A Welcoming Disciples Church on East Walnut Avenue
First Christian Church of Orange stands on East Walnut Avenue in the heart of Orange, California, a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a member of the Pacific Southwest Region. Across its campus the church lives out a simple motto: "We believe that every person is a BELOVED child of God." That conviction shapes everything from the welcome at the door to the words used in prayer, the music sung in worship, and the groups that meet during the week.
Open and Affirming, Progressive at Heart
FCCO is an Open and Affirming congregation. The welcome and full acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals is explicit and celebrated, and the church publishes an LGBTQIA+ Resources page for those who want to dig deeper. The congregation also identifies with progressive Christianity, describes itself as part of a Disciples movement "for wholeness in a fragmented world," and encourages the use of gender-neutral language wherever possible. The Disciples tradition of receiving all to the Lord's Table is taken literally here: anyone who desires to take communion is welcome to partake.
Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM
Worship happens in person and online every Sunday at 10:00 AM. The service follows a traditional structure, but the music woven into it is eclectic, drawing from a band, a chancel choir, and two bell choirs. A typical Sunday unfolds with a prelude, gathering song, opening prayer, children's message, passing of the peace, celebrations and concerns, pastoral prayer, scripture reading, sermon, communion, offertory, and a closing benediction. Communion is a part of every Sunday morning service. The bread is gluten free, and empty cups can be set back into holders built into the pews.
Worship is livestreamed on Facebook each week, and recordings of recent services are kept on the church's watch page for anyone who missed Sunday or wants to revisit a sermon. The current sermon series walks through teachings from Matthew and 1 Corinthians, including messages titled "One Body," "Beware!," "The Narrow Gate," and "One Table."
What to Expect on a First Visit
Visitors will find ample parking on the west side of the campus, with handicapped parking on the east side of the building. There is no dress code: the welcome page notes that on a single Sunday morning one might see Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops alongside suits and ties, and adds that "your presence is more important than your attire." Inclusive language is the norm, and the church office is happy to answer questions about any program, group, or service.
Music for Every Ear
Music is a defining feature of FCCO. Between the FCCO Band, the Chancel Choir, and two bell choirs, there is room for instrumentalists, vocalists, and ringers of every experience level. Dr. Brian Dehn directs the music ministry and welcomes new participants who want to share their gifts. Sunday worship often includes a special music moment, such as a chancel choir anthem, alongside congregational hymns drawn from the Chalice Hymnal and contemporary songs used under the church's CCLI license.
Learning Together: Adult Study and Small Groups
Adult Study meets at 8:45 AM on Sunday mornings in the Big Room. Led by Pastor Dayna, the class is open to all and operates as a drop-in gathering for education and spiritual growth; newcomers can join at any point in a series.
Beyond Adult Study, small groups meet throughout the week. Some gather to play pickleball or cards, while others check in and support one another around shared life. Study groups reflect on the most recent sermons or take up topics ranging from social justice to biblical history. These groups typically run for a defined period, then reform around new interests.
Kids, Youth, and Summer Adventure
FCCO offers a safe space for children and youth to learn about God and hear Bible stories in ways that let them enter the stories and form responses out of their own life experiences. Sunday programming includes a children's message within worship, and additional activities run throughout the year. Summer Adventure, the church's vacation Bible school, gives kids a week of games, crafts, and stories that complement the year-round ministry.
Disciples Women
Disciples Women strengthens the bonds of sisterhood and friendship among women in the congregation. The ministry is designed for women who want to grow in their faith experience, learn about and serve the world, and embody the church's call to "BE-LOVE(D)" in the world. Gatherings combine study, service, and mutual support.
Anti-Racism and Pro-Reconciliation
An Anti-Racism and Pro-Reconciliation group meets regularly to develop a multi-faceted plan for FCCO to become a pro-reconciling and anti-racist church. Members discuss, learn, and plan concrete steps that turn the congregation's stated values into lived practice, both inside the church and in the wider Orange community.
Outreach and Mission
Outreach is one of the four core ways to get connected at FCCO, alongside small groups, kids and youth, and events. The congregation serves others in the local community and throughout the world. From yoga gatherings to Summer Adventure, from sermon study groups to mission work, FCCO frames its entire ministry around the call to be loved and to be love in the world.
Pastoral Care and Prayer
Anyone can send a prayer concern or celebration to the church office through the Pray page, and visitors can request that a pastor follow up by phone, text, or email. Sundays also include a time during worship to fill out Celebrations and Concerns cards collected during the passing of the peace.
Supporting the Ministry
FCCO offers several ways to give. The Givelify app allows offerings and other payments from a smartphone or computer and can track donations and set up recurring gifts. Raise Right gift cards from more than 750 retailers generate a rebate for the church on everyday purchases. Cash or checks can also be sent to the church office at 1130 E. Walnut Avenue.
The Team
Rev. Dr. Dayna Kinkade serves as Senior Pastor, with Rev. Beth Chiaravalle as Associate Pastor. Dr. Brian Dehn directs the music ministry. Together they lead a congregation that takes seriously the work of becoming more loving and more just in every aspect of life, and that finds its identity around one simple table open to all.