News
January 9, 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
Just Keep Walking
Aloka is probably the most famous dog in America right now. Once a stray roaming the streets of India with no home, Aloka’s life took a remarkable turn when he was adopted by a group of venerable Buddhist monks. These monks are doing what they do best—spreading peace and extending blessings to all they meet.
The monks, now walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., are covering nearly 2,300 miles to promote peace along the way. Each night, they stop to rest and are often greeted by local residents who offer food and other necessities for the journey. The Walk for Peace began on October 26 as a simple yet powerful way, as noted in an online article, to promote nonviolence, compassion, and understanding through the act of walking.
Humanity Life, an online source for human-interest stories, writes: “Aloka’s journey is a beautiful reminder that even one small dog can have a huge impact, teaching us about the power of unity and love.”
The name Aloka means “light” or “illumination,” a meaning that beautifully fits the intention and purpose of this journey—to shine a message of hope. This walk is more than a demonstration. It is a way to lift up the human spirit.
In the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the main character, a young shepherd, embarks on a journey in search of wealth and meaning. By the end of the story, he discovers that everything he sought was already within him. Like Aloka and the venerable monks, the story reminds us that peace comes from within rather than from anything material we hope to possess.
The pilgrimage of our lives invites us to engage deeply with the places our steps take us. Along the path, we meet people who share the treasures of their hearts—encouraging us to become better versions of who we are called to be.
As the saying goes, it’s not about what lies on the other side in our search for something better, but about what already lives within us—and within those with whom we journey. May a light shine and show you the way.
Keep on walking!
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 Dennis Pooler. Dennis is the godfather of Sandy Hillegass’ daughter. 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 Brenda Unsworth, who passed on December 29, 2025.
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda
Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz, Ray McFarland, Marge Needham
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 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)
None
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Pat Jones 1/1
Sondra Trasente 1/2
Diane Raden 1/3
Peggy Ward 1/3
Suzanne Haehl 1/9
Doni Cunningham 1/10
Audrey Patterson 1/10
Jerry Harbin 1/12
Marge Needham 1/17
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Read Through the Bible in a Year Challenge
This past Sunday, we announced a New Year’s challenge for our church: Can our congregation read through the Bible together in one year? If you missed that sermon, it’s not too late. We don’t start until Sunday. Contact Sammi Burkhart or the church office to join! Let’s pursue God more deeply in 2026!
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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)
Men’s Monday Meetup- Update
Upcoming Blood Drive
www.donors.vitalant.org (Blood Drive code: firstunited).
Finance Committee Monthly Update
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First Church Business Directory Updates
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.
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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!
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 $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.
Afternoon Book Group
The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in the library. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books. The next meeting is scheduled for January 27. The book for January is The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox.
Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.
You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.
Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.
- Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” 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.
