Today we’d like to introduce you to Rev. Matthias Peterson-Brandt.
Rev. Matthias, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church was founded in 1888 near what is now downtown Los Angeles. In 1928, the congregation moved to its current location, the beautiful sanctuary cathedral on Wilshire Boulevard.
Today, Immanuel is a vibrant faith community that worships in English and Spanish, seeking to be intentionally intercultural. We gather to know God’s love and live our faith in ways that take seriously the Biblical calling to do justice. We are committed to being a church open and safe to LGBTQ+, a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, and a spiritual haven for all who seek a deeper connection to the divine.
Additionally, with such a large campus, Immanuel shares our space with many other organizations, schools, twelve-step meetings, and groups who share our desire to do good in our community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being an intersection of so many cultures can bring about moments of tension and misunderstanding. Sharing space can lead to overlapping events and overbooking of available rooms. Any community that seeks to be so inclusive can encounter differences in belief and emphases. All of these are challenges that Immanuel has (and still does) encounter. Yet with each challenge, we strive to make them into opportunities for learned, clarifying, improving, and understanding.
We have had been short-handed off and on for a head pastor in the past two years, which has made it a challenge to get as much done as we would hope to.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Immanuel Presbyterian Church – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a organization and what sets you apart from others.
Immanuel is known as a church that puts its hands and feet to work where its heart is. As part of the New Sanctuary Movement, we are known as a congregation active in supporting immigrant communities and pushing for just immigration reform. For a time, we sheltered one of our members who was under threat of deportation, providing sanctuary for her and her daughter (who is a citizen). As a More Light congregation, we are committed to being a welcome place for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans* people. This is a unique intersection being a faith community open to both the immigrant and queer communities.
Our breath-taking sanctuary and immense facility set us apart in part of Koreatown where space is at a premium and it seems like each square foot is packed to the gills.
Lastly, our worship life is joyful and life-giving. It blends languages, music from traditions all over the world, and seeks to offer spiritual respite and rest, connect us to Jesus’ and learn from his teachings, and be empowered by God’s love. Despite our deep commitment to the Presbyterian tradition, we delight in experimenting, finding new ways to pray and express our faith, even sometimes incorporating yoga into our worship as a way to pray with our whole bodies.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As we look ahead, Immanuel hopes to continue to extend our hospitality and message of justice and love. Right now we are piloting a Saturday morning program for children in the neighborhood aiming to empower them to be young leaders. It is off to a promising start. Meanwhile, during this Advent season we have ample chances to gather and reflect on the core of the Christmas message: God’s love made human and born in our world. There are many exciting conversations in the works too about how to better serve our community, open up our building to more neighborhood partners, and connecting with our new neighbors as Koreatown continues to grow and change.
As a congregation that has an abiding commitment to justice and peace, as we look at the political forecast, we are also preparing for new ways we might be called to welcome the stranger and marginalized, and be in solidarity with those most likely to be impacted in the years ahead.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3300 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010 - Website: www.immanuelpres.org
- Phone: 213.389.3191
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immanuelpres/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImmanuelPresLA
Image Credit:
Edward Murray
