About Us

At UMCA, we PRAY always! Prayer is the foundation of everything we do as a faith community. We believe God has a vision for our church and pray together for that vision to be revealed and for us to be bold as we live into God’s vision. We pray with each other and for each other, sharing one another’s hopes and joys and sorrows and burdens. We pray for our church, that all who come to us will find welcome and rest and hope.

At UMCA, we GROW in faith! That starts with showing up. Our journey of getting to know God more fully and loving our neighbors more completely never ends. At UMCA, we expect our members to be ready to commit to their own faith journeys and to be open to growing together in faith!We strive to be a church where every person will have an opportunity to grow spiritually, to know what they believe, to be able to speak about their beliefs, and give voice to their questions.

At UMCA, we GIVE generously. We are part of something big – far bigger than ourselves. When we give to the church, we experience our small part in God’s very big mission. Giving invites us to trust God in meeting our personal needs and to love others with our resources as well as our emotions. Giving grows the kingdom of God, and giving glorifies God. All our gifts come together to provide hope and to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

At UMCA, we SERVE others in the name of Jesus. We serve in many ways including, but not limited to our signature United for the Community events and our Good Samaritan Fund. We are committed to rolling up our sleeves for hands-on ministry in our neighborhood, and we strive to be the place our neighbors come to find help with basic necessities, activities for their families, and transformational worship experiences.

At UMCA, we SHARE the story! We lovingly pass down our traditions and the deep historical roots of our faith, and we embrace innovation and change as open doors for the work of the Holy Spirit. Our mission statement at UMCA is about making new disciples, which means we need to be reaching new people with the good news of God’s amazing love! We do not wait for the world to come to us, we are the church in the world and we are bursting with love for Jesus and for our neighbors.

At UMCA, our lives are the stories of Jesus alive in the world!

Our MISSION is making new disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation of the world.

Our vision is providing hope to our community.

We believe that God’s love is for EVERYONE!

Rev. Rachael Warner,

Lead Pastor

Rev. Laura Hannah,

Discipleship Pastor

UMCA is part of the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our presiding bishop is Bishop David Bard.

Click to learn more about Methodists in Minnesota or about our denomination!

Get Connected

Calling ALL Children!

Our Director of Family Ministries, Joan, has interactive, fun, hands-on activities planned for kids this fall! And going virtual with family ministry means that you can invite more friends than ever to be part of the fun!

Use the CONTACT US form here on our website to connect with Joan – she’d love to have a chat with you and learn how UMCA can best support your family this year!

Joan is sending out regular email updates to families, making busy bags for the kids to receive at our Drive In worship services, and preparing materials for fall learning and activities. Make sure you get all the news, updates, and invitations by registering your family today! Invite a friend or neighbor to register, too!

Managing money is challenging.

Six Weeks on Money is a digital course that helps people align their money with their values so that they can live with abundance and generosity. UMCA has partnered with 6W$ to offer this online course! Just click through to sign up – the cost of the course is $80, and it can be completed on your own at your own pace. Contact Pastor Rachael for a 50% off code (limited number available) today!

Student Ministry at UMCA

Ask Questions! Build Relationships! Grow in Faith! Serve Others!

Student Ministry is a top priority at UMCA. We want youth and young adults to find a safe, welcoming network of friends and adults here who are sharing the adventure of getting to know Jesus. We also love all that these students bring to the life of our church – their gifts, their energy, their questions, their passion! Our students participate in worship, gather for fun events, and connect to grow in faith together.

We are currently searching for a new Student Ministry Coordinator to build relationships, have lots of fun, and share the adventure with our youth and young adults. If you or someone you know might be interested, please share the JOB LISTING far and wide!

Especially during a pandemic, we rely on small groups for connection, learning, and growing deeper in faith!

UMCA has several small groups currently meeting, mostly virtually. These include Bible Study, book club, sewing and quilting, 20-30 somethings, and more! We would love to help you connect to an existing group or to start a new group! CONTACT US!

Worship Leaders Needed!

Every week we are curating readings, testimonies, music, and more for our online worship experience. We are always looking for more people willing to record a reading, share a story of faith, offer a prayer, or lead worship in other ways. You can record your segments on your own at home with your phone, or schedule an appointment to record at church. If necessary, we’ll even come to you!

It means so much to all of us to see one another’s faces in worship, even if that is happening on a screen for now. CONTACT US to volunteer!

Breakfast Scholars, Thursdays at 7am

Bring Your Bible, Thursdays at 9:30am

Anti-Racism Book Club, Wednesdays at 4pm

Jesus Was 33 (mid 20s-mid 40s), Sundays at 11am

Music

Music Ministry has been the heart and soul of UMCA for generations. Now, during a season of pandemic, we are finding creative ways to keep music central to our worship and expression of our faith!

We embrace many styles of music and include a wide variety of music in our worship, such as organ, piano, handbells, acoustic guitar, and many ensembles. Styles range from classical to modern and even include the occasional visit from a jug band or a barbershop quartet! We love to have musicians of all ages and skill levels use their gifts to glorify God!

We also see music as a ministry and love caroling at the local hospital each year!

We’re looking for musicians willing to share a piece for online worship! You can record yourself at home or come in and record in the sanctuary! Interested? CONTACT US!

United for the Community!

Our vision at UMCA is providing hope to our community. Our signature ministry, United for the Community, encompasses all the ways that we seek to live in service to others as followers of Jesus. This ministry builds community as we rely on many community partners who come alongside us in these ministries.

We invite our neighbors to a variety of events throughout the year, including a back to school backpack giveaway and summer Bible day camp for kids! Our kids and teens clothing closet, onsite at UMCA, provides by-appointment shopping for local families. Church members coordinate and volunteer for local organizations including Meals on Wheels, ACBC food shelf, local schools, domestic violence shelters, the Sheridan Story, and many more! We send contributions throughout the year to mission through UMCOR.

Caring Ministry

Making connections with each other is one of the best things about becoming part of a congregation! Here at UMCA, we are finding creative ways to build and maintain connections wherever we can, especially as many of the people we love most are feeling isolated and at high risk.

You can offer care and support in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas:

We can give you a few names of people who would enjoy receiving a card now and then, and you can write to them
Join our calling team and commit to call one or several folks each week to check in, listen, and pray together.
Let us know if you’d be willing to deliver groceries, pick up medications, or help in other ways.

Schedule a Virtual Visit with Pastor Laura

Are you interested in having a more personal conversation about how you or your family can get connected here at UMCA? Schedule a time to visit with our Discipleship Pastor, Rev. Laura Hannah, today. She’d love to get to know you and help you find the places where you can find meaningful connections and personal growth. CONTACT US and Pastor Laura will be happy to reach out to you to set up a visit soon!

Current Sermon Series:

Sunday Worship services are archived on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE.

Join us as we discuss the early days of Jesus’ Ministry as told in the Gospel of Mark.

Jan 3, 2021

Antidote for an Anxious Heart

By: Guest Preacher: Rev. Cynthia Williams

Series: ~

Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Join us for a service all about beginning a new year with JOY! Pastor Laura leads the service with preaching from Rev. Cynthia Williams. Great music, too!

Romans 15:13, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7

WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle

Jan 3, 2021Antidote for an Anxious Heart

Jan 3, 2021
Antidote for an Anxious Heart

By: Guest Preacher: Rev. Cynthia Williams
Series: ~
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Join us for a service all about beginning a new year with JOY! Pastor Laura leads the service with preaching from Rev. Cynthia Williams. Great music, too!

Romans 15:13, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7
Dec 27, 2020Hope Made Real

Dec 27, 2020
Hope Made Real

By: (All)
Series: SHINE ON
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Hope Made Real: a worship service for the Minnesota Annual Conference

Where is your hope anchored? You're invited to a worship service that explores that question. Our five district superintendents each share a personal story of hope made real in their lives, and their messages are interspersed with incredible musical arrangements provided by United Methodist Churches throughout Minnesota. As we prepare to enter a new year during a global pandemic, this is an uplifting message of hope and possibility.
Dec 24, 2020Christmas Eve: Traditions Service

Dec 24, 2020
Christmas Eve: Traditions Service

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: Christmas Eve 2020
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

We celebrate the birth of Jesus with this Storyteller's Service for families and children of all ages.

John 1
Dec 24, 2020Christmas Eve Storyteller’s Service

Dec 24, 2020
Christmas Eve Storyteller’s Service

By: (All)
Series: Christmas Eve 2020
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

We celebrate the birth of Jesus with this Storyteller's Service for families and children of all ages.

John 1
Dec 20, 2020Shine On with Love

Dec 20, 2020
Shine On with Love

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: SHINE ON
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

We continue the sermon series, Shine On, with a message of LOVE.

Isaiah 61:1-4
Dec 13, 2020Shine On with Joy – Music Sunday

Dec 13, 2020
Shine On with Joy – Music Sunday

By: (All)
Series: SHINE ON
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Music Sunday continues the sermon series, Shine On, with a message of JOY.
Dec 6, 2020Shine On with Peace

Dec 6, 2020
Shine On with Peace

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: SHINE ON
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Rev. Rachael Warner continues the sermon series, Shine On, with a message of PEACE.

Isaiah 11:1-9
Nov 29, 2020Shine On with Hope

Nov 29, 2020
Shine On with Hope

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: SHINE ON
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Rev. Rachael Warner kicks off the sermon series, Shine On, with a message of HOPE.

Isaiah 2:2-5
Nov 15, 2020We Give Thanks for Risky Investments

Nov 15, 2020
We Give Thanks for Risky Investments

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: We Give Thanks
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Rev. Rachael Warner continues the sermon series, We Give Thanks, with a story about THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Psalm 118:27-29, Matthew 25:14-30
Nov 8, 2020We Give Thanks…for Today

Nov 8, 2020
We Give Thanks…for Today

By: Rev. Rachael Warner
Series: We Give Thanks
Please follow this link to view the video sermon on FACEBOOK or YOUTUBE

Rev. Rachael Warner kicks off the sermon series, We Give Thanks. "We give thanks for today and do our very best today to make this world a little bit more ready for Jesus."

Psalm 30:11-12, Matthew 25:1-13

Ways to Give

Join us in providing hope to our community!

Your generosity makes it all possible.

We are truly grateful for your donation and hope the

convenience and simplicity of online giving will be helpful to you.

Give Online Today:

Use our secure giving interface to make a contribution to UMCA today!

DONATE TODAY!

Offline Giving:

Donations can be mailed to:

UMC of Anoka

850 South Street

Anoka, MN 55303

Use the Give Plus App on Your Phone:

Search your phone’s app store for the Give Plus app by Vanco.

Download the app, search for United Methodist Church of Anoka,

and you can give from your phone one time or set up an account

to make and track regular contributions!

Automatic Withdrawal:

You can set up an automatic withdrawal from your bank account by completing this form.

Print, fill out and return to the office to have your gift drafted from your bank account

monthly or semi-monthly.

Thank you for your contributions to the vision and mission

of the United Methodist Church of Anoka.

We appreciate your continued support and generosity.

If you have questions about your giving, CONTACT US!

We’re happy to help!

What Fund Should I Choose?

Our online giving page gives you the option to designate which fund your gift will support – here are some quick descriptions to help you choose!

GENERAL FUND

The General Fund supports everything from the operations of the church to our staffing to our programming and outreach. This is where we most need contributions, and giving to the general fund means that you’ll trust us to use your gift where it is most needed.

GOOD SAMARITAN FUND

UMCA’s Good Samaritan Fund helps us provide assistance and support to members of our community.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN – ELEVATOR FUND

We are working off the loan that enabled us to add an elevator and make our building accessible. Donations to this fund will help us more quickly retire that debt.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND

The building fund helps us to manage unexpected repairs, deferred maintenance, and other improvement projects on our building and grounds.

APPORTIONMENTS

When you give to this fund, you help us contribute our fair share to the Minnesota Annual Conference and the General United Methodist Church to support ministry and mission in Minnesota and globally.

OTHER OUTREACH FUNDS:

From time to time, we’ll add other options related to specific community organizations or outreach opportunities.

We are ONLINE for Sunday Worship!

Services are available on Facebook and YouTube on Sundays at 9:30am

Your financial support helps us pursue our vision of providing hope to our community!