Ministry Teams

Spiritual Development/Education

Education, Small Groups, Bible Studies

Education For All Ages

Children’s Ministry

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not stray.” Proverbs 22:6

Children’s Ministry, also known as Christian Education, is the work of instructing and guiding children in Christian faith and life. This includes planning and overseeing the educational programs and activities available to young people in our church. This includes our nursery (open from 9:15 AM to 11 AM each Sunday) and church school classes on Sunday. Children attend the first part of the worship service with their families, then are dismissed to their classes for Bible study and activities.

The children are also included in the church’s mission activities (i.e., Peacemaking Offering), as well as many special projects and events during the year. Confirmation classes are held once a year, and all third-grade students receive their own Bible. By focusing on God, scripture, and fun, Sunday School at STHPC is a treat for both the children and their families!

Youth Ministry

The mission of our ministry is to aid in the spiritual development of our fifth-grade to high-school-age youth. We offer a safe environment to ask questions about God.

Our youth group meets each week on Sunday’s during our 10 AM service. The youth initially sit with their families them time to come together to worship God.  Our ministry strives to provide opportunities for members to learn and grow while having fun. We follow the curriculum provided through Grapple Teen ministries. These lessons are designed to guide teenagers and pre-teens as they learn about God’s ministries. The topics include prayer, compassion, emotions, friendship, handling difficult situations, communication, team work, helping the homeless, understanding needs vs. wants and how each of us plays an important role in God’s overall mission.

We will also volunteer through Church and World activities such as Faith in Action and the Mission Fair.  Most recently, we made blankets for the animal shelters in San Jose.  We have also participated in the mobile food pack events for Feed My Starving Children.

The Youth Ministry is always looking to welcome new youth and their ideas.  This is a fun and safe place to learn and connect with youth the same age to discuss daily challenges or questions about our individual faith journey.

Please come JOIN US any Sunday. All youth are welcome!

Adult Ministry

It is the goal of the Adult Ministry to build disciples and to help them grow in faith as they walk with the Lord. There is a Bible study page in the Sunday morning bulletin. The Upper Room scripture study is available. Watch the bulletin for other Adult Ed classes and activities.

Church Life

Worship and Music

Worship is the heart of the church’s life and mission. In worship we return to the wellsprings of the faith and are engaged in communion with God who calls us. We discover new relationships of love and peace with each other and are sent to minister in the world in the name of Christ.

The Worship & Music Ministry Team attempts to make the worship service one in which each of us can find and deepen these relationships of love and peace. The Ministry Team enhances worship by fitting the Sanctuary to the church season, choosing music to enhance our worship experience, and decorating the sanctuary with original artwork.

Utilizing the musical talents of church members, including our youth, and also bringing in vocalists and instrumentalists from the community adds to the variety of worship and affords people the opportunity to serve. The Worship & Music Ministry Team also plans the monthly celebration of Holy Communion, providing the elements, and arranging for serving Elders.

Fellowship

The mission of the Fellowship Ministry Team is to build a sense of community through activities that provide fellowship, friendship, fun, and usually food! We try to plan one activity per quarter either at church or away from the church. Our events include potlucks, mission outreach events followed by lunch at a restaurant, trips to plays, game nights, annual summer San Jose Giants outing, movie nights, and Homecoming Sunday breakfast. We also organize coffee and treats after each Sunday worship service.

Stewardship

As Stewards, we are given the responsibility for using and building upon the gifts we have been given in a way that reflects the character and purpose of the owner. The theme for Santa Teresa’s Stewardship Ministry is “Time, Talents, and Treasures.” Here’s how Stewardship fits into our spiritual lives:

1. Church is not just for Sunday. As you can see as you browse our site, there is a lot going on at STHPC nearly every day of the week. Our congregation is amazing for the Time we are willing to give to help our church and our community. Committees are full, the building is transforming, we greet newcomers with a smile and conversation. Our time is so valuable, and we share it generously.

2. We listen for our special call. For those areas in our church that require special skills, we are fortunate to have a depth of Talent to draw from. Join us and share your Talent or come and learn something new – you don’t have to be an expert at something to volunteer!  Be it accounting, construction, music, outreach, advertising, or education, our congregation is composed of people who listen for the call to share their specific skills and answer that call wholeheartedly.

3. Members usually pledge, meaning they commit to support the church financially throughout the year. In November and December we hold our annual stewardship campaign. “With Our Gifts” was our theme for this year and we learned about how we can share the gifts we have in ways that glorify God and help us with our own walk.  You are all a Treasure.

For more information about the Stewardship Ministry, please contact the church office.

Visibility

A large part of church life is communication; both internally between its members, as well as externally with the surrounding community. Internally, the committee works to keep our congregation informed of church events, activities, celebrations, and business through the Echoes from the Hills newsletter, this website, flyers, and the display case outside the church office. Externally, the committee works with other church committees to disseminate information about our programs and ministries to our surrounding community.

Church and World

The Church & World Ministry Team is a resource, catalyst, and avenue for our congregation to serve the vulnerable and at-risk locally, nationally, and worldwide.  We collaborate with our mission partners on all three levels, giving of our time, talents, and treasure.  Some of our mission partners are:  Silicon Valley Habitat for Humanity, Santa Maria Urban Ministry, Food4Others, Immanuel House, Heifer International, Correctional Institutions Chaplaincy, Next Door, CROP, City Team Ministries, and Bread for the World.

Annually, we provide community service opportunities through Faith in Action: an entire weekend of hands-on mission activities for all ages and abilities, including letter writing on legislative issues addressing hunger for example.

Additionally, over the last few years, with input from the congregation, we chose annual recipients of the 10% mission tithe from our building loan.  We administer and educate the congregation on 4 yearly PCUSA denominational offerings with 25-30% donated to local causes.

Our team organizes Alternative Christmas-giving opportunities, including financial support for medical, Christian, and educational projects in Cameroon, since a good portion of our congregation comes from Cameroon.  We believe Christ calls all of us toa mission. We love serving others and have proven it can be FUN as well! Come join us if you have a passion for mission and social justice.

Membership and Outreach

The Membership Ministry Team is dedicated to serve God through expanding the community of Jesus Christ at Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church. The team works on programs to reach out to the community around us and attract new members to our congregation. With the help of the Deacons, we ensure that all visitors are greeted by a friendly face, and can explore all that Santa Teresa Hills has to offer. New visitors also receive a thank you gift a few days after attending.

The Team also sponsors ‘Friendship Sundays,’ where members of the congregation are encouraged to invite their friends and family to join us. We are working on other outreach programs to increase our visibility in the community. We are fortunate that all in our congregation are warm and friendly, and that nearly all our visitors feel welcomed and accepted immediately.

Church Infrastructure

Buildings and Grounds
Although the church of God is actually the people of God, having a building to worship together in is of great value.  The Building and Grounds Ministry ensures that our building and surrounding property is maintained and upgraded.  This includes paint, wiring, HVAC, landscape, etc.

Personnel
The Personnel Ministry exists to provide the Session with an organized way to fulfill its responsibilities to and for all persons employed by STHPC. It carries out personnel functions such as preparing a set of policies and job descriptions, and conducting regular compensation and performance reviews. Meetings are scheduled as necessary.

Finance
The Finance Committee oversees church finances and reports financial activity to Session and the congregation. This year, we will be holding some seminars for members and friends of the congregation who wish to better understand finances in the short term and long term. Topics will include: Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, and Investing. There will be one class per quarter. Any other classes of interest can be scheduled. We will continue to look for more ways to best utilize what God has entrusted to us.