4/16/23 Bulletin & Order of Service

Welcome to St Pete First United Methodist Church! 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.

Rev. Bob Martin, Senior Pastor

Rev. Margaret Rountree, Associate Pastor

Check-In: Please let us know you're worshipping with us! Click here to check-in.

Watch LIVE // Watch a Recorded Message

Contact Us Request Prayer About Us Click here to Give

Stephen Ministry Sunday

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

April 16, 2023

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

(8:00) "How Great Thou Art" arr. Jerry Ray

Gwenn Weston, Guest Pianist

(11:00) "Chorale on 'Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness'" by Johannes Brahms

Robert Todd-Guest Organist

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Bob Martin

Pastor: My heart is glad!

People: My soul rejoices, and my body rests secure!

Pastor: For you do not abandon me.

People: You give me counsel.

Pastor: You are at my right hand.

People: You show me the path of life.

Pastor: Your presence is sheer joy.

People: You are my God; apart from you, I have no good.

Blessed is your name!

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"Come, Thou Almighty King" Number 61

*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

“Apostles’ Creed” Number 881

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 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

"I'll Sing the Praise of Jesus" by Craig Courtney

Chancel Choir

STEPHEN MINISTRY MOMENT

(8:00) Joan Schottler

(11:00) Gwyn Rake

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

(8:00) "More Precious than Silver" arr. Bernadine Johnson

Gwenn Weston, Guest Pianist

(11:00) "Aria" by Flor Peeters

Robert Todd, Guest Organist

*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

“My Jesus, I Love Thee” Number 172

SERMON

“Just Do It!” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 6:5-13 (ESV)

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"Seek Ye First" Number 405

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

(8:00) "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" arr. Ken Barker

Gwenn Weston, Guest Pianist

(8:00) "Chorale on a Melody of Melchior Vulpius" by Healey Willan

Robert Todd-Guest Organist

The rose is given to the glory of God in love and honor of Avery Ryan Carter, born March 17, 2023, from grandparents Richard & Dina Succow.

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of the new Stephen Ministers from the Stephen Ministry Leaders.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

April 16, 2023

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship

"God‘s Great Dance Floor"

Passing the Peace

Praise & Worship

"Breathe"

Stephen Minister Commissioning

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings (Click here to GIVE)

"Heart of Worship"

SERMON

“Just Do It!” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 6:5-13 (ESV)

Worship Song

“What a Beautiful Name”

Benediction

The rose is given to the glory of God in love and honor of Avery Ryan Carter, born March 17, 2023, from grandparents Richard & Dina Succow.

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of the new Stephen Ministers from the Stephen Ministry Leaders.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARGE When it comes to prayer, a lot of us do not know where to begin or we feel like we aren’t good at praying or we are too distracted or we would rather not dive too deep into our emotions, feelings, and vulnerabilities. Maybe for others of us, we get frustrated saying the same prayer over and over and over again and God just doesn’t seem to be listening to or answering us. Maybe for even others of us, we really just do not even see the point of praying. If God already knows everything, then what good are my prayers? The question we are faced with today is this: how do we pray, especially when we are faced with all of these obstacles?

It turns out Jesus had a thing or two to say about this. In Luke 11 and Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples the Lord’s Prayer and the main point He makes to the disciples is this: prayer is not about repeating rote, memorized things that are meaningless to you and that are not connecting you to your Heavenly Father. Prayer is not that. Rather, the essence of prayer is intimacy. It’s about being in relationship and connected with our living Savior, Jesus Christ. Prayer is not about God granting us every single request and need that we present to Him. Often times, when we pray, it doesn’t so much change our situation but when we pray like Jesus taught us to pray, it for sure changes us in our situation. We pray because we have an alignment issue. We pray, not because God needs information from us but because we need to be realigned with God. We pray so our lives and our stories would ultimately be about Him and His glory. The great theologian C.S. Lewis said this about prayer: “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

— Pastor Marge

Wednesday Night Dinner Menu

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

To-Go available by reservation

Aji Verde Pork, Rice, Roasted Vegetables, Dinner Roll, Dessert

Kids: Hotdogs & Chips, 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!

April 6 (Maundy Thursday): In Person 153

April 7 (Good Friday): In Person 193 // Online 94

April 9 (Easter Sunrise): In Person 152

April 9 (Easter Sunday): In Person 989 // Online 388

February 2023 Financials

Operating Income $194,826

Operating Expenses $344,969

My Year as a Fulbright Scholar in Kenya—Sun. 4/23:

Dr. Jenifer Hartman spent a year as a Visiting Professor at Kenya Methodist University in Meru. She will share her incredible experience of living in a totally different culture on the equator in Africa. Come enjoy this interactive multimedia presentation designed to showcase St Pete First's renewed international ministries.

Hymn Sing—Wed. 4/26:

Join us on Wednesday, April 26 for a Hymn Sing in the Fellowship Hall. The Kids Praise Team will be performing some songs, and then we'll all sing together— request your favorite hymns!

Allocations Funding:

The Allocations/Memorial Committee is accepting applications for charitable funding from the Church's Permanent Fund. Click here and scroll down for more information.

Diaper & Book Drive through 5/5:

April 23rd kicks off our annual Diaper Drive for Cornerstone’s Rosa Valdez Early Learning Center in Tampa. We will be collecting diapers (any brands - sizes 4,5,6) baby wipes, and new or slightly used children’s books. Help us support this amazing organization by dropping off these items in the Fellowship Hall from now until May 5th. You may also contribute by check by contacting Nancy Fallis - 727-504-5186.

Walk for Life—Sat. 5/6:

The 2023 Walk for Life is being held at North Shore Park on May 6, 2023 from 8:00 AM till noon. Check-in starts at 8:00 AM and the WALK begins at 9:00 AM. The walk is an event sponsored by New Life Solutions, a Christ-centered ministry offering women and families FREE support. Questions? Contact Gus Schaefer at 727-823-7435 or John Ullrich at 727-798-8555. See you at the Walk.

Mental Health Event—Sat. 5/6:

Our Counseling Center is sponsoring a FREE mental health awareness and fundraising event on May 6th from 12:30-4 pm. The theme for this year is Forgiveness and Understanding Differences. Click here for more information (speakers, exhibitors, and more).

To see the entire list of job openings, visit our Job Center: https://www.stpetefirst.org/job-center.

Job Opening— Preschool Teachers:

St. Pete First UMC Preschool is looking for vibrant teachers to educate, care for, and inspire the young minds at our preschool. If you are interested in joining our amazing team, please give us a call at (727) 822-8767 or email Alicia at aclements@fumcsp.org

KIDS

SUNDAYS

9:30 AM

Nursery (Birth - 2 years) Room 105

2’s TODDLER Room 104

PRESCHOOL (Age 3 - K) Sunday School Preschool Hall

ELEMENTARY (1st - 5th Gr) Kids Church 4th Floor

11:00 AM

Nursery (Birth - 2 years) Room 105

2’s TODDLER Room 104

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 PRAISE TEAM (Age 4-5th Grade) Chapel

5:30 PM DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE 4th Floor/Preschool Hall

6:30-7:30 PM NURSERY (Birth - 3 years) Room 105

YOUTH

SUNDAYS

9:30 AM WORSHIP (Look for the youth up front) Sanctuary

11:00 AM CLUB 56 (5th & 6th Grades) 4th Floor, Room 404

10:45 AM YOUTH (7th – 12th GRADES) WhereHouse

10:45 AM Confirmation WhereHouse

6:00 PM WH PM (6th – 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

9:30 am Contemporary Service -Sanctuary

11:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

FELLOWSHIP TIME (BETWEEN SERVICES)

9:00 am Common Grounds Fellowship Hall

ADULTS

SUNDAYS

9:30 am QUEST Zoom & Room 208

10:45 am PROMISED LAND Zoom & Room 301

10:45 am YOUNGISH ADULTS Room 101

11:00 am BECOMERS Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am DISCIPLE MAKERS Library-Room 212

11:00 am SOJOURNERS Room 208

MONDAYS

11:30 am United Women in Faith FAST Crowd (3rd Mondays) Location varies

TUESDAYS

1:00 pm United Women in Faith Deborah Circle (2nd Tuesdays) Room 103

WEDNESDAYS

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6:30 pm BAND OF BROTHERS Parlor – Room 214

6:30 pm PASTOR MARGE'S BIBLE STUDY Room 208

THURSDAYS

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY Zoom

2:00 pm United Women in Faith Abigails (4th Thursdays) Room 103

MUSIC

SUNDAYS

10:20 am CHANCEL CHOIR Room 312

12:10 pm HANDBELLS Room 310

WEDNESDAYS

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP PRACTICE Sanctuary

7:30 pm CHANCEL CHOIR PRACTICE 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 Room 101

SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:30 PM STAFF PARISH Closed Meeting

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 PM FINANCE COMMITTEE Admin Conference Room

FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:30 PM CHURCH COUNCIL Fellowship Hall & Zoom