News
May 23, 2025
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
Giving Beyond First Church
It doesn’t take long for someone new to the United Methodist Church to hear the term “apportionments.” But what exactly does that mean?
In the United Methodist Church, apportionments are a system of giving in which local UM congregations are each assigned a specific amount to contribute. These funds support the denomination’s broader ministries and programs—from global mission work to church administration—allowing us to serve effectively far beyond what any one congregation could do alone.
Through your generous giving, First Church is part of this shared mission. Because of the connectional nature of the United Methodist Church, all UM congregations—locally and globally—help fund ministries that serve others in powerful and far-reaching ways.
What does that look like in practice?
Here are some of the major funds supported through apportionments:
- World Service Fund – Supports global mission work and outreach.
- Episcopal Fund – Supports the bishops and district superintendents in their leadership roles.
- Ministerial Education Fund – Helps educate and train pastors for ministry.
- Black College Fund – Supports historically Black colleges and universities, helping them thrive and grow.
- General Administration Fund – Provides the administrative infrastructure of our denomination.
- Africa University Fund – Supports Africa University in Zimbabwe, a United Methodist institution offering education in healthcare, teaching, and other essential disciplines.
Each of these areas plays a vital role in supporting the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church around the world. When we can meet our apportionment goals, we hinder the work of the larger church. Very much when we are unable to address the day-to-day operational expenses for First Church. But through our connectional system we are a part of something much bigger, extending our impact beyond Phoenix, beyond Arizona, and into communities across the globe.
Yes, “apportionments” may sound like an odd or unfamiliar word, but they represent a vital system of giving—linking our local church to the wider mission of the global church. Your generosity helps make this possible. Thank you for the difference you make in Phoenix, throughout the Desert Southwest Conference, across our country, and around the world. Your generosity impacts the ministry and mission of First Church but also goes beyond to the ministry and mission of the United Methodist denomination. Thank you for contributions and support.
Together, we are making disciples for the transformation of the world.
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
A prayer quilt displayed in the narthex this morning is for Judy Amsden. Judy is a friend of Susan Sneathen. Another prayer quilt displayed in the narthex this morning is for Derrick Sewell. Derrick is our staff member here at First Church. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Laura DeNinno, Yvonne Fischer, Cathy Fuentes, Owen Galardi, Sammi Gutierrez, Barbara Harvey, Judy Humbert, Barbara Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
First UMC – Yuma
Fort Yuma UMC – Yuma
Gila Mountain UMC – Yuma
(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)
John and Vicki Beaver 5/2
Carolyn Cooper 5/13
William and Dana Devine 5/22
Grier and Carolyn Cooper 5/13
William and Dana Devine 5/22
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Frances Sawyers 5/10
Merle Wessel 5/12
Jack Sneathen 5/16
Gael Edwards 5/19
Jean Hamsher 5/21
Bonnie Rheaume 5/22
Gail Reiley 5/26
Jack Smalley 5/26
Janet Ambrose 5/30
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Missions Trip Prayer Calendar Available
This month please grab a prayer calendar from the Narthex or the church office to join our church in praying over our June missions trip group. Our group will be heading to the Navajo Native American reservation in New Mexico to meet felt needs of the people there. The organization leading the trip is called Adventures in Missions. Adventures in Missions has been in operation over 30 years helping to connect groups with mission opportunities and help missions trip participants grow in their faith while serving.
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Remembering Central
This month is the anniversary of the closure of Central United Methodist Church, and we wanted to take a moment to honor the long-standing ministry and impact that church had over the course of 154 years. Central was a special place in our community, as well as to many local individuals. To all of our congregants who have come to call our church home after the closure of Central, we recognize that this may be an emotional and reflective time for you, and we want you to know we are available if you need anyone to talk or pray with. We love each of you so much, and want to support you any way we can.
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Blood Drive
On June 15th, our church will be hosting another blood drive! The Bloodmobile will be in our parking lot from 8:00am to noon for anyone who would like to donate. If you would like a specific time slot, the organization recommends booking an appointment in advance. Visit vitalant.org and use code “firstunited” to make your appointment.
The organization is currently running a drawing for anyone who donates blood between May 23rd and September 7th, you will be entered for a chance to win a 2025 Volkswagen Taos.
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A Requested Update on the Religious Trauma Symposium
We’ve gotten a request for an update on the religious trauma symposium from a few weeks back. It overall went well. We had about 25 people in attendance. We held the initial panel interview and then after that opened it up for a time of audience Q and A, which led to some really wonderful discussions. We had a number of people reach out to various panelists about resources to help them or people they know who are working to heal from religious trauma.
For those interested in the questions asked, here is a link to the script given to Jessica to read from for the panelist interview: https://firstchurch5510-my.sharepoint.com/personal/sammi_firstchurch_church/Documents/Religious%20Trauma%20Symposium%20Outline.pdf
The church looks forward to hosting other types of religious trauma related events in the future, as well as symposiums on other important topics that can help support people who are struggling and need our community’s support.
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First Church Foundation – Did You Know? (Part 2)
Ms. A: That was quite a meeting I just attended.
Mr. J: Was that the First Church Foundation meeting?
Ms. A: It was. We have seven scheduled meetings a year to
stay on top of managing the Foundation’s business.
Mr. J: Only seven times a year? That doesn’t seem like a lot.
Ms. A: Well, throughout the year various committees like the investment, budget, financial development and scholarship committees meet regularly to make sure we are meeting our goals and honoring those who made (and make) the Foundation possible.
Mr. J: How many people are involved?
Ms. A: There is a board of 24 church members plus the chairs of each of the church’s administrative committees and the senior pastor. It’s a large group and an important commitment.
Mr. J: I think I might like to be part of that someday.
Ms. A: We’d love to have you! It’s a great place to serve First Church. Just let any Foundation board member or the pastor know you’re interested.
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Food Pantry Updates
The shelves of our food assistance pantry are in need of the following items: cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, packaged or canned tuna, canned soup, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars please), fruit cups, apple sauce, granola bars, hard or chewable candy. For all canned goods, please provide only pop top cans. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.
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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 June 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.
Young Adult Small Group
This is a small group for anyone in our church 18-40 looking to dive deeper into their faith and connect with other younger people. We meet every Sunday afternoon in room 102 at 3:00pm for a time of community, Bible study, and prayer (and if anyone away at college would like to join in, contact Sammi Burkhart for a Zoom link to participate virtually). Come join us in the book of Romans.
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 $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.
Afternoon Book Group
The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The book for May is The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.
Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.
You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.
Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.
- Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” 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.
