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

Motivation is crucial to our identity as a faith community. What we do is important, but the reasons behind what we do are unique to us as Christians and United Methodists. Our work in social justice, demonstrations of compassion to those we see in need, offerings of hospitality, and willingness to inspire others are motivated by the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

Christ influences not only what we do but also how we do it. As the Apostle Paul pointed out in his letter to the Philippians, followers of Christ seek to serve others not “from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility.” This Sunday, World Communion Sunday, we will reflect on how we are similar as Christians while also celebrating the diversity within the body of Christ.

A question for you to consider in preparation for this week is: What do you think is the most important common characteristic of Christians?

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 Cynthia Hamlin. Cynthia is the friend of Phyllis Chase. A second prayer quilt displayed in the narthex is for Karen Henderson. Karen is the friend of Marcia Boyer. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE

Ray McFarland, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Bonnie Rheaume, Judy Sandige, Susn Secrest, Jim Unsworth, Eizabeth Vick, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen.

OTHER

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

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Shepherd of the Valley 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)

Jim and Jan Hyde 9/2

Bob and Connie Bailes 9/9

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Peggy Wright    9/17

Karen Gajer 9/23

Jean Rupley 9/23

Barbara K. Johnson 9/24

Jean Oliver 9/25

Stephanie Grainer 9/27

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

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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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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.

https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3836488

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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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All – Church Service & Meal

Please RSVP to ensure we have enough food!

https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3844021

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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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Event: Planning for the Future

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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, 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 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.