7/23/23 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

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Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM

July 23, 2023

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

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

"A Trusting Heart" by Bruce Carleton

"He Leadeth Me" by R.M. Stults

Rick Nay, Organ

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Bob Martin

Leader: I stand here, needing your healing presence. Come, O Spirit, Come.

People: Enter my life, take root in my heart.

Leader: Give me courage and strength for all the times to come.

People: Bring joy to my heart!

Leader: As we quiet our hearts this day, make us ready to receive your grace and power.

People: Empower us to proclaim your good news everywhere.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

"Be Thou My Vision" Number 451

*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.

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

(8:00) "Here, Lord, We Meet Thee" by Bertha R. Frick

Rick Nay, Organ

(11:00) "No One Understands Like Jesus" by John W. Peterson

Ginny Cannon-Soloist; 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

“Wonderful Words of Life” Number 600

SERMON

“The Seven Sins of Suburbia: Convenience” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Matthew 7:12-14 (ESV & The Message)

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"Something Beautiful" Number 394

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

"All Hail The Power" by R.M. Stults

Rick Nay, Organ

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of Ken & Cindy Singleton's 57th wedding anniversary and their granddaughter Becky's 20th birthday.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

July 23, 2023

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship

"At Your Name"

"Yes and Amen"

"Jesus We Love You"

Passing the Peace

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

"God I Look to You"

Sermon

“The Seven Sins of Suburbia: Convenience” Rev. Margaret Rountree

Text: Matthew 7:12-14 (ESV & The Message)

Worship Song

“O Praise Him”

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of Ken & Cindy Singleton's 57th wedding anniversary and their granddaughter Becky's 20th birthday.

Thank you for joining us this morning!

A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARGE

Convenience is the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty. Sadly, convenience is a core American value. Convenience culture refers to how modern society is increasingly geared towards ease and instant gratification. America can be described as a "now" culture. We are accustomed to living a convenient lifestyle, where most necessities are easily accessible at all times. We have things like fast food, restaurants, Doordash, grocery delivery, online dating, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. We have drive-thru dry cleaning, Prime wardrobe, and icemakers. We have Lean Cuisines! Convenience is a way of saving time and promises immediate results. Why choose to cook a balanced meal when you could just drive through a burger joint or warm up a Lean Cuisine? Why pick up the phone and call someone when you could just send them a text? Why make time to visit parents or grandparents again? They're fine! Someone else will sign up to do that, and besides it's the same time as your favorite show. We are all creatures of convenience. Certainly, there are days and weeks when hitting the drive-through or choosing the more convenient option is more about survival than frivolity. But what about our faith? The question we are faced with every day is this: are we with Jesus or against Him? Because if we are with Jesus, then we should be walking the path that leads to everlasting life. This is the Jesus way and it is hard! His way, the way, is not convenient in any sense. It is not easy. Jesus even promised us in the Gospel of John that if we follow Him, we will face trouble and trials of many different kinds in this world. So often we think that struggle and difficulty are the problem. We just long for life to be easy, favorable, immediate, and user-friendly. But are we really meant to live without resistance in our lives, especially as Christ- followers? Are we called to take the easy, convenient road, this kind of lifestyle that suburbia applauds and champions? Or does Jesus have a different kind of life in store for us? A life, yes, that is full of struggles, difficulties, and inconveniences but also a life that is abundantly full, everlastingly meaningful, and one that is lived in pursuit of God. — 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!

July 16: In Person 355 // Online 301

May 2023 Financials

Total Income $221,240

Total Expense $202,795

Want to find out more about membership at St. Pete First?

Our next New Member Class is on Sunday August 20th, from 10:45 am to 1 pm. Click here to register.

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

The 5th Annual St. Pete First Day at the Rays will be August 12 (4:10 pm) vs. the Cleveland Guardians @Tropicana Field. This game is also the annual Rays Faith Day Game, with a postgame event featuring the Rays Team Chaplain and player testimonies. Tickets are $35.00. Buy your tickets in the Fellowship Hall on July 30 or August 6, 8:30 am-12:30 pm. For more info, contact Shirley Bassett: sbassettUNI@gmail.com; 727.310.7044.

Join the Praise Team!

We are actively growing our Praise Team! If you or someone you know has the abiility to sing or play an instrument we would love to have you join us. Contact Loren Russell at 863-617-5087 or LRussell@fumcsp.org

Join the Office Volunteer Team!

There is an immediate need for Office Volunteers to cover the reception desk in the Administration Building on weekdays (Monday-Friday). Current openings are for seasonal volunteers and substitutes for the rest of the summer and through November. Office volunteers work a four-hour shift (9 am-1 pm or 1-5 pm) one day per week. For further information contact Craig Wills, Facilities Director: cwills@fumcsp.org or 727.894.4661, ext. 2102.

Children/Youth Open House (8/13):

Let’s kick off the school year with an Open House for Children and Youth Ministries on Sunday August 13th! This will be an event not only for our Sunday School children and families but for our community. Join us for refreshments as you meet the teachers and check out where our children learn, grow, and connect with Jesus, our church, & our community.

Preschool Families — 1st floor Preschool Hall — 9 am-12:30 pm

Elementary Families – 4th floor — 9 am-12:30 pm

Youth Families – The Wherehouse — 10:30 am-12:30 pm

Order a St. Pete First T-Shirt (9/8/23 order deadline):

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.

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

10:45 AM CONFIRMATION WhereHouse (begins 9/17/23)

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 TEAM 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)

6:00 PM INVITE PILLAR

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

2:00 PM NURTURE PILLAR