About Us

Welcome
First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica welcomes you to the life of our congregation. You’ll find singles, seniors, families with young children, youth, newly-weds….a full range of programs and opportunities for worship, study, service and fellowship. Explore the rest of our website by using the menu at left and discover all that we have to offer.

Who are Methodists and what do we believe?
The purpose of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As United Methodists we are united in service, mission and love.

John Wesley and the early Methodists were particularly concerned about inviting people to experience God’s grace and to grow in their knowledge and love of God through disciplined Christian living. They placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

The United Methodist Church website provides more definition and a wealth of resources for learning about United Methodism. This link takes you directly to the section on our United Methodist beliefs. Explore the site to find out more.

United Methodism 101 gives a great introduction and provides a free online course to help you learn more.

Where We're Located
FUMC is located at 1008 Eleventh Street in Santa Monica, two blocks north of Wilshire Boulevard between California and Washington. Map and Directions
We offer plenty of free parking in our church garage located across the street from the church. Look for the "Church Parking" signs. There are three underground levels.
For more information visit Contact Us.

What to Expect
We offer two worship services on Sunday mornings. The 9:00 am service many of the same elements as our 10:30 service but is designed to appeal to families and includes a Children's Message. Various choirs, soloists and groups provide the music. This service should be of interest to those wishing to worship in a more casual laid back setting.

The 10:30 am service is what we refer to as a more traditional service. A traditional United Methodist worship service includes "call and response" readings, hymns from our United Methodist Hymnal, prayers read out loud by the entire congregation, a sermon from one of our ministers, organ music and anthems sung by our Chancel Choir. The service is more formal in nature.

Both services invite you into the presence of the living God with focus on the Word of God and sermons relevant to your life in today’s world. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and is open to all who wish to share in God’s grace. Coffee Hour - a time of fellowship and refreshments - if offered after each service in the social hall and is a great time to meet people. Child care and Sunday School is available in the Education Building for infants through children in 5th grade. We have a Safe Sanctuaries Policy to help make our church campus a holy place of safety.

Wear what you are comfortable wearing—you’ll see a variety of styles and preferences.

What We Offer
Giving back is a big part of who we are at FUMC. Upward Bound House provides transitional housing for families moving out of homelessness. The project and the building of the facility were spearheaded by our congregation. Recently we’ve sent adult and youth work teams to New Orleans through our Gulf Coast Partnership. Our excellent Preschool has served families for over 50 years. As we enter the holiday season, Alternative Christmas is a time-honored tradition here.

We offer classes for all ages as well as a vital youth program and music opportunities including children's/youth/adult choirs and handbell choirs. We have an active Health Ministry including outreach to seniors, monthly blood pressure screenings, an annual flu clinic, and weekly walking group. We have many groups including Men’s Bible Study, monthly Book Studies, and an active unit of United Methodist Women. You’ll find many opportunities for spiritual growth, including monthly Labyrinth walks and a Christian Meditation group. Our Wedding Coordinator assists many couples as we frequently host weddings and receptions. Pastoral care includes pre-marital counseling, baptism, individual and couples counseling as well as funerals and memorial services.

These are just a few of the things that make FUMC distinct in our community.

How We Share Our Gifts
The possibilities are unlimited—lay leadership in worship, communion ministry to homebound members, leadership in the program and administrative committees of the congregation, choirs, musicals, crafts for the Holiday Boutique, a prayer quilt ministry that reaches out to members and loved ones near and far, our church softball team called “the Holy Rollers,” mentoring, tutoring and volunteering in a great variety of community service organizations.