News
October 16, 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
In the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about “Embracing Who We Are” as a faith community, and this week we’re continuing down that path by reflecting on grace. In Christianity, grace is the unmerited gift of divine love that inspires forgiveness and draws us into a deeper relationship with God, empowering us to become more fully the people who God intends us to be. Through grace, we can move on from our mistakes and turn toward the divine, knowing we will be received.
Grace is central to our faith tradition because it reflects God’s nature. It demonstrates God’s unquenchable love for each of us, and God’s patience with us. When we sincerely try to resolve problems we have created, whether intentional or not, we can count on God’s grace as a lifeline of hope. This approach to life’s encounters with others, expressing a willingness to offer forgiveness and love, is expected of us as well.
Where have you seen grace make a difference in someone’s life?
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 Pat Barnes. Pat is a long-time member of FUMC. 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 Harvey, who passed on October 4. Barbara was a long-time member of FUMC.
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz, Ray McFarland, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Bonnie Rheaume, Judy Sandige, Susan Secrest, Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick.
MEMORIAL SERVICES
Services for Grant Clayton will be held Friday, October 23, at 10 a.m. at FUMC.
Services for Lyn Warder will be held Saturday, October 24, at 10 a.m. at FUMC.
OTHER
Please join us in prayer for Jim Hyde and Karen Champagne.
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Shepherd of the Hills UMC – Sun City West
Shepherd of the Valley UMC – Phoenix
Spirit of Hope UMC – Phoenix
(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)
None
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Don Hillegass 10/1
Jim McCoy 10/1
Janet Nelson 10/5
Mary Price 10/5
Marie Morais Garber 10/6
John Beaver 10/6
John Reinhold 10/6
Inese Markman 10/18
Ilah Pickrell 10/23
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Fall Festival Candy Donations
We are looking for candy donations for Fall Festival! If you would like to help support this tradition and outreach opportunity, please leave the candy in the drop off bin in the Narthex or bring it to the church office! Thank you in advance for your generosity.
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Got Questions?
Got questions about God? Christianity? The Methodist Church? Fill out the form below, and we might select your question to answer in the sermon on October 25th.
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Fall Festival
Reminder: fall festival is coming up on the 25th! The event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is a beloved tradition within our church, as well as one of our best outreach opportunities all year! PLEASE invite friends, neighbors, grandchildren, or anyone else you think will enjoy it! Join us for games, crafts, bounce houses, a trunk-or-treat, and more! (Feel free to wear a costume if you’d like!)
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Upcoming Blood Drive
Our next blood drive will be on October 25th from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. If you’d like to sign up for a specific time slot, reservations are encouraged. Please contact Stephanie Espinoza at 602-284-1258 with questions or to make an appointment, or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Use the blood drive code: firstunited)
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Iglesia Aliento Anniversary
The First Church Missions and Social Justice Committee invites you to come celebrate the 2-year anniversary of Iglesia Aliento, a Methodist mission in central Phoenix that serves Spanish-speaking Christians. Join us for worship, music, fellowship, and joyful celebration as we strengthen the bonds between our congregations and discern how we can partner in serving immigrants, families, and vulnerable neighbors. All are welcome—our home is your home! Bring a dessert if you like. Offerings to support their mission welcome. Worship service starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, at at 701 S. 1st St., Phoenix. A taco lunch will be served after the worship service. Other Methodist congregations from our conference will also be participating.
Iglesia Aliento is a community rooted in the mission of God and in the Wesleyan conviction that faith is lived not only within the church, but through our love and service in the world. Iglesia Aliento’s mission includes walking alongside immigrants, families, and vulnerable people who often find themselves marginalized or navigating systems and circumstances that make life more difficult and unhealthy. Contact Daniel Cox-Gonzalez at dcoxgonzalez@gmail.com or the church office at 602-263-5013.
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Volunteer for Fall Festival! We Need You!
Fall Festival is a beloved tradition within our church and an important outreach connec-tion to our local community! To make it happen, we need A LOT of volunteers. We need people to decorate their trunks and hand out candy for Trunk or Treat (candy will be provided), people to run 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! This event will take place October 25 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Please contact the church office to sign up to volunteer, or reach out to Sammi directly at sammi@firstchurch.church!
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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 November 1. 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, October 27. The book is The Personal Librarian by Christopher Murray.
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 October 2026
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.
