When to arrive
Worship begins at 10:00 AM. Adult Bible Class meets earlier at 9:15. Pastor Song can often be found after the service connecting with new visitors.
Welcome
We're glad you found us.
We have great children and youth teachers and lots of groups for study, prayer, and fellowship. We're also a very active and mission-minded congregation — and we've been lovingly serving Christ and our community for over a century.
It is our great desire to share God's love and blessings with you, and we look forward to meeting you soon.
In order to live out the Great Commandment, we believe the study of Scripture is essential to our life in Christ — so we are a Bible-based church, with preaching and teaching centered on the Word. And since we take the Word seriously, it's natural that we've always been a mission-oriented church.
Plan Your Visit
Coming for the first time?
Here's everything you'd want to know before Sunday morning, so nothing about walking in feels like a guess.
Bringing children
Nursery care runs every Sunday during the service — arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. Sunday School begins at 10:15, and children are welcome in worship too.
Finding us
We're one block off Lomita Blvd on Pennsylvania Avenue, on a 3½-acre campus with room to park. Get full driving directions →
Come as you are
There is no dress code, and no need to tell us in advance. Arrive a few minutes before 10:00 and someone will help you find a seat, the nursery, or a cup of coffee afterwards.
Who We Are
Our mission, in our own words.
We are a community of believers that welcomes all of God's children, seeks to grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, and witnesses to the love of God through our expressive worship, fun-loving fellowship, and compassionate service. Our Mission Statement
What We Value
Five commitments we hold in common.
Faithful Devotion
Expressed through spiritual growth and commitment to God in Jesus Christ.
Moral Courage
Expressed through integrity, honesty, and purity of heart.
Compassion in Action
Expressed through our love, care, respect, and acceptance of others.
Creative Energy
Expressed through artistic gifts, leadership, and innovative problem-solving.
Joyful Service
Expressed by generously sharing our time, talents, and resources.
A Word From Our Pastor
Rev. Billy Song
"Thank you for taking a few minutes to read more about our church — I'm glad you found our website! I often wonder what I could say in the span of a few words to convince you to visit us in person for the first time, or to visit us again."
"When I first came to St. Mark's back in 2015, the church was an exciting, vibrant and busy church campus, but when the pandemic began a few years ago, we saw so much of that taken away. I am happy to say that the era of Zoom worship is behind us, and now that we have re-opened our church doors for in-person worship again, we have a renewed sense of purpose, mission and commitment to our community."
"With new challenges come new opportunities to share the gospel and love of Christ in new and creative ways. I hope you'll stop by one day and visit us at St. Mark's, and meet the many wonderful saints who call it 'home.'"
Rev. Song grew up right here in Southern California and has been part of the South Bay community since the early 1970s — which has given him a deep appreciation for the cultural and social landscape that is part of this region's identity. Being one of the "local kids," he is quick to make you feel at home. He studied at USC and Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been married to his wife Christine for 25 years. They are the happy parents of one daughter, whose dog they are currently raising.
Rev. Billy Song
Head Pastor · Serving since 2015
Serve
A Matthew 25 congregation.
The pandemic taught us how connected we are as a community — and how, when one part of the body experiences challenges, trials, or even trauma, it affects the rest of the body. St. Mark's has taken the pledge to be a Matthew 25 congregation, and to do our part by serving those around us who are underserved, under-resourced, and struggling to get by.
St. Mark's is committed to reducing the number of homeless right here in our own backyard.
Every week, several members of our church minister to the residents of the homeless encampment by providing food, clothing, friendship and advocacy. We have partnered with case managers to help individuals get into housing, and we assist in job training programs as well. On second Saturdays, our members serve Walteria Hot Meals at Walteria United Methodist Church.
Get Connected
There's a place for you here.
Worship is Sunday morning — but the life of the church happens all week long.
Music & Arts
Choir, instrumentalists, and the creative life of our worship — one of the ways we glorify God through artistic gifts.
Children & Families
Sunday School at 10:15 AM, plus crafts, activities and family ministry throughout the year.
Youth
Youth Fellowship gathers on first Sundays, and Middler and Senior High students meet on third Sundays — to ask real questions, build real friendships, and serve together.
Craft n Craic
Bring a project, or just bring yourself. Crafts, puzzles, conversation and good company in Room 3 of the Dining Hall.
Presbyterian Women
Esther Circle and Elizabeth Circle — long-standing groups of women supporting one another, the church, and mission work near and far.
Adult Bible Class
Serious Bible study before worship each week — and communion together on the first Sunday of every month.
Our Story
Lovingly serving Christ and our community for over a century.
From a hundred settlers looking at Lomita farmland in 1907, to a sanctuary raised by volunteers in 1965 — this congregation has built everything it has.
1907
A hundred men look at farmland
On May 25, land developer W. I. Hollingsworth shows the Lomita farm acres to about a hundred Brethren men — commonly known as Dunkards. Elder M. M. Eshelman buys land that day, as does Emanuel Henricks. Hollingsworth donates two lots for the town church.
1909
The church is organized
The congregation organizes at Rev. Zacheus Henricks' home on April 12 as the Evangelical Union Christian Church, and incorporates on June 30. The building is dedicated Sunday, October 25. Rev. Henricks — also a skilled carpenter — leads the volunteers and does much of the work himself.
1918
Becoming Presbyterian
Seeking resources for expansion, the church consults Rev. Dr. Charles M. Fisher in April 1917. The congregation votes to affiliate with the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., and the first Presbyterian worship service — as First Presbyterian Church of Lomita — is held May 12, 1918.
1922
Community Presbyterian
Rev. E. E. Clark oversees the building of a larger, modern edifice, dedicated in October. The church takes a new name to reflect its commitment to the community growing up around it.
1930–1932
Fire, depression, and a hall rebuilt
Three pastors come and go in ten years as the church struggles to stay afloat. Fisher Hall — the original church building — is lost entirely in the fire of 1930. In spite of it all, the congregation builds a new fellowship hall with volunteer labor and buys a used theatre organ in 1932.
1936–1949
Deficit into surplus
Rev. John E. Orr arrives as the nation pulls out of the Depression and stands on the eve of the Second World War. Stressing evangelism and stewardship, he leaves a congregation grown in numbers with its deficit turned into a surplus.
1950–1965
St. Mark's, and a campus built by hand
Under Rev. Eldon Durham the church is renamed St. Mark's, having grown beyond Lomita to other cities. The congregation buys 3½ acres on Pennsylvania Avenue and builds a new campus with all-volunteer labor. First service in the new fellowship hall: May 1961. The sanctuary we worship in today: completed June 1965.
Today
Go into all the world
Rev. Durham's legacy is this campus — a base for doing ministry in the community, and his charge to "Go into all the world," working for peace and justice. Rev. Billy Song has served as Head Pastor since 2015.
Those who have served us
Rev. Zacheus Henricks1909–1917
Rev. Dr. Charles M. Fisher1918
Rev. E. E. Clark1920–1925
Rev. John E. Orr1936–1949
Rev. Eldon Durham1950–1968
Rev. Max Greenlee1968–1981
Rev. Dr. Richard Miles1982–1997
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Steele1998–2000
Rev. Dr. Judith Cuthbertson2001–2013
Rev. Billy Song2015–present
Our Staff
The people who keep this place running.
Rev. Billy Song
Head Pastor
A South Bay local since the early 1970s. USC and Princeton Theological Seminary. Serving St. Mark's since 2015.
Debbie Arasimowicz
Director of Worship Arts
Organist and choir accompanist since 2013, worship arts director since 2015. Master's in Music Education.
Jeanette Arevalo
Director of Family Ministries
Oversees our Sunday School ministry, working closely with the Christian Education Committee, teachers, volunteers, students and parents.
Dodie Perez-Gomez
Office Administrator
A native Southern Californian living in El Segundo, with a college degree in Gerontology and a son in San Pedro.
Cheryl Yarbrough
Treasurer
At St. Mark's since June 14, 1977 as secretary-treasurer. She retired the "secretary" part in 2019 and continues to oversee church finances.
Pam Mooneyham
Sexton
Sexton since 2008. Her husband David spends so much time on campus that he has become our "deputy" Sexton.
In Worship
Sundays at 10:00 AM.
We like to laugh, sing, dance and play in our worship — and we like moments of silence and serious Bible study, too. Music is led by our singers and instrumentalists, and communion is served on the first Sunday of every month.
Adult Bible Class meets at 9:15, and Sunday School begins at 10:15. Nursery care is available every week.
Plan your visit
Church Life
What happens here every month.
Our regular rhythm — everything below is real, readable text, so it works on a phone, in a screen reader, and in a Google search.
Worship Service
Communion is served on the first Sunday of every month.
Youth Fellowship
Our young people gather for fellowship and time together.
Craft n Craic
Crafts, puzzles, conversation and good company.
Outreach Committee
Planning our service to neighbors near and far.
Walteria Hot Meals
Serving hot meals to our neighbors in need.
Deacon's Meeting
Our deacons gather to coordinate care for the congregation.
Middler & Senior High Students
Middle and high school students meet together.
Esther Circle
A circle of Presbyterian Women in study and fellowship.
B&G Work Parties
Buildings and grounds upkeep — lunch included.
Elizabeth Circle
A circle of Presbyterian Women in study and fellowship.
Christian Ed Committee
Guiding our Sunday School and education ministries.
Want to serve on a committee?
See Elders Roxanne, Julie, Becky or Martha — or call the church office at (310) 326-4086.
Give
Support the work of St. Mark's.
Your generosity sustains our worship, our ministries, our neighbors in Lomita, and the mission we share with the wider church.
Visit Us
We would love to get to know you.
If you're interested in learning more about us, or in need of a prayer request, please reach out.
Phone(310) 326-4086
Driving directions
- From the 405 freeway
- Exit Crenshaw Blvd. Go south on Crenshaw to Lomita Blvd. Turn left on Lomita Blvd to Pennsylvania Ave. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave — St. Mark's is one block up on the left side of the street.
- From the 110 freeway
- Exit Sepulveda Blvd. Go west on Sepulveda to Arlington Ave. Turn left on Arlington to 239th St. Take 239th St to Pennsylvania Ave. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave — St. Mark's is one block down on the right side of the street.