News
April 11, 2025
Worship Online with Us
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.
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Pastor David’s Corner
A Season of Hope Amidst the Chaos
“Have I ever told you your work is really different than mine?” This is a question my wife and I often share when we reflect on the contrast between our daily lives.
A perfect example of this came last week during a petting zoo at our Weekday School. As I took a moment to visit with our students and meet the animals—rabbits, goats, a calf, and a couple of piglets—I found myself in a bit of a comical struggle. I attempted to pick up one of the piglets, but the little creature was having none of it. After a few failed tries, I finally got the piglet in my arms. And that’s when the chaos started. There was a loud, surprised squeal from the piglet, which only made the children squeal in response!
The zookeeper, noticing my dilemma, encouraged me to hold the piglet close to my chest. As I did, the noise didn’t stop entirely, but it softened. And slowly, the piglet seemed to calm down in my arms. In that moment, I thought about those many conversations I’ve had with Rebecca: “You are right, honey. My work is so much different than yours.”
And then, it hit me: this is exactly what Holy Week is about—the shift from chaos to calm, from the noise of Palm Sunday through Good Friday to the peace of Easter morning.
From the Garden of Gethsemane to the tomb, the journey of Holy Week leads us through moments of confusion, fear, and loss, and yet, we land on the day of resurrection with the reassurance that, no matter what chaos surrounds us, we will be embraced. “It’s going to be okay.” “Christ is risen indeed.”
Easter is about reassurance. After all the pain, the shame, and the anger directed at Jesus, the final message is one of peace: something new is beginning, something that restores innocence and hope. It’s like watching children discover the gentleness of animals in a petting zoo—an experience that teaches them, We are all part of something grand, something beautiful. And it’s all going to be okay.
I invite you to join us at First Church as we journey together through this sacred season, from Palm Sunday to Easter and beyond. Let’s let go of our fears and anxieties and place our trust in the One who is holding us through it all.
With much joy (and squealing joy, too!),
Pastor David
Congregational Prayer Requests
(Please join us in lifting up the following items in prayer!)
PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Steve Goldian. Steve is the cousin of Susan Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
First Church is saddened to announce the death of a long time member Brenda North, who passed on April 6.
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland.
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
First UMC – Glendale
First UMC – Phoenix
First UMC – Sun City
(Got a prayer request? Need someone to pray with? Need support? Our congregational care team is here for you! Please contact the church office to have them forward your request to the congregational care team, fill out the form on our website https://firstchurch.church/prayer-requests/, or reach out to the congregational care team directly by emailing deby@firstchurch.church.)
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Congregational Celebrations and Praises
(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1
Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10
Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Alice Green 4/6
Shirley Myer 4/7
Pat Barnes 4/7
Ken McGinty 4/9
Darla Haller 4/13
Innocent Abiaka 4/16
Karen Champagne 4/18
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Holy Week is coming! Here is our schedule of events:
Palm Sunday – April 13th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Unspoken Tenebrae service 7:00pm
Maundy Thursday – April 17th 7:00Pm
Good Friday – April 18th 7:00pm
Easter Sunday – April 20th 9:00am & 11:00am
Easter Egg Hunt for kids
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David’s Easter Letter
Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
The celebration of Easter is a time of renewal, hope and the promise of new life,
and I want to share with you the ways in which we, as a congregation, are living out
this message of resurrection and love. We celebrate the ways in which God continues
to work in our lives and in the lives of our community. We are a living testament and a
light in the world to the transformative power of this resurrection as we are called to
act with love, to be generous with our resources and to serve others as Christ served
us.
As we celebrate the resurrection, we are also called to support the ongoing work of First Church. The mission
of First Church continues to touch lives in powerful ways, through our outreach programs, worship services,
the Weekday School, educational initiatives and community-building efforts.
This Easter, we ask for your prayerful consideration in supporting the mission of First Church with a special
contribution. Your generosity helps us provide vital programs for all ages, offer meaningful worship experiences,
and ensures that our church remains a beacon of hope and love in our community.
There are several ways you can contribute to the ministry of First Church during this season of renewal:
We invite you to make a special Easter offering. Your gift, no matter the amount, will support
the work of your church and help us continue to serve those in need.
Consider making a recurring monthly pledge to help sustain the day-to-day operations of our
church and its many programs.
Your time is as valuable as your treasure. Consider volunteering in one of our ministries.
Share the message of Easter and the work of First Church with your friends and family. Invite
them to join us for worship, events or service projects.
As you celebrate this Easter season, may you be filled with the peace and joy that comes from knowing
Christ’s resurrection power. May it renew your spirit and strengthen your faith as you continue to walk with
Him.
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support, prayers, and love. Together, we are building a stronger,
more vibrant community of faith, and we look forward to what God will continue to do through us in the year
ahead.
May God bless you abundantly this Easter season.
David Rennick
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First Church Foundation – Did You Know?
Ms. A: Did you know that First Church has a Foundation?
Mr. J: Of course, every building has a foundation.
Ms. A: No, not a foundation, a FOUNDATION—-the First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix.
Mr. J: I did not know that. Tell me more.
Ms. A: Well…in 1954 a group of members of First Methodist Church of Phoenix incorporated for the purpose of holding, managing, and making gifts for the benefit of First United Methodist Church of Phoenix. While the original group of leaders had a vision of a greater future, they probably did not anticipate the significant degree of support the Foundation provides to FUMC and to the community that we have 70 years later.
Mr. J: Well…how did the Foundation grow to the influence it has in 2025?
Ms. A: Over the years, many individuals have come to realize how their gifts can have an impact on the community. It is one way of establishing your legacy. A gift today can have a positive, lasting impact on the Church and the community. It is a long-term means of practicing our Christ-inspired benevolence.
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Change for Change Lent Challenge
During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David
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Giving Report
Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.
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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. The next one will be May 4th hosted by Staff Parish. We look forward to seeing you!
Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)
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, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.
Young Adult Small Group
This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.
Community Yoga Classes
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 $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.
Afternoon Book Group
The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.
Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.
You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.
Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.
- Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
- You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card information.
- After you complete the registration, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt by email.
- 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.
