News
September 18, 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
Throughout history, humanity has desired to connect with the divine. Although we have not fully understood the nature of who we are connecting with, we have consistently yearned to be in relationship with the divine, whom we have labeled “God.”
As Christians, we have come to understand God through Jesus of Nazareth. We take solace in knowing he is always with us, guiding and speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, yet we also celebrate and worship Christ in different ways.
This week, we explore the innate human desire to connect with God and reflect on our faith as Christians. A question to ponder for this Sunday’s service: What attribute of your faith inspires you most?
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 Colleen McGuire. Colleen is a friend of Susan Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Bonnie Rheaume, Judy Sandige, Susan Secrest, Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, June Becker, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark.
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)
Steve Haehl 9/7
Michael Fox 9/12
Charles Raines 9/15
Joanne Lynch 9/16
Peggy Ward 9/17
Karen Gajer 9/23
Jean Rupley 9/23
Barbara K. Johnson 9/24
Jean Oliver 9/25
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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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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 (candy will be provided), 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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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!
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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.
