Anybody who’s lived in San Jose throughout the previous 50 years has most likely had the expertise of driving on Freeway 87 or Almaden Expressway, wanting up and questioning, “What’s that round building with a globe and a cross on top of it?” The smart-aleck — however appropriate — reply is the Church on the Hill.
The church is celebrating its one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary on June 1, going again to when it was based because the First Baptist Church of San Jose in Might 1850 by Rev. Osgood Wheeler, who had already based the First Baptist Church of San Francisco earlier than shifting south.
“It is a few months older than the state of California. It has experienced many highs and lows over the decades while growing with San Jose, and we are eager to share our history in the city with the community,” Outreach Pastor Susan Ellis stated.
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Folks congregate within the foyer of Church on the Hill, which was based because the First Baptist Church of San Jose in 1850 and is celebrating its one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary on June 1, 2025. (Courtesy Church on the Hill)
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Folks congregate within the foyer of Church on the Hill, which was based because the First Baptist Church of San Jose in 1850 and is celebrating its one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary on June 1, 2025. (Courtesy Church on the Hill)
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It’s fairly a historical past, too, and one bolstered by resilience. The church’s first constructing in downtown San Jose was destroyed by hearth, as was its second. The rebuilt church on Second and San Antonio Streets was even dwelling to KQW, the world’s first broadcast radio station, within the mid-Nineteen Twenties, with the antenna tower positioned proper on the church property. The congregation grew into the hundreds over the many years, however religion alone couldn’t preserve the growing older constructing from being red-tagged by town.
Dr. Clarence Sands, who was the church’s pastor for 35 years, and its board set about rectifying that drawback. The church bought 33 acres of hilltop land south of downtown close to Curtner Avenue and Almaden Expressway that was dwelling to the short-lived, nine-hole Ironwood Golf Course. It opened an amphitheater there and in July 1963 held its first-ever outside providers. The primary providers have been held on the new home of worship — with an auditorium that would seat greater than 2,000 individuals — on Oct. 25, 1970. The next 12 months, First Baptist Church began promoting itself as “The Church on the Hill,” and the identify caught.
The church continued its custom of internet hosting city-wide Easter Sunday dawn providers and was a gathering spot for musical performances by Christian bands or to observe fireworks on the Fourth of July. Greater than 2,500 individuals confirmed up — together with a considerable crowd from close by Cathedral of Religion — to have fun the church paying off — and burning — its multimillion-dollar mortgage in 1994. The Rev. Jim Cook dinner even stored a promise to climb to the church’s rooftop and preach from there.
At present, the church presents providers in Spanish and Vietnamese, in addition to English. Scott Simmerok, who has been lead pastor since 2005, stated its not unusual to see a younger household trying out the church for the primary time in addition to a greeter who’s been there for almost 70 years.
“We believe a healthy church creates hope-filled people who offer hope to a city, and what city doesn’t want a little more hope?” Simmerok stated.
PAYING IT FORWARD: Jenny Dearborn, a former SAP government who was named one of many 50 strongest ladies in tech for 5 years in a row, is aware of rather a lot concerning the battle ladies nonetheless face to get equal pay. That’s a giant a part of why she was an investor in “Lilly,” a brand new movie written and directed by Rachel Feldman that stars Patricia Clarkson as equal-pay pioneer Lilly Ledbetter. Dearborn, who lives in Palo Alto, hosted a personal screening of the film final Tuesday on the Cinemark Century 20 in Redwood Metropolis.
Ledbetter’s story isn’t simply historical past, Dearborn says.
“Even here in Silicon Valley, women are still struggling to earn equal pay for equal work. This is an important lesson and a very timely lesson, and I really encourage everybody to go see this film,” she stated. “I felt incredibly lucky to be part of this team of female executives from around the country that came together and invested in this film.”
Dearborn, who at present serves as Chief Folks Technique Officer at BTS, a world consultancy, is the writer of the bestsellers “Data Driven” and “The Data Driven Leader,” and has one other guide popping out this summer season. “The Insight-Driven Leader: How High-Performing Companies are Using Analytics to Unlock Business Value,” which she co-wrote with Kelly Rider, can be printed June 25.
GIVING THEM THEIR DUE: Time journal printed its inaugural record of the 100 Most Influential Folks in philanthropy and whereas there are lots of well-known names in there — together with Mackenzie Scott and Dolly Parton — there are a number of that’ll be particularly recognizable to Silicon Valley readers.
Steph and Ayesha Curry made the record, as did Netflix founder Reed Hastings and his spouse, Patty Quillin. Lisa Sobrato Sonsini was acknowledged for her management position with Sobrato Philanthropies, and Silicon Valley Neighborhood Basis CEO Nicole Taylor was honored within the “innovators” class for work in spurring philanthropy within the valley.
HOOP IT UP AGAIN: Basketball can be the secret in downtown San Jose because of the Slam Jose!, a 3×3 match and pageant that’ll takeover Plaza de Cesar Chavez on June 21-22. The San Jose Sports activities Authority teamed up with Hoop It Up and the Boys & Ladies Golf equipment of Silicon Valley on the match, which can embody $22,500 in prizes. There are divisions for males, ladies, wheelchair athletes and girls and boys from under-10 to under-18.
“This effort came together because all the old memories of Hoop It Up in San Jose were so filled with affection – and we are still a perfect town for outdoor 3×3 hoops,” stated Boys & Ladies Golf equipment CEO Steve Wymer, who hopes the tourney turns into a signature occasion for town as the unique Hoop It Up sequence was again within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.
Even if you happen to don’t play, you would possibly wish to try the sneaker and classic garments expo happening on the park throughout hte match. Registration, which closes June 17, is $250 per staff. Get extra data at www.slamjose.com.
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