A Century on the Corner of Lake and Santa Barbara
Pasadena Covenant Church has met on the corner of Lake Avenue and Santa Barbara Street in Northwest Pasadena since 1922, when twenty-six Swedish immigrants pooled their resources and purchased property. A century later, the congregation still gathers on that same plot of land, which has grown to 2.25 acres across eleven parcels and now hosts a sanctuary, a gym, classrooms, two houses, a triplex, and two garages. The church celebrated its centennial in 2022 and continues to mark one hundred years of worship, formation, and service to its Northwest Pasadena neighbors.
The Swedish roots are still part of the congregation's story. The earliest members were working-class immigrants who had migrated to Southern California seeking a better life. Over the next fifty years, their children and grandchildren grew into a middle-class congregation of more than 700 people, and the church built additional buildings on lots acquired over time. A slow decline beginning in the 1980s brought membership to its current size of around 160. Even so, the property has remained a hub for ministries beyond the church itself. At any given week, the buildings serve hundreds of people from the surrounding community, including neighborhood children, people experiencing homelessness, the underemployed, and other guest groups.
Today, Pasadena Covenant belongs to the Evangelical Covenant Church, a denomination with Swedish Pietist roots that values reconciliation, compassion, and justice. Members describe themselves as a "community drawn to love," a phrase that has become the church's tagline. The phrase captures the conviction that they are called both to seek God's presence in their own lives and to draw near in love to their "beautiful, broken city and world."
Sunday Worship at 10:30
Worship is at the center of life at Pasadena Covenant. Sunday services begin at 10:30 a.m. and meet both in person at the sanctuary on Lake Avenue and via livestream on Zoom. The sanctuary was fully renovated in 2023 with new chairs bolted to the floor in curved rows around a center aisle, a new platform with ADA-compliant access, restored woodwork, new theatrical lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, two video screens flanking the cross, and acoustic treatment on the side walls.
Children are part of worship from the very start of the service. PasCov Kids joins their parents in the sanctuary for the opening of the service and then "peacefully migrates" to age-appropriate ministry areas about fifteen to twenty minutes in. The first Sunday of every month is Family Sunday, when the entire congregation worships together from beginning to end, including a child-friendly message and an occasional surprise, and activity packets are available at the entryway.
Visitors are greeted at the door by a Connections Team and, after the service, are invited to spend time in the courtyard over food and conversation. There is no pressure to give. The church describes giving as "an act of faith and gratitude" rather than an expectation. Dress is whatever feels comfortable, and no one is asked to dress up.
PasCov Kids
PasCov Kids aims to partner with parents in nurturing faith in children from nursery through sixth grade. On the first Sunday of the month, families worship together in intergenerational worship. On the second, third, fourth, and fifth Sundays, after about twenty minutes of worship in the sanctuary, children move to age-appropriate classrooms for the remainder of the service. Sixth graders are also encouraged to begin attending PasCov Student activities.
The Nursery and Preschool area is always open and is located on the west side of the campus. Check-in for children through sixth grade takes place at the PasCov Kids Check-In Station in the church entryway. The ministry also offers monthly get-togethers, an annual Family Camp Out, and Family Sundays that include a celebration of the Lord's Table.
Camp Goober is a separate offering designed as a parent night out. Held on occasional Saturday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., it gives children from pre-K through fifth grade an afternoon of games, food, crafts, and "a touch of mayhem," while parents take a couple of hours for themselves. The suggested donation is $10 to help with food, and no one is turned away. Camp Goober is not a religious program - families of any faith or none are welcome.
Students on Wednesday Nights
PasCov Students, for sixth through twelfth graders, meets weekly on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The student ministry gathers in the church's youth room for a time of fun, worship, peer connection, mentoring relationships, and teaching on what it means to follow Jesus. In the summer, meetings shift to homes for swimming, games, and being together as a community. The ministry is led by Christy DePree, Director of Student Ministry, and a team of volunteer leaders who walk alongside students.
The ministry's mission is to be a community where youth are seen, known, loved, and launched into the world as passionate followers of Jesus. A monthly newsletter provides dates and details for students and parents.
Growth Groups
Growth Groups are Pasadena Covenant's main vehicle for Bible study and spiritual formation among adults. They are small groups that meet every other week (or sometimes weekly or twice a month) to dig into Scripture together. The church's approach is intentionally non-pretense: "No one is an expert. We all come with honest questions as we seek God together." When participants dig into the stories of Scripture, they are encouraged to ask how God might be forming them in everyday life.
Currently, four Growth Groups are listed: a Wednesday evening group facilitated by Karl Baker from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.; a Monday evening group facilitated by Janet Graff from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.; a Sunday afternoon group facilitated by David Smith from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.; and a Sunday morning group facilitated by Mike from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Each group meets in a different location around the area, and prospective members are invited to contact the facilitator directly.
The Come and See Prayer Gallery
One of the most distinctive features of Pasadena Covenant is its Come and See Prayer Gallery, a meditative space where the community interacts with visual art in order to deepen understanding of Jesus and his Kingdom. The gallery's name comes from John 1:45-46, in which Philip tells Nathaniel, "Come and see" the one Moses and the prophets wrote about.
The gallery's goal is to enrich prayerful worship of God by creating a designated visual venue, to exhibit art that reflects the sermon series or liturgical calendar, and to explore how visual language expresses ideas and truths beyond words and music. Visitors are invited to peruse the gallery slowly, find a section that captures their attention, and sit in the comfortable chair with a notebook to jot down reflections.
Current and past exhibits reflect the church's deep artistic tradition. The most recent display, "Drawn to Love One Another," features the artwork of Richard Parsekian, a Pratt Institute-trained designer who was inspired by Southern California artists Charles and Ray Eames and Corita Kent. Past displays have included Joanne Doyle's "Stations of the Cross," a devotional practice dating back to the third century, and "Building Bridges of Meaning," featuring the work of Gene and Mary Lou Totten, who served as the church's art directors from the 1970s onward.
The Choir Tradition
Music has been central to Pasadena Covenant since its earliest years. The sanctuary has always been filled with music - choir, band, and congregation - and the church has maintained an unusually rich choral tradition. The Children's Choir, led by Mindy Gustafson, gathers on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m. for children in first through sixth grade. Rehearsals include vocal warm-ups, music theory, and spiritual lessons embedded in the songs themselves. The children periodically lead the congregation in song during Sunday worship and, each spring, they prepare and perform a children's musical.
The church also offers seasonal intergenerational choirs, providing opportunities for people of all ages to join in, learn music, and share music with the wider church.
Fellowship Groups
In addition to Growth Groups, Pasadena Covenant offers three fellowship groups designed as adult entry points for friendship and spiritual connection. The Family Friendly Group meets once a month on Sunday evenings from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. for families with children. The Women's Book Group meets on the last Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. The Men's Book Group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Each group has its own focus, but all are intended as places for friendship, fun, and "discovering gospel life more fully together."
Peace and Justice in Northwest Pasadena
Pasadena Covenant's Peace and Justice Ministry exists to assist staff and lead the congregation in developing a heart for, and partnering with, their neighboring community. The team gathers monthly to listen, pray, and plan, working to seek the peace of Pasadena and pursue the Kingdom of God in the city.
The ministry has long-standing relationships with several neighborhood partners, including the Pasadena Job Center and its Mano a Mano food distribution, Club 21, which serves adults with developmental disabilities, and Elizabeth House. The team also serves as a conduit for the church's broader engagement with local advocacy, including work with the Clergy Community Coalition.
Mano a Mano: Friday Morning Food Distribution
Mano a Mano is the church's flagship food distribution program, managed by the Pasadena Job Center and supported by Pasadena Covenant volunteers. Every Friday morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until supplies run out, food is distributed to families facing food insecurity across Northwest Pasadena. The program currently serves around 300 to 400 families each week. Distribution takes place on the corner of Lake Avenue and Villa Street.
Volunteers from the church assist with the distribution as an expression of solidarity with neighbors. Pastor Andrew Mark coordinates the church's involvement, and additional volunteers are always welcome.
The Eaton Fire Response
In January 2025, the Eaton Fire burned over 14,000 acres in the Altadena and Pasadena area, destroying or damaging over 10,000 structures. Eleven Pasadena Covenant families lost their homes, and seven remained displaced. The church quickly established an Eaton Fire Relief Fund, and to date it has received over $400,000 from 25 churches, two organizations, and more than 263 individual donors. Of that total, over $200,000 has already been distributed directly to affected families, and a significant grant has been directed to vulnerable neighbors outside the church through the Pasadena Job Center.
The church has also worked with the Clergy Community Coalition on citywide relief efforts, advocated for Altadena to remain a community of racial and economic diversity, and accompanied affected families with both immediate financial support and long-term pastoral care. Although the immediate crisis has subsided, the church expects the work of recovery and advocacy to continue for at least a decade.
Cross-Cultural Mission Around the World
Pasadena Covenant's Cross-Cultural Ministry is one of the oldest expressions of the church's life. The church directly supports cross-cultural workers in more than ten countries on five continents in areas including church planting, farming, small business development, language instruction, and marriage and family support.
The mission partners include Eugenio and Pia Restrepo, who serve as Regional Coordinators for Latin America and the Caribbean with Serve Globally; Elizabeth Walsh, with InterVarsity's Urbana and Study Abroad ministries; Peter and Ruthie Dutton, who have served for 32 years in Thailand and Laos with Serve Globally; Maureen Huang, with InterVarsity's Multiethnic Initiatives, designing Bible studies and training materials; Tim Hsieh, InterVarsity's Regional Director for the Northwest, including Alaska; Paul and Gretchen De Neui, who now train global personnel at North Park Theological Seminary after 18 years in Thailand; Jim Gustafson, who helped establish the Evangelical Covenant Church's work in Thailand in 1971; Dan Stringer, with InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministries at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa; Bob and Koleen French, who helped plant more than 200 house churches in the Philippines over 40 years; and Tim and Wakako Clark, church planters in Tokyo who lead Community Groups and run the Alpha Marriage Course.
The Sanctuary Renovation
In November 2023, Pasadena Covenant celebrated the completion of a multiyear renovation of its sanctuary building, a complex of structures built between 1924 and 1972. The renovation included a new HVAC system, a new two-level platform with an ADA ramp, 160 new chairs in curved rows around a restored center aisle, new theatrical lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, two video screens, restored woodwork, acoustic treatment, and sconces and banners on the previously bare side walls.
A memorial plaque was installed in the lobby using reclaimed pew lumber, and the focus of the front of the room was returned to the cross, which had been hidden behind a video screen for many years. Members of the congregation also had the opportunity to write blessings on sheets of plywood that were then incorporated into the new platform.
The Wider Campus
Pasadena Covenant's campus does far more than house Sunday services. The 2.25-acre property, with its 35,000 square feet of floor space across 100 rooms, is shared with a number of community organizations. Currently hosted on the campus are Club21, serving adults with developmental disabilities; AdLife Academy; the Pasadena Job Center; NoRes; and Fire Poppy. The buildings are also rented out for offices, weddings, concerts, sports practices, and other events.
For more than thirty years, until the COVID-19 pandemic, the church also hosted the Bad Weather Shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Alpha
Alpha is a series offered as a relaxed introduction to the Christian faith. Each session includes a shared meal, a short talk, and a conversation where anyone can say anything. Alpha is free, and childcare is provided. It is a particularly accessible entry point for those exploring faith or returning to it after a long time away.
Beliefs and Identity
Pasadena Covenant is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a denomination with Swedish Pietist roots that is "rooted in Christ, grounded in Scripture, devoted to living out God's ways, which are expressed in reconciliation, compassion, and justice." The denomination has historically placed strong emphasis on both the Bible and the centrality of Christ, and supports women in ministry. The church itself has had several outstanding female leaders, including Laurie Cornell (associate pastor from 1992 to 2010) and Anita Sorenson (Pastor of Spiritual Formation).
The church holds an expansive view of welcome, expressing the prayer that it will "never be just one ethnicity" but will grow to "reflect the brilliant mosaic of God that we find in our community." The congregation has historically welcomed people exploring faith and those with doubts, with the pastoral team often noting that "we are all working on stuff here; we just think it's better to work on them together."