News
Sept 12, 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
Transportation has taken on a whole different meaning and perspective over the years.
It’s no longer about hailing a taxicab or a special shuttle van service. Anymore, need a ride?
Pick up your smart phone and request a ride service that allows private citizens to use their own vehicles and courtesy vehicles to get their clients from one location to the next.
Such services include the familiar and trusted names as Uber, Lift, Waymo, and I’m sure there are others in the market. Using an app on your phone you can select the price you want to pay, the size of a vehicle, while also given a picture of your driver along with make of the vehicle and license plate to ensure a safe ride experience. An animated map shows you are far away the driver and about how soon they will arrive.
Upon entering the rideshare vehicle you have an option to notify a loved one through the app for security reasons that you have stepped into a vehicle of a total stranger who in a about so many minutes should deliver to your destination in one piece and for a price. Once delivered to your destination, you have the option to register a tip. Now mind you, signs in the back seat of the car read that tips are encouraged. In addition, feel free to leave a one to five star rating to help in boosting the Yelp review of your driver. You can also add additional comments such as “Drove to fast or erratic.” “Talked too much.” “Plays loud music.” You know, all those consumer comments that we are now invited to express ourselves is to create for a better experience for the next customer.
When traveling to Atlanta for a conference I depended entirely upon ridesharing through Uber. From getting picked up early in the morning from my home to airport drop, to the back and forth from my hotel to the conference site, I depended upon someone else better knowing the local byways better than I as a visitor. Now granted that were times when walking was in order to having DoorDash deliver the evening meal to avoid adding to transportation expenses. But in the day, if someone did the math, would they conclude having a personal vehicle is still necessary? I’d say yes, because there is no way at Oh-Dark-Early I’m putting my eight-year-old into a stranger’s vehicle to send her off to school for the day. Although, there is some appeal to that.
Nevertheless, here are some of the rideshare experiences from recent travels to Atlanta.
Upon arriving in Atlanta and making myself to the ground transport area of the airport, pulling out my trusty smart phone to hail an Uber I hear someone from the curb holler to me, “Get in I got you. I’m an Uber.” The inside of this ride mobile was like stepping into a Time Machine with the smell of a Bob Marley concert.
And then there are the conversations. From the driver frustrated with the traffic to the dad dropping the F bomb about his ADHD adult son.
And the music: rap, Latino, praise music, techno, to no music.
Then there are always the beady eyes looking at you from rear view mirror.
But then, there are the conversations of life.
“What type of work do you do?”
“I’m a pastor here in town for a conference.”
With a driver responding,
“Well I don’t believe in much, but would you pray for me?”
“Of course.”
So a prayer is said for safety, for wages to meet the needs of the day, and good health.
Upon arriving at the destination there is an exchange of “Have a good day.”
All of this is a reminder in a day when suspicion can lead to a distrust of others, there still is that reminder how we are connected in the fabric of humanity.
And what a beautiful tapestry we are a part of.
See you in church as we weave together the grace and goodness of God.
Blessings!
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 Heidi Lewis. Heidi is the daughter Susan Sneathen’s friend. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Yvonne Fischer, Barbara Harvey, Judith Humbert, Barbara K. Johnson, Vickie Johnson, Ronda Klein, Betty Luallin, Terry Lutz, Ray McFarland, and Marge Needham.
PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCHES
Trinity UMC – Phoenix
Trinity UMC – Yuma
Sedona UMC- Sedona
(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)
Jim and Jan Hyde 9/2
Bob and Connie Bailes 9/9
SENIOR MILESTONES (Celebrating 80+ birthdays)
Steve Haehl 9/7
Loretta Jones 9/9
Mike Fox 9/12
Susan Greene 9/12
Charles Raines 9/15
Joanne Lynch 9/16
Peggy Wright 9/17
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Who’s Who?
Welcome to “Who’s Who?” – a temporary reoccurring column where we’ll interview our staff and church leaders so you can get to know them a little better and connect on a deeper level.
This week’s spotlight is Patricia Magyar, our Congregational Care Coordinator!
Church Questions
Fun Questions
Spiritual Questions
First Church Tutors Complete Eight Years of Helping Students Succeed
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received, to serve others…”
— 1 Peter 4:10
First United Methodist Church (FUMC) OASIS Tutors are excited to announce that we have completed Eight successful years of partnership with the Madison School District through the OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program! This nationally acclaimed non-profit organization promotes literacy by helping children in grades K-3 improve their reading, writing, and communication skills.
Mrs. Kim Gullo, Madison OASIS Tutor Facilitator for many years, retired in May of 2025. We hail her for her outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment she exhibited to help all students succeed, as well as her patience and support as she encouraged all tutors to make a difference in a child’s life. We will dearly miss her!
Presently, the Program is being run by Quisha Breiling, Madison School District Director of Community Education. Lizeli Hernandez is now the Volunteer Coordinator.
We begin by extending our heartfelt gratitude to all of our dedicated tutors – your time, talents, and patience have blessed many students and families. Through your faithful service, you continue to embody Christ’s call to serve others.
Lynn Welch is among our loyal volunteers. Now entering her second year in the Program, Lynn has made a significant impact on her student’s growth. She shares her experience below:
“My first-year tutoring experience was both a humbling and inspiring experience. My second-grade student was very shy with an amazing mind. Watching the rise of her confidence throughout the year especially her writing detail, spelling, and expression in her reading and writing was so rewarding. The Oasis program provides the foundation to prepare and personalize weekly sessions. I loved every minute with my student, learned how to adjust for my student’s learning style and am eager to begin a new tutoring year.” – Lynn Welch
As we prepare for the 2025-2026 school year, we are seeking more volunteers to continue this great ministry. If you are interested in the OASIS Tutoring Program, or want to learn more about volunteering at any of the Madison schools, please contact the Church Office at 602-263-5013 or reach out to Marie Morais Garber at 602-448-0419.
Thank you.
In His Service,
Marie Morais Garber
FUMC OASIS Tutor Coordinator
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Weekday School Fundraiser
Do you like pizza? Do you like supporting our church’s Weekday School? Well, you’re in luck, because our Weekday School has a fundraiser coming up at Mod Pizza (7th Ave and Osborne location) on September 16th. Mention to your waiter that you are there for the fundraiser, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Weekday School (and you get some yummy pizza). It’s a win – win!
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First Church Foundation – Did You Know (Final Part)
Mr. J: Wow this has been a very helpful discussion about the First Methodist Foundation history, organization, purpose, and function.
Ms. A: I hope this dialogue has proven helpful in understanding the foundation. Though the foundation has a long and strong tradition, it has only endured with the care of numerous board members, each bringing to the table a variety of abilities and strengths. Given our diversity, we all have a common interest in supporting our purpose of acquiring, holding, managing, and expending our reserves for the benefit of First United Methodist Church.
Mr. J: And during our discussion, I learned that the Foundation provides an excellent method of securing my legacy in our community. You helped me begin to understand how I want to be remembered. I can make current financial gifts to the foundation, I can establish a gift to the foundation in my trust or will, or I can purchase a lifetime annuity that names the foundation as the ultimate beneficiary.
Ms. A: I should add that the strength of the foundation is significantly enhanced by the thoughtful and loving generosity of those who have given, whether during their lifetime of through their trust. Without their foresight, we could not provide the church and community support as we do today.
Mr. J: Okay, tell me again, how do I make a connection to the foundation? *
*If you are wondering the same thing that Mr. J is wondering in this story, please consider talking with your estate planning professional. There are brochures in the church office with more information about First Church’s Foundation, and as always, our foundation board members are always happy to answer any questions you might have.
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Sammi’s Corner
(Heehee sorry about the heading name; I couldn’t resist.) Anyways, Pastor David asked me to share my social media strategy with all of you. How we use different platforms, which tools are features are helpful and which are outdated, and how people can better support our accounts. I was initially going to write it here, but it ended up being basically a mini essay and I don’t wanna make everyone scroll through that to get to the rest of the news if they’re not interested. If you’d like to read it, please click here.
And, of course, feel free to follow us on our social media if you’re not doing so already:
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Spiritual Gifts Assessment
Are you interested in helping serve at our church but don’t know what to do? Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of doing big things for God but never knew where to start? The United Methodist denomination is offering a free spiritual gifts assessment resource that can help you determine what your strengths are and how you can use them to serve God. Click here to take the quiz: https://www.umc.org/en/content/exploring-your-spiritual-gifts.
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Elder Fraud Prevention Presentation
Our church’s Foundation invites you to a seminar on Elder Fraud here at the church. It’s been arranged for a representative from the Arizona Attorney General’s office to present on this important topic at 10:00am November 1st. We will be taking reservations due to space limitations. Please contact the church office at (602) 263-5013 to RSVP. You won’t want to miss this event!
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New Hearing System Update
Blood Drive Results
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New Christmas Decorations Donation Link
As many of you heard on Sunday, our church is raising money for new Christmas decorations for the sanctuary. If you are interested in donating, you can do so using this donation link https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z2EJ/campaign/C-15ZY4 or however you’d typically donate to the church. (Just make sure you indicate the donation is for the Christmas decorations if using other means). Thank you for your generosity in supporting this project, and we can’t wait to see what the sanctuary looks like with the beautiful new decor.
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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 October 5. 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 $40. Email the church office for more information: info@firstchurch.church.
Afternoon Book Group
The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m. in room 116. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 23rd. The book for September is Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson.
Visit our website https://FirstChurch.church and click on the “Give” button at the top of the home page, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this message with your mobile device for a quick and easy link to the giving page. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to by making a one-time gift using your checking or savings bank account.
You may also give electronically using your bank’s bill pay service.
Another way to give electronically is Text-to-Give with your debit or credit card.
- Enter (888) 303-7535 in your cell phone text messaging program and a dollar amount without including a “$” 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.
