Pledge Now – Stewardship 2025/26
How to Pledge or make a Donation:
1. FILL OUT A PLEDGE FORM: You may fill out an online form here, or download a pdf of the card to mail to our office.
2. PAY YOUR PLEDGE ONLINE (Select 2026 in the drop-down menu)
3. MAKE A ONE-TIME GIFT (select “General Donation” in the drop-down menu)
From the 2026 Stewardship Campaign letter:
Dear Church Family,
When I arrived at Santa Monica First United Methodist Church as an Associate Pastor twenty-five years ago, I quickly learned how connected it was to our community. Now serving as your Senior Pastor, I truly appreciate the depth of that connection as we celebrate our 150th birthday.
On October 15, 1875, the Rev. John D. Crum gathered a small group of new residents together for the first meeting of Methodists in Santa Monica. The City of Santa Monica had just been established earlier that same year. They met in a second-floor loft of Mr. Brady’s hardware store located at Fourth and Arizona streets, marking the start of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Santa Monica.
Over the next 150 years our congregation grew. Larger church buildings were built to accommodate our growth in worship and ministry, including our sanctuaries at 4th and Arizona and our current campus at 11th and Washington. A church, however, is much more than a building; it is a community of faith that embodies God’s love to the world. Generations of our members have dedicated themselves to reaching out in service to our neighbors. Our Christmas and Spring concerts have provided choral and orchestral performances for the public. Upward Bound House, a non-profit organization providing housing and services for seniors and families facing homelessness, was envisioned and founded by our congregation. We continue to support many other organizations including the Westside Food Bank, the People Concern, and American Red Cross with both volunteers and our financial gifts.
What makes all of this possible is your generous giving. Through the gifts of your time, talents, and resources, we continue to make a difference in the world. If you’ve not yet begun the spiritual practice of regular giving, I invite you to do so by making a pledge commitment for 2026. If you can increase your giving in support of our growth, I invite you to commit to that in the next year as well.
As Jerry Brown stated in our newly revised 150th history (www.santamonicaumc.org/first-umc-history): “Now, as First UMC of Santa Monica embarks on a new chapter in its impressive history…this is, indeed… God’s time…a time for His purposes to be fulfilled.” We ask you to Be the Hope of our future and commit to giving generously.
During the month of November, we will look forward to the next chapter of our ministry. Join us each Sunday (November 9, 16 and 23) to hear members share how giving has made a difference in their lives. We invite you to participate as well. There are three easy ways to submit a pledge to the church (listed above.)
Thank you for your prayerful and generous support as we continue to “Be the Hope!”