3/19/23 Bulletin & Order of Service

Welcome & Church Information

8 & 11 am Order of Service

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

March 19, 2023

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

"Hear Me, O Lord" (from The Seven Last Words of Christ) by Theodore Dubois

Rick Nay, Organist

(11:00) CHORAL INTROIT

"Praise the Lord in His Holy Temple" by Charles Yannerella

Chancel Choir

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Bob Martin

Pastor: The Lord is our shepherd; we will have all that we need; we are released from fear.

People: The Shepherd guides us in fruitful living, giving us healing and pardon.

Pastor: Even though difficulties and dangers may lie ahead, we do not need to fear.

People: God’s love and strength are as a rod and staff for us.

Pastor: God will give us abundantly from God’s own love.

People: Surely God's goodness and mercy will be with us all of our days, and we will dwell in God’s loving care forevermore.

*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.

*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.

(11:00) SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

Cora Gianna Fusco

Parents: David and Davina Passeri

Grandparents: David and Lisa Passeri; Anthony and Angela Fusco

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

"Lamb of God" arr. Craig Courtney

Chancel Choir

Kelly Bonyata, Flute

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

"How Firm a Foundation" arr. Lani Smith

Alexander Engelen, Piano

Rick Nay, Organ

*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

“O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” Number 480

SERMON

“The Soldiers Who Mock” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Mark 15:16-20 (ESV)

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"I Stand Amazed in the Presence" Number 371

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" arr. Tom Birchwood

Rick Nay, Organist

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of one-year-old Tyler Cavill who will be baptized in April, from his parents.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

9:30 am Order of Service

Pastor's Note

A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARGE Have you ever gone along with the crowd even though you knew it was wrong? The example that immediately comes to my mind is the Holocaust. How in the world could thousands and thousands of people just let 6 million Jews die at the hands of the Nazis? How could people simply sit back and watch millions of people die simply for being Jewish? Most of us dislike being excluded from communities, social events, and so forth. Exclusion can be the result of “standing out” in a sea of people. To avoid being the odd one out, many of us go along with the behavior or ideas of a group we find ourselves in, even if we know morally that those ideas or behaviors are so very wrong.

This morning, we find ourselves in the Gospel of Mark in the most tragic example of what can happen when we just go along with the rest of the crowd. In this fourth week of our sermon series, “Face to Face with Jesus,” we will not only encounter the soldiers who scourged and mocked Jesus, but we will also come face to face with the 600 other soldiers who watched the King of Kings be brutally beaten and mocked and did absolutely nothing. I am reminded of something German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Standing up for Jesus when no one else will is never easy. In fact, for some of us, it might be quite costly to do so. We must be extremely careful when it comes to fear, friends. I've said this before and I'll say it again: the opposite of faith is not doubt, the opposite of faith is fear. The Bible says without faith, it is impossible to please God and I think here's why: because fear always paralyzes. Fear causes you to curl into a ball and do nothing, just like the crowd in Mark 15, but faith always produces action. This does not mean if you are a Christian that you are not sacred of stuff. But even in being scared by faith you move forward because you know God is in charge. So, you can be scared. Just do not be afraid. Don't be paralyzed but by faith step out of the boat. By faith, be that one person in a sea of people that takes a stand for God when no one else will.

My prayer is that we do not jump on the bandwagon that is this world and remain quiet and/or indifferent about our Risen Savior. Be prepared and ready to defend and share the faith, even when everyone else isn't, even when everyone else is opposed to this God/man named Jesus. May we not be ashamed of Jesus, but rather may we shout from the mountaintops, the name that is above every name, the beautiful name of Jesus Christ, our King of Kings, the Savior of the world, and the One who paid it all for our sake.

— Pastor Marge

Bulletin/Announcements

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

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

To-Go available by reservation

Fried Chicken, Mac n' Cheese, Collard Greens, Cornbread, Pie

Kids: Wing Dings, Tater Tots, Celery & Carrots, Fruit Cup, Ice Cream Sandwich

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!

March 12: In Person 332 // Online 300

Free Community Easter Gathering — April 1:

Join us for a FREE Community Easter Gathering from 4-6 PM at Spa Beach (at the St. Pete Pier) on Saturday, April 1. Food and fun for all ages! Enter to win free give-aways! We will have bounce houses, games, face painting, a balloon artist, plus a special time of baptisms and baptism remembrances in the Bay. Invite your friends and neighbors!

CLICK HERE if you are Interested in being baptized (1st time or baptism remembrance). CLICK HERE to volunteer to help with this outreach event.

VBS & Summer Camp Registration:

Our VBS and Summer Camp registrations are open! Please be sure to forward deposit/payment within 10 days to hold your spot for all camps! Visit the children's ministry webpage for forms and to register.

Scholarship Applications due March 31:

Are you currently attending or bound for college or vocational school? Completed applications for St. Pete First Scholarships, along with supporting documents, must be delivered to the church office no later than the close of business on Friday, March 31st. All continuing students must re-apply. Click here for more info & application form (revised for 2023).

Join us for Holy Week at St. Pete First!

Click here for more information

Maundy Thursday Experience—April 6:

Immerse yourself in the Easter story.

Join us for the Way of the Cross on Maundy Thursday, April 6, in the Chapel. This is a self-paced (approx. 30 minute) experience, including communion, that is open to all children, youth, and adults. Begin anytime between 6:30 & 8:00 pm. All are welcome to join us! Click here for more information.

Altar Flower Dates Available in 2023

The Altar Guild is accepting requests for placing flowers on the altar for a future Sunday. If you would like to request a date for an arrangement in honor or memory of a loved one, please call 727.894.4661. The cost is $50.00.

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3/19/23 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