History, Mission, and Beliefs
OUR HISTORY
First Presbyterian Church has been part of the Lake Forest community since 1859.
For generations, people have gathered here to worship God, grow in faith, care for one another, and serve their neighbors. Children have learned the stories of scripture, students have explored what it means to follow Christ, families have marked life's most meaningful moments, and friendships have been formed across generations.
As Lake Forest has grown and changed, First Pres has continued to be a place where faith is nurtured, and people are encouraged to live out God's love in everyday life. Through worship, pastoral care, mission partnerships, and ministries for all ages, we seek to be a church that is deeply rooted in Christ and actively engaged in the world around us.
Our historic Sanctuary, with its Tiffany windows and rich musical tradition, reflects generations of faithful stewardship. But the true story of First Pres is found in the people who have gathered here through the years—and in the community of faith that continues to grow and serve today.
OUR MISSION
Nurturing a community of faith working through love
Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or have walked with Christ for many years, we hope you will find a place to belong, grow, and serve alongside us.
OUR BELIEFS
We seek to know God through Jesus Christ and follow Him more faithfully in our daily lives.
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Presbyterians belong to the Reformed tradition, a branch of Protestant Christianity shaped by trust in God's grace and sovereignty. We believe that our lives, our salvation, and the church itself rest not on human achievement but on God's faithfulness. This humility shapes both our faith and our governance, as ministers and lay leaders share leadership and discern together how God is calling the church to live and serve.
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To be confessional means that we are a church with convictions. We believe things about who God is, who we are, and what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Throughout history, Christians have put into words what they believe Scripture teaches, and Presbyterians have collected many of these statements in our Book of Confessions. They help us say what we believe and discern how those beliefs shape the way we follow Jesus Christ in our own time and place.
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There is an old saying that the church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet its members. We believe the good news of God's grace in Jesus Christ is for everyone. Having received that grace ourselves, we are sent into the world to participate in God's work of healing, reconciling, and renewing all things.
First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest is a congregation within the Presbyterian Church (USA). To learn more about our denomination's beliefs, visit the PCUSA website.