THIS WEEK AT ..................

St. Pete First UMC

Hi Kelly—

This is a HUGE week with so many things happening...First of all, this Sunday is Father's Day so let me give a BIG shout out to the great dads in life. You make a difference to all of us.

It's also the week we welcome over a hundred kids on our campus to Vacation Bible School. It's a packed week full great opportunities to love kids and let them know the God who created them is with them all the time.

Lastly, let me ask you to pray as our new Associate Pastor Elyse Nielsen and her family move from the Miami area to be with us here in St. Petersburg. If you have ever moved, you know all the loose ends that need to be coordinated along with just making sure you can get settled. She, Eric and the kids will be arriving June 20th as they work to set up their home. Pray they have a move that blesses them in a powerful way along with safe travels. It is so exciting to have Pastor Elyse soon coming into the community.

July 6 is also a VERY IMPORTANT date so put it on your calendar. After our 11AM worship we will be holding a welcome lunch for our two new pastors The Reverend Elyse Nielsen and the Reverend Carey Taylor who will be joining our staff. Pastor Carey is preaching July 6 so you won't want to miss her first sermon. It's going to be a great Day!

See you Sunday,

Pastor Bob

Tomorrow is Father's Day, where we honor all fathers and fatherly figures in our lives. Join us in the Fellowship Hall between services for Donuts with Dad!

Looking ahead... next Sunday, June 22, the Sunday after VBS, is Children & Youth Sunday, where our children & youth participate in the service. Don't miss this service where we celebrate the young people of our church! We will have one service on June 22, at 10 am.

Sunday, July 6 is Bluegrass Sunday. Come to church and enjoy (and sing along with) the South Porch Bluegrass Orchestra at the 9:30 & 11 am services (NO 8 am SERVICE), then join us for a Lunch Reception at noon to meet and welcome our two new pastors as they begin their ministries at St Pete First. Rev. Elyse Nielsen is our new Associate Pastor, and Rev. Carey Taylor is our new Pastor of Community Life.

This week is the last week of our sermon series Forgotten Virtues. What is a virtue? Better yet, are we living in a time when virtues are even relevant? This series will address how to bring back the virtues that are so important to our lives and faith. What are these virtues? Honor, Purity, Loyalty, Integrity and Gratitude.

Pastor Bob's sermon title this week is "Gratitude." We have become a people of entitlement. We want more, demand more, and give up less. What does Jesus say about this kind of attitude? What does Jesus say when you think the world owes you something?

The text for this week is Luke 17:11-19 NLT.

Want to see recaps and excerpts from previous messages? —click here to watch.

Did you miss last Sunday's sermon? Click here to watch or listen to previous sermons.

Reminder: If you are traveling, not feeling well, or if you are otherwise unable to be with us in person, please take advantage of our livestream worship.

Click for Livestream Worship

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.

Are you looking for a way to care for others? Consider signing up for our Hearts & Hands Meal Train volunteer list! When individuals or families within our congregation have a new baby, surgery, illnesses or times of grief, this ministry cares for them by preparing or ordering and dropping off meals. Volunteers will receive an email when a new meal train is created and will have the opportunity to sign up for dates to provide food (no need to provide food each time - only when you are able to). Email kbennett@stpetefirst.org to be added to the list.

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

Upcoming Events—Mark your calendar!

June 16-20—VBS
June 22—Children & Youth Sunday—10 am service ONLY! Sunday School @11am
June 29—Donate Blood (Big Red Bus will be at the church) 8 am-1 pm
July 4—Church office closed
July 6—Bluegrass Sunday (no 8 am service)
————Reception for New Pastors 12 pm
July 7-11—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 1;
—————Elementary Slime Camp
July 14-18—Preschool Camp Friendship Week 2;
——————Elementary Art/Adventure Camp;
——————Elementary Amusement Park STEM Camp
July 21—Organ Concert 2 pm
Aug 10—Blood Pressure Clinic 9-11:30 am; 1st Floor Nurse's Area
Aug 17—Move Up Sunday for kids
Aug 27—Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 6 pm
Sept 1—Church office closed - Labor Day
Sept 3—Wednesday Night Live returns
Jan 23-25, 2026—Women’s Retreat

VBS & Summer Camps:

VBS - June 16-20 (Full/Wait List)

Preschool:

Camp Friendship WK1 - July 7-11

Camp Friendship WK2 - July 14-18

Elementary:

Slime Camp - July 7-11

Art Camp - July 14-18 (Full/Wait List)

Amusement Park STEM Camp -Jul 14-18

Registrations are open!

VBS Donations

One way to help with VBS is to donate: All donations go directly toward buying snacks for the VBS kids and to our VBS outreach mission for this year: Clothes to Kids — you can click here to donate to VBS or write a check and designate VBS.

Children & Youth Sunday (Sunday, June 22; 10 am)

June 22, the Sunday after VBS, is Children & Youth Sunday, where our children & youth participate in the service and we celebrate them! We will have one service on June 22, at 10 am.

Blood Drive (Sunday, June 29; 8 am-1 pm; Big Red Bus in parking lot)

Every person has the power to save a life. Donating blood only takes a little of your time, and it can mean a lifetime for patients in need. You can drop in to donate or click here to schedule your donation on 6/29. All donors will receive a Trucker Hat and a $20 eGift Card. See www.oneblood.org for more info on blood donation.

Bluegrass Sunday (Sunday, July 6; 9:30 & 11 am - no 8 am service)

Sunday, July 6 is Bluegrass Sunday. Come to church and enjoy (and sing along with) the South Porch Bluegrass Orchestra at the 9:30 & 11 am services, then stay for the reception after the 11 am service to celebrate our new pastors.

Reception for our New Pastors (Sunday, July 6 @ noon)

Come out to meet and welcome our two new pastors as they begin their ministries at St Pete First. Rev. Elyse Nielsen is our new Associate Pastor, and Rev. Carey Taylor is our new Pastor of Community Life. Read more about them here.

2026 Women's Retreat

(January 23-25, 2026)

Save the Date for our upcoming 2026 Women’s Retreat the weekend of January 23-25 at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp & Conference Center in Fruitland Park, Florida. More information to come!