As you have probably heard through our churchwide email or in worship last Sunday, we are thrilled to welcome Jessica Strysko as our new Pastor!
Here is the picture of Jessica and her family that was shown during worship on Sunday morning. This is Jessica, pictured here with her husband Timothy and her two daughters, Abigail and Eliza.
Here’s a little bit about Pastor Jessica:
Pastor Jessica is someone who loves to hear and share about God’s grace and God’s call. She is dedicated to discerning God’s active presence in the church and the world community, and therefore is passionate about inter-generational ministry, Christian Education, ecumenical/interfaith dialogue, and social justice.
Jessica grew up in Yucaipa, California, and was raised in the United Methodist Church there. She developed a deep love for God nurtured in the youth and camping ministries of her church. As a result of these ministries, she first felt God calling her to ministry at age 14, and has been living into this calling ever since.
Jessica attended the University of Redlands as an English Literature and Religious Studies double major. While at Redlands, she met and fell in love with Timothy Strysko, and they were married after their graduation. Tim and Jessica then moved to Massachusetts, where Jessica attended seminary at Harvard Divinity School. After graduation, Jessica was commissioned to serve at First UMC of San Diego. She was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2014. In 2017, Jessica was involved in the merger of First UMC of San Diego with Point Loma UMC, and planted the Water’s Edge Faith Community in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego. Tim and Jessica love living and serving with their daughters Abigail and Eliza, and two dogs, Spartacus and Merlin.
Feel free to contact Jessica—she loves to meet new people and would love to hear your story!
