families of little acorn preschool gather on the patio in front of first presbyterian church mountain view sanctuary doors

AT THE CROSS
WE ARE…

Anchored in Hope
Growing in Love
Pursuing our Purpose

Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View
An Anchor of Hope in the Heart of Silicon Valley

We were here before Silicon Valley had a name.

The year is 1851. California has just entered the Union. The Gold Rush is reshaping the West. And in a modest settlement nestled in what locals lovingly called the Valley of Heart’s Delight — named for the sweeping orchards of cherry, apricot, and plum that blanketed the land from mountain to bay — a group of Presbyterian Christians gathered. Not for gold. But for faith, fellowship, and the belief that community was worth building.

That congregation became First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View. The first of its kind between San Francisco and San Jose. A landmark before there were landmarks. A community before there was a city.

One hundred and seventy-five years later — long after the orchards gave way to offices and the Valley of Heart’s Delight became Silicon Valley — that spirit is still alive.

Our vision, “Anchored in Hope, Growing in Love, Pursuing Our Purpose,” is not a slogan. It’s a description of who we are trying to be, every single week.

a man, woman and child stand in front of mountain view cumberland church in 1860

And we’d love for you to be part of it. Our building has changed. Our community has grown and evolved. Our neighborhood has transformed from orchards to offices. But the core conviction hasn't moved: that human beings are made for love, belonging, and something larger than themselves.

Today, we are led by Rev. Kim Dorr-Tilley, a passionate pastor with a deep love for Jesus and this local community. We gather every Sunday at 10am — casually dressed, genuinely open — to worship, study, serve, and grow together.

Whether you are a long-time resident of Mountain View, a family newly relocated to Menlo Park or Los Altos, or a tech professional seeking a reprieve from the "disruptive" pace of modern life, we invite you to find your home here.

Because making Christ known in 2026 isn’t “Meta”… it’s matter.

Who We Are…

MAKING CHRIST KNOWN
At FPCMV we believe the central reality of all existence is Jesus Christ.
- How can we understand ourselves, the complexities of human nature, the arc of history if we don’t know Christ?
- Our singular mission is to preach, pray, sing and serve Jesus.
- We endeavor to make Christ known personally, intimately, and powerfully to all.
Our mission leads to our VISION… We make Christ known SO THAT people, families, communities and nations are…
ANCHORED IN HOPE
- Hope is not ethereal; it is not a “wish.” Hope exists in the reality of Jesus Christ who offers to be present with us always even in our darkest times. Our hope is anchored in the reality of the cross in which God eternally displays power to overcome death and everything that feels like it in our lives – oppression, depression, addiction, sorrow, anxiety… everything.
GROWING IN LOVE
- Radical Love – GOD’s love for us. Love is not a feeling. It is the truth that Jesus died for us when we couldn’t help ourselves. Sacrificial love exists in an upside-down world where we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
When queried by students, “Who is my neighbor?”, Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught, “YOU are the neighbor. This is God’s claim upon you.”
PURSUING OUR PURPOSE
- God has gifted all of us uniquely to participate in the divine activity of loving and renewing our planet, our neighbors and ourselves. We are not meant to be lost wanderers. We are meant to know the way that God has made for us to travel. Our God-given purpose shapes our lives with meaning.
Seven convictions shape how we live, worship, and serve together:
Christ-Centered – Jesus is the fulcrum of all things
Bible-Teaching – Trusting Scripture as living, trustworthy, and endlessly relevant
Spirit-Filled – The Spirit of God imparts life, power, wisdom and understanding
Life-Changing – Encountering Christ changes you and your perception of the world
Community-Building - The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone
Justice-Serving – Love of neighbor demands nothing less

JOIN US ON SUNDAYS

Pastor Kim is smiling alongside her dog, Tebow, and husband, Bob.

A Message
from Pastor Kim

My husband and I love living into JOY!

Like in this photo of meeting our forever dog, Tebow, and bringing him home with us…

Like in anticipation of meeting YOU here at FPCMV…

Like meeting my Savior, Jesus, in one of the worst seasons of my life.

I used to say that I “needed help from the other side,” a “spirit of wisdom” that would HELP ME get through this. But I never thought about it being JESUS. Nor was there ever a voice or a name to put to my searching... there was just nothing.

Until Jesus found me.

In a flash, I was aware of being so LOST from this God who loved me, protected me, and called me His own, and of being FOUND by Him. And I was filled with JOY.

From this came my unwavering belief that Jesus can find YOU when you least expect Him but need Him most.

Jesus is YOUR anchor of hope as much as mine.

At FPCMV, we are a Christ-centered community committed to caring, sharing, and growing together. We are not trying to be a perfect church, just an authentic one. If you are looking for a faith community, or just curious about what such a thing even is, you’ll find welcome here with us. All of us are travelers on a journey. Where we’re going may be TBD for now… but our purpose is out there. We believe faith grounds us—freeing us from fear, guiding us with wisdom, and shaping how we live in our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday! Come as you are, bring your questions, and experience God at work in your life.

Blessings,

Pastor Kim Dorr-Tilley, First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View