Mystery Worshipper: Amanda B. Reckondwyth
Church:
North Coast United Methodist, Oceanside
Location: California, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 16 August 2026, 10:00am
The building
A church in the contemporary style, the work of Domus Studio of San Diego, who designed numerous modern churches throughout southern California. As you prepare to turn in from the road, you encounter a sign warning that unauthorized vehicles will be towed away, and another sign prohibiting skateboarding, bicycle riding and roller skating. The entrance to the parking lot is marked by a huge tower-like structure topped by the United Methodist Church logo. The building itself is oblong, consisting of a classroom wing plus the church proper, and is hidden from the street by a rather substantial stand of trees. The interior is a study in purple, with purple panels on the walls and purple upholstered chairs.
The church
The congregation was established in 1888 and claims to be Oceanside’s oldest church, having undergone several name and location changes before settling in their present space. They engage in numerous community outreaches, including Operation Hope, a year-round shelter for homeless families with children; Brother Benno’s, providing a variety of services to the needy; and Barron Creek Farm, a nonprofit organic farm; as well as yoga classes; a reconciling ministry, which reaches out to LGBTQ+ individuals; a family ministry, which strives to have church be a safe space for children and infants; a crafting ministry; and – oh yes – Sunday school and Bible study. There is one in-person worship service every Sunday, which is also broadcast online.
The neighborhood
Oceanside, about 35 miles north of San Diego, was named after the custom that local residents had of ‘going oceanside’ to enjoy the fabulous Pacific beaches. Today the city is a popular tourist destination as well as home to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. The church is located on Kelly Street just off the Interstate 5 freeway. This is quite a bit south of the town center, and far removed from the restaurants, hotels, and upscale boutiques, on the one hand, and military surplus stores and barber shops, on the other, that make up downtown Oceanside. The area appears primarily to be middle class residential, with the obligatory Walmart and other superstores close by.
The cast
A visiting pastor took the service, as their regular pastor was away. He wore a gray shirt with pectoral cross, black slacks, and a multipatterned stole. He was assisted by a woman whose name tag bore a title, but I didn’t note what it was. Two teenage boys, one of whom was the pastor’s son, manned the audio-visual booth.
What was the name of the service?
Worship.How full was the building?
I counted 100 chairs. There were 25 people present, mostly an elderly crowd. There was one young family with a small child (newly baptized, I was told).
Did anyone welcome you personally?
My Uber driver risked being flagged as an unauthorized vehicle as he deposited me at the entrance, while I said a little prayer of thanksgiving that I hadn’t arrived by skateboard, bicycle or roller skates. Inside, I was met by a woman who said, ‘Good morning. May I give you a pamphlet?’ Once I was seated, just about everyone came up to me, introduced themselves, told me they were glad I was there, and asked where I was from and how I had learned about the church. One woman told me I looked like I could sing, and asked if I would like to join the choir. (How she guessed it is a mystery to me.)
Was your pew comfortable?
The chair was very comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
The choir rehearsed a bit. People visited among themselves. I was the center of attention, as mentioned above. The pianist struck up a quiet tune just as the service was about to start.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Good morning. What a joy it is for us to be gathering here as family.’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
The softbound The Faith We Sing and the hardbound United Methodist Hymnal were in the seats, but everything we needed was included in the pamphlet. In addition, just about everything was projected onto screens.
What musical instruments were played?
Grand piano, in perfect tune, and a Kurzweil digital keyboard. The pianist alternated between the two, favoring the Kurzweil to accompany hymns (probably because it was capable of louder output). There was a choir of two ladies and two gentlemen. One of the gentlemen played a medley of hymns on the harmonica after the gospel reading and before the sermon.
Did anything distract you?
Well, several gentlemen arrived wearing hats, and I am happy to say that not one of them failed to remove his upon entering the sanctuary!
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was an abbreviated liturgical celebration, done in a relaxed and personal manner. The hymns were all old favorite chestnuts that were a joy to sing. The service opened with the very lovely ‘Let there be peace on earth,’ but with gender-neutral substitutions, e.g. ‘With God as Creator, children all are we’ instead of ‘With God as our Father, brothers all are we.’ I was especially impressed by the communion service, which I will describe in detail below.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
18 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
10 — I believe the pastor was reading his sermon, which I normally don’t approve of, but he did it so well that I’ll flip all the cards for him anyway. He spoke with sincerity and conviction and made good eye contact with the congregation.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
His text was the gospel reading for the day, Matthew 15:21-28 (the Canaanite woman’s faith impresses Jesus). Jesus had gone through a busy couple of weeks, healing, casting out demons, forgiving sins, etc., and was probably looking forward to a bit of rest and relaxation. But he was accosted by the Canaanite woman who prayed that her daughter be freed of demons. The disciples encouraged Jesus to send her away, probably meaning, ‘Give her what she wants and be rid of her!’ But Jesus was actually rude to her, telling her that dogs don’t eat the children’s food. This is not the Jesus we know – he ‘broke character.’ But the woman kept it up, coming back at him with a rather brilliant ‘Yes, but…’ Jesus was impressed by her faith and did give her what she wanted. The gospels are full of examples of faith being everything. Jesus’ ministry was not just for Jews. He will respond to anyone who comes to him in faith. Going to church is not enough, not a guarantee. We must have faith.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
I was very impressed with how communion was handled. The pastor introduced it with the Sursum corda, preface, and Sanctus. He spoke the words of institution and then recited the epiclesis (rarely done in a Protestant church in my experience). Both he and the woman assisting him received from a loaf which he broke – but we received from bread that had previously been broken, which we intincted in a chalice of grape juice. At least it was real bread, not tiny crackers or thin round hosts.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
I have to stretch this one hard, as there really was nothing in the service that stooped to this level. But I am sure the Kurzweil has a good organ stop, and the pianist would have done well to draw it to support the hymns if she was looking for volume. And as impressed as I was by how communion was done and how friendly the people were, there was a bit of jostling in the communion line – people wanting to go first ahead of others. This surprised me a bit.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I was again the center of attention. Just about everyone thanked me for coming and hoped that I would return on my next visit to Oceanside. I told the pastor how impressed I was with how he handled communion, and he said that he has been doing it for a long time.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There was nothing on offer after the service, but donuts and coffee were available beforehand. I am trying to avoid sugar, so I passed the donuts by. And I really wasn’t in the mood for coffee – I satisfied myself with a bit of water. I called for my Uber driver and again spared him having to enter the parking lot as an unauthorized vehicle – I walked out to the street to meet him.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 — I don’t often feel as good about church as I felt today. Everyone was so genuinely welcoming, and the service was done with such dignity yet so sincerely. I will definitely make a return visit. If I lived in Oceanside, I would give serious consideration to making this church my regular.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Most certainly yes!
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
You don’t often hear someone playing a harmonica – and playing it well at that. And in church! Definitely memorable.