8/3/25 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 senior pastor.

Rev. Bob Martin, Senior Pastor

Rev. Elyse Nielsen, Associate Pastor

Rev. Carey Taylor, Pastor of Community Life

Check-In: Please let us know you're worshipping with us!

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A NOTE FROM PASTOR BOB    

Hey Friends!

Not long ago I was having a humorous and friendly exchange with a friend. She commented that I was wearing jeans that looked too big and in jest, I fired what I thought was an appropriate and playful comeback. We both laughed and went on our way. What I didn't know was another friend came in on the end of the exchange and only heard the quip I threw back to the other friend who commented on my jeans. He thought I was having a bad day and interpreted my comment as a cutdown to the other person and because of that, he didn't let me know of something that was troubling in his life. Since then, I was able to put the whole thing into proper context and all is understood. That situation reminded me of how important our words are and especially when others overhear what we are saying. Is it clear? is it uplifting? Great questions. Oh, and as for the jeans? I am now the proud owner of a pair of skinny jeans!

See you Sunday,

— Pastor Bob 

8th Sunday after Pentecost

Traditional Worship—8 & 11 AM 

August 3, 2025

*Congregational responses are in bold.

(Click here to check-in)

PRELUDE

“Jesus Paid It All” arr. Harold DeCou

Rick Nay, organ

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Give thanks to God, for God’s steadfast love lasts forever.

People: God accompanies us in our distress, as we cross the threshold to worship’s blessings.

Leader: Give thanks to our God, for God’s steadfast love abides with us.

People: Let us enter this space for worship, celebrating God’s works for humankind.

*HYMN OF PRAISE

“Come Christians, Join to Sing”     Hymn # 158

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

*CONGREGATIONAL SONG

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” Hymn # 557

Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love;

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

(11:00) ANTHEM

“Make Us Holy, Make Us Whole” by Mark Friedman

Chancel Choir

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

"His Eye Is On The Sparrow" by Charles H. Gabriel

Kendra Aumack & Karen Shramo, duo

Rick Nay, organ

*DOXOLOGY Hymn # 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 Jesus, I Have Promised”     Hymn # 396

SERMON

“Guardrails: Tame Your Tongue"     Rev. Bob Martin

Text: James 3:1-6, 9-10 NLT

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

"Great is Thy Faithfulness” Hymn # 140

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE  

“Chorus of Praise” by Rob Roy Perry 

Rick Nay, organ

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of our parents, Jake & Sherry Smith, on their 54th wedding anniversary, from their children Erica Smith Roodhouse & Graham Smith.

Our acolyte this week is Emory Wood.

Thank you for joining us today!

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

Contemporary Worship - 9:30 AM

August 3, 2025

(Click here to check-in)

Praise & Worship Praise Band

“You are Good” 

“Yes and Amen”

Passing the Peace of Christ

Worship with Our Tithes and Offerings

(Click here to GIVE)

“Reason to Praise”  

Sermon

“Guardrails: Tame Your Tongue"     Rev. Bob Martin

Text: James 3:1-6, 9-10 NLT

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship Song

“The Heart of Worship”

Benediction

The flowers are given to the glory of God in love and honor of our parents, Jake & Sherry Smith, on their 54th wedding anniversary, from their children Erica Smith Roodhouse & Graham Smith.

Thank you for joining us today!

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

*** Click here for this week's newsletter ***

New Fall Classes for Adults

Tuesdays & Wednesdays beginning in September! Find out more here: www.stpetefirst.org/small-groups

Common Grounds needs you!

Good news! Common Grounds is now an outreach ministry! The expanded vision requires your help. Go to our Common Grounds page [www.stpetefirst.org/commongrounds] for details. Find out more ways you can serve, and contact Chad Simonds at csimonds@stpetefirst.org or 727-667-7169 (or flag him down on Sunday!) when you're ready to volunteer! Let's do this!

Parents’ Morning Out - Job Opening

We have a part-time opening in our Parents’ Morning Out Program: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 8:45am-12:15pm. Work on a team of four; general childcare for newborn-3 year olds. Must have childcare experience. Contact Lora Ulrich for more details, lulrich@stpetefirst.org or 894-4661.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner (Wednesday Aug 27; 6 pm)

Our wonderful volunteers at St Pete First are invited to a special dinner on August 27th at 6 pm! Bring the family! Or invite a friend! RSVP here or call the church office (727-894-4661) no later than Monday, August 25th.

Discover First (Sunday, Sept 7; 10:45am-1pm; www.stpetefirst.org/discoverfirst)

Learn about our church and its mission, vision, and ministries, talk with our pastor, and find out how to become a member! Lunch & childcare will be provided. So that we can order food, please register by the Tuesday prior to the class. Click here to sign up & for more info

TAKE ACTION! Help us meet unmet needs and serve others.

Volunteer Help Needed

A little time out of your week can make such a difference! Join us as we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we serve and Love. St. Pete.

Backpack Distribution at Fairmount Park Elementary (Monday, Aug 11)

We will be to distributing backpacks to all Fairmount Park students during student drop-off on the first day of school, August 11. A team of St. Pete First Staff and volunteers will be there to welcome everyone to the new school year, and make sure every student has a backpack! If you would like to be a part of the team to distribute backpacks on the morning of August 11, contact Kendra at kaumack@stpetefirst.org for more information about how to get involved.

Click here to go to our Serve form, then select the ministries you are interested in.

Wednesday Night Live

Wednesday Night Live & dinner returns September 3rd!

Click here for more info.

Last Week's Attendance Numbers

Thank you for joining us for worship. We hope to see you again next week!

July 27 Worship 424  In Person 344  Online

Church Finances

June 2025 Year to Date

Income $239,367 $1,639,257

Expense $220,951 $1,601,664

Upcoming Events—Mark your calendar! (check out the full list here)

• Aug 10—Blood Pressure Clinic 9-11:30 am; 1st Floor Nurse's Area

• Aug 17—Move Up Sunday for kids

  ————--Parent-Youth Confirmation Meeting 12:00 pm; WhereHouse

• Aug 27—Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 6 pm (RSVP here)

• Sept 1—Church office closed - Labor Day

• Sept 3—Wednesday Night Live returns 

• Sept 7—1st Grade Bible Presentation

  —————Discover First (www.stpetefirst.org/discoverfirst)

  —————Parent-Youth Night 6-7:30 pm

• Sept 14—Confirmation Bible Presentation / Confirmation Begins

• Oct 24—Trunk or Treat 6-8 pm

Parents' Morning Out - Job Opening

Children's Ministry has a part-time opening in our Parents' Morning Out Program. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:45am-12:15pm. Work on a team of four; general childcare for newborn-3 year olds. Must have childcare experience. Contact Lora Ulrich for more details, lulrich@stpetefirst.org or 894-4661, ext. 2125

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/Toddlers (Birth - 3 years) Preschool Hall

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/Toddlers (Birth - 3 years) Preschool Hall

PRESCHOOL (Age 3 - K) Kids Church - Preschool Hall

ELEMENTARY (1st - 5th Gr) Sunday School - 4th Floor

CLUB 56 (5th & 6th Grades) Room 404

WEDNESDAYS return on September 3

5:00 pm KIDS MUSIC (Age 4-8th 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) Preschool Hall

YOUTH

SUNDAYS

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

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

10:45 am CONFIRMATION WhereHouse returns September 28

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

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

WEDNESDAYS return on September 3

5:30 pm DINNER Fellowship Hall

6-7:30 pm Youth Group WhereHouse

 SUNDAY WORSHIP 

8:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

9:30 am Contemporary Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

11:00 am Traditional Service -Sanctuary

Common Grounds Worship (Livestream) -Chapel

FELLOWSHIP TIME (BETWEEN SERVICES) 

9-11:00 am Common Grounds (Coffee, Food & Fellowship) -Fellowship Hall

9-11:00 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 (summer break: returns 9/7)

10:45 am THE GAP -Room 101  (summer break: returns 8/17)

11:00 am BECOMERS -Zoom & Room 103

11:00 am DISCIPLE MAKERS -Library-Room 212

11:00 am SOJOURNERS -Room 208  (summer break: returns 9/7)

MONDAYS 

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

WEDNESDAYS    return on September 3

9:30 am WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY (Sue Allen) -Room 208

5:30 pm DINNER -Fellowship Hall

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

6:30 pm BIBLE STUDIES 

THURSDAYS 

7:30 am THURSDAY MEN’S STUDY -Zoom

1:00 pm United Women in Faith Deborah Circle (4th Thursdays) -Rm 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 (on break until Fall)

TUESDAYS 

6:00 pm IGNITE WORSHIP TEAM -Sanctuary

WEDNESDAYS

5:00 pm KIDS MUSIC (Age 4-8th Grade) Chapel returns on September 3

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 -Room 208 & Zoom

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm LEARN PILLAR

THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH

12:00 pm INVITE PILLAR  

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

9:00 am NURTURE PILLAR 

THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

5:00 pm SERVE PILLAR