From a 1912 Seed in Owensmouth
On September 10, 1912, a small group of residents of the tiny farm town of Owensmouth gathered in the Southern Pacific Station at the corner of Sherman Way and Canoga Avenue and organized the First Methodist Church of Owensmouth. The spark came from Rev. T.A. Hull, a retired Methodist minister from Nebraska, who had purchased a lot at 7452 Remmet Avenue and invited neighbors interested in forming a church. Early services were held in a school building at 7221 Owensmouth Avenue and in vacant storerooms along the south side of Sherman Way.
A permanent church was completed in 1920 at a cost of about $20,000 but burned within a year. A rebuilt sanctuary was dedicated in 1923, and by 1955 the growing congregation saw that Canoga Park, then home to roughly 16,000 people, was on the verge of a boom. In December 1959 the church purchased a five-acre site at the corner of Maynard Avenue and Sherman Way for about $90,000, and the chapel, now the sanctuary, was consecrated in 1963 during the city's Golden Anniversary. The Fellowship Hall was built in 1986 by congregational volunteers, and the church celebrated its 75th year in 1987 and its 100th year of ministry to the western San Fernando Valley in 2012. Although boundary changes now place the campus in West Hills, the congregation has kept its original name and its Canoga Park identity.
Two Mergers, One Sanctuary Full of Gifts
First Church has grown through two mergers. Wesley United Methodist Church joined in 1975 and brought a stained glass window that now sits in the narthex. In 2008, St. John in the Valley United Methodist Church joined and contributed large woodcarvings of the Twelve Disciples, a Rodgers organ, and funds that made possible a Van Ministry for members who need a ride to worship and a careful refurbishing of the sanctuary. These gifts line the worship space that visitors step into today.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Worship is held at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday and is also livestreamed on YouTube, so members at home can watch in real time or return to recorded services. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month, and all are welcome at the Lord's Table. Grape juice is used rather than wine, and gluten-free elements are available for those who need them. Visitors who are driving in for the first time can enter the parking lot from Maynard at Sherman Way near Fallbrook, with additional parking available on the street.
The church is grounded in the words, "We have open minds, open hearts, and open doors." The congregation is rooted in a Christian tradition while affirming an inclusive love of Christ, social justice, and the equal worth of every person. Races, genders, single people, couples, families, devoted Christians, seekers, interfaith couples, and visitors of every age and background are all welcomed. The message repeated to first-time visitors is simple: "Here, everyone is either our friend or family."
A Mid-Week Rhythm of Study and Prayer
Beyond Sunday morning, the church keeps a steady weekly rhythm. On Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., Pastor Elaine Shin-Paull leads the Wesleyan Bible Study, working through sacred texts with attention to the connection between the Torah and the New Testament. On Sundays at 11:30 a.m., Lay Leader Roger Johnson leads "The Way of the Chosen," an eight-week class held in the church library. Every Monday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m., the congregation gathers by Zoom for a half-hour prayer meeting, and anyone can drop in by requesting the link from the church office.
United Women in Faith and Its Three Circles
United Women in Faith is one of the most active groups in the church. Open to any woman, whether or not she is United Methodist, the unit is recognized as a Five Star Unit for the goals it attains at the district and conference level. The unit supports the Good Samaritan Fund of First Church, prepares Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, contributes to the David and Margaret Home and Methodist Hospital, and funds Youth Camperships through the Merritt Memorial Fund. Each year it also honors a church member for outstanding service.
Members meet in three Circles, each with its own flavor. The Faith, Hope, and Love Circle meets in the church library on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. and pairs member-led discussions with service projects such as food baskets for families in need. The Bookends Circle meets in the library on the third Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and spends the year reading and discussing eight books across biography, fiction, spiritual growth, and the classics, along with a devotional program. The Sarah Circle gathers for breakfast at a restaurant on the second Thursday of the month at 9:15 a.m., focusing on fellowship and mutual support. A Reading Program cart in the church library holds the current year's books, which members may borrow and complete at their own pace.
Men's Breakfast at Frank's Weilers Deli
The Men's Breakfast Fellowship of First Church meets on the first Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at Frank's Weilers Deli, 21161 Victory Boulevard in Canoga Park. A short devotion and brief business meeting is followed by a full breakfast of choice and unhurried conversation. The group is built around faith and friendship among the men of the congregation, and newcomers are welcome to walk in for breakfast any month.
Children, Sunday School, and Pre-Teens
Children's Sunday school is offered as a ministry that the congregation describes as currently growing, with classes that nurture faith, impart Christian values, and build relationships in a supportive environment. The Pre-Teen Ministry, led by Dante Wilson, gives younger members of the congregation their own space. Childcare is also provided during Sunday services by Veronica Cabrera. The First United Methodist Preschool, founded in 1970, has been on the campus since the early years of the educational wing and is well known throughout the west valley for the care and education it provides to preschoolers.
The Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship
Since 1985, the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship has helped upperclass students complete their undergraduate education in memory of Laura Lynn Longman, a 1976 graduate of Taft High School and a young member of the congregation who received an experimental heart transplant at Stanford University Medical Center in 1979 and died while still a senior at San Francisco State University. Scholarships are awarded each Easter Sunday to college juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher. Applications are available from the church office each December. The program has been administered entirely by volunteers, and on Easter 2025 it had awarded 127 grants to 98 different students over 41 years. Contributions may be made in memory or honor of any loved one through Zelle or by check, with the memo line marked for the scholarship.
Serving the San Fernando Valley
Each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., the church hosts a Community Food Drive alongside its worship service, with a list of most-needed items that includes peanut butter, almond butter, tuna, pop-top soups, low-sodium soups for seniors, and Ensure. On Palm Sunday, the congregation comes together to fill "Lenten Blessing Bags" for the unhoused, which are then distributed to people in the community who need them. During Advent, the church runs a gift card project to support families staying at Hope the Mission in Chatsworth. United Women in Faith prepares Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for local families, and the Good Samaritan Fund, a discretionary account used by Pastor Shin-Paull, helps neighbors in immediate need. Members also give through Zelle to the church's general email address, sponsor altar flowers for a special Sunday for $35, or direct memorial gifts to specific projects of their choosing.
Music, Heritage, and the Leadership Team
Music at the 10:00 a.m. service is led by Music Director and Accompanist Nathan Stephens, with the Rodgers organ installed after the 2008 merger anchoring the sanctuary's musical life. The sound and livestream are handled by Audio/Video Operators Bernie Godwin and Preston Simpkin, so recordings of each Sunday service can be shared on YouTube for those who cannot be present. Lay Leader Roger Johnson, who grew up in a quiet suburb of Chicago and spent a career in the aerospace industry, leads the Way of the Chosen study and serves as a member of the Men-In-Black trio playing autoharp and singing tenor. George Grengs, Chair of the Administrative Committee, co-chairs the Stewardship Committee and has been active across the life of the church since joining in the late 1990s.
Where to Find Them
The church sits at 22700 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, California 91307, and can be reached at 818-340-2950 or crossandflame@att.net. Sunday worship is at 10:00 a.m., in person and online, with Communion on the first Sunday of the month. The Courier newsletter is published monthly and archived back to January 2022, and donations can be made online, by Zelle, or by check. Whether one arrives on a Sunday morning, joins a Circle, sits in on a Thursday Bible study, or volunteers for a food drive, the door is the same one that has been open since 1912.