First Presbyterian Church Guest Information

GUESTS

Welcome

We are so glad you have found your way here - come on in. First Presbyterian Church in downtown Boise is a lively addition to the community offering people of all ages a healthy place to grow in faith, to become more active in service and to deepen relationships while meeting new friends.

GENERAL INFORMATION

First Presbyterian Church is a part of the Presbyterian Church USA. We have been an active congregation for more than 130 years since our beginning in 1878. Back then a big issue was how large the new hitching rail needed to be to accommodate a growing congregation and the horses that were ridden to church.

Times change.

We can no longer accommodate your horse. However we hope this web site will help meet your needs. Park for awhile and look around. And then join us downtown at the corner of 9th and State St.

More information about what it means to be a Presbyterian, can be found on the About Us page under the "Being a Presbyterian" tab.

More information about being Presbyterian at Boise First can be found on the About Us page under the "Boise First & You" tab. Email inquiries about this class can be made to JoAnn Thiry.

GETTING STARTED BROCHURE

The "Getting Started" brochure is a great place to start when looking to get involved at First Presbyterian Church, or to just get an idea of what goes on here. It contains briefs about regularly scheduled events and groups that meet for fellowship. The brochures can be found at the church office. Contact information for futher information on the topics referred to within is contained on the brochure.

Getting Started Brochure

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE DESRIPTIONS & TIMES

Summer Worship Times (May 30 thru September 5)

8:00 AM - Traditional Service
An intimate worship service held in our Chapel

10:00 AM - Combined Worship Service
A worship service tastefully combining both Traditional & Contemporary elements

Fall, Winter, Spring Worship Times

8:00 AM - Traditional Worship
An intimate worship service held in our Chapel.

9:00 AM - Contemporary Worship
A more casual service with contemporary music in our Sanctuary.

11:00 AM - Traditional Service
A formal service held in our Sanctuary.

For special holiday and single service worship times, please refer to the Resources page.

MAP/DIRECTIONS

Our street address is:

950 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702

208-345-3441

Link to Google maps

WEDDINGS

Congratulations

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. May we take this opportunity to congratulate you both on your upcoming wedding and extend our best wishes for the future. We want you to enjoy the occasion and every special moment, so that you can treasure the memories for years to come. The memories of your wedding day will be with you always. You can rest assured that making your day memorable is as important to us, as it is to you.

WEDDING COORDINATION
An experienced wedding coordinator is included in our wedding package to alleviate the inherent stresses that accompany this exciting and important day.

SCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING
1. Check with the church office to determine if your proposed wedding date is available.
2. Set up a time to take an informal tour of the church.
3. Set up a meeting with one of our pastors to discuss details.
4. A deposit secures the pre-approved date. Checks should be made out to First Presbyterian Church with "wedding " and the ceremony date on the memo line.

WEDDING FEES
Sanctuary - $1400 (non-member all inclusive) $825 (member all inclusive)
Chapel - $1325 (non-member all inclusive) $750 (member all inclusive)
Lindsay Hall - $310 (w/kitchen add $110)

FACILITIES
Sanctuary - A large space with seating for up to 500 guests, complete with pipe organ and complete sound system. Features include: • 50 foot arched ceiling, • abundant stained glass • solid oak pews, • a 73 foot center aisle ending at a raised chancel area Chapel - An intimate space for weddings of up to 40 guests. The chapel houses its own piano and organ. Lindsay Hall - A reception hall that seats up to 125 people. There is also a complete kitchen with gas ovens and an industrial dishwashing system.

BRIDE/GROOM DRESSING
We have private, separated rooms located directly off the sanctuary for wedding party preparation. Both rooms have their own restrooms. The rooms can be occupied up to three hours prior to the ceremony.

MUSIC
Our music director has prepared a CD that showcases a variety of keyboard music to choose from for your ceremony. Organ selections can also be heard by visiting the Music tab on the Ministry page. If you prefer keyboard music not contained on the CD, a consultation with our music director is required. Our sanctuary sound system features complete sound capabilities including PowerPoint and video projection.

PHOTOGRAPHER
Photography is permitted before and after the ceremony and during the ceremony from the balcony only. Please inform your photographer of these polices.

FLOWERS/DECORATIONS
Candles and flowers provide a beautiful background. A kneeling bench and one pair of 7-candle candelabra are available for your use. No additional candle holders for the aisles are allowed.

WEDDING REHEARSAL
Please arrange the date of the wedding rehearsal with the wedding coordinator. All wedding attendants should attend and those taking part in the service are also encouraged to attend.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on FPC grounds.

Q & A ANSWERS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Should I get there early?

Arriving 10 minutes early is never a bad thing and will certainly ease any parking issues that may arise from getting here late. Arriving early is also a pleasant time to listen to the music, meet those sitting around you and relax for a moment prior to worship service. Late arrivals are still welcomed and seated.

Where do I park?

Being a downtown church has many blessings however it means parking is at a premium. Sunday parking is available in the lot behind the church, off of 10th Street. Handicapped parking spaces are also located behind the church. On Sundays, parking is also available in the lot across State Street, to the south, from 7:00 AM-5:00 PM.

What if I need help with transportation?

If you need assistance getting to Sunday worship service please contact JoAnn Thiry (our friendly Minister of Congregational Life) and we will see what we can do to ease your difficulty.

Do you have a Sunday School? Where should I go? How do I check-in?

We do have Sunday School and from what our children tell us, it is a lot of fun. We would recommend arriving about 10 minutes early and tell the greeters that you are interested in Sunday school and they will direct you accordingly. Any other questions should be directed to Joanna Dunn (our gregarious Minister of Christian Formation).

Is there a nursery available at all services?

Yes. Just ask the greeters as you arrive and they will point you in the right direction.

Is there adult Sunday school?

Yes, there is. We have a variety of on-going and engaging classes for enriching an adults understanding of the bible. We also have a weekly bible study with Mark Davis, our lead pastor every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. More information can be gained from a conversation with Joanna Dunn (our esteemed [and gregarious] Minister of Christian Formation.

What do I wear?

First and foremost, we want you to be comfortable. So wear what you are comfortable in. We won't judge you by your clothes, whether you enjoy getting dressed up or prefer wearing jeans. We're just happy see you.

I read that your 9am service is "Contemporary" and your 11am service is "Traditional." What is the difference?

Our 9am "Contemporary" worship service sports more casual dress by both attendees and ministerial staff. We also have our Praise Band at the 9am service, which plays a more contemporary style of music. Our 11am "Traditional" worship service features more organ music, a robed choir and traditional hymns. Both services are wonderful ways to worship.

We are eager to answer any other questions you may have. Simply give us a call us at 345-3441. See you on Sunday.

Sunday Worship Times: 8, 10 AM

Map & Directions View Larger Map