St. Peter’s by the Sea Presbyterian Church is a Jesus-following community whose people come from a wide variety of faith traditions. St. Peter’s supports families, children, and youth and puts Christian faith into action locally and beyond the South Bay. It is an intergenerational community who cares about each other and welcomes all people, ages, and stages. The church campus is located in a beautiful setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
Sunday mornings at St. Peter’s by the Sea include warm greetings, inspiring music (traditional and contemporary), and a challenging and uplifting message based on Scripture.
Children ages four through middle school have the opportunity to leave the service partway and attend age-based church school with loving and experienced teachers. Children are always welcome to stay with their parents, if preferred.
After worship the community gathers on the patio for coffee and conversation. Sermon Chats in the Fireside Room provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion of the morning’s message.
Sunday morning worship at St. Peter’s follows a liturgy that includes Confession and Assurance, Offering, Blessing of the Children, Scripture readings, a sermon message, and prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer. Clergy and lay leaders (men, women, adults and youth) participate in leading worship.
A variety of music is part of every worship service; contemporary praise music with guitar, bass, and drums, traditional hymns accompanied by piano or organ, choir and soloists, and other special music is led by skilled worship leaders and musicians. The congregation engages their voices and hearts throughout the service.
Every first Sunday of the month includes Communion/Lord’s Supper.
Children of all ages and abilities are welcome alongside their parents in worship and other church events. Safe, loving care is available for the youngest children in the Infant/Toddler Center adjacent to the Sanctuary throughout Sunday morning.
Preschoolers through middle schoolers participate in the beginning of the worship service and then go to age appropriate church school classes. Parents pick up their children in church school classrooms at the conclusion of worship. On Communion Sundays, children return to the service to participate in the Lord’s Supper with their families.
Parents are welcome to keep children of all ages with them in the Sanctuary during worship if they prefer.
All staff and volunteers leading children and youth have been screened with background checks and LiveScan.
St. Peter’s by the Sea practices an open communion table, believing Jesus makes the invitation to the Lord’s Supper. All who feel the call to respond are welcome to participate. Parents are welcome to bring their children forward if they choose.
Communion is served by intinction – the server takes a piece of bread, dips it into the cup (grape juice), and offers it to the congregant. A self-contained gluten-free option of wafer and juice is also available.
An invitation to give financial contributions is made during the worship service. St. Peter’s supports all the costs of running the church (salaries and benefits, programs, and facilities expenses) through the giving of members and guests. Ten percent of this “faith giving” goes outside the walls of the church to support mission partners in the local community and beyond. There is no requirement for financial contributions, but all are encouraged to give generously as they are called and feel led.
At St. Peter’s by the Sea, there’s a place for all and a place for you. We say ‘All are Welcome’ because we mean it. If you grew up going to church, or if this is your first time in a church, this is a place for you.
You will find the people at St. Peter’s are ready to greet you – with a hand-shake, a smile, and a warm cup of coffee, or tea if you prefer! We are made up of a wide range of people from all ages and backgrounds. Our physical campus provides a place for people of all ages and stages to worship the living God, nurture their own spiritual growth, and find a place to serve. Our off-campus mission outreach partnerships do the same.
