7/2/23 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

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

July 2, 2023

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

"My Country, 'Tis Of Thee" by Lani Smith

Rick Nay, Organ

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God’s greatness is wondrous to behold.

People: Everywhere we look, we can see the imprint of God.

Leader: From the loftiest mountains to the crashing waters of the sea,

People: There God’s greatness stands majestically.

Leader: God’s greatness can be within the human heart.

People: Let us honor and praise God with acts of loving kindness and compassion.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"God of the Ages" Number 698

*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: Gracious God, in our wanderings and selfish desires: we have forsaken fellowship with our families, our friends, and our neighbors; we have neglected our communion with you, choosing worldly pleasures and desires over truth, justice, and righteousness. In a world of plenty, we have hoarded our earthly blessings, rather than storing up our heavenly treasures. Free us from such bondage, that we may truly reveal the presence of Christ in our lives. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

In faith, we call out to a loving and forgiving God, seeking to put aside our old life and put on Christ. God surely answers our prayers. In the name of Christ Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Amen.

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

"God Bless America" by Irving Berlin

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

“America the Beautiful” Number 696

SERMON

“Seven Sins of Suburbia: Control” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: James 4:13-17 (ESV)

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"I Surrender All" Number 354

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

Festival Piece on "America, the Beautiful" by James Denton

Rick Nay, Organ

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

of the birthday of our country.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

July 2, 2023

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship

"You Keep On Getting Better"

"Yes and Amen"

Passing the Peace

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

Sermon

“Seven Sins of Suburbia: Control” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: James 4:13-17 (ESV)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship Song

“I Surrender All”

Benediction

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

of the birthday of our country.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARGE We may think we have control over many things, but life has a way of reminding us that we really cannot control much of anything, at all. The cold, hard truth is that most of us have some control issues. We long to be in control of our own lives and sometimes over the lives of others. Whether we desire to control other people or our families or our finances or our image or what other people think about us, whatever it may be, control—or as James points out, the perception of control—comes at a costly price. After all, this is exactly what we wanted in the Garden of Eden. We wanted sovereignty. We longed for control. But it cost us something. It cost us something so significant: our freedom. We traded living in complete freedom, perfection, joy, and glory for sin and shame. Our desire for control resulted in us becoming slaves to sin.

The apostle James is going to challenge us to consider how we live our lives: are we living life in pursuit of control or in submission to the Lord? Are we leaning on and depending on ourselves or are we trusting in the Sovereign, Ever-Lasting God? The truth is that we serve a faithful God whose compassions never fail, who cares and provides for us, who gives us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Brothers and sisters, let’s surrender it all today, every facet of our lives, even the parts we desperately want to control, to Jesus Christ, who is the One we can truly count on, depend on, and trust fully.

— Pastor Marge

Wednesday Night Dinner & Wednesday Night Live

Returns on September 6!

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!

June 25: In Person 364 // Online 281

May 2023 Financials

Total Income $221,240

Total Expense $202,795

Happy Independence Day!

Don't forget that the church office will be closed all day on Tuesday, July 4th. We will be open regular hours the rest of the week. Enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Order a St. Pete First T-Shirt:

Great news: we'll be ordering more St. Pete First t-shirts soon - ordering is open now and will remain open until Friday, September 8. Get a St. Pete First t-shirt to wear to church events, volunteer work, or around town! Click here for more information and to order online.

Save the Date—St. Pete First Day at the Rays (8/12):

We're happy to announce that the 5th Annual St. Pete First Group Rays Game is scheduled with the Cleveland Guardians @ Tropicana Field. This game is the annual Rays Faith Day Game whereby the postgame event features the Rays Team Chaplain and player testimonies. There is also a Shane McClanahan bobblehead giveaway. Tickets are only $35.00 ($70.00 value). For more information contact Shirley Bassett, St. Pete First Group Leader; sbassettUNI@gmail.com; 727.310.7044.

Greeters & Ushers Needed:

More volunteers are needed immediately to serve as Greeters and Ushers. There is a special need for Greeters at the 11 am traditional service. For more information on greeting at 11 am, contact Isolyn Foster (Greeter Leader/11 a.m. service) at 727.459.2475 (mobile) or isolynf@yahoo.com.

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

Job Openings— 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 (Wednesday Night Live/Dinner returns 9/6/23)

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

WEDNESDAYS (Wednesday Night Live/Dinner returns 9/6/23)

5:30 PM DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7:30 PM Youth Group WhereHouse

Check your email and our website for weekly summer youth activities.

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 (Summer break: August)

10:45 am YOUNGISH ADULTS Room 101 (Summer break: July)

11:00 am BECOMERS Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am DISCIPLE MAKERS Library-Room 212

11:00 am SOJOURNERS Room 208 (Summer break: July & August; returning 9/10)

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

MONDAYS

11:30 am United Women in Faith FAST Crowd (3rd Mondays) Location varies (Summer break June-August)

TUESDAYS

1:00 pm United Women in Faith Deborah Circle (2nd Tuesdays) Room 103 (Summer break June-August)

WEDNESDAYS (Wednesday Night Live/Dinner returns 9/6/23)

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6:00 pm HYMN SING Fellowship Hall (4/26)

6:30 pm BAND OF BROTHERS Parlor – Room 214

THURSDAYS

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY Zoom

2:00 pm United Women in Faith Abigails (4th Thursdays) Room 103 (Summer break June-August)

MUSIC

SUNDAYS

10:15 am CHANCEL CHOIR Room 312 (Summer break: July)

12:10 pm HANDBELLS Room 310 (Summer break: May-August)

WEDNESDAYS

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP PRACTICE Sanctuary

7:30 pm CHANCEL CHOIR PRACTICE Room 312 (Sundays only June-August)

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 (July date TBA)

SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 PM STAFF PARISH Closed Meeting

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 PM FINANCE COMMITTEE Admin Conference Room

FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 PM CHURCH COUNCIL Fellowship Hall & Zoom (no July meeting)

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 PM LEARN PILLAR (no June meeting)

SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

6:00 PM SERVE PILLAR (June-3rd Thurs; July-1st Thurs)

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

6:30 PM INVITE PILLAR

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

2:00 PM NURTURE PILLAR