Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting UAMEZ Church in Palo Alto

Visiting a new church is uncertain, especially if it has been a while or you have never done it. I want to take the guesswork out of it. Here is exactly what to expect.

When is the service?

Sundays at 10:00 AM. One service. It runs about 90 minutes. Communion is the first Sunday of the month and baptisms are the second, and those Sundays run a little long, closer to 11:45.

Where are you?

3549 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the Midtown neighborhood at the corner of Middlefield and Christine. Look for the UAMEZ flags.

Park in our lot or on the street. If you do not have a car, the 21 bus stops at Middlefield and Meadow, a three-minute walk away, and there is a bike rack out front for anyone coming from Caltrain.

What should I wear?

Whatever you are comfortable in. Some people wear a suit and some wear jeans, and nobody is checking.

What happens in the room?

Greeters at the Welcome Center, the navy booth in the courtyard, will say hello and walk you to the sanctuary. Sit wherever you want. There are no reserved seats.

The service includes singing, the Apostles’ Creed, prayer, an offering you are welcome to pass on as a guest, and a message of about thirty minutes from Scripture. Everything is on the screen, so you will not be lost.

On Sunday you will still hear the classic gospel and hymns many of us grew up on, mixed with new songs and contemporary Christian music.

What about my kids?

Amazing Kids meets during the service for kindergarten through sixth grade, in two groups. Check them in at the Amazing Kids counter when you arrive. We do not have a nursery, so children under kindergarten stay with you, and a little noise does not bother anyone. The Little House across the courtyard has the service live-streamed and a changing table if you need a quieter room.

Is the building accessible?

The building is wheelchair accessible, with no steps on the way in and five accessible parking spaces. If you have a specific need, email info@uamez.com or call (650) 272-6742 ahead of time and we will be ready for you.

What kind of church is this?

UAMEZ stands for University African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. We have been in Palo Alto since 1918. The AME Zion denomination was founded in 1796 and is called the Freedom Church, because Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth were among its members. We are a historically Black church that is genuinely multicultural, and on a typical Sunday you will see families with small kids, Stanford students, young adults new to the Bay Area, and people who have been here fifty years.

You do not need to have your faith figured out to sit with us. Some of us grew up in church, some of us left it for years, and some of us walked in for the first time last month.

Do I need to register?

No. Just come. If you want us to expect you, plan your visit at uamez.com/visit.

What happens after?

Next Steps meets in the Little House about ten minutes after service. It is a short, relaxed conversation about who we are and what is here for you, and most people who now call this church home started there. From there, people usually land in a small group during the week, in Amazing Kids if they have children, or on Team Amazing, which is what we call everyone who serves on a Sunday.

How do I reach you?

Call (650) 272-6742 or email info@uamez.com. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

You do not have to audition for a place here. Come once. Sit in the back if you want. See how it feels.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Kaloma Smith