2/26/23 Bulletin & Order of Service

Welcome & Church Information

8 & 11 am Order of Service

First Sunday in Lent

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

February 26, 2023

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

PRELUDE

"How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place" (from Requiem) by Johannes Brahms

Rick Nay, Organist

(11:00) CHORAL INTROIT

"Thy Word Is A Lamp" by Lloyd Larson

Chancel Choir

WELCOME (Click here to check-in)

Rev. Bob Martin

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Pastor: Happy are those whose sins are forgiven.

People: Happy are those whose sins are cast away.

Pastor: Rejoice in the Lord! Be glad!

People: Sing out! Shout for joy!

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know" Number 163

(11:00) KIDS PRAISE TEAM

"Hallelu, Hallelu"

"Praise Him, Praise Him"

*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

“Nicene Creed” Number 880

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. 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

"Restore My Joy" by Cindy Berry

Chancel Choir

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

"I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary" by William J. Gaither

Kirby Malone -Soloist

*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

“Rock of Ages” Number 361

SERMON

“The Possessed Boy” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Mark 9:14-29 (ESV)

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"My Faith Looks Up to Thee" Number 452

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

"Allegro" (from the 6th Symphony) by Charles Marie Widor

Rick Nay, Organist

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of our

volunteer financial recorders in love and thanks for their dedication in

counting and depositing tithes and offerings every week.

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 a mountaintop experience? These are moments when we experience God in an intense, intimate way. We love mountaintop experiences, don’t we? I can tell you a mountaintop experience I have every year is when I stand alongside Pastor Bob on Christmas Eve at the front of the church and look out at the sea of candles being lifted high. There's just nothing like it. I see Christ's light illuminating the darkness and it is just always a surreal, intense, intimate moment that I have with my Heavenly Father. I physically get goosebumps every year during that moment. I could just stay there forever.

There’s only one problem with those mountaintop experiences: they are not meant to last forever. As Christians, we are called to share and spread Christ’s light to the ends of the earth. We must come down off the mountain eventually, right? Those moments and experiences certainly matter, and Jesus indeed takes us up to the top of those mountains. That’s where He prepares us so that we can walk down the mountain where ministry is really happening, in the valleys.

In Mark 9:14, Peter, James, and John have just finished having their mountaintop experience on the Mountain of Transfiguration. They have just witnessed Jesus’s divinity burst forth through His humanity and they come down off the mountain and walk into a complete mess. It is here that we see miraculous ministry happen. They find the other disciples and religious people arguing with one another and meanwhile, there’s a dad who desperately needs help. His son has been possessed by a demon and is continually being tormented day after day. Jesus chastises the disciples and religious people, the very people who ought to know better, who have probably had a mountaintop experience before. Then, the desperate father asks Jesus if He can do anything, to have compassion and to help. The crucial moment in our Scripture passage happens next in verses 23-24: “And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” This is probably the most honest prayer in all of Scripture. This dad who finds himself in a seemingly hopeless situation comes face-to-face with the Son of God and admits that he has nothing for Jesus except a whole big pile of unbelief and just a little bit of belief. He does not try to negotiate with Jesus, to justify His feelings, this dad simply brings all of it to Jesus and lays it at His feet.

God does not reveal Himself to us so that we can sit and soak it up on the mountaintop and be blessed. Rather, God comes face to face with us so that we can be sent and serve on mission in the valley and so that ultimately, we would come closer to the one that blesses us. St. Pete First, I invite you all during this season of Lent to come face to face with Jesus. To come as you are, with your whole lot of unbelief and your mustard seed of faith. My prayer at the beginning of this Lenten season is that we

would cry out, “God, I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief" and watch God move the very mountains that seem impossible for us to move. Because if the tomb is empty, anything is possible.

— Pastor Marge

Bulletin/Announcements

Wednesday Night Dinner

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

To-Go available by reservation

Menu: Cottage Pie, Salad, Garlic Toast, Espresso Brownie

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

Join us this 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.

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!

February 19: In Person 392 // Online 331

Ash Wednesday: In Person 227 // Online 38

January 2023

Operating Income $245,405

Operating Expense $204,839

Chili Cook-Off — Feb. 26:

Join the Youth TONIGHT (Sunday, Feb 26) for some of the best chili in St. Pete! Bring your taste buds and enjoy the fun, fellowship, and food. See you at 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall! Click here for more info.

New Bible study begins March 1:

Pastor Bob will lead a short study on the Gospel of John beginning Wednesday, March 1 and ending on April 5. All you need to bring is your Bible or Bible app.

Kids Night Out — March 3:

Drop your kids off for a night of FUN on March 3rd from 6-10 pm! At Kid's Night Out, kids will be served pizza and snacks, have ice cream sundaes, play games, watch a movie, sing songs and have an interactive devotion! Open to all children ages nursery - 5th grade. Dinner & snacks are provided. $20 first child, $15 second, $40 for a family of 3 or more. Register at stpetefirst.org/children by Wednesday, March 1st.

VBS & Summer Camp Registration:

Start planning for summer! Registration opens on March 3rd. Visit the children's ministry webpage to register.

Discover SHAPE Workshop — March 5:

The Discover SHAPE Workshop is an opportunity to explore your individual gifts and talents, both to help you find your place at St Pete First United Methodist Church and to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We are meeting on Sunday, March 5, from 10:45 am-1 pm. Lunch & childcare will be provided. Please register by the Tuesday before the workshop (Feb. 28). Click here for more info and to sign up.

Men's Breakfast— March 11:

Join the men of the church for food and fellowship! Special Guest: Rev. Ricardo Welch, Pastor at Prayer Tower Church (south St. Pete) Click here for more info.

Family Promise Training — March 12:

Complete all the training needed for Family Promise in-person on Sunday, March 12, from 12:30-2 pm. A light lunch will be provided. Click here for more info.

Early Response Team Training — March 18:

Want to help with disaster recovery? We are re-forming our Early Response Teams. If you are interested in ERT Training, click here for more information.

Are you looking to have a positive impact on a person’s life?

Become a member of the Street Ministry Team at the Salvation Army Job Center! You will help people find jobs in order to escape being homeless. We serve Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am. Go to www.stpetefirst.org/street-team or contact Hal Heitler (727-448-6291 or heitlerh@tampabay.rr.com) to volunteer.

Join us for Holy Week at St. Pete First!

Click here for more information

Job Openings

Kids & Youth

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2/26/23 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