Our Story
First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills, Inc, now known as Community Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills began in 1962 when a small group of believers gathered together with a desire to form a community of faith.
growth & Vitality
The present sanctuary was built in 1964. Over the years, the church experienced growth and vitality as a family center for worship. Church members gathering for worship and study quickly outgrew the space provided. Additional space was added for gatherings and worship. Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s the congregation continued to grow in grace and numbers. In 2010 an extensive remodeling campaign brought the church into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 2010 the church became a Stephen Ministry congregation under the leadership of Barbara Rodgers, a charter member of the congregation. Many Stephen Ministers have been trained since that time offering countless hours of service to the congregation.
Community of hope
At Community Presbyterian you may hear the expression, “Praising God, Serving People!” Both praising and serving are in our DNA. In 2020 we took some intentional time to look deeply at what this meant in a time when mainline churches seemed to be in decline. At the same time, we recognized that the Presbyterian Church (USA) as a denomination was becoming known for its inclusive and welcoming stance. Following our denomination’s lead, we recognized the need to be purposeful and clear in our welcome of all people regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, and ability. A dedicated group of individuals worked diligently to provide a worshiping opportunity that would meet the needs of those who may have felt excluded by the church as a whole in the past. A new worshiping community was formed and Community of Hope came to life in 2023.
Community of Hope is intentionally focused on individuals and families who have felt excluded, marginalized or “turned off” by traditional church. Community of Hope seeks to be a place of welcome and inclusion; a safe place to ask questions and to be yourself. All are welcome as we believe that God’s radically inclusive love excludes no one. Community of Hope is reflective of the diversity, unity, and welcome we seek to offer to our community.
Community Food Cupboard Program
Another initiative of the church that evolved in 2020 was the Community Cupboard Food Program that operates a free meal program for the community and also offers a weekly food pantry. We saw a real need in our community growing out of the pandemic as families in our community struggled with food insecurity. Our first year we served 15,800 meals and gave out 3,000 bags of groceries. The program has continued to grow and we have added partnerships with USDA and Feeding Tampa Bay. In 2025 we served 35,000 free meals to the community and provided 11,000 grocery bags. A dedicated group of volunteers and support of the community make this program possible.
Messy Church
Messy Church Zephyrhills is also a part of our mission to “Praise God and Serve People.” Messy Church is a fun monthly gathering that engages all ages in activities, crafts and games that bring the month’s biblical theme to life. Following the activities and crafts, all ages join in a short celebration with an interactive bible story, music and prayer. Each Messy Church concludes with a meal and time for play.
In 2026, we changed our name from First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills to Community Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills. Community Presbyterian is descriptive of where we are and who we are and who we are seeking to become. Like any community, we are a flawed work in progress—but more than ever, we are in progress toward the goal of truly being God’s people, the body of Christ, the community of faith, led by the Holy Spirit. In every decade since its founding in 1964 we have been led by a deep love of God and a profound desire to serve.