News
Sept 19, 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
“Please Hold” – A Reflection on Waiting with God
Remember when making a phone call meant a real person would actually answer? These days, it seems like every call is greeted with a recorded menu: “Press 1 for English, 2 for order status…” And just when you’re about to talk to someone, you get that familiar phrase: “Would you please hold?” Before you can even respond, the hold music begins, and you’re left waiting—sometimes for what feels like an eternity.
This week, our Sunday message reflects on this all-too-familiar experience of being on hold.
Not just with customer service, but in our lives of prayer and faith. Often, we talk about waiting on God—but sometimes, it’s God who is waiting on us.
We pray, we ask, we plead—and then we wait for a reply. But what if the answer has already been given, and it’s we who need time to recognize it? It’s been said, “Be careful what you ask for—you might just get it.” Or maybe the answer comes in a form we didn’t expect.
This isn’t to say that reaching out to God is a matter of luck or pressing the right number on a divine call menu. It’s more like opening ourselves to the Spirit of God, which moves in ways that allow for endless possibilities. Jewish wisdom suggests that while God knows all possible outcomes, God does not dictate the one we will choose. That choice is ours.
In that light, being “on hold” may not be a delay or a denial—but a sacred pause. A moment of holy waiting. A space in which the Divine is quietly speaking, inviting us to respond—not just with words, but with our lives.
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 Eva Crocker. Eva is a friend of Mary Alice Brown. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.
DEATHS
None
PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Gerry Oliver, Jean Oliver, Bonnie Rheaume, Mary Lou Salyer, Susan Secrest, Buzz and Liv Stevens, Loraine Stewart, Brenda and Jim Unsworth.
OTHER
We request prayers for Sally Hineman, who has been recently hospitalized.
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)
Charles Raines 9/15
Joanne Lynch 9/16
Peggy Wright 9/17
Karen Gajer 9/23
Jean Rupley 9/23
Margaret Scargall 9/23
Barbara K. Johnson 9/24
Jean Oliver 9/25
Stephanie Grainer 9/27
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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 Cathy, our Church Office Manager!
Church Questions
Fun Questions
Spiritual Questions
Religious Trauma Online Course/Book Study
As some of you may know, our own Sammi Burkhart is a published author. Our church will be hosting a free book study and discussion group over Zoom on Wednesday evenings starting October 22nd. This is perfect for anyone who has religious trauma themselves, who has a loved one that has experienced religious trauma, or anyone who does not have religious trauma but is simply interested in learning more about the topic. To RSVP, please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/mJesTo7efP7zNpZm8), call or email the church office or contact Sammi directly to sign up (sammi@firstchurch.church). Books are available for purchase, but if you want to participate and cannot afford/ do not want to buy one, please email Sammi and she’ll send you a PDF of the book you can use instead.
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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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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.
