Your first Sunday · Palo Alto

What Is Sunday Like at UAMEZ Church in Palo Alto?

Sunday at 10:00 AM · 3549 Middlefield Rd · Come as you are.

Save me a seat Get directions See what to expect

Let us know you're coming. Sunday worship at UAMEZ runs 10:00 to 11:30 AM, with a message of about 30 minutes. Kids in kindergarten through 6th grade check in at 9:45 at the courtyard counter. Wear whatever makes you comfortable, and park in our lot or on Christine Drive. No registration is needed.

No registration is needed to attend. You can also just show up.

Your way in · Sunday morning

3549 Middlefield RdFollow the UAMEZ flags

One serviceSunday · 10:00 AM

Find us3549 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

Ends11:30 AM

Let us know you're coming

Save me a seat.

Tell us a little about who is coming, and a greeter will be watching for you in the courtyard on Sunday at 10:00 AM.

Filling this out is optional. Questions first? Call (650) 272-6742 or email info@uamez.com.

Form not loading? Open it here Or call (650) 272-6742.

Plan your Sunday

When and where is service?

Our Sunday worship starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:30 AM. We meet at 3549 Middlefield Rd in Palo Alto. Park in our lot or around the corner on Christine Drive and walk into the courtyard, where our greeters can help you find your way.

Kids from kindergarten through 6th grade have Amazing Kids during the service, with check-in at 9:45 AM. Come as you are.

Get directions. Questions before you come? Call (650) 272-6742 or email info@uamez.com.

Two women walk together in the courtyard, with one gesturing ahead.

A woman in a black hat and yellow skirt waves beside the church parking lot.

From the street to your seat

Where do I park, and what happens when I arrive?

Walk into the courtyard. Tell any greeter it's your first time. They'll take it from there and walk you in.

Get directions

Where do I park?
Our lot holds about 50 cars, including 5 accessible spaces. When it fills up, there's street parking on Christine Drive, right around the corner.
If someone is dropping you off, pull up to the pathway into the courtyard. And if anyone in your car could use a hand (a walker, a stroller, an elderly parent) our greeters will meet you at the curb and walk you to your seat.
What happens when I arrive?
Walk into the courtyard. Tell any greeter it's your first time. They'll take it from there and walk you in. If you brought kids, they'll walk you over to the Amazing Kids counter first.
Where do I sit?
There are no reserved seats and no assigned pews, and walking in a few minutes late is fine.
When does it end?
Sunday worship starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:30 AM.

Open directions in Google Maps

Coming without a car? The 21 bus stops at Middlefield and Meadow, about a 3-minute walk away. California Avenue Caltrain station is about 11 minutes by bike; there's a bike rack out front.

A UAMEZ Church welcome sign beside the courtyard path, with people gathering outside.

Inside the room

What is the service like?

It's warm and full of soul. We open with gospel music and the whole room sings. You'll hear gospel, contemporary worship songs, and traditional hymns. Prayer is where we get honest about our doubts and whatever else is on our minds, and nobody is judging.

The message runs about 30 minutes. Every sermon works through a passage of scripture and connects it to everyday life.

Everything we say or sing together, including the Apostles' Creed, is on the screen. You won't need to know anything in advance.

Want to hear a sermon first? Explore selected public UAMEZ messages.

The Sunday rhythm

What happens, in order?

Welcome and opening prayer
Two songs
The Apostles' Creed
Meet-and-greet
Announcements
Offering
Time for personal prayer
A hymn and one more song
The message
The invitation and blessing

No one expects a visitor to give. If you'd rather stay seated during prayer or the invitation, that's completely normal.

Two singers dressed in white lead worship from the front of the sanctuary.

A view across the sanctuary shows the congregation standing together in worship.

Something you might hear

What is the Apostles' Creed?

It's one of the oldest summaries of what Christians believe, said together by churches around the world for well over a thousand years. In a few sentences, it says we believe in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. You'll find the words on the screen, and you're welcome to say it with us or just listen.

Why does the Creed say “catholic”?

Because “catholic” with a small c means universal. When we say we believe in “the holy catholic church,” we mean the whole church of Jesus Christ, every believer in every place and every century. It doesn't mean the Roman Catholic Church. UAMEZ is a Methodist church in the A.M.E. Zion tradition. Read what we believe.

Coming as a family

What about my kids?

Amazing Kids meets during the 10:00 AM service, so you don't have to choose between worship and your kids. Your children are also welcome to sit with you in worship instead.

What is there for kindergarten through 6th grade?

Little Lambs is kindergarten through 2nd grade, and Promised Kids is 3rd through 6th. Kids make crafts and learn Bible stories, often with a hands-on experiment.

Check-in opens at 9:45 AM at the Amazing Kids counter in the courtyard, beside the main entrance. The first time takes about five minutes. You'll get a printed tag, and you'll need to show it during pickup. Every Amazing Kids volunteer is background-checked, with no exceptions. Read more about Amazing Kids.

What if I have a baby or toddler?

We don't have a staffed nursery. Babies and toddlers are welcome to stay with their families during service. If you need a quieter spot, the Little House is across the courtyard with the service on a screen. It's also a quieter spot for a child who gets overwhelmed by noise. Changing table available. Strollers park on the left side of the sanctuary.

What about teenagers?

Teens worship with everyone else, and many serve on Sunday teams. We don't have a separate youth program.

After the blessing

What happens after service?

People stay and talk in the courtyard. It's the easiest time to meet someone.

If you want to go further, Next Steps meets in the Fireside Room 15 minutes after service for 30 minutes. It's where you learn who UAMEZ is, how God made you, and where you might serve. Attend whenever you're ready. Learn about Next Steps.

Want to join or serve? Start with Next Steps.

When you're ready for more

Do I have to decide on my first visit?

You can stay to talk after worship or come to a Sunday or two before joining Next Steps. There's no pressure to decide on your first visit.

People smile and talk together in the church courtyard.

Good questions welcome

What else do visitors ask?

Nothing here is a test. Ask what you need to ask before you come.

What should I wear?

Whatever makes you comfortable. Some people wear a suit and some wear jeans, and both are welcome. Nobody is checking.

How long does service run?

Sunday worship starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 11:30 AM.

Will I be called out to go up front?

No. There are two moments when people come forward, and both times you're free to stay where you are. The first is during prayer. Most people come to the altar and plenty pray from their seats. Either is normal. The second is the invitation, when we ask whether anyone wants to accept Christ, join the church, or recommit to their faith. If that's you, come on up. If it isn't, stay seated.

Am I expected to give?

No one expects it. If you'd like to give, you can, and if not, just let it pass.

I just moved here and don't know anyone. Is this a good place to start?

That describes a lot of people here on a Sunday. The Bay Area is a hard place to make friends, and we know it. Come once, sit in the back, and see how it feels.

What if I'm not sure what I believe?

Then you're in the right place. Some people here grew up in church, some left it, and some have never been. You don't have to have it figured out to come. If you want to know what we teach, here's what we believe.

Can I watch online first?

Yes. Every Sunday service streams live at 10:00 AM on YouTube. Find the UAMEZ channel and selected public messages on the Watch page.

What kind of church is UAMEZ?

UAMEZ is a Palo Alto church community where nobody has to do life alone. Families, Gen Z, young professionals and people new to the Bay Area worship here together. We're a multicultural, historically Black church, in Palo Alto since 1918. The Middlefield campus was built in 1965, and the congregation moved in in 1966. Rev. Kaloma A. Smith has been the pastor since 2013.

Is the building accessible?

There are no steps anywhere on the way in. The lot, the courtyard, and the sanctuary are all flat. Seating for wheelchairs and walkers is at the front, and you don't need to arrange it ahead of time. Our restrooms are not fully accessible yet. If you need anything before Sunday, call (650) 272-6742 so we can talk through what you need.

I don't have a car. Can I get there without one?

Yes. The 21 bus stops at Middlefield and Meadow, a 3-minute walk from our door. From the California Avenue Caltrain station it's about 11 minutes by bike, and there's a rack out front.

In her own words

Returning to church?

When I first visited UAMEZ, I was pretty skeptical about Christianity and about faith in general.
I grew up in a church where my whole experience of God was following rules. I was told not to question anything, and that even having doubts was wrong. At that time I was at a breaking point, and my friend asked if I wanted to come to church with her.
Something moved in me that day (I still believe that was the Holy Spirit) and that’s how I ended up at UAMEZ. I remember sitting at the back of the sanctuary, and when Pastor Kaloma started preaching, all I could do was break down and cry. I felt so seen and heard. I had never felt that way in a church before.
Feeling at home means a lot to me, and the UAMEZ family embraced me before I had anything figured out. My faith journey since then hasn’t been smooth. I still show up with questions, but nobody here has ever judged me for having them. It’s comforting to sit with other young adults and hear about their faith journeys too, and to know I wasn’t the only one with these questions. I’ve been met with so much grace and kindness, and I’ve found friends I couldn’t have asked for.
If you’re ever nervous about coming back to church, just know that this one is a safe space.

Shania

See you Sunday

Can I simply show up?

Sunday at 10:00 AM. 3549 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Look for the UAMEZ flags and walk into the courtyard. Our greeters will help you from there.