1/29/23 Bulletin & Order of Service

8 & 11 am Order of Service

Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

January 29, 2023

*Please stand as you are able. Congregational responses are in bold.

PRELUDE

"Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi

Zach Goldman- Pianist

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS (Click here to check-in)

Rev. Bob Martin

A WORD FROM THE GIDEONS

Don Kragh

(11:00) CHORAL INTROIT

"I Was Glad" by Lloyd Larson

Chancel Choir

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,

People: My rock in whom I take refuge,

Pastor: My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

People: We love you, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"Amazing Grace" Number 378

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

*CONGREGATIONAL SONG

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” Number 557

Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love;

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

“Apostles’ Creed” Number 881

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

PASTORAL PRAYER / LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

(11:00) ANTHEM

"Above the Hills of Time" by Carl Strommen

Chancel Choir, Kelly Bonyata-Flute

WORSHIP WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS (Click here to GIVE)

"Pathétique Sonata, 1st Movement" by L. van Beethoven

Zach Goldman- Pianist

*DOXOLOGY Number 95

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*HYMN OF PREPARATION

“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” Number 382

SERMON

“Rule #4 - Laugh at Life” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Genesis 17:15-17 and Genesis 21:5-7 (ESV)

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee" Number 430

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

"March" by George Frederick Handel

Rick Nay, Organist

The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving memory of

Betty Jo Harris from Bob Harris.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

9:30 am Order of Service

Pastor's Note

A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARGE Have you ever had those moments in your life where God has spoken, and you struggle to believe it or to listen to Him fully? I know I have. The best example when this happened was when God called me to become a pastor during my freshman year at the University of Florida. Out of the nearly 8 billion people on this planet, I thought there was no way God chose me to be a pastor. He must have mistaken me for somebody else. I mean, how could I ever become a pastor? Pastors are extroverted and outgoing. I am introverted and shy. Pastors are comfortable doing lots of public speaking and preaching. I am far from comfortable speaking in front of large groups and at that point in my life, I had never preached a single sermon. Pastors talk and talk and talk. I am much more of a listener rather than a talker. Pastors deal with lots of conflict. I am a conflict-avoider. And the excuses went on and on and on. So, long story short, I doubted God and decided to go down my own path, which did not consist of pursuing full-time ordained ministry. Rather, I spent three years believing I was going to go to Physician Assistant school and boy did I put myself through some unnecessary struggles and heartache. Eventually, God spoke to me again at the end of my college career and I turned down PA school to go to seminary instead. I look back on those years I spent taking matters into my own hands and I chuckle at my stubbornness, my doubt, and my poor decisions. All of us, to some extent, have struggled with doubting God. God has called us to do something that is severely out of our comfort zones, and we think it just seems too impossible or too hard. We start to make excuses and take matters into our own hands. Even some of the greatest people of faith in the Bible struggled with trusting God fully, such as Abraham. The reality is that sometimes God brings things into our lives that we just cannot believe for whatever reason. Maybe we think we are not equipped or that we are too old or too young or not smart enough, or literally that God’s call just seems too impossible for us to achieve. His call may seem so far-fetched that we laugh from a place of disbelief, just like Abraham when God promised him a son at age 99 or like me when God first called me to become a pastor. But God always fulfills His promises, and He always equips us to do seemingly impossible things. And when we finally realize this, when we finally start trusting in the God that gave Abraham a son when he was 100 years old and the God who brought His people through the parted Red Sea and the God who released Jonah from the great fish and the God who turned water into wine and the God who raised Lazarus from the dead and yes, even the God who resurrected Jesus Christ from the grave, when we finally trust that God is who He says He is and He always fulfills His promises, the only reaction we are left with is pure joy. Our only reaction is to look back at the times in our lives where we trusted our own circumstances and laugh at all of the dumb stuff we did and the moments we doubted God and just be filled with pure joy knowing that God never gave up on us, even when we gave up on Him. So, St. Pete First, may we be filled with hope and joy, for God has not given up on us. My prayer is that you would learn from Abraham's story and that you would learn from my story as well. My prayer is that you would laugh at life, not from a place of disbelief but from a place of pure joy, for we know that God is who He says He is, and nothing is impossible with Him.

— Pastor Marge

Bulletin/Announcements

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

$5 kids, $8 adults, $30 family of 5

To-Go available by reservation

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Garlic Toast, Pie

Kids: Mini Corndogs, Tater Tots, Celery & Carrots, Fruit Cup, Ice Cream Sandwich

Last Week's Attendance Numbers

Thank you for joining us for worship! These are our attendance numbers for worship from last week. We hope to see you again next week!

January 22: In Person 388 // Online 343 Year to Date Financials as of December 31, 2022

YTD Income $2,630,678

YTD Expenses $2,795,925

Interested in Joining St. Pete First?

If you've ever considered becoming a member of St. Pete First UMC, now is the time! Our next New Member Class is on Sunday February 19th, from 10:45 am to 1 pm. Click here to register.

Parking Lot Paving:

Since the condition of our parking lot is beginning to be a safety concern, we will be repairing and repaving our parking lot over a 2-week period beginning on January 30th. Click here for more information.

Meet Bishop Tom Berlin:

Did you know that we have a new Bishop in the Florida Conference as of January 1st? Bishop Tom Berlin introduces himself to us in this video. The Gulf Central District is holding a Welcome Event for Bishop Berlin on February 13th from 9-11am at The Portico in Tampa (1001 N. Florida Ave.). All Clergy and Laity in the Gulf Central District are welcome to enjoy refreshments and fellowship while getting to know our new Bishop. Bishop Berlin will speak briefly in the middle of this event; the rest of the time will be for conversation.

Ladies Valentine Luncheon:

All ladies are invited to join with United Women in Faith to celebrate Women with a Heart for God on February 14th at 11 am in the Fellowship Hall. Our guest speaker will be Sandy Sauers. Cost for lunch is $10. Please RSVP by February 8th to Cindy Ripley (727) 823-5671 or Nancy Fallis (727) 504-5186. Click here for event info.

Help the Counseling Center Plan!

Help the Counseling Center Plan the FREE Mental Health Awareness Event on May 6, 2023. Topics? Speakers? Exhibitors? We are inviting your suggestions by Sunday, Feb. 12th. Look for the surveys on the Information Tables, in your Sunday School Rooms, and at Wednesday dinner, or click here to complete the survey online. Please place your printed surveys in the decorated box in the Fellowship Hall or bring to the front desk of the Administration Building. This event is also a fundraiser for the William A. Smalling Scholarship Fund to remove financial barriers for clients needing mental health services provided at the Counseling Center.

Calling All Students!

Are you currently attending or bound for college or vocational school? Applications for St. Pete First Scholarships will be accepted beginning February 1st. Completed applications, along with supporting documents, must be delivered to the church office no later than the close of business on Friday, March 31st. All continuing students must re-apply. Click here for more info & application form (revised for 2023).

Wednesday Night Live:

Join us each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall for dinner at 5:30, then stay for the groups and classes for children, youth, and adults. Click here for more info on our adult classes.

Looking for a Volunteer Opportunity in 2023?

Family Promise of Pinellas offers emergency shelter and stabilization/prevention programming for needy families in our County. Learn more about how St Pete First volunteers can partner with this very successful local and national program. If you volunteered in the past, come learn about how they adapted and changed over the past 2 years. Drop by our table in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, February 12, 2023 between 9 & 11 am. Click here for more info and sign-up.

Make a difference in the life of a child:

Our St. Pete First School Partnership ministry supports Melrose Elementary with mentorships, tutoring, fundraisers, teacher support, prayer, and acts of loving kindness. Click here for more info and sign-up.

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1/29/23 Bulletin & Order of Service

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St. Petersburg First United Methodist Church
212 3rd Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727.894.4661

© St. Petersburg First United Methodist Church 2023