Weekly Church Newsletter | January 29, 2026

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

A Note From the Pastor ...

First Baptist Family,

Below you will see our end-of-year 2025 financial update. The shortest version of the story is that despite unforeseen facility expenses (largest of all, roof repairs following Hurricane Milton) our revenues last year were still sufficient to cover our expenses. Thanks be to God, and thank you for your faithful giving to support the ministries of our church!

That is good news! And still, the measure of our Operating Revenue versus our Operating Expenses is only one part of our overall generosity picture. We also have a significant amount of ministry which is accomplished through gifts which are designated for a particular ministry purpose, including our Benevolence Offering, Food Pantry Ministry, and several mission efforts. Our report tries to capture some of those as well.

And, of course, generosity is not limited only to financial contributions. You are a congregation who is also abundantly generous with your time and effort. Serving in ongoing ministry & mission efforts and one-time outpourings of service. There's really no way to fully account for all the hours invested by those who serve in and through our church throughout the year. THANK YOU!

As you look over this snapshot of last year, first, let us be grateful for this incredible church family of which we are a part; second, let it serve as an encouragement for all of us in this new year to be ever more faithful to what God is calling us to do and who God is calling us to be.

You might remember that for 2026 we have made a budget and ministry plan that is a 4% expansion of 2025's. As I try to remind us often, for us to accomplish all God has for us, it will take all of us, together. This is certainly true this year!

If you have any questions about our church finances, feel free to reach out anytime to me or connect with Stewardship Committee Chair Laurie Valentine or the other members of our Stewardship Committee. We are always glad to provide additional information as is helpful.

2025 was a good year in the life of First Baptist Church of St Petersburg. I stand confident 2026 will be, by God's grace, better still. I am excited to experience it with you!

By the way, you've probably noticed the forecast calls for unusually cold temperatures this weekend, so be sure to dress warmly for church on Sunday! See you then!

Blessings,

Ben

Worship This Sunday

February 1, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

To Dwell As One

Joy In The Morning

Believe For It

Just As I Am

Sermon

You Fool!

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Ben Winder

Big Idea: Our salvation is by way of self-sacrificing love, which is foolishness to world, but our way of life.

Communion, Benevolence Offering, & Fellowship Lunch

This Sunday we will celebrate Communion together in worship.

As is our practice when we share the Lord's Supper, we will also collect a special offering at the doors as you depart to support our Care Team as they meet the needs of our members and neighbors.

Following worship, we invite you to join us in Heritage Hall for Fellowship Lunch and enjoy community and good food together.

Elementary Kids in Sanctuary

Our elementary-aged kids will join their families in the Sanctuary this Sunday. Be sure to visit the table at the rear of the room for activities to utilize during worship.

Preschool Worship

Our preschool kids are invited to Preschool Worship this Sunday where they will learn about the story when Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man in Mark 2:1-12. Thanks to Jon & Amber Ruiz for being our Preschool Worship adult leaders this week!

Nursery

We offer a volunteer-staffed nursery for children 2 and under for any families who would like to utilize it during worship. Thanks to our Nursery volunteers this week, Jenn Burger & Laura Beth Winder.

Opportunities Sundays at 9 a.m.

Adult Sunday Morning Bible Studies

We offer several options for Adults to engage in Bible Study and community Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. We invite you to try one this Sunday!

Digging Deeper | Heritage Hall

A group of adults of all ages. They are currently studying of the Gospel of John.

Masters Class | Conference Room

A group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. Their study through February 15 is called Tales of Crime and Punishment.

Sonshine Class | Room 10

A group composed primarily of retired adults, this class utilizes the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. Their study through February 15 is called Tales of Crime and Punishment.

Special Needs Class | Room 2

This group of adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry. Their current study is Stories About Jesus' Ministry.

FirstYOUTH Sunday Morning Bible Study

Our Middle & High School students are invited to the Multipurpose Room each Sunday at 9 a.m. for a fun time of community and discipleship with your peers and caring adult leaders. They are beginning a new study this Sunday - The Kingdom is Near: Stories from Matthew. This week's lesson is about Hidden Treasures from Matthew 13:44-48 learning God's Kingdom is like a treasure.

FirstKIDS Choirs

We offer choirs for both Preschool & Elementary-aged kids each Sunday at 9 a.m. Here kids learn music and worship leadership in a fun, age-appropriate environment, and prepare for opportunities to share and lead in Sanctuary worship. We would love for your kids to join us!



Elementary Kids Choir (K-5th) meets in Room 206 (Library).

Preschool Kids Choir (Age 2-Pre-K) meets in Room 109.

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

We invite you to join us in the Narthex this Sunday for coffee, juice, and other goodies along with fellowship with your church family. We'll see you Sunday!

Fellowship Lunch This Sunday

We invite you to join us in Heritage Hall following worship this Sunday for warm community around the tables and delicious food! This month's fellowship lunch menu is:

Shepherds Pie

Cornbread

Southwest Salad

Hawaiian Dream Cake

Fellowship lunch is free; donations are accepted.

2025 Giving Statements

2025 Giving Statements have been distributed via email to those who have an email address on file and are via mail for those who do not. They can also always be accessed online through your Realm account. If you have questions about your giving statement, please contact Church Business Administrator Rhonda McVey (rmcvey@fbcstpete.org | 727.235.0360).

2026 Offering Envelopes Available for Pick Up

Those who requested personalized 2026 Offering Envelopes may pick them up beginning Sunday in the Narthex. If you did NOT request envelopes, but would like to have them, there are a limited number of blank offering envelopes packets available to pick up, too.

Monday Fun Day: Smoky Mountain Variety Show

Monday, February 2 | 10:30 a.m.

Those who have signed up remember to join us in Heritage Hall on Monday at 10:30 a.m.

FAST Network Meeting

Sunday, February 8 | Following Worship

All those who are FAST Justice Ministry Network Members are strongly encouraged to attend our FAST Network Meeting, and any others interested in our Justice Ministry are also invited to attend. We'll meet following worship on Sunday, February 8, share lunch, hear updates about the ministry, and work on our plans for inviting those we know to join us for Nehemiah Action, which we are hosting at First Baptist this year on April 16.

Mark your calendar and join us!

Lunch & Learn: Stroke Prevention

Sunday, March 8 | Following Worship

Our Health Ministry, part of the Baycare Faith Community Nursing Program, is offering a lunch & learn about stroke prevention following worship on Sunday, March 8.

All participants will need to complete their risk card prior to the event, which can be done by visiting the Health Ministry monthly Blood Pressure Clinic. The clinics remaining before the lunch and learn are February 8 and March 8, 9:50-10:25 a.m. in Room 12 near Heritage Hall.

The lunch & learn event is free of charge, but a reservation is required.

Please RSVP at the link below by March 6.

Haiti Hot Lunch Program

You may remember our church had a decade long sister-church relationship with Église Baptiste de Zanglais (Baptist Church of Zanglais) in Haiti. As part of that relationship, we provided a daily hot lunch for all the children who attended the church's school.

Due to the unrest and instability in Haiti, which limited our ability to continue the kind of relationship we desired to have and made getting resources into Haiti wrought with difficulty and at times impossible, our Missions Committee made the difficult decision not to renew our partnership when it expired.

However, despite the efforts of the Reciprocal Ministries International staff, since our relationship ended, no other congregation has been found to step in and provide the funding to provide the daily hot lunch, and the situation in Haiti has improved sufficiently that RMI assured us that if we could get funding for food to them, they could get food to the students.

In a testament to the generosity of First Baptist members, several of those who formerly sponsored children in Zanglais pooled their resources and gave, above and beyond their ordinary gifts to our church ministry & missions, to fund the remainder of this school year's hot lunch program.

The food delivery has now been made, and because of their generosity, around 650 kids in Haiti will receive a nutritious lunch each day to power their bodies and minds to take full advantage of the education Église Baptiste de Zanglais' school provides AND to hear the good news of the gospel with full stomachs. Well done, y'all, and thank you!

The Week Ahead

Thursday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Friday

7 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous

Saturday

10 a.m. - Esther Cutting Funeral

Sunday

9 a.m. - Adult Bible Studies | FirstYOUTH Bible Study | FirstKIDS Choirs

10 a.m. - Coffee & Pastries Fellowship

10:30 a.m. - Sanctuary Worship | Preschool Worship | Nursery

11:45 a.m. - Fellowship Lunch

12:30 p.m. - Safety Team Meeting

Monday

9 a.m. - Prayer Meeting

10:30 a.m. - Monday Fun Day

1 p.m. - Quilting Ministry



Tuesday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Wednesday

6:30 p.m. - Choir Rehearsal

Thursday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Upcoming Events

January

29 - Senior Adult Day Trip

February

1 - Communion | Fellowship Lunch | Blood Pressure Clinic | Safety Team Meeting

2 - Monday Fun Day: Smoky Mountain Variety Show

8 - FAST Network Meeting

18 - Ash Wednesday Service (6 p.m.)

March

1 - Communion | Fellowship Lunch | Blood Pressure Clinic

8 - Health Ministry Lunch & Learn - Stroke Prevention

9 - FAST Rally

29 - Palm Sunday | Egg Hunt & Fellowship Lunch

April

2 - Maundy Thursday Supper & Worship (6 p.m.)

3 - Good Friday Stations of the Cross (6 p.m.)

5 - Easter Sunday

16 - Nehemiah Action

26 - Discover First Baptist

Contact Us

First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

1900 Gandy Blvd N

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727.576.5508

fbc@fbcstpete.org