Worship Online

If you are unable to attend our Sunday morning worship services in-person, please join us online. We stream both services Sunday mornings live at 9 and 11 a.m. and both are available to watch later if you can’t watch live. We also have many previous services available to watch if you missed one. Please don’t forget to let us know you are watching with the “I’m Here” button at the top of the page.

Youth Christmas Caroling at the Beatitudes

Both our high school and junior high youth will be participating in the annual tradition of Christmas caroling at the Beatitudes Retirement Home on December 22 at 10 a.m. Youth who attend the high school lock-in will be driven there as part of the lock-in itinerary, and junior high or any high school students unable to attend the lock-in are encouraged to meet us there.

First Sunday Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering every first Sunday of the month between services at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

High School Christmas Lock – In

Our high school youth will have a Christmas themed lock-in on December 21-22 filled with fun activities including gingerbread house competitions, Christmas movies, an excursion to go see a holiday light show, and more. If your high school aged child has not yet come home with a permission slip, please let Sammi know and she will email you one to sign.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Community Yoga Class

First Church offers two weekly yoga classes to our community. Classes meet Tuesdays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., and Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per class or four classes for $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

We are saddened to announce the death of Audrey Lofgren on December 10. Please keep her sister, Charlene, in your heart and with prayers.

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Sylvia Stovall. Sylvia is a friend of Diane Gara-Weiner. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort. A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Aidan Flaherty. Aidan is the grandson of Ann Flaherty. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ray McFarland, Ginny McLeod, Mary Lou McWilliams, Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Sarg and Patricia Magyar 12/21
Joe and Marie Garber 12/23
Don and Sandy Hillegass 12/28

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Doug Dunipace 12/18
Ron Wilson 12/18
Jan Hyde 12/19

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Mingus Mountain Camp; Justa Center, Phoenix; Wesley Community Center

Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.

You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.

Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card information.
3. After you complete the registration, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt by email.
4. For future giving, simply send a text message with the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Check Your Spam and Junk

Sometimes email from our Church’s domain, “.church” isn’t recognized by all email providers. Please check your spam and junk mail folders periodically to see if something from First Church or other senders to your address might be filtered out of your inbox.