News
September 11, 2026
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 Mike’s Corner
Self-discovery is a lifelong pursuit. As we learn more about the world around us, we discover more about ourselves and how we fit into it. We refine our understanding of the people we interact with and the circumstances surrounding us, and we begin to see a clearer picture of our identity. But as we continue to grow, we change – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually – which leads us to refine our identity further.
In our last Sunday of the series “Discovering Our Identity,” we will recall the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and how God helped them escape their identity as an enslaved people. However, we will also note the difficult challenges the Israelites faced as a free people in the wilderness.
Question: When have you moved on from a difficult situation and discovered your new circumstances also had different yet formidable challenges?
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 is for Joan LaJoie. Joan is the sister-in-law of a long-time friend of Robin Spencer. 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 Barbara Zippel, who passed on August 11. Barbara was a long-time member of FUMC, and the wife of Tom Pickrell. Services are scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m., FUMC.
First Church is saddened to announce the death of Tom Rice, who passed on August 24. Tom was a long-time member of FUMC, and the husband of Cathy Rice.
First Church is saddened to announce the death of Grant Clayton, who passed on September 1. Grant is the husband of Audrey Clayton.
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Barbara Harvey, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz, Ray McFarland, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver.
OTHER
Please join us in prayer for Jim Hyde and Karen Champagne.
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Trinity UMC- Phoenix
Trinity UMC-Yuma
Sedona UMC- Sedona
(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 patricia@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)
H. Barry and Lucy Holt 8/16
Bijan and Judy Mohraz 8/16
Jim and Jan Hyde 9/2
Bob and Connie Bailes 9/9
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Ken Hagin 8/29
Delora Cornelius 9/4
Julia Fernstrum 9/4
Steve Haehl 9/7
Michael Fox 9/12
Charles Raines 9/15
Joanne Lynch 9/16
Peggy Ward 9/17
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Children & Youth School Year Schedule
Kids Church returns to our regular school-year programming starting this week. Children will start in worship with their families in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the Children’s Message, our incredible leaders will guide them to the upstairs classrooms where they will be divided by age group in rooms 221-223.
Youth Sunday School will resume on September 13th and will meet in Room 103, 10-11 a.m., every Sunday except the first Sunday of each month. Youth and their families are invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month for the First Sunday Social Hour at 10 a.m. in the Wesley Lounge.
Youth Group will meet on most Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. during the school year and will include a good mix of fun, fellowship, life skills, service opportunities, and outings. All youth in grades 6–12 are welcome! Dinner is provided. Please contact julie@firstchurch.church to be added to the youth invite list.
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Prospective Member Orientation
Thinking about joining the church? Come visit with Pastor Mike and some of our church leaders as we discuss what it means to be a member of the First United Methodist Church of Phoenix. You’ll hear some background information on the denomination and our local church, meet some of our more active members, and learn how you can get involved. We’ll meet on Saturday, September 26, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Room 102. New members will be received during the combined service on October 4. Please register at https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3863563 or contact the church office at 602-263-5013.
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Do No Harm
Hospitality is at the heart of the Christian life—but true welcome requires honest self-examination first. Join us for a special workshop, rooted in John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules, that invites participants to look inward before looking outward: to name the assumptions, comfort zones, and unexamined biases that quietly shape who feels at home in our churches and who doesn’t. This isn’t about guilt; it’s about grace. Through candid conversation and reflection, we’ll explore how doing no harm means paying attention to the harm we don’t always see, and how doing good means actively widening the circle of belonging. Come ready to examine your own heart, and leave equipped to help your congregation become a place where everyone truly knows they belong.
We will gather in Asbury Hall on Saturday, October 3, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for this special training facilitated by Ms. Rae Lathrop, the Director of Justice and Community Development for the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, and Rev. Gina Pollard, Associate Pastor at Paradise Valley UMC. A light lunch will be provided.
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Blood Drive Results
We’re excited to share the official results:
6 donors were registered into interview
0 deferrals
0 donors stopped bleeding (typically dehydrated or very small veins)
6 successful blood donations
8 units of lifesaving blood collected!
The blood donated will begin helping approximately 12 hospital patients!
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All – Church Service & Meal
Please RSVP to ensure we have enough food!
https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3844021
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Volunteer for Fall Festival! We Need You!
Fall Festival is a beloved tradition within our church and an important outreach connection to our local community! And to make it happen, we need A LOT of volunteers. We need people to hand out candy for Trunk or Treat, people to man booths for games and activities, as well as people to help behind the scenes setting up and cleaning up. If you would like to volunteer but have mobility challenges, there are plenty of seated positions; let us know, and we’ll get you a chair! Please contact the church office to sign up or reach out to Sammi directly at sammi@firstchurch.church.
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Event: Planning for the Future
On Saturday, October 10th, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., the First United Methodist Foundation will sponsor a program on Planning for the Future. This educational program will provide information on options for when we or our loved ones may need more care. Participants will find out what’s available and obtain tips to identify the best options for a variety of life situations.
Whether you’re thinking about your parents or friends who are aging, or you’d like to have that peace of mind for yourself, you won’t want to miss this program!
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Shoe Drive Update
190 pairs of happy feet!
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New Book Study- Sign Up Now!
Sign up for our new book study! Pastor Mike is hosting a study of the book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster. Grab a copy from your favorite book distributor and come join us on Thursdays at 6:00 pm in the church’s chapel starting September 10th. Registration is requested but not required. (https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3836783)
For those interested in joining the study, please come to our first meeting having read chapters one and two.
Here are some links from popular retailers for those who would like to purchase the book:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/07IZ3fY9
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celebration-of-discipline-richard-j-foster/1100150936?ean=9780062803887
Cokesbury (available as an ebook):https://www.cokesbury.com/9780062843555-Celebration-of-Discipline-Special-Anniversary-Edition
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NextGen Monthly Newsletter: August/September 2026
Welcome & Monthly Highlights
Welcome to this month’s NextGen Newsletter. Join us on August 30th to celebrate the end of summer with a splash party and open house in the morning and the return of regular Sunday Youth Group in the evening. We are so excited to welcome everyone back for the new school year and have a great year planned ahead! But first, enjoy a couple of highlights from the summer. Youth had a busy summer filled with fun outings, service opportunities, and Mingus Mountain Camp. Meanwhile, our younger kids combined for an all-ages “Fruits of the Spirit” themed summer Kids Church.
Ministry Program Updates
Children’s Ministry (Preschool – 5th Grade)
Starting September 6th, we will be returning to our regular school year programming. Kids Church will be held weekly following the children’s message during the 9:00 service and divided into age groups in rooms 221-223. In addition to Kids Church, Kids Choir will meet most Sundays between services from 10:05-10:50 a.m. Kids Choir is open to all K-5th grade students with opportunities to sing at Sunday morning services throughout the year.
Youth Sunday School (6th – 12th Grade)
Youth Sunday School will resume on September 13th, and will meet every 2nd,3rd, 4th,(&5th) Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. in room 103. On the first Sunday of each month, youth and families are invited to attend the First Sunday social hour in Wesley Lounge. For our 11:00 traditional church services, Youth are encouraged to volunteer at least once per month to serve as acolytes. Youth Acolytes are always needed and greatly appreciated! In addition, youth may volunteer in our Kids Church classrooms during 9:00 services.
Jr. High and Sr. High Youth Group (6th – 12th Grade)
We are psyched to kickoff a new year of Youth Group on Sunday, August 30th, from 5:30 7:30PM. Youth Group will meet on most Sunday evenings during the school year and will include a good mix of fun, fellowship, life skills, service opportunities, and outings. All youth in grades 6th – 12th are welcome! Dinner is provided.
Please note that there will be no youth group on September 6th due to the three-day weekend but will resume weekly on September 13th. Youth Choir will also resume on September 13th from 4:30-5:30PM and meet most Sundays before Youth Group.
Special Events & Service Projects
● 8/30 End of Summer Celebration & Open House: Sunday, August 30th, 10:00AM – Noon. All ages are welcome to come enjoy ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, and tons of water-play fun, including slip n’ slides, super soakers, kiddie pools, sprinklers, and more. Bring a swimsuit and a towel! The upstairs kids’ classrooms (221, 222, & 223) and the youth rooms (101 and 103) will be open to drop by, say hi, and learn more about what’s in store for the upcoming year.
● 9/27 Youth Group Parent Meeting & Battle of the Generations:
Sunday, September 27th, 5:30–7:30PM. We invite all parents and guardians to join us for dinner, a meeting about the upcoming year, and the return of a beloved Youth Group yearly tradition: Battle of the Generations! Battle of the Generations is a fun, interactive trivia event where youth and adults go head-to-head to test their knowledge on everything from 80s and 90s pop culture, music, and history to modern slang, viral trends, and current hit shows. Will the parents prove they’re “all that and a bag of chips,” or will the kids show everyone who really has the “ultimate aura?” Join us for an evening filled with friendly competition, plenty of laughs, and bragging rights for the winning team!
August/ September NextGen Calendar
Sunday
AUG 23
9AM all-ages Kids Church in room 221
10AM Kids Choir in room 106
AUG 30
9AM all-ages Kids Church in room 221
10AM End of Summer Water Celebration & Open House
5:30-7:30PM Youth Group Kickoff
SEP 6
9AM Kids Church in rooms 221-223
NO YOUTH GROUP
SEP 13
9AM Kids Church in rooms 221-223
10AM Kids Choir in room 106 & Kids Crafts in 221
4:30-5:30PM Youth Choir
5:30-7:30PM Youth Group
SEP 20
9AM Kids Church in rooms 221-223
10AM Kids Choir in room 106 & Kids Crafts in 221
4:30-5:30PM Youth Choir
5:30-7:30PM Youth Group
SEP 27
Kids Choir AND Youth Choir perform at both services
9AM Kids Church in rooms 221-223
10AM Kids Choir in room 106 & Kids Crafts in 221
4:30-5:30PM Youth Choir
5:30-7:30PM Youth Group – Parent Meeting & Battle of the Generations
Contact & Volunteer Information
If you have any questions, want to volunteer for our NextGen programs,
or need more information about upcoming events, please reach out to
Julie Cochran:
● Email: julie@firstchurch.church
● Phone: 602-263-5013 x116
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Pastor Mike’s Office Hours
Pastor Mike will be holding open office hours at the church to meet with anyone who wishes to stop by and chat on Mondays between 6 and 7 p.m. and Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. There will also be a Zoom Room open during these hours using the following meeting ID and passcode:
Pastor Mike’s Zoom Room ID: 602 263 5510
Pastor Mike’s Zoom Room passcode: 5013
If you would like to schedule an appointment at a different time, please email Pastor Mike at mike@firstchurch.church.
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Heartfelt Giving- Fall Festival Sponsorship Opportunities
• Gold Sponsor: $1,000
• Silver Sponsor: $500
• Bronze Sponsor: $250
If you would like more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact our office.
Thank you for helping us create a wonderful event that welcomes our congregation and the entire community!
Seasons of Giving- Keeping It Cool
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Reminder- Text Message Updates are Available!
If you’d like to opt into text message news and updates from our church, please contact the office to be added onto the text list!
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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 October 4. We look forward to seeing you!
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Afternoon Book Group
The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in the Library. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22. The book is Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon.
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.
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First Church Business Directory Updates
Here is an updated first church business directory.
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) 599-4262 in your cell phone text messaging program and type GIVE $_ as the message (example: type “GIVE $20” to give twenty dollars).
- You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and bank 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 GIVE and 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.
