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

This week, we continue our series “Discovering Our Identity” as we look at one of the most influential prophets in the Old Testament: Moses.  Moses was born an Israelite and raised as an Egyptian in a time when the Egyptians were oppressing the Israelites. We don’t know much about his experiences growing up as an adopted son of the Egyptian princess, but he was much more closely aligned with his Israeli roots than his Egyptian upbringing later in life.

Our origin stories play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of identity. People often treat us a certain way based on their perception of our origin, and we tend to accept the attributes associated with those origins as we grow up. Young children have no preconceived notions about such attributes; they learn them from their family and community. Sometimes those preconceived attributes are unhealthy, and we have to unlearn them. Sometimes they are constructive, and we relish them.

Our sermon question this week is based on origin stories: When have you had to unlearn an unhealthy origin story, or when have you flourished because of your origin story?

Congregational Prayer Requests

(Please join us in lifting up the following items in prayer!)

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX

The prayer quilt displayed in the narthex is for Dan Hutchison. Dan is the brother-in-law of Shari Hutchison. 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.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE

Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, June Becker, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Mary Anne Cooper, Delora Cornelius, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Barbara Harvey.

OTHER

Please join us in prayer for Tom Rice, Jim Hyde, and Karen Champagne.

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

New Song UMC- Surprise

Prescott UMC- Prescott

(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)

Steve and Suzanne Haehl 7/28

Dennis and Barbara Rogers 7/31

H. Barry and Lucy Holt 8/16

Bijan and Judy Mohraz 8/16

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Janet Kendall 8/5

Jerry Collins 8/9

John Holmes 8/10

Shirley Dawson 8/10

June Becker 8/13

Don Randall 8/13

Jim Cox 8/15

Marjorie Lange 8/17

Vickie Beaver 8/24

Ken Hagin 8/29

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Ice Cream Social

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 22nd! The church will be hosting an ice cream social in Asbury Hall from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm! There will be activities for children and lots of good community. Please feel free to bring a card game or a board game to share. RSVPs are requested but not required. To let us know you are planning on coming, please click here or contact the church office.

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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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End of Summer Celebration and Open House

Kids, families, and kids-at-heart are invited to celebrate the end of summer August 30th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the grassy courtyard area. Come cool down with ice cream sandwiches and popsicles while enjoying 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 (rooms 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.

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Shoe Drive Thank You

Thank you to all who participated in our shoe drive! Your generosity towards the children of the Madison School District has been incredible. Final numbers are still being calculated, but between the donations of our congregation and the Weekday School, we will be able to donate around an estimated 300 pairs of shoes.

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First Kids Choir

Calling all kindergarteners through 5th graders: First Kids Choir starts on August 16th! Experience the joy of singing in a fun environment. Come try it out on August 16, 10:05 am -10:50 am, in room 106. For more information, contact Elizabeth Leyva at elizabeth@firstchurch.church.

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Christmas Decoration Fundraiser

Your generous gifts to the 2025 Christmas Decorations Fund made a beautiful difference last year, helping us enhance our sanctuary for the Christmas season. This year, the Worship Committee is once again inviting your support as we continue bringing our vision to life. Please consider making a gift that will add warmth and beauty to our cherished worship space for many Christmases to come.

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Justa Center Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers are wanted at Justa Center to talk and visit with people. Contact Merrill Davison at (602) 674 – 3061 for more information or to schedule a time to go!

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Heartfelt Giving- Fall Festival Sponsorship Opportunities

First Church Logo Shirts

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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 September 6. 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, August 25. The book is Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll.

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

Business Directory July 2025

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.

1. 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).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and bank 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 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.