2/22/26 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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A NOTE FROM PASTOR BOB    

Lent begins the intentional focus on self-examination. It is the invitation to look critically at ourselves and to ask important questions that we might otherwise ignore. It's not commonplace to ask ourselves, "Am I living a holy life?" Rather, we prefer to just keep on doing what we are doing and if it seems wrong or "iffy", our hope is no one will see what we are doing. Lent, however, shines a light upon what otherwise may be darkness. Lent is important and its purpose is to realign what is an ordinary life into one that is extraordinary because God is in it.

See you Sunday,

— Pastor Bob   

First Sunday in Lent

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM 

February 22, 2026

*Congregational responses are in bold.

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE     

“Prayer” by W.F. Ambrosia

Rick Nay, piano

Rick Nay, organ (computer sequenced)

(11:00) CHORAL INTROIT

“In the Name of the Lord” by Sandi Helvering

Chancel Choir

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Elyse Nielsen

Leader: O God our deliverer, you led your people of old through the wilderness 

and brought them to the promised land. 

People: Guide now the people of your church that, following our Savior, 

we may walk through the wilderness of this world 

toward the glory of the world to come;

Leader: We praise you, for this is only possible through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. 

Amen.  

*HYMN OF PRAISE

“Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me”     Hymn # 361

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

*CONGREGATIONAL SONG

“Blest Be the Tie that Binds”     Hymn # 557

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Rev. Carey Taylor

“Apostles’ Creed”     # 881

PASTORAL PRAYER/LORD’S PRAYER

(11:00) ANTHEM

“Restore My Joy” by Cindy Berry

Chancel Choir

WORSHIP WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

(Click here to GIVE) 

“Calvary’s Love” by Greg Nelson & Phil McHugh

Gwenn Weston, soloist

Rick Nay, organ

*DOXOLOGY     Hymn # 95

*HYMN OF PREPARATION

“Depth of Mercy”     Hymn # 355

SERMON Rev. Bob Martin

“The Betrayal”     

Text: Matthew 26:14-16 NLT

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

“Freely, Freely”     Hymn # 389

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE 

“Allegro from the 6th Symphony” by Charles-Marie Widor

Rick Nay, organ

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and celebration of Gordon Allen Norton’s 88 wonderful years on his birthday today, from his wife Kay.

Our acolytes this week are Robbie Sherer & Willa Schaefer.

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

February 22, 2026

(Click here to check-in)

Welcome

Passing the Peace of Christ

Kids Praise Team     

“Everlasting Joyful Praise” by Jay Althouse

“Standing in the Need of Prayer” Traditional Spiritual

Praise & Worship

“One Thing Remains” 

“Yes and Amen” 

“Who Else”

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

Sermon Rev. Bob Martin

“The Betrayal”     

Text: Matthew 26:14-16 NLT

Praise & Worship

“Goodness of God” 

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and celebration of Gordon Allen Norton’s 88 wonderful years on his birthday today, from his wife Kay.

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 ***

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).

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.

Lenten Prayer Gathering (Thursdays until Easter; 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.

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.

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.

Upcoming Events 

FEBRUARY 2026

Through 2/22—Soup-er Bowl of Caring (collecting canned & dried food)

Feb 22—Chili Cook-Off 6 pm

MARCH 2026

Mar 1-22—Diaper & Book Drive (collecting diapers, wipes, childrens books)

Mar 1—Blood Drive (Big Red Bus in parking lot) 8-11:30 am (More here)

Mar 8—Spring Forward! Daylight Savings TIme begins.

Mar 15—104th Birthday Celebration-Cheerful Thornhill 12 noon; Fellowship Hall

Mar 18—No Wednesday Night Live/Dinner - 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: Hoover Stew w/Sausage, Roasted Cabbage & Carrots, Cornbread, Applesauce Cake

Kids: Wing Dings & Tater Tots, Celery & Carrots, Apple Sauce, Cookie  

Last Week's Attendance Numbers

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

Weekly Groups 238

February 15 In Person    413 Online 538  

Groups      200

Ash Wednesday. In Person    206 Online 80

Church Finances

December 2025 Year to Date

Income $388,718 $3,397,638

Expense $238,659 $3,175,794

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 - Please let Lora know ahead of time if you need nursery care

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