Each sermon is intended to exalt Jesus and come from the Bible. The church also maintains an online sermon archive for messages from the preaching team.
There is no formal dress expectation. Worshippers may wear anything comfortable, from suits and ties to T-shirts and flip-flops. Coffee comes from Saint Frank’s, a local Bay Area roaster, and donuts are served at the end of every weekly gathering. Visitors may take their coffee into the Worship Center.
Worship That Leads to Joyful Surrender
Music at Moraga Valley is primarily contemporary, with familiar songs and hymns from throughout church history. The church values theologically rich, Christ-exalting worship music that congregants can sing. Moraga Valley Worship seeks to be relevant to its community and to foster a welcoming, inclusive, family-oriented environment. Its teams pursue excellence under the Holy Spirit and a transformational atmosphere, describing themselves as worshippers, servants, committed encouragers, innovators, creatives, and family.
Joyful surrender is more than a theme in the music. It is the posture the worship ministry names for itself and a central part of the church’s mission to make disciples who encounter God, explore life with Him, and engage others with the gospel.
A Faith Rooted in Scripture and EPC
The Westminster Confession of Faith is the church’s standard of doctrine as found in Scripture. MVPC also affirms the Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s statement of core Christian essentials, which summarize beliefs shared by believers and churches throughout the world. It embraces the EPC motto: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
Five values shape the shared life of the church:
- Jesus is our passion.
- People are our priority.
- Love is our posture.
- Prayer is our pathway.
- Faithfulness is our future.
Children Learn Together on Sunday Morning
Children’s programs run at 9:30 AM each Sunday. Infants and crawlers are cared for in the Nursery. PreK and TK children have their own classroom, while kindergarten through fifth grade gather in the Forum. The K-5 group begins with games, coloring, or Legos, then comes together for a game introducing the day’s topic. Engaging teaching follows, along with small groups where children consider how the lesson applies to life. After a quick snack, parents pick up their children in the Forum.
The aim is for children to leave with “one of the best hours of their week.” Families also have periodic Family Nights, special Christmas events, service opportunities, and a large Vacation Bible School at the beginning of each summer. Carolyn N. serves as Nurtury Preschool Director, and the church’s stated desire is to serve families as they lead children in following Jesus.
Rooted in Community, Scripture, and Jesus
Moraga Valley’s student ministry wants students to be rooted in community, rooted in Scripture, and rooted in an authentic relationship with Jesus. ROOTED Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in a safe, fun, welcoming setting where they can explore what it means to follow Christ. Its main gathering meets Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, usually in the Forum. Middle School Sunday Bible studies and adult leaders provide another way to walk alongside students.
ROOTED High School gathers peers and adult volunteers who encourage students to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus. The high school group meets Sunday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, usually in the Forum, with the hope that each student will take a step closer to Jesus through life with other students and leaders. Both groups describe their shared environment as family-like.
Adult Faith in Classes, Groups, and Community
Adult ministries bring people together through Sunday morning classes, men’s and women’s programs, age-and-stage groups, prayer meetings, special events, social gatherings, and community groups. Men’s and women’s programs run from fall through spring, and drop-ins are welcome.
Moraga Men’s Ministry is open to men of all ages, stages, and faith backgrounds. It meets Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Forum. Women’s gatherings, including Women of the Word and Moms Connect, study the Word, relate it to everyday life, encourage spiritual growth, and provide support. Moms Connect also offers recorded teaching.
Community groups usually include 10 to 12 people. They meet in homes, at church, online, and in coffee shops around Lamorinda, most commonly each week or twice a month.
Care Expressed Through Deacons and Prayer
MVPC’s care ministry meets physical, spiritual, and community needs through sympathy, witness, and service. Deacons are ordained lay people who encourage and support people through seasons of loss, grief, illness, hardship, transition, family crisis, and rejoicing. The congregation is divided into 12 geographic areas, each served by two deacons.
Prayer is part of that care. A Wednesday morning prayer gathering meets from 8:00 to 9:15 AM online, and ministry leaders meet for prayer Thursday from 7:30 to 8:00 AM online. The ePrayer team also sends periodic material centered on prayer and the church’s needs. Brad V. serves as Care Pastor, while the church also offers support through deacons and dedicated prayer gatherings.
Serving the East Bay and Partnering Across the World
MVPC presents serving as part of Christian life rather than a separate activity. The church encourages people to use their talents as good neighbors within the congregation and city, throughout the Bay Area, and around the world. Its mission partnerships extend that local care into homelessness support, education, campus ministry, disability inclusion, poverty relief, child care, agriculture, and medical work.
East Bay, campus, and community partners
In Contra Costa County, MVPC partners with Bay Area Rescue Mission, described as the county’s largest provider of homeless services. The partner provides overnight lodging for as many as 350 guests, more than 3,500 meals each day, clothing, counseling, and educational opportunities. In Oakland, Harbor House works to help individuals and families become self-sufficient and seeks the transformation of the San Antonio neighborhood through Christ.
InterVarsity partnerships welcome international students at Diablo Valley College and gather students around Jesus at St. Mary’s College and Cal State East Bay through small groups, larger gatherings, and outreach. Joni & Friends focuses on including people with disabilities through church support, respite events, camps, mobility equipment, and books and materials for hospitals and convalescent homes. Project Peace organizes family-friendly East Bay service opportunities four times a year, including half-day projects with community organizations and schools.
MVPC also connects with CRU at Washington State University, where mentors, Bible studies, and fellowship accompany students on their spiritual journeys. Missionary Steven Yen and his wife Megan are involved with that campus ministry and with MVPC.
International partners
For more than 30 years, MVPC has partnered with Amor Ministries to serve families in Mexico. The church provides financial support and sends high school students and adult leaders during spring break to work near Tijuana, building homes and supporting local churches. This recurring work joins Amor’s longer history of housing ministry and church, medical, and school expansion.
Kids Alive! International serves children without means of support in the Dominican Republic through schools, residential safe havens, and a youth program. Sabuli Children’s Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cares for children rescued from street life, provides school uniforms, and supports education and meals through a garden tended by the ministry’s sisters. Plant with Purpose works with farmers in Northern Thailand on regenerative farming, rights, and access to resources. Ubangi Protestant University in Gemena develops leaders through programs in theology, business and economics, medicine, and agricultural science; MVPC has also supported Dr. Mossai Sanguma’s theological studies. A family using its medical background serves an underserved part of Asia through International Medical Ministry, combining care and training with faith and ministry.
Servant Leadership for a Multiplying Church
The session, or Elders, empower the staff to carry out the mission and vision, while a plurality of spiritual leaders keeps the church accountable to God’s mission. Ministry leadership includes Lead Pastor Brandon Morrow, Next Gen Minister Daniel Bigelow, Worship Minister Joshua R., Care Pastor Brad V., Director of Discipleship and Community Amy N., and Nurtury Preschool Director Carolyn N.
Giving That Supports Mission and Pastoral Housing
Giving is available online or by texting “mvpc” to 73256. For long-term giving, Moraga Valley also discusses donor-advised funds, stocks and annuities, real estate, family trusts, family foundation allocations, and other planned arrangements with the church’s finance leaders.
The MVPC Foundation receives and wisely invests assets so its income and benefits can support the church’s mission and ministries. Providing housing for pastors and ministry staff in Lamorinda is a key foundation goal. Its planned-giving options include bequests, retirement-account beneficiary gifts, life insurance, real estate, charitable remainder trusts, and life-estate arrangements. Additional information is available through the church’s giving options.
Rooted and Reaching
Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church brings these strands together in one shared life: Scripture-centered worship at 9:30 AM, children and students learning in community, adults meeting in classes and homes, deacons offering care, and people serving partners near and far. Rooted in Christ and reaching toward the East Bay, the church carries out its mission through joyful surrender, faithful discipleship, and service.