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.