Knox Presbyterian Church's Mission Statement

Knox Presbyterian Church is an intergenerational community revitalized and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In grateful response and ever dependent upon the grace of Christ, we strive to worship God creatively, serve others compassionately, and encourage one another to become all that Christ has called us to be.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Colwell - Pastor

Matthew Colwell became pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church in October of 2007. Before coming to Knox, Matthew served for five years as Associate Pastor for Education and Family Life at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, Connecticut, where he also chaired the Social Justice Committee of the Presbytery of Southern New England. In addition to working in youth ministry for years in various Southern California churches, Matthew has been an automobile mechanic, he has served as a Program Partner for Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, and he has been on the Working Group of Yale University's Center for Faith and Culture. Matt has a B.A. from Williams College, an M.div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a D.min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is the author of Sabbath Economics: Household Practices (Tell the Word Press), The Shepherds' Stories (Meriwether), and articles for Sojourners and other publications. He lives in Pasadena with his wife, Jill Carlson Colwell, and their daughter Lucia.

Laura Becker - Director of Children's Ministries

Before joining Knox, Laura served for five years on staff in the Children’s Discipleship Department at Bel Air Presbyterian Church and, more recently, at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Laura came to the Los Angeles area from Iowa, where she had worked as Director of Education and Volunteer Coordinator for the Octagon Center for the Arts. She is also a graduate of Second City’s Conservatory Program. Laura has worked as an educator for the Des Moines Playhouse, as an Artist in Residence for the Metro Arts Alliance, and as a preschool teacher and daycare center director. Laura and her husband, Donnie, currently live in Los Feliz and she began her ministry at Knox on January 3rd.

Bruce Hudson - Organist

Ohio-native Bruce Hudson has been with Knox Presbyterian Church as our organist since December of 2007. Bruce received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and has gone on to serve on the faculties at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University. Since 2000, Bruce has played French Horn full-time for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and previously played horn for close to a decade with the Cleveland Orchestra. Bruce is also a member of the Burning River Brass, a 12-member brass and percussion group.

Heather Thomsen - Worship Leader

Heather is a second-generation Fuller seminarian: she was born while her dad completed his MDiv and ordination process 25 years ago! Raised in Seattle, WA, Heather is a loud and proud Pirate from Whitworth College, from which she graduated with a degree in philosophy in 2006. She is now pursuing a MDiv and ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She finds great joy in exploring God’s beautiful creation, playing sports and music, sharing meals and conversation with friends and family, studying theology, and anything involving skis. And of course, this little profile would be incomplete without mentioning that she is the one with the Smart Car. (It gets around 40 miles to the gallon, for those who are curious!) Heather is so thankful for the opportunity to journey deeper into life and ministry with the Knox community.

Ally Lee - Office Administrator

Ally grew up all around the country, but most recently she hails from Birmingham, Alabama. Ally is working on an M. Div at Fuller Theological Seminary with a certificate in Family Life Education through the School of Psychology. Before transferring to Fuller, Ally lived and went to school in Botswana for a semester. Ally loves to travel and hopes to get back to Africa soon. When she is not working at Knox or on homework, Ally enjoys spending time cooking with her brand new husband, Brian.

Marguerite Minor - Bookkeeper

Marguerite has been the staff bookkeeper at Knox Presbyterian Church since February 2006. She has also worked at the Presbytery of San Fernando for sixteen years as their financial secretary. Marguerite is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and has taught Sunday school for children preschool age through middle school. She and her daughter, Marissa, are members of First Presbyterian Church of Encino where Marguerite currently serves as the church wedding director.

Josh Modrzynski - Youth Intern

Hailing form the mountains of east Tennessee, Josh has been in Pasadena since 2006. Before coming to Pasadena Josh attended the University of Tennessee and then worked with the collegiate Navigators at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Divinity from Fuller Seminary. His primary interests of study are youth, culture, third-place communities and interfaith dialogue. He has an enormous love for music and good food and the community that forms around both. He also enjoys hiking the local hills and fishing the local surf. Josh is married to Rebecca and they live with two eccentric parrots, Calvin and Luther.

David Koeker - Assistant for Worship

Raised in the redwoods, David continues to stay connected to nature through hikes in the mountains and sunset trips to the beach. David is also known for riding bikes, laughing at a good joke, and locating libraries. Following extensive travels and a stay in Honduras, David holds a deep appreciation for language, cultures, experiential education, and social justice. From 2003 to 2007, David served as a science teacher at New Horizon’s Outdoor School in Loma Mar, CA. He is presently completing a Masters of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary, and hopes to serve God faithfully through his intership here at Knox. Since 2002, one of his favorite spiritual practices has been a daily walk of reflection, prayer, and chatting (not to himself, but with others - so come along!).

A Brief History of Knox

Knox Presbyterian Church was organized on March 7, 1888. Due to the ill health of the pastor and an economic depression, it was temporarily dissolved in 1892, to be reorganized in 1895. This time Knox thrived, and the congregation soon constructed a church building at the corner of Colorado and Los Robles.

In 1924 the downtown location was sold in favor of a new French-Gothic building out in the "country" at 219 South Lake Ave. Both Pasadena and Knox continued to prosper, until in 1959 encroaching office developments persuaded the congregation to move to the current site, 225 South Hill Ave.

This facility, dedicated April 1, 1962, is a unique blend of contemporary and traditional church architecture.

The sanctuary boasts a 24-rank organ with 1476 pipes, rebuilt by a skilled member. Two other members carved the superb Last Supper relief on the front of the Communion table, as well as the Bible scenes on the entrance doors.

Also on the Knox Campus is the historic Northside House designed by Sylvanius Marston. The NSH provides a warm and intimate setting for a variety of meetings and special events. A full service kitchen features a vintage Wedgewood stove.