You are welcome here.
If you would like to help. please contact any committee chair.
Meet some current church members who will talk about what First Church has meant in their lives. Also Pastors Michael and Laurie answer your questions about church membership as well as sharing the ways we will equip you for a deeper experience of membership.
Coffee with the Pastors will be offered about once a month except in holiday seasons.
Let's always remember and live the promise that we've made to our new pastors!
If you're considering membership, you are invited to a time of conversation at one of our Coffees with the Pastors.
Meet some current church members who will talk about what First Church has meant in their lives. Also Pastors Michael and Laurie answer your questions about church membership as well as sharing the ways we will equip you for a deeper experience of membership.
Coffee with the Pastors are offered about once a month except in holiday seasons.
• By profession of faith and baptism
• By letter of transfer from another United Methodist Church
• By letter of transfer from another Christian Church OR by reaffirmation
of faith when a letter of transfer is not appropriate/possible.
For more information about the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, about membership or about the United Methodist Church, please speak to one of our Pastors: The Rev. Michael Love 650-323-6167 x101 or The Rev. Laurie McHugh 650-323-6167 x102
Our History - Serving The Community Since 1894
The First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto has been serving our community since 1894. Our buildings have changed, our locations have changed, but our mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties is unchanged.
Click here to learn more about:
• The architectural history of our church building
• Our ministers over the years
• Our archives
• Visits by the King of Tonga and President Jimmy Carter
• and more
Covenant of Inclusiveness
In April 2000 our church adopted a Convenant of Inclusiveness when we became a Reconciling Congregation.
Read it here.
As a Reconciling Congregation we are a part of the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.
We are one of over 200 Reconciling Congregations in the US. The Reconciling Ministries Network is not officially part of the United Methodist Church, but rather, "we are a part of the Methodist tradition of social concern and action, a justice-seeking, Spirited people".
Social Justice
We are committed to promoting social justice in our church, our community and the world.
Click here to learn about our activities.
Peace Pole
"Blessed are the Peacemakers" Matthew 5:9
The Peace Pole is a reminder to members and to visitors to First United Methodist Church that God's house is a place of Peace and that we are called to inner peace and to be peacemakers.
"My peace I leave you, My peace I give you, trouble not your hearts…." John 14:27
The multiple languages on the pole signify our prayers for world peace and recognizes the inclusiveness of all peoples. Each language proclaims "May Peace be in Our Homes and Communities".
The UMW and Outreach Committee presented a grant application to the Centennial Endowment Fund committee for the purchase of our Peace Pole.
While the Peace Pole is located in the narthex, it is moveable so that it can be incorporated into some worship services, and also be available for use in various Sunday School classes, committee meetings, and special occasions.
Memorial Garden
In 1995, a small group of members of FUMC, Palo Alto, “affirming their faith that death is not the end of life, but rather the climax of life on earth, leading to eternal life on another life” began planning a Memorial Garden in Garland Court (North Patio). Planning and construction were completed in 1997 and dedication of the Garden was done on Novmeber 7 of that year.
The garden includes two planter areas: in the upper one, specific sites can be selected where ashes can be buried either directly in the ground or in a biodegratable bag; in the lower area, ashes will be buried in an undesignated site. In either case, a record of burial is kept in the church office and a copy in a safe off-church site. Name plaques with dates of birth and death are mounted on the wall.
The Memorial Garden is maintained by an income from an endowment fund made possible by a portion of the fees paid for burials as will as by Memorial gifts and other gifts made by individuals. Centennial Endowment Fund grants have also made several grants for specific needs.
We encourage FUMC members to consider making arrangements for their ashes to be buried in our Memorial Garden. If you have any questions, please do call Mary Ann Michel (650-494-0162)
Have Your Wedding At FirstPaloAlto
Our Sanctuary offers a most memorable and beautiful location for a Bay Area wedding.
We invite you to take a tour and learn more about how we can help make your wedding day perfect.
Please go to our Wedding Page for more information.
Concerts
First's vast cathedral acoustically compliments many quality concerts and recitals held by Bay Area musicians. We regularly host performances of groups such as the Philharmonia Baroque, New Century Chamber Orchestra, and Midsummer Mozart Festival.
Contact the concerts coordinator, Harriet Howell 650-323-6167
Bishop R. Marvin Stuart
R. Marvin Stuart, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church, died at Channing House in Palo Alto on November 11, 2003 at the age of 93
November 22, 1909 -- November 11, 2003
Click here to view photos of Bishop Stuart from the First Palo Alto archives
Click here to read Rev. Stuart's farewell sermon just before he left the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto to become the Bishop of the Denver Area
Born in Paullina, Iowa, on November 22, 1909, to Robert Lee and Josie Lena Stuart. Stuart grew up in the Midwest, where his father was a Methodist minister. He met his wife-to-be, Mary Ella Rose, when they both attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, which Stuart's father later served as president. At the time of Mary Ella's death in 2001, the Stuarts had known each other for 74 years and had been married for 68. Mary Ella was a devoted partner in ministry, including skills as teacher and writer and a devotion to gracious hospitality in her home.
Stuart received his B.A. in 1931 at Taylor and S.T.B. and S.T.M. degrees at Boston University School of Theology in 1934 and 1935. He was given a D.D. by Taylor University in 1945.
Stuart served pastorates in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and El Cerrito, San Francisco, and Palo Alto in California.
Twenty-two years at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto was at the heart of Stuart's ministry. During that time all the current buildings of the church were constructed, including its landmark "contemporary Gothic" place of worship. The congregation grew to over 2,000 members and in two consecutive years led the churches of the entire United Methodist denomination in giving for benevolences.
Relating deep personal Christian commitment to efforts for peace and social justice was a key priority in Stuart's life. He called himself an "evangelical liberal." He was a Christian pacifist. He ministered to Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II and protested their internment. When he retired in 1980, Japanese Americans paid special tribute to Stuart's ministry to them. When a bishop in the Denver Area, he protested the Vietnam War.
Stuart advocated open housing in Palo Alto, working to remove restrictive real estate covenants. When he heard that a new Jewish congregation was looking for a temporary home, he invited it to share the facilities of his church, and a very special relationship developed over several years between Jews and Methodists.
In Palo Alto, Stuart was one of the founders of the Family Service Association, Palo Alto Fair Play Council, and Youth Coordinating Council. He was active in the Boy Scouts and Y.M.C.A. and a member of Kiwanis. The Palo Alto Real Estate Board named him "Citizen of the Year" in 1960. In 1995, retired in Palo Alto, Stuart was honored by the Senior Coordinating Council of Palo Alto with one of its "Lifetimes of Achievement" awards.
Stuart served as a regent of the University of the Pacific and a trustee of the University of Denver, the Iliff School of Theology, Alaska Methodist University, and the Pacific School of Religion.
As a delegate to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, Stuart carried to the floor of the conference the resolution that resulted in women being ordained as clergy.
Elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 1964, Stuart was assigned to the Denver Area, responsible for eight years for churches in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. He became resident bishop of the San Francisco Area, in 1972-1980, with oversight of approximately five hundred churches in Northern California and Nevada. Stuart's offices in San Francisco were adjacent to those of the Glide Foundation and Church, whose controversial ministries to the disadvantaged he supported strongly.
Stuart was President of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church world-wide in 1978-1979.
In retirement, Stuart played a key role in establishing an endowment of over $500,000 for the chaplaincy at the University of the Pacific. He became part-time chaplain at Lytton Gardens in Palo Alto, a residence for persons with low and moderate incomes, which he had worked earlier to establish.
Being a pastor was vitally important to Stuart even when he had enormous administrative responsibilities. He worked to give ministers special resources to empower growth and surmount obstacles. In retirement, he was beloved by those on whom he called daily to share prayer and often one of the stories for which he became noted. Even after suffering a stroke, he moved himself around in a wheel chair to call on persons even more limited in mobility than he was.
An avid sports fan, Stuart was devoted particularly to the San Francisco Giants and the athletics program of Stanford University, especially women's and men's basketball.
Stuart's philosophy of leadership was summed up in two key guidelines: "People will support what they help create" and "You cannot lead where you are not going."
Bishop Stuart is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Lee Stuart, retired Professor of English at the University of Redlands and a resident of The Sequoias in San Francisco, and by a sister, Josephine Juett, of Lake Side Ohio.
A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17,2006, at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. Interment of Stuart's ashes with those of his late wife and two children who died in infancy will be private.
Bishop Stuart requested before his death that flowers not be sent, but memorial contributions could be made to the Stuart Landscaping Endowment at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, at 625 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California, 94301.
Click here to view photos of Bishop Stuart from the First Palo Alto archives
Please feel free to leave your remembrances of Bishop Stuart below.
Community & Beyond
Weddings, baptisms, funerals, receptions, and other social gatherings are a part of the ministry of our church. Nonmembers are invited to have their events here under the guidance of one of our ministers and the Events Coordinator.
Contact our Events Coordinator, Jessie Ngai 650-575-6539
A number of other groups regularly use our facility including: Twelve-Step groups, International Folk Dancing, Boy Scouts, and a Weaver's Guild.
Church Fundraiser Application
Planning on holding a church fundraiser?
Official Church groups and committees may hold fundraisers. Fundraising activities include, but are not limited to: special offerings, meals, food sales, product sales, sponsorships and shows.
In order to maintain our tax exempt status all fundraising activities at the Church must be approved in advance by the Finance Committee. This procedure also helps to coordinate the timing of fundraisers so that groups do not have to simultaneously compete for funds.
Click here to download the fundraiser application form and detailed rules.
Labyrinth
Walking this circular path from the first century of Christianity helps us release the surface noise of our days and connect deeply with the Source of Life, with the Sacred that is in and around us - for guidance, peace, healing. The Labyrinth is offered at special times of the year (Lent, Holy Week, Advent, New Year's Eve.)
Contact: Angela Mosqueda 650-323-6167 x103
The ministry of our Church is in all of our hands. Immeasurable time is given by volunteers to serve on committees that extend our ministry and programs within our walls, out in the local community and around the world.
If you're considering membership or have recently joined, you are invited to a time of conversation.
On their first Sunday with us, Pastors Michael Love and Laurie McHugh were presented with a 30 foot long Promise Scroll which was signed by everyone in the congregation. It reads:
We invite you to become a member of the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto.
Listen to Pastor Michael's greeting. You are welcome here!