Who We Are
The community of West Covina first started their worship gathering on June 20th, 1948, in front of the lawn of West Covina’s first Mayor, Ben Maxson. In 1949, the church purchased land at 540 E. Vine Ave., which we continue to honor and utilize for various religious activities today. Our sanctuary, the heart of the church, was built in 1954 and still stands, for which we give thanks to God. It now serves as a shared sacred space among multiple faith congregations and supports our mission partnership with the International Theological Seminary.
West Covina Community Presbyterian Church thrived in the mid-1960s, with over 1,200 active members. However, membership began to decline due to leadership and community changes and the rise of multiple new churches. With about 30 to 50 people on the rolls and 25 active members, West Covina Community Presbyterian Church is now referred to as a Fellowship under the care of the Presbytery. Today, we continue to worship weekly on Sundays in the sanctuary at 9:30 am. We follow a Reformed Presbyterian liturgy and uphold the Reformed Tradition passed down through generations.
Our fellowship deacons continue to engage in local and global projects and missions. Led by Corliss Roenicke, one of our pioneering members who remains actively involved today, our missions include providing financial support to Hope for Home, temporary housing for homeless adults, and El Monte Veterans Village, which focuses on helping chronically homeless veterans.
Letter from the Pastor
Dear family in Christ, greetings in the Lord's name! As I celebrate my fifth anniversary as your Site Pastor at the Fellowship, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the members and friends of our church community for the opportunity to continue serving God together. When I retired three years ago, I intended to stop working and travel, which I did. Eventually, I discovered I had all this free time and enjoyed sharing the good news of God’s love, so I accepted a part-time position and transferred my membership from Denver Presbytery to San Gabriel Presbytery. Now, I am actively serving on the Committee on Ministry and reconnecting with family, long-time friends, and colleagues.
As summer wanes and cooler fall weather sets in, we bid farewell to a hot season. Like many, I prefer autumn. Having lived several years on the East Coast, I especially enjoyed this season’s colorful leaves and crisp air. In some areas, life begins to shift. Although fall in SoCal stays warm, it prompts us to pause and welcome a new season at West Covina.
Monday, September 7th, is Labor Day, yet stores are already promoting Halloween and Christmas. I want to invite you to pause and enjoy a season of preparation. The Presbyterian liturgical calendar guides us through the season of preparation, starting on September 1st with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which runs through October 4th. This is World Communion Sunday.
My vacation in the Appalachian Mountains offered a chance to pause, enjoy fresh air, spend time with family, and reflect on our journey in West Covina. The changing season encourages us to take a moment to review our memories, experiences, and relationships—recognizing what we have gained or lost—and to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit as we move forward.
While Autumn symbolizes change and the end of summer, marked by falling leaves and cooler temperatures, it is also a season of harvest. This is a time to gather our blessings and share them with others, to share new wisdom, hospitality, love, and compassion, and to practice fruitful living by doing good.
Delivering hygiene kits to Hope for Home in Pomona with Corliss Roenicke and Belle highlighted West Covina's essential role in our community. I think many will feel inspired and blessed by your kindness and compassion. Thank you for your donations and for helping prepare the kits. As Paul said to the church in Galatians,
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. Galatians 6:9.
~ Rev. Amy Mendez
Connect with Us
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