Newsroom
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
The Presbytery of Utah says goodbye to an amazing Exec and welcomes in a new era.
At the Presbytery meeting in October, our body was fortunate enough to give a wonderful Tribute to the Reverend Jeff Silliman, who celebrated 50 years of Ordination last year, and has spent 46 of his now 51 years right here in the Presbytery of Utah. Our staff and churches, as well as his colleagues and congregants wished him well in his coming retirement in a beautiful video tribute put together by Pastor Christine Myers-Tegeder. CLICK HERE to watch the tribue.
THANK YOU JEFF!!! For all your years of service, for your counsel and your guideance, for your friendship, and for who you are!!! We will miss you dearly!
Taking the reins, the Presbytery of Utah welcomes the Reverend Mirjam Haas-Melchior as our new Executive Presbyter, beginning January 1st, 2021. Pastor Mirjam has served and lived in Utah before as Youth Leader for Springville Community Presbyterian Church. Most recently she has been serving as Pastor of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Needville, TX. Rev. Haas-Melchior preaches her last Sunday and completes a confirmation class on December 27th. The Presbytery wishes her and her husband, their three children, two guineapigs, two mice, one dog and one cat safe travels as they head back to Utah at the end of the month.
The EPNC, Staff, and the Presbytery of Utah unanimously elected her at our October Presbytery meeting and we are so excited for her to join our Presbytery!
CHRISTMAS SERVICES THROUGHOUT UTAH
Our churches have been creative and adaptive this christmas to provide some wonderful christmas services. See below for information on attending/watching christmas eve and christmas services this year.
Mount Olympus Presbyterian Church will have a 5:00pm Family Service and an 8:00pm Candlelight Communion Service, both via Facebook Live.
They will have a 9:15pm in person Lessons and Carols service in the Mt. Olympus Parking lot (3280 E. 3900 S.)
Salt Lake First Presbyterian Church will hold virtual Christmas Eve Services on their Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Children and Family service will be live at 4:00pm while Traditional Candlelight Services will be held at 8:00pm and 11:00pm. The 8:00pm service will feature special music from the Praise Band and the 11:00pm service will feature special music from the Chancel Choir.
For additional information about Advent services at Salt Lake First, including a Chancel Choir Concert on December 20th, check out their Christmas page. https://fpcslc.org/christmas/
Springville Community Presbyterian Church will have a 5:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with carols and scripture via Zoom. There will be a pianist for the hymns and a special guest performing music. Bring a candle to light! To receive the Zoom Link, contact the church office at or 801-489-4390
American Fork Presbyterian Church will hold a 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service via Zoom. To receive the Zoom Link, contact the church office at or 801-756-2621
Ogden First Presbyterian Church will be posting their Christmas Eve Service on their YouTube channel on December 24th. You can watch that and other Ogden First services here.
Community of Grace Presbyterian Church warmly invites all to join their Christmas Eve Worship Service at 7:00pm on Zoom. To receive the Zoom Link, contact the church office at or 801-918-9574
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church St. George will be holding a 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service via Zoom. Attendees are asked to joing at 6:45pm. To request the Zoom link, please send an email to either or
Rev. Mike Imperiale, Honorably Retired Pastor of the Presbytery of Utah will offer a Christmas Concert of lessons and carols beginning on December 21st on his YouTube Channel. You can find him (his voice and his guitars) here.
COVID-19 RESPONSE AND WHAT OUR CHURCHES ARE DOING
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SALT LAKE CITY
First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake is doing many of different things! You can see lots of details on their page specifically about ministries during COVID-19.
For Sunday morning worship services, Pastors Steve Aeschbacher and Christine Myers-Tegeder are streaming services at 9am and 11am on Sundays via both Facebook and their YouTube channel.
YouTube has the recorded services available, along with the children's messages and special music as separate videos.
Additionally Pastor Steve has been doing a Tuesday evening prayer time on Facebook; it looks like that opportunity isn't included on our list.
Their church website is www.fpcslc.org.
COMMUNITY OF GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SANDY
Community of Grace moved to doing Zoom worship the first part of June. We gather for fellowship both before and after. The Passing of the Peace is done with everyone unmuted and it a Holy Chaos of Fellowship. Contact the church office ( for the Zoom link.) Community of Grace You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbP02Lw_KHVzPTbfF0_7XrQ/ Community of Grace Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/115680508492138/
Three weekly emails: Monday Round-Up, Wednesday Prayer Corner, Thursday Purple Ponderings
Pastor Elaine's blog: https://theedgeishere.wordpress.com/
MOUNT OLYMPUS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SALT LAKE CITY
Mount Olympus is holding worship via Facebook Live on Sundays at 10am. You can connect to the church's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/mountolympuspresbyterian/
The youth of Mount Olympus will be participating in a Live Zoom conference on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Inquire about joining with Jared McClure at .
The Mount is a worship experience that is relationally driven and geared toward young adults, although all ages are welcome. The Mount is meeting at 6 pm, via Zoom, contact Matt Cain at for more information.
Adult Discipleship Class is being held Sunday mornings at 9am, via Zoom. Contact the church office, 801-277-2674 if you are interested in joining.
A Children’s Message is on Facebook LIVE Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Jen Christensen our Children’s Ministry Director fills a half hour with God’s story, science experiments and a welcoming spirit to all. If you have a child through 5th grade you are welcome to join. Contact Jen Christensen at to be added to the Facebook page.
WASATCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SALT LAKE CITY
Every morning at 9am, Pastor Scott Dalgarno is posting on the church webpage a video podcast of 7 to 9 minutes that he calls, Words of Encouragement. Each Sunday Wasatch posts a blended worship online at 9am, a pre-recorded video. They are hoping to go to live streaming of worship once the proper technology is in place. View podcasts and worship services here: http://www.wpcslc.org/
Youth Director, Dawn Fleishman, is offering virtual Youth Group Tuesday and Thursday evenings meetings using Zoom. Inquire with
Pastoral Associate Andrew Fleishman and Youth Director Dawn Fleishman will offer online parent gatherings on Saturdays to help parents deal with this crisis. Contact for more information.
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - OGDEN
Trinity Presbyterian Church posts Sunday services on the 1st and 3rd Sundays on their church website at 11:00am. On the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays, services are on Zoom, also at 11:00am.
Every Sunday at 12:30pm, there is a Zoom coffee hour where folks get to visit and enjoy seeing each other and catch up on any news.
COTTONWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SALT LAKE CITY
Cottonwood Presbyterian Church worships outdoors in their garden area located behind the church (weather permitting) at 10:00am on Sunday. The Sunday worship services are videoed and posted to Cottonwood’s website on Mondays. Their website is here.
Pastor Tom Holslag emails “Words of Spiritual Encouragement” to the congregation on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cottonwood's weekly newsletter and congregational updates are all emailed to the church members weekly and the monthly newsletter (The Cottonwood Courier) is emailed monthly and posted on the church website.
Cottonwood has a Men’s Golf Group that meets each Tuesday at 3:00pm at Mick Riley Golf Course – no reservations necessary.
Cottonwood also has a Prayer Group that meets every Wednesday at 11:00am for 45 minutes of quiet meditation and prayer in the pergola behind the church.
COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - SPRINGVILLE
Springville participates in a Zoom worship from 10am to 11am every Sunday. 10 - 11 AM
We have a full service including singing hymns, sharing prayer requests and reminding ourselves to mail in offerings. There is some chit chat before and after ~ a mini-fellowship.
Contact the office to join the Zoom service: , 801-489-4390 | Office hours: Tues. and Thurs. 9 AM - 1 PM | Office manager: Emily Lower
COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – BRIGHAM CITY
Brigham City is recording weekly worship and posting services on their YouTube channel. You can link to that via the church Facebook Page.
Pastor Laura continues to email a daily devotional Monday through Friday. To be added to the daily email, contact her at .
COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – CEDAR CITY
Cedar City Community Presbyterian Church is now gathering for in person worship on Sundays at 10:00am. Restrictions are in place including temperature checks at the door, face coverings required, and social distancing in the pews. Music has been pre-recorded and is on the screens; we sing along behind our masks. Roughly 30 people are attending. We celebrated the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper on August 9 and used prefilled elements that we ordered from Concordia.
Worshippers need to make a phone or email reservation in order to attend worship. We are able to accommodate 45 total.
There is a Zoom service at 12:30pm on Sundays as well. To be added to the Zoom meeting please contact the church.
A recorded service is uploaded to the church website on Mondays.