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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Giving Beyond First Church

It doesn’t take long for someone new to the United Methodist Church to hear the term “apportionments.” But what exactly does that mean?

In the United Methodist Church, apportionments are a system of giving in which local UM congregations are each assigned a specific amount to contribute. These funds support the denomination’s broader ministries and programs—from global mission work to church administration—allowing us to serve effectively far beyond what any one congregation could do alone.

Through your generous giving, First Church is part of this shared mission. Because of the connectional nature of the United Methodist Church, all UM congregations—locally and globally—help fund ministries that serve others in powerful and far-reaching ways.

What does that look like in practice?

Here are some of the major funds supported through apportionments:

• World Service Fund – Supports global mission work and outreach.
• Episcopal Fund – Supports the bishops and district superintendents in their leadership roles.
• Ministerial Education Fund – Helps educate and train pastors for ministry.
• Black College Fund – Supports historically Black colleges and universities, helping them thrive and grow.
• General Administration Fund – Provides the administrative infrastructure of our denomination.
• Africa University Fund – Supports Africa University in Zimbabwe, a United Methodist institution offering education in healthcare, teaching, and other essential disciplines.

Each of these areas plays a vital role in supporting the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church around the world. When we can meet our apportionment goals, we hinder the work of the larger church. Very much when we are unable to address the day-to-day operational expenses for First Church. But through our connectional system we are a part of something much bigger, extending our impact beyond Phoenix, beyond Arizona, and into communities across the globe.

Yes, “apportionments” may sound like an odd or unfamiliar word, but they represent a vital system of giving—linking our local church to the wider mission of the global church. Your generosity helps make this possible. Thank you for the difference you make in Phoenix, throughout the Desert Southwest Conference, across our country, and around the world. Your generosity impacts the ministry and mission of First Church but also goes beyond to the ministry and mission of the United Methodist denomination. Thank you for contributions and support.

Together, we are making disciples for the transformation of the world.

See you in church,
Pastor David

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 Nick Wubkar. Nick is a friend of Susie Cons. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Cathy Fuentes, Owen Galardi, Sammi Gutierrez, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Yuma

Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma

Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

John and Peggy Ward 6/2

Noel and Inese Markman 6/3

Doug and Jan Dunipace 6/9

Fred and Ginny Karnas 6/12

David and Jean Rupley 6/12

Mike and Sandy Fox 6/15

Stan and Jill Brown 6/16

Larron and Karen Horton 6/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Gail Reiley 5/26

Jack Smalley 5/26

Janet Ambrose 5/30

Jill Huddleston 6/2

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Iglesia Aliento Combined Service 6/1

Our congregation will be hosting a bilingual service with Iglesia Aliento on June 1 during the 9:00am service and they will be joining us afterwords for the First Sunday Social Hour as well. During this service, our congregation will be able to present Pastor Flor with the Change for Change money we raised during Lent for their church.

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Summer Voice Class for Adults

Do you love to sing? This class is free of charge and appropriate for all skill levels, whether you’ve never sung before or are already an accomplished singer. No prior experience or training is necessary. The class will meet 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6:00-7:30pm, in room 106, although there will be some weeks that we do not meet. Class meeting dates are: June 17, 19, 24, 26; July 15, 17, 22, and 29. To sign up, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth Leyva at elizabeth@firstchurch.church or call the church office to leave her a message. Space is limited so sign up today!

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Hearing Assistance Test Run

First Church is in the process of upgrading our hearing assistance system. We have a demo unit installed that we would like to test. One of the features of the system is the ability to connect the sound system directly to your hearing aids if they can be controlled through your phone. We need a few folks willing to test the system. If you are interested and you use hearing aids, please stop by the sound booth at 8:45 or 10:45 on Sunday, June 1st and we will hook you up. Look for Joshua Elder or Dean Rennell. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday School Summer Hours

Kids, Jr. High, and Sr. High have moved to summer hours for June and July! We’ll be meeting Sundays from 9 – 10 AM only. Parents must pick up in Room 101. There will be no evening youth group, but stay tuned — we’re planning a fun event for Jr. and Sr. High the last week of July to kick off the back-to-school season! And don’t forget our Mission Trip to New Mexico, happening June 9–13!
Let’s have a great summer together! – Jessica Morris

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Remembering Central – Video

A video tribute honoring the legacy and ministry of Central Church. (The video was too large of a file to upload on here, so please click this link to watch it on YouTube.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fqCppRjq_c 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Missions Trip Prayer Calendar Available

This month please grab a prayer calendar from the Narthex or the church office to join our church in praying over our June missions trip group. Our group will be heading to the Navajo Native American reservation in New Mexico to meet felt needs of the people there. The organization leading the trip is called Adventures in Missions. Adventures in Missions has been in operation over 30 years helping to connect groups with mission opportunities and help missions trip participants grow in their faith while serving.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Remembering Central

This month is the anniversary of the closure of Central United Methodist Church, and we wanted to take a moment to honor the long-standing ministry and impact that church had over the course of 154 years. Central was a special place in our community, as well as to many local individuals. To all of our congregants who have come to call our church home after the closure of Central, we recognize that this may be an emotional and reflective time for you, and we want you to know we are available if you need anyone to talk or pray with. We love each of you so much, and want to support you any way we can.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive

On June 15th, our church will be hosting another blood drive! The Bloodmobile will be in our parking lot from 8:00am to noon for anyone who would like to donate. If you would like a specific time slot, the organization recommends booking an appointment in advance. Visit vitalant.org and use code “firstunited” to make your appointment.

The organization is currently running a drawing for anyone who donates blood between May 23rd and September 7th, you will be entered for a chance to win a 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Requested Update on the Religious Trauma Symposium

We’ve gotten a request for an update on the religious trauma symposium from a few weeks back. It overall went well. We had about 25 people in attendance. We held the initial panel interview and then after that opened it up for a time of audience Q and A, which led to some really wonderful discussions. We had a number of people reach out to various panelists about resources to help them or people they know who are working to heal from religious trauma.

For those interested in the questions asked, here is a link to the script given to Jessica to read from for the panelist interview: https://firstchurch5510-my.sharepoint.com/personal/sammi_firstchurch_church/Documents/Religious%20Trauma%20Symposium%20Outline.pdf

The church looks forward to hosting other types of religious trauma related events in the future, as well as symposiums on other important topics that can help support people who are struggling and need our community’s support.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)

Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.

Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?

Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to

stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.

Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.

Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.

Mr. J: How many people are involved?

Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.

Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that someday.

Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is an updated giving report from Carrick Sears. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 June 1. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 24. The book for June is To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Giving Beyond First Church

It doesn’t take long for someone new to the United Methodist Church to hear the term “apportionments.” But what exactly does that mean?

In the United Methodist Church, apportionments are a system of giving in which local UM congregations are each assigned a specific amount to contribute. These funds support the denomination’s broader ministries and programs—from global mission work to church administration—allowing us to serve effectively far beyond what any one congregation could do alone.

Through your generous giving, First Church is part of this shared mission. Because of the connectional nature of the United Methodist Church, all UM congregations—locally and globally—help fund ministries that serve others in powerful and far-reaching ways.

What does that look like in practice?

Here are some of the major funds supported through apportionments:

• World Service Fund – Supports global mission work and outreach.
• Episcopal Fund – Supports the bishops and district superintendents in their leadership roles.
• Ministerial Education Fund – Helps educate and train pastors for ministry.
• Black College Fund – Supports historically Black colleges and universities, helping them thrive and grow.
• General Administration Fund – Provides the administrative infrastructure of our denomination.
• Africa University Fund – Supports Africa University in Zimbabwe, a United Methodist institution offering education in healthcare, teaching, and other essential disciplines.

Each of these areas plays a vital role in supporting the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church around the world. When we can meet our apportionment goals, we hinder the work of the larger church. Very much when we are unable to address the day-to-day operational expenses for First Church. But through our connectional system we are a part of something much bigger, extending our impact beyond Phoenix, beyond Arizona, and into communities across the globe.

Yes, “apportionments” may sound like an odd or unfamiliar word, but they represent a vital system of giving—linking our local church to the wider mission of the global church. Your generosity helps make this possible. Thank you for the difference you make in Phoenix, throughout the Desert Southwest Conference, across our country, and around the world. Your generosity impacts the ministry and mission of First Church but also goes beyond to the ministry and mission of the United Methodist denomination. Thank you for contributions and support.

Together, we are making disciples for the transformation of the world.

See you in church,
Pastor David

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 Judy Amsden. Judy is a friend of Susan Sneathen. Another prayer quilt displayed in the narthex this morning is for Derrick Sewell. Derrick is our staff member here at First Church. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Cathy Fuentes, Owen Galardi, Sammi Gutierrez, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Yuma

Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma

Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

John and Vicki Beaver 5/2

Carolyn Cooper 5/13

William and Dana Devine 5/22

Grier and Carolyn Cooper 5/13

William and Dana Devine 5/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Frances Sawyers 5/10

Merle Wessel 5/12

Jack Sneathen 5/16

Gael Edwards 5/19

Jean Hamsher 5/21

Bonnie Rheaume 5/22

Gail Reiley 5/26

Jack Smalley 5/26

Janet Ambrose 5/30

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Missions Trip Prayer Calendar Available

This month please grab a prayer calendar from the Narthex or the church office to join our church in praying over our June missions trip group. Our group will be heading to the Navajo Native American reservation in New Mexico to meet felt needs of the people there. The organization leading the trip is called Adventures in Missions. Adventures in Missions has been in operation over 30 years helping to connect groups with mission opportunities and help missions trip participants grow in their faith while serving.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Remembering Central

This month is the anniversary of the closure of Central United Methodist Church, and we wanted to take a moment to honor the long-standing ministry and impact that church had over the course of 154 years. Central was a special place in our community, as well as to many local individuals. To all of our congregants who have come to call our church home after the closure of Central, we recognize that this may be an emotional and reflective time for you, and we want you to know we are available if you need anyone to talk or pray with. We love each of you so much, and want to support you any way we can.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive

On June 15th, our church will be hosting another blood drive! The Bloodmobile will be in our parking lot from 8:00am to noon for anyone who would like to donate. If you would like a specific time slot, the organization recommends booking an appointment in advance. Visit vitalant.org and use code “firstunited” to make your appointment.

The organization is currently running a drawing for anyone who donates blood between May 23rd and September 7th, you will be entered for a chance to win a 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Requested Update on the Religious Trauma Symposium

We’ve gotten a request for an update on the religious trauma symposium from a few weeks back. It overall went well. We had about 25 people in attendance. We held the initial panel interview and then after that opened it up for a time of audience Q and A, which led to some really wonderful discussions. We had a number of people reach out to various panelists about resources to help them or people they know who are working to heal from religious trauma.

For those interested in the questions asked, here is a link to the script given to Jessica to read from for the panelist interview: https://firstchurch5510-my.sharepoint.com/personal/sammi_firstchurch_church/Documents/Religious%20Trauma%20Symposium%20Outline.pdf

The church looks forward to hosting other types of religious trauma related events in the future, as well as symposiums on other important topics that can help support people who are struggling and need our community’s support.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)

Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.

Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?

Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to

stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.

Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.

Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.

Mr. J: How many people are involved?

Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.

Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that someday.

Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is an updated giving report from Carrick Sears. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 June 1. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The book for May is The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Healing the Divide

This past week, approximately 1,700 preachers from across the United States and Canada gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, for the annual Festival of Homiletics. “Homiletics” refers to the art of preaching—and this year’s theme focused on healing the divide.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer shared a powerful truth during one of the sermons: “The current divide in our country since the last electoral cycle has led to a constant state of exhaustion and despair.” At the same time, Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2024 was announced as “polarization”—a reflection of the moment we’re living in.

Another speaker, Dr. Ted Smith, offered an important insight: While the divide may appear to be about policy, at its core, it’s about identity. Policies can be debated or changed—but identity speaks to who we are. And what we must remember is that our truest, deepest identity is shared: we are all Children of God.

That raises a meaningful question: Why go to church?

Church is where we live out our identities. It’s where we learn, practice, and embody the presence of the reign of God—modeled in the way of Jesus.

The Kingdom of God is not only a spiritual hope but a lived reality. It is extended through peace, forgiveness, justice, and love. The church becomes a space for this transformation, where we study, explore, and walk the radical path of Christ together.

So even in a world marked by division—between neighbors, families, and communities—God’s love pulls us closer. Healing begins with the recognition of our shared identity. And in that sacred embrace, we start to close the gap.

Let the healing begin.

See you in church!

Pastor David

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 Judy Amsden. Judy 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
Loraine Stewart, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Tom Christensen, Ruth Clark

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Yuma

Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma

Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

John and Vicki Beaver 5/2

Carolyn Cooper 5/13

William and Dana Devine 5/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Frances Sawyers 5/10

Merle Wessel 5/12

Jack Sneathen 5/16

Gael Edwards 5/19

Jean Hamsher 5/21

Bonnie Rheaume 5/22

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Missions Trip Prayer Calendar Available

This month please grab a prayer calendar from the Narthex or the church office to join our church in praying over our June missions trip group. Our group will be heading to the Navajo Native American reservation in New Mexico to meet felt needs of the people there. The organization leading the trip is called Adventures in Missions. Adventures in Missions has been in operation over 30 years helping to connect groups with mission opportunities and help missions trip participants grow in their faith while serving.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Remembering Central

This month is the anniversary of the closure of Central United Methodist Church, and we wanted to take a moment to honor the long-standing ministry and impact that church had over the course of 154 years. Central was a special place in our community, as well as to many local individuals. To all of our congregants who have come to call our church home after the closure of Central, we recognize that this may be an emotional and reflective time for you, and we want you to know we are available if you need anyone to talk or pray with. We love each of you so much, and want to support you any way we can.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

May 18: Mostly – Music Sunday

Join us for a day of musical celebrations!
9 AM – Follow U: a light-hearted musical presented by the FirstKids Choir and First Youth Singers.
11 AM – Best of the Year: a musical exploration of the church calendar, featuring Chancel Choir and Rejoicing Handbells.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive

On June 15th, our church will be hosting another blood drive! The Bloodmobile will be in our parking lot from 8:00am to noon for anyone who would like to donate. If you would like a specific time slot, the organization recommends booking an appointment in advance. Visit vitalant.org and use code “firstunited” to make your appointment.

The organization is currently running a drawing for anyone who donates blood between May 23rd and September 7th, you will be entered for a chance to win a 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

________________________________________________________________________

Change For Change Update

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)

Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.

Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?

Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to

stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.

Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.

Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.

Mr. J: How many people are involved?

Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.

Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that someday.

Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Youth Promotion, Graduation & Scholarship Celebration!

Join us on May 18th from 5:30–7:00 PM as we celebrate our amazing First Church Youth—including 8th grade promotions, high school graduates, and scholarship recipients!

This special event is open to all youth and their immediate families. Dinner will be provided, and we’d love for you to bring a sweet treat or a drink to share!

Please use the link below to RSVP with the number of people attending (including kids) and let us know which graduate(s) you’ll be celebrating.

We can’t wait to celebrate together! 🎉

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

(Photo Description since it’s hard to read- Actual: $227414, Budget: $245140, Variance: $17726, Variance Percentage: 7.2%)

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 June 1. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The book for May is The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

A new pope was elected this week, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to become Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal Prevost has been known for advocating that all Christians are missionaries before world called to care and love all people. A heart for social justice, the least, the last, and the lost are before us around the world and hold a special place in the arms of God. We are too called to do the same. An integral mission of the Pope is to be a voice of goodness, reconciliation, and peace with an interaction of many world leaders. As United Methodists, we share common values with the Catholic tradition such as fairness and kindness. Although not without flaw, each tradition seeks forgiveness from God and neighbor and with repentant hearts. In the days and years ahead, we’ll learn much more about Pope Leo XIV and the leadership he brings to the world stage. Praying for the universal church world-wide.

See you in church!

Pastor David

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 Peggy Hansen. Peggy is a neighbor of a friend of Susan Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Hedy Cunningham 3/26

Brenda North 4/ 6

Carol Robbins 4/25

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ray McFarland, Shirley Myer, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevans

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Yuma

Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma

Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

John and Vicki Beaver 5/2

Carolyn Cooper 5/13

William and Dana Devine 5/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Nancy Maxwell 4/27

Bijan Mohraz 5/3

Frances Sawyers 5/10

Merle Wessel 5/12

Jack Sneathen 5/16

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Missions Trip Prayer Calendar Available

This month please grab a prayer calendar from the Narthex or the church office to join our church in praying over our June missions trip group. Our group will be heading to the Navajo Native American reservation in New Mexico to meet felt needs of the people there. The organization leading the trip is called Adventures in Missions. Adventures in Missions has been in operation over 30 years helping to connect groups with mission opportunities and help missions trip participants grow in their faith while serving.

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Youth Event: Gross and Messy Night

Our youth are invited to a super fun end of the school year event called Gross and Messy Night! As the title of the name suggests, all the games will be either gross, messy, or both! This is a just – for – fun event to run around, have some laughs, get messy, and blow off some finals – season steam. Please wear or bring clothes and shoes you are okay to get a little dirty (and a towel to sit on while driving home from the event isn’t a bad idea either to avoid messing up any car interiors.) This event is on May 15th at 5:30pm.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mostly – Music Sunday

Join us for a day of musical celebrations!
9 AM – Follow U: a light-hearted musical presented by the FirstKids Choir and First Youth Singers.
11 AM – Best of the Year: a musical exploration of the church calendar, featuring Chancel Choir and Rejoicing Handbells.

Change For Change Update

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)

Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.

Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?

Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to

stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.

Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.

Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.

Mr. J: How many people are involved?

Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.

Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that some day.

Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Bringing Faith Home Updates From Jessica

Bible Sunday

📖 Bible Sunday is Coming Up!: On Sunday, May 4th, we’ll be celebrating Bible Sunday by presenting Bibles to all 2nd graders moving into 3rd grade and 3rd graders moving into 4th grade. Parents—keep an eye out for an email from Julie and/or myself with more details. We can’t wait to celebrate our amazing kids and this special milestone in their faith journey!

Bringing church Home:

🏠 Bring Church Home – Thank You! A big thank you to all the families who participated in Bring Church Home throughout April! If you joined in, we’d love to hear from you—please send any comments or feedback to Jessica via email at Jessica@firstchurch.church The next set of materials will be available on Sunday, May 4th for the month of May. We’ll be taking a break in June and July and will return with new content in August. Thanks for being part of this journey! 💛

First Church Kids Crafts

🎨 Coming Soon: First Church Kids Crafts! Starting in August, we’re launching First Church Kids Crafts—a fun new program for kids who aren’t in choir and for parents who’d like to attend Sunday School. It will run between services from 10:00–11:00 AM.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Youth Promotion, Graduation & Scholarship Celebration!

Join us on May 18th from 5:30–7:00 PM as we celebrate our amazing First Church Youth—including 8th grade promotions, high school graduates, and scholarship recipients!

This special event is open to all youth and their immediate families. Dinner will be provided, and we’d love for you to bring a sweet treat or a drink to share!

Please use the link below to RSVP with the number of people attending (including kids) and let us know which graduate(s) you’ll be celebrating.

We can’t wait to celebrate together! 🎉

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

(Photo Description since it’s hard to read- Actual: $227414, Budget: $245140, Variance: $17726, Variance Percentage: 7.2%)

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 June 1. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The book for May is The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Come Join Us for a Special Night!

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Generosity and Giving It Away

Around 1949, the daughter of Malvina Reynolds wrote the song Magic Penny for a junior high school dance. A few years later, in 1955, Malvina herself—folk and blues singer-songwriter, best known for Little Boxes—released Magic Pennywith these memorable lyrics:

Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.
It’s just like a magic penny,
Hold it tight and you won’t have any.
Lend it, spend it, and you’ll have so many,
They’ll roll all over the floor.

Now that the tune is stuck in your head, let me share something dear to my heart: GENEROSITY.

This year, First Church launched an initiative focused on year-round generosity. We formed the Generosity Team to explore giving opportunities beyond the annual stewardship campaign. This isn’t just about meeting a budget—it’s about cultivating a culture of giving that reflects our faith in action through voluntary service and financial generosity.

The mission of the Generosity Team is simple but profound:
To cultivate a culture that follows Christ’s example—not just to raise money.
Wait… what? The pastor isn’t asking for money?
Well—short answer: No.
Long answer: It’s not about what we give to the church, but how we give through the church to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. That includes our time, talents, gifts, and very selves.

A culture of generosity includes:

• CULTIVATING the identity and vision of First Church
• The FORMATION of leadership
• Nurturing ENCOURAGEMENT for youth and families
• Forming PARTNERSHIPS for community engagement and outreach
• Seeking opportunities for LOCAL AND GLOBAL MISSIONS

How do we accomplish this?
By telling stories—real stories—of how lives are being transformed through generosity. We want to connect names and faces to the grace-filled giving that’s happening every day.

Some tangible outcomes we’re working toward:

• Tracking donor engagement and loyalty
• Reconnecting with past and potential givers using relational strategies
• Building meaningful relationships by asking about people’s values, purpose, and potential

So, what are you willing to give away?
I know—it sounds sacrificial. But here’s the deeper question of the heart:
“What are you willing to gain?”

Generosity is both fun and fulfilling. It’s how we live out the gift of God’s love.
I’ve shared before the experience of paying for the meal of a total stranger—a person commemorating the anniversary of their spouse’s passing. Imagine the surprise when the server said, “Your meal has been paid in full.” That moment wasn’t about money—it was about grace.

That’s why I love generosity.
It’s an invitation to lean into Jesus’ grace and give of ourselves—not out of obligation, but out of abundance.

Love is something if you give it away.

See you in church,
Pastor David

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 John Hryhorka. John is a long-time friend of John Harapiak. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Hedy Cunningham 3/26

Brenda North 4/ 6

Carol Robbins 4/25

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Yuma

Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma

Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

John and Vicki Beaver 5/2

Carolyn Cooper 5/13

William and Dana Devine 5/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

John Ward 4/20

John Harapiak 4/24

Al Asendorf 4/25

Maxine Perkins 4/27

Nancy Maxwell 4/27

Bijan Mohraz 5/3

Frances Sawyers 5/10

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Religious Trauma Symposium

Our church is hosting a religious trauma symposium tonight (May 2nd) at 7:00pm! This event is open to all ages, people from the church and from the community and it promises to be a really special night. Sammi and Jessica have worked together to create an amazing panel of speakers including authors, doctors, and therapists who will speak on religious trauma and religious trauma healing. The event is free and would be an amazing outreach tool, so please invite anyone you know who would be interested.

A quick note to our regular church attendees: (At our church’s staff meeting this week I was asked by Pastor David to include instructions for interacting with guests at the event. I know everyone in our congregation is usually pretty good about just being genuinely authentic and welcoming without being pushy, but especially as this event is focused around people who may not have had good experiences at churches, please be as kind and friendly as you can if you see someone you don’t know, but please do not be pushing an agenda of having someone come back to our church unless they express interest. In this case, less is more and the best outreach is just connecting on a human level without them feeling any pressure from us vs on a Sunday where we can be a bit more proactive in trying to get people to come back. I know you’ll all be wonderful as always, though, so thank you in advance for the kindness you’ll show to our guests).

________________________________________________________________________

Potluck

Change For Change Update

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)

Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.

Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?

Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to

stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.

Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.

Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.

Mr. J: How many people are involved?

Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.

Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that some day.

Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Bringing Faith Home Updates From Jessica

Bible Sunday

📖 Bible Sunday is Coming Up!: On Sunday, May 4th, we’ll be celebrating Bible Sunday by presenting Bibles to all 2nd graders moving into 3rd grade and 3rd graders moving into 4th grade. Parents—keep an eye out for an email from Julie and/or myself with more details. We can’t wait to celebrate our amazing kids and this special milestone in their faith journey!

Bringing church Home:

🏠 Bring Church Home – Thank You! A big thank you to all the families who participated in Bring Church Home throughout April! If you joined in, we’d love to hear from you—please send any comments or feedback to Jessica via email at Jessica@firstchurch.church The next set of materials will be available on Sunday, May 4th for the month of May. We’ll be taking a break in June and July and will return with new content in August. Thanks for being part of this journey! 💛

First Church Kids Crafts

🎨 Coming Soon: First Church Kids Crafts! Starting in August, we’re launching First Church Kids Crafts—a fun new program for kids who aren’t in choir and for parents who’d like to attend Sunday School. It will run between services from 10:00–11:00 AM.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Youth Promotion, Graduation & Scholarship Celebration!

Join us on May 18th from 5:30–7:00 PM as we celebrate our amazing First Church Youth—including 8th grade promotions, high school graduates, and scholarship recipients!

This special event is open to all youth and their immediate families. Dinner will be provided, and we’d love for you to bring a sweet treat or a drink to share!

Please use the link below to RSVP with the number of people attending (including kids) and let us know which graduate(s) you’ll be celebrating.

We can’t wait to celebrate together! 🎉

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

(Photo Description since it’s hard to read- Actual: $227414, Budget: $245140, Variance: $17726, Variance Percentage: 7.2%)

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 May 4th hosted by Staff Parish. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The book for May is The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

It doesn’t take long for someone new to the United Methodist Church to hear the term “apportionments.” But what exactly does that mean?

In the United Methodist Church, apportionments are a system of giving in which local UM congregations are each assigned a specific amount to contribute. These funds support the denomination’s broader ministries and programs—from global mission work to church administration—allowing us to serve effectively far beyond what any one congregation could do alone.

Through your generous giving, First Church is part of this shared mission. Because of the connectional nature of the United Methodist Church, all UM congregations—locally and globally—help fund ministries that serve others in powerful and far-reaching ways.

What does that look like in practice?

Here are some of the major funds supported through apportionments:

• World Service Fund – Supports global mission work and outreach.
• Episcopal Fund – Supports the bishops and district superintendents in their leadership roles.
• Ministerial Education Fund – Helps educate and train pastors for ministry.
• Black College Fund – Supports historically Black colleges and universities, helping them thrive and grow.
• General Administration Fund – Provides the administrative infrastructure of our denomination.
• Africa University Fund – Supports Africa University in Zimbabwe, a United Methodist institution offering education in healthcare, teaching, and other essential disciplines.

Each of these areas plays a vital role in supporting the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church around the world. Our connectional system allows First Church to be part of something much bigger—extending our impact beyond Phoenix, beyond Arizona, and into communities across the globe.

Yes, “apportionments” may sound like an odd or unfamiliar word, but they represent a vital system of giving—linking our local church to the wider mission of the global church. Your generosity helps make this possible. Thank you for the difference you make in Phoenix, throughout the Desert Southwest Conference, across our country, and around the world.

Together, we are making disciples for the transformation of the world.

See you in church,
Pastor David

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 Loraine Stewart. Loraine is a friend of Deby Campbell. Another prayer quilt displayed in the narthex this morning is for John Reinhold. John is a long-time member of our church. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Hedy Cunningham 3/26

Brenda North 4/ 6

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Loraine Stewart, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Aldermann, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Glendale

First UMC – Phoenix

First UMC – Sun City

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10

Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22

John and Vicki Beaver 5/2

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Ken McGinty 4/9

Darla Haller 4/13

Innocent Abiaka 4/16

Karen Champagne 4/18

John Ward 4/20

John Harapiak 4/24

Al Asendorf 4/25

Maxine Perkins 4/27

Nancy Maxwell 4/27

Bijan Mohraz 5/3

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Religious Trauma Symposium

Our church is hosting a religious trauma symposium on May 2nd at 7:00pm! This event is open to all ages, people from the church and from the community and it promises to be a really special night. Sammi and Jessica have worked together to create an amazing panel of speakers including authors, doctors, and therapists who will speak on religious trauma and religious trauma healing. The event is free and would be an amazing outreach tool, so please invite anyone you know who would be interested.

________________________________________________________________________

Potluck

Change For Change Update

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 1)

Ms. A: Did you know that First Church has a Foundation?

Mr. J: Of course, every building has a foundation.

Ms. A: No, not a foundation, a FOUNDATION—-the First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix.

Mr. J: I did not know that.  Tell me more.

Ms. A: Well…in 1954 a group of members of First Methodist Church of Phoenix incorporated for the purpose of holding, managing, and making gifts for the benefit of First United Methodist Church of Phoenix.  While the original group of leaders had a vision of a greater future, they probably did not anticipate the significant degree of support the Foundation provides to FUMC and to the community that we have 70 years later.

Mr. J: Well…how did the Foundation grow to the influence it has in 2025?

Ms. A:  Over the years, many individuals have come to realize how their gifts can have an impact on the community.  It is one way of establishing your legacy.  A gift today can have a positive, lasting impact on the Church and the community.  It is a long-term means of practicing our Christ-inspired benevolence.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Bringing Faith Home Updates From Jessica

Bible Sunday

📖 Bible Sunday is Coming Up!: On Sunday, May 4th, we’ll be celebrating Bible Sunday by presenting Bibles to all 2nd graders moving into 3rd grade and 3rd graders moving into 4th grade. Parents—keep an eye out for an email from Julie and/or myself with more details. We can’t wait to celebrate our amazing kids and this special milestone in their faith journey!

Bringing church Home:

🏠 Bring Church Home – Thank You! A big thank you to all the families who participated in Bring Church Home throughout April! If you joined in, we’d love to hear from you—please send any comments or feedback to Jessica via email at Jessica@firstchurch.church The next set of materials will be available on Sunday, May 4th for the month of May. We’ll be taking a break in June and July and will return with new content in August. Thanks for being part of this journey! 💛

First Church Kids Crafts

🎨 Coming Soon: First Church Kids Crafts! Starting in August, we’re launching First Church Kids Crafts—a fun new program for kids who aren’t in choir and for parents who’d like to attend Sunday School. It will run between services from 10:00–11:00 AM.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Youth Promotion, Graduation & Scholarship Celebration!

Join us on May 18th from 5:30–7:00 PM as we celebrate our amazing First Church Youth—including 8th grade promotions, high school graduates, and scholarship recipients!

This special event is open to all youth and their immediate families. Dinner will be provided, and we’d love for you to bring a sweet treat or a drink to share!

Please use the link below to RSVP with the number of people attending (including kids) and let us know which graduate(s) you’ll be celebrating.

We can’t wait to celebrate together! 🎉

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Food Pantry Updates

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 May 4th hosted by Staff Parish. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

A Season of Hope Amidst the Chaos

“Have I ever told you your work is really different than mine?” This is a question my wife and I often share when we reflect on the contrast between our daily lives.

A perfect example of this came last week during a petting zoo at our Weekday School. As I took a moment to visit with our students and meet the animals—rabbits, goats, a calf, and a couple of piglets—I found myself in a bit of a comical struggle. I attempted to pick up one of the piglets, but the little creature was having none of it. After a few failed tries, I finally got the piglet in my arms. And that’s when the chaos started. There was a loud, surprised squeal from the piglet, which only made the children squeal in response!

The zookeeper, noticing my dilemma, encouraged me to hold the piglet close to my chest. As I did, the noise didn’t stop entirely, but it softened. And slowly, the piglet seemed to calm down in my arms. In that moment, I thought about those many conversations I’ve had with Rebecca: “You are right, honey. My work is so much different than yours.”

And then, it hit me: this is exactly what Holy Week is about—the shift from chaos to calm, from the noise of Palm Sunday through Good Friday to the peace of Easter morning.

From the Garden of Gethsemane to the tomb, the journey of Holy Week leads us through moments of confusion, fear, and loss, and yet, we land on the day of resurrection with the reassurance that, no matter what chaos surrounds us, we will be embraced. “It’s going to be okay.” “Christ is risen indeed.”

Easter is about reassurance. After all the pain, the shame, and the anger directed at Jesus, the final message is one of peace: something new is beginning, something that restores innocence and hope. It’s like watching children discover the gentleness of animals in a petting zoo—an experience that teaches them, We are all part of something grand, something beautiful. And it’s all going to be okay.

I invite you to join us at First Church as we journey together through this sacred season, from Palm Sunday to Easter and beyond. Let’s let go of our fears and anxieties and place our trust in the One who is holding us through it all.

With much joy (and squealing joy, too!),
Pastor David

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 Loraine Stewart. Loraine is a friend of Deby Campbell. Another prayer quilt displayed in the narthex this morning is for John Reinhold. John is a long-time member of our church. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Hedy Cunningham 3/26

Brenda North 4/ 6

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Shirley Myer, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevens.

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Glendale

First UMC – Phoenix

First UMC – Sun City

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1

Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10

Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Alice Green 4/6

Shirley Myer 4/7

Pat Barnes 4/7

Ken McGinty 4/9

Darla Haller 4/13

Innocent Abiaka 4/16

Karen Champagne 4/18

John Ward 4/20

John Harapiak 4/24

Al Asendorf 4/25

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Holy Week is upon us! The following events are still coming up:

Good Friday – April 18th 7:00pm
Easter Sunday – April 20th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Taste of Easter/Easter Egg Hunt for kids 10:00am.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

David’s Easter Letter

Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
The celebration of Easter is a time of renewal, hope and the promise of new life,
and I want to share with you the ways in which we, as a congregation, are living out
this message of resurrection and love. We celebrate the ways in which God continues
to work in our lives and in the lives of our community. We are a living testament and a
light in the world to the transformative power of this resurrection as we are called to
act with love, to be generous with our resources and to serve others as Christ served
us.
As we celebrate the resurrection, we are also called to support the ongoing work of First Church. The mission
of First Church continues to touch lives in powerful ways, through our outreach programs, worship services,
the Weekday School, educational initiatives and community-building efforts.
This Easter, we ask for your prayerful consideration in supporting the mission of First Church with a special
contribution. Your generosity helps us provide vital programs for all ages, offer meaningful worship experiences,
and ensures that our church remains a beacon of hope and love in our community.
There are several ways you can contribute to the ministry of First Church during this season of renewal:
 We invite you to make a special Easter offering. Your gift, no matter the amount, will support
the work of your church and help us continue to serve those in need.
 Consider making a recurring monthly pledge to help sustain the day-to-day operations of our
church and its many programs.
 Your time is as valuable as your treasure. Consider volunteering in one of our ministries.
 Share the message of Easter and the work of First Church with your friends and family. Invite
them to join us for worship, events or service projects.
As you celebrate this Easter season, may you be filled with the peace and joy that comes from knowing
Christ’s resurrection power. May it renew your spirit and strengthen your faith as you continue to walk with
Him.
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support, prayers, and love. Together, we are building a stronger,
more vibrant community of faith, and we look forward to what God will continue to do through us in the year
ahead.
May God bless you abundantly this Easter season.

David Rennick

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Potluck

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

Ms. A: Did you know that First Church has a Foundation?

Mr. J: Of course, every building has a foundation.

Ms. A: No, not a foundation, a FOUNDATION—-the First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix.

Mr. J: I did not know that.  Tell me more.

Ms. A: Well…in 1954 a group of members of First Methodist Church of Phoenix incorporated for the purpose of holding, managing, and making gifts for the benefit of First United Methodist Church of Phoenix.  While the original group of leaders had a vision of a greater future, they probably did not anticipate the significant degree of support the Foundation provides to FUMC and to the community that we have 70 years later.

Mr. J: Well…how did the Foundation grow to the influence it has in 2025?

Ms. A:  Over the years, many individuals have come to realize how their gifts can have an impact on the community.  It is one way of establishing your legacy.  A gift today can have a positive, lasting impact on the Church and the community.  It is a long-term means of practicing our Christ-inspired benevolence.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 May 4th hosted by Staff Parish. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

A Season of Hope Amidst the Chaos

“Have I ever told you your work is really different than mine?” This is a question my wife and I often share when we reflect on the contrast between our daily lives.

A perfect example of this came last week during a petting zoo at our Weekday School. As I took a moment to visit with our students and meet the animals—rabbits, goats, a calf, and a couple of piglets—I found myself in a bit of a comical struggle. I attempted to pick up one of the piglets, but the little creature was having none of it. After a few failed tries, I finally got the piglet in my arms. And that’s when the chaos started. There was a loud, surprised squeal from the piglet, which only made the children squeal in response!

The zookeeper, noticing my dilemma, encouraged me to hold the piglet close to my chest. As I did, the noise didn’t stop entirely, but it softened. And slowly, the piglet seemed to calm down in my arms. In that moment, I thought about those many conversations I’ve had with Rebecca: “You are right, honey. My work is so much different than yours.”

And then, it hit me: this is exactly what Holy Week is about—the shift from chaos to calm, from the noise of Palm Sunday through Good Friday to the peace of Easter morning.

From the Garden of Gethsemane to the tomb, the journey of Holy Week leads us through moments of confusion, fear, and loss, and yet, we land on the day of resurrection with the reassurance that, no matter what chaos surrounds us, we will be embraced. “It’s going to be okay.” “Christ is risen indeed.”

Easter is about reassurance. After all the pain, the shame, and the anger directed at Jesus, the final message is one of peace: something new is beginning, something that restores innocence and hope. It’s like watching children discover the gentleness of animals in a petting zoo—an experience that teaches them, We are all part of something grand, something beautiful. And it’s all going to be okay.

I invite you to join us at First Church as we journey together through this sacred season, from Palm Sunday to Easter and beyond. Let’s let go of our fears and anxieties and place our trust in the One who is holding us through it all.

With much joy (and squealing joy, too!),
Pastor David

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 Steve Goldian. Steve is the cousin of Susan Sneathen. 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 a long time member Brenda North, who passed on April 6.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland.

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Glendale

First UMC – Phoenix

First UMC – Sun City

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1

Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10

Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Alice Green 4/6

Shirley Myer 4/7

Pat Barnes 4/7

Ken McGinty 4/9

Darla Haller 4/13

Innocent Abiaka 4/16

Karen Champagne 4/18

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Holy Week is coming! Here is our schedule of events:

Palm Sunday – April 13th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Unspoken Tenebrae service 7:00pm
Maundy Thursday – April 17th 7:00Pm
Good Friday – April 18th 7:00pm
Easter Sunday – April 20th 9:00am & 11:00am
Easter Egg Hunt for kids

____________________________________________________________________________________________

David’s Easter Letter

Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
The celebration of Easter is a time of renewal, hope and the promise of new life,
and I want to share with you the ways in which we, as a congregation, are living out
this message of resurrection and love. We celebrate the ways in which God continues
to work in our lives and in the lives of our community. We are a living testament and a
light in the world to the transformative power of this resurrection as we are called to
act with love, to be generous with our resources and to serve others as Christ served
us.
As we celebrate the resurrection, we are also called to support the ongoing work of First Church. The mission
of First Church continues to touch lives in powerful ways, through our outreach programs, worship services,
the Weekday School, educational initiatives and community-building efforts.
This Easter, we ask for your prayerful consideration in supporting the mission of First Church with a special
contribution. Your generosity helps us provide vital programs for all ages, offer meaningful worship experiences,
and ensures that our church remains a beacon of hope and love in our community.
There are several ways you can contribute to the ministry of First Church during this season of renewal:
 We invite you to make a special Easter offering. Your gift, no matter the amount, will support
the work of your church and help us continue to serve those in need.
 Consider making a recurring monthly pledge to help sustain the day-to-day operations of our
church and its many programs.
 Your time is as valuable as your treasure. Consider volunteering in one of our ministries.
 Share the message of Easter and the work of First Church with your friends and family. Invite
them to join us for worship, events or service projects.
As you celebrate this Easter season, may you be filled with the peace and joy that comes from knowing
Christ’s resurrection power. May it renew your spirit and strengthen your faith as you continue to walk with
Him.
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support, prayers, and love. Together, we are building a stronger,
more vibrant community of faith, and we look forward to what God will continue to do through us in the year
ahead.
May God bless you abundantly this Easter season.

David Rennick

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

Ms. A: Did you know that First Church has a Foundation?

Mr. J: Of course, every building has a foundation.

Ms. A: No, not a foundation, a FOUNDATION—-the First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix.

Mr. J: I did not know that.  Tell me more.

Ms. A: Well…in 1954 a group of members of First Methodist Church of Phoenix incorporated for the purpose of holding, managing, and making gifts for the benefit of First United Methodist Church of Phoenix.  While the original group of leaders had a vision of a greater future, they probably did not anticipate the significant degree of support the Foundation provides to FUMC and to the community that we have 70 years later.

Mr. J: Well…how did the Foundation grow to the influence it has in 2025?

Ms. A:  Over the years, many individuals have come to realize how their gifts can have an impact on the community.  It is one way of establishing your legacy.  A gift today can have a positive, lasting impact on the Church and the community.  It is a long-term means of practicing our Christ-inspired benevolence.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 May 4th hosted by Staff Parish. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

I hope the season of Lent is going well for moments of seeing light around you and how through the bread of life, we are fed in many nourishing ways.

I’ve been reflecting on a pattern that occurs each time a pastor is appointed to another congregation. It’s about stepping into a space that was filled by someone else and then both the congregation and the new pastor learns the rhythm of one another. This metaphor is likened to a dance. There are those moments when learning about who takes the lead and in other ways how to follow along. As you might suspect, sometimes toes can be stepped upon.

This initial learning to dance phase takes about a year. It’s a season of learning about the culture of the congregation and community, learning about values, hearing one another’s stories of success and areas of growth. Yet always careful to not jump to conclusions to fix or take away something. If anything, this initial season of getting to know one another includes bringing familiar experiences to the dancefloor.

This season of dancing with a safety-net also applies to new staff members too, who are empowered to enhance the ministry of a congregation. There can be so much excitement and anxiety, and often expectations that can lend to set up a new dance partner for failure. Because moments for building a collaborative connection is not established, and the assumption is let’s jump right into a tango without learning the rudimentary basics of moving from side to side.

After this initial season of discovering the dance moves, then begins implementation and reinterpretation of existing dance moves by adding a twist here or a dip there.

Somewhere between the third year and fifth year innovation steps forth and the magic of momentum begins. The dance partners are comfortable in their skin. Muscle memory accommodates and a new chorography takes the simplest of box steps to the elegant moves of a waltz.

The world of dance varies from the joy of glides to the energy of pops and locks. Each is a balance of rhythm, melody, and ingenuity. We dance together as a church and congregation. We learn from one another through our unique similarities and the nuances of the steps we bring to dance.

The chorus of a song by Garth Brooks goes…

“And now I’m glad I didn’t know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I’d have had to miss the dance”

The dance is not about the pain, but about the chance of a possibility what might be missed.

The steps and rhythms then become that embrace shared between the dance partners is a celebration of all things possible that in the midst of the Lenten season we all move to a resurrection of new life and a new motion of movement into the means of grace.

See you in church.

Pastor David

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 Steve Goldian. Steve is the cousin of Susan Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper, and Hedy Cunningham

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

First UMC – Glendale

First UMC – Phoenix

First UMC – Sun City

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1

Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10

Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Alice Green 4/6

Shirley Myer 4/7

Pat Barnes 4/7

Ken McGinty 4/9

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Faith Conversation Initiative for Families

Do you find it challenging to engage your child in conversations about faith? You’re not alone! First Church Phoenix, in partnership with The HUB @ Wesley DC, is launching a new initiative to help families explore faith together in meaningful ways.

Starting April 6th, when you pick up your child from church, you’ll receive a Monthly Dinner Conversation Kit with guided instructions inside. Each month will feature a theme with weekly discussion questions designed for dinner time, family time, or even the drive to school.

All K–8th grade children who attend Sunday services will automatically receive a kit. However, grandparents, families with grandchildren, or those whose children don’t regularly attend are also welcome to participate! Simply sign up using the SignUpGenius link below.

Those who signed up by March 30th will receive their kit early in April!

For questions, please contact Jessica Morris at JessicaMorris@firstchurch.church or (602) 263-5013 ext. 107.

We look forward to growing in faith together!

-Jessica Morris

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Holy Week is coming up soon! Here is a schedule of all of our events:

Palm Sunday – April 13th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Unspoken Tenebrae service 7:00pm
Maundy Thursday – April 17th 7:00Pm
Good Friday – April 18th 7:00pm
Easter Sunday – April 20th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Easter Egg Hunt for kids 10:00am.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Day at Iglesia Aliento

Thank you to all who signed up to help at Iglesia Aliento. We had a good and productive time of work and fellowship with the members there.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 April 6th, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Architectural Services
Jim Smith, Partner, CollectivLA. Landscape Architects. Our portfolio displays a wide range of projects including: planned communities, specialty gardens, urban development, community and public parks, resorts, regionally environmentally sensitive projects and both public and private work. Our firm brings a wealth of experience in designing distinct solutions that blend thoughtfully and responsibly with their surroundings. We are dedicated to collaborate with each partner to realize a design solution that is appropriate to each site and our client’s goals. (602) 358-7711 Ext-101
jims@collectivla.com
www.collectivla.com

Financial Advisory
Vanessa Burke Lee, MBA, CPA, CFP®, CFT™ Advisor and Shareholder at TCI Wealth Advisors helping families with retirement planning and investment management on their journey toward financial security and overall well-being. 480) 991-0401
vanessa.lee@tciwealth.com
www.tciwealth.com

Legal Services
Ernest E. Shaver, Attorney at Law. 35 years experience in a wide range of civil matters, probate, and general litigation. (602) 277-6446 e.shaver@cox.net

Lodging
Carrick Sears, owner of The Carrick Hotel. Nestled in the Mule Mountains of Southeast Arizona the mining town of Bisbee is full of great things to discover! (520) 234-5921 reservations@thecarrick.com
www.TheCarrick.com

Notary Services
Cathy Fuentes, owner of Cathy’s Mobile Notary Service.
(602) 568-3680
gvfuentes2013@yahoo.com

Real Estate-Commercial
Carrick Sears, Senior Advisor, SVN Desert Commercial Advisors. We help investors and business owners lease, buy and sell commercial properties as well as invest in passive commercial real estate
opportunities. (602) 327-0325
carrick.sears@svn.com
www.SVNDesertCommercial.com

Remodeling-Residential & Commercial
Tom and Julie Sertich, owners of Kirk Development Company. Kirk Development Company has served the Valley since 1978, turning dreams into reality. Kirk Development provides complete design/build services for residential and commercial remodeling. Kirk Development is a professional company that provides great customer service and quality. ROC 057434ROC 072088 (602) 944-3658
designbuild@kirkdevco.com
www.kirkremodelers.com

The purpose of our business directory is to increase awareness of church members who own particular businesses that members could patronize in an effort to support one another as church members and as fellow Christians. We also want to bring awareness to member business owners to cultivate networking with one another through fellowship.

Members can receive a complimentary classified ad-style listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included for a listing or for more information on donating to receive advertising space in the directory.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Each week in worship, we take a moment to greet one another with the peace of Christ. This tradition has its roots in the Communion ritual, where we speak to one another the phrase, “The peace of Christ be with you,” to which the response is, “And also with you.” It is a gesture of reconciliation, reminding us that before we come to the table of Christ, we are called to make our relationships right with one another.

So when we exchange this greeting each week, it’s more than just a casual “How are you?” It’s a deeper message: in this moment, we are united in the peace of Christ, not in spite of, but through our differences.

I want to begin by saying, “The peace of Christ be with you,” and to express my gratitude for the ways you connect with First Church—through worship, small groups, and your support.

While we do our best to track attendance and participation, our records are only as good as the interactions we have with one another. That’s why, instead of calling to say, “We miss you” when you’re not present, we want to say simply, “The peace of Christ be with you,” whether you are with us or away.

First Church is your faith community, and it is my hope that you experience the goodness and grace of God through your involvement here.

With Easter just around the corner, there are many ways to connect and invite your family, friends, and acquaintances to experience the love and grace of First Church. Our Holy Week events offer meaningful opportunities to reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus, and each one is a unique way to journey with Him from loss to glory as we approach Easter.

If we said “Hello” to you last week and it’s been a while since you’ve joined us, please consider returning to First Church to experience God’s goodness and grace. If you’ve found a new faith community, we celebrate that with you and invite you to share your heart with us, knowing that the “Peace of Christ be with you” remains.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX
Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevens, Loraine Stewart

DEATHS

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson,
Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland, Shirley Myer, Brenda North

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Dove of the Desert UMC – Glendale

Maryvale UMC – Phoenix

Faith 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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Bob Bailes 4/5

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Faith Conversation Initiative for Families – Sign Up by March 30th!

Do you find it challenging to engage your child in conversations about faith? You’re not alone! First Church Phoenix, in partnership with The HUB @ Wesley DC, is launching a new initiative to help families explore faith together in meaningful ways.

Starting April 6th, when you pick up your child from church, you’ll receive a Monthly Dinner Conversation Kit with guided instructions inside. Each month will feature a theme with weekly discussion questions designed for dinner time, family time, or even the drive to school.

All K–8th grade children who attend Sunday services will automatically receive a kit. However, grandparents, families with grandchildren, or those whose children don’t regularly attend are also welcome to participate! Simply sign up using the SignUpGenius link below.

Sign up by March 30th to receive your kit on the first Sunday in April!

For questions, please contact Jessica Morris at JessicaMorris@firstchurch.church or (602) 263-5013 ext. 107.

We look forward to growing in faith together!

-Jessica Morris

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Holy Week is coming up soon! Here is a schedule of all of our events:

Palm Sunday – April 13th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Unspoken Tenebrae service 7:00pm
Maundy Thursday – April 17th 7:00Pm
Good Friday – April 18th 7:00pm
Easter Sunday – April 20th 9:00am & 11:00am, and Easter Egg Hunt for kids 10:00am.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Day at Iglesia Aliento

The mission’s committee is sponsoring a work day at Iglesia Aliento on March 29th from 9:00am-noon. Tasks available will include yard clean up, garden work, sweeping and mopping sanctuary floors, and cleaning chairs. Please contact the church office if you are interested in signing up!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

Here is our most recent giving report. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 April 6th, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Dear Church Family,

It’s been asked, “What’s the difference between making a pledge or a charitable donation?” There’s no right or wrong answer—it’s really about the expression of one’s generosity.

Let’s start by defining both terms:

A Pledge is a commitment to give a specific amount over a period of time, often with the intention of supporting a ministry budget or specific project. It’s a planned financial contribution to fulfill a personal giving goal.

A Charitable Donation, on the other hand, is an immediate financial contribution made to benefit a cause or respond to a specific need.

Both forms of giving—pledging and donating—make a tremendous impact, and I encourage you to consider participating in either or both.

I want to express my deep gratitude to all who contribute in different ways. Whether through pledging, donating, or volunteering, your generosity is a blessing.

Through the gifts of many, we can do much more to transform lives and impact the world.

If you need to review your giving, please contact Russ Morrow, our Business Administrator, at the church office or by email at russ@firstchurch.church. This helps us have a clearer picture of funding possibilities.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

Blessings,
Pastor David

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 Rebecca Heinrichs. Rebecca is the mother of our staff member Elizabeth Leyva. A second prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Rebecca Heinrichs. Rebecca is the mother of our staff member Elizabeth Leyva. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Ulises Estrada’s aunt, Cynthia Lorena Araiza, passed on March 1.

Mary Lou McWilliams passed on March 2. (Her service is on March 28 at 10 a.m., Life Center, Beatitudes Campus, 1610 W. Glendale Ave in Phoenix.)

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson,
Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland, Shirley Myer, Brenda North

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Dove of the Desert UMC – Glendale

Maryvale UMC – Phoenix

Faith 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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Pat Kelly 3/9

Patricia Magyar 3/17

Terry Lutz 3/18

Fred Moor 3/20

Nora Hinton 3/27

____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Member Class

Our church’s next New Member Class will be coming soon on March 23rd! If you are new to the church, or if have been attending for a while but have never become an official member and would like to, please call or email the church office and we will get a membership packet ready for you! The membership class will be quick, filling the 10:00 hour that Sunday, just a brief informational session about our church, about the Methodist denomination, and a time for questions and answers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Faith Conversation Initiative for Families – Sign Up by March 30th!

Do you find it challenging to engage your child in conversations about faith? You’re not alone! First Church Phoenix, in partnership with The HUB @ Wesley DC, is launching a new initiative to help families explore faith together in meaningful ways.

Starting April 6th, when you pick up your child from church, you’ll receive a Monthly Dinner Conversation Kit with guided instructions inside. Each month will feature a theme with weekly discussion questions designed for dinner time, family time, or even the drive to school.

All K–8th grade children who attend Sunday services will automatically receive a kit. However, grandparents, families with grandchildren, or those whose children don’t regularly attend are also welcome to participate! Simply sign up using the SignUpGenius link below.

Sign up by March 30th to receive your kit on the first Sunday in April!

For questions, please contact Jessica Morris at JessicaMorris@firstchurch.church or (602) 263-5013 ext. 107.

We look forward to growing in faith together!

-Jessica Morris

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive Results

Thank you all for another successful blood drive! From the amount donated, we were able to save 42 lives!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Day at Iglesia Aliento

The mission’s committee is sponsoring a work day at Iglesia Aliento on March 29th from 9:00am-noon. Tasks available will include yard clean up, garden work, sweeping and mopping sanctuary floors, and cleaning chairs. Please contact the church office if you are interested in signing up!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

We had a month of good giving! Thank so much for all your continued generosity towards our church.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 April 6th, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Change for Change Lent Challenge

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 Al Smith. Al is a brother of Terry Smith. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Ulises Estrada’s aunt, Cynthia Lorena Araiza, passed on March 1.

Mary Lou McWilliams passed on March 2. (Her service is on March 28 at 10 a.m., Life Center, Beatitudes Campus, 1610 W. Glendale Ave in Phoenix.)

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper, Hedy Cunningham, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Dove of the Desert UMC – Glendale

Maryvale UMC – Phoenix

Faith 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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Pat Kelly 3/9

Patricia Magyar 3/17

Terry Lutz 3/18

Fred Moor 3/20

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder About Scholarships

A friendly reminder to any students who will be applying for a college or graduate school scholarship through our church this spring that the application deadline date is March 17th at 4:00pm. Late applications will not be able to be considered by the scholarship committee, so make sure to get them in early! https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Member Class

Our church’s next New Member Class will be coming soon on March 23rd! If you are new to the church, or if have been attending for a while but have never become an official member and would like to, please call or email the church office and we will get a membership packet ready for you! The membership class will be quick, filling the 10:00 hour that Sunday, just a brief informational session about our church, about the Methodist denomination, and a time for questions and answers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive Results

Thank you all for another successful blood drive! From the amount donated, we were able to save 42 lives!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Work Day at Iglesia Aliento

The mission’s committee is sponsoring a work day at Iglesia Aliento on March 29th from 9:00am-noon. Tasks available will include yard clean up, garden work, sweeping and mopping sanctuary floors, and cleaning chairs. Please contact the church office if you are interested in signing up!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

We had a month of good giving! Thank so much for all your continued generosity towards our church.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

Tomorrow, on March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $30.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 April 6th, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Change for Change Lent Challenge

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 Al Smith. Al is a brother of Terry Smith. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Ulises Estrada’s aunt, Cynthia Lorena Araiza, passed on March 1.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevens, Loraine Stewart, Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Dove of the Desert UMC – Glendale

Maryvale UMC – Phoenix

Faith 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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Pat Kelly 3/9

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder About Scholarships

A friendly reminder to any students who will be applying for a college or graduate school scholarship through our church this spring that the application deadline date is March 17th at 4:00pm. Late applications will not be able to be considered by the scholarship committee, so make sure to get them in early! https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

New Member Class

Our church’s next New Member Class will be coming soon on March 23rd! If you are new to the church, or if have been attending for a while but have never become an official member and would like to, please call or email the church office and we will get a membership packet ready for you! The membership class will be quick, filling the 10:00 hour that Sunday, just a brief informational session about our church, about the Methodist denomination, and a time for questions and answers.

________________________________________________________________________

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club sign ups to attend the Little Women event are now closed. For those that registered, please remember that the event will be taking place on March 9th.  Attendees will meet in the Centennial Room at church at 12:15pm.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Blood Drive Results

Thank you all for another successful blood drive! From the amount donated, we were able to save 42 lives!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Workship Day Postponed

We would like to inform you that the WorkShip service event originally scheduled for March 30 has been postponed. This decision will allow us to explore more opportunities to impact the community and First Church.

A special thank you to our Missions/Social Justice Committee for bringing this outreach initiative to the congregation’s attention.

-David Rennick

________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

We had a month of good giving! Thank so much for all your continued generosity towards our church.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $30.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Change for Change Lent Challenge

During Lent, bring your loose change and place in the 5-gallon water jug located in front of the sanctuary. Our goal is to fill the jug to the brim before Easter. You might be surprised how when putting our change together can bring a change to others. This season’s Change for Change will benefit Iglesia Aliento and their ongoing ministry to the Latino community. Thank you for your participation to make a change with your change. – David

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 April 6th, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

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 Lori Good. Lori is a friend of Diane Gara Weiner. 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 Beverly Sutton who passed on February 13, 2025. Services are scheduled for Today at 1 p.m. at Paradise Memorial Garden located at 9300 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale 85260

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland, Mary Lou McWilliams, Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Christ Community UMC – Avondale

Community Church of Buckeye – Buckeye

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDINGS

Stephen Walden to Tiffany Fang 12/13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Buzz and Liv Stevens 2/19

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Barbara Harvey 3/3

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder About Scholarships

A friendly reminder to any students who will be applying for a college or graduate school scholarship through our church this spring that the application deadline date is March 17th at 4:00pm. Late applications will not be able to be considered by the scholarship committee, so make sure to get them in early! https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club sign ups to attend the Little Women event are now closed. For those that registered, please remember that the event will be taking place on March 9th.  Attendees will meet in the Centennial Room at church at 12:15pm.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Soup Supper

Per usual, our Ash Wednesday service (March 5th) will be preceded by a 5:00pm soup supper to raise money for the missions committee. Tickets are $10 dollars and will include soup, salad, cornbread, dessert, and a beverage of your choice. Tickets will be sold outside on the patio on Sundays and will also be available for purchase during the week through the church office. Please contact Mindy Smidt with any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Workship Day Postponed

We would like to inform you that the WorkShip service event originally scheduled for March 30 has been postponed. This decision will allow us to explore more opportunities to impact the community and First Church.

A special thank you to our Missions/Social Justice Committee for bringing this outreach initiative to the congregation’s attention.

-David Rennick

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Feed My Starving Children Trip

On February 15th, a big group of people from the church attended Feed My Starving Children, an organization that ships food to impoverished people worldwide. We packed 98 boxes of food, which is enough to feed 58 children every day for a year! Thank you for all who were able to attend. You made a difference in so many lives!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Giving Report

We had a month of good giving! Thank so much for all your continued generosity towards our church.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $30.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Note From Girl Scout Troup #3462

“Girl Scout Troop #3462 would like to thank you all for your continued support and help! Thanks to your generosity our troop was able to finish the cookie season on a high note with over 3,000 boxes sold and 120 packages donated to the church food pantry plus 20 packages we will bag up to put in the nursing home Easter Baskets. The next generation thanks you for your belief in them! – Stevi”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 March 2nd, hosted by the church’s The Table class. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

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 Eric Mattson. Eric is the brother of Karen Gajer. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Edward Hall 1/17

Bill Heuerman 1/21

Neil Millican (This week, date unknown)

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper, Hedy Cunningham, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Jim Hyde

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Christ Community UMC – Avondale

Community Church of Buckeye – Buckeye

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDINGS

Stephen Walden to Tiffany Fang 12/13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Earl and Eleanor Warner 2/8

Buzz and Liv Stevens 2/19

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Grier Cooper 2/23

Twyla Thompson 2/23

Al Hayer 2/23

Wanda Hoover 2/26

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder About Scholarships

A friendly reminder to any students who will be applying for a college or graduate school scholarship through our church this spring that the application deadline date is March 17th at 4:00pm. Late applications will not be able to be considered by the scholarship committee, so make sure to get them in early! https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club invites you to join us for a trip to see the show Little Women at Grand Canyon University. The cost of the event is $20, which covers admission to the show as well as lunch with our group at Subway. Please submit your payment and sandwich preference (turkey, ham, or beef) to Suzanne Haehl before February 21st if you would like to attend. Attendees will meet in the Centennial Room at church at 12:15pm. Vans are available to take about 20 people and carpooling is available as well.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Soup Supper

Per usual, our Ash Wednesday service (March 5th) will be preceded by a 5:00pm soup supper to raise money for the missions committee. Tickets are $10 dollars and will include soup, salad, cornbread, dessert, and a beverage of your choice. Tickets will be sold outside on the patio on Sundays and will also be available for purchase during the week through the church office. Please contact Mindy Smidt with any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Confirmation Camp

For any youth who have not yet been confirmed but would like to be, our church is offering funding for young people to attend Mingus Mountain’s confirmation camp from May 2-4. If you would like your child or a child you know to attend or would like to ask more about the funding, please contact Jessica Morris at jessica@firstchurch.church.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Feed My Starving Children Trip

On Saturday a big group of people from the church attended Feed My Starving Children, an organization that ships food to impoverished people worldwide. We packed 98 boxes of food, which is enough to feed 58 children every day for a year! Thank you for all who were able to attend. You made a difference in so many lives!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $30.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Note From Girl Scout Troup #3462

“Senior Girl Scouts from Troop #3462 have been selling cookies and getting donations since early January. While they are still working on their goal (3,000 boxes) they have managed to get 52 boxes donated for the church’s food pantry. Shelby, Imani, Sunny, Liberty, Aria, Zoelle and Guin also spent an evening assembling hygiene kits with basic supplies for the church to give away on Fridays with food bags. Hopefully those food bags contain some Girl Scout cookies. – Stevi”

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations, Chris!

One of our young people at the church, Christ Boadu, acquired the opportunity to learn about the construction and building development industry through a connection made with another member of the congregation. Here he is with the Arizona Director of Architecture on site of a project called Harmony at the Park.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 March 2nd, hosted by the church’s The Table class. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Debbie McCoy Russell. Debbie is a sister of Jim McCoy. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Edward Hall 1/17

Bill Heuerman 1/21

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Buzz and Liv Stevens, Loraine Stewart, Bev Sutton, Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Christ Community UMC – Avondale

Community Church of Buckeye – Buckeye

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDINGS

Stephen Walden to Tiffany Fang 12/13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Earl and Eleanor Warner 2/8

Buzz and Liv Stevens 2/19

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Marion Pease 2/16

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder About Scholarships

A friendly reminder to any students who will be applying for a college or graduate school scholarship through our church this spring that the application deadline date is March 17th at 4:00pm. Late applications will not be able to be considered by the scholarship committee, so make sure to get them in early! https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club invites you to join us for a trip to see the show Little Women at Grand Canyon University. The cost of the event is $20, which covers admission to the show as well as lunch with our group at Subway. Please submit your payment and sandwich preference (turkey, ham, or beef) to Suzanne Haehl before February 21st if you would like to attend. Attendees will meet in the Centennial Room at church at 12:15pm. Vans are available to take about 20 people and carpooling is available as well.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Soup Supper

Per usual, our Ash Wednesday service (March 5th) will be preceded by a 5:00pm soup supper to raise money for the missions committee. Tickets are $10 dollars and will include soup, salad, cornbread, dessert, and a beverage of your choice. Tickets will be sold outside on the patio on Sundays and will also be available for purchase during the week through the church office. Please contact Mindy Smidt with any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Confirmation Camp

For any youth who have not yet been confirmed but would like to be, our church is offering funding for young people to attend Mingus Mountain’s confirmation camp from May 2-4. If you would like your child or a child you know to attend or would like to ask more about the funding, please contact Jessica Morris at jessica@firstchurch.church.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Feed My Starving Children Trip

On Saturday a big group of people from the church attended Feed My Starving Children, an organization that ships food to impoverished people worldwide. We packed 98 boxes of food, which is enough to feed 58 children every day for a year! Thank you for all who were able to attend. You made a difference in so many lives!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $40.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Note From Girl Scout Troup #3462

“Senior Girl Scouts from Troop #3462 have been selling cookies and getting donations since early January. While they are still working on their goal (3,000 boxes) they have managed to get 52 boxes donated for the church’s food pantry. Shelby, Imani, Sunny, Liberty, Aria, Zoelle and Guin also spent an evening assembling hygiene kits with basic supplies for the church to give away on Fridays with food bags. Hopefully those food bags contain some Girl Scout cookies. – Stevi”

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations, Chris!

One of our young people at the church, Christ Boadu, acquired the opportunity to learn about the construction and building development industry through a connection made with another member of the congregation. Here he is with the Arizona Director of Architecture on site of a project called Harmony at the Park.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 March 2nd, hosted by the church’s fabric groups. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Debbie McCoy Russell. Debbie is a sister of Jim McCoy. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Edward Hall 1/17

Bill Heuerman 1/21

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rhaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Darwin Schultz, Susan Secrest.

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Christ Community UMC – Avondale

Community Church of Buckeye – Buckeye

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDINGS

Stephen Walden to Tiffany Fang 12/13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Earl and Eleanor Warner 2/8

Buzz and Liv Stevens 2/19

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Denny Silk 2/9
Betsy Heuermann 2/9
Gerry Oliver 2/10
Kent Klein 2/11
Donna Moninger 2/15
Jan Dunipace 2/15

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Red Cross Presentation Event (Join in to earn free prizes!)

On Saturday February 8th at 10:00am, the Red Cross will be hosting a safety training presentation, providing overview information and training in various areas, including CPR, choking protocol, home safety, and fire prevention. This free event will take place in Asbury Hall and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Registration is not required, but is requested, just so the church will be able to get a general sense of how many people will be attending that day. If you are interested, please sign up using this link: https://sugeni.us/VMj7.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club invites you to join us for a trip to see the show Little Women at Grand Canyon University. The cost of the event is $20, which covers admission to the show as well as lunch with our group at Subway. Please submit your payment and sandwich preference (turkey, ham, or beef) to Suzanne Haehl before February 27th if you would like to attend. If you would like to attend but need a ride, please coordinate that with Suzanne as well.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Soup Dinner

Per usual, our Ash Wednesday service (March 5th) will be preceded by a 4:00pm soup dinner to raise money for the missions committee. Tickets are $10 dollars and will include soup, salad, cornbread, dessert, and a beverage of your choice. Tickets will be sold outside on the patio on Sundays and will also be available for purchase during the week through the church office. Please contact Mindy Smidt with any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Confirmation Camp

For any youth who have not yet been confirmed but would like to be, our church is offering funding for young people to attend Mingus Mountain’s confirmation camp from May 2-4. If you would like your child or a child you know to attend or would like to ask more about the funding, please contact Jessica Morris at jessica@firstchurch.church.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Whole – Church Intergenerational Feed My Starving Children Trip February 15th

The deadline to register for our packing event at Feed My Starving Children was on February 4th, and we can no longer accept any new sign ups. Thank you to the 64 people who will be coming with us; it should be a very exciting day! For those attending, please remember we will be signing in at 2:15pm. As we will be standing, please wear comfortable shoes. Reach out to sammi@firstchurch.church if you have any questions.

(Please remember FMSC has fairly recently moved locations and are now in Tempe at 1100 West Grove Parkway).

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, starting at 8:30am, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration is now open; please contact the church office to let them know you will be coming. The fee to attend is $40.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hearing Survey

The trustees are considering an upgrade to the Church’s assistive listening system for worship services. In order to make the best choice we need your feedback. Please answer the short survey below and drop it into the collection plate or box as you exit on Sunday. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

1) Do you have difficulties hearing the spoken word during our services?  Yes or no
2) Do you currently use any of the devices (Headphones or earbuds) supplied by the church to help you hear? Yes or no
3) Would you use those devices or others like a neck loop if we purchased upgraded equipment? Yes or no
4) Do you currently use your own hearing assistance devices like hearing aids in church? Yes or no
5) If you answered yes to#4 above would you use a system that interfaces with your phone and existing hearing aids or air buds? Yes or no

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A Note From Girl Scout Troup #3462

“Senior Girl Scouts from Troop #3462 have been selling cookies and getting donations since early January. While they are still working on their goal (3,000 boxes) they have managed to get 52 boxes donated for the church’s food pantry. Shelby, Imani, Sunny, Liberty, Aria, Zoelle and Guin also spent an evening assembling hygiene kits with basic supplies for the church to give away on Fridays with food bags. Hopefully those food bags contain some Girl Scout cookies. – Stevi”

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations, Chris!

One of our young people at the church, Christ Boadu, acquired the opportunity to learn about the construction and building development industry through a connection made with another member of the congregation. Here he is with the Arizona Director of Architecture on site of a project called Harmony at the Park.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 March 2nd. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Debbie McCoy Russell. Debbie is a sister of Jim McCoy. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Edward Hall 1/17

Bill Heuerman 1/21

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Ginger Levine, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland, Mary Lou McWilliams

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Christ Community UMC – Avondale

Community Church of Buckeye – Buckeye

(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 deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDINGS

Stephen Edward to Tiffany Fang 12/13

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Earl and Eleanor Warner 2/8

Buzz and Liv Stevens 2/19

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Jim Hyde 2/2

Mary Williamson 2/6

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Red Cross Presentation Event

On February 8th at 10:00am, the Red Cross will be hosting a safety training presentation, providing overview information and training in various areas, including CPR, choking protocol, home safety, and fire prevention. This free event will take place in Asbury Hall and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Registration is not required, but is requested, just so the church will be able to get a general sense of how many people will be attending that day. If you are interested, please sign up using this link: https://sugeni.us/VMj7.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Confirmation Camp

For any youth who have not yet been confirmed but would like to be, our church is offering funding for young people to attend Mingus Mountain’s confirmation camp from May 2-4. If you would like your child or a child you know to attend or would like to ask more about the funding, please contact Jessica Morris at jessica@firstchurch.church.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Whole – Church Intergenerational Feed My Starving Children Trip

Our high school youth will be partnering with the mission’s committee in leading the church in a special Valentine’s missions project to help spread God’s love and comfort to the world. On February 15th at 2:15 pm, our church will be joining with the high school youth group to package food at Feed My Starving Children, which will be shipped out to help provide meals to impoverished young people globally. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office or register online at https://sugeni.us/Vm5j.

(Please remember FMSC has fairly recently moved locations and are now in Tempe at 1100 West Grove Parkway).

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration opens on February 1st.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hearing Survey

The trustees are considering an upgrade to the Church’s assistive listening system for worship services. In order to make the best choice we need your feedback. Please answer the short survey below and drop it into the collection plate or box as you exit on Sunday. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

1) Do you have difficulties hearing the spoken word during our services?  Yes or no
2) Do you currently use any of the devices (Headphones or earbuds) supplied by the church to help you hear? Yes or no
3) Would you use those devices or others like a neck loop if we purchased upgraded equipment? Yes or no
4) Do you currently use your own hearing assistance devices like hearing aids in church? Yes or no
5) If you answered yes to#4 above would you use a system that interfaces with your phone and existing hearing aids or air buds? Yes or no

________________________________________________________________________

Iglesia Aliento UMC Invitation

A local United Methodist Latino church, Iglesia Aliento, has extended an invitation to our church to join them at their worship service at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2nd. After the service, they will have a time of food and fellowship. All are welcome to join in. (701 S 1st St. Phoenix 85004).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jr High Blanket Drive Update

Our jr. highers dropped off over 60 blankets at the UMOM warehouses this week. Thank you all for your support of our service project!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 February 2nd. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. They meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Pope Francis’ reminder about “living lean” offers a profound starting point for reflection—especially as we seek to find awe in the world around us amidst wonder.

The idea of exploring where we’ve encountered both awe and potential invites us to notice the ways in which the divine touches our lives—whether through moments of quiet grace, deep connection, or unexpected opportunities. It seems like a call to step back, not just to appreciate, but to actively seek out the possibility that each moment offers.

I love that this approach emphasizes not the need for more, but the gift of what is already before us—finding richness in simplicity. It’s a great lens to approach meetings, worship, and life in general, grounding us in gratitude and openness.

See you in church!
David

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Mary Alice Preston. Mary Alice is a neighbor of John Holmes.  The other prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Kenny Fraser. Kenny is a friend of Bob and Connie Bailes. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

Edward Hall 1/17

Bill Heuerman 1/21

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper, Hedy Cunningham, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Owen Galardi

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church, Calvary UMC, and UMC Valley UMC

(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, or reach out to the congregational care team directly by emailing deby@firstchurch.church.)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Brenda and Jim Unsworth 1/27

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Susan Freeman 1/28

Diane Gara Weiner 1/28

Jesse Ary 1/29

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Announcement Communication Update

Got an announcement for the good of the church that needs to go in the bulletin, be posted on social media, The Good News, etc.? All communication about that now needs to be sent to Sammi. If communication is not sent to Sammi there is no guarantee that it will be able to be printed. Please send all announcement details to sammi@firstchurch.church  (preferably with a bit of notice, if possible, as bulletins are often prepared up to a couple weeks in advance, although we understand sometimes things pop up last minute).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Red Cross Presentation Event

On February 8th at 10:00am, the Red Cross will be hosting a safety training presentation, providing overview information and training in various areas, including CPR, choking protocol, home safety, and fire prevention. This free event will take place in Asbury Hall and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Registration is not required, but is requested, just so the church will be able to get a general sense of how many people will be attending that day. If you are interested, please sign up using this link: https://sugeni.us/VMj7.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Whole – Church Feed My Starving Children Trip

Our high school youth will be partnering with the mission’s committee in leading the church in a special Valentine’s missions project to help spread God’s love and comfort to the world. On February 15th at 2:15 pm, our church will be joining with the high school youth group to package food at Feed My Starving Children, which will be shipped out to help provide meals to impoverished young people globally. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office or register online at https://sugeni.us/Vm5j.

(Please remember FMSC has fairly recently moved locations and are now in Tempe at 1100 West Grove Parkway).

_______________________________________________________________________

Committee Orientation Event

All former committee members from 2024 and newly appointed members for 2025 are invited to participate in an important orientation session on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

What to Expect:

· Pre-Orientation Materials: Prior to the orientation, members will receive committee descriptions, expectations from the United Methodist Church, and other relevant materials to review.

· Agenda:

o Getting to Know Each Other: A time for introductions and building connections among committee members.

o Strategic Direction: A discussion on the mission and vision of First Church, with a focus on the strategic direction for the upcoming year.

o Prayer for Guidance: A time to seek God’s guidance and blessing as we embark on the work ahead in 2025.

Please mark your calendars and come ready to participate in an engaging and prayerful time together.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tools of the Soul Retreat (Hosted by United Women of Faith)

On March 15th, our church’s United Women in Faith groups will be hosting a retreat led by Mary Hollan focused around self – compassion and life balance. These important topics will be explored through music, crafting, meditation, and community. For those who are interested in signing up, registration opens on February 1st.

______________________________________________________________________

Iglesia Aliento UMC Invitation

A local United Methodist Latino church, Iglesia Aliento, has extended an invitation to our church to join them at their worship service at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2nd. After the service, they will have a time of food and fellowship. All are welcome to join in. (701 S 1st St. Phoenix 85004).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 February 2nd. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Can’t get enough of Pastor David? You’re in luck! This new section of the newsletter is now known as Pastor David’s corner, and he’ll be able to share his encouragement, thoughts, and announcements with you throughout the week.

Here is this week’s announcement:

Each of us is beautifully unique, and our differences offer a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives. The challenge, however, is not just in recognizing these differences, but in going beyond them to see one another as God sees us—each created in the Divine image and with inherent worth.

The apostle Paul reminds us that though we may differ, we are still called to embrace one another as gifts. Our diversity doesn’t divide us but rather enhances the beauty of the body of Christ, where each member plays a vital role in the greater whole.

This week let’s take a moment to reflect on the Wonder of Living in Faith Every Day, and how that includes celebrating our individual gifts while remembering that we all point to the One who is the source of all life, love, and unity.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday as we dive deeper into this beautiful truth.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Kelly LeBarbara. Kelly is a friend of Jennifer Schwarz.  The other prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Linda Parkin. Linda is the sister of Sandy Fox. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Buzz and Liv Stevens, Loraine Stewart, Bev Sutton, Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church, Calvary UMC, and UMC Valley UMC

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Brenda and Jim Unsworth 1/27

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Ursula Wolf 1/20

Betty Cornish 1/21

William Devine 1/23

Linda O’Connor `1/24

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Announcement Communication Update

Got an announcement for the good of the church that needs to go in the bulletin, be posted on social media, The Good News, etc.? All communication about that now needs to be sent to Sammi. If communication is not sent to Sammi there is no guarantee that it will be able to be printed. Please send all announcement details to sammi@firstchurch.church  (preferably with a bit of notice, if possible, as bulletins are often prepared up to a couple weeks in advance, although we understand sometimes things pop up last minute).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Whole – Church Feed My Starving Children Trip

Our high school youth will be partnering with the mission’s committee in leading the church in a special Valentine’s missions project to help spread God’s love and comfort to the world. On February 15th at 2:15 pm, our church will be joining with the high school youth group to package food at Feed My Starving Children, which will be shipped out to help provide meals to impoverished young people globally. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office or register online at https://sugeni.us/Vm5j.

(Please remember FMSC has fairly recently moved locations and are now in Tempe at 1100 West Grove Parkway).

_______________________________________________________________________

Committee Bootcamp Event

All former committee members from 2024 and newly appointed members for 2025 are invited to participate in an important orientation session on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

What to Expect:

· Pre-Orientation Materials: Prior to the orientation, members will receive committee descriptions, expectations from the United Methodist Church, and other relevant materials to review.

· Agenda:

o Getting to Know Each Other: A time for introductions and building connections among committee members.

o Strategic Direction: A discussion on the mission and vision of First Church, with a focus on the strategic direction for the upcoming year.

o Prayer for Guidance: A time to seek God’s guidance and blessing as we embark on the work ahead in 2025.

Please mark your calendars and come ready to participate in an engaging and prayerful time together.

________________________________________________________________________

Iglesia Aliento Invitation

A local Latino church, Iglesia Aliento, has extended an invitation to our church to join them at their worship service at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2nd. After the service, they will have a time of food and fellowship. All are welcome to join in. (701 S 1st St. Phoenix 85004).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 February 2nd. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pastor David’s Corner

Can’t get enough of Pastor David? You’re in luck! This new section of the newsletter is now known as Pastor David’s corner, and he’ll be able to share his encouragement, thoughts, and announcements with you throughout the week.

Here is this week’s announcement:

Happy New Year! I’m excited to share with you that the theme of “Wonder” will continue into 2025. It’s such a powerful way to approach both the Christmas season and our everyday walk in faith. I’m looking forward to the new series, “The Wonder of Living In Faith Every Day,” and especially the first theme on being “Called.” It’s such a timely and meaningful reminder to live our lives faithfully in response to God’s call. See you all in church on Sunday!

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Della West. Della is the mother – in – law of Anne Bettis. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Darwin Schultz, Susan Secrest

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church, Calvary UMC, and UMC Valley UMC

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

(Please join us in praising God for these celebrations!)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Brenda and Jim Unsworth 1/27

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Jerry Harbin 1/12
Bev Sutton 1/16
Marjorie Needham 1/17

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Whole – Church Feed My Starving Children Trip

Our high school youth will be partnering with the mission’s committee in leading the church in a special Valentine’s missions project to help spread God’s love and comfort to the world. On February 15th at 2:15 pm, our church will be joining with the high school youth group to package food at Feed My Starving Children, which will be shipped out to help provide meals to impoverished young people globally. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office for a spot or register online at https://sugeni.us/Vm5j.

(Please remember FMSC has fairly recently moved locations and are now in Tempe at 1100 West Grove Parkway).

_______________________________________________________________________

Committee Bootcamp Event

All former committee members from 2024 and newly appointed members for 2025 are invited to participate in an important orientation session on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

What to Expect:

· Pre-Orientation Materials: Prior to the orientation, members will receive committee descriptions, expectations from the United Methodist Church, and other relevant materials to review.

· Agenda:

o Getting to Know Each Other: A time for introductions and building connections among committee members.

o Strategic Direction: A discussion on the mission and vision of First Church, with a focus on the strategic direction for the upcoming year.

o Prayer for Guidance: A time to seek God’s guidance and blessing as we embark on the work ahead in 2025.

Please mark your calendars and come ready to participate in an engaging and prayerful time together.

_______________________________________________________________________

Faith For Today Class Event Update

“Thursday, members from the Faith for Today class participated in a food meal packing program called Feed My Starving Children. A good time was had by all amid moments for fellowship and sharing the goodness and grace of God.”

________________________________________________________________________

Iglesia Aliento Invitation

A local Latino church, Iglesia Aliento, has extended an invitation to our church to join them at their worship service at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2nd. After the service, they will have a time of food and fellowship. All are welcome to join in. (701 S 1st St. Phoenix 85004).

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 February 2nd. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered (LGBTQ+ Small Group)

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Young Adult Small Group

This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Join the Mission’s Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join them, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Business Directory (Attention Business Owners!)

Our church has a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

First 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. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

Iglesia Aliento Invitation

A local Latino church, Iglesia Aliento, has extended an invitation to our church to join them at their worship service at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2. After the service, they will have a time of food and fellowship. All are welcome to join in. (701 S 1st St. Phoenix 85004).

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Della West. Della is the neighbor of Anne Bettis. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price,
Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Darwin Schultz, Susan Secrest

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Brenda and Jim Unsworth 1/27

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Jerry Harbin 1/12
Bev Sutton 1/16
Marjorie Needham 1/17

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church, Calvary UMC, and UMC Valley UMC

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

First 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. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart, visit axiosunaltered.com, or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex is for Frida Youkhanis. Frida is the neighbor of Susan Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Owen Galardi, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Ginger Levine, Betty Luallin, Ray McFarland, Ginny McLeod, Mary Lou McWilliams

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Brenda and Jim Unsworth 1/27

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Suzanne Haehl 1/9
Doni Cunningham 1/10
Audrey Patterson 1/10

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church, Calvary UMC, and UMC Valley UMC

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

First 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. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

We are saddened to announce the death of Audrey Lofgren on December 10. Please keep her sister, Charlene, in your heart and with prayers.

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Sylvia Stovall. Sylvia is a friend of Diane Gara-Weiner. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort. A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Aidan Flaherty. Aidan is the grandson of Ann Flaherty. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ray McFarland, Ginny McLeod, Mary Lou McWilliams, Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Sarg and Patricia Magyar 12/21
Joe and Marie Garber 12/23
Don and Sandy Hillegass 12/28

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Doug Dunipace 12/18
Ron Wilson 12/18
Jan Hyde 12/19

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Mingus Mountain Camp; Justa Center, Phoenix; Wesley Community Center

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

Youth Christmas Caroling at the Beatitudes

Both our high school and junior high youth will be participating in the annual tradition of Christmas caroling at the Beatitudes Retirement Home on December 22 at 10 a.m. Youth who attend the high school lock-in will be driven there as part of the lock-in itinerary, and junior high or any high school students unable to attend the lock-in are encouraged to meet us there.

First 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. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

High School Christmas Lock – In

Our high school youth will have a Christmas themed lock-in on December 21-22 filled with fun activities including gingerbread house competitions, Christmas movies, an excursion to go see a holiday light show, and more. If your high school aged child has not yet come home with a permission slip, please let Sammi know and she will email you one to sign.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

We are saddened to announce the death of Audrey Lofgren on December 10. Please keep her sister, Charlene, in your heart and with prayers.

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Sylvia Stovall. Sylvia is a friend of Diane Gara-Weiner. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort. A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Aidan Flaherty. Aidan is the grandson of Ann Flaherty. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ray McFarland, Ginny McLeod, Mary Lou McWilliams, Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Sarg and Patricia Magyar 12/21
Joe and Marie Garber 12/23
Don and Sandy Hillegass 12/28

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Doug Dunipace 12/18
Ron Wilson 12/18
Jan Hyde 12/19

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Mingus Mountain Camp; Justa Center, Phoenix; Wesley Community Center

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

Youth Christmas Caroling at the Beatitudes

Both our high school and junior high youth will be participating in the annual tradition of Christmas caroling at the Beatitudes Retirement Home on December 22 at 10 a.m. Youth who attend the high school lock-in will be driven there as part of the lock-in itinerary, and junior high or any high school students unable to attend the lock-in are encouraged to meet us there.

First 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. This is a great time to mingle, talk about what’s going on, or discuss how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

High School Christmas Lock – In

Our high school youth will have a Christmas themed lock-in on December 21-22 filled with fun activities including gingerbread house competitions, Christmas movies, an excursion to go see a holiday light show, and more. If your high school aged child has not yet come home with a permission slip, please let Sammi know and she will email you one to sign.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Taste of Christmas Volunteers Needed

What is your favorite Christmas cookie or favorite holiday snack? Please bring it for us to share in between services on December 15 in Asbury Hall. Volunteers are also needed to help set up and clean up. Santa Claus will be present for pictures. Please email Cathy at cathyriceaz@msn.com to volunteer.

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

We are saddened to announce the death of Audrey Lofgren on December 10. Please keep her sister, Charlene, in your heart and with prayers.

PRAYER QUILTS IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Sylvia Stovall. Sylvia is a friend of Diane Gara-Weiner. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort. A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Aidan Flaherty. Aidan is the grandson of Ann Flaherty. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ray McFarland, Ginny McLeod, Mary Lou McWilliams, Shirley Myer, Brenda North, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Mark Pettit, Mary Price, Bonnie Rheaume

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Sarg and Patricia Magyar 12/21
Joe and Marie Garber 12/23
Don and Sandy Hillegass 12/28

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Doug Dunipace 12/18
Ron Wilson 12/18
Jan Hyde 12/19

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Mingus Mountain Camp; Justa Center, Phoenix; Wesley Community Center

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

URGENT APPEAL – NOVEMBER 2024

Friends, We come to you with an urgent appeal. As of October 31, 2024, First Church has a $204,686 deficit. In simple terms, that means our cash receipts for the first 10 months are less than our cash outflow. Our staff takes great efforts to monitor and control expenditures. We are implementing new programs and ministries in order to better serve our congregants and our community. However, in order to continue our growth direction, we all need to step up and meet our pledge, and otherwise give generously. WE NEED YOUR GIFTS.

We have heard the expression, Think Outside the Box. How about Give Outside the Box?

* * *

Personal Testimony

Through mid-life career change

First Church is there

Through loss of family members

First Church is there

Through health challenges

First Church is there

Through old age

First Church is there

These are a few of the reasons that I financially support

First Church is there

Where are you?

– John Holmes, Finance Committee Chair

First Sunday Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering between services at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge. This is a time to mingle and talk about what’s going on or how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

All Church Conference – Tuesday, November 19

Join us on Tuesday, November 19, at 7 p.m. in Asbury Hall as we celebrate the ministry of First Church with our West District Superintendent and Missional Strategist, Rev. Javier Olivares. Goals for 2025 will be approved as we welcome leadership into serving positions and lift up our accomplishments from 2024. All members of First Church are welcome to attend and vote on matters of the church.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Young Adults Small Group

Join our brand new young adult ministry. Teens out of high school, twenty-somethings, and thirty-somethings are invited to this new group meeting each week on Sundays at 3 p.m. in Room 102 for Bible study, prayer, and connection. Prepare to be challenged and dive deeply into the Word of God. Let’s take our faith to the next level!

Tutoring Program

First United Methodist Church OASIS Tutors are thrilled to announce that we have completed SEVEN successful years of partnership with the Madison School District through the OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program! This nationally acclaimed non-profit organization promotes literacy by helping children in grades K-4 improve their reading, writing, and communication skills. Mrs. Kim Gullo, Madison OASIS Tutor Facilitator, has inspired and empowered our volunteers to make a lasting impact in the lives of young students. Loyal volunteers like First Church member, Donna Wright, are at the heart of our tutoring program and we thank her sincerely for her years of faithful service. She shares her experience below: “I love to read, and for six of the past seven years, I shared that love with kids at one of the schools in the Madison District. One hour a week, a second or third grader would get my undivided attention. We would read aloud, write, talk, laugh, play with words, and enjoy the process. The format was easy to use, and you don’t have to be a teacher to be effective. There have been restaurant owners, secretaries, salespeople, and many others volunteering. There’s a resource room with many books and materials organized by our facilitator, Kim Gullo, for easy access. What did I get out of it? The satisfaction of helping a very young someone who needed a little extra attention and help.” Volunteers like Donna Wright have made a significant difference in the educational lives of many young students. First Church extends our heartfelt gratitude to Donna and all of our other dedicated tutors, whose selfless service continues to enrich the lives of so many young students. We invite you to join us in this fulfilling work. As we prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, we are seeking more volunteers to continue this great ministry. Whether you have a background in education or simply a passion for helping others, you can make a difference in a child’s life. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to learn more about the program, please contact the Church Office at 602-263-5013 or reach out to Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419.

Thank you. In His Service, Marie Morais Garber First Church OASIS Tutor Coordinator

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19. The book for November is Mockingbird Summer by Linda Rutledge. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Jim Johns. Jim is the brother-in-law to Jack Sneathen. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Grant Cooper, Hedy Cunningham, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara and Vickie Johnson

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)
Grant and Audrey Clayton 11/3
Clark and Jamie Dove 11/10

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Linda Smalley 11/13
Brenda North 11/15

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Sunrise UMC, Phoenix; Willowbrook UMC, Sun City

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

Dementia Support Workshop – Saturday, November 9

First Church will host a “Dementia Support for our Community” presentation on Saturday, November 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. Please join Pastor Karen Stewart as she provides insightful workshops designed to give caregivers the tools and resources they need. Call 602-767-8300 for more information or RSVP by emailing events2@dementiacampus.org.

First Sunday Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering between services at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge. This is a time to mingle and talk about what’s going on or how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

All Church Conference – Tuesday, November 19

Join us on Tuesday, November 19, at 7 p.m. in Asbury Hall as we celebrate the ministry of First Church with our West District Superintendent and Missional Strategist, Rev. Javier Olivares. Goals for 2025 will be approved as we welcome leadership into serving positions and lift up our accomplishments from 2024. All members of First Church are welcome to attend and vote on matters of the church.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Join the Missions Committee

The Missions Committee invites you to join us, supporting and organizing mission projects to serve our community and be transformed in service to God.
We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom. If interested, please contact Tami Smith.

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

If you have a tax-deferred retirement savings account, you must withdraw a minimum amount (Required Minimum Distribution or RMD) each year once you
reach age 73. Affected accounts include traditional IRAs and qualified retirement accounts with a former employer. Distributions from an account can be fully taxable as ordinary income. HOWEVER, you may be able to have your RMD paid directly to a qualified charity that satisfies your distribution requirement and NOT pay income taxes on that amount. Consider having that RMD sent directly to First United Methodist Church or First United Methodist Foundation of Phoenix. As always, consult your financial advisor or tax preparer for detailed information and procedures.

Christmas Greens

Once again, this year the members of the music program at FUMC are taking orders for fragrant Christmas greens from Washington state. You may order wreaths, centerpieces, swags, or cones. Interested? You may order through the month of October. Check-in at the table on the patio or call Don Richardson at 602-997-1205.

Young Adults Small Group

Join our brand new young adult ministry. Teens out of high school, twenty-somethings, and thirty-somethings are invited to this new group meeting each week on Sundays at 3 p.m. in Room 102 for Bible study, prayer, and connection. Prepare to be challenged and dive deeply into the Word of God. Let’s take our faith to the next level!

Volunteers Needed for our Tutoring Program

Please join a group of First Church tutors who assist and support students, kindergarten – 4th grade, in the Madison School District OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program. For more information, please contact Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419.

Community Yoga Class

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.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19.
The book for November is Mockingbird Summer by Linda Rutledge. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Art Coughanour. Art is the husband of Marcia Boyer’s best friend Sally. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace, and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Loraine Stewart, Bev Sutton, Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage) Grant and Audrey Clayton 11/3, Clark and Jamie Dove 11/10

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
Sarah Schafer 11/3, Ted Becker 11/7

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Sunrise UMC, Phoenix; Willowbrook UMC, Sun City

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Worship Online

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.

Fall Festival – Sunday, October 27

Volunteer to decorate your vehicle’s trunk or be a helper 

First Sunday Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering between services at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge. This is a time to mingle and talk about what’s going on or how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Youth Choir

Calling all youth who like to sing! First Youth Singers is back in session. All youth in 6th-12th grades are invited to join us for rehearsals on Sundays in Room 106 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. before youth group. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Leyva.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Blood Drive Sunday, October 27

• Sunday, October 27, 2024
• 8 a.m. – noon
• The Bloodmobile will be in the north parking lot
• Appointments are recommended!

Contact Stephanie Espinoza at 602-284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive code: firstunited)

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

Foundation Celebration Sunday, October 20

Platinum is one of the rarest metals. Platinum is also the traditional metal for celebrating a 70th anniversary, symbolizing endurance, strength and lasting values. Just like Our First Church Foundation! Mark your calendars to gather to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Our Foundation on October 20. We will begin with a single church service at 10:00 a.m. and gather in Asbury Hall to celebrate at 11:00 a.m. It will be a time of fellowship, food and gratitude. Please RSVP to Cathy Fuentes at 602-263-5013 x100 or online by September 30. And in case you didn’t know, chrysanthemums are the traditional flower for a 70th celebration!

Christmas Greens

Once again, this year the members of the music program at FUMC are taking orders for fragrant Christmas greens from Washington state. You may order wreaths, centerpieces, swags, or cones. Interested? You may order through the month of October. Check-in at the table on the patio or call Don Richardson at 602-997-1205.

Young Adults Small Group

Join our brand new young adult ministry. Teens out of high school, twenty-somethings, and thirty-somethings are invited to this new group meeting each week on Sundays at 3 p.m. in Room 102 for Bible study, prayer, and connection. Prepare to be challenged and dive deeply into the Word of God. Let’s take our faith to the next level!

Volunteers Needed for our Tutoring Program

Please join a group of FUMC tutors who assist and support students, Kindergarten – 4th grade, in the Madison School District OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program. Please contact Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419 for more information.

United Women of Faith – Eve Circle

All women are invited to join the Eve Circle for an evening with Jessica Morris, our new Community Engagement and Outreach Director. She also works
with Children and Junior High Groups. Refreshments will be served, and an opportunity to meet the Eve Circle members and hear Jessica’s plans for the
future. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, October 10, at 7 p.m. in Wesley Lounge.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22.
The book for October is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Prayers for the Congregation

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX
A prayer quilt displayed in the Narthex this morning is for Ross Balderas. Ross is the neighbor of Diane Raden. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Loraine Stewart, Jane Suddarth, Bev Sutton, Twyla Thompson, Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Alderman, Carolyn Allen

DEATH
First Church is saddened to announce the death of Marjorie Johnson, who passed on September 30, 2024. Services will be scheduled in the future.

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80 or more birthdays)
John Beaver 10/6 John Reinhold 10/8 Maurie Helle 10/10

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Shepherd of the Hills UMC, Sun City West; Shepherd of the Valley UMC, Phoenix; Spirit of Hope UMC, Peoria

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

First Sundays Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering between services at 10 a.m., in Wesley Lounge. This is a time to gather, mingle and talk about what’sgoing on or how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Youth Choir

Calling all youth who like to sing! First Youth Singers is back in session. All youth in 6th-12th grades are invited to join us for rehearsals on Sundays in Room 106 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. before youth group. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Leyva.

Axios Unaltered

Axios Unaltered is our resident queer small group that meets every week here at the church for a time of discussion, Bible study, and prayer, as well as service projects to support the community. If you are LGBTQ+, please join us on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to connect with other like-minded individuals and grow in your faith. Contact Sammi Burkhart or search @axiosunaltered on social media for more information.

Blood Drive Sunday, October 27

• Sunday, October 27, 2024
• 8 a.m. – noon
• The Bloodmobile will be in the north parking lot
• Appointments are recommended!

Contact Stephanie Espinoza at 602-284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive code: firstunited)

Attention Business Owners!

We are starting up a business directory for all church members to receive a complimentary listing if they are self-employed, an independent contractor, or a business owner. This will be a classified ad-style listing with one sentence about what you do, including your contact information. This will enable our members to support one another when looking for a business professional. Please email info@firstchurch.church with your information if you would like to be included.

Foundation Celebration Sunday, October 20

Platinum is one of the rarest metals. Platinum is also the traditional metal for celebrating a 70th anniversary, symbolizing endurance, strength and lasting values. Just like Our First Church Foundation! Mark your calendars to gather to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Our Foundation on October 20. We will begin with a single church service at 10:00 a.m. and gather in Asbury Hall to celebrate at 11:00 a.m. It will be a time of fellowship, food and gratitude. Please RSVP to Cathy Fuentes at 602-263-5013 x100 or online by September 30. And in case you didn’t know, chrysanthemums are the traditional flower for a 70th celebration!

Christmas Greens

Once again, this year the members of the music program at FUMC are taking orders for fragrant Christmas greens from Washington state. You may order wreaths, centerpieces, swags, or cones. Interested? You may order through the month of October. Check-in at the table on the patio or call Don Richardson at 602-997-1205.

Young Adults Small Group

Join our brand new young adult ministry. Teens out of high school, twenty-somethings, and thirty-somethings are invited to this new group meeting each week on Sundays at 3 p.m. in Room 102 for Bible study, prayer, and connection. Prepare to be challenged and dive deeply into the Word of God. Let’s take our faith to the next level!

Volunteers Needed for our Tutoring Program

Please join a group of FUMC tutors who assist and support students, Kindergarten – 4th grade, in the Madison School District OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program. Please contact Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419 for more information.

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

First Sundays Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering between services at 10 a.m., in Wesley Lounge. This is a time to gather, mingle and talk about what’sgoing on or how you can serve at First Church. We look forward to seeing you!

Blessing of the Backpacks – Sunday, August 11

Join us for a Blessing Breakfast of the Backpacks at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 11 in Wesley Lounge.

Consider Prayer Quilting

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30
to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship, laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27. The book for August is A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Looking for Ways to Serve?

There are many ways you can get involved while serving your First Church. Some require very little time. Consider hosting and assisting in the church office during 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. worship services, or helping fill pew pockets during the week in preparation for Sunday services. Hosts are always needed for memorial services to prepare for receptions. If you are interested, please contact Cathy Fuentes.

First Church Foundation – Beyond Our Walls

Strength for the Journey is a four-day retreat held at Mingus Mountain Camp for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Sponsored by the Desert Southwest
Conference and held annually since 1992, the retreat provides respite, support and affirmation. The camp has a diverse group of participants, representing a variety of ages and backgrounds, and coming from Arizona, California and Nevada. The retreat offers activities including workshops, hikes, zip-line, fishing, arts and crafts, and community building. Rev. Mary Bullis is the current dean of Strength for the Journey and has expressed her deep appreciation for our First Church Foundation for its financial support of this important ministry.

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

First Sundays Social Hour

The Table Sunday School class has decided to start a monthly social gathering on the first Sunday of every month. The event will be between services from 10 – 11 a.m. and will include coffee and snacks. We will also provide activities for the kids so that parents can join in.

Music Sunday – May 19

This Sunday, May 19, is our Pentecost Musical Celebration!

Both services will be packed with music!
9 a.m. – First Youth Singers, Praise Band, and Praise Choir lead a high-energy service featuring modern music that celebrates the Holy Spirit.
11 a.m. – First Church Concert Choir, Orchestra, Organ, and Soloists present Joseph Michael Haydn’s Requiem in c minor.

This rarely performed choral masterwork is exciting and beautiful…come and let your soul be stirred! Join us on Sunday to celebrate the birth of the Church… and invite a music-loving friend!

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28. The book for May is The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Blood Drive Sunday, June 16

• Sunday, June 16, 2024
• 8 a.m. – noon
• The Bloodmobile will be in the north parking lot
• Appointments are recommended!

Contact Stephanie Espinoza at 602-284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive code: firstunited)

First Church Foundation – Did You Know?

Did you know that this year, the First Church Foundation has awarded scholarships to 14 students within our community? Twelve are pursuing
bachelor’s degrees, one is working on a master’s degree, and one is dedicated to theological studies. Over the past decade, our Foundation, known for its commitment to giving back to the community, has granted more than $500,000 to deserving students. Your generosity has truly made a lasting impact on countless lives and futures. Thank you for your continued commitment to education, empowerment, and community support. Together, we’re making a difference!

With heartfelt gratitude,
Our Foundation Board of Directors

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

First Sundays Social Hour

The Table Sunday School class has decided to start a monthly social gathering on the first Sunday of every month. The event will be between services from 10 – 11 a.m. and will include coffee and snacks. We will also provide activities for the kids so that parents can join in.

Let’s Hike – Saturday, May 11

Saturday, May 11 at 7 a.m. Meet at Tom Rice’s home 2357 E. Becker Lane in Phoenix for a 3-mile walk in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It takes a bit over an hour, with two modest climbs. Hiking boots are best due to uneven surfaces and rocks. Tennis shoes work as well. Doable for almost any age. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome too. Bring water and let’s do this! Questions? Email or call Tom Rice. tomriceaz@msn.com of 602-999-2465.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28. The book for May is The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

United Women of Faith Pot-Luck Dinner

The women of the Eve and Rachel Circles invite all ladies to join us for a pot-luck dinner. It will be held in the Centennial Room, on Thursday, May 9, at
5:30 p.m. We hope you will join us for good food and fellowship! Contact Karen Horton to let us know if you are planning to attend, or for any questions, 602-427-8415.

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

First Sundays Social Hour

The Table Sunday School class has decided to start a monthly social gathering on the first Sunday of every month. The event will be between services from 10 – 11 a.m. and will include coffee and snacks. We will also provide activities for the kids so that parents can join in.

Pat’s Run – Saturday, April 13

The 20th annual Pat’s Run is Saturday, April 13, 2024. If you’ve done this 4.2-mile run/walk before, you know how awesome it is to be with 30,000 people honoring the sacrifice of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan in 2003. If you haven’t done it, this is your year! Join Tom Rice, Joshua Elder, and Emma Jean Elder on our FUMC team. Sign up here: https://pattillmanfoundation.org. After you register, join our group FUMC Phoenix. We wind through the streets of Tempe and conclude at the 42-yard line in Sun Devil stadium. Riding the light rail is best. The race starts at 7 a.m., so all aboard at 6 a.m. at the light rail station at Central and Camelback. You can do this! Questions? Email or call Tom Rice. tomriceaz@msn.com of 602-999-2465

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

Join us for Holy Week

This Easter, we invite you to reconnect to your faith and church as we celebrate the remarkable work of
God and the story of Jesus’ life, crucifixion, and resurrection. The following opportunities allow us to gather
as a community to celebrate these holy moments.

Good Friday, March 29, 7 p.m.
A Tenebrae service of remembrance with traditional choir and organ.

Easter Sunday, March 31
Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah!
9 a.m. Contemporary
10 a.m. A Taste of Easter – light sweets – children’s Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, and face painting.
11 a.m. Traditional Service featuring the Arizona Brassworks Quartet

As Easter reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice through his life and death, we, too, are asked to reflect on a
personal sacrifice for the work of the body of Christ through the mission and ministry of First Church.

Easter Lily Delivery

We have a long tradition of delivering Easter lilies to members of our congregation who are not able to attend in person anymore. The lilies decorate our sanctuary on Easter Sunday and then are delivered by members who attend the Easter service. This year we will have names and addresses listed on a board in the narthex, separated by zip code. Please consider taking a lily or two and make your delivery on Sunday, March 31 after the 11 a.m. service. Please contact the church office at 602-263-5013, should you have any questions. You will definitely brighten someone’s day!

A Taste of Easter is Coming

A Taste of Easter volunteers are needed. Do you like to bake or make deviled eggs? Please volunteer to bring goodies or eggs for our Easter celebration on Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Email Cathy Rice at cathyriceaz@msn.com. We also need helpers to set up and clean up.

First Sundays Social Hour

The Table Sunday School class has decided to start a monthly social gathering on the first Sunday of every month. The event will be between services from 10 – 11 a.m. and will include coffee and snacks. We will also provide activities for the kids so that parents can join in.

Easter Fun for First Kids

As we celebrate Easter, we will have something for children of all ages, from infants to fifth grade. Between services at 10 a.m., everyone is invited to participate in A Taste of Easter Brunch on the Friendship Patio. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, face painting, and treats. We can’t wait to celebrate Easter with you!

Pat’s Run – Saturday, April 13

The 20th annual Pat’s Run is Saturday, April 13, 2024. If you’ve done this 4.2-mile run/walk before, you know how awesome it is to be with 30,000 people honoring the sacrifice of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan in 2003. If you haven’t done it, this is your year! Join Tom Rice, Joshua Elder, and Emma Jean Elder on our FUMC team. Sign up here: https://pattillmanfoundation.org. After you register, join our group FUMC Phoenix. We wind through the streets of Tempe and conclude at the 42-yard line in Sun Devil stadium. Riding the light rail is best. The race starts at 7 a.m., so all aboard at 6 a.m. at the light rail station at Central and Camelback. You can do this! Questions? Email or call Tom Rice. tomriceaz@msn.com of 602-999-2465

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

Foundation Scholarship Applications

Applications for First United Methodist Foundation scholarships are available on our website. Applicants should submit their application using a new online form, https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/. Submit completed applications by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024. All scholarships will be awarded in May.

Lent Sermon Series and Book Study

A new sermon series begins Sunday, February 18, accompanied by a Book Study on Saturday mornings, March 2 through April 6, 8:30 – 10 a.m. Please contact the church office for more information about reserving a copy of the book for $15. 602-263-5013 or info@firstchurch.church 

A Taste of Easter is Coming Soon

A Taste of Easter volunteers are needed. Do you like to bake or make deviled eggs? Please volunteer to bring goodies or eggs for our Easter celebration on Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Email Cathy Rice at cathyriceaz@msn.com. We also need helpers to set up and clean up.

Friendship Club Outing Sunday, March 24

The Friendship Club invites you to see the fantastic musical “Tuck Everlasting” at Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Theatre. Claude Pensis, a member of our church, in his 40th year at GCU, directs this musical. The matinee performance will be on Sunday, March 24. We will meet in Asbury Hall at 12:15 p.m. where we will have a Subway sandwich for lunch. The cost will be $20, which will cover your lunch and your ticket for the play. What a bargain! On this outing, we will have church vans available for about 20, and the rest will be handled by carpooling to the venue. We will leave the church at 1:15 p.m. Call Suzanne or Steve Haehl at 623-979-5449 for reservations. The reservation deadline is Friday, March 8.

First Sundays Social Hour

The Table Sunday School class has decided to start a monthly social gathering on the first Sunday of every month beginning March 3. The event will be between services from 10 – 11 a.m. and will have coffee and snacks provided. We also will provide activities for the kids so that parents can join in.

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Do you have crochet or knitting skills? The Knitty Witty Chain Gang would like to extend an invitation to join our mission group. We originally just made blankets for baptisms at First Church. We expanded beyond our community to needs in South Dakota and Arizona Native American Reservations during the past several years. We have donated lap blankets and hats to hospitals along with baby items to The Hope Center. Our talents are now reaching out to the Choices Pregnancy Center for mothers and newborns while we continue to knit hats and scarves for JUSTA Center. If you would like to help and join our group, please stop by the third Thursday of the month in Wesley Lounge for a cup of tea and dessert at 1 p.m.

Pat’s Run – Saturday, April 13

The 20th annual Pat’s Run is Saturday, April 13, 2024. If you’ve done this 4.2-mile run/walk before, you know how awesome it is to be with 30,000 people honoring the sacrifice of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan in 2003. If you haven’t done it, this is your year! Join Tom Rice, Joshua Elder, and Emma Jean Elder on our FUMC team. Sign up here: https://pattillmanfoundation.org. After you register, join our group FUMC Phoenix. We wind through the streets of Tempe and conclude at the 42-yard line in Sun Devil stadium. Riding the light rail is best. The race starts at 7 a.m., so all aboard at 6 a.m. at the light rail station at Central and Camelback. You can do this! Questions? Email or call Tom Rice. tomriceaz@msn.com of 602-999-2465

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February
27. The book for February is The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Blood Drive Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sunday, February 25, 2024, 8 a.m. – 12:00 pm Bloodmobile in Parking Lot APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED! Contact Stephanie Espinoza at (602) 284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive Code: firstunited).

Foundation Scholarship Applications

Applications for First United Methodist Foundation scholarships are available on our website. Applicants should submit their application using a new online form, https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/. Submit completed applications by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024. All scholarships will be awarded in May.

Lent Sermon Series and Book Study

A new sermon series begins Sunday, February 18, accompanied by a Book Study on Saturday mornings, March 2 through April 6, 8:30 – 10 a.m. Please contact the church office for more information about reserving a copy of the book for $15. 602-263-5013 or info@firstchurch.church 

A Taste of Easter is Coming Soon

A Taste of Easter volunteers are needed. Do you like to bake or make deviled eggs? Please volunteer to bring goodies or eggs for our Easter celebration on Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. Email Cathy Rice at cathyriceaz@msn.com. We also need helpers to set up and clean up.

Friendship Club Outing Sunday, March 24

The Friendship Club invites you to see the fantastic musical “Tuck Everlasting” at Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Theatre. Claude Pensis, a member of our church, in his 40th year at GCU, directs this musical. The matinee performance will be on Sunday, March 24. We will meet in Asbury Hall at 12:15 p.m. where we will have a Subway sandwich for lunch. The cost will be $20, which will cover your lunch and your ticket for the play. What a bargain! On this outing, we will have church vans available for about 20, and the rest will be handled by carpooling to the venue. We will leave the church at 1:15 p.m. Call Suzanne or Steve Haehl at 623-979-5449 for reservations. The reservation deadline is Friday, March 8.

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Do you have crochet or knitting skills? The Knitty Witty Chain Gang would like to extend an invitation to join our mission group. We originally just made blankets for baptisms at First Church. We expanded beyond our community to needs in South Dakota and Arizona Native American Reservations during the past several years. We have donated lap blankets and hats to hospitals along with baby items to The Hope Center. Our talents are now reaching out to the Choices Pregnancy Center for mothers and newborns while we continue to knit hats and scarves for JUSTA Center. If you would like to help and join our group, please stop by the third Thursday of the month in Wesley Lounge for a cup of tea and dessert at 1 p.m.

Did You Know Our Foundation …

Did you know that our First Church Foundation donated $2,000 to the George Washington Carver Museum and Culture Center in Phoenix? The gift, sent in March of 2021, commemorated Black History Month and is observed each February. One of the Center’s core principles is Stewardship, which “values collecting, exhibiting and interpreting evidence of the African American experience in the city of Phoenix and the State of Arizona.” The Foundation was delighted to assist in the work of this non-profit Institution that honors African American Heritage, Arts, and Culture. Since 2021, the Foundation has continued to look for opportunities to support other causes in the community.

Marie Morais Garber
Foundation Financial Development Committee

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February
27. The book for February is The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Blood Drive Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sunday, February 25, 2024, 8 a.m. – 12:00 pm Bloodmobile in Parking Lot APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED! Contact Stephanie Espinoza at (602) 284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive Code: firstunited).

Foundation Scholarship Applications

Applications for First United Methodist Foundation scholarships are available on our website. Applicants should submit their application using a new online form, https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/. Submit completed applications by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024. All scholarships will be awarded in May.

Ash Wednesday Soup Supper and Worship Service – February 14

Ash Wednesday is February 14, and we hope you have marked your calendar for our annual Ash Wednesday Service and Soup Supper. The worship service will begin at 6 p.m. and is preceded by a delicious soup supper at 5 p.m. Tickets for the supper must be reserved in advance and are available on Sundays on the patio and in front of the church between services and during the week in the church office. The meal includes several soup choices, salad, cornbread, dessert, and beverages for $10 or a maximum of $25 for families with children under twelve. Funds will be used by our Missions Committee.

Thank You from Venture Crew #2041

Venture Crew #2041 would like to thank First Church and everyone who attended our first pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, January 7! Your support helped us reach our fundraising goals, which allows us to lead the adventure on many more activities and services in the near future. Our youth have the opportunity to learn important leadership skills such as communication, organization, teamwork, and outdoor skills as we progress through our endeavors. We cannot thank you enough for how much your support means. Our first fundraiser was a HUGE stepping stone for us as a Crew this year, and we look forward to more events like this to come!

Venture Crew 2041 is a co-ed Venture Crew for boys and girls aged 14 to 21. The Crew is busily planning for their summer camp at Philmont High Adventure Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico.

Friendship Club Outing Sunday, March 24

The Friendship Club invites you to see the fantastic musical “Tuck Everlasting” at Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Theatre. Claude Pensis, a member of our church, in his 40th year at GCU, directs this musical. The matinee performance will be on Sunday, March 24. We will meet in Asbury Hall at 12:15 p.m. where we will have a Subway sandwich for lunch. The cost will be $20, which will cover your lunch and your ticket for the play. What a bargain! On this outing, we will have church vans available for about 20, and the rest will be handled by carpooling to the venue. We will leave the church at 1:15 p.m. Call Suzanne or Steve Haehl at 623-979-5449 for reservations. The reservation deadline is Friday, March 8.

Did You Know Our Foundation …

Did you know that our First Church Foundation donated $2,000 to the George Washington Carver Museum and Culture Center in Phoenix? The gift, sent in March of 2021, commemorated Black History Month and is observed each February. One of the Center’s core principles is Stewardship, which “values collecting, exhibiting and interpreting evidence of the African American experience in the city of Phoenix and the State of Arizona.” The Foundation was delighted to assist in the work of this non-profit Institution that honors African American Heritage, Arts, and Culture. Since 2021, the Foundation has continued to look for opportunities to support other causes in the community.

Marie Morais Garber
Foundation Financial Development Committee

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

New Member Class – Sunday, 2/11, 10 a.m.

Rev. David Rennick welcomes prospective members and answers any questions you may have, and shares expectations of membership. If you plan to attend, please call Cathy Fuentes at 602.263.5013 x100 or email cathy@firstchurch.church, so that we can prepare your new member’s packet.

United Women in Faith – Eve Circle

Through stories, discussion, and activities, women of all ages are invited to come and explore “Managing Those Big Emotions” with the women in the Eve
Circle of the United Women in Faith! Join us at our regular monthly meeting on Thursday evening, February 8, at 7 p.m. in Wesley Lounge. Why not invite a friend to join you?

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February
27. The book for February is The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Blood Drive Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sunday, February 25, 2024, 8 a.m. – 12:00 pm Bloodmobile in Parking Lot APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED! Contact Stephanie Espinoza at (602) 284-1258 or visit www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive Code: firstunited).

United Women in Faith – Rachel Circle

Our monthly meeting for Rachel Circle will be on Thursday. February 8 at 1:30 p.m. in Centennial Room. Come join us!

Let’s Go Hiking!

Let’s get out and enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather with a hike! Saturday, February 10 at 8 a.m. Meet at Tom Rice’s home 2357 E. Becker Lane, in
Phoenix for a 3-mile walk in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It takes a bit over an hour, with two modest climbs. Hiking boots are best due to uneven surfaces and rocks. Tennis shoes work ok, too. It’s doable for almost any age. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome, too. Bring water, and let’s do this!
Questions? Tomriceaz@msn.com or (602) 999-2465.

Foundation Scholarship Applications

Applications for First United Methodist Foundation scholarships are available on our website. Applicants should submit their application using a new online form, https://firstchurch.church/scholarship-application/. Submit completed applications by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024. All scholarships will be awarded in May.

Ash Wednesday Soup Supper and Worship Service – February 14

Ash Wednesday is February 14, and we hope you have marked your calendar for our annual Ash Wednesday Service and Soup Supper. The worship service will begin at 6 p.m. and is preceded by a delicious soup supper at 5 p.m. Tickets for the supper must be reserved in advance and are available on Sundays on the patio and in front of the church between services and during the week in the church office. The meal includes several soup choices, salad, cornbread, dessert, and beverages for $10 or a maximum of $25 for families with children under twelve. Funds will be used by our Missions Committee.

Thank You from Venture Crew #2041

Venture Crew #2041 would like to thank First Church and everyone who attended our first pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, January 7! Your support helped us reach our fundraising goals, which allows us to lead the adventure on many more activities and services in the near future. Our youth have the opportunity to learn important leadership skills such as communication, organization, teamwork, and outdoor skills as we progress through our endeavors. We cannot thank you enough for how much your support means. Our first fundraiser was a HUGE stepping stone for us as a Crew this year, and we look forward to more events like this to come!

Venture Crew 2041 is a co-ed Venture Crew for boys and girls aged 14 to 21. The Crew is busily planning for their summer camp at Philmont High Adventure Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico.

Sermon Series Continues

Friendship Club Outing Sunday, March 24

The Friendship Club invites you to see the fantastic musical “Tuck Everlasting” at Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Theatre. Claude Pensis, a member of our church, in his 40th year at GCU, directs this musical. The matinee performance will be on Sunday, March 24. We will meet in Asbury Hall at 12:15 p.m. where we will have a Subway sandwich for lunch. The cost will be $20, which will cover your lunch and your ticket for the play. What a bargain! On this outing, we will have church vans available for about 20, and the rest will be handled by carpooling to the venue. We will leave the church at 1:15 p.m. Call Suzanne or Steve Haehl at 623-979-5449 for reservations. The reservation deadline is Friday, March 8.

Did You Know Our Foundation …

Did you know that our First Church Foundation donated $2,000 to the George Washington Carver Museum and Culture Center in Phoenix? The gift, sent in March of 2021, commemorated Black History Month and is observed each February. One of the Center’s core principles is Stewardship, which “values collecting, exhibiting and interpreting evidence of the African American experience in the city of Phoenix and the State of Arizona.” The Foundation was delighted to assist in the work of this non-profit Institution that honors African American Heritage, Arts, and Culture. Since 2021, the Foundation has continued to look for opportunities to support other causes in the community.

Marie Morais Garber
Foundation Financial Development Committee

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Adult Sunday School Classes

Faith for Today Sunday School Class
Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday lives. Our
goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in the Centennial Room between services.

The Table Sunday School Class
This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in Room 116!

The Upper Room Sunday School Class
In this class, we do a detailed study of scripture. Currently, we are studying Colossians. Dr. Pat Dickerson, a New Testament scholar, leads us as we look at context, authorship, intended audience, specific words and how they are translated from the original text, and what is happening in the world in general. We meet in the Epworth Room from 10 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, please call Peggy Ward at 623-533-7381.

New Member Class – Sunday, 2/11/2024, 10 a.m.

Rev. David Rennick welcomes prospective members and answers any questions you may have and shares expectations of membership. If you plan to attend, please call Cathy Fuentes at 602.263.5013 x100 or email cathy@firstchurch.church, so that we can prepare your new member’s packet.

Pancake Breakfast This Sunday, 1/7/2024

Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast this Sunday, 9 a.m. – noon, and help support Boy Scout Venturing Crew #2041’s “Philmont Adventure!”
A recommended donation of $10 may be made at the event.

New Sermon Series Starts January 14

NEW Water Bottle Filling Stations

We have two new water bottle filling stations on our church campus. Both provide chilled filtered water for your water bottles. One is located in the breezeway outside Rooms 106 and 107 near the northwest corner of the interior grass courtyard, and the other is located between Asbury Hall, Centennial Room, and the kitchen. Give them a try and “Fill-R-Up!”

Community Yoga Classes

First United Methodist 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.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 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.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Join us to Celebrate Advent and Christmas

Christmas Eve – Sunday, December 24
10 a.m. – Worship Service
This celebration includes a Christmas carol sing-along and joyful message of anticipation: Walking in the Light of Love.

4 p.m. – Family Service
Let us share the Christmas story with your children at this family-friendly service.

7 p.m. – Traditional Candlelight Service
Filled with your favorite carols, this service is led by our Chancel Choir and magnificent pipe organ.

December 31, New Year’s Eve Morning Service
10 a.m. only

January 7, Epiphany Sunday
Back to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services
See you in church!

Advent Sermon Series – Walking in the Light

Advent is the season of waiting and expectation for the birth of Jesus. As we prepare for the light to enter the world, we walk in the light of hope, peace, joy, love, and ultimately with Christ. Join us in worship and online throughout the month of December.

Community Christmas Tree

Along I-17 traveling north to Flagstaff, one can often find the growth in the median that is decorated for Christmas. A few years ago, it was lost due to a brush fire. But in the spirit of community, we are making an opportunity to celebrate the season by having our own community tree located near the front of the sanctuary. You and your families are invited to place an ornament on the tree. Write your name on the ornament to be returned or to add to a collection for future use. Let us come to celebrate the season by sharing a bit of our home with each other.

Finish Strong – Help Meet Our Financial Obligations in 2023

“Hundreds of Hugs”

Folks are writing heartfelt year-end thoughts about First Church. We decided to chime in from our experience.
In a very topsy-turvy, uncertain world, a welcoming community is a source of relief. At First Church, the beautiful cam-
pus, the deep history, the talented staff, the amazing music program, the kids’ events, the small groups, and especially the hugs are what make it a welcoming community.

Many of you know that Stephen Barnes is courageously battling a brain disease. He’s doing great right now, but over the past 7 years, there have been some real lows. We have many resources of support, but there is nothing like the love from First Church. When we cross the threshold of our church community with our heavy hearts, there are hundreds of hugs waiting to lift us up every time.

As our family comes to the end of the year, we ask, ‘How can we help a community that has helped us so much’? We found out that the church still needs about $113,000 to finish out the year in the black. This seems like a lot, and yet, if we all dig a little deeper, we can pull this off and finish strong for the year. How many hugs have you gotten from First Church, and how many can you give back?

– Stephen and Kathie Barnes

NEW Water Bottle Filling Stations

We have two new water bottle filling stations on our church campus. Both provide chilled filtered water for your water bottles. One is located in the breezeway outside Rooms 106 and 107 near the northwest corner of the interior grass courtyard, and the other is located between Asbury Hall, Centennial Room, and the kitchen. Give them a try and “Fill-R-Up!”

Solution on Central – a New AA Group Meeting

Solution on Central is a NEW open-speaker discussion AA meeting held on Wednesday’s from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Epworth Room at First Church. If you have a problem with drinking or think you may, you are welcome to attend. If you need help or wish to speak to someone about your drinking more urgently, you can call Alcoholics Anonymous central office at (602) 265-1341 or (212) 870-3400 24-hours a day.

(Note: Meetings do not occur on Wednesday’s when the church is closed.)

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Advent Book Read with Pastor David

Join Pastor David during Advent as we explore the book, “The Women of Christmas.” In this special season we’ll journey in the footsteps of three women whose hearts belong to God. Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God’s son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently, prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts. From the author of “Bad Girls of the Bible,” Liz Curtis Higgs provides a fresh approach to the birth narrative of Jesus in preparation for Christmas. This study meets Thursdays starting November 30 then December 7, 14, 21, from 10:30 a.m. -12 noon in Wesley Lounge. Check your favorite book distributor for a copy. Register by calling or emailing the church office, 602-263-5013.

Order Your Poinsettia Today

Help proclaim the coming of Christ through the beauty of poinsettias in the chancel of the sanctuary. The cost is $17 each and the deadline for placing your
order is Monday, December 18. Order your Christmas Poinsettia to by calling the church office at 602.263.5013 or by using the order slip in the Sunday worship bulletin.

Helping the Stranger, Our Neighbor

After fleeing their dangerous countries, immigrants arrive at our border with almost nothing. In Phoenix, the Border Patrol transports these families to the IRC Welcome Center for processing. Approximately 170-220 people arrive daily. They usually stay one or two nights before moving on to join family, friends, or sponsors. At the Welcome Center, they receive Covid vaccines, meals, showers, a place to charge their phones, safety and new-to-them shoes and clothing. The facility is in great need of new or gently used shoes and clothing for men, women, children, and infants. First Church is holding a donation drive on Sunday, November 12. Please drop off your gifts at the church office. At this time, no summer or XL clothing is needed. Thank you so much!

The Table Adult Sunday School Class

This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in room 116!

Faith for Today Adult Sunday School Class

Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday living. Our goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in Centennial Room between services.

Christmas Greens

The time has come to order your Christmas greens! Members of the choirs at FUMC are taking orders. These are aromatic evergreens from the Chehalis Valley in Washington State. You may order greens from the patio on Sunday morning or call Don Richardson at 602.997-1205.

NEW Water Bottle Filling Stations

We have two new water bottle filling stations on our church campus. Both provide chilled filtered water for your water bottles. One is located in the breezeway outside Rooms 106 and 107 near the northwest corner of the interior grass courtyard, and the other is located between Asbury Hall, Centennial Room, and the kitchen. Give them a try and “Fill-R-Up!”

Parade Tickets are Now Available

A Taste of Christmas is Coming Soon

Bakers and hosts wanted! Please volunteer to help with this fun event on Sunday, December 17, between services. Bakers can bring their favorite holiday cookies for everyone to try. Volunteers can help with coffee and a bit of setup. Please email Cathy Rice or call 602-291-0959 to volunteer.

Finish Strong – Help Meet Our Financial Obligations in 2023

In a good week, when I am feeling healthy, the family is safe, the world is not too wild, I am glad to celebrate at this church. It is beautiful here, the music fills my soul, the words inspire. I can greet, and hug and enjoy. But the tough times do come – illnesses, sadness, fear, pain – our world out of balance, and then I realize that I need to come to church. I need to see good people doing the best that they can. I need to be inspired or assisted or simply loved. Here at First Church, we are healed and nurtured and cared for. And what can we do to repay the care and love and guidance? We can be ready to help, to listen, to volunteer, to give what others may need. And, at the end of a year of wonderful and interesting challenges, it is really up to us, to me, to acknowledge all we receive, to channel our gratitude and joy into a financial gift that will assist all who assist us. When we need help, First Church is here. When First Church needs help, it is a blessing to give. Now is the time.

– Dixie Swan, Church Council Chair

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24. The book for October is The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Travis. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Junior and Senior High Youth

JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Our Junior High Students gather every Sunday morning for Sunday School, 10-11 a.m. Drop-off is in Room 103, and pick up is in Room 101.
Once a month Junior High join the Senior High students in the evening for a fun youth outing! If you would like to stay in the loop about when these evenings happen, please email Elise Nesper.

SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Our Senior High Students gather every Sunday morning for Sunday School, 10-11 a.m., in Room 103.
Youth Group happens for our Senior High students every Sunday evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in Room 103. New people are always welcome! If you have any questions, please email Elise Nesper.

Fall Festival – Sunday, October 29

Blood Drive Sunday, October 29

Helping the Stranger, Our Neighbor

After fleeing their dangerous countries, immigrants arrive at our border with almost nothing. In Phoenix, the Border Patrol transports these families to the IRC Welcome Center for processing. Approximately 170-220 people arrive daily. They usually stay one or two nights before moving on to join family, friends, or sponsors. At the Welcome Center, they receive Covid vaccines, meals, showers, a place to charge their phones, safety and new-to-them shoes and clothing. The facility is in great need of new or gently used shoes and clothing for men, women, children, and infants. First Church is holding a donation drive on Sunday, November 12. Please drop off your gifts at the church office. At this time, no summer or XL clothing is needed. Thank you so much!

The Table Adult Sunday School Class

This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in room 116!

Faith for Today Adult Sunday School Class

Our class is a friendly, welcoming group. We meet to enhance our Christian beliefs and practices and how we can apply them to our everyday living. Our goals include outreach to fulfill local community needs and even beyond. We meet in Centennial Room between services.

Christmas Greens

The time has come to order your Christmas greens! Members of the choirs at FUMC are taking orders. These are aromatic evergreens from the Chehalis Valley in Washington State. You may order greens from the patio on Sunday morning or call Don Richardson at 602.997-1205.

United Women of Faith Bake Sale

United Women in Faith will hold their annual bake sale on Sunday, November 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be goodies to take home or enjoy at church, with complimentary coffee. Take this opportunity to socialize with fellow church members. Hope to see you there! All donations will be gratefully accepted. We thank you in advance for your support of this fund-raising project.

NEW Water Bottle Filling Stations

We have two new water bottle filling stations on our church campus. Both provide chilled filtered water for your water bottles. One is located in the breezeway outside Rooms 106 and 107 near the northwest corner of the interior grass courtyard, and the other is located between Asbury Hall, Centennial Room, and the kitchen. Give them a try and “Fill-R-Up!”

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club is up and running with our first outing of the season. We are going on a one-hour tour at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix. We will learn the history and see the beauty of this historic church. This is a two-story structure with ramps and stairs, but no elevator. So, put on your walking shoes and join us on Tuesday, November 7 at 9:30 a.m. at First Church. The charge will be $5.00 for the tour followed by lunch at Olive Garden, Christown, at your expense.  Call Suzanne Haehl at 623-979-5449 or 623-221-6570 by Saturday, November 4.

A Note from our Foundation Board

This is National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Estate planning is more than just finances and inheritance. It’s about safeguarding what matters most and leaving a legacy for your loved ones. Whatever your age or stage in life, it is a good idea to think about and plan how your affairs will be handled.

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun at Kids Church during the 9 a.m. service! The children start with worship in the Sanctuary at 9 a.m. Then, after the children’s message, our incredible leaders will guide them to their groups by age. Parents are welcome to walk with us. At the end of the service, children can be picked up from the following locations:

Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Room 109
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 102

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24. The book for October is The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Travis. We welcome all who love to read, discuss, and travel the world through books.

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Junior and Senior High Youth

JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Our Junior High Students gather every Sunday morning for Sunday School, 10-11 a.m. Drop-off is in Room 103, and pick up is in Room 101.
Once a month Junior High join the Senior High students in the evening for a fun youth outing! If you would like to stay in the loop about when these evenings happen, please email Elise Nesper.

SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Our Senior High Students gather every Sunday morning for Sunday School, 10-11 a.m., in Room 103.
Youth Group happens for our Senior High students every Sunday evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in Room 103. New people are always welcome! If you have any questions, please email Elise Nesper.

Fall Festival – Sunday, October 29

Our Blood Drive Sunday, October 29

First Church Tutors Complete SIX Years of Helping Students Succeed

FIRST CHURCH OASIS Tutors are happy to report that we have completed Six years of tutoring with the Madison School District OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program! “The OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program is a nationally acclaimed non-profit organization that promotes literacy with a proven approach to help children in grades K-4 improve their reading, writing, and communication skills.” Mrs. Kim Gullo, Madison OASIS Tutor Facilitator, supports all tutors and encourages us to make a difference in a child’s life. “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read. There are only children who have not found the right book.” – Frank Serafini

Hence, for the 2023-2024 school year and forward, we are asking for volunteers to join our Tutoring Program to help students succeed. Would you prayerfully consider being a part of this great ministry? If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office at 602-263-5013 or Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419.

First Church extends thanks and appreciation to our dedicated tutors, who continue to make a difference in the educational lives of our students. Many thanks to our Pastor, leaders, and members who have helped to make the Tutoring Program a great success!
May God bless all of you.

In His Service,
Marie Morais Garber
FIRST CHURCH OASIS Tutor Coordinator

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” – I Peter 4:10

The Table Adult Sunday School Class

This class is a diverse, casual, and welcoming group of people. It’s a great class whether you’re new to your faith journey or a seasoned veteran. Our discussion topics are always changing, the class is loosely structured, and no homework is required. We meet outside of class socially and have a goal of volunteering to serve the community quarterly. Join us in room 116!

The Dressmakers Sewing Group

This month, we delivered 33 dresses of varying sizes to be packed into Operation Christmas boxes. There were 440 dresses ready to be packed and sewn by groups and individuals around the valley. It brings a smile to our faces to know that we have helped to brighten the faces of girls at Christmas. The Foundation, “Dress A Girl Around the World,” has distributed over 300,000 dresses across the globe, all hand-sewn and created with love.

If you sew, we invite you to join us on the fourth Wednesday of the month to sew and chat in the Epworth Room from 10-noon. If you have fabric and are wondering why you bought it, please donate it, if it is appropriate for girls’ dresses. 100% cotton is preferred, but cotton/poly is also acceptable. Please call Peggy Ward if you have any questions at 623-847-5865.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Kids Programs Kick-off, Sunday, August 10!

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26. The book for September is Livewire by Kelly Rippa. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Junior and Senior High Youth

JUNIOR HIGH: Our regular Sunday School program is launching on September 10 with an ice cream truck in the West parking lot at 10 a.m.! Our regular Sunday school program runs from 10 – 11 a.m. in Room 101 where we have fun, connect as a community, and explore the topic “Not your Grandma’s Bible Story”. Our Junior High Program also does an outing once a month on Sunday nights in combination with our Senior High students. The frequency of our Junior High gathering on Sunday nights has changed, but the impact won’t. We would love for you to join us for our first Sunday night event on September 24: Bowling! More details to come! Feel free to reach out to Elise if you have any questions regarding our Junior High program.

SENIOR HIGH: Our regular Sunday School program is launching on September 10 with an ice cream truck in the West parking lot at 10 a.m. Our regular Sunday school program runs from 10 – 11 a.m. in The Den (Room 103) where we have fun, connect as a community, and explore some big and relevant questions. Our Sunday night Youth group program will restart that evening too. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in The Den. This year is going to be filled with some fun, community, and impactful nights. Looking forward to having you there. Feel free to reach out to Elise if you have any questions regarding our Senior High program.

Top 10 Reasons You Should Sing with the Chancel Choir

10. You don’t have to dress up on Sunday morning – the robe hides a lot!
9.  Singing is good for your body – it reduces stress and helps you live a longer, happier life.
8.  You have a guaranteed seat on Christmas Eve and Easter.
7.  Sitting with a group in the chancel every Sunday is excellent practice for jury duty.
6.  The ushers never pass the collection plate through the choir loft.
5.  You say you can sing the melody loudly but can’t read music?  Two words: Soprano Section!
4.  You have an iron-clad excuse to get away from your crabby spouse – at least twice a week.
3.  You can add “I can’t, I have rehearsal” to your arsenal of excuses.
2.  It’s exactly like singing in the shower, except you’re wearing clothes and people are actually listening.
1. The Bible commands it! – Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises! – Psalms 47:6

The Chancel Choir sings during the 11 a.m. traditional worship service. We rehearse each Wednesday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This is a non-auditioned choir that welcomes anyone who loves to sing. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Joshua Elder.

Our Blood Drive Was a Success on Sunday, August 20

Donors scheduled: 20
Donors checked in: 17
No show: 3
Total donors: 15
Deferrals: 1
Total blood products: 17
% to goal = 90%  Great Job!

Thanks to you and the generous donors at First United Methodist up to 51 lives will be saved in our community.

Our next Blood Drive has been confirmed for Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Craft Fair at Crossroads United Methodist Church

I’m writing this thank you note for the Good News because I’d like our members to know the true appreciation and gratitude that I and so many others have for the Quilting Group and our prayer quilt ministry.

The Quilting Group recently provided a beautiful prayer quilt for my son, Brendan Pensis. It meant a lot to Brendan, who grew up and was married at First Church, and to his family. When I have told others who are not members of our church about Brendan’s prayer quilt, they have been touched to hear of this caring and meaningful ministry.

I recently had cause to request another prayer quilt for my sister, Maria Duthie. Maria suffered a broken neck when she was thrown from a horse. She received her prayer quilt last week, and she told me she waited for her husband to get home so they could open it together. Maria shared that it was such a special moment for them. She texted me to say she loves the beautiful colors, and the quilt looks gorgeous on her bed. Maria asked that I let the Quilting Group and everyone at the church know how much it means to her.

Over the many years I have been a member here, I have said countless prayers over these beautiful quilts, not knowing I would ever have the need to request one, let alone two, especially within a month of each other. To our amazing Quilting Group: thank you SO much for all the love, talent and prayers you put into your beautiful prayer quilts! And to everyone who has offered prayers for my son and my sister, I am forever grateful. We feel every one of those prayers as God continues to work his healing powers.

Blessings,
Colleen McManus

Grief Support for Kids, Teens and Grown-Ups

Stepping Stones of Hope will host “One Day at Camp for Kids & Grown-Ups,” a day of healing for adults and families grieving the death loss of a loved one, on Saturday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. This special day will provide an opportunity for adults and children, ages 6-17, with or without their parent(s) or guardian(s), to share with others, the stories of their grief journey and to gain tools to cope, learn, and adapt. Registration fee for the program is $25.00. Partial scholarships are available upon request. For more information, please call Diane Raden, Program Director, at 602.264.7520 or register at www.steppingstonesofhope.org.

Grateful thanks to First Church and the First United Methodist Foundation for their support of this program.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Spirit Month is Coming!

During the month of July, each Sunday will include a special theme as part of the worship service and sermon. You are encouraged to dress accordingly to join in the fun and festivities of the day. They include:

July 30 – “Rodeo Roundup” (Bring on the blue jeans, boots, bolo ties, and calico attire.)

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 22. The book for August is It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

Quilters Share Their Gifts

Our hard-working quilters, Susan Sneathen and Monte Kotrous, gave a presentation of our First Church Quilters Ministry to PEO’s Chapter D, May 20, 2023. They shared the history of the quilting ministry as well as showing several of their finished quilts. They were then presented with a plaque each noting, “She Works Willingly with Her Hands,” from Proverbs. Their presentation was warmly and gratefully received.

Picture left to right, Diane Gara-Weiner, church and PEO member, Susan Sneathen, Monte Kotrous, Diane Newton, Chapter D President.

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship and laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

Blood Drive Sunday, August 20

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Spirit Month is Coming!

During the month of July, each Sunday will include a special theme as part of the worship service and sermon. You are encouraged to dress accordingly to join in the fun and festivities of the day. They include:

July 16 – “Disney” (Wear your favorite Disney attire. Character costumes are welcomed.)

July 23 – “Christmas in July” (From holiday sweaters to snazzy Christmas ties.) Our lay leaders Patricia Rodriguez and David Whitaker are speaking.

July 30 – “Rodeo Roundup” (Bring on the blue jeans, boots, bolo ties, and calico attire.)

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 25. The book for July is The Greater Journey by David McCullough. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Sing with the Summer Choir

If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir but cannot commit to the weekly Wednesday night rehearsal schedule, here is your chance! We will hold morning Summer Choir rehearsals nearly every Sunday from 10:10 – 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. During this time, we will put together anthems that are simple and straightforward – easy enough to sing at the 11 a.m. Worship Service that day! In addition to the Sunday morning rehearsals, we will come together for 3 Wednesday night rehearsals on June 14, July 12, and August 9 at 7 p.m. These supplemental rehearsals will give us a chance to look at the pieces for the coming Sundays. Even if you cannot make this Wednesday night rehearsal, you are encouraged to participate in Summer Choir! For more information, please contact Joshua Elder.

Summer Voice Classes for Adults

Do you love to sing? This class is free of charge and appropriate for all skill levels, whether you’ve never sung before or are already an accomplished singer. No prior experience or training is necessary. Classes will meet 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-7 p.m., in room 106, starting June 20. (Class does not meet the week of July 4, and otherwise runs from June 20, through July 20.) To sign up, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth Leyva. Space is limited so sign up today!!

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

Quilters Share Their Gifts

Our hard-working quilters, Susan Sneathen and Monte Kotrous, gave a presentation of our First Church Quilters Ministry to PEO’s Chapter D, May 20, 2023. They shared the history of the quilting ministry as well as showing several of their finished quilts. They were then presented with a plaque each noting, “She Works Willingly with Her Hands,” from Proverbs. Their presentation was warmly and gratefully received.

Picture left to right, Diane Gara-Weiner, church and PEO member, Susan Sneathen, Monte Kotrous, Diane Newton, Chapter D President.

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship and laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

Blood Drive Sunday, August 20

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Spirit Month is Coming!

During the month of July, each Sunday will include a special theme as part of the worship service and sermon. You are encouraged to dress accordingly to join in the fun and festivities of the day. They include:

July 9 – “Island Breeze” (Dress tropical.)

July 16 – “Disney” (Wear your favorite Disney attire. Character costumes are welcomed.)

July 23 – “Christmas in July” (From holiday sweaters to snazzy Christmas ties.) Our lay leaders Patricia Rodriguez and David Whitaker are speaking.

July 30 – “Rodeo Roundup” (Bring on the blue jeans, boots, bolo ties, and calico attire.)

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 25. The book for July is The Greater Journey by David McCullough. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Sing with the Summer Choir

If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir but cannot commit to the weekly Wednesday night rehearsal schedule, here is your chance! We will hold morning Summer Choir rehearsals nearly every Sunday from 10:10 – 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. During this time, we will put together anthems that are simple and straightforward – easy enough to sing at the 11 a.m. Worship Service that day! In addition to the Sunday morning rehearsals, we will come together for 3 Wednesday night rehearsals on June 14, July 12, and August 9 at 7 p.m. These supplemental rehearsals will give us a chance to look at the pieces for the coming Sundays. Even if you cannot make this Wednesday night rehearsal, you are encouraged to participate in Summer Choir! For more information, please contact Joshua Elder.

Summer Voice Classes for Adults

Do you love to sing? This class is free of charge and appropriate for all skill levels, whether you’ve never sung before or are already an accomplished singer. No prior experience or training is necessary. Classes will meet 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-7 p.m., in room 106, starting June 20. (Class does not meet the week of July 4, and otherwise runs from June 20, through July 20.) To sign up, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth Leyva. Space is limited so sign up today!!

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

Quilters Share Their Gifts

Our hard-working quilters, Susan Sneathen and Monte Kotrous, gave a presentation of our First Church Quilters Ministry to PEO’s Chapter D, May 20, 2023. They shared the history of the quilting ministry as well as showing several of their finished quilts. They were then presented with a plaque each noting, “She Works Willingly with Her Hands,” from Proverbs. Their presentation was warmly and gratefully received.

Picture left to right, Diane Gara-Weiner, church and PEO member, Susan Sneathen, Monte Kotrous, Diane Newton, Chapter D President.

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship and laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

United Women of Faith

Our Circles hosted speakers from United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM). Gordon Sims and Katie Andrea brought us an update on their work. After that, we were pleased to present them with a plaque of a poem written by Rev. DeWayne Zimmerman, beloved former minister at First Church. The paper copy of the poem was noticed on the wall at UMOM by Velia Amparo Rivas of Rachel Circle on our October 2022 field trip to UMOM. It was decided that we should give it proper framing to be placed in Zimmerman Chapel. This is the story behind the new plaque in Zimmerman Chapel. The next time you go to UMOM for lunch and a tour, please be sure to stop by the Zimmerman Chapel and see it.
Submitted by Diane Gara-Weiner, President, United Women in Faith

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Spirit Month is Coming!

During the month of July, each Sunday will include a special theme as part of the worship service and sermon. You are encouraged to dress accordingly to join in the fun and festivities of the day. They include:

July 2 – “Red, White & Blue” (Dress patriotic in the spirit of Independence Day.)

July 9 – “Island Breeze” (Dress tropical.)

July 16 – “Disney” (Wear your favorite Disney attire. Character costumes are welcomed.)

July 23 – “Christmas in July” (From holiday sweaters to snazzy Christmas ties.) Our lay leaders Patricia Rodriguez and David Whitaker are speaking.

July 30 – “Rodeo Roundup” (Bring on the blue jeans, boots, bolo ties, and calico attire.)

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27. The book for June is A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Sing with the Summer Choir

If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir but cannot commit to the weekly Wednesday night rehearsal schedule, here is your chance! From June 18 through August 27, we will hold morning Summer Choir rehearsals nearly every Sunday from 10:10 – 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. During this time, we will put together anthems that are simple and straightforward – easy enough to sing at the 11 a.m. Worship Service that day! In addition to the Sunday morning rehearsals, we will come together for 3 Wednesday night rehearsals on June 14, July 12, and August 9 at 7 p.m. These supplemental rehearsals will give us a chance to look at the pieces for the coming Sundays. Even if you cannot make this Wednesday night rehearsal, you are encouraged to participate in Summer Choir! For more information, please contact Joshua Elder.

Summer Voice Classes for Adults

Do you love to sing? This class is free of charge and appropriate for all skill levels, whether you’ve never sung before or are already an accomplished singer. No prior experience or training is necessary. Classes will meet 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-7 p.m., in room 106, starting June 20. (Class does not meet the week of July 4, and otherwise runs from June 20, through July 20.) To sign up, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth Leyva. Space is limited so sign up today!!

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

Quilters Share Their Gifts

Our hard-working quilters, Susan Sneathen and Monte Kotrous, gave a presentation of our First Church Quilters Ministry to PEO’s Chapter D, May 20, 2023. They shared the history of the quilting ministry as well as showing several of their finished quilts. They were then presented with a plaque each noting, “She Works Willingly with Her Hands,” from Proverbs. Their presentation was warmly and gratefully received.

Picture left to right, Diane Gara-Weiner, church and PEO member, Susan Sneathen, Monte Kotrous, Diane Newton, Chapter D President.

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship and laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

United Women of Faith

Our Circles hosted speakers from United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM). Gordon Sims and Katie Andrea brought us an update on their work. After that, we were pleased to present them with a plaque of a poem written by Rev. DeWayne Zimmerman, beloved former minister at First Church. The paper copy of the poem was noticed on the wall at UMOM by Velia Amparo Rivas of Rachel Circle on our October 2022 field trip to UMOM. It was decided that we should give it proper framing to be placed in Zimmerman Chapel. This is the story behind the new plaque in Zimmerman Chapel. The next time you go to UMOM for lunch and a tour, please be sure to stop by the Zimmerman Chapel and see it.
Submitted by Diane Gara-Weiner, President, United Women in Faith

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27. The book for June is A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Sing with the Summer Choir

If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir but cannot commit to the weekly Wednesday night rehearsal schedule, here is your chance! From June 18 through August 27, we will hold morning Summer Choir rehearsals nearly every Sunday from 10:10 – 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. During this time, we will put together anthems that are simple and straightforward – easy enough to sing at the 11 a.m. Worship Service that day! In addition to the Sunday morning rehearsals, we will come together for 3 Wednesday night rehearsals on June 14, July 12, and August 9 at 7 p.m. These supplemental rehearsals will give us a chance to look at the pieces for the coming Sundays. Even if you cannot make this Wednesday night rehearsal, you are encouraged to participate in Summer Choir! For more information, please contact Joshua Elder.

Summer Voice Classes for Adults

Do you love to sing? This class is free of charge and appropriate for all skill levels, whether you’ve never sung before or are already an accomplished singer. No prior experience or training is necessary. Classes will meet 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-7 p.m., in room 106, starting June 20. (Class does not meet the week of July 4, and otherwise runs from June 20, through July 20.) To sign up, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth Leyva. Space is limited so sign up today!!

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

Quilters Share Their Gifts

Our hard-working quilters, Susan Sneathen and Monte Kotrous, gave a presentation of our First Church Quilters Ministry to PEO’s Chapter D, May 20, 2023. They shared the history of the quilting ministry as well as showing several of their finished quilts. They were then presented with a plaque each noting, “She Works Willingly with Her Hands,” from Proverbs. Their presentation was warmly and gratefully received.

Picture left to right, Diane Gara-Weiner, church and PEO member, Susan Sneathen, Monte Kotrous, Diane Newton, Chapter D President.

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship and laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23. The book for May is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Consider Prayer Quilting

Whether you have a few sewing skills or you’re an accomplished quilter, we have room for you! We meet weekly on Wednesdays in Epworth Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. However, your schedule may bring you in later, or if needed, you may leave earlier. We enjoy fellowship, laughter and end with prayers for quilt recipients. Come join us!

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class Begins in June

First United Methodist Church will begin offering two weekly yoga classes to our community beginning Tuesday and Thursday, June 6 and 8. Classes will meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Summer Kids and Youth

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23. The book for May is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun in one of our children’s classes on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.
Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Nursery
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 114

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Troop #41 Eagle Scouts

Please join us in congratulating our newest Eagle Scouts in Troop #41.
Elliott Lewenstein, Mac Mostow, and Josef Schweiger.

Additional pictures are posted to our troop’s Facebook & Instagram pages:
https://www.facebook.com/BSATroop41AZ/
https://www.instagram.com/bsatroop41az/?hl=en

Thank You!

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

New Member Class This Sunday, May 7, 10 a.m.

Join Rev. David Rennick this Sunday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge as he welcomes prospective members and will answer any questions you may have and share expectations of membership. If you plan to attend, please email Cathy Fuentes or call 602.263.5013 x100 so that we can prepare your new member packet.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23. The book for May is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun in one of our children’s classes on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.
Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Nursery
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 114

Grief Support for Kids, Teens, Grown-ups

On Saturday, April 22, 25 children, teen, and adult campers attended the ‘One Day at Camp’ program held on the First Church campus ready to share their stories and memories as well as to learn ways to cope with their fears, anger, and sadness after experiencing the death loss of a loved one. Learning new coping skills helps campers see hopeful visions for the future. Stepping Stones of Hope is grateful to First Church for opening their doors to the community, the First United Methodist Foundation for supporting the program with a grant, and to the custodians who set up and cleaned the campus before and after the event. How very appreciative we are for the willingness of First Church to provide a safe place for feelings to be expressed and for families to know they are not alone in their grief!

Troop #41 Eagle Scouts

Please join us in congratulating our newest Eagle Scouts in Troop #41.
Elliott Lewenstein, Mac Mostow, and Josef Schweiger.

Additional pictures are posted to our troop’s Facebook & Instagram pages:
https://www.facebook.com/BSATroop41AZ/
https://www.instagram.com/bsatroop41az/?hl=en

Thank You!

Knitty Witty Chain Gang

Join the Knitty Witty Chain Gang on the second Thursday of every month in Wesley Lounge, 1 – 3 p.m.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

New Member Class Sunday, May 7, 10 a.m.

Join Rev. David Rennick on Sunday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge as he welcomes prospective members and will answer any questions you may have and share expectations of membership. If you plan to attend, please email Cathy Fuentes or call 602.263.5013 x100 so that we can prepare your new member packet.

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25. The book for April is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

First Church Kids

Come and join the fun in one of our children’s classes on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.
Greenhouse (6 months to 3 years old) – Nursery
Cubbyhouse (3 years old to Pre-K) – Room 222
Fun House (K-2nd grade) – Room 221
Lighthouse (3rd grade to 5th grade) – Room 114

Grief Support for Kids, Teens, Grown-ups

Stepping Stones of Hope will host “One Day at Camp for Kids & Grown-Ups,” a day of healing for adults and families grieving the death of a loved one, on Saturday, April 22 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. This special day will provide an opportunity for adults and children, ages 6-17, with or without their parent(s) or guardian(s), to share with others the stories of their grief journey and to gain tools to cope, learn, and adapt. Registration fee for the program is $25.00. Partial scholarships are available upon request. For more information, please call Diane Raden, Program Director, at 602.264.7520. Grateful thanks are given to First Church and the First United Methodist Foundation for their support of this program.

Friendship Club Outing

The Friendship Club is offering a cruise on Lake Pleasant on Wednesday, May 17. Discover facts and history about the lake and its flora and fauna as you sail with your friends. The vans will be leaving the church at 10 a.m. for Pleasant Harbor Marina. We will have lunch at Dillion’s, the Marina’s Restaurant, before boarding at 2 p.m. Cost for the cruise is $25. Lunch is additional. Make your reservations by May 10 by calling Carolyn Cooper at 602.341.0131 or Suzanne Haehl at 623.979.5449. You won’t want to miss out on the final adventure of the Friendship Club before the summer.

Blood Drive Sunday, April 23

Donate Seeds

Help the United Women in Faith collect vegetable seeds for the Jackson Area Ministries Green Thumb Gardening Project. The project began in 1979, serving 97 families of Southeast Ohio’s 18 County area to grow gardens. Please donate vegetable seed packets to continue this project. UMW will collect seeds through the end of April. Bring seed packets to the UMW table on the patio. Seeds we need: broccoli, beets, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, herbs, lettuce, green beans, cauliflower, melons, peppers, radishes, spinach, squash, etc.

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” sign as the message (example: type 20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card 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 the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

On Fire, A book read with Pastor David for Lent

When John O’Leary was just nine years old, he barely survived a devastating house fire with burns on 100 percent of his body. O’Leary’s doctors told his parents that he wasn’t expected to make it through the night.

But this story didn’t end there. O’Leary, bolstered by several extraordinary people in his life, made it through five months of healing in the hospital, and then through the years of excruciating rehabilitation that followed as he struggled to regain mobility and control his body. The insights he gained through this experience profoundly changed his life, but today John says that it actually changed him for the better…

Join pastor David and others during the season of Lent as we read about John’s trial and victories and discuss how his insights bring an understanding purpose in one’s life. The structure of the class will be reading the book aloud and group discussion.

Books are available through your online or local distributors. To register call the church office at 602.263.5013 or email Pastor David.

OWL Parents Night Sunday, March 26

Anyone involved with raising teens is welcome! Sunday, March 26, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Asbury Hall.

Parents are a child’s most important sexuality educators, and sexuality education begins at home; that’s where OWL can help. OWL stands for ‘Our Whole Lives’ and is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curriculum for use in both secular settings and faith communities. We have a guest speaker coming in who will be focusing on equipping YOU to be the best support you can be to the teens in your world. Refreshments provided.

Please email Elise Nesper to RSVP if you want to attend this event.

Easter Lilies

Consider the Lilies – Matthew 6:28
Every Easter, the presence of Easter lilies in the sanctuary contributes to the celebration of new life.

Ash Wednesday Soup Supper Report

Many thanks to everyone who attended the Ash Wednesday Soup Supper.  It would not have been possible without the help of a very dedicated and capable committee consisting of Sandy Asendorf, Phyllis Chase, Suzanne Haehl, Karen Horton, Bonnie Naegle-Wilson, Mindy Smidt, Susan Sneathen and Peggy Ward as well as Robin Spencer who answered our many questions. There were many other helpers with ticket sales, soups, cornbread, fruit, desserts, drinks, check in, set up and clean up.  A huge thank you goes to each of these folks.  I am very pleased to report we raised $819 for the UMCOR Clean Water project.

Betty Cornish, Chairman

First Church Kids