From the Julia Ward Howe Basement to Country Club Drive
Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church has stood on Country Club Drive in Mt. Lebanon, just south of Pittsburgh, since a small group of faithful believers began gathering in the basement gymnasium of the Julia Ward Howe School in January 1940. More than eighty years later, the congregation still describes itself the way its neighbors know it: a friendly, neighborhood church with a passion for outreach and service in Jesus Christ. Its mission is summed up in a single line found throughout its printed and online materials: "To glorify God, we go out to serve with Christ's love."
The congregation was organized by a group from the Mission Board of the Monongahela Presbytery and met in borrowed space for nearly nine years. In October 1948, the young church dedicated its own sanctuary, and through the generosity of its members, the vision of its leadership, and the support of the broader Presbyterian community, the church and its grounds were fully completed by 1959. Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and it carries the denomination's classic governing structure: a Session of elected elders and a board of Deacons elected by the congregation to care for its members and its work.
Sunday Mornings at 10:15
Worship begins at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays. The service is inter-generational, with a traditional feel and what the congregation calls a "laid-back community of friends," an easy, welcoming atmosphere that draws families, singles, and longtime members side by side. More than three-quarters of the members are active in music ministries, mission service, or Bible study, and that mix is visible in the pews.
The morning actually starts earlier. At 9:00 a.m., adults gather for Adult Bible Study in Findley Hall, led by the pastor, while children in fourth through eighth grade meet for their own Bible study in the Library. Children join the rest of the congregation for worship and then head to Children's Church after the Children's Message. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. After worship on that first Sunday, the whole church stays downstairs in Findley Hall for conversation and refreshments, a regular monthly gathering that has become a fixture of the church's life.
Recordings of recent sermons by Pastor Laura Strauss are available, and a YouTube channel carries highlights of recent worship for those who cannot be there in person.
A Choir for Every Season
Music is one of the most visible expressions of worship at Sunset Hills. The Chancel Choir, with more than twenty adults, rehearses on Tuesday evenings and sings in worship each Sunday from September through May. The Campanile Bell Choir, made up of ten to twelve adults ringing three to five octaves of White Chapel and Schulmerich handbells, practices weekly and plays for occasional services throughout the year. Music Director Shelby Gracey, who has served the church for over two decades, leads the adult choir and the five-octave handbell and chime program.
When the Chancel Choir takes its summer break, other musicians step forward. Members of the congregation, friends from other churches, and seasonal ensembles provide instrumental and vocal music, and the Men's and Ladies' Choruses, made up of anyone who wants to sing for one summer service, gather with just one rehearsal before the morning. A church-grown ensemble called GPM, the Gathering of Presbyterian Men, plays sacred and secular music with guitar, bass, piano, and percussion for worship services and special events throughout the year. Visitors and volunteers are always welcome to join any of these groups.
Bible Study, Book Club, and Lifelong Learning
Christian education runs deep at Sunset Hills. Beyond the Sunday morning adult class in Findley Hall, a Monday Women's Bible Study meets at 1:00 p.m. in the Library, and a Tuesday Women's Bible Study gathers at 1:00 p.m. in the Cort Room. Pastor Laura also leads a Book Club that meets at 7:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month in the church library, where members and friends gather for a lively literary discussion. Children's Church, available every Sunday after the Children's Message, rounds out the educational programming for younger members.
Days for Girls in the Sanctuary
One of the most distinctive weekly programs at Sunset Hills is its Days for Girls team. Days for Girls is a global nonprofit working to increase access to menstrual care and education for women and girls, and the Pittsburgh South PA Team at Sunset Hills crafts drawstring bags and reusable liners every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers who want to join the work are welcome at any session, and the program reflects the church's broader belief that following Christ means rolling up sleeves for others.
Mission at Home and Abroad
The Mission Commission supports a range of outreach work both near and far. Active partners and projects include South Hills Interfaith, Local Mission Days, Global Links, and World Vision. Members and friends can work with Mission Commission leader Jody Colby, whether through volunteer time, financial support, or both.
Health and Wellness in Crystal Hall
Sunset Hills' building is in regular use well beyond Sunday mornings. A weekly schedule of community wellness classes fills Crystal Hall and Findley Hall with neighbors who might or might not attend the church itself.
Yoga with Brienne Sembrat of BreatheIn2It meets on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Crystal Hall. Certified Tai Chi instructor Guerney Bolster leads a Wednesday evening class at 6:30 p.m. in the same space. The Peanut Squares square dancing group gathers on Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., welcoming newcomers for a requested $5 class fee. Two Alcoholics Anonymous groups also call the church home: a women's group meets Sundays at 4:00 p.m. in Findley Hall, and a men's group meets Fridays at 5:00 p.m. in the same room.
A Nursery School in the Church
For more than fifty years, Sunset Hills Nursery School has been housed right in the church, with classrooms serving children ages two through five. The school's trained teachers share the congregation's belief that children learn about their world through play and discovery, offering a safe environment where children can wonder, investigate, and create through music, art, science, and play. Registration begins each year in February, and the school can be reached at 412-440-0019.
Weddings, Baptisms, and Community Events
The church building and grounds are available for weddings, baptisms, and other significant life events.
Leadership and Governance
Rev. Dr. Laura Strauss has served as pastor of Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church since 2019. A Pittsburgh native, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History from Chatham University in 2005 and went on to complete both her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Before coming to Sunset Hills, she spent ten years leading Clinton United Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Pennsylvania. She leads annual international pilgrimages for women of faith and is active with Bread for the World's Southwest Pennsylvania team.
Shelby Gracey has served as Music Director (organist, pianist, and director of the adult choir and the handbell and chime program) for more than twenty years. Michelle Brumfield directs the Sunset Hills Nursery School and its teaching staff.
The Session, the church's governing body of elected elders, oversees committees for Worship and Music, Christian Education, Communications, Congregational Care, Facilities, Finance, Mission, and Nominating. The Deacons, separately elected by the congregation, focus on caring for the church's members through visits, meals, and other acts of pastoral support.
Visiting Sunset Hills
Worship is held at 10:15 a.m. each Sunday at 900 Country Club Drive in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can be reached at 412-561-6261 or at sunsethillschurch@gmail.com. The Messenger, a monthly newsletter that includes pastoral reflections and church news, is mailed to anyone who requests a subscription. Sunday services are recorded and made available online, and the church's YouTube channel carries highlights of recent worship. Donations can be made online.