News
September 4, 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
Although we acknowledge our foundational origins as children of God, we also must acknowledge our cultural roots. Spiritually, we all come from one God, but we must also acknowledge the broad tapestry of cultures that serve as launch points of our cultural roots. These cultural differences add flavor to our food, color to our clothes, and passion to our expressions.
Through an appreciation for the diversity of cultures in our midst, we learn new ways of being human and how God blesses each of us. This Sunday, we will reflect on the important Jewish holiday Passover as we discuss Moses’s Exodus from Egypt. We’ll also discuss how Jesus faithfully celebrated this same holiday as we come together to celebrate Communion, a remembrance of Jesus’s final Passover meal before his crucifixion and resurrection.
Sometimes we adopt practices from other cultures and forget to acknowledge their roots. What is something you enjoy or practice that came from a culture other than your own—and what changes when you learn and remember its roots?
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
Judy Sandige, Susan Secrest, Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, June Becker, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Delora Cornelius.
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)
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
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
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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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A Message from Pastor Mike
Dear First Church Community,
Although I’ve met most of you in and around church over the past 8 weeks, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those I haven’t been able to visit with yet. My name is Mike Wilkerson, and I’m your new pastor.
Originally from Florida, I grew up in the Southeastern part of the country. After high school, I enlisted in the Navy and later received an ROTC scholarship to attend the University of Florida. After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, I returned to active duty, serving on submarines.
After military service, I returned to the University of Florida, where I earned a Master of Engineering degree in electrical engineering and was then hired by Intel Corporation in Chandler, Arizona.
After 20 years at Intel, I decided to change careers again, this time going into ministry. I earned a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and have served at the First United Methodist Church of Yuma and Saint Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church in Tucson.
I’m an ordained elder in full connection in the Desert Southwest Conference and have most recently been appointed to serve at the First United Methodist Church of Phoenix, beginning in July 2026.
I am married to Rev. Dr. Brooke Wilkerson and have three mostly grown adult children.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve at First Church Phoenix with such a kind, hospitable community that loves God and the church. I look forward to working together and getting to know each of you better. Feel free to stop by during my office hours, Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. I will also have a Zoom session open during those hours (Zoom Room ID: 602 263 5510 and Passcode: 5013).
Thank you for the warm welcome and the opportunity to serve in this beautiful community.
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Mike
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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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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 September 6. We look forward to seeing you!
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.
