Sept 5, 2025

News

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

My heart is heavy.

News of yet another shooting—this time at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis during morning Mass—brings a familiar and agonizing ache. A place of peace, of prayer, of community, shattered by violence. We mourn. We pray. We hold heavy hearts. But none of this brings back the lives lost, nor mends the wounds of the injured and traumatized.

There are never simple answers to tragedies like these. Gun control is often a central part of the conversation—and perhaps rightfully so—but even that alone cannot fix what is deeply broken in the human spirit. We need more than legislation. We need compassion. We need attentiveness. We need a new kind of courage—not just to protect, but to understand.

What brings someone to commit such harm? Who are the hurting people around us who feel invisible, unheard, or lost? We must begin to see them. To listen. To reach them before they seek answers in ways that bring sorrow and devastation.

This is not just a political issue. It’s a human one. It’s a spiritual one. And while thoughts and prayers have their place, so does action—thoughtful, united, compassionate action.

May we find the strength to stand together, the grace to hold one another through this grief, and the will to change what we can. For the lives lost. For the lives still with us. For the soul of our communities.

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 Pam Pugh. Pam is the daughter of Susan Sneathen’s cousin. We invite you to stop, tie a knot, and pray for healing, grace and comfort.

DEATHS

None

PRAYERS FOR OUR SPECIAL CARE
Brenda and Jim Unsworth, Elizabeth Vick, Bob Young, Selena Adlerman, Carolyn Allen, Bill Carpenter, Ruth Clark, Mary Anne Cooper, Laura DeNinno.

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)

Jerry Eddy 8/17

Betty Luallin 8/17

Dora Angle 8/19

Vickie Beaver 8/24

Ken Hagin 8/29

Kathy Jackson 8/31

Delora Cornelius 9/4

Julie Fernstrum 9/4

Steve Haehl 9/7

Loretta Jones 9/9

Mike Fox 9/12

Susan Greene 9/12

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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 Collen McManus, our Foundation Board Director!

Church Questions

What initially made you want to serve here at First Church?

I grew up in church and performing music in church. My parents said that God had shared gifts and abilities with me, and it was my responsibility to find as many ways that I can “give” those gifts and abilities back to and through the church. I’ve never forgotten that, and I’ve enjoyed serving in many capacities over my time here at FUMC.

What part of your work here the church is most meaningful to you?

I have enjoyed every role I’ve had for different reasons. As a musician, the music ministry has always touched my heart, and playing/singing music in church is probably one of my deepest forms of prayer, so the music always helps me to feel more spiritually connected. I chaired the Missions Committee several years ago, and I knew very little about their role, so that opportunity opened my eyes and gave me new information on the dynamic things a church can achieve through its missions work. I chaired and served on the Staff Parish Relations Committee for many years, and because my career has been in Human Resources, I felt I could deliver a lot of value in that role. Serving as President of the Foundation Board now, I have learned so much about the Foundation’s work managing the endowment for the future sustainability of the church. It is a large board with significant responsibility, so it has been wonderful to get to know members better and to work with a bigger picture focus and forward-looking perspective. Each role has taught me something important about the power of servant leadership!

Fun Questions

What is your favorite tv show or movie and what do you like about it?

I love period dramas, so I’m a big fan of the Downton Abbey series and movies. The Gilded Age is made by the same creator, Julian Fellowes, so of course, I’m hooked on The Gilded Age!

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?

My family went on an inland passage cruise to Alaska. To see glaciers, whales, black and brown bears, otters and eagles that closely was amazing! We also got to see a Totem Pole that was being carved to be on display at the Smithsonian, and we learned about the many stories Totem Poles share within the cultures of the native peoples in that beautiful part of the world. The weather was amazing, and I will never forget the scent of fresh pine trees when we cruised into the first port in Juneau!

What’s a hobby or passion that most people would be surprised to know that you have?

I LOVE word games. Challenge me to a game of Scrabble, and I’m in! I play the N.Y. Times games nearly every day, though I’m still quite challenged by the Crossword Puzzles of Thursday – Sunday!

Personal Questions

What’s the most impactful piece of advice someone has ever given you?

Live more in the present. In these stressful times, with so many people dealing with challenges, it’s easy to fall down the tunnel of “What if this terrible thing happens?” or “What if that terrible thing happens? Then how will we cope?” My mind can often take me right to the worst possible scenarios or outcomes, which creates even MORE stress. A good friend said that when we spend a lot of our time today focusing on all the potential problems that could happen in the future, we may miss the opportunity to just be present and enjoy and be grateful for what we have today. It’s not always the answer, of course, and I still worry, but this piece of advice has helped me to be much more present in the moment and to enjoy the gift of being able to make memories with family and friends TODAY.

What’s a recent thing that you’ve learned?

I’m learning Notebook LM, an artificial intelligence tool through Google. It is FASCINATING in all that it can do, such as designing a training program or podcast on a topic! Of course, I’m also learning that we can’t simply take what AI produces as factual and truthful, so with this wonderful new tool, I feel a great responsibility to use it in the right way and to ensure I’ve still done my homework!

What do you wish that more people knew or understood about you?

I’m driven a lot by principles — moral, legal, spiritual, and emotional. Sometimes, the principle of an issue REALLY matters. Even if I’m taking an opposing position on something, it’s because I’m trying to do the right thing in the right way, even if it’s not the easy or the popular thing to do or to say. Church leaders make many decisions that could impact our members. Even when my view may be different from others, I hope people understand it’s because I care so much, and I want to make an ethical decision I believe is in the best interests of our church and all the people involved.

Spiritual Questions

What makes you feel closest to God?

So many things! The power of prayer. Playing my flute or singing in the choir. The joy in my heart when one who has struggled now succeeds. The beauty in the smile of a friend when God’s light shines in them. The smell of a new baby’s head when I get to hold them for the first time. The ability to be still, and know that He is God. The love and pride I have for my children and grandchildren . The more I have searched to be closer to God, the more I have taken joy in realizing that God’s presence and gifts are all around us.

What’s your favorite Bible verse or passage and why?

I have many favorites, particularly in the Psalms. It would be hard to pick just one. I have always loved playing and singing Handel’s Messiah, an orchestral and choral work that is filled with many Biblical verses set to beautiful music. Many of those verses are drawn from the Book of Isaiah. The passage that comes to mind today is “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” from Isaiah 40:5

What do you feel like God is teaching you right now?

I feel God is teaching me to have more patience when things are done on His time frame and not mine. I feel He is teaching me to be grateful, even for some of the adversities in life, for they have made me stronger and helped others to see they can also be strong. I believe God is teaching me that life is the most precious of all of His gifts. He has shown me that life is a gift we should deeply cherish, care for, and for which we should be forever grateful.

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Upcoming Eve Circle Meeting

United Women of Faith will resume meetings this month. Eve Circle will be meeting Thursday September 11, at 7pm, in Wesley Lounge. We’ll be doing a service project as well as reconnecting, and making future plans. Newcomers are welcome! – Susan Sneathen

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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:

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

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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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New Sermon Series

Our upcoming sermon series for September will be a journey through the book of Psalms focused around the notion of calling to God. We can’t wait to have you join us.

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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

The Foundation funded an upgrade to our sound system which allows our members to connect their own hearing aids or ear buds to the sound system. Once installed, you can control the volume with your phone and you should have enhanced sound quality for your worship experience. There is a free App to install and a one time setup. If you are interested in trying this system please see the ushers after the service. They have instructions and can help you set up the digital connection.

-Dean Rennell

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Blood Drive Results

Our most recent blood drive was able to save 48 lives! Thank you to all of our amazing donors who participated!

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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

Business Directory July 2025

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 September 7. 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.