After 88 years, the Point Loma United Methodist Church closed.
But it turns out the closure is only temporary.
Church member Victor Neuman noted that PLUMC has appointed a new pastor, the Rev. Jessica Strysko, to lead the church’s Ocean Beach campus, for which an early 2018 re-opening is planned.
Strysko has been serving as a pastor at First UMC of San Diego in Mission Valley since July 1, 2012. She grew up in Yucaipa, Calif., before going to the University of Redlands for undergrad (religious studies and English literature double major) and Harvard Divinity School.
“First Church was my first appointment,” said Strysko, noting her husband Tim and she, “are about to celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary Aug. 1, and we just had our first child, Abigail, who’s now 4 months old. We love our dogs (Spartacus and Merlin), hiking and being outdoors, and love serving others.”
Strysko noted the OB church she’s taking over is truly in a state of transition.
“More than 20 years ago, First Church began a ministry called the Water’s Edge — and a community began to gather for worship on the Mission Valley campus,” she said. “What began as a youth service, has now become an inter-generational gathering of people with a strong sense of community, and deeply held values of inclusion. “The Water’s Edge is what is known as a Reconciling Community, and is open and affirming, proclaiming the love of Christ to everyone, regardless of color, gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. All are welcome in full membership and communion,” she added.
Strysko noted that, during conversations about a merger between First UMC of San Diego and Point Loma UMC, it soon became clear that the churches were feeling called to bring the Water’s Edge to the water’s edge in Ocean Beach. Furthermore, the OB campus will also operate as a ministry center, with much of the campus dedicated to serving the community.
“We are now in a period of ongoing prayer, transition, and preparation as we continue to get to know the needs in the community, and as we ready the campus for this new ministry,” Strysko added. “The congregants of the former Point Loma UMC and the congregants from the Water’s Edge are getting to know each other too, spending time together in worship in Mission Valley during this transitional period, and finding ways to connect socially as well as through mission and service to others.”  
On Sunday, May 28, PLUMC at 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. held its final worship service. The Peninsula church opened in 1929, adding a new sanctuary in 1951 (the woman who was the first to marry in it is still a parishioner) and it’s always been a community fixture.  
But changing times, and a declining congregation, teamed to set the Protestant church on a new course.
The plan is for both congregations to merge as seamlessly as possible, with the hope that one of the worship services will move to OB in early 2018.  
Longtime PLUMC parishioner Bill Joyce, who was married there in 1968 and whose children were married — and baptized there — as well, said he’s on board with the move.
“Best thing is the merger allows the First Church in OB to continue to be a Methodist presence in OB with Open Doors, Open Minds, and Open Hearts to serve the changing demographics,” said Bill speaking for himself and wife Barbara.