1/7/24 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 pastors.

Rev. Bob Martin, Senior Pastor

Rev. Margaret Rountree, Associate Pastor

Check-In: Please let us know you're worshipping with us! Click here to check-in.

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Contact Us Request Prayer About Us Click here to Give

Baptism of the Lord

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

January 7, 2024

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

(8:00) Prelude

Gwenn Weston, Piano

(11:00) "Adagio" from Suite Modale, Op. 43 by Flor Peeters

Robert Todd, Guest Organist

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Margaret Rountree

Pastor: Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

People: Let us be glad this day, for life, for breath and for freedom of worship.

Pastor: Blessed are you, who come in the name of the Lord.

People: We come to offer our gifts of praise and gratitude to the King of Creation.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"I Sing the Almighty Power of God" Number 152

*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.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Leader: Christ the Lord invites all to His table who love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

People: Almighty and merciful God, we open our hearts up to you, trusting that your love and goodness is stronger than all of our shortcomings. We have been afraid to trust you, and we have forgotten the assurance of your unending presence. We have sacrificed our convictions, quieted our voices, given in to distractions, and looked out for ourselves above all else. We have thought about giving up when the task before us seems too great. Forgive us for all these things, and help us to be guided by your Spirit and to be filled with the One who gives us life. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Christ died for our sins. He made a full atonement for us. We are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life. Feel that forgiveness in your heart. We are His children. Amen.

(11:00) CHORAL ANTHEM

"Hymn of Promise" by Natalie Sleeth

Chancel Choir

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

(8:00) Offertory

Gwenn Weston, Piano

(11:00) "Andante Tranquillo" from Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock

Robert Todd, Guest Organist

*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

“Take My Life, and Let It Be” Number 399

SERMON

"Would a good God have allowed this to happen to me?" Rev. Bob Martin

Text: Romans 8:18-39 NIV (selectively)

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"There’s Something About That Name" Number 171

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE  

(8:00) Postlude

Gwenn Weston, Piano

(11:00) "Koraal" from Suite Modale, Op. 43 by Flor Peeters

Robert Todd, Guest Organist

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of the Altar Guild from their St. Pete First UMC family.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

Reminder: If you are not feeling well, please take advantage of our livestream worship.

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

January 7, 2024

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship

"At Your Name"

"How He Loves"

Passing the Peace of Christ

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

"God With Us"

Sermon

"Would a good God have allowed this to happen to me?" Rev. Bob Martin

Text: Romans 8:18-39 NIV (selectively)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship Song

“What a Beautiful Name”

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of the Altar Guild from their St. Pete First UMC family.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

Reminder: If you are not feeling well, please take advantage of our livestream worship.

A NOTE FROM PASTOR BOB    

Can you believe it is 2024? When I was a kid the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey came out. HAL was the computerized AI creation and that kind of technology back then really raised a lot of questions. When I saw the movie, I thought, “Man, that is so far into the future!” Well, it’s well beyond 2001 and we embark on a New Year for the 21st century.  The more mature I get in age (nice way of saying getting older) I find there are some questions about life that still need to be answered. Maybe that is true for you?

Have you ever been asked a question you couldn’t answer? What if the person asking the question is you? Unanswered questions bother us. They feel foreign. Some people when asked a question they can’t answer make something up. They think, “If I just make up something that sounds good then maybe I’ll look good.” Others aren’t bashful at all and when asked something they can’t answer they just laugh, shrug their shoulders and say, “I dunno!” I had someone say to me once, “When you need to answer a question and you don’t know how you have two choices, ‘Make it up’ or ‘Look it up!’” Which one are you?

I’m excited about this new series where we will tackle some pretty tough questions. Each week we will address some of the deep thoughts and topics on our mind when it comes to our faith. This would be a great time to invite your friend who has questions about the Christian faith and my hope is, it will begin some pretty important conversations. I can’t say you will agree with my answers on the topics we will address each week but I am hopeful you will keep an open mind. Come, check us out for the next six weeks and see what you think.

— Pastor Bob  

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

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

To-Go available - just walk in and ask for a to-go plate!

Adults: Spanish Bean Soup, Salad, Cornbread, Cranberry Apple Crisp

Kids: Pizza, Carrots & Celery, Ice Cream Sandwich

Click here for Wednesday Night Live information

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!

December 31: In Person 223 // Online 203

Church Finances

November Year to Date

Income $313,645 $2,497,634

Expense $221,665 $2,600,826

Undecorating the Sanctuary (TODAY Sunday 1/7): 

Altar Guild will be taking down the decorations in the Sanctuary today, Sunday, January 7, after the 11:00 service. We will provide food for all helpers, and we are usually done within a couple of hours with enough help. Come for whatever time you can give. Thank you!

New Wednesday Classes & Groups begin THIS WEEK 1/10:

We have a new Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study starting ("Questions God Asks" with Sue Allen), plus SHAPE (explore your spiritual gifts and find your place in the life of the church, with LeighAnne Cheeseman), Band of Brothers men's group, and a Beatitudes Bible study with Pastor Bob. Pastor Margaret's Lenten Bible Study (The Third Day: Living the Resurrection) begins in February.

CLICK HERE to find out more and to sign up for classes.

2024 Giving Envelopes:

If you requested giving envelopes for 2024, they are available outside the Library (2nd floor hallway). Envelope packets are arranged alphabetically by last name.

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 (Birth - 2 years) Room 105

2’s TODDLER Room 104

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 (Birth - 2 years) Room 105

2’s TODDLER Room 104

PRESCHOOL (Age 3 - K) Kids Church Preschool Hall

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

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

WEDNESDAYS (Returns 1/10)

5:00 pm KIDS PRAISE TEAM (Age 4-5th 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) Room 105

YOUTH

SUNDAYS

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

10:45 am CONFIRMATION WhereHouse

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

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

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

WEDNESDAYS (Returns 1/10)

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7:30 pm Youth Group WhereHouse

SUNDAY WORSHIP

8:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

9:30 am Contemporary Service -Sanctuary

11:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

FELLOWSHIP TIME (BETWEEN SERVICES)

9-11:30 am Common Grounds (Coffee, Food & Fellowship) -Fellowship Hall

9-11:30 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 YOUNGISH ADULTS -Room 101

11:00 am BECOMERS -Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am DISCIPLE MAKERS -Library-Room 212

11:00 am SOJOURNERS -Room 208

MONDAYS

11:30 am United Women in Faith FAST Crowd (3rd Mondays) -Location varies

WEDNESDAYS (Returns 1/10)

9:30 am WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY -Room 208 

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6:30 pm BAND OF BROTHERS -Parlor-Rm 214 

6:30 pm PASTOR BOB'S BEATITUDES BIBLE STUDY -Room 308 

6:30 pm DISCOVER SHAPE -Chapel

6:30 pm PASTOR MARGE'S LENTEN BIBLE STUDY -Room 208 (begins 2/7)

THURSDAYS

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY -Zoom

1:00 pm United Women in Faith Abigail/Deborah Circle (3rd Thursdays) -Room 101

MUSIC

SUNDAYS

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

10:15 am CHANCEL CHOIR -Room 312

12:10 pm HANDBELLS -Room 310 returns 1/21

TUESDAYS

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Sanctuary

WEDNESDAYS

5:00 pm KIDS PRAISE TEAM (Age 4-5th Grade) Chapel returns 1/10

7:30 pm CHANCEL CHOIR -Room 312 returns 1/17

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 -Fellowship Hall & Zoom - NO DECEMBER MEETING

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm LEARN PILLAR

SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 pm SERVE PILLAR

6:00 pm INVITE PILLAR

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

2:00 pm NURTURE PILLAR