Weekly Church Newsletter | June 4, 2026

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

A Note from the Associate Pastor ...

First Baptist Family,

As families enter into the chaos and fun of summer, I find myself thinking about the families in our congregation. I think about the parents trying to pass their faith on to their children, the grandparents who long to share what they believe with the little ones they love, the families who want to grow together but aren't always sure how.  This summer, I am excited about Journey Together: Intergenerational Summer Sundays because it is designed with families in mind.

Beginning this Sunday, June 7, and continuing through August 2, at 9:00am, we will offer an additional Sunday morning Bible Study option upstairs in Room 207. This is a Bible study time designed for all ages (3yrs and up) to experience faith together.  Every activity has been thoughtfully designed so that children, youth, and adults can participate together, learning from one another and building the kind of bonds that last well beyond the summer.  A nursery will be available for our youngest children (birth-2yrs), so no one has to stay home. **We are still looking for a few more volunteers to help in the nursery. If you'd be willing to serve in the nursery one Sunday morning this summer, please let me know (rpriddy@fbcstpete.org).

This Bible Study is designed especially for families, but everyone is welcome! If you have children or youth in your life, I hope you’ll make this time a priority this summer. And if you don't have young ones at home (whether you are an empty-nester, a college student, or simply someone who wants to be part of something that connects the generations of this church), you are welcome, too!  This experience will be enriched when more from our church family show up together.

I also want to be sure you know that our regular Sunday morning Bible study classes will continue throughout the summer.  Journey Together is an additional opportunity for those who want to gather as families. So, if you want to stick with Digging Deeper, the Masters Class, Sonshine Class, or Special Needs Sunday Morning Bible Study, they will all look forward to seeing you on Sundays this summer as well!

Come ready for fun, fellowship, and faith formation.  Come ready to see what God can do when the generations of this church sit down (and move around!) and learn together. This summer, let's Journey Together!

I am so hopeful to see what God does in and through our church this summer, especially with this new opportunity for Sunday morning Bible study, our worship services in the Multipurpose Room, and all the summer things you can read more about below. I hope to see you this summer as we see what God has in store for us individually, as families, and as a church family!

See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Robin

Worship This Sunday

June 7, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Lift Every Voice and Sing

He Will Hold Me Fast

Simple Pursuit

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Sermon

Pull Up A Chair

Matthew 9:9-13

Robin Priddy

Big Idea: Because Jesus sat down at your table, you can sit down at theirs.

Preschool Worship

We are excited that both our elementary & preschool kids will join their families in the Multipurpose Room for the beginning of worship. Elementary kids will remain with their families throughout the service. At the offering, preschoolers are invited to Preschool Worship where their lesson is about Saul's Conversion from Acts 9:1-20. Thanks to this week's adult leaders in preschool worship, Juliet Wilson and Laura Beth Winder.

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 Ruth Frederick and Susan Stanley.

Communion & Benevolence Offering

This Sunday we will share the Lord's Supper in worship. As is our practice on Sundays we share communion, we will also collect a special benevolence offering. This offering empowers our Care Team to meet the needs of our members and neighbors. You are invited to give as you depart worship.

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.

Masters Class | Conference Room

A group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. Their current study is Stephen: Called to Serve. This week's lesson is Stephen's Calling focusing on Acts 6:1-7.

Sonshine Class | Room 10

A group composed primarily of retired adults, this class utilizes the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. Their current study is Stephen: Called to Serve. This week's lesson is Stephen's Calling focusing on Acts 6:1-7.

Special Needs Class | Room 9

This group of adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry. Their current study is Stories About the First Church. This week's lesson is Saul's Journey to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20).

Intergenerational Summer Sundays | Room 207

This intergenerational group (3yrs-senior adults) uses the Journey Together Curriculum. This week will be an introductory lesson, allowing the group to get to know one another and discover where we are headed together this summer. This week's big idea is "When we journey together, we learn new things, build community, and grow in faith."

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're introducing 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

June 7 - 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 THIS SUNDAY, June 7 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!

Church Workday | Saturday, June 13

Join us as we work on a collection of various projects especially in the (air conditioned) interior of our facility. There are jobs for all skill levels and abilities. We'll end our morning of work with lunch together.

CBF Global General Assembly

Jacksonville, FL | June 17-19

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly is in Florida this year! We invite you to join us for some or all of June 17-19 in Jacksonville as we gather with like-minded Baptists from around the world. If you're able to come, please let Pastor Ben know as there are some meal opportunities available at which we'll have a First Baptist table.

Summer Suppers
Sign Up for Sunday, July 19

We are delighted to be bringing back Summer Suppers this year!

These meals are an opportunity for you to connect with other folks in the First Baptist family around the supper table in one another's homes. 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.

Those who have signed up for this Sunday's supper should have received information from your host.

We encourage you to sign up for our July Summer Supper.

If you attend both dates, your group and location will be different each 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.

The Week Ahead

Thursday

12-4 p.m. - Food Pantry

Friday

7 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous

Sunday

9 a.m. - Adult Bible Studies

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

10:30 a.m. - Worship | Nursery

Evening - Summer Suppers

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

June

7 - FirstFAMILIES Intergenerational Summer Sundays Begin | Communion | June Summer Suppers

13 - Church Work Day

14 - Blood Pressure Clinic

17-19 - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly (Jacksonville, Florida)

20 - Next STEPP Gather for Life

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

Contact Us

First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

1900 Gandy Blvd N

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727.576.5508

fbc@fbcstpete.org