December 26, 2025

News

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- Takeover! (Sammi’s Corner)

Hi, everybody! Sammi here! I’m going to be taking over Pastor David’s Corner for the next two weeks while he takes some much needed rest after Christmas. Pastor David asked me to write some quick devotionals about the 12 Days of Christmas Song origin, so let’s have some fun with it! Here’s part 1:

Part 1

Many of us have grown up hearing the song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” but very few people know the origin story behind how that song came to be. In popular culture, the 12 days of Christmas are often referred to as the 12 days leading up to Christmas. However, originally, the 12 days of Christmas were in reference to the 12 days after Christmas, not before. In the Middle Ages, this time of year was considered sacred, celebrating the Christmas story all the way through Christ’s birth to the arrival of the Wise Men.

While this is a fun piece of trivia, for us as Christians, this allows the opportunity for a greater question to ponder, which is how do we celebrate not only the actual holiday and the days leading up to it, but the days after as well? The hustle and bustle and sparkle of Advent is fun and exciting and easy to celebrate, but for many of us, the days after Christmas can feel a lot like a letdown. For those returning to work or school there’s a familiar “back to the grind” feeling, and for those with packed social calendars around the holidays, these days after Christmas, can feel like a screeching halt of all things fun and festive.

But that’s not what God wants for us! God did not do incredible miracles, send Himself down to earth in the form of a child, and offer salvation to all of humanity for us to roll our eyes and apathetically say, “okay the Savior of the World is here, now what?” God did that so we can celebrate Him not just on Christmas Day, but EVERY DAY! The Savior of the World is here and is accessible to us now and forevermore- GET EXCITED! How cool is that?!

I encourage you in the coming days, weeks, and months not to think of this as “post-Christmas” time, but rather an ideal time to get really excited about Jesus. Think of the work that God has done in your life and the ways that He has transformed you through your faith. Think about everything He will continue to do in the future as well! Think about how He wants a relationship with you and how He knows and loves you by name, not just at Christmas time, but all the time! Now THAT is something to celebrate all year long!

Congregational Prayer Requests

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

PRAYER QUILT IN THE NARTHEX

None

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE

Marge Needham, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevens, Brenda and Jim Unsworth.

OTHER

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES

Mingus Mountain Camp

Justa Center Phoenix

Wesley Community Center

(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.)

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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)

Sarg and Patricia Magyar 12/21

Joe and Marie Garber 12/23

Don and Sandy Hillegass 12/28

SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)

Doug Dunipace 12/18

Larron Horton 12/18

Ronald Wilson 12/18

Jan Hyde 12/19

Susan Secrest 12/24

Carol Wilson 12/26

Diane VanDyke 12/27

Laura DeNinno 12/29

Carol Aby 12/30

Pat Jones 1/1

Sondra Trasente 1/2

Diane Raden 1/3

Peggy Ward 1/3

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Ron Rhode is Back on the Organ!

Ron will be returning to the organ keyboard to accompany the classic (1923) silent film Safety Last at the Orpheum Theatre. The performance will take place on January 4 at 2:00. If you’ve not seen him play at one of these, you’re in for a fun time!

Tickets are available directly from the Orpheum Theatre website and will also be available the day of the performance at the box office. Please note there is a small handbag policy, so plan accordingly.

-Anne Bettis

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UMCOR Mission Group

Interested in joining a mission group going to UMCOR to be love in action? The United Methodist Committee on Relief is an organization that provides humanitarian relief in times of disaster. Our church has reserved spots the week of April 19, 2026, at the UMCOR Depot/Sager-Brown in Baldwin, Louisiana to pack emergency aid kits and other items to help people in need. Please contact Tami Smith for more information. (twolandarch@gmail.com)

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Fiesta Bowl Parade Tickets – On Sale Now!

🎊 Fiesta Bowl Parade

The Fiesta Bowl Parade is Saturday, January 3, 2026

Come kick off the new year with a celebration full of color, energy, and unity!

🎟 Seat tickets are $5, and parking tickets are $20.

Contact the church office to purchase tickets during the week, and they will be sold in the narthex on Sundays. We are able to accept cash, check, or credit cards.

🙌 Want to join the fun behind the scenes and serve the community? Volunteers are needed! See Jessica or Julie to sign up and be part of the parade crew.

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New Small Group- Men’s Monthly Meetup

Starting in the new year, Pastor David will be hosting a once-a-month small group for men in the church who want to deepen their faiths and start Monday off right! Bring your coffee and a Bible and join us at 8:00am every first Monday of the month for a time of connection. Please contact the church office to register or sign up at https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3326400

Kickoff is January 5th.We’ll see you there!

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Finance Committee Monthly Update

Your Finance Committee values providing information about First Church’s financials with our congregation. We all share the goal of keeping our programs vital, fulfilling our commitments to missions and the work of the church in the larger world, and reaching out to help those in need as Christ taught us. We hope inclusion of this information will keep you informed and perhaps inspire you to participate more fully in the ministry of First Church. Please feel free to contact a member of the Finance Committee or our Business Administrator with questions about our operating fund. Thank you for your generosity and support of First Church.

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Van Drivers Needed

First Church is seeking volunteer drivers to assist those unable to drive to attend worship Sunday mornings. Contact the church office at 602-263-5013 for more information on how you can make First Church available to others.

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Behold the New Christmas Decorations!

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary (Psalm 96:6)

Our new Christmas decorations are a visible reflection of the generosity and cheerful spirit that fills our community. Your contributions have truly made this transformation possible, and we celebrate not only the beauty in God’s house but also the loving hearts behind every gift. Thank you!

This year marks the first exciting installment of even grander plans for our sanctuary’s festive decor. Join us for the next chapter! Phase 2 of the Decorations campaign is underway, and your continued support will help us realize an even more splendid vision next Christmas. Donate by clicking this link https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z2EJcampaign/C-15ZY4 or however you typically donate to the church. (Just make sure you indicate the donation is for Christmas decorations if using other means.

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First Church Business Directory Updates

Business Directory July 2025

Here is an updated first church business directory.

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Giving Report

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

YTD January – November Actual Giving $656.313

YTD January – November Budgeted Giving $780,071

Variance ($123,758) (-16%)

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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 January 4. 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.

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 the library. 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.

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).
You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit or credit card information.
After you complete the registration, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt by email.
For future giving, simply send a text message with 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.