First Baptist Newsletter | November 21, 2024

The First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg exists to help people experience God's gift of life in Jesus.

A Note From The Pastor - 

A FULL & Important Sunday:

Church Family,

I hope you're making plans to be with us this Sunday because it is a FULL and important day in the life of our church.

In addition to our ordinary Sunday morning schedule of Bible Studies, Kids Choirs, Coffee & Pastries Fellowship, and worship opportunities, I remind you this Sunday has our Annual Church Meeting, Fellowship Lunch, and Advent Decorating.

We'll conclude worship with our Annual Church Meeting at which we'll vote on affirming a Proposed By-law Amendment, Proposed 2025 Church Budget, and Proposed 2025 Church Leadership.

Following worship we'll gather in Heritage Hall for delicious food and warm fellowship, which we hope will fuel our afternoon efforts of decorating the church for Advent & Christmas. Many hands make light work, and we hope it will be all-hands-on-deck for jobs big and small - there's a way for everyone to pitch in, and it can be a lot of fun, too!

Whatever remains to be decorated after our Sunday efforts, we'll work to finish with whomever is available to help on Monday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Decking our church in preparation for Advent and affirming our Church Leadership & Budget for next year are both good reminders that there's an exciting and important future ahead of us. And clearly, that is something for which we can be grateful!

Blessings,

Ben

Worship This Sunday

November 17, 2024 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine

Build My Life

Give Thanks

Time and Time Again

Doxology

This Is My Father's World

Sermon

"With Gratitude for What Will Be"

Matthew 6:24-34

Ben Winder

Big Idea: We can trust God has a good future for us.

Kids Worship

Our elementary kids wrap up this month's theme Special Delivery: No Postage Required exploring Love in Action in 1 John 3:16-18, learning to Jesus showed us how to give.

Preschool Worship

Our preschoolers wrap up their theme Puzzle Pieces - in which they're learning God's Got It. They'll explore the story when King Hezekiah Prays to God in Isaiah 37:14-20, 35; 38:1-6, 20 learning I can talk to God about anything.

Annual Church Meeting, Fellowship Lunch & Advent Decorating

Near the conclusion of worship we will briefly be called into a church business meeting to vote on our Proposed By-Law Amendment, Proposed 2025 Church Budget, and Proposed 2025 Church Leadership. We then encourage you to join us for Fellowship Lunch & stick around to help decorate the church building for Advent/Christmas.

Sunday Mornings Before Worship

9 a.m. Opportunities

Preschool Choir (Age 2-Pre-K) | Room 109

A space for preschoolers to learn about God through music and a whole lot of fun!

Kid's Choir (K-5th) | Room 206

A space for elementary-age kids to learn about God through music and a whole lot of fun!

FirstYOUTH | Multipurpose Room

A Bible study for Middle & High School Students

Raising Adults | Room 205

A co-ed group of median adults mostly in the stage of life with kids in their home.

This group is currently studying Philippians

Digging Deeper Class | Room 204

A co-ed group of adults of all ages.

This group is currently studying Jonah.

Masters Class | Conference Room

A co-ed group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion.

Sonshine Class | Heritage Hall

A co-ed group composed primarily of retired adults, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion.

Special Needs Class | Heritage Hall Room 2

This co-ed group for adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry.

10 a.m. Coffee & Pastries Fellowship in the Narthex

Between our 9 a.m. offerings and the beginning of worship each Sunday we offer coffee, juice, and other goodies for you to enjoy in the Narthex. We encourage you to come a few minutes early or stop by after your 9 a.m. activity to spend some time getting to know other members of your church family of all ages. We'll see you Sunday!

Annual Church Meeting

Sunday, November 24

As we conclude our worship time together this Sunday, November 24, we will be called into our annual church meeting. At this business session, we will vote on:

1. Affirming our Proposed 2025 Church Budget
2. Affirming our Proposed 2025 Church Leadership
3. A Church By-Law Amendment

If you have questions about the Proposed 2025 Church Budget, members of the Stewardship Committee will be in the Church Conference Room at 10 a.m. Sunday morning; they will be glad to answer your questions at that time. You may also contact our Pastor (bwinder@fbcstpete.org | 205.603.6803) or Stewardship Committee Chair Laurie Valentine (lvalentine.mcla@gmail.com | 502.262.3248) with questions anytime.

Fellowship Lunch

This Sunday, November 24

We invite you to join us for fellowship lunch this Sunday following worship in Heritage Hall.

This month's menu is:

Swiss Chicken

Creole Green Beans

Creamy Fruit Salad

Cherry Crisp

Lunch is free; we invite a $5 per person donation to help offset costs.

Advent Decorating - HELP NEEDED

Sunday, November 24 & Monday, November 25

It is time to deck the halls of First Baptist for the Advent/Christmas Season! We will need all hands on deck as there are jobs for everyone - from hefting giant trees in the sanctuary to delicate Chrismon hanging in the Narthex. We encourage you to stay after fellowship lunch this Sunday and/or come to the church on Monday morning to pitch in.

Hanging of the Green Service

Sunday, December 1 | 10:30 a.m.

We will begin the Season of Advent together by reflecting on the meaning and significance of the decorations which adorn our church building during this season. This worshipful and reflective service is always a great way to begin the season of preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus and his ultimate return.

Monday Fun Day Christmas Brunch

December 2 - 10:30 a.m.

The First Baptist 55+ Senior Ministry invites you to Come Christmas Caroling!

Join us for our December Fun Day in the Narthex as our very talented Michael McCarthy will again be our special guest at this Christmas Brunch. Please bring your favorite Christmas treat and the recipe to share.

Food! Goodies! Carols! Christmas Cards for Homebound! Please register that you are coming by Thursday, November 28 at the link below or by calling the church office.

Opportunities to Serve at Lynch Elementary

Our partner school, Lynch Elementary has several opportunities to serve, and we welcome you to explore which one(s) are right for you!

Ongoing Opportunities

Passing Out Treats - Each Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Lunch Pal - One Time per week; flexible

Mentor - One or More Times per week; flexible

Room (Grand)Parent - Daily/Weekly; flexible

One-Time Opportunities

Dec. 13 - Club Photos

Jan. 15 - Class Group Photos

Feb. 28 - Black American Speak-in

Mar. 7 - Field Day

Apr. 3 - Lion’s Pride Celebration

May 5–9 - Staff Appreciation Week

To learn more or sign up for any of these opportunities contact the church office or Lynch Elementary Family & Community Liaison Michele Killam (Killamm@pscb.org | 727.570.3170).

Please sign up here to complete the necessary forms to be ready to volunteer throughout the year when opportunities arise.

Tax Efficient Giving Options for IRA Owners

Do you have an IRA and have you reached the age when you must take a “required minimum distribution” (RMD) from your IRA each year? If your answer is “yes, but I don’t need that income to live on” you may want to consider using all or a portion of your RMD to make a gift directly out of your IRA to First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg. That gift, called a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” (QCD), allows you, as the IRA owner, to:

• Exclude the amount paid out of your IRA directly to the church from your taxable income.
• Count as if you received that year’s RMD.
• Save taxes, even if you don’t itemize deductions, because the QCD amount is not taxed to you.
• Provide immediate financial support to First Baptist that enhances the church’s ability to carryout its mission in our local community and beyond.

QCD gifts can be a once-a-year giving option or you can direct your IRA provider to make monthly recurring distributions to the church out of your IRA as all or a part of your regular tithes and offerings giving. 

You must be at least 70 ½ for gifts out of your IRA to the church (and/or other charities) to be treated as QCDs and the amount you can direct out of your IRA each year is limited - in 2024 the maximum total is $105,000 and in 2025 it will be $108,000.

A QCD gift is an impactful way to steward your financial resources for the building of God’s Kingdom here on earth through the work of First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg.

Jim Graves Celebration of Life | January 4

Former First Baptist Pastor Dr. Jim Graves recently passed away. A celebration of Jim Graves' life will be held January 4, 2025 at FBC Vero Beach, Florida. This is the weekend of his birthday and his family looks forward to seeing you if you are able to attend.

The service will be at 3:00 PM followed by a reception/gathering of friends.

At the memorial, the Graves family would love to celebrate the ways he brought people together in love and faith. If you have a photo of him officiating your wedding or baptizing you or a loved one, please share it to jimgravesmemorial@gmail.com. A slideshow of these memories will be shown at the Celebration of Life on January 4.

The Next Week's Schedule

Sunday

9 a.m. - Adult & Youth Bible Studies | Kids Choirs

10 a.m. - Coffee & Pastries Fellowship | Proposed Budget Q&A in Conference Room

10:30 a.m. - Worship | Kids Worship | Preschool Worship | Annual Church Meeting

11:30 a.m. - Fellowship Lunch & Advent Decorating

Monday

9 a.m. - Advent Decorating

1 p.m. - Quilting Ministry | Ceramics Ministry

Tuesday

1-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Wednesday

NO Choir Rehearsal

Thursday

Church Campus Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

Upcoming Events

November

24 - Annual Church Meeting | Fellowship Lunch | Advent Decorating Day 1

25 - Advent Decorating Day 2

28 - Church Campus Closed - Thanksgiving Day

December

1 - First Sunday of Advent - Hanging of the Green | Blood Pressure Clinic

2 - Monday Fun Day Christmas Brunch

8 - Second Sunday of Advent

15 - Third Sunday of Advent - Kids Choirs Singing in Worship

22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Post-Worship Christmas "Jam & Jaw"

23 - Promiseland Preschool Christmas Program

24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 6 p.m.

25 - Church Campus Closed for Christmas Holiday

26 - Church Office Closed for Christmas Holiday

January

1 - Church Campus Closed for New Year's Holiday

4 - Jim Graves Celebration of Life - FBC Vero Beach, Florida

5 - Annual Leadership Meeting

Contact Us

First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

1900 Gandy Blvd N

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727.576.5508

fbc@fbcstpete.org