s tay c o n n e c t e d at f i r s t c h u r c h . c h u r c h pa g e 1

In thIs Issue:

Jr. High Youth Pancakes PAGE

Scholarship Applications PAGE

Special Choral Event PAGE 4 5 2

Boy Scout Yard Sale PAGE 3

The Weekday School is happy to report another successful annual inspection by the Arizona Department of Health Services! We were the 32nd school to be licensed in the state of Arizona, and now the registration numbers are in the five digits! We love our school’s long history of caring for children in Central Phoenix. It’s exciting to see parents who attended the school as children coming in to add their own child to our growing waitlist!

We’d like to thank Boy Scout Troop 41 for cleaning our garden area and building a shed and compost bin for us. We are so excited to start gardening with our preschoolers this spring!

The Weekday School will begin registration for the 2020 - 2021 school year in late March. If you are interested in enrollment, please call 602.230.0646.

We wish you all a fantastic month!

Weekday School Registration Opens in March

V o l u m e 3 4 , N u m B e r 3 • m A r C H 2 0 2 0

F I r S T u N I T e d m e T H o d I S T C H u r C H o F P H o e N I x

A Note from Pastor DennyDear Friends, The Lenten season is one of the most important seasons of the church year for our spiritual growth as it inevitably leads us to Holy Week and Easter, the crown jewel expression of our faith. The following activities are intended to deepen our spiritual readiness.Ash Wednesday, February 26, 6:15 – 7 p.m. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship, and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation. Pastor’s Lenten Bible Study, Mondays, March 2 - 30, 6:30 - 8 p.m. • Session 1 and 2: We will study the scriptures from leviticus and romans that have been historically used as ruling out same-sex relationships. There will be a brief video of a united methodist scholar’s presentation on the subject. Followed by plenty of time for reflection, small group discussion.

The next three sessions will look at other scriptures that are often misinterpreted/misunderstood. We will use Adam Hamilton’s book, Half Truths to explore these topics:

• Session 3: everything Happens for a reason• Session 4: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves• Session 5: God Won’t Give You more Than You Can Handle

Each of these sessions will include a video presentation from Adam Hamilton and ample opportunity to discuss with each other. It would be helpful if you contacted the church office to indicate your intention to attend. Also, even if you know you aren’t able or inclined to attend all the sessions, you are welcome at any of them.Lenten Devotional This is a traditional time for giving extra attention to our daily spiritual practice. The Lenten devotional booklet is provided by the generosity of the library Committee, as has been their practice. The upper room devotional booklet is also available in the church office. If you don’t have a daily practice of devotion, this would be an appropriate time to explore a new discipline for your spiritual life.

The blessing of Lent be upon us all,Denny Silk, Pastor

pa g e 2

Special Choral Event at First ChurchSeven Last Words of Christ on the Cross

Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m.with the Phoenix Youth Symphony and

First United Methodist Church Concert Choir

s tay c o n n e c t e d at f i r s t c h u r c h . c h u r c h pa g e 3

United Methodist Women are planning for the spring season. Our meetings are focused on topics of interest about women, children, and youth.Our March Meetings: The eve Circle will meet on Thursday, march 12 at 7 p.m. in Wesley lounge on the church campus. Sandy Asendorf will share her Holy Land trip pictures and trip highlights. The rachel Circle will also meet on Thursday, march 12 at 1:30 p.m. in Centennial room. Peggy Ward will share a lenten message. A prayer and self-denial offering will be collected at both Circles.

United Methodist Women News

Boy Scout Yard Sale - Saturday, April 4 Come shop the Boy Scout Troop #41 yard sale and turn somebody else’s stuff into your treasure. All proceeds from the yard sale go back into the troop’s treasury to help fund trips to summer camp and other high adventure activities. Come see what you can find on Saturday, April 4, 6 a.m. - noon in the north parking lot.

Movie, Popcorn and SodaIt’s Free, at an Earlier Time, and a Different Location All adults are invited to attend Enjoy Lunch on Wednesday, march 11. We will meet earlier at 10 a.m. in the chapel for a wonderful movie, The Greatest Showman, which is an entertaining musical story about P.T. Barnum. Then stay for lunch ($6) at noon in Asbury Hall. All we need is your reservation no later than noon on Monday, March 9. Stop by or call the church office at 602.263.5013. let us know if you will attend program/lunch or program only. We hope you will invite your friends for this one!

UMW Green Thumb Gardening Project Can you help the UMW in collecting packets of vegetable seeds for this project? Please bring seed packets/donations to the UMW table on the patio on Sunday mornings or to any umW meetings by April 12. This is a self-help food project for people living in the 19 Appalachian counties of southeast ohio. This project is a part of the Jackson Area Ministries - a church and community UMC ministry serving the unemployed, senior citizens, low income and fixed-income families. This project began in 1979 serving 97 families and by 2019, 2,268 families and 26 community gardens were served. Seeds needed include: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, green/wax beans, herbs, lettuce, melons, peppers, radishes, spinach and greens, squash, pumpkin and turnips.

pa g e 6

UMW Just One Monthly Collection

Each month, the United Methodist Women collect basic items to help families in need. It’s called “Just One.” If each of us would bring just one item, think how much that would be! This month they will be collecting disposable razors and shaving cream. Items may be dropped off at the umW table on the patio or in the church office on Sunday mornings.

SENIOR BIRTHDAYSCelebrating 90 years or more

Howard Griffinmarch 6Maebelle Famulinermarch 31

We Pray for Everyone on Our Prayer Listrobert edwards, edith elwood, maeBelle Famuliner, ruby Gerick, don Gillespie, Howard Griffin, lola Gummere, ray Haire, eleanor Haire, James Hamilton, ethan Nichols, Biff and Fran - mom and dad, my family, Husband Scott, Jane Heidenga, brother Bruce, dr. Pamela davis, Karen Sabatine, Patricia richardson, Gene Probasco, Angie Bottema, merle and Judy mill-er, Cindi Nikolaus, Scott, Charles Porter and family, marcia, Kitty and Gina, ernestine Hammon, ron and Bonnie rheaume, doug dunipace, Nancy Hahn, Judy reagan, Audrey, doggy Cha-Cha, Hannah and Hayley, Chip, maribel Nieves, family of Karl drost, margaret Parkin and family, earth, nation and government, first responders, united States military, James Shroyer, Vickie Johnson, Osias and Desiree Segura-April, First Church, Phoenix

pa g e 4

IN MEMORY OFPeggy AndradeJanuary 28Don VanceFebruary 20

Afternoon Book Group The Big Burn: And The Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan is our selection for March 24. Teddy roosevelt’s pioneering conservation efforts helped turn public opinion permanently in favor of the forests, though it changed the mission of the forest service with consequences felt in the fires of today. Join us in room #116 at 1:30 p.m. whether you’ve read the book or not.

Scholarship Applications Available Online Scholarship applications from the First United Methodist Foundation are now available online from our web site. Applicants will be asked to submit their application using our online form athttps://firstchurch.church/ministries/foundation/. All completed applications must be submitted on or before 4 p.m. on monday, march 16, 2020. Scholarships will be awarded in May.

s tay c o n n e c t e d at f i r s t c h u r c h . c h u r c h pa g e 5

Friendship Club Theater Outing The Friendship Club invites you to see The Drowsy Chaperone, a Broadway stage musical that won five Tony Awards. It is being presented at the ethington memorial Theatre at Grand Canyon university. The matinee performance will be on Sunday, march 22. We will meet in Asbury Hall at 12:15 p.m. where we will have a Subway sandwich lunch. The cost is be $15 which will cover the lunch and the play. What a bargain! on this outing we will have church vans available for about 20 people and the rest will be handled by carpooling to the venue. We will leave the church at 1:15 p.m. to arrive early enough for the 2 p.m. performance. Call Suzanne or Steve Haehl at 623.979.5449 for reservations. The deadline is Thursday, march 5. We are limited to 40 tickets. Send your check to Suzanne Haehl at 5717 W larkspur drive, Glendale, AZ 85304. Checks must be received by Tuesday, march 10. When you call, indicate if you need a ride and/or if you are in a position to take additional attendees in your car. Also, let us know if you want your sandwich to be ham, turkey or beef. If interested, call quickly as the tickets go fast.

Annual Pancake Breakfast - Sunday, April 5 Please join us for the annual Jr. High Youth pancake breakfast in Asbury Hall on Sunday April 5, 8 - 11 a.m. Come enjoy all you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice for $5 per person. The Jr. High Youth will seat you, serve you and clean up after to raise funds for the mission trip this summer in San Diego. Tickets will be available Sunday march 15! You can also get yours at the door on Palm Sunday, April 5. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Where Are They Now? Some of our church folks no longer attend and you might be interested to know about their current circum-stances. Here are just a few names to bring you up to date:• Edith Elwood makes her home in an apartment near her son and family in Green Valley, AZ. • Shirley Myer lives in a memory care group home near union Hills and 38th Street. She loves to be re-

minded of her church home and the great times she and her husband had while they were counselors with YmF and Youth Camping.

• Gladys Shaw, at the age of 107, lives near Indianapolis, IN and her daughter. She was involved with the knitting group at First Church for many of her later years here.

• Gilbert Peterson makes his home in a memory care facility closer to his daughter near Deer Valley and 75th Avenue. When we visit, we like to thank him for all of those years of quietly re-stocking the pew pock-ets. He always smiles.

• Ruby Gerick was a Saturday morning office volunteer for years. Yes, in times past, the bulletins were stuffed and volunteers answered the phone on Saturday mornings! ruby now lives at a group home near Greenway and 57th Avenue.

• Lola Gummere loves to stay informed about First Church and faithfully watches LiveStream. She lives with her daughter in Phoenix. Their living room walls are covered with books.

• Hedy Cunningham took a fall last year. She appreciates the friends who keep in touch and inviting her out is a great thing to do.

• Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Schoen lives with his daughter, son-in-law and a couple of adorable dogs near Cactus and 51st Avenue. The beautiful remodel is almost done at their home.

• Ted Becker made the permanent move back to Illinois to live closer to his family. If you would like to be included in this style of announcement, please contact robin Spencer at 602.263.5013, ext. 1107 to leave your updated information.

STAFF TELEPHONE ExTENSIONSPastor denny Silk 1102Cathy Fuentes 1100Jen Heffington 1108russ morrow 1106robin Spencer 1107Joshua elder 1115

GOOD NEWS AT FIRST CHURCHFirst United Methodist Church5510 North Central AvenuePhoenix, Arizona 85012SUNDAY SERvICES9 a.m. Contemporary Worship10 a.m. Activities for all ages11 a.m. Traditional Worshipchurch office: 602.263.5013weekday school: 602.230.0646web: firstchurch.churchemail: Info@firstchurch.churchfacebook.com/firstumcofphoenixfacebook.com/weekdayschool#FirstChurchPhoenixTwitter: @FirstumCPhoenixInstagram: FirstChurch.Churchlivestream: livestream.com/firstchurch

Submit articles before the15th day of each month toinfo@firstchurch.church.

Online Giving Are you looking for an easy way to make gifts to First Church? Do you want a simple and secure way to make your gifts? There are a few ways you can get started. Visit our website firstchurch.church and click on the “Give online” link at the bottom of the home page. You may also click the direct link to the giving site. You can set up a recurring frequency or give when you want to just by making a “one time gift.” use our Give+ mobile app to give from your cell phone using your checking, savings or debit card bank account. (We do not accept credit cards.) Visit this web link to learn more, https://firstchurch.church/media/. You may also give electronically using your bank’s “bill pay” service. many banks offer this service as a feature with checking accounts.

*All of these methods of giving electronically are safe and secure.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events.March 8: Thank You Luncheon hosted by the Foundation BoardApril 18: New date for the umom Zoo Walk. Tickets are only $5! Get them while they last. register online: www.umom.org/walk

Arizona Tax Credit for the Working Poor The state of Arizona offers tax credit for contributions to some organizations that qualify for certain donations. Wesley Community Center and Justa Center are qualifying organizations. If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact your tax advisor.

5510 North Central AvenuePhoenix, Arizona 85012return Service requested