10/11/26 Bulletin & Order of Service
Welcome & Church Information
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. Elyse Nielsen, Associate Pastor
Rev. Carey Taylor, Pastor of Community Life
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Pastor's Note
A NOTE FROM PASTOR BOB
Rain, Rain…
If you've been wondering whether we were going to build an ark this week, you're not alone.
There's something about several days of gray skies and steady rain that makes us long for sunshine. But it also reminds me that life is made up of all kinds of days—bright ones, cloudy ones, unexpected storms and quiet stretches in between.
We don't always get to choose the weather, and we don't always get to choose the circumstances we face. But we do get to choose where we turn our attention.
This week, I'm trying to notice the good things that are easy to take for granted: a praise report from a friend in the hospital, my little dogs welcoming me home at the end of the day, catching up with a friend over lunch.
Maybe that's a good practice for all of us.
The sun will come out again. In the meantime, God is here.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Bob
8 & 11 am Order of Service
20th Sunday after Pentecost
Classic Worship—8 & 11 AM
October 11, 2026
Prelude
“Invitation” by Leola Walker Rick Nay, organ
“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” (with “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”) arr. Stephen DeCesare Steve Butler, trombone; Rick Nay, organ
(11:00) Choral Introit Chancel Choir
“Thy Word Is a Lamp” by Lloyd Larson
Welcome Rev. Elyse Nielsen
Call to Worship
Pastor: Come, let us worship the God who answers us with wide-open spaces when we feel hemmed in. Worship our God who makes a way where there seems to be no way.
People: When the unmet needs in our community feel overwhelming, we follow You onto unfamiliar paths.
Pastor: We see those in need: those without a safe place to sleep, those who are hungry, those who are poor in spirit. Our hearts ache for their sake and are moved to make a difference.
People: Your people hear the cry of the needy and choose to turn toward their pain— not avert our eyes, not cross to the other side of the road, but stop in our tracks to help, to heal, to serve, and to share.
Pastor: We seek to learn as we lead. Give us ears to hear and hearts to share the Gospel wherever we go.
People: Let us worship our God of enduring love, steadfast care, abiding peace, and living hope. Amen.
Hymn of Praise
“O Worship the King” Hymn #73
Passing the Peace of Christ
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” Hymn #557
Affirmation of Faith
“Apostles’ Creed” #881
Pastoral Prayer / Lord’s Prayer
(11:00) Anthem Chancel Choir
“How Majestic Is Your Name” by Michael W. Smith
Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings
“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban Steve Butler & John Harrison, trombone; Matt Blaine & Mark Frederick, trumpet
Doxology Hymn #95
Hymn of Preparation
“Christ for the World We Sing” Hymn #568
Sermon Rev. Bob Martin
“Holy Discontent”
Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 The Message
Hymn of Dedication
“Forward Through the Ages” Hymn #555
Benediction
Postlude Rick Nay, organ
“Recessional” by Edward H. Wetherhill
The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving honor of Betty Schaefer, for her many years of service to the Children’s Music and Student Ministries, from her St. Pete First church family.
Our acolytes this week are Scarlett Wood & Emma Sherer.
What a blessing to worship together—thank you for joining us today!
Closed Captions: captionkit.com/c/st-pete-first-umc
Worship online: www.stpetefirst.org/live
9:30 am Order of Service
Modern Worship—9:30 AM
October 11, 2026
Praise & Worship
“Only King Forever”
Welcome
Passing the Peace of Christ
Praise & Worship
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
“God Who Moves the Mountains”
Prayer / Lord’s Prayer
Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings
Sermon Rev. Bob Martin
“Holy Discontent”
Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 The Message
Praise & Worship
“God of This City / Great Are You Lord”
Benediction
The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving honor of Betty Schaefer, for her many years of service to the Children’s Music and Student Ministries, from her St. Pete First church family.
What a blessing to worship together—thank you for joining us today!
Closed Captions: captionkit.com/c/st-pete-first-umc
Worship online: www.stpetefirst.org/live
Bulletin/Announcements
*** Click here for this week's newsletter ***
Also this Sunday:
🍂 Small Group Fall Launch Lunch — POSTPONED The Small Group Fall Launch Lunch originally scheduled for Sunday, October 11, has been postponed because Pastor Elyse is not feeling well. We will share a new date as soon as it has been rescheduled. We look forward to gathering soon to help you find your people!
Blood Pressure Clinic (9–11:30 am; 1st Floor Nurse's Area)
Pastor Appreciation Month (Oct 4–23; First-Floor Hallway) — Show our pastors some love! Grab a card (or bring your own) and drop it in the mailboxes for Pastor Bob, Pastor Elyse & Pastor Carey at the end of the first-floor hallway.
Fall Church Work Day (Saturday, Oct 17; 8–11:30 am) Join us for a morning of fellowship and service as we spruce up our campus together! We'll start with a light breakfast at 8 am, then dive into projects from 8:30–11:30 am — inside jobs like cleaning and painting, and outside jobs like landscaping and painting. Please bring buckets, cordless drills, work gloves, shovels, loppers, pruning equipment, and other tools you can share. Many hands make light work — we'd love to have you! 👉 Sign up here or contact the church office at 727-894-4661 or church@stpetefirst.org.
Trunk or Treat (Friday, Oct 23; 6–8 pm) Our family-friendly Trunk or Treat is free and open to the community! Trunk-to-trunk candy, music, bounce houses, free popcorn & cotton candy, face painting, a balloon artist, a petting zoo, an outdoor movie, and preschool-age activities. Food trucks and Kona Ice available for purchase. Family-friendly costumes encouraged — all ages welcome! 👉 More info or volunteer
Annual Church Conference (Sunday, Oct 25; 12:30 pm; Fellowship Hall) The only items on the Church Conference agenda to be voted on are recommendation of 2027 clergy compensation, approval of leaders as recommended by the Lay Leadership Team (Nominations Team), and review of the membership audit. No other items will be discussed at the Church Conference.
Sleeping Mat Making Workshops (every other Tuesday, Oct 13–Jan 19; 6–7 pm; Chapel) Join us to help prepare materials and make sleeping mats out of recycled plastic bags for our unhoused neighbors! These workshops are in preparation for the Service Project at the 2027 Women's Retreat, but everyone is welcome to come learn and help — you don't need to be attending the retreat to join in. Contact the church office at church@stpetefirst.org or 727-894-4661 with questions.
Help Us Fill Our Centennial Time Capsule! (Now through Oct 18; Library, Room 212) As we celebrate 100 years of faith, fellowship, and service, help us preserve a glimpse of who we are in 2026 for generations to come. Bring photos, artwork, letters to the future, and other meaningful items to the Library (Room 212) any Sunday — deadline October 18. Questions? Contact the church office at 727-894-4661 or church@stpetefirst.org.
Blanket & Sleeping Bag Drive (Oct 1–31) Donate new or gently used blankets, sleeping bags, and hoodies to help our unhoused neighbors stay warm this winter through Common Grounds. Drop off outside the Fellowship Hall.
Last Week's Attendance Numbers
Thank you for joining us for worship. We hope to see you again next week!
October 4 In Person 454 Online 527
Groups 197
Upcoming Events (At a Glance)
👉 Click here to subscribe to the Prayer of the Week email
Until Oct 31—Blanket, Sleeping Bag, & Hoodie Drive (bins outside Fellowship Hall)
Until Oct 18—Fill the Centennial Time Capsule (Library, Room 212) → More info
Until Oct 23—Trunk or Treat Candy Collection (outside 1st Floor elevator)
Until Oct 23—Bring your Pastor Appreciation cards/letters (Mailboxes-1st Floor)
OCTOBER
Sundays—Christmas Kids Musical Rehearsals (9:30 am; 4th floor) → Sign up
Oct 11—Blood Pressure Clinic (9-11:30 am; 1st Floor Nurse's Area)
————Small Group Fall Launch Lunch — POSTPONED
Oct 13–Jan 19—Sleeping Mat Making Workshops (every other Tuesday; 6-7 pm; Chapel)
Oct 17—Fall Church Work Day (8–11:30 am) → Sign up
Oct 18—Centennial Time Capsule submission deadline (Library, Room 212)
Oct 23—Trunk or Treat (6-8 pm) → More info or Volunteer
Oct 25—Bloodmobile (8 am-1:30 pm; parking lot)
————Annual Church Conference (12:30 pm; Fellowship Hall)
Oct 25-Nov 8—Angel Tree (Sundays 9-11 am; return gifts by 11/22; Fellowship Hall)
Oct 26—Pipe Screams Organ Concert (7 pm; Sanctuary)
Oct 28, Nov 1 & 8—Sun Catchers on sale ($20; Fellowship Hall)
NOVEMBER
Nov 1—Discover First 10:45 am → More info & sign up
Nov 7—Centennial Car Show (10 am-2 pm; parking lot) → Register your car
Nov 8—Centennial Sunday Worship (9:30 & 11 am; no 8 am service)
Nov 22—Christmas Decorating (12 pm; Sanctuary)
Nov 26—Thanksgiving Dinner (1 pm; Fellowship Hall) → RSVP
JANUARY 2027
Jan 29-31—Women's Retreat—registration now open! → Register
Serve & Get Involved
Fall Church Work Day (Saturday, Oct 17; 8–11:30 am)
Join us for a morning of fellowship and service sprucing up our campus — light breakfast at 8, projects 8:30–11:30 am. We'll have indoor and outdoor projects for all abilities. Many hands make light work! Parents, bring your children and serve as a family — it's a great way to set an early example of serving others.
👉 Sign up here or contact the church office at 727-894-4661 or church@stpetefirst.org.
Trunk or Treat Volunteers & Trunk Hosts (Friday, Oct 23; 6–8 pm) Help us Love St. Pete at Trunk or Treat! Decorate your car and pass out candy as a trunk host, or sign up for a 30-minute shift helping with popcorn, cotton candy, parking, or welcoming guests. We also need a big crew for cleanup from 8–8:30 pm. Candy donations are welcome too — collection bin outside the 1st floor elevator through Oct 23. 👉 Click here to volunteer your car and/or your time or contact the church office at 727-894-4661 or church@stpetefirst.org.
Angel Tree Volunteers Needed (Sundays, Oct 25 – Nov 8; return gifts by Nov 22) We're once again partnering with the Salvation Army to provide gifts for local families in need. Angels will be available for "adoption" in the Fellowship Hall on Sundays, Oct 25 – Nov 8, 9–11 am, and we need volunteers to help make this happen! We need Angel Tree workers for 1-hour shifts between 9 and 11 am on Sundays, Oct 25, Nov 1, 8, 15 & 22. To volunteer, contact the church office at 727-894-4661 or church@stpetefirst.org.
Office Volunteers Needed (Wednesday mornings, 9 am–1 pm; morning or afternoon substitutes) Duties include answering the door and phones, light filing, and helping staff with simple tasks. Contact the church office at church@stpetefirst.org or 727-894-4661.
👉 Explore more opportunities → Volunteer Page
Wednesday Night Live
— Dinner ($6 kids, $10 adults, $35 family meal)
Adults: French Onion Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Succotash, Dinner Roll, Pumpkin Cranberry Cobbler
Kids: Pizza, Celery & Carrots, Fruit Cup, Cookie
Kids Music 5 pm
Dinner 5:30 pm ($6 kids, $10 adults, $35 family meal)
Kids/Students 6 pm
Adults 6:30 pm
Adult Chancel Choir 7:30 pm
Job Openings
To see our full list of job openings, visit our Job Center: https://www.stpetefirst.org/job-center.
Kids & Students
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 - 2 years) Preschool Hall
Preschool (Age 3 - K) Sunday School - Preschool Hall
Elementary (1st - 5th Grade) Kids Church - 4th Floor
Christmas Musical Rehearsal (1st-8th Grade) - 4th Floor
11:00 am
Infant Lounge/Cry Room Room 204 (Livestreaming available during all services)
Nursery/Toddlers (Birth - 2 years) Preschool Hall
Preschool (Age 3 - K) Kids Church - Preschool Hall
Elementary (1st - 4th Grade) Sunday School - 4th Floor
Club 56 (5th & 6th Grades) Room 404
WEDNESDAYS
5:00 pm Kids Praise Team 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 - Please let Lora know ahead of time if you need nursery care
STUDENTS
SUNDAYS
9:30 am Modern Worship (Look for the youth up front) Sanctuary
10:45 am Students (7th – 12th Grades) 3rd Floor
11:00 am Club 56 (5th & 6th Grades) 4th Floor, Room 404
6:00 pm Students PM (6th – 12th Grades) 3rd Floor, 4th Sundays
WEDNESDAYS
5:30 pm Dinner Fellowship Hall
6-7:30 pm WNL Student Group - 3rd Floor
Weekly & Monthly Events
SUNDAY WORSHIP
8:00 am Classic Worship -Sanctuary
Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel
9:30 am Modern Worship -Sanctuary
Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel
11:00 am Classic Worship -Sanctuary
Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel
FELLOWSHIP TIME (BETWEEN SERVICES)
9-11:00 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 -Online & Room 208
10:30 am Prayer Gathering -Library-Room 212
11:00 am Becomers -Online & Room 206
11:00 am The Gap - Room 101
11:00 am Promised Land -Online & Room 212 (Library)
11:00 am Sojourners -Room 208
MONDAY–THURSDAY
Time/Location Varies School Partners & Food Pantry Teams
MONDAYS
9:30-11:30 am Computer Center Ministry -One-Stop
10:30 am Bag Lunch Ministry -Christ UMC
4:00 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Cooking (1st, 4th & 5th Mondays)
6:30-8 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Serving (1st, 4th & 5th Mondays)
TUESDAYS
7:00-11:30 am Shower Ministry -Parking Lot
9:00 am Ladies of Light Bible Study -Room 208
9:30-11:30 am Computer Center Ministry -One-Stop
10:30 am Bag Lunch Ministry -Christ UMC
11:00 am United Women in Faith -Room 101
4:00 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Cooking (1st & 2nd Tuesdays)
6:00 pm Bible Art Journaling (1st Tuesdays) -3rd Floor
6-7 pm Sleeping Mat Making Workshops -Chapel (every other Tuesday, Oct 13–Jan 19)
6:30-8 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Serving (1st & 2nd Tuesdays)
WEDNESDAYS
7:00-11:30 am Shower Ministry -Parking Lot
9:00-11:30 am Unhoused Outreach: Born to Serve (4th Wednesday)
9:30-11:30 am Computer Center Ministry -One-Stop
4:00 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Cooking (2nd Wednesday)
5:30 pm Dinner -Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm 7 Major World Religions -Chapel
6:30 pm Band of Brothers: Men’s Group & Bible Study -Room 214 (Parlor)
6:30 pm Compelling Couples of the Bible -Room 208
6:30 pm The Gift of Empathy -Room 206
6:30 pm The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully -Room 101
6:30-8 pm St. Vincent de Paul Dinner: Serving (2nd Wednesday)
7:30 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal -Room 312
THURSDAYS
7:30 am Thursday Men’s Study -Online
9:30-11:30 am Computer Center Ministry -One-Stop
11:00 am Hot Lunch Ministry -Christ UMC
MUSIC
SUNDAYS
8:45 am Praise Team -Room 214-Parlor & Sanctuary
10:15 am Chancel Choir -Room 312
12:10 pm Handbells -Room 310
TUESDAYS
6:30 pm Praise Team -Sanctuary
WEDNESDAYS
7:30 pm Chancel Choir -Room 312
CARE & SUPPORT
WEDNESDAYS
12:00 Noon Caregiver Support Group -Online
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 & Online
THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
11:00 am Nurture Pillar
12:00 pm Invite Pillar
THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
10:30 am Learn Pillar
THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH
4:00 pm Serve Pillar
