2/18/26 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

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Ash Wednesday Worship

6:30 PM

February 18, 2026

*Congregational responses are in bold.

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Prelude     

“O Jesus, I Have Promised / I Need Thee Every Hour” by Lloyd Larson 

Rick Nay, organ

Welcome and Introduction Rev. Elyse Nielsen

*Praise & Worship

“Beautiful Things” 

Prayer of Release

Leader: Holy God, we are grateful for Your presence,

and we rest in the promise of Your grace.

People: We come to You as we are.

Leader: Our minds and our spirits are restless.

Our attention is tugged away from You.

People: Draw us back, O God.

Leader: Let us unclench our hands and release these things. 

We release all that we have done recently—whether for good or for ill.

People: We release it to You.

Leader: We release all that we feel we should have done today, but did not do.

People: We release it to You.

Leader: We release our fear, anxiety, impatience, pride, and shame. 

Everything that pulls us away from You, O God, we release.

People: We place it in Your care.

Leader: Fill us now with the joy and the peace of Your deep, abiding presence.

People: Make us whole in You.

Leader: We offer all of ourselves to You, our One God—

Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn

“What Wondrous Love Is This”     Hymn # 292

Scripture Reading Charmaine Smith-Campbell

Joel 2:12-18 ESV

Prayer of Confession Rev. Carey Taylor

God of Compassion, we turn toward You now. We rend our hearts. Forgive our pride and forgive our insecurities. Forgive our self-absorption and our self-destruction. Forgive our doubts and our certainties. Forgive our longing for attention and our desire to hide. Forgive each step we take away from You.

Create in us clean hearts, O God. And renew right spirits within us. Do not cast us away from Your presence. Do not take Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of our salvation, and grant willing spirits to sustain us. Amen.

Words of Assurance

God says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! Know that in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. May the peace of Christ be with us. Amen.

Anthem of Forgiveness

“Restoration” by Heather Sorenson

Chancel Choir

Scripture Reading Janet Stringfellow

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ESV

Reflection Rev. Bob Martin

“What Did You Expect?”     

Text: Genesis 3:19; Matthew 6:1 NLT

Imposition of Ashes

*Praise & Worship

“The Blessing” 

Benediction

Postlude 

“When He Shall Come” by Almeda J. Pearce

Rick Nay, organ

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 ***

Lenten Prayer Gathering (Thursdays beginning 2/19; 12-1 pm; Parlor-Room 214) Join us for a Lenten Prayer Gathering every Thursday in Lent, beginning February 19th. We will meet Thursdays in the Parlor from 12:00-1:00 pm to pray, reflect, and connect during the Lenten season. There will be time for guided prayer, small group prayer, and quiet reflection. We will pray for our congregation, our church, and our world.

Discover First (Sunday, Feb 22; 10:45am-1pm; www.stpetefirst.org/discoverfirst) Learn about our church and its mission, vision, and ministries, talk with our pastors, and find out how to become a member! Lunch & childcare will be provided. So that we can order food, please register by the Tuesday prior to the class. Click here to sign up & for more info

Chili Cook-Off (Sunday, Feb 22; 6 pm; Fellowship Hall) It's that time again! Start practicing your best recipes and get ready to cook on Sunday Feb. 22. Prizes for chili, corn bread, guacamole, queso, salsa, decor, & costumes. Click here for more info (and to sign your entries up).

Blood Drive (Sunday, March 1; 8-11:30 am; Big Red Bus in parking lot)

Every person has the power to save a life. Donating blood only takes a little of your time, and it can mean a lifetime for patients in need. You can drop in to donate or click here to schedule your donation. All donors will receive a St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt and a $20 eGift Card. See www.oneblood.org for more info on blood donation.

Ready to Join a Small Group?

Fill out our brief survey to let us know what you’d like from a small group, and we’ll get you connected.

New Member Mentoring Program

Being new to a large church—and new social settings—can feel daunting. Doing it with a friend makes all the difference. Through our New Member Mentoring Program, you can become more meaningfully connected through service, learning, and fellowship. Each new member is paired with a mentor who meets with them three times during their first month of membership:

Meet & Greet – An informal first meeting focused on building connection and relationship.

Spiritual Gifts Conversation – A follow-up meeting to discuss the spiritual gifts inventory the new member completes independently.

Shared Experience – The mentor accompanies the new member to a church class, service opportunity, or social event (outside of Sunday morning worship).

Maybe you know the church well, and God is calling you to be a mentor—a friend—to someone new. If that’s you, sign up today to walk alongside a new member and help them connect with one of our ministries.Are you a recent member who would like to be paired with a mentor? Click here.

Soup-er Bowl of Caring (through February 22) 

Celebrate our Centennial by honoring the spirit of the 1930s and 1940s! Canned and dried goods sustained families through the Great Depression and World War II, representing perseverance and community care. Join us as we empower our youth to make a lasting impact by collecting 3 tons of canned and dried goods for the St. Pete Free Clinic this year. Blue collection bins are in the Fellowship Hall & WhereHouse. Together, we can turn compassion into action and serve our community in a meaningful way.

Calling All Students! Scholarships (apply Feb 1-Mar 31):   Are you a church member who is 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 Tuesday, March 31. All continuing students must re-apply. Click here for more info & application form.

We’re Hiring! 

Maintenance Specialist, Director of Worship Technology;

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

Upcoming Events 

FEBRUARY 2026

Through Feb 22—Soup-er Bowl of Caring (collecting canned & dried food)

Feb 19—Lenten Prayer Gathering begins: Thursdays 12-1 pm

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

————Chili Cook-Off 6 pm

MARCH 2026

Mar 18—No Wednesday Night Live - Spring Break

Mar 28—Spring Picnic 4-6 pm

Mar 29—Palm Sunday

Mar 31—Scholarship Deadline

APRIL 2026

Apr 2—Maundy Thursday Worship 7 pm

Apr 3—Good Friday Worship 7 pm

Apr 5—Easter Sunday

Apr 6—Church office closed - Easter Monday

SUMMER (registration begins March 8)

June 15-19—VBS

July 13-17—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 1

——————Elementary Camp: Creator’s Workshop (Music/Theatre/Dance)

July 20-24—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 2

——————Elementary Art Camp

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.

Volunteers Needed – School Food Pantry Team! Help support local students and families through our School Food Pantry ministry. We’re seeking volunteers to assist with Pantry Prep on Thursdays (1–2 hours stocking canned goods and packing produce — no heavy lifting required) and with Family Distribution (1–2 hours weekly or biweekly, depending on school). Training is provided. If you’re interested in serving in this meaningful ministry, we’d love to hear from you! Click here to visit our Volunteer Page or email church@stpetefirst.org to volunteer.

Volunteer to Cook or Serve with the Street Ministry. Caring for the poor and helping those in need supports our church mission to “Love St. Pete.” The Street Ministry program partners with St. Vincent de Paul, the largest provider of homeless outreach activities in the state of Florida, to cook and serve meals to our neighbors in St. Petersburg. The Street Ministry provides meals five nights per month, but most volunteers participate in only one night of service each month. The time commitment is approximately one hour whether you volunteer to join a cook team or a serve team. Click here to visit our Volunteer Page or email church@stpetefirst.org to volunteer.

Office Volunteer Needed (Wednesday afternoons 1-5 pm) We’re looking for a friendly face to serve as our Office Volunteer on Wednesdays from 1-5 pm. Duties include answering door and phones, light filing, and assisting staff with simple tasks. If you’re available and willing to help, please contact the church: church@stpetefirst.org or 727-894-4661. 

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: Chicken Pot Pie, Salad, Bread Pudding 

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 545

February 1 In Person    476 Online 458  

Groups      168

Church Finances

December 2025 Year to Date

Income $388,718 $3,397,638

Expense $238,659 $3,175,794

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      

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    

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

      11:00 am BECOMERS -Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am THE GAP -Room 101  

11:00 am PROMISED LAND -Zoom & Room 206

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

5:30 pm DINNER -Fellowship Hall

6:30 pm Pastor Bob’s Revelation Bible Study -Chapel

6:30 pm Pastor Elyse’s Discover Faith Study -Room 101

6:30 pm Pastor Carey’s Prayer Study -Room 208

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

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 TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

9:30 am NURTURE PILLAR 

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

4:00 pm SERVE PILLAR