Becoming a Member
We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as he would, with Love.
Church in the Forest welcomes all who desire to pursue their life of faith. As a multi-denominational, Christ-centered community, we honor the diversity of the Christian tradition, and strive to worship and live by its sacred treasures. To join our church implies two responsibilities: to be faithful and worship and to share community life. Our members take joy in their church friendships: encouraging, supporting, and praying for each other. We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, nationality, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as he would have.
You do not need to leave another church to join The Church in the Forest. When you join, you are able to serve local, national and international organizations with hands-on involvement, board leadership and financial support. Rather than have an “in-house” service mission committee, we’ve chosen to support our members/ endeavors.
New Members are welcomed on an on-going basis. Please contact the minister or our church administer to find out more.
Become a Member Today!
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Giving at Church in the Forest
Church in the Forest has been a beloved presence on the Monterey Peninsula since 1987. Generous members and friends sustain the church through gifts that are expressions of their faith in God and in the mission of the church. Worship, Bible study, music, fellowship, pastoral care and community outreach are made possible with financial gifts to the church. You can contribute to the church in several ways.
LEGACY GIVING
Many members and friends of Church in the Forest extend their financial support to future generations through a Legacy Gift in their wills, trusts, estate plans, various types of life income, or outright gifts. All Legacy Gifts are invested in the church’s Fund for the Future, which provides for the capital budget of the church. In addition, Legacy givers are honored as members of the church’s Legacy Circle. If you have already included the church in your estate plans, please notify us so that we may thank you and include you in the Legacy Circle. If you wish more information about Legacy Giving, please call or email our church administrator.
ANNUAL PLEDGE
Church in the Forest invites all members and friends to make regular commitments to the church by pledging each year, allowing the church to plan and manage most effectively. Pledge income provides over eighty percent of the revenue for the annual budget. CLICK HERE to make an online pledge or to arrange a regular online contribution.
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Memorial Gifts, honoring a loved one or friend, are gratefully accepted to enhance the mission of the church. To make your gift online CLICK HERE or mail to Church in the Forest P.O. Box 1027 Pebble Beach, CA, 93953-1027
Church History
Church in the Forest opened its doors as a community chapel on September 13, 1987. Conceived by Joseph Wandke, President of the Stevenson School, the founding minister was Lamont Wiltsee, an Episcopal priest, assisted by Stevenson School Chaplains Dr. Paul Woudenberg, a Methodist minister, and Clifford “Coach” Wilson, an Episcopal priest. They joked that they were designing a church they would actually like to attend! Combining the traditions of several denominations, they successfully created a beautiful worship experience
with particular attention to meaningful liturgy and great music. We continue their legacy with a congregation and clergy representing the breadth and depth of our Christian tradition. The church is located in the award-winning Erdman Chapel at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. This chapel, designed by famed architect, John Lyon Reid, is noted for its soaring ceilings, giant wooden pillars and lattice covered windows. A splendid glass wall behind the altar reveals a living tapestry of birds, trees and sky.
Sunday Services
Join us for worship each Sunday morning. We begin our morning with The Prelude at 9:45 a.m. featuring nationally and locally renowned artists including Carmel Bach Festival soloists, the Monterey String Quartet, Heart Strings, VOCI, Dixieland Jazz, Wildcoast Brass, and Pacific Boychoir Academy.
At 10 a.m. worship formally begins, an experience of the beauty and illumination of God’s presence. Worship features Bible readings, sermon, hymns and prayer. Our pastor interprets the Bible in a spirit that is intellectually informed, personally relevant, and reverent toward God. Our traditional hymns are the most familiar tunes from the repertoire of the Protestant tradition, accompanied by our majestic organ and the talents of our guest musicians.
We are multi-denominational church, so our worship draws on the Christian traditions of our members and clergy. You will find prayers and Holy Communion services from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, hymns from the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian traditions, and sermons based upon broad scholarship and contemporary concerns.
Worship concludes with a lively fellowship time on our outdoor deck with delicious coffee, treats and the pleasure of conversation with new and old friends.
Spiritual Care
Our ministers and church members are ready to assist you with the deeper questions and challenges of life. If you have spiritual and pastoral concerns, you may communicate that confidentially through leaving a note in the Sunday collection plate, phoning or emailing the office, or speaking personally to a pastor. Our pastors can meet with you at the church, a quiet coffee spot, in your home or at the hospital.
In addition, our members are a key component to pastoral care. They are often the first to notice and respond to another person’s need, then relay word to the pastors. We have a dedicated Member Care Team that visits the home-bound, and cares for members and friends by sending notes of encouragement, phoning to say hello, and dropping off a home-baked treat. Finally, we are a praying community, with a dedicated Prayer Chain. For more information — to join our caring ministries or receive care — please contact our church administrator.
The Reverend Ken Feske
Pastor of the Church in the Forest
Ken was born in the heart of dairy land, Watertown Wisconsin.
Childhood summer church camp and Sunday school formed his faith foundation. Ken went on to seminary at Northern Baptist, IL with callings to California, Arizona and Hawaii (someone has to go!). After a 30-year parish ministry, Ken’s convictions led him to CSUMB Service Learning Center with Social Justice and Action for 7 years.
Ken was drawn to CitF for the diversity of faith traditions. His focus on grace, gifts, and interdependence bring all to a holy obligation of engagement with the belief that healing and transformation happen when we are met with God.
“I am grateful to God to merge my passion for the marginalized and underserved with the Church in the Forest community of faith that are lights of God’s love through their donation of time and resources to the community’s nonprofits and agents of change.”
Married to Nancy Borino with 2 grown children, he is an engaged and enthusiastic grandparent to 4 active grandchildren.
Staff
Pastor Ken Feske
Ken oversees spiritual life of the church and ministers to the congregation and wider community.
Cathryn Wilkinson
Cathryn Wilkinson, Music Director at Church in the Forest, earned her bachelor’s degree in music from The College of William and Mary, and Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. from The University of Iowa School of Music.
Jubal Joslyn
Jubal Joslyn, Sunday Morning worship cantor, joined Church in the Forest in 2022 as the Sunday Morning worship cantor. His expressive tenor voice helps facilitate the worship service music, hymns, and his solos
Adam Balesteri
Adam Balesteri, Design Director, has been a police officer, firefighter and teacher. Life-changes provided him with an opportunity to shift his career to his love for art and design, now in service to our church .
Beth Bates
Beth Bates is a finance professional with many years of experience in the for-profit and non-profit worlds working in very different industries. She is a strong supporter of the arts and music of all kinds.
Jana McCarty
Jana McCarty is a third-generation native of the Monterey Peninsula. With more than a decade of experience in program management, she has cultivated a passion for building relationships, being organized, and following process.