Information for this article graciously provided by Terri Johnson, a church member and volunteer.
First Presbyterian Church Celebrates 140 Years in Downtown Medford. . . and They’re much more than a place of worship; They are major community contributors.
They help people in need:
- They provide sack lunches to 80 – 120 people in need Monday – Thursday each week. The lunches are prepared by First Presbyterian, with help from Ascension Lutheran, First United Methodist, Living Waters, and United Church of Christ.
- They help sponsor a feed in Hawthorne Park Monday – Saturday where community workers come together to feed hot meals for 1 ½ hours.
- They sponsor a food bank on Tuesdays from 12:30 – 3pm.
- They house a foot care clinic where student nurses from OHSU provide care.
- They have three Narcotics Anonymous groups using their building for group meetings.
They host musical events that showcase their wonderful acoustics and Schoenstein organ:
- Jazz Vespers – 2nd Sunday at 5pm – Local Jazz Musicians
- Classical Vespers – 4th Sunday – usually 5pm – Different Local Performers
- Fundraising concerts for causes such as Hurricane Katrina victims and Ukraine people living in Ashland.
They sponsor the Sarah Corson Child Care and Learning Center that has benefitted so many of our local children and their parents.
Now for the 140 years . . .
Moses A. Williams started the church in 1885 on March 30. The original church was on the corner of Main and Holly where Mellelo Coffee Roasters is now. The present church at 85 South Holly was built in 1927. A small birthday celebration was held on March 30; however, the celebration will continue all year long to celebrate this special birthday:
- They will have a historical display with old pictures and artifacts from their vault in their Art Hall.
- A large celebration will be held on June 8 at 11am in the Sanctuary with speakers on church history, their organ, and their pioneer missionary founder. They will open a time capsule that was placed in the year 2000, and they will have a potluck where people will bring dishes from a cookbook put together for their 100th Anniversary.
- They will be working with KOBI, PBS, and NPR to get spots about their history.
- They plan to open the Sanctuary to the public for May Third Friday, inviting people to tour the Sanctuary and see the gorgeous stained-glass windows and the amazing organ.
DMA congratulates First Presbyterian Church on their anniversary and on all the good works they do for our community.
First Presbyterian Church
85 South Holly
541-779-1711
Pastor: Mike Hubbard
Church Administrator: Elizbeth Mahan
Congregation: 170 people
Services: Sunday Morning: 8:30 Informal, 11:00 Traditional