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We believe God loves every person without conditions or limitations. We believe each person is of infinite worth and value.

We believe God's love is expressed through forgiveness and reconciliation and peace.

We believe God gives us an infinite number of second chances, and that each second chance is an expression of transforming love.

We believe the earth and all its creatures, particles, and landscapes, are considered holy and good by God. (Though we confess we are still struggling with including cockroaches and poisonous snakes.)

We believe God loves questions and doubts. There is no question too tough or too embarrassing for God. We believe doubt can be the beginning of a deeper faith, and that our church must be a place celebrating the questions and the doubts.

We believe everyone is welcome in church. The Communion table is open to all who wish to receive the gift of God's grace, and eat a meal in celebration of Jesus' life. We believe church attendance and membership is based on the participant's willingness to follow Christ. (See our Official Policy below.)

We believe Jesus Christ made God's love visible, and that in Christ we see God most clearly revealed. His life, death, and resurrection show us how to love each other, and how God seeks to heal all the brokenness in the world.

We believe that one day all wrongs will be made right, all disease and sickness will be healed, evil in every form vanquished, and even death itself will be transformed.

We believe whenever we work for justice, peace, truth, and reconciliation, we are doing God's work in the world. We believe faith is diminished unless shared in the fellowship of the believers, and in service to the world.

We believe everyone is gifted by God. Jesus calls each person to a ministry that is uniquely suited to each person's natural gifts and talents. Each of us has been gifted with a ministry, mission or a purpose by God to help build up the church, and transform the world.

We believe we do not have to agree with each other in order to work together.

We believe Jesus invites us to become followers. Our faith journey will be an adventure beyond our wildest dreams.

Mesa Verde United Methodist Church's Official Policy

All persons are of sacred worth. God loves all persons. God seeks to bring all people into an active faith relationship. Faith in its fullest expression requires participation in a faith community. All persons — regardless of their human condition — are welcome to participate in church life. Communion is open to all who wish to receive the grace of God through Christ offered at the table. Persons, who wish to become full members, after taking the membership vows, gain the right to vote on church matters. Membership is not conditional upon the quality of one’s moral condition, and is a personal expression of one’s faith. Membership does assume full participtation in the church’s ministry with gifts, talents, prayers, and service as well as continued spirtitual and moral growth.

Developed by Pastor Mark and Rev. Steph,
approved by the Leadership Team on 11/09/05

Our Forty-Seventh Year and beyond. . .

In July of 1960, the Rev. Richmond C. Johnson was appointed to organize a new church here in Costa Mesa. The first worship service was held in the (former) Southern California College chapel (now Vanguard University) on September 11, 1960. The church was officially chartered in March of 1961 with 144 members. Ground-breaking services for the first unit were held in August 1961 on our present site. The first service held in the new sanctuary was in July of 1962.

Our second minister, Rev. Joseph R. McShane, was appointed to Mesa Verde. An educational unit was added in June of 1969, and the sanctuary was remodeled to accommodate the needs of a growing congregation.

Rev. Paul Biesemeyer was appointed to Mesa Verde in July of 1969.

Rev. B. Lothair Green was appointed in July of 1971, and associate pastors have been Rev. Neal S. Jensen, Rev. Dennis B. Holway, and Rev. Robert Rohdenburg.

In July of 1979, Rev. William E. Steel began his appointment here. The sanctuary was remodeled to its present state in 1986. The fellowship hall and kitchen were remodeled in 1990.

In July of 1994, Rev. Dick George was appointed to Mesa Verde. Associate Pastor Stephanie Toon Glassman (married to Bryan) and Christian Educator Coordinators Suzanne Morgan and Camille Mattick served separately with him. He served eleven years (until June 30, 2005). While here, Dr. George led Disciple Bible studies (and other adult studies) and instituted Stephen Ministry, still ongoing. Rev. Steph became an elder on June 25, 2005. On July 1, 2008, she received an appointment to serve First UMC in Orange as Senior Pastor.

On July 1, 2005, Rev. Mark Wiley began his appointment here. He has been overseeing the remodeling of our fellowship hall and construction of our new administrative building, which includes the offices for the ministerial staff and Administrative Assistant. Other goals for his ministry here are yet to be determined.

On July 1, 2008, our Associate Pastor Joseph Yoo came on board. His ministry will be focused on the youth. Welcome, Pastor Joe!

At present, we are a growing congregation. We have 437 members, with about 50 students in Sunday School; the combined average attendance for both worship services is 210. Our music ministry is a strong feature of our congregation, with opportunities to glorify God in voice or with instruments. If you wish to be part of our music program, please see or call Eliza Rubenstein at the church or come to the rehearsals.

You are invited to go to the General United Methodist Website here for more information about our denomination, including our district, conference, national and global connections.