News
January 30, 2026
Worship Online with Us
If you are unable to attend our Sunday morning worship services in-person, please join us online. We stream both services Sunday mornings live at 9 and 11 a.m. and both are available to watch later if you can’t watch live. We also have many previous services available to watch if you missed one. Please don’t forget to let us know you are watching with the “I’m Here” button at the top of the page.
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Pastor David’s Corner
As this coming week marks the start of black history month, we wanted to take the time to highlight a local black United Methodist Church that is not only of historical, but also modern-day significance: Tanner Chapel Church.
From their church website:
“Historic Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Arizona’s oldest African American Church, was founded during the pioneer days. It started when Charles Ward, N. D. Valentine, Laura Valentine, and Sister Bell collaborated with Reverend H. H. Hawkins to establish a Christian mission aimed at nurturing family life. By 1886, this group owned property, as courthouse records indicate. The mission expanded, acquiring additional property on Second Street and East Jefferson Street in 1899, and was officially named Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of Bishop Benjamin T. Tanner. Subsequently, the Sarah E. Tanner Women’s Missionary Society was established in memory of Bishop Tanner’s wife.
Originally, Tanner Chapel’s congregation was predominantly African American, although it was not in a designated black neighborhood. Over time, the development of housing patterns concentrated the African American population of Phoenix in South Phoenix, making it the black community hub, with Tanner Chapel at its heart.
In addition to spiritual guidance, Tanner Chapel has provided social services like daycare and housing assistance. In the 1960s, it became a focal point for civil rights activities, with notable figures like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking there in 1964.
On December 15, 2010, Phoenix City Council declared Tanner Chapel a historic landmark. Noted by architect Lloyd LeRaine Pike, the church is an exceptional example of Gothic Revival architecture, a style rare in Phoenix. It is one of only 14 properties in Phoenix with landmark status and the first African American Church to receive such designation.
Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas Sr, Tanner Chapel remains committed to promoting Christian living, family values, economic development, responsible citizenship, civic action, and social welfare. It serves as a cultural cornerstone in the Phoenix community, attracting many influential African American figures. Tanner continues to bridge the gap between church and community through its 501(c)(3) organization, Tanner Community Development Corporation, founded by its current pastor.”
If you’d like to learn more about Tanner Chapel Church’s service and ministry, please check out their website and please keep them in their prayers; they are doing wonderful things in Phoenix! https://www.tannerchapel.org/
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 Talton. John is the husband of Susan Talton and friend of Linda Ballinger. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz, Ray McFarland, Marge Needham, Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest.
OTHER
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Ajo Federated Church- Ajo
Calvary UMC – Phoenix
Chino Valley UMC – Chino Valley
(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)
Buzz and Liv Steven 2/19
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Linda O’Conner 1/23
William Devine 1/23
Kate Tinghitella 1/25
Susan Freeman 1/28
Diane Gara-Weiner 1/28
Jesse Ary 1/29
Jim Hyde 2/2 Anne
Walser 2/2
Mary Williamson 2/6
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A Message from the Desert Southwest Conference- Asylum, Refuge, and Immigration Task Force
We want to be sure you are aware of several opportunities for connection and support being offered by the Asylum, Refugee, and Immigration Task Force.
The Task Force is hosting Prayer and Conversation Circles, virtual gatherings designed to provide an informal space for prayer, conversation, and mutual support. These circles are intended to be gentle, accessible spaces for people who may be carrying fear, grief, or uncertainty related to immigration issues.
Upcoming Prayer and Conversation Circles:
Thursday, February 5, at 3:30 PM MST
Thursday, February 26, at 7:00 PM MST
Clergy are encouraged to attend and to share this invitation with others in their congregations or communities who may need emotional and spiritual support. Click here to register and receive the recurring meeting Zoom link.
There is also more ahead. On Thursday, March 12, at 10 AM MST, the Asylum, Refugee, and Immigration Task Force will host a Forum on Immigration. This forum will offer an update on the current immigration landscape across the United States, resources and information for local churches and leaders, and space for conversation and planning. Additional details about the forum will be shared soon, but please save the date.
To stay informed about these gatherings and other updates, we encourage you to subscribe to the Asylum, Refugee, and Immigration Task Force news at: https://dscumc.org/subscribe/
If clergy or congregation members have questions, you may contact the Task Force directly at calltoaction@dscumc.org. Ongoing information and resources are also available at: https://dscumc.org/committee/asylum-aid-and-immigration
Thank you for your care, leadership, and presence across our Conference.
On behalf of the ARI Task Force,
Christina Dillabough
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A Message from Bishop Carlos A Rapanut
Beloved in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who hears the cries of the oppressed and calls us to walk in the ways of justice, mercy, and humility.
In recent days, our siblings in Minneapolis have endured immigration raids that have led to senseless deaths, unrest, and violence. Families have been torn apart. Children have watched parents taken away. Children themselves have been taken away. Indigenous neighbors, immigrants, and communities of color continue to face harassment, intimidation, and fear. The weight of these events presses heavily upon our collective spirit.
Into this moment, the prophet Micah speaks with piercing clarity.
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Micah’s words are not abstract ideals. They are a summons—a divine insistence that faith must take shape in the world, especially when human dignity is under assault.
Do Justice
Justice is not vengeance. Justice is not domination. Justice is not the unchecked exercise of power. Justice is the recognition of the image of God in every person—regardless of citizenship, language, skin color, or place of birth.
The raids we have witnessed do not reflect justice. They reflect fear. They reflect systems that value control over compassion. They reflect a disregard for the sacredness of human life.
As people of faith, we must name this truth without hesitation: No policy, no order, no enforcement action justifies the terrorizing of families or the loss of life. Justice demands that we stand with those who are targeted, silenced, and pushed to the margins.
Love Kindness
Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is courage in the shape of compassion. In these days, kindness looks like:
Standing with immigrant families at vigils, court hearings, and community gatherings
Offering sanctuary, accompaniment, and protection
Creating safe space to listen to the stories of those who live in fear
Supporting Indigenous communities whose sovereignty and dignity continue to be violated
Providing financial support and basic necessities and supplies
Refusing to let cruelty become normal
Kindness is the steady, stubborn insistence that every person deserves safety, respect, and belonging.
Walk Humbly with God
Humility is not silence. Humility is the willingness to be guided by God’s heart rather than our own preference. To walk humbly with God is to recognize that we are bound to one another. It is to confess that our liberation is tied to the liberation of our neighbors. It is to acknowledge that we cannot claim to love God while ignoring the suffering of God’s children. Humility calls us to listen—to the cries of those who mourn, to the resilience of immigrant communities, to the wisdom of Indigenous elders, to the truth-telling of people of color who have long named the violence woven into our systems.
Standing in Solidarity Across Our Region
Although these most recent tragedies have unfolded in Minneapolis, we who serve in Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas stand in full solidarity with our siblings there. Their grief is our grief. Their fear is our fear. Their struggle is bound to ours.
For we know that these same patterns of raids, harassment, and racialized violence are not confined to one city or one state. They are happening in Las Vegas, where families live with the constant threat of being torn apart.
They are happening in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, where immigrant communities navigate daily fear and surveillance. They are happening in Las Cruces and El Paso, where border communities—rich in culture, resilience, and faith—continue to bear the weight of policies that dehumanize and divide. What we witness in Minneapolis is part of a larger, painful reality across our country. And so we declare, with one voice and one heart: We are bound together. We will not look away. We will not abandon one another.
A Word to Those Who Have a Different Perspective
Beloved, I also want to speak directly—and respectfully—to those among us who believe that immigration laws should be upheld and that enforcement is necessary. I know that many who hold this view do so out of a desire for order, safety, and fairness. I respect that. I am not asking you to abandon your political convictions or to change your party affiliation. That is not my purpose.
My appeal is deeper than politics. My appeal is spiritual. I ask you to consider whether the methods we are witnessing—the midnight raids, the militarized presence, the separation of families, the fear sown in entire neighborhoods—reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ or the values we share as people of faith.
We may differ in our political approaches, but we are united in our belief that every person is created in the image of God. We are united in our conviction that human dignity is non-negotiable. We are united in our calling to love our neighbor, protect the vulnerable, and seek the well-being of the stranger in our midst.
We can support the rule of law and still insist that enforcement be humane. We can value secure borders and still reject practices that traumatize children. We can hold varying political views and still say, “This is not who we are as followers of Christ.”
I am not asking you to change your politics. I am asking you to let your politics be shaped—first and foremost—by your faith, your compassion, and your commitment to the sacred worth of every human being.
Appealing to Our Common Humanity
Before we are citizens, we are human. Before we are divided by borders, we are bound by breath. Before we are sorted by race or status, we are woven together in the fabric of God’s diverse family.
We share a longing for safety. We share a desire for our children to grow without fear. We share a hope for communities where dignity is honored and peace is possible.
Let us reclaim these shared values. Let us refuse narratives that dehumanize. Let us resist policies that destroy families. Let us reject the lie that some lives are worth less than others.
A Call to the Church
Church, this is our moment to embody the Gospel. Let our sanctuaries be places of refuge. Let our prayers be bold and unrelenting. Let our advocacy be grounded in love and courage. Let our witness be clear:
We stand with the immigrant.
We stand with Indigenous communities.
We stand with people of color.
We stand with all who are harmed by violence and harassment.
Micah reminds us that God is not impressed by empty rituals or pious words. God desires a people who live justice, breathe kindness, and walk humbly. May we be such a people.
A Prayer for This Moment
God of justice and compassion,
Hold the grieving, protect the vulnerable, strengthen the weary.
Expose the roots of violence and uproot the systems that harm.
Give us courage to act, wisdom to discern, and humility to follow your way.
Make us instruments of your peace and partners in your justice.
We pray for Minneapolis, as we pray for Las Vegas, for Phoenix, for Tucson, for Yuma, for Las Cruces, for El Paso, and for every community across our country where families live under the shadow of enforcement that disregards human dignity.
Bring an end to the raids, the fear, the violence, and the trauma inflicted upon your children.
Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amen.
Beloved, may we move forward with resolve, tenderness, and holy courage. The work is hard, but we do not walk alone. The God who calls us to justice walks beside us, before us, and within us.
Your fellow disciple,
Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut
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Soup Supper
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is on February 18th this year! Come join us for our 6:00 pm service, which will directly follow the soup supper for those who are in attendance for that.
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Pancake Breakfast- March 15th
Please join us on Sunday, March 15th from 9 am to noon in Asbury Hall. Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast and help support BSA Venturing Crew 2041’s Northern Tier Adventure! The recommended donation is $10. We look forward to seeing you!
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Next Generations Newsletter
Here is our February newsletter from our Next Generations Director, Jessica Morris:
Happy February, Happy Black History Month, Happy Super Bowl season, Happy Presidents’ Day, and Happy Valentine’s Day — February has a lot going on!
Please note that Youth Group is cancelled until February 22.
February 8 is Super Bowl Sunday
The following Monday is Presidents’ Day
Because of this, we will resume with a Youth Parent Meeting on Saturday, February 22 at 5:30
PM in the Wesley Lounge.
This parent meeting is very important, as we will be discussing what the Youth Ministry will look like moving forward.
While parents meet, our youth will be participating in a mission project at Laura Turner Homes, hosting a craft night with the residents.
It will be a wonderful evening of service, community connection, and collaboration.
Children & Youth Families – This Sunday!
📅 Sunday, February 1st is First Sunday Social, and the Next Generation Ministry is hosting.
We are still in need of:
Volunteers (we will be teaching during setup time)/and clean up
Families willing to bring goodies
If you’re able to help in any way, please let me know as soon as possible. It would be greatly
appreciated.
Church Center Groups
If you have not been added to the Church Center group, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make sure you’re receiving all updates.
Thank you for your continued support of our ministry.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
With gratitude,
Jessica
Next Generation Ministry
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New Pew Attendance Card
We are using a new attendance card that can be found in the pew pockets. Please let us know you are here by writing in the blanks or using the QR codes on your phone. Use the first QR code if you attend regularly.
Just a head’s up: You may be invited to use our new Church Center mobile app! Please do! It’s great!
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A Morning of Worship and a Table of Community
Sunday, March 1 we’ll gather as one church for worship at 10:00am, then keep the joy going as we head to Asbury Hall at 11:15 for lunch and fellowship.
Thanks to the generosity of our Foundation, a casual lunch will be provided at no charge. Just good food and even better company.
It will be a time to slow down, connect, laugh, and enjoy being together as a church family. Community. Fun. Engagement. Connection. We hope you don’t miss it.
Please contact the church office or sign up online to attend. https://registrations.planningcenteronline.com/signups/3425606
Come for worship, stay for lunch. Leave with a “Panza llena, corazón contento” (full tummy, happy heart).
-Anne Bettis
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Adam Hamilton Event- Save the Date!
First Church and Paradise Valley UMC have partnered to host an evening with Adam Hamilton at Paradise Valley UMC on Thursday, February 5, as he explores the significance of Jesus’ death from his new book, Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Adam’s book will be available to purchase and sign. The event starts at 7:00 pm, but PVUMC is opening its doors at 6:00 pm and we recommend getting there early! (This event will also be livestreamed on Paradise Valley UMC’s website for those who would prefer to watch digitally).
Click here or call our church office to register! (https://firstchurchphoenix.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3414257)
For those attending in person, the address for the event is: 4455 E. Lincoln Dr. Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
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Here’s The Real Good News
“As we look back on 2025, there truly is good news to share about the financial life of our church. We ended the year covering all of our operating expenses with a surplus of $3700. In a time when many churches are facing uncertainty, this is something worth celebrating, It speaks to careful stewardship, faithful leadership, and most of all, the generosity of this congregation.
Unfortunately, we were not able to pay 100% of our apportionments this past year to the United Methodist Desert Southwest Conference. While disappointing, we will put great effort into fulfilling that commitment this year.
A third of our operating expenses were underwritten by our Foundation in 2025. That support has been vital in sustaining ministry, maintaining our church property and ensuring Frist Church continues to be a place of meaningful worship, service to our community and welcoming to anyone.
Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your faithful giving, your trust and your commitment to this community. Every gift, large or small, helps keep our church alive and thriving, allowing us to share God’s love in purposeful ways.
As we move into the new year, we do so with gratitude, hope and confidence in what God is doing among us. That, truly, is the good news.”
-Carrick Sears and Colleen McManus
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To First Church, Love Christine Kyhn
“It is a great honor to join the staff of First Church as permanent organist and Praise Band Pianist. I am excited to work with Joshua, supporting him, the Choir, the Praise Team, and the congregation as we seek to lead First Church in worship. For many years it has been my constant desire to use music within the church to help soften hearts toward God.
Here’s a bit of my background. I received a music degree with a double emphasis in organ and piano performance at California State University East Bay. After graduation I married Peter, he began his seminary training, and together we began a journey of music ministry. He was a Worship Pastor for 40 years and I served alongside as organist, pianist, and children’s (and youth) choir director at several churches throughout the Western U.S.A. Along the way, I also furthered my education to allow me to teach music in both public and private school settings, working with students from 3-years-old to High School. Currently, I work with students at Glendale Community College as accompanist for the choir program, for various music classes, and for private voice students. I also am the principal accompanist for the West Valley Chorale.
My husband, Peter, is now retired and keeps busy playing his trombone in a variety of music groups from the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra to the Desert Brass and Bones Southwest. We have three children. Emily lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two daughters. She teaches private voice at the University in Eau Claire and often is music director for the University musicals. Matt lives here in Phoenix with his family which includes our other three grandchildren (a daughter and two sons). He works in film, usually as a grip or gaffer (in the lighting department). Our youngest, Alex, lives in Los Angeles and works as a professional bass player, often producing and playing in studios as well as touring the world with musical artists.
Music has surrounded our lives for decades. It is a joy to now share this experience and passion with First Church.
Thank you for welcoming me so graciously.”
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Girl Scout Cookies- Available Now!
It’s that time of year again! Our Girl Scout friends will be here the next few weeks selling cookies to support their troop. Their table is set up out on the patio and they’ll be here before and after services on Sundays. Come by and grab a box! (Or two or three. 
) No worries if you swore off cookies as a new year’s resolution- you can also by a box to donate to our church’s food pantry. Thank you, Girl Scouts for bringing us some sweetness!
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Weekday School Exciting News
Our Weekday School would like to share some exciting news. They recently hosted a food drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank and were able to raise 547 pounds of food! Our church is so proud of them for their kindness and care for the local community.
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Pilgrimage to Eternity- Lent Book Study
Our church is offering a lent book study this year centered around the memoir Pilgrimage to Eternity. The group will meet Mondays from 11:oo a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss, reflect, and pray. Please contact the church office to sign up or register online here: (https://registrations.planningcenteronline.com/signups/3396953). This group will not be reading through the book during our meetings, some please come having read the assigned material in advance.
From the bulletin: “This Lent, you are invited to walk a sacred journey of faith and reflection with Pastor David.
Join us for a weekly retreat inspired by A Pilgrimage to Eternity by Timothy Egan, a moving account of his 1,000-mile pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome. Through Egan’s storytelling, we will explore what it means to journey—physically and spiritually—toward God, hope, and renewal. Each week, we will gather to read, reflect, and pray together, allowing this ancient pilgrimage to guide our own Lenten walk. Whether you are seeking deeper faith, quiet reflection, or meaningful community, this pilgrimage is open to all.
This Lent, let us travel together—step by step—toward eternity.”
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Helping Hands Milestone
Our church has a group called Helping Hands that was born out of Central United Methodist Church and was transferred over to First Church after the closure. This faithful group has continued to meet regularly for seven years focusing on their mission: creating heart shaped pillows for cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center. This winter, Helping Hands reached an extraordinary milestone—they have now created and delivered 2,000 pillows to patients in need of comfort and encouragement. We give thanks to God for their dedication, compassion, and ongoing ministry.
If you are interested in knowing more about Helping Hands, please contact Diane Gara Weiner or Deby Campbell.
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New Member Class
If you are interested in officially joining the church, please come by on February 8th at 10:00am for a quick new member class! Pastor David will welcome prospective members, answer any questions you may have, and share expectations of membership. If you plan to attend, please call or email the church office so that we can prepare your new member packet.
Upcoming Blood Drive
www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive code: firstunited).
Finance Committee Monthly Update
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Giving Report
Here is an updated giving report from Carrick Sears. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.
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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 February 1. 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 February 24th. The book for this month is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
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 $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.
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First Church Business Directory Updates
Here is an updated first church business directory.
Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.
You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.
Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.
- Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” 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.
