Worship Online with Us

If you are unable to attend our Sunday morning worship services in-person, please join us online. We stream both services Sunday mornings live at 9 and 11 a.m. and both are available to watch later if you can’t watch live. We also have many previous services available to watch if you missed one. Please don’t forget to let us know you are watching with the “I’m Here” button at the top of the page.

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Pastor David’s Corner

This week, Christians all over the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Amid the joy of this celebration, we also remember the path we have walked over many days and weeks.
We began by recalling our mortality on Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Jesus’ journey into the wilderness—a time in which he discerned not only his role, but his divine purpose. Throughout each week of Lent, Scripture has guided us through Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and presence among the people—often among the least, the last, and the lost.
Palm Sunday ushered in Holy Week with Jesus’ public entry into Jerusalem, inviting a transformation of heart away from the powers and controls of the ruling empire. From there, we journeyed to the upper room, and then to Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion—bringing us now to Easter and the empty tomb.
My curiosity in faith often lingers at that tomb on Good Friday. What part of me needs to be buried there with Jesus? And even more, on the day of resurrection, how might I rise with him into a new life of faith, hope, and joy? This is my prayer each Lent: to let go of what is old within me and to rise into the possibility of who God calls me to become.
This is the meaning of resurrection—rising into new life, new possibility, and a new becoming.
Which then leaves us asking, “What’s next?” As we often say, “May Monday be like Sunday.” Even more, let us make every day like Easter.
We are all being invited into new life and a renewed hope. Let us walk the path that leads us alongside the eternal.
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

The prayer quilt displayed in the narthex is for Steve Haehl. Steve is a long-time member of FUMC and the husband to Suzanne Haehl. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE

June Becker, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Mary Anne Cooper, Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Barbara Harvey, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein.

OTHER

None

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 patricia@firstchurch.church.)

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Congregational Celebrations and Praises 

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

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (Celebrating 50 or more years of marriage)

Jack and Linda Smalley 4/1

Mike and Cecilia Gowey 4/10

Dave and Charlene Kingston 4/10

Jack and Susan Sneathen 4/22

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Terry Lutz 3/18

Fred Moor 3/20

Cheryl Figgs 3/22

Norma Hinton 3/27

Richard Northup 4/4

Bob Bailes 4/5

Alice Green 4/6

Pat Barnes 4/7

Ken McGinty 4/9

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Mingus Mountain Camp Opportunity

Mingus Mountain, a UMC wilderness camp, is inviting any and all children and youth to come join this summer! There are dates available for elementary school, middle school/junior high, and high school students. Registration can be completed online (https://mingusmountaincamp.org/home/2026-summer-camp-sessions/) and scholarships are available online as well for those who may need help affording it. Our own Don and Deby Campbell will be serving at the camp June 28th – July 3rd, so keep a lookout for those familiar faces if you’re there during those dates!

Please contact Don Campbell with any questions at don@campbellcollaborative.com.

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Lura Turner Homes Update

 

The Missions Social Justice Committee Service Project on Saturday, March 14 was a great success.

Sixteen volunteers helped trim trees, dig irrigation trenches, arrange planters, rake leaves, dig out a garden, plant vegetables, and lead bingo games with residents and paint residents’ fingernails in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

In addition, volunteers also received a tour of the Lura Turner Homes Joyce Ridge House, which provides housing to about 30 people with various forms of mental disabilities. The highlight for many volunteers was the interaction we had with residents and the friendships we continue to build there.

Special thanks to these folks who participated: Lee Atkinson, Jason Nolander, Don Campbell, Betty Cornish, Bonnie Naegle-Wilson, Anne Bettis, David Osborne, Dean Rennell, Chris Rennell, Jennifer Schwarz, Darla Goodman, Marilynn Seese, Janet Spiker, Clarisa Cox-Gonzalez, Liz Cox-Gonzalez, Daniel Cox-Gonzalez.

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Lura Turner Homes Fundraiser April 8th

It’s almost time for Lura Turner’s annual fundraiser, celebrating the 48th anniversary of one of their residents, Barney, working at Denny’s! Stop by the Denny’s on 7th St and Camelback on Wednesday April 8th from 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm to take 20% off a dine in or takeout order, and to support Lura Turner Homes. Not able to stop in that day but still want to support the cause? Send Lura Turner Homes a donation instead! Their PO Box is #8125, Phoenix AZ, 85069.

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Easter Week Schedule

Please mark down any events you’d like to attend on your calendar to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Our Easter week schedule is as follows:

April 2 @ 7:00 pm: Maundy Thursday

April 3 @ 7:00 pm: Good Friday

April 5: Easter!

(Our regular 9:00 am and 11:00 am services are available with Taste of Easter and kids activities in between at 10:00 am).

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Taste of Easter

Easter morning, join us between services at Taste of Easter for delicious snacks and deserts. This event is a church favorite every year, so don’t miss out! Come down to Asbury Hall at 10:00 am for some yummy food and fellowship.

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Habitat for Humanity Outreach Project- VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!!!

Our church is partnering with other UMC churches across the Valley to complete a Habitat for Humanity Home this spring. Due to the wide number of churches participating, spots are limited and are first come first serve, so if you’re interested, please contact Sammi right away! We have two openings on April 11th for “doors and trim day,” and two openings on April 18th on “interior paint and exterior paint prep day.”

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Iglesia Aliento Street Festival

Iglesia Aliento is hosting a street festival on Sunday May 3^rd from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, which will feature tacos, burgers, hotdogs, games, face painting, as well as various booths that provide social services, including domestic violence counseling, and free clothing for those who need it. This is a great opportunity to support their ministry, have some fun, as well as socialize with other UMC churches who have been invited. Come join in!

*If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact Dan Cox Gonzalez at dcoxgonzalez@gmail.com or at 602-463-2197.

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Groups and Gatherings Committee- Get Engaged!

Do you have a knack for bringing people together? Do you like planning a great movie night for your friends, or family activities after the big game? If so, we have a great way for you to serve your church!

We’re developing a Groups and Gatherings Team to plan events and activities for our church throughout the year. The team will be able to plan as few or as many events as they’d like, with no pressure, and will have support from church leaders when needed.

Unlike our established administrative committees, there are no regularly scheduled meetings, no minutes to take, and no reports to present! The team will meet/communicate as needed to share ideas and plan some fun events for our church and the community, including things like board game nights, movie nights, outings to go to dinner, attend a theatre performance, or whatever else sounds fun to you!

Does this give you some ideas? If you are looking for a way to serve that is creative, flexible, and FUN, please email Sammi at sammi@firstchurch.church to join today. Thank you for bringing more engagement to our church!

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Sunday Social Hour

Please join us for our First Sunday Social Hour Gathering every first Sunday of the month between services at 10 a.m. in Wesley Lounge. The next one will be April 5th for Taste of Easter. We look forward to seeing you!

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Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in the library. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th. The book is North Woods by Daniel Mason.

Community Yoga Classes

First Church offers two weekly yoga classes to our community. Classes meet Tuesdays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., and Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per class or four classes for $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.

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First Church Business Directory Updates

Business Directory July 2025

Here is an updated first church business directory.

Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.

You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.

Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.

1. Enter (888) 599-4262 in your cell phone text messaging program and type GIVE $xx as the message (example: type GIVE $20 to give twenty dollars).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and bank information.
3. After you complete the registration, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt by email.
4. For future giving, simply send a text message with GIVE and the amount you wish to give. That’s it!

Check Your Spam and Junk

Sometimes email from our Church’s domain, “.church” isn’t recognized by all email providers. Please check your spam and junk mail folders periodically to see if something from First Church or other senders to your address might be filtered out of your inbox.