Everyone is welcome. 

We are the church that founded the Pacific Palisades. Early Methodist chautauquas and camps were held in Temescal Canyon. The simple cross which sits atop our church tower originally stood on Peace Hill where special services were held above Via de la Paz (the way of peace.)

John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. The emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

We invite you to learn more about our rich heritage and how you can play a role with us in making this village and this world a better place, in the name of Jesus.

Dr. Wayne Walters

Joey Hargrove
Family Ministry Director

Ross Chitwood
Director of Worship and Community

Laura Bieber
Preschool Director

Miss Xochii
Child Care

What is Methodism?

United Methodists are the second largest Protestant denomination in America. United Methodists share a common heritage with Christians of every age and nation. We consider scripture to be the primary guide for faith and practice yet utilize the wisdom and insights that come from 2000 years of church history, our own and other’s experiences, and God’s gift of our minds. We recognize the Bible has to be read and studied in a way that brings to awareness its various types of literature and the influences of its authors, editors, and the cultures and times when it was formulated. United Methodists have a passionate faith with strong convictions yet we also recognize that life is not always black and white. We are willing to ask questions and wrestle with difficult issues, tempered consistently with grace and compassion.

United Methodists have been known for our emphasis on a personal faith, lived out in concrete ways in the world. We have historically valued well-informed and passionate preaching, worship that was lively, and small group opportunities where people could grow in faith.

United Methodists have open hearts and open minds through active engagement with our world – and we welcome anyone interested in learning more about us and the Christian faith.

We invite you to learn more about our rich heritage and how you can play a role with us in making Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles and this world a better place.

What we believe?

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and the early Methodists 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.

As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time.

WHO GOD IS

When we say the Apostles’ Creed, we join with millions of Christians through the ages in an understanding of God as a Trinity—three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From early in our Judaic roots we’ve affirmed that God is one and indivisible, yet God is revealed in three distinct ways. “God in three persons, blessed Trinity” is one way of speaking about the several ways we experience God.

We also try to find adjectives that describe the divine nature: God is transcendent (over and beyond all that is), yet at the same time immanent (present in everything). God is omnipresent (everywhere at once), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omniscient (all-knowing). God is absolute, infinite, righteous, just, loving, merciful…and more. Because we cannot speak literally about God, we use metaphors: God is a Shepherd, a Bridegroom, a Judge. God is Love or Light or Truth.

WHAT GOD DOES

We cannot describe God with certainty. But we can put into words what God does and how we experience God’s action in our lives. God works in at least these seven ways:

God creates. In the beginning God created the universe, and the Creation is ongoing. From the whirling galaxies, to subatomic particles, to the unfathomable wonders of our own minds and bodies—we marvel at God’s creative wisdom.

God sustains. God continues to be active in creation, holding all in “the everlasting arms.” In particular, we affirm that God is involved in our human history—past, present, and future.

God loves. God loves all creation. In particular, God loves humankind, created in the divine image. This love is like that of a parent. We’ve followed Jesus in speaking of God as “our Father,” while at times it seems that God nurtures us in a motherly way as well.

God suffers. Since God is present in creation, God is hurt when any aspect of creation is hurt. God especially suffers when people are injured. In all violence, abuse, injustice, prejudice, hunger, poverty, or illness, the living God is suffering in our midst.

God judges. All human behavior is measured by God’s righteous standards—not only the behavior itself but also the motive or the intent. The Lord of life knows our sin—and judges it.

God redeems. Out of infinite love for each of us, God forgives our own self-destruction and renews us within. God is reconciling the individuals, groups, races, and nations that have been rent apart. God is redeeming all creation.

God reigns. God is the Lord of all creation and of all history. Though it may oftentimes seem that the “principalities and powers” of evil have the stronger hand, we affirm God’s present and future reign.