West Yellowstone, Montana is nestled in a high mountain valley, in Southwest Montana. We are a small community (approximately 12 blocks by 7) located four miles from Wyoming, eight from Idaho and at an elevation of 6, 666 feet. We are the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park with a year around population of nearly 1200 people. With a major influx of seasonal residents and tourists our population increases to about 2400 during the summer. Our economy is exclusively based on tourism which tends to make for a transient population. It is rare to meet a lifetime resident. Our school serves approximately 240 students in K-12 grades.
Our lives and ministry at Community Protestant Church are shaped by the outdoors (water/alpine/cross-country skiing, backpacking, cycling, fly-fishing…). It is a unique and and challenging place in which we do ministry due to the transient nature of folks that comes with a tourist based economy. It is our desire to be an unchanging source of spiritual support in this ever changing community. We are committed to bringing the love of Jesus Christ to our membership, our community, and to all our seasonal residents and visitors including the 1.2 million who visit Yellowstone National Park each year.
"Community" is a key descriptive word in our name and make-up. As one of the only Protestant houses of worship in West Yellowstone, we draw many believers with lifelong church membership in other denominations and Christian fellowships. The joy and celebration of this for CPC is that people are identified as "Christian" first, rather than by denominational affiliation. However, we are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Our membership numbers approximately 100. Due to the seasonal nature of this community, a typical winter Sunday may see only 40 to 50 people in the pews, while a summer Sunday may find 250 or more gathered together. We offer several ways, beyond Sunday morning, for people to grow in faith. Some of our weekly programs include: Adult Bible study, Jr. & Sr. High youth groups, Alpha, and a Monday night prayer service. We also support several community programs and groups by making our building available to: United Women, AA, Gallatin Community Health, the Girl Scouts, and numerous non-profit groups that lodge overnight in our church while visiting the area.
Our worship style is blending and includes not only traditional, but also contemporary music and technology. It reflects the multitude of Christian traditions that make up our membership. Through all this, we seek to offer a sound, bible based, worship experience in which all can encounter the love, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
