First Baptist Newsletter | September 12, 2024

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

Worship This Sunday

September 15, 2024 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Let Us Adore

Jesus, Love Of My Soul

To Dwell As One

Be Still And Know

Be Thou My Vision

Sermon

"Don't Break Glass"

Proverbs 1:20-33

Ben Winder

The Way of Wisdom recognizes wisdom is not something you wait until you need to try to find.

Kids Worship

This Sunday, as part of their LIVE BRIGHT - SHINE JESUS' LIGHT theme, our elementary school kids will be exploring Mark 10:46-52, the story of when Jesus Heals Bartimaeus, learning to make time to help others.

Preschool Worship

This Sunday, as part of their Live Bright theme, our preschoolers will be exploring John 13:34-35; Luke 18:15-16, 19:1-10; and John 4:1-30 when Jesus Gives a New Command, learning Jesus said to love one another.

WATCH WORSHIP ON YOUTUBE

WATCH WORSHIP ON FACEBOOK

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. Currently doing a 6-week study of Wisdom Literature.

Digging Deeper Class | Room 204

A co-ed group of adults of all ages. Currently doing a 6-week study of the Book of James.

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. Intergenerational 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!

Attend A House Meeting

As we kick off the new year of our county-wide Justice Ministry, we invite you to attend a "House Meeting" - a one-time guided conversation among a small group of folks from the First Baptist family, wherein we learn from one another what injustices are impacting our lives and our community.

You can sign up at the links below or on the sign up sheets in the Narthex on Sunday.

If you have questions about House Meetings, FAST, or justice ministry in general, or you'd like to schedule/host a house meeting, contact Ben Winder or Doug Harrell.

Thanks to those who have already attended a House Meeting!

Here are the remaining House Meetings we currently have scheduled (click to sign up):

Sunday, September 15 - 5 p.m. | The Winder's House

Tuesday, September 17 - 10 a.m. | First Baptist Church

Thursday, September 19 - 5:30 p.m. | The Harrell's House

FirstYOUTH @ The Rowdies

THIS Saturday, September 14 | 7:30 p.m.

Calling all Middle & High School Students to join us for a night of fun at Al Lang Stadium as we'll watch the Tampa Bay Rowdies take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. (Parents & Friends are welcome to join us, too.) Sign up at the link below.

Immokalee Trip Update

A big thanks to the twelve folks from the First Baptist family who made the trip down to Immokalee last Friday to serve alongside our Cultivate Abundance Mission Partners!

As part of our trip we toured a Cultivate Abundance garden to learn about the culturally preferred foods grown there, which the migrant worker families particularly love to receive. We also helped prepare and distribute food for 360+ families who came to the Misión Peniel Food Pantry that day. And we took part in the monthly diaper distribution for the children who needed them.

Big thanks are in order, too, for Greg Bourne towing down our church's old, rarely-used enclosed trailer which we donated for more frequent use by our friends in Immokalee & LaBelle. They were grateful to receive it!

It was a wonderful, meaningful trip and a privilege to see first-hand the important ministry our Encourager Church relationship with CBF Field Personnel Rick & Ellen Burnette is making possible.

More trips will be coming in the future, and we hope you might consider joining us for one!

St Pete Arts Academy

Enroll for Private/Group Lessons

Through the St Pete Arts Academy we are offering the opportunity for private and group lessons in violin, trumpet, piano, flute, drums/percussion with highly qualified instructors and Middle & High School Show Choirs directed by our own Michael McCarthy, hosted on the church campus.

You can see details and sign up now at stpetearts.org.

Please help us spread the word about this opportunity to folks you know!

ST PETE ARTS ACADEMY

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

Oct. 10 - Chaperone 5th Grade Field Trip to Enterprise Village

Oct. 11 - Fall Individual Picture Retakes

Oct. 24 - Lion’s Pride Celebration

Nov. 6 - Family Lunch Day

Nov. 13 - Great American Teach-In

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.

Phishing Emails Scam Warning

Several church members have been targeted by a scam in which an email purporting to be from a First Baptist Church staff member is used to get them to buy gift cards for scammers. Please be careful and do NOT purchase gift cards for these scammers!

Church staff will never ask for you to provide gift card numbers to them via email. Be sure to check the email address from which the email comes as names & images can be spoofed; real church staff email addresses are [First Initial][Last Name]@fbcstpete.org.

If you have any question about a communication you receive, please reach out directly to the person in question.

If you have received these emails we encourage you consider submitting your experience at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you have been a victim of this fraud, please let the church know so we can help you pursue remedy.