Sycamore Presbyterian Church stands at 11800 Mason Road in Symmes Township, a fast-growing corner of greater Cincinnati northeast of the city. A single-room brick chapel built in 1848 still anchors the building, registered as American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site #11 and used as the congregation's chapel today. The church behind it is much larger, with two distinct Sunday services, a preschool, a school of music, and a long list of Bible studies, fellowship groups, mission partnerships, and care ministries. Under Pastor Ross Reddick, the church describes itself in one sentence: "a community where all are accepted and loved into a growing life with God." That vision is lived out across three ministry pillars the staff calls Inspire, Connect, and Serve.
A Congregation Rooted in 1798
Sycamore traces its beginnings to the early years of Presbyterian witness in what was then the Northwest Territory. The Rev. Adam Rankin preached the first Associate Reformed sermon in the region in 1794, and the Rev. Robert Warwick founded the congregation two years later. It was formally organized in 1798 as the Mill Creek Congregation, gathering near Glendale. One of the church's first two elders was a young surveyor named Jeremiah Morrow, who served as an elder for more than fifty years while also serving as a state senator, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, and Governor of Ohio from 1822 to 1826.
The congregation's present name came when it was moved eastward to a site near Sycamore Creek. In 1848 the church settled on its fourth and current home, Mason Road in Symmes Township, where the original brick chapel still stands. Denominationally, the church began as Associate Reformed and became United Presbyterian of North America in 1858. Today it is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), set in what the church describes as the heart of one of Cincinnati's fastest-growing neighborhoods.
What Sycamore Believes
The church's stated beliefs center on the historic Christian confession of one God in three persons. God the Father is creator and sustainer of all things; Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, whose life, death, and resurrection offer salvation and new life; the Holy Spirit is God's presence with believers, guiding, comforting, and shaping them into the image of Christ.
The Bible is treated as the written Word of God, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the church. Sin is real and universal, and repentance is the Spirit-worked turn from sin toward God's grace. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two sacraments instituted by Jesus: in baptism God claims the believer, and in communion God nourishes a life of faith. The church itself is described as "a gathering of Christians committed to a shared life of discipleship," with every member having something to contribute to building God's kingdom on earth.
Two Sunday Services, One Family
Sycamore's identity is shaped by its offer of two very different worship gatherings under one roof, both streamed online for those who cannot be there in person.
The 9:30 a.m. Traditional service is held in the Sanctuary and follows a printed bulletin. It is a liturgical service built around communal readings, congregational hymns, scripture readings, prayers, and a prepared sermon, with music led by the Sanctuary Choir on organ and piano. The Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer are part of the rhythm. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month.
The 11:00 a.m. Modern service meets in the Fellowship Hall and Worship Center and is intentionally casual and acoustic, with a coffeehouse feel and contemporary Christian music led by the church's praise team. Scripture and lyrics are projected on viewing screens rather than printed in a bulletin, and the order of worship is condensed. Seating is flexible, with table groups, rows, and a balcony available. A "PrayGround" at the front of the room welcomes children ages two through ten to stay engaged in worship alongside their families. Communion is also observed the first Sunday of each month.
Both services share the same expository preaching, where a passage of Scripture is faithfully proclaimed and applied. Dress is informal: most people wear business casual, but suits and ties sit comfortably alongside jeans and t-shirts.
Music as Teaching
Music is treated as a form of teaching, not just accompaniment. The Chancel Choir leads worship from September through June and performs special holiday programs such as the Christmas Cantata, drawing on a repertoire that ranges from traditional to contemporary. Rehearsals are held Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the music room, under the direction of Dr. Sujin Kim, Director of Music. A separate Chancel Bell Choir, an adult handbell ensemble, rehearses Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and periodically provides music during worship and at special occasions.
For children and adults who want formal instruction, the Sycamore School of Music offers private lessons on piano, voice, violin, flute, trumpet, bassoon, trombone, saxophone, and clarinet, with experienced instructors working with students of all ages in a supportive environment.
Children, Youth, and the Sycamore Tree
Sycamore's family ministries are organized around the image of a sycamore tree. Children are the canopy, and youth are the roots. Both programs aim to help families grow together in faith.
Nursery care for infants through age three is provided on Sunday mornings by certified caregivers in a dedicated space on the first floor of Vogel Hall, the Christian Education wing. Sunday School for PreK/K, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6 meets on the second floor of Vogel Hall during both the 9:30 Traditional and 11:00 Modern services, following the Children's Message. Worship bags with quiet activities are available at the back of the Sanctuary for young children. Director of Next Generation Ministries Keaton Eckhoff oversees these programs, with Jenny Ellsworth serving as the administrative specialist and nursery supervisor.
Youth ministry, called The Underground, meets downstairs for students in grades 7-12. The Student Ministry Group gathers Sundays from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. during the school year for lunch, study, and games. Monthly outings have included kayaking, King's Island, zoo overnights, Main Event, and pottery nights. Every few years the church offers a Confirmation Class for students in grades 7 and up, after which students may choose to become church members. The church also keeps in touch with college students, offering support and connection through this significant season of life.
Bible Study and Small Groups Throughout the Week
Bible study is woven through Sycamore's weekly calendar. A Sunday Morning Bible Study meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room 120, working through one Old Testament and one New Testament book each year during the school year. Mondays at 10:30 a.m. bring the Monday Morning Bible Study, with biblical study and spiritual reading followed by lunch out. Tuesdays are full: a women's Bible study at 9:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays, the evening women's Harmony Circle at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays, and the open-to-all Lamplighters at 7:00 p.m., a fellowship-and-study group that runs from the Tuesday after Lawn Fete through May. Wednesdays begin with a men's Bible study at 7:00 a.m. in the Media Center and continue with a women's Bible study from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
On the fourth Sunday of each month, men are invited to a Prayer Breakfast that begins at 7:30 a.m. in the chapel with a prayer, followed by a meal and a spiritual devotional led by a rotating volunteer.
Fellowship Around Tables, Needles, and Ball Gloves
Fellowship at Sycamore is built around shared interests rather than a single program. The Art Group meets Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall (Door #3), welcoming artists in any medium to draw, collage, or paint together and care for the Gallery Wall in the Family Room. Sewciables meets Tuesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, sewing and quilting finished quilts that are then given to people in the church or the wider community going through life-changing situations. A Knitting Group gathers the second Tuesday morning of each month, making prayer shawls, blankets, newborn caps, hats, and scarves.
For food and friendship, "Dinners for 6, 7, or 8" rotates hosts and restaurants from January through April. "Join Us for Lunch" hosts quarterly catered gatherings for adult members and regular attendees. R.O.M.E.O. (Retired Old Men Eating Out) meets for lunch at area restaurants on the second Wednesday of each month. The Scribes group carves out writing and creative time, opening with fellowship and closing with a share-and-tell. The Garden Group plants and tends beds on Thursday mornings in spring, summer, and fall. The Sycamore Travelers organize one- to six-day bus trips for adult members and regular attendees. A Singles ministry gathers the first Wednesday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the chapel for games, art programming, and outings.
The SPC Softball team plays a church league on Tuesday nights in Mason, with games at Corwin Nixon Park in Mason and a season of about ten regular-season games plus a tournament.
Beyond Mason Road: Missions and Outreach
Sycamore's outreach work is organized around three rhythms: an annual Lawn Fete, an annual Outreach Day, and ongoing programs that keep the church connected to its partners all year.
Lawn Fete is a century-old tradition that takes over the church grounds each September. The two-day event features a huge yard sale and, on Saturday, family-friendly free activities including a petting zoo, crafts, Touch-A-Truck, and an inflatable obstacle course. Proceeds benefit local mission partners and the church itself. Outreach Day, held each spring, sends more than a hundred members and friends to serve ministry partners across the Greater Cincinnati area, starting with a morning of food, fun, and fellowship before everyone disperses to their service sites. Activities are available for all ages.
Year-round programs include the Blessing Bags Program, a weekly pantry that delivers bags of shelf-stable breakfast and lunch to selected low-income schools, packed the first Sunday of every month after worship. The Giving Tree Program supports local children, families, and mission partners with gifts, blankets, and necessary items during the holiday season. Michael Chertock's Annual Holiday Concert partners with the composer and local organizations to benefit the Center for Respite Care.
Sycamore partners intentionally with local and international ministries, including Family Promise (formerly IHN), Matthew 25 Ministries, and Sugartree Ministries. Mission partnerships are coordinated through Karen Daniel, who can be reached at missions@sycamorechurch.org.
Pastoral Care, Grief, and Prayer
The Deacons at Sycamore serve as the caregiving arm of the church, walking alongside members through grief, illness, and life's hardest transitions with practical, hands-on support and a listening presence. Pastoral Care offerings include emotional and spiritual support, baptism preparation, visits to the sick or elderly, premarital and pastoral counseling, and funeral planning. An after-hours emergency contact is available through the pastoral care email.
Several focused ministries meet specific needs. GriefShare hosts 13-week support cycles in the spring and fall, combining a 30-minute video with discussion for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one, welcoming both church members and people from the wider community. Cancer Companions is a faith-based Bible study for anyone touched by cancer - in treatment, in remission, caregiving, or grieving - meeting as a small group using guided materials and trained facilitators. Cooks on Call is a group of caring cooks who provide short-term meals for church members recovering from surgery, the birth of a baby, or a serious illness. Every Sunday, after the 9:30 service, two Prayer Partners stand at the front of the Sanctuary ready to pray with anyone who has a special concern, whether health, family, or gratitude.
Sycamore Presbyterian Preschool
Sycamore Presbyterian Preschool is a ministry of the church, founded to partner with families in nurturing a love for Jesus alongside respect, social growth, and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. The school's stated core values are Jesus-centered faith, excellence in education through play-based learning, character and service, a nurturing environment, and partnership with families. Classes are organized for three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and pre-K, with both extended and traditional schedules offered. Tour scheduling and registration forms are available through the church office.
Speaker Series and Thrive Workshops
Sycamore hosts an annual Speaker Series that brings in biblical scholars for multi-session seminars open to the wider Cincinnati community. Recent offerings have included The Genius of Genesis with the Reverend Dr. Julie Faith Parker, an Old Testament scholar and ordained United Methodist minister, whose lectures combined academic insight with drama, film, and ancient Near Eastern artifacts.
The Thrive Together Team offers free workshops throughout the year on topics that range beyond traditional church programming. Recent offerings have included "Communicate for a Change," a six-week interactive seminar on listening and relationships; Mess Mending, a hands-on workshop on getting organized; a panel on responsible donation and recycling; and "Gifts of Imperfect Parenting," a six-week series working through Brene Brown's guideposts for wholehearted parenting.
Plan a Visit
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 11800 Mason Road. Visitors are encouraged to use the main entrance, marked by a welcoming carport. The building is fully accessible, with accessible entrances and seating throughout. As visitors enter, they arrive at a Welcome Center designed for connecting with others and meeting new friends. A Plan A Visit form is available online, and the church offers both in-person and live-streamed worship, with past messages archived online. Children are welcome in worship, with worship bags, Sunday School classes, nursery care, and the PrayGround all available to help families worship together.
For those wanting to make Sycamore their church home, the New Member Class is offered three or four times a year, covering the history of the congregation, the basics of Presbyterian theology, and the many groups, studies, and service opportunities available. The class is a doorway into the wider life of a congregation that has been gathering on Mason Road since 1848 and praying and preaching in the region since 1798.