Mission Statement :

The Utopia UMC seems the to be the epitome of the small country church where people go each week and not much else happens. But that is not the case. The church is 112 years old and just last June, work was completed to restore the church to its original condition. After much discussion and prayer, the congregation decided to keep the sanctuary accessible to those passing through this fair community. Many stop to visit the church because it is a historic site and others stop because it looks exactly the way one expects a small country church to look with its white frame exterior and tall, arching stained glass windows. Once inside, however, many stay for a quiet, still moment in God's presence. In addition to the standard historical brochures and the fold out brochure that offers a scriptural tour of the stained glass windows, the church keeps a literature rack stocked with pamphlets about faith during times of stress, grief, and anxiety. It is not unusual to hear the roar of motorcycles as they pull up and park and stay in front of the church for a while. Visitors find this little church a sanctuary in the hills.

The congregation extends this sense of sanctuary outside its walls through its support of the local food bank, by providing assistance to migrant workers as they pass through the area, supporting the Kairos Prison Ministry with cookies, team members and prayer. Children are welcomed into the church for the Mother's Day Out program, a community-wide Vacation Bible School. The church has been integral to the formation of an ecumenical group called Canyon Care which is designed to provide overarching support and coordination of community volunteers and resources for those in need. The church also provides office space for Rhonda Fousek, a Christian Counselor. This provision makes mental health care more accessible to residents of the canyon who must otherwise drive 45 minutes to an hour and a half for such care.

Reaching outside the canyon, the congregation continues to support the Mabel Claire Health Clinic in Mexico. The congregation supports the pastor in her continuing mission in the Republic of Georgia. She periodically returns to this far corner of the globe to work at the UMCOR-founded Youth House in Tbilisi to teach English and computer classes, participate in enrichment programs for dance, music, and art or lead special seminars.

Utopia United Methodist Church may look like a quiet country church, but looks can be deceiving. It is actually a vibrant, active and alive community of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.