A Welcoming Congregation on State College Boulevard

Anaheim United Methodist Church sits at the southeast corner of Wagner Avenue and South State College Boulevard in Anaheim, just south of the 57 Freeway. From that intersection the church has served the city for decades as a congregation that calls itself open, welcoming and inclusive, blessed with a diverse community it says "makes us stronger and reflects God's intention of how we are to live with one another." Members describe their vision in three words: "To reach out, serve and invite with the love of Jesus Christ." Their mission, shared with United Methodists worldwide, is "To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

The church identifies itself as an open and affirming congregation and is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network. It states plainly that no consideration of race, color, financial status, ethnicity, physical ability, gender identity or sexual orientation can separate anyone from the gift of God's grace. Visitors are welcomed without reservation, and the church extends that welcome into surrounding neighborhoods through the Neighbors Pantry food ministry and other outreach efforts.

Sunday Worship: Two Services, One Community

Sunday morning begins at 10 AM in the Sanctuary with a service led by the Chancel Choir and the Minister of Music. The service draws on pipe organ, piano, guitar, bells and more, drawing on both classical and contemporary musical forms. A second gathering, the Modern Service, takes place on the second Sunday of each month at 5 PM. The Modern Service is built around Messy Church, an informal experience that blends creative crafts, a short interactive worship time and a shared meal, so families with young children and individuals of any age can experience faith together in a relaxed setting.

Worship at Anaheim UMC centers on the two sacraments recognized in the Methodist tradition: baptism and communion. The congregation celebrates the bread and the cup regularly, and members are invited to help prepare and distribute communion, read scripture, serve as liturgists, usher, greet, or help decorate the sanctuary for Easter, Christmas and Holy Week. Those interested in baptism - for themselves or their children - are encouraged to meet with the pastor to begin the conversation.

A Long Tradition of Music

Anaheim UMC has long been a leader in the church music community in Orange County. The sanctuary houses a pipe organ alongside a 9-foot concert grand, a 7-foot grand and a 6-foot grand, and the room is noted for its excellent acoustics. The Chancel Choir welcomes anyone with a desire to sing as a team; no audition, music-reading or solo experience is required, and the rehearsal schedule is flexible. Each season the music ministry hosts concerts that combine choir, soloists and a range of styles from classical to contemporary.

The Modern Service on second Sundays at 5 PM is led by the Modern Worship team, which brings current worship songs to each gathering. Volunteer musicians and singers are always welcome, whether for the traditional or the modern setting. A curated collection of recorded songs - titled Songs of Hope and Encouragement - is available on the church's site, including pieces by CeCe Winans, Brandon Lake, Maverick City Music, Rend Collective and others.

The Pastoral Team

Pastor Jessica Strysko became the senior pastor of Anaheim UMC in 2022. Raised in Yucaipa in the United Methodist Church, she first sensed a call to ministry at fourteen through the youth and camping programs of her home congregation. She studied English Literature and Religious Studies at the University of Redlands before attending Harvard Divinity School. She began her pastoral ministry as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church of San Diego in 2012, helped lead a merger that formed Point Loma UMC in 2017, and planted the Water's Edge Faith Community in Ocean Beach. She lives with her husband Tim, their two daughters and two dogs.

MJ Buist serves as a Diaconal Minister at Anaheim UMC. MJ began as the Minister of Children's Education and Visitation in May 2015 and now leads care and prayer ministries, visiting home-centered members and coordinating the Care Team. MJ has published two novels, Lone Falcon (2019) and Lone Choices (2020), and is working on a third book in the series.

Supporting the pastors are Herman Hope as Minister of Music, June Jongeun Lee as Collaborative Accompanist, Alex Gilson in Operations and Communications, Stephanie Alcantar as Family Ministries Coordinator and Jessica Speaks as Children's Ministries Assistant and Events. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 3 PM and can be reached at (714) 776-5710 or office@anaheimumc.org.

The Sanctuary, the Campus and a Place to Gather

Sunday morning visitors enter through gates on the east or south sides of the campus. Parking is available from either Wagner Avenue or State College Boulevard. Before and after worship, members gather on the patio for fellowship time, weather permitting. The Sanctuary seats up to 515 and is fully equipped with audio, video and lighting, with a pipe organ or piano available for musicians.

For larger gatherings, the Fellowship Hall accommodates up to 270 for dining and up to 575 for a meeting assembly, and it connects to an adjoining kitchen for food preparation. Smaller groups can use one of several meeting rooms designed for 5 to 50 people, each equipped with a Smart ROKU television. Outdoor events can take advantage of the patio, plaza and grass areas for receptions and other open-air gatherings.

Neighbors Pantry: Food for the Community

The most visible outreach ministry of Anaheim UMC is Neighbors Pantry, a free food pantry that distributes by appointment on the church campus. There is no income requirement, no location requirement and no religious affiliation requirement; everyone is welcome. Distribution happens on Thursdays from 11 AM to 1 PM, with an additional evening distribution on the third Thursday of the month from 6:15 to 7:15 PM. Guests register and schedule appointments through SignUpOC.Link2Feed.com. Next-month appointments open on the third Thursday of the current month.

Pantry volunteers typically distribute shelf-stable dry goods, fresh produce, meat, dairy, milk, eggs and bread or bakery items, with vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options often available. Parents with babies can receive diapers and other baby items when supplies allow, and seniors may be able to pick up Ensure. Volunteers help carry groceries to cars and assist guests who need physical help during the shopping process. In severe weather the pantry moves indoors to the Fellowship Hall; on days over 90 degrees, with heavy rain or strong wind, boxes are pre-packed to minimize everyone's time outside.

Beyond the pantry, AUMC supports a network of partner ministries that visitors and members can be connected with: Pathways of Hope for food, shelter and housing in North Orange County; Care Solace for mental health and social service coordination; OC Rescue Mission and Grandma's House of Hope for housing and homelessness support; Hurtt Family Health Clinic for primary medical, dental and vision care; Be Well OC for mental health and substance use support; and the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth. A community resources page on the church site helps link neighbors with these and other local services.

Family Ministries and Messy Church

Family Ministries at Anaheim UMC is coordinated by Stephanie Alcantar, with Jessica Speaks supporting children's ministry and events. The cornerstone family gathering is Messy Church, held on the second Sunday of each month at 5 PM alongside the Modern Service. Inspired by Lucy Moore's book of the same name, Messy Church is built on three values: creativity, celebration and hospitality. Each gathering includes craft activities tied to a faith-based theme, an interactive time of worship and a shared meal where everyone is welcome.

Children and families are woven into the rest of congregational life as well. Worship services include children's time, and the Sanctuary is decorated each season for Easter, Christmas and Holy Week. Family events such as an Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast bring the wider community onto the campus for fellowship and fun.

An Open and Affirming Welcome

Anaheim UMC identifies as an open and affirming congregation and is affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network. The congregation states that no one is "too good or too bad," that no one knows too much or too little about the Bible, that no one's value before God depends on the color of their skin or the place they were born, and that no relationship status qualifies or disqualifies anyone from full participation. The church's prayer ministry invites anyone to submit requests through its online prayer wall, monitored by staff and visible to the congregation.

Communications, Giving and Connection

The congregation stays connected between Sundays through a weekly email newsletter called The Buzz, a monthly print newsletter called The Chimes, and an active presence on Facebook and Instagram. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube at the Anaheim United channel, and a podcast of recent messages is available on Spotify. Small groups meet throughout the week for Bible study and fellowship, with the church inviting newcomers to find a group through its online directory.

Generosity supports five areas of ministry: facilities, administration and staff, music ministry, family ministries and outreach. Giving is accepted online through the church's Church Center portal, and members are invited each fall to make an annual giving commitment as part of the congregation's stewardship journey.

A Building and a Campus for the Wider Community

Beyond worship, the Anaheim UMC campus is a gathering place for the wider community. The Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, meeting rooms and outdoor spaces are available for weddings, memorials, receptions, meetings and other events. An online facilities application is available for prospective renters, and the church's events brochure outlines capacities, AV capabilities and rental policies. With its blend of traditional and modern worship, a long tradition of musical excellence, a food pantry that serves hundreds of neighbors each month, and a clear commitment to openness and welcome, Anaheim United Methodist Church continues to invite the city of Anaheim to come as they are.