Weekly Church Newsletter | July 2, 2026

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

Worship This Sunday

July 5, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Come As You Are

Running Back To You

King of Kings

The Old Rugged Cross


Sermon

A Manageable Burden

Matthew 11:25-30

Ben Winder

Big Idea: Jesus' demands are a bearable yoke and burden because his Spirit provides the same strength to carry the load that Jesus himself relied upon to carry the load in redeeming creation.


Preschool Worship

We are excited that both our elementary & preschool kids will join their families in the Multipurpose Room for the beginning of worship. Our elementary kids will remain in the service the whole time this week. At the offering, our preschoolers will be invited to Preschool Worship where their lesson is Justice and Jubilee from Isaiah 58:1-12. Thanks to this week's Preschool Worship adult leaders, Jennifer Burger & Amber Ruiz.


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 Greg & Jenny Hochsprung.


Communion & Benevolence Offering

We will share the Lord's Supper in worship this Sunday. As is our practice on Sundays when we partake in communion, we will also make available the opportunity for you to give to our Benevolence Offering. This offering empowers our Care Team to meet the needs of our members and neighbors. You are invited to give at the doors as you depart.

Opportunities Sundays at 9 a.m.

Sunday Morning Bible Studies

We offer several options for you 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.


Intergenerational Summer Sundays | Room 207

This intergenerational group (3yrs-senior adults) uses the Journey Together Curriculum. This week's lesson is Discovering the Disciples in which we will learn the first disciples of Jesus were called to follow Jesus and use their gifts. Nursery is available for those under 3 years old; thanks to Jean & Troy Willingham for serving in Journey Together nursery this week!


Masters Class | Conference Room

A group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. They begin a new study this week, The Book of Numbers. This week's lesson is Complaints from Numbers 11:4-6, 10-17.


Sonshine Class | Room 10

A group composed primarily of retired adults, this class utilizes the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. They begin a new study this week, The Book of Numbers. This week's lesson is Complaints from Numbers 11:4-6, 10-17.


Special Needs Class | Room 9

This group of adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry. This week's lesson is Peter in Prison.

10 a.m. Coffee & Pastries Fellowship in the MPR Café

We invite you to join us this Sunday for coffee, juice, and other goodies along with fellowship with your church family. While we are worshipping in the Multipurpose Room, this fellowship will take place in the café at the rear of the MPR. We'll see you Sunday!

Worship in Multipurpose Room Reminders

Through August 2, our 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services will be held in the Multipurpose Room. A few reminders for you for this summer ...


We encourage you to park in parking lots A & C.

These are the lots closest to the MPR. They will also be best to allow easy access to all of our 9 a.m. offerings and easy access to your vehicle following worship. If you park in those lots you can enter the building through the four entrances marked on the map above to get to your 9 a.m. Bible studies and worship.


Our coffee & pastries fellowship will occur in the café area at the rear of the MPR.

Come on into the MPR at 10 a.m. and enjoy a time of fellowship before worship begins - you can expect the same spread we typical offer in the Narthex, just nearer to our summer worship space.


FirstKIDS Check-In will be available in two locations this summer.

If your child(ren) will be attending nursery, preschool worship, or kids worship, you can print their nametag at either the Bell Tower or the Promiseland Lobby before your family heads into worship.


Kids ages 3 & up will join their families for (at least part of) the worship service.

This summer our kids will begin the service each week with their families in the Multipurpose Room. There will be a point in the service when they'll be invited to their own worship environments, Preschool Worship (3 year old-PreK) and Kids Worship (K-5th Grade), if they and their families choose for them to do so (note that elementary-aged kids remain with their families for the full service on first Sundays). For kids younger than 3, the nursery will be available throughout the worship service.


We've introduced a "pray-ground" in worship.

This space is designed as an integrated part of our congregational seating, with a simple invitation: a space for wonder and worship. We've created this space because we believe children and youth belong in worship - not on the sidelines, but right in the center of our shared life with God. The pray-ground gives our youngest worshippers a dedicated space to see, hear, and participate in the service in age-appropriate and meaningful ways, using quiet tools to help them focus, engage, and feel at home. There is something significant about children being present and a part when scripture is read, prayers are spoken, and our congregation sings together. This space is for children and their families and we warmly invite adults to sit nearby to support and worship alongside them. We also know that movement and sound can make it harder for some to focus in worship, and we want every person to be able to fully engage. If this is true for you, please feel free to sit further from the pray-ground, along the window-side of the room or further back. We are excited about this part of our holy experiment as children, youth, and adults all find their space to worship together!


Most important, don't forget your grace-filled agility!

It has been 26 years since our weekly worship services happened in the room we now call the Multipurpose Room. There will be plenty of opportunities for growth and learning for all of us as we adjust to a different venue for worship. Let us remember to show up to worship these ten weeks with flexibility, openness, and leaning into the holy experiment to see what God might have to teach us through it.

Intergenerational Summer Sundays

Through August 2 | 9 a.m. | Room 207

This summer, adventure is closer than you think!

We want your whole family along for the journey!


Journey Together is a Sunday Morning Bible Study for all ages (3 & up), running through August 2. Whether you're a family with kids and youth at home, a grandparent, an empty-nester, a college student, or anything in between, there is a place for you here. Every activity is designed for children, youth, and adults to learn alongside one another, share perspectives, and build the kind of community that only happens when generations come together.


Come expecting fun, fellowship, and growing in our faith together, every Sunday morning. A nursery will be available for our littlest ones (birth–2 years), so no one has to stay home.


This summer, let's Journey Together!

Summer Suppers
Sign Up for Sunday, July 19

Our next Summer Supper is Sunday, July 19. You can sign up to be a host or sign up to attend dinner at someone else's home. The host will coordinate food (host provided or potluck style), and welcome everyone for an informal time of food and fellowship.

If you attended the June supper, your group and location will be different this time!

LIFE Groups Sign Ups Open

We would love to see each member of our church family plugged in and connected to a LIFE Group, which are small groups who meet together for community and discipleship = doing life together. In a LIFE Group you can find support, encouragement, growth, and fellowship. These groups are formed by connecting people by interests, geography, or stage of life. We hope you will set aside time in the coming season to join others in a LIFE group. You can read more and sign up to be a part at the link below.

Meet Our New Members

To help you get to know your fellow church members, we want to share brief Q&As. 

We hope you will get to follow up and connect more personally with them soon!

Tracy Lee

Tracy Lee joined our church May 31, 2026. 

Here's a little more about him ...

Tell us about your family ...


My mom and dad have passed away. I have been married to Pauline Lee for 16 years!



What led you to First Baptist Church of St Petersburg?


I live down the street and was driving by.



What is your favorite passage of scripture and your favorite hymn?


When the Roll is Called Up Yonder and Amazing Grace



Where do you work?


I haul scrap and I help in the Food Pantry on Thursdays.



What are some of your hobbies and interests?


Word Search - I've been through about 30 books! - and Wheel of Fortune.



Is there anything else you'd like to share?


I like programs, my neighborhood, and Wheel of Fortune.

The Week Ahead

Thursday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry


Friday

Church Office & Promiseland Closed - Independence Day Holiday

7 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous


Sunday

9 a.m. - Adult Bible Studies & Intergenerational Summer Sunday

10 a.m. - Coffee & Pastries Fellowship (MPR)

10:30 a.m. - Worship | Nursery


Monday

9 a.m. - Prayer Meeting

1 p.m. - Quilting Ministry



Tuesday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry


Thursday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Upcoming Events & Save-the-Date

July

3 - Church Campus Closed (Independence Day Holiday)

5 - Communion

19 - July Summer Suppers

25 - Promiseland Preschool 25th Anniversary Party


August

2 - Communion | FirstKids & FirstYouth Volunteer Celebration

9 - Blessing of the Backpacks | Blood Pressure Clinic | Fellowship Lunch

23 - Discover First Baptist


September

6 - Communion

7 - Church Campus Closed (Labor Day Holiday)

13 - Blood Pressure Clinic

20 - First Baptist 135th Anniversary Celebration | Fellowship Lunch


October

3 - Serve St Pete Day

4 - Fellowship Lunch


November

1 - All Saints Remembrance

15 - Discover First Baptist

22 - Fellowship Lunch | Advent Decorating Party

26-27 - Church Campus Closed (Thanksgiving Day Holiday)

29 - First Sunday of Advent - Hanging of the Green


December

6 - Fellowship Lunch

24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

25 - Church Campus Closed (Christmas Day Holiday)

Contact Us


First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

1900 Gandy Blvd N

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727.576.5508

fbc@fbcstpete.org