Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church (YLPC) sits at the corner of Yorba Linda Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Yorba Linda, California, in northern Orange County. The congregation gathers Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for worship built around scripture, song, and sermon, and members describe it as a small church big on acceptance, relationships, and community engagement. Its mission statement reads simply: Worship God. Equip Disciples. Love and Serve the World.
A Congregation Planted by the Presbytery
YLPC traces its beginnings to a deliberate church-planting effort in the 1980s. The Presbytery of Los Ranchos, the regional body that oversees Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations in the area, launched a project called Mission On Our Doorstep (MOOD) with the goal of starting or redeveloping fifteen congregations within a decade. A demographic study pointed to Yorba Linda as one of the locations, and in 1989 the presbytery purchased 3.5 acres at the corner of Yorba Linda Boulevard and Palm Avenue. A pastor was called in 1990, and the first worship service drew about fifteen people in a rented hall. Through outreach, phone calls, and personal invitations, the congregation grew and was formally chartered on March 15, 1992, with 104 members.
A new facility was completed in March 1993, and a sanctuary was added and dedicated in April 2002 to accommodate the growing congregation. After a search process in 2016, the Rev. Lynn Stone was called to serve, beginning her ministry on August 1 of that year. The church today describes itself as warm and inviting, with members who share a common thread of faith expressed in the mission statement and a feeling that, in connecting with each other, they connect with God's Holy Spirit.
Sundays at 9:30
Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. Visitors heading westbound on Yorba Linda Boulevard can turn right into the campus; there is also an entrance off Palm Avenue just across from Jessamyn Park. Parking is ample, and the sidewalks lead to the center of campus where the sanctuary entrance sits. Greeters offer a friendly hello at the door and ushers hand out a printed bulletin that outlines the service.
Inside worship, every element ties back to the scripture of the day. Poetic liturgy helps the congregation express its prayers, music lifts the assembly into quiet contemplation, and the sermon is described as the high point - a time to dig into God's word for wisdom and guidance. Children and youth remain part of the worshiping community, with comfortable places to sit and activities for kids, youth, and creative adults who want something to engage with during the sermon.
After worship, the patio opens for coffee and conversation, where members and newcomers get to know one another and discover where to plug in. The church's invitation is simple: "Come and see." Whether a visitor is in a season of abundance or doubt, rejection or celebration, the congregation is there to journey with them wherever they are.
A Music Ministry that Sings and Rings
Music is described as a pillar of worship at YLPC, with a program that welcomes people from all walks of life. The Chancel Choir, led by Director of Music Ministries Kevin Jeffries-Phan, sings with exuberant song and love of music. Rehearsals bring joy and passion into the sanctuary as the choir prepares to lead worship each week, and all are welcome to join to discover the absolute joy of making music together.
The Gloria Ringers hand bell choir, directed by Roxanne Ford, has grown to five octaves and can be heard ringing throughout the church year. Hand bells serve as a fine path into music and ministry, and the ensemble welcomes anyone interested in exploring the world of hand bells with a warm smile and open arms.
An Instrumental Ministry completes the picture, welcoming musicians of every kind and making room for any calling to share a musical gift in worship. Whether a violinist, flutist, trumpeter, or someone who plays an instrument that has not yet been heard at YLPC, there will be room at the table.
The Choral Scholars Program adds a youth dimension to the music ministry. Young singers receive voice lessons and vocal coachings as they participate in weekly worship and recitals, growing and prospering in this music ministry. Rehearsals are held Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Children and Youth
Children and youth are woven into the life of the congregation. The sanctuary is set up so that families can worship together, with activities available for kids and youth during the service. After Sunday worship, the youth group gathers for snacks, check-in time, and conversation around faith issues relevant to their lives. Once a month, the group turns to a fun activity or mission project, and the teens appreciate the community service hours those projects bring. Interested families can connect with Pastor Lynn Stone to join the group.
Adults in Study and Fellowship
A handful of ongoing groups give adults a chance to study, pray, and support one another. The Thursday Morning Bible Study, led by the pastor, runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. The group enjoys a time of prayer together and lively conversation around a passage of scripture. Past studies have included the gospel of John, Amos, Ecclesiastes, Hebrews, and "Bad Girls of the Bible."
Presbyterian Women gathers once a month, in the morning or evening, around the PW Horizons Bible Study. It is a treasured time of being nourished by study of God's word and time spent sharing about life together.
Men's Fellowship meets on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of the month at 8:00 a.m. Meetings center around the word, discussing how to live as Christian men and keep themselves as relevant Christians within their families, friends, and community in the diversity of Orange County.
A Caregiver's Support Group meets on the second Monday of every month from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Lounge, offering a confidential space to share caregiving experiences and gather strength, ideas, and support on best ways to care for loved ones and for oneself.
An Improv Drum Circle gathers on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. No experience is needed; the church provides drums and shakers for everyone. The circle is a place to discover the music God placed in all of us.
The Be Renewed Campus Campaign
YLPC is in the middle of a three-year giving initiative called Be Renewed. The campaign gathers resources to update the parts of the campus that need it most: renewing the first building with reimagined spaces for fellowship and ministries, replacing or repairing the organ so it can support worship for years to come, and changing the way neighbors see the campus so that YLPC is known as welcoming, friendly, and open.
The projected budget is around $1.5 million, and plans aim to be energy and resource efficient. Built-in storage solutions will replace the current lack of them, and ministry-specific storage will be worked into the new design. Members can pledge over three years above their regular giving, give a one-time gift, or contribute stocks, IRA Required Minimum Distributions, and other appreciated assets. There is even a Letter of Intent form for those who wish to make a planned gift. A virtual suggestion box is open for questions and comments about the project.
Mission and The Board
The church's mission statement frames outreach as loving and serving the world, easing suffering, providing for needs, and shining the light of Christ. YLPC supports several mission partners and is proud of the ways their work makes a difference in the world. The church is always learning from its partners and welcomes new ones to join in the work.
One distinctive internal effort is "The Board," a free community resource available to anyone looking for or wanting to offer help. The Board lists current helping needs (such as pulling weeds from a small back patio), current material needs, current available items (like a brand-new booster toilet seat), and current available services. Anyone can submit a Board Form to add a need or an offer to the board.
Pastoral and Program Leadership
The pastor is the Rev. Lynn Stone, who also leads the Thursday Morning Bible Study. Kevin Jeffries-Phan serves as Director of Music Ministries, directing the Chancel Choir and the Instrumental Ministry. Roxanne Ford directs the Gloria Ringers hand bell choir. Kim Wisnia serves as Director of Spiritual Formation and regularly leads "Worship in Action" segments during the Be Renewed campaign.
The Session, the church's governing body in the Presbyterian Church (USA) tradition, oversees the ministries of the congregation. Elders chair the areas of Worship (David Zimmerman and Kent Arnold), Mission (Susan Cash and Johnnie Hitt), Christian Education (Karla Peterson and Yolanda McComb), Stewardship (Laurie Stokes and Linda Sung), Facilities (Gil Wolverton), Personnel (Ellen Rissman Wong and Dave Wassenaar), and Nominating (Alison Lauderdale). Chris Hills serves as Clerk of Session.
Audio Sermons and the Newsletter
Worship extends beyond Sunday morning. Audio recordings of recent sermons are posted online and can be downloaded as MP3 files, and Sunday bulletins are available as PDFs. Preaching has covered passages from Genesis, Exodus, Matthew, John, Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, and the pastoral epistles, with the Rev. Lynn Stone joined by guest preachers from the wider community, including the Rev. Matt Moncrief, Rev. Kip Kipp, Rev. Garrett Erickson, John Israel, David Zimmerman, Darcy Anderson, Chris Hoch, Sandra Kim, Stan Smith, and Vanessa Bates. The monthly Grapevine newsletter keeps members connected to what is happening across the church, and a prayer chain carries concerns between members who want to lift one another up.
Practicalities
The mailing address is 19301 East Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, California 92886. The office can be reached at (714) 777-6822 or info@ylpc.org. Giving is handled through the church's online giving page, and a Letter of Intent form is available for those who wish to make a planned gift.