The First Presbyterian Church of San Mateo recently announced that it would be hosting a Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31 at the church’s parking lot.
Trunk or Treat
As per the church’s events page, one of the much-awaited events it will be hosting is the Trunk or Treat. This event will happen on Oct. 31, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. In addition, the event will take place at the church’s parking lot.
The post also reminds interested participants that it will be a socially distanced event, and everyone must wear the necessary face coverings. Moreover, the church also mentioned that the event is for kids up to the 5th grade.
Interested joiners are asked to register using the link posted on the page. Guests can choose from four-time slots: 3:30-4:00 p.m., 4:00-4:30 p.m., 4:30-5:00 p.m., or 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Additionally, organizers ask that participants arrive little more than five minutes ahead of their scheduled time slot to maintain social distance between family groupings.
Furthermore, the post said that sign-ups are reduced to 30 families each half-hour time slot, and there will be no on-site registration for the event.
As per the post mentioned, additional reminders are that families are welcome to dress up (COVID masks are necessary) and take a stroll around the parking lot, pausing at each trunk for a goodie! Families must stay together at all times, and only one family at a time will be halted at a trunk. Families will be led along the trail by hosts.
First Presbyterian Church San Mateo
According to their official page, the beginnings for First Presbyterian Church San Mateo were realized when Presbyterian officials saw a need and hired a store in the circuit of shops on the first block of 25th Avenue for a children's Sunday school. The Church Extension Board paid the rental price of $25 per month. The number of students enrolled quickly grew to 100 on Feb. 15, 1942.
The post continued to recount that on 25th Avenue, a bigger store was discovered. The "South San Mateo Community Church" held its first worship session with eleven adults. The service back then was led by the retired pastor, Rev. Lon H. Eakes.
The same post said that the Presbytery of San Francisco registered "San Mateo Presbyterian Church" as a congregation only six and a half months later (Aug. 30, 1942), after it had increased to 84 members. In 1943, the Presbytery contributed $3,400 to purchase four properties that today contain the main church property as a gift to the church.
At the time, the church was led by a San Francisco Theological Seminary student, the post said. He was appointed as their first full-time minister on Apr. 22, 1943. The membership had risen to 277 by the time his term ended on Sept. 6, 1945. It was the start of an era of extraordinary growth and a reflection on the current state of affairs.
The post continued that the church prospered during the 1950s and 1960s. The parking lot and church manse (the home next to the parking lot) were acquired. The Lighthouse building was bought in 1973, and the church offices were relocated across the street from the main campus.
As per the post, music, worship, and devotion to mission became well-established elements in the congregation. FPCSM's commitment to children's and youth's ministry remained a strength. The lower level of the north Sunday school building was completely refurbished in 1991 better to serve the burgeoning population of infants and toddlers.
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