Scroll through this page to see what is happening at First Church.

Worship Online

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.

Kids Programs Kick-off, Sunday, August 10!

Afternoon Book Group

The Afternoon Book Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of most months at 1:30 p.m., in Room 116. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26. The book for September is Livewire by Kelly Rippa. We welcome all who love to read and discuss and travel the world through books.

Food Pantry Donations

The shelves of our food assistance pantry are getting bare, and we are in need of the following items: empty grocery bags, cases of bottled water, Vienna sausage, tuna, soups, small jars of jelly and peanut butter (plastic jars), granola bars, individual snacks, saltine crackers, apple sauce, fruit cups, plastic spoons and forks. All cans must be pop top. If you are able to help with any of these items, please drop them off to the church office.

Community Yoga Class

First United Methodist Church is offering two weekly yoga classes to our community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes meet on Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. The cost will be $12 per class or four classes for $40. Please bring your own yoga mat. Email the church office to register for a class and let us know what day you want to come.

Youth Mission Trip 2024

Junior and Senior High Youth

JUNIOR HIGH: Our regular Sunday School program is launching on September 10 with an ice cream truck in the West parking lot at 10 a.m.! Our regular Sunday school program runs from 10 – 11 a.m. in Room 101 where we have fun, connect as a community, and explore the topic “Not your Grandma’s Bible Story”. Our Junior High Program also does an outing once a month on Sunday nights in combination with our Senior High students. The frequency of our Junior High gathering on Sunday nights has changed, but the impact won’t. We would love for you to join us for our first Sunday night event on September 24: Bowling! More details to come! Feel free to reach out to Elise if you have any questions regarding our Junior High program.

SENIOR HIGH: Our regular Sunday School program is launching on September 10 with an ice cream truck in the West parking lot at 10 a.m. Our regular Sunday school program runs from 10 – 11 a.m. in The Den (Room 103) where we have fun, connect as a community, and explore some big and relevant questions. Our Sunday night Youth group program will restart that evening too. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in The Den. This year is going to be filled with some fun, community, and impactful nights. Looking forward to having you there. Feel free to reach out to Elise if you have any questions regarding our Senior High program.

Top 10 Reasons You Should Sing with the Chancel Choir

10. You don’t have to dress up on Sunday morning – the robe hides a lot!
9.  Singing is good for your body – it reduces stress and helps you live a longer, happier life.
8.  You have a guaranteed seat on Christmas Eve and Easter.
7.  Sitting with a group in the chancel every Sunday is excellent practice for jury duty.
6.  The ushers never pass the collection plate through the choir loft.
5.  You say you can sing the melody loudly but can’t read music?  Two words: Soprano Section!
4.  You have an iron-clad excuse to get away from your crabby spouse – at least twice a week.
3.  You can add “I can’t, I have rehearsal” to your arsenal of excuses.
2.  It’s exactly like singing in the shower, except you’re wearing clothes and people are actually listening.
1. The Bible commands it! – Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises! – Psalms 47:6

The Chancel Choir sings during the 11 a.m. traditional worship service. We rehearse each Wednesday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This is a non-auditioned choir that welcomes anyone who loves to sing. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Joshua Elder.

Our Blood Drive Was a Success on Sunday, August 20

Donors scheduled: 20
Donors checked in: 17
No show: 3
Total donors: 15
Deferrals: 1
Total blood products: 17
% to goal = 90%  Great Job!

Thanks to you and the generous donors at First United Methodist up to 51 lives will be saved in our community.

Our next Blood Drive has been confirmed for Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Craft Fair at Crossroads United Methodist Church

I’m writing this thank you note for the Good News because I’d like our members to know the true appreciation and gratitude that I and so many others have for the Quilting Group and our prayer quilt ministry.

The Quilting Group recently provided a beautiful prayer quilt for my son, Brendan Pensis. It meant a lot to Brendan, who grew up and was married at First Church, and to his family. When I have told others who are not members of our church about Brendan’s prayer quilt, they have been touched to hear of this caring and meaningful ministry.

I recently had cause to request another prayer quilt for my sister, Maria Duthie. Maria suffered a broken neck when she was thrown from a horse. She received her prayer quilt last week, and she told me she waited for her husband to get home so they could open it together. Maria shared that it was such a special moment for them. She texted me to say she loves the beautiful colors, and the quilt looks gorgeous on her bed. Maria asked that I let the Quilting Group and everyone at the church know how much it means to her.

Over the many years I have been a member here, I have said countless prayers over these beautiful quilts, not knowing I would ever have the need to request one, let alone two, especially within a month of each other. To our amazing Quilting Group: thank you SO much for all the love, talent and prayers you put into your beautiful prayer quilts! And to everyone who has offered prayers for my son and my sister, I am forever grateful. We feel every one of those prayers as God continues to work his healing powers.

Blessings,
Colleen McManus

Grief Support for Kids, Teens and Grown-Ups

Stepping Stones of Hope will host “One Day at Camp for Kids & Grown-Ups,” a day of healing for adults and families grieving the death loss of a loved one, on Saturday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. This special day will provide an opportunity for adults and children, ages 6-17, with or without their parent(s) or guardian(s), to share with others, the stories of their grief journey and to gain tools to cope, learn, and adapt. Registration fee for the program is $25.00. Partial scholarships are available upon request. For more information, please call Diane Raden, Program Director, at 602.264.7520 or register at www.steppingstonesofhope.org.

Grateful thanks to First Church and the First United Methodist Foundation for their support of this program.

We Need Your Help

Please consider hosting in one of the following ways:

1. Hosts are the friendly face of welcome. Hosts guide and assist visitors and guests, and help everyone feel at home. Hosts pass out bulletins, greet, and pass the offering plate. We are looking to recruit new faces. If you would like to serve as a host, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

2. Church Office help is needed for Sunday mornings for both services. You will be able to listen to the worship service. You might greet people walking through, answer phones, take messages, direct office traffic, receive offerings and donations of all sorts, or make copies for the different classes that meet that morning. If you would like to host in the office, please call the church office or email Cathy Fuentes.

Thank you for giving your time and talents to help your church community!

Electronic Giving

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 card.

1. 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).
2. You will receive a reply with a link to enter your contact and debit card information.
3. After you complete the registration, you will receive a verification text as well as a receipt by email.
4. For future giving, simply send a text message with the amount you wish to give. That’s it!