Who We Are
Our motto says it all: “Love is Spoken Here.” We believe in a God of love, who sent Jesus to the earth to demonstrate what love-in-action looks like. We are followers of Jesus, seeking to live our lives the way Jesus would live our lives. In a sense, we are all trying to live up to our motto: “Love is Spoken Here.”
We may not speak it fluently yet, but we are curious and committed learners. We welcome all others who wish join us in this desire to learn to live and to love more like Jesus.
Leadership
Steve Davis
Pastor
Peter Bie
Commissioned Lay Pastor and Church Administrator
Peter’s many talents equip him to manage revolving responsibilities from the office during the week to the sanctuary on Sunday morning. He first served Summerland Church in 2010.
Billy Alt
Facilities Manager
Billy sees things that need to be done and does them. He has inside knowledge on every light switch at the building, but lives by God’s word which lights his path.
Kathleen Sieck
Director of Music
Kathleen hopes music brings us closer to the Holy Spirit and that worship music changes us, guides us, and invites us into deeper spirituality. Kathleen and Jeff stay busy with their three daughters, yet both live into spiritual practices which root them into God’s love.
www.kathleensieck.com
Leadership Team (Session)
Our group of leaders participate in the spiritual guidance, accountability, transparency, and decision making for our church. Our team is formally called the Session, and it includes:
Jim Dall, Mark Davis, Sue Frampton, Carrie Miles, Joyce McCullough, John Poucher and Marica Reed.
Summerland Church was organized on July 14, 1901, as Bethany Presbyterian Church by 12 members, representing several denominations, but of one mind in our common faith. The church building was originally located on Banner Avenue, dedicated on October 27, 1901. The building was moved to its present site on the corner of Lillie Avenue and Valencia Road in 1910 because Banner Avenue was unpaved, and rainy weather turned the adobe into mud which the members had trouble walking through. At that time, Lillie Avenue was the only paved street in town and also served as the main highway.
The Christmas Eve programs were the highlight of the year, host to a candle lit tree from which hung bags of candy and popcorn. On July 15, 1951 the church was rededicated...the new addition contained a school building, a fellowship hall, and the remodeled sanctuary.
In 1959, John Malcolm, a former parishioner, presented the Church with a beautiful, carved oak communion table, pulpit, baptismal font, and walnut offertory plates. It took Mr. Malcom approximately 8 years to complete these items and we are proud to continue to use them in our weekly service!
The church bell, which rings each Sunday morning, came by ship around Cape Horn on the southern tip of South America.
Today, the church is open to many community groups and throughout the year, the fellowship hall is used by different organizations for meetings and by local Summerland School students.
