Welcome to Old First Church!

Sharing God's love, justice, and welcome on our corner, in our city, and in the world for 175 years.

Join us for Worship every Sunday at 11:00 AM

1751 Sacramento St, San Francisco | Free Parking | Kid Friendly |  Get Directions  

        Join us in worship        

Click here for online streaming worship

Click here for the worship bulletin

Old First celebrates the rainbow as God's covenant of love with Noah inclusive of all people.

This month we are proud to remember the legacy of Pam Byers, an elder in our church who led the movement for gay rights in the Presbyterian Church nationally. An archive in the Presbyterian Historical Society is named after her. You can read a news article about the archives by clicking here:

Read "#Pride in the Archives"

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Click here to volunteer for the food pantry

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We Choose Welcome

Old First Presbyterian Church enthuiastically invites all people into  our community!

This church was the first Protestant congregation established on the west coast of the U.S. during the gold rush.  And we are  proud now to continue sharing Christ's love, justice, and welcome to modern seekers who arrive in San Francisco now 175 years later. We have taken a leadership role both locally and nationally welcoming LGBTQIA+ Christians into full participation in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church. We strive to bring hope, joy and justice reaching out to people of all ethnicities, incomes, races, and life situations, and like Jesus, we always try to offer a smile and welcome the outcasts.

We hope you will come visit and consider becoming part of our community. We want to know you and share your own particular gifts, experience, and insights with us on our corner, in our city, and in our world.

Old First Presbyterian Church is an Open and Affirming Church

Donate to Old First here 

Volunteer for Old First here

Worship & Music

We worship every Sunday at 11:00 am both in person in our beautiful sanctuary and on line via YouTube livestream. We celebrate communion on the third Sunday of the month. Worship is our joyful praise and thanks to God - our celebration of God's Love.

We have a wonderful choir singing a mixture of classical and modern music and singers are always welcome.  Our organ is one of the most renowned in the city.  We founded and support an amazing variety of new artists each week in our Old First Concerts programs.  

Service

Bringing God's love,  welcome,  justice, in our neighborhood, city and world and working to make the world a better place for all are important to us. We are a founding member of the weekly interfaith food pantry every Saturday and host a free community meal on the 4th Saturday of each month. We work with many local, national, and international groups to promote racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and other human rights, to end gun violence, and to help immigrants.

We feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, and work for justice. We always need volunteers to help with all of these projects.

Learn More

Education

We believe that learning and growth are important for all ages. We offer regular book studies, Bible studies, theological discussions, and topical classes for adults on issues important in our culture.  Small groups meet on Zoom and in members' homes for study and support. We make time and space for children in worship and offer regular, broadly graded children's church school every 1st and 3nd Sundy. We also have excellent childrens' and adults' libraries.

We love to read and support the Little Free Library on Sacramento Street.  Bring you books to share with the community. 

One of amazing things about being the pastor of Old First Presbyterian Church is every 4 years I am granted a sabbatical. When I was called here close to 20 years ago, this wise church knew how being an urban pastor of a small, community active church is a unique call and can take lots of energy. They knew a sabbatical would keep me energized, rested, and renewed for the work ahead and help me thrive in ministry rather than burn out.   I have found that to be so true!!! 

The church has also discovered a sabbatical is to time of renewal and an opportunity to reclaim the truth that the church is the people, not the pastor. And this is an compassionate, thriving church.  Our own parish associate Erwin Barron will be the anchor preacher, preaching twice a month - what a gift!  You all get to also got to hear some life-giving sermons by amazing pastors and mission partners. Selfishly, we have asked folks I would love to hear preach: some are new to you and many of our beloved/favorites are coming back. 

I ask you to pray for me while I am away.   Enjoy yourselves, delight in the vibrant worship, take part in the community dinners and food pantry and live fully into our vision “Sharing God’s love, welcome, & justice on our corner, in our city  in our world.”  See you in November.

                                                ~ Peace, Pastor Maggi

~~~~~~~~~~~~What's Happening at Old First~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, June 27

Planting Trees in Polk Gulch

with Friends of the Urban Forest

8:45am - 1:30pm

Old First and our neighbors, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, will help Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) plant trees in our neighborhood on Saturday morning, June 27, using a grant from Trees of Faith.

We’re hoping that Old Firsters will volunteer to work as a team with the professionals from FUF that day from 8:45 am to 1:30 pm. The variety of tasks means that folk of all strengths and statures are welcome and needed.

If you wish to volunteer, click the button below.

Click here for registration page

June 28

Join other people of faith 

SF Pride Parade

Market Street, 1:00 - 4:00

On Sunday, June 28, Old First will march with the United in Spirit interfaith group in the San Francisco Pride Parade. We will march the length of Market Street with other Churches, Jewish congregations, and Muslims.  This is a great way to show our support and love for LGBTQ+ folks and to stand in solidarity with other people of faith by doing so. 

Join us! We will gather after Sunday worship on June 28 and together take MUNI from Old First to the parade route. If walking the length of Market Street is not your style, you can ride, wave and smile while seated in the motorized cable car! Help us share our mission of “Sharing God’s Love, Welcome, and Justice” in one of San Francisco’s biggest celebrations! Click the link below to let us know you're coming.

Click here to join us

June 28

Sabbatical Blessing for our Pastor

Sunday, June 28 is our last Sunday with our pastor Maggi for a few months. She has been granted a four-month sabbatical, away from all the many duties of being our pastor. She will have quiet rest and reflection time to refresh and refocus. On Sunday we will send her off with a liturgy of blessing followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

We in the congregation will also have time for thoughtful assessment and discerment as we step in to fill in for all the importatnt and not-so-important things our pastor does in the church and community. In worship, our parish associate pastor, Erwin Barron will lead often, and we will have many wonderful and exciting visiting preachers with us to inspire us.  Maggi reflects on what the sabbatical means to her in her thoughts above.  Commit yourself to joining us during our sabbatical time.