- Church Information
- Spotlight
We are a church with a purpose.
We take every opportunity to encourage one another to follow after Jesus, to grow closer to God, and to improve our families and community.
Every program, worship service, and event we plan is scheduled with these purposes in mind. We never want to do things just because "that's what we've always done" - instead, we plan and evaluate our activities and ministries to see how they contribute to our goal of drawing people closer to Jesus.
We are a church that believes in the Bible and its message for all people.
We recognize people's need to be reconciled to God, to know Him personally, and to accomplish the purpose God has built into each person's life. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for the sins of all people, can we begin this relationship with God and be assured of eternal life. We believe that the Bible is God's inerrant, inspired Word, true in all that it proclaims, and worthy of our purposeful study and attention.
We are a church that loves young families.
Like the Treasure Coast area, we are now attracting many young families who have discovered the blessings of finding a home church. Our new pastor, Doug LaPointe, and his family are evidence of our commitment to the next generation. From our new contemporary worship service to our outstanding preschool, after-school, and youth group programs, young families find a church that fits their lives well. Here you will find friends who care about you, who will help you discover God's purpose for your life, encourage your family to grow stronger, and provide you with great opportunities to enjoy life together.
Families come to First Presbyterian Church of Stuart from all over the Treasure Coast region - from Stuart, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, and Palm City. While we have many members and friends who are seasonal, we also have a vibrant year-round membership
We are a church that loves Senior Citizens.
Also like the Treasure Coast area itself, traditionally, First Presbyterian Church of Stuart predominantly attracted retirees. We love our mature members, look to them as examples of lifelong faithfulness, and treasure their willingness to serve, mentor, and share with the next generation. Seniors who want to make new friends, to enjoy fun social events and outings, to be part of a caring community, and to grow even more in their spiritual life find all these opportunities at First Presbyterian Church of Stuart. Whether you are a permanent resident of the Treasure Coast, or split your time between here and somewhere else, you will find yourself right at home at First Presbyterian Church of Stuart.
We are a church that loves children.
Each week, the beautiful facilities at First Presbyterian Church of Stuart are blessed to bear the footprints of some of the Treasure Coast's most precious treasures - our children! Our preschool for three- and four-year-olds provides a wonderful way for our community's children to learn and play and prepare for kindergarten while growing in their knowledge of God's love for them and their world.
The children (yes, and the adults!) look forward to each Sunday morning service's Children's Sermon. The brief sermons are interactive, biblical, and fun, designed to reach children where they are, to draw them into a deeper relationship with God. After the children's sermon, our kids are dismissed to Youth Church, where they continue to worship in ways that are meaningful to them.
Tuesday afternoons during the school year, our campus is filled with elementary students who've just come home from school. They're here for TAL (Tuesday Afternoon Live), a fun time where they get to see their friends, have a great snack, blow off some steam, and practice singing and drama for their twice-yearly shows.
The fun doesn't stop during the summer. Each summer, Vacation Bible School transforms First Presbyterian Church into another world - and it's hard to tell who's having more fun - the kids or the volunteers!
It's a great time of fun and games, crafts, singing and drama, and learning about Jesus.
We love teenagers, too!
We are so proud of our teenagers. Our youth group is filled with young adults who are serious about following God. They demonstrate this in the way they interact with each other and the younger and older people at church. They show this in their generosity with their time and talents, ministering to every age group in the church. Volunteering with the little kids, painting the church parking lot, performing skits and puppet shows for our oldest members, going on short-term mission projects, singing and playing instruments in our contemporary worship service - our youth are not content to be just the future of the church - they are diving right in, right now.
We are a church that loves using great music to worship God.
Our traditional worship service, at 10 AM every Sunday morning, is filled with wonderful hymns, rich in tradition and meaning. Our music director, Mark Enyart, is a masterful organist, playing worship music that will make your heart soar. Mark also directs our church choir, bringing out each member's most beautiful voice.
Our contemporary worship service, at 11 AM each Sunday morning, features today's best praise and worship music, led by a dynamic worship team, featuring Rev. Charles and Andrea Fifield. You will feel the presence of the Lord, and your spirit will worship as we seek God together. This service is especially great for our younger families - those who are coming to church for the first time in their adult lives, and those who've built their families on a foundation of faith all along.
A bit of our history:
In 1925, Rev. H.W. McComb of Fort Pierce held our first service at the Stuart High School Auditorium with a group of winter visitors and residents who had previous Presbyterian affiliations. On the last Sunday in April 1926, the Rev. L. E. Koening, Presbyterian Field Worker, held a service during the summer, beginning with the first Sunday in May. The Sunday school was organized on October 3, 1926 with an enrollment of 49.
The First Presbyterian Church of Stuart, Florida was formally organized, on the petition by 54 signers, by Dr. J. F. Shepherd under the authority given to him by the Southeast Presbytery of the Synod of Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America at Stuart High School Auditorium on October 24, 1926. 43 of the original petitioners were received as members.
For some time after its organization, the church held its services in the High School Auditorium, and then moved to the Women's Club building on Albany Avenue until the hurricane of 1933 when that building was wrecked. Miss Woodman's Hall, which Mr. A. T. Hogarth gave rent-free, and the Sunday following the hurricane the Rev. and Mrs. W. G. Rees, who had been away on vacation, found a church and Sunday school ready for service.
First official steps toward securing a Church building was a congregational meeting called for Wednesday, June 28, 1933 to consider a site. A lot offered by Mrs. George McPherson was accepted on July 7,
1933 but not built upon. In the Fall of 1933, after considerable discussion and negotiations; a cottage at 312 Osceola Avenue was bought and remodeled to be available as a Chapel. First service in the Chapel was on November 26, 1933 with the Dedication service on January 25, 1934.
Limited to an approximate attendance of 50, the Chapel soon became too small for the growing congregation, augmented by winter visitors.
Dr. Wingerd came to Stuart in 1939. Shortly after he arrived he realized the need for a permanent Church, one that would be large enough to take care of the growing congregation, and it was through his efforts that a building fund was started. By constant effort and work on the part of the Pastor, members of the congregation and friends of the church, the fund grew to $1,500.00 World War II blocked building and finance plans, but the funds were held intact.
After the war, the building program and its vital financing were revived by Dr. Charles A. Carriel, who succeeded Dr. Wingerd on the latter's retirement. Dr. Carriel provided the leadership and unflagging spirit of accomplishment which inspired the congregation to collect funds and pledges and make arrangements with the National Board of Missions to borrow money and procure a grant. These efforts resulted in construction of this church, which initially cost $34,800.00. In addition to this figure, the cost of the organ, chairs, furnishings and many other items was contributed by members of the Church, various organizations of the Church and friends.
The Rev. Malcolm A. Harris was installed as pastor on September 14, 1958 . Again a building Committee was elected to study the possibilities of expanding our facilities to meet our current anticipated growth. Five and one half acres were eventually purchased in the North River Shores development. Harold E. Wagoner of Philadelphia was hired as architect and ground was broken for the new church on October 16, 1960 by Elder H.
F. Stevenson.
The church membership by this time had grown to 300 and the church school enrollment reached 185.
On November 13, 1960 the corner stone was laid. W. R. Scott was chairman and Mrs. Robert Peck co-chairman of the building committee. The first service was held in the North River Shores church in what is now the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, May 21, 1961 and dedicated the following Sunday, May 28, 1961 with the Rev. Dr. Charles T. Martz, Synod Executive of Florida delivering the sermon.
During the years the congregation used these facilities the church membership grew from 332 to 627 by 1972. It was at this time that a decision was made to enlarge our facilities which, actually, had been projected when the congregation moved to North River Shores property. On July 25, 1972 the recommendation came from the committee on the New Sanctuary that the session approved the Church Building and expansion program. Kenneth Knowles became the chairman of the building committee and the program was started two years later.
Lloyd Frank Vann of Miami was hired as the architect. Ground-breaking ceremonies were conducted on March 3, 1974. The cornerstone, was laid on December 8, 1974, Contained the following documents: the Church Directory, the UPW directory, the current Newsletter (December 1974 issue), a 1973 brochure with pictures and the 1974 brochure, and the December 8th Worship Bulletin.
During the years of growth and construction it was necessary to conduct two worship services on Sunday mornings, Christmas Eve and Easter in order to accommodate our congregation and winter visitors.
On June 8, 1975 the congregation moved into its new sanctuary with the Rev. Dr. Carl K. Pollhein conducting the first worship service. The Church membership by this time had grown to 740. Prior to moving into the sanctuary Dr. Pollhein delivered a sermon on the meaning and value of the old sanctuary and was conducted on Sunday, October 5, 1975.
Dedication was held on Sunday November 23, 1975. Members were able to worship again as one congregation.
During the building of the new sanctuary, other building expansions were taking place. The annex building between the sanctuary and our education unit was built to provide a choir room and additional office space. The north and south wings of the education unit were expanded for additional classrooms and a library/conference room. The old sanctuary was converted into a fellowship hall.
In the fall of 1975 the Presbyterian Early Leaning School was established as an academic pre-school for children of the community, ages 2.5 - 5, starting with 2 teachers and 15 students during the daily morning sessions.
The First Presbyterian Church of Stuart celebrated its 50th Anniversary during the week of October 17, 1976 with special programs during the week, ending with a special re-dedication service on October 24th. The Church Pictorial Directory was printed as a 50th Anniversary document.
The community continued to grow, not only with permanent residents, but also with winter residents and visitors. In order to accommodate the increase in our worship attendance, the session again voted to have two worship services during the winter months, starting October 1978.
In the spring of 1979, three new rooms were built adjacent to the main church office to provide additional office space for our church staff.
The construction, formally named the "Forbush Wing", was dedicated in November 1979. The church office has been developed as a Center of Information and is well equipped for our present needs as well as those in the future.
Our membership by January 1, 1980 was 839 and we continue to experience growth. This congregation has surely been blessed!
The Rev. Dr. Carl Pollhein left First Church in 1987 to plant a new church in Selerno, FL. The Rev. Dr. Leslie Koerselman came to First Church in August of 1988. In 1991 the Choir Annex was remodeled to accommodate the John Knox room, a parlor and an expanded choir room. The same remodeling project included a Narthex on the front of the sanctuary. The builder was able to get windows that matched the existing stained glass windows in the chancel and the large cross that graced the front of the sanctuary was moved to the front of the new narthex.
After Dr. Koerselman moved on the Rev. Dr. Henry Strock was summoned as interim pastor and he remained till Rev. Donald Rossire was called in August of 2000. When Rev. Rossire left in May of 2003 we were blessed to be able to bring The Rev. Dr. Henry Strock back to once again serve as our interim while we searched for the person God has prepared to lead us into a brightening future. Our successful search for a new pastor ended in July 2005, when our congregation voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Douglas LaPointe. We look forward to all that God will do in and through First Presbyterian Church of Stuart in the coming years.