1/18/26 Bulletin & Order of Service

Welcome to St Pete First United Methodist Church, the Heart of the City! All are welcome. All belong. Whether a first-time guest or a lifelong member, you are a part of our family. God has called you to worship here, and for that we are glad.

Click here to view a welcome message from our senior pastor.

Rev. Bob Martin, Senior Pastor

Rev. Elyse Nielsen, Associate Pastor

Rev. Carey Taylor, Pastor of Community Life

Check-In: Please let us know you're worshipping with us!

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Contact Us Request Prayer About Us Click here to Give

A NOTE FROM PASTOR CAREY    

What makes the difference between a good group of friends and a small group? This Sunday we’ll be exploring one of the elements that is essential to a small group: accountability. Small group relationships are special because they make us better! They connect us with one another, and they bring us ever closer to the people God has created us to be. When we hold one another accountable in love, we help each other on the journey to become more Christlike day after day.

This Sunday we’ll take a deep dive into a biblical example of accountability between friends and reflect on the importance of small group relationships as we grow.

See you Sunday!

— Pastor Carey   

2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM 

January 18, 2026

*Congregational responses are in bold.

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE     

“Meditation Serieuse” by Homer N. Bartlett

Rick Nay, organ

(11:00) CHORAL INTROIT

“Bless the Lord, My Soul and Spirit” by Tom Fettke

Chancel Choir

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Bob Martin

Leader: In spite of our individual inadequacies,

God has called us together to be Christ’s Body,

and each one of us is indispensable. 

People: God re-members us, giving each of us distinct gifts.

Leader: God equips each of us to provide guidance and accountability 

for one another, so that we all may become more faithful followers of Christ. 

People: We are all greater as one Body than any single member of us 

could be on our own. 

All: The life of faith is always better together. Let us worship God! 

*HYMN OF PRAISE

“Wonderful Words of Life”     Hymn # 600

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

*CONGREGATIONAL SONG

“Blest Be the Tie that Binds”     Hymn # 557

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Rev. Elyse Nielsen

“Apostles’ Creed”     # 881

PASTORAL PRAYER/LORD’S PRAYER

(11:00) ANTHEM

"Just As I Am, Lord" arr. Don Besig

Chancel Choir

WORSHIP WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

(Click here to GIVE)

“We Are Many Parts” by Marty Haugen

Ginny Cannon, soloist

Rick Nay, organ

*DOXOLOGY     Hymn # 95

*HYMN OF PREPARATION

“My Tribute”     Hymn # 99

SERMON Rev. Carey Taylor

“‘A’ is for Accountability”     

Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-13 NIV

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

“I Need Thee Every Hour”     Hymn # 397

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE 

“Toccatina” by Franklin Ritter

Rick Nay, organ

The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Vicente Alejandro Munoz Gonzalez from Jordan Bonyata and the Bonyata & Stuckey families.

Our acolytes this week are Marley Robinson & Audrey Cheeseman.

What a blessing to worship together—thank you for joining us today! 

Can’t be here in person? Join us for livestream worship.

Modern Worship—9:30 AM

January 18, 2026

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship

“Anything Is Possible” 

“Good Good Father” 

“What a Beautiful Name”

Passing the Peace of Christ

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

“Reason to Praise” 

Sermon Rev. Carey Taylor

“‘A’ is for Accountability”     

Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-13 NIV

Worship Song

“Graves into Gardens” 

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Vicente Alejandro Munoz Gonzalez from Jordan Bonyata and the Bonyata & Stuckey families.

What a blessing to worship together—thank you for joining us today! 

Can’t be here in person? Join us for livestream worship.

*** Click here for this week's newsletter ***

Spark Session: Sample Small Group Experience

(Sunday, February 1; 9:30am or 11:00am; Fellowship Hall)

Curious about small groups but not ready to commit? Join us for a Spark Session and experience a small group before you ever join one. Enjoy a free small-bite brunch, participate in a sample lesson, and share your input by completing a brief survey about what you want out of a small group. This experiential session is designed to help you discover what small groups are all about in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Register here or call the church office at 727-894-4661.

Black History Month Concert -Afro Opera (Sunday, Feb 1; 4 pm; Sanctuary) St. Pete First and Afro Opera invite you to experience A Message from the Roots, a Black History Month celebration, featuring Afro Opera founder and soprano Maiya Stevenson and tenor Kevin Mitchell. This deeply moving concert will include soul-stirring spirituals, operatic arias, beautiful art songs, and more! This is a free concert, so come feel the music, experience the soul, and be inspired by the beauty of these voices. Founded in St. Petersburg, Afro Opera is dedicated to celebrating diversity in classical music and highlighting the contributions of underrepresented composers and performers.

Offering envelopes for 2026 (for those who requested them) are on the table behind the sanctuary (2nd floor hallway), in alphabetical order by last name.

We’re Hiring! 

Maintenance Specialist, Director of Worship Technology;

Visit www.stpetefirst.org/job-center for more information

Upcoming Events 

JANUARY 2026

Through February 25—Soup-er Bowl of Caring (collecting canned & dried food)

Jan 19—Church office closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan 23-25, 2026—Women’s Retreat (www.stpetefirst.org/womensretreat)

FEBRUARY 2026

Feb 1—Spark Session: Sample Small Group Experience 9:30/11 am (Register here)

————Black History Month Concert -Afro Opera 4 pm

Feb 8—Blood Pressure Clinic 9-11:30 am**;** 1st Floor Nurse's Area

Feb 14—Localtopia 10am - 5 pm (Volunteer here)

Feb 18—Ash Wednesday

————Drive-By Ashes 11:45am – 1:15pm

————Ash Wednesday Worship 6:30 pm

Feb 22—Discover First (www.stpetefirst.org/discoverfirst)

————Chili Cook-Off 6 pm

SUMMER (registration begins in March)

June 15-19—VBS

July 13-17—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 1

——————Elementary Camp Week 1

July 20-24—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 2

——————Elementary Camp Week 2

TAKE ACTION! Help us meet unmet needs and serve others.

Volunteer Help Needed

A little time out of your week can make such a difference! Join us as we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we serve and Love. St. Pete.

Shower Ministry Volunteers

We are in need of additional volunteers for our Street Shower Trailer Ministry. St. Pete First now has our own shower trailer! Beginning Feb. 4, 2026 we will begin offering showers to those in need EVERY WEDNESDAY from 9-11 am. In addition to offering showers every Wednesday, we will continue to offer meals, haircuts, and other services on the 4th Wednesday of each month.Head to our Volunteer page if you feel called to help with this ministry. 



Common Grounds needs you!

Good news! Common Grounds is now an outreach ministry! The expanded vision requires your help. Go to our Common Grounds page [www.stpetefirst.org/commongrounds] for details. Find out more ways you can serve, and contact Chad Simonds at csimonds@stpetefirst.org or 727-667-7169 (or flag him down on Sunday!) when you're ready to volunteer! Let's do this!

Click here to visit our Volunteer Bank & connect with opportunities that interest you

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu ($5 kids, $8 adults, $30 family meal)

Adults: Tuscan Chicken, Rice, Italian Green Beans, Bread, Pie

Kids: Hotdogs & Chips, Celery & Carrots, Apple Sauce, Ice Cream Sandwich 

Last Week's Attendance Numbers

Thank you for joining us for worship. We hope to see you again next week!

Weekly Groups 81

January 11 In Person    526 Online 399  

Groups      200

Church Finances

November 2025 Year to Date

Income $266,548 $3,010,493

Expense $249,729 $2,937,747

JOIN OUR TEAM: Director of Worship Technology (Full-Time) St. Pete First is seeking a creative, collaborative, and mission-driven individual to serve as Director of Worship Technology. This person will lead all aspects of worship production, from audio, video, and lighting to live-streaming and digital worship media. For more information, visit www.stpetefirst.org/job-center

JOIN OUR TEAM: Facility Maintenance Specialist (Part-Time) St. Pete First is seeking a dependable, motivated individual to serve as a part-time Facility Maintenance Specialist. In this essential role, you’ll tackle a wide range of tasks—from general building repairs to troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems—helping support the vibrant ministries and daily life of our church campus. For more information, visit www.stpetefirst.org/job-center

To see our full list of job openings, visit our Job Center: https://www.stpetefirst.org/job-center.

KIDS

SUNDAYS

8:00 am

Infant Lounge/Cry Room Room 204 (Livestreaming available during all services)

9:30 am

Infant Lounge/Cry Room Room 204 (Livestreaming available during all services)

Nursery/Toddlers (Birth - 3 years) Preschool Hall

PRESCHOOL (Age 3 - K) Sunday School - Preschool Hall

ELEMENTARY (1st - 5th Gr) Kids Church - 4th Floor

11:00 am

Infant Lounge/Cry Room Room 204 (Livestreaming available during all services)

Nursery/Toddlers (Birth - 3 years) Preschool Hall

PRESCHOOL (Age 3 - K) Kids Church - Preschool Hall

ELEMENTARY (1st - 5th Gr) Sunday School - 4th Floor

CLUB 56 (5th & 6th Grades) Room 404

WEDNESDAYS      (on break starting 12/17; returns 1/14)

5:00 pm KIDS MUSIC (Age 4-8th Grade) Chapel

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7 pm WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE (Preschool & Elementary) Preschool/4th Floor

6:30-7:30 pm NURSERY (Birth - 3 years) Preschool Hall

YOUTH

SUNDAYS

9:30 am WORSHIP (Look for the youth up front) Sanctuary

10:45 am YOUTH (7th – 12th GRADES) WhereHouse

11:00 am CLUB 56 (5th & 6th Grades) 4th Floor, Room 404

6:00 pm YOUTH (7th – 12th GRADES) WhereHouse  

WEDNESDAYS     (on break starting 12/17; returns 1/14)

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7:30 pm Youth Group WhereHouse

 SUNDAY WORSHIP 

8:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

9:30 am Contemporary Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

11:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

FELLOWSHIP TIME (BETWEEN SERVICES) 

9-11:00 am Common Grounds (Coffee, Food & Fellowship) -Fellowship Hall

9-11:00 am (2nd Sundays) Blood Pressure Clinic -1st Floor Nurse's Area

 ADULTS 

SUNDAYS 

9:30 am QUEST -Zoom & Room 208

      10:45 am PROMISED LAND -Zoom & Room 301

10:45 am THE GAP -Room 101  

11:00 am BECOMERS -Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am DISCIPLE MAKERS -Room 206 (on break: hoping to return soon!)

11:00 am SOJOURNERS -Room 208  

TUESDAYS 

9:00 am Ladies of Light Bible Study -Room 208                          

WEDNESDAYS   

9:30 am WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY—Parables -Room 208 (begins 1/7)

5:30 pm DINNER -Fellowship Hall (returns 1/14)

6:30 pm Pastor Bob’s Revelation Bible Study -Chapel (begins 1/14)

6:30 pm Pastor Elyse’s Discover Faith Study -Room 308 (begins 1/14)

6:30 pm Pastor Carey’s Prayer Study -Room 208 (begins 1/14)

6:30 pm Band of Brothers: Men’s Group & Bible Study -Room 214 (Parlor) (returns 1/14)

THURSDAYS 

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY -Zoom                            

 MUSIC

SUNDAYS 

8:30 am IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Room 214-Parlor & Sanctuary

10:25 am CHANCEL CHOIR -Room 312 

12:10 pm HANDBELLS -Room 310

TUESDAYS 

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Sanctuary

WEDNESDAYS

5:00 pm KIDS MUSIC (Age 4-8th Grade) Chapel

7:30 pm CHANCEL CHOIR -Room 312  

 CARE & SUPPORT

WEDNESDAYS 

12:00 Noon CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP -Zoom

THURSDAYS 

6:30 pm WOMEN'S JOURNEY -Chapel

7:30 pm AL-ANON Parlor -Room 214

 LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETINGS

FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

5:30 pm BOARD OF TRUSTEES -Admin Conference Room

SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 pm STAFF PARISH -Closed Meeting

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 pm FINANCE TEAM -Admin Conference Room

FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 pm CHURCH COUNCIL -Room 208 & Zoom

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm LEARN PILLAR

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm INVITE PILLAR  

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

9:00 am NURTURE PILLAR 

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

5:00 pm SERVE PILLAR