5/12/24 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 pastors.

Rev. Bob Martin, Senior Pastor

Rev. Margaret Rountree, Associate Pastor

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A NOTE FROM PASTOR BOB    

This weekend marks a special day for many. It is Mother’s Day.  Having a day set apart to remember our mothers was a wonderful idea and one that many still honor to this day.  Moms do make a difference in the lives of their children. I can think of so many stories about my mom as I was growing up that keep a huge smile on my face still today.  There was a time I was learning fractions in school. My teacher asked me, “Bobby.  How many do you have in your family?”  I responded, “Six” (I have four brothers).  She went on to say, “If your mom baked a pie what fraction of the pie would you get?”  I responded, “One fifth”.  She looked at me with a worried look and said, “You don’t know your fractions very well, do you?”   I replied, “I know about fractions, and I know about my mother, too. She would say she didn’t want any pie.” 

I was having coffee with a friend not long ago and our conversation progressed into a summary of our lives as children growing up in Florida.  His experience was quite different than mine as he did not know his mother. She had died shortly after he was born.  He went on to share with me how a woman had become a mentor to him later in life. She was kind of like his “surrogate mother.” She cared deeply about him and even though she could never replace his birth mother, she certainly loved him and taught him about life and became a mother to him.  Thank God for women like that!

In Proverbs 31:10-31 there is a wonderful tribute given to women who have gone out of their way to care for others. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so. I love the words that describe the attributes and qualities of women who love and care for so many of us. So, whether your mom is still alive or like my friend you never knew her, take a moment today to give thanks to the good Lord above for the women who have made a difference in your life!  Happy Mother’s Day to all!

— Pastor Bob   

Mother's Day

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

May 12, 2024

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

"To A Wild Rose" by Edward MacDowell

"Clair De Lune" by Claude Debussy

Rick Nay, Organ

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;

People: and all the families of the nations shall worship before the Lord.

Leader: For dominion belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations,

People: the Lord who rules over us and provides for us all. Let us worship God.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above" Hymn # 96

*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.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Leader: Christ the Lord invites all to His table who love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

People: God of all creation and creatures, who in love made an everlasting covenant with us, You sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from You. We have been willful and prideful. Have mercy on us, O God, and forgive us. Return us from the wilderness to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

God loves and forgives us. We are no longer numbered with the wicked, but rather are placed with those whom God has blessed. Be a blessing to all whom you meet, in God’s name. Amen.

(11:00) CHORAL ANTHEM

"Blessed Are You" by Craig Courtney

Chancel Choir

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

"Serenade" by Franz Schubert

Kelly Bonyata-Flute; Rick Nay-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

"Nothing But the Blood" Hymn # 362

SERMON

"A Mother’s Heart" Rev. Bob Martin

Text: Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"Happy the Home When God is There" Hymn # 445

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE  

"When There's Love At Home" arr. Roger C. Wilson

Rick Nay, Organ

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of all mothers and motherly figures.

Thank you for joining us today!

Reminder: If you are not feeling well, please take advantage of our livestream worship.

Mother's Day

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

May 12, 2024

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship Praise Team

"At Your Name"

"Cornerstone"

Passing the Peace of Christ

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

"Reason to Praise"

Sermon

"A Mother’s Heart" Rev. Bob Martin

Text: Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship Song

“Yes and Amen”

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of all mothers and motherly figures.

Thank you for joining us today!

Reminder: If you are not feeling well, please take advantage of our livestream worship.

Volunteer Help Needed

Our Hospitality Team needs volunteers to help serve coffee, donuts, and pastries at Common Grounds on Sunday mornings. Common Grounds is our Sunday morning between-services coffee and fellowship hub in the Fellowship Hall. Two people are needed each hour from 8:30-11:30 to help serve and keep the coffee flowing. Contact Chad at csimonds@fumcsp.org or Click here to go to our Serve form, then select "Hospitality/Kitchen Team."

Wednesday Night Live Dinner & Activities has had another wonderful year. We will take a break for the summer and return on September 4th. Mark your calendars!

Last Week's Attendance Numbers

Thank you for joining us for worship! These are our attendance numbers for last week. We hope to see you again next week!

May 5: In Person 518 Online 333

Church Finances

March 2024 Year to Date

Income $238,189 $803,825

Expense $372,753 $888,580

Would you like to know more about St. Pete First? Join us next Sunday, May 19 from 10:45 to 1pm in the Chapel to hear from long-time church members and our pastors, and to learn all about your church, including how you can become a member. Childcare and lunch provided. Click here to sign up.

Club 56 Roller Skating Celebration with Youth (5/19):

Our 5th graders are moving up to 6th grade and our 6th graders are joining YOUTH! We want to CELEBRATE! We will be having a combined YOUTH/CLUB 56 party at Astro Skate at 5:30. Pizza and drinks are included. Everything is FREE but you need to register - click here to join the fun

Donate to Youth Summer Sports program:

We're starting up a new youth sports program, which will include running, karate, and more, and we need some donations to help us get up and running. Right now we need donations to help us buy some martial arts mats. A used 3-wheeled bike with a back basket has already been donated to support our runners (Thank you!). Donate here.

Pastor Margaret's Ordination (6/8):

We are taking a bus to Lakeland on Saturday, June 8 to support Pastor Margaret as she is ordained at the service of licensing and ordination of the Annual Conference. The service will be at Florida Southern College in Lakeland at 10:30AM.  The bus will pick folks up at St. Pete First and provide round-trip transportation. Cost is $20 per person. Seats are limited!  CLICK HERE TO GET A SEAT ON THE BUS.  Also, on Sunday, June 9, we will celebrate with Pastor Margaret and our church family with a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall after the 11am service.

VBS Volunteers Needed:

It's May and that means VBS is getting close!! We will have a full house, with 120 children during the week! Phew, that’s a lot of kids… Did you know that more than half of those children are from the community and NOT members of St. Pete First? This is one of our largest outreach events of the year and we need your help.

We have many areas to choose from; you can help by setting up ahead of time, helping lead a preschool or elementary group, helping lead music during our opening and closing each day, preparing snacks or crafts – there’s SO many things to do. If you can help, CLICK HERE to volunteer or email Lora Ulrich and she will find a spot for you!! We are also asking for donations to purchase snacks and donate to our service project (backpacks for St. Pete High’s Green Devil’s Pantry)— you can click here to donate to VBS or write a check and designate VBS.

VBS & Summer Camp registration is OPEN:

VBS - June 17-21 (FULL, but you can join the wait list)

Camp Friendship Week 1 - July 8-12

Camp Friendship Week 2 - July 15-19

Elementary Art Adventure Camp - July 8-12 (FULL, but you can join the wait list)

Elementary Slimetopia Camp - July 15-19

Click here to Register.

Save the Date: St Pete First Day at the Rays (8/17):

We are pleased to announce that the 6th Annual St. Pete First United Methodist Church Group Rays game is scheduled with the Arizona Diamondbacks @ Tropicana Field. It will be Saturday, August, 17, 2024; 4:10 p.m. This game is again selected to be the annual Faith Day event whereby Rays players and chaplains are featured in a postgame event giving their testimonies. Lower level tickets are only $40.00 each which includes a special faith-based FREE baseball cap. For more information contact Shirley Bassett, Group Leader, @ 727.310.7044 or sbassettUNI@gmail.com. GO RAYS!

2024 Women's Retreat (10/11-13):

Join us for St. Pete First's bedazzling 2024 Women’s Retreat the weekend of October 11th-13th at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp & Conference Center in Fruitland Park, Florida. Click here for more information or to register online, or come talk to us in the Fellowship Hall between services.

Street Ministry needs 2nd Wednesday Cooks:

Come join a small team of Street Ministry Cooks on the 2nd Wednesday of every month that prepares meals for the homeless in our church kitchen. Volunteer Cooks prepare meals from 4 pm to about 5 pm. Most Cooks only volunteer an hour a month and have had no prior experience in cooking for a large number of people. To learn more about volunteering with Street Ministry, contact Hal Heitler at 727-448-6291 or at heitlerh@tampabay.rr.com.

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 (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

Infant Lounge/Cry Room Room 204 (Livestreaming available during all services)

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 -RETURNING on Sept 4th

5:00 pm KIDS PRAISE TEAM (Age 4-6th 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) 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

6:00 pm YOUTH (7th – 12th GRADES) WhereHouse

WEDNESDAYS -RETURNING on Sept 4th

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)

9-11:30 am Common Grounds (Coffee, Food & Fellowship) -Fellowship Hall

9-11:30 am (2nd Sundays) Blood Pressure Clinic -1st Floor Nurse's Area

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

WEDNESDAYS -RETURNING on Sept 4th

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6:30 pm BAND OF BROTHERS -Parlor-Rm 214 

6:30 pm Adult BIBLE STUDIES - TBA

THURSDAYS

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY -Zoom

1:00 pm United Women in Faith Deborah Circle (4th Thursdays) -Room 101

MUSIC

SUNDAYS

8:30 am IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Room 214-Parlor & Sanctuary

10:15 am CHANCEL CHOIR -Room 312

12:10 pm HANDBELLS -Room 310

TUESDAYS

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Sanctuary

WEDNESDAYS

5:00 pm KIDS PRAISE TEAM (Age 4-6th Grade) Chapel -RETURNING on Sept 4th

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 -Fellowship Hall & Zoom

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm LEARN PILLAR

SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 pm SERVE PILLAR

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm INVITE PILLAR

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

2:00 pm NURTURE PILLAR