Weekly Church Newsletter | November 27, 2025

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

A Note From The Pastor: Happy Thanksgiving!

First Baptist Family,

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday wherever you find yourself today.

In keeping with the theme, let me quickly express some gratitude:

As a result of your generous giving, our Food Pantry Ministry was able to distribute Thanksgiving baskets to 138 families this past week. Thank you.

Sunday's Thanksgiving Fellowship Lunch was delicious and the fellowship was warm. Sharon Alonso and the whole food service crew served us well and many of you showed up to be together. Thank you.

Many hands made light work of the Advent Decorating - and some good fun was had, too. Thank you.

Again, I'm so grateful for this fellowship of believers, and for the ways you keep showing up to love and serve - sometimes with official positions and titles, and, more often, without. Thank you for all you do, and even more for who you are. Thank you!

Wherever your travels have you today, I hope your schedule allows you to be back with us in worship this Sunday for the First Sunday of Advent. We will kick off the season with our Hanging of the Green service which highlights the meaning of our Advent & Christmas decorations. As we reflect on the symbols and lift our voices to sing many favorite Advent hymns and carols, together we will prepare our hearts for our journey toward Christmas.

I am looking forward to seeing you then! Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Ben

Worship This Sunday

November 30, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.

First Sunday of Advent: HOPE

Hanging of the Green

Songs of Worship

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

His Name Shall Be

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending

Deliver Us

View the Present Through the Promise

Homily

Nearer to Us Now

Romans 13:11-14

Big Idea: We are ever closer to the fulfillment of our hope.

Preschool & Elementary Kids in Sanctuary Worship

Our Preschool & Elementary-aged kids will join us in the Sanctuary for our Hanging of the Green Service. There will be several opportunities for them to have an active role in the service, and they're encouraged to also visit the table at the rear of the Sanctuary for activities for use during the service.

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 Joye Quire & Candy Scherer for being our Nursery Adult Leadership this week!

Before Worship This Sunday

9 a.m. Kids Choirs

Preschool Kids Choir | Room 109

A fun and music-filled time for preschoolers Age 2 through Pre-K to learn to make music and worship.

Elementary Kids Choir | Room 206 (Library)

Our Kindergarten through 5th Grade kids learn music and worship leadership skills in a fun and engaging environment.

9 a.m. Youth & Adult Bible Studies

FirstYOUTH Bible Study | Multipurpose Room

Meaningful community and Bible study for Middle School & High School Students.

Digging Deeper | Heritage Hall

A group of adults of all ages. They are currently studying the Letter to the Philippians.

Masters Class | Conference Room

A group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. November's study is called This We Believe

Sonshine Class | Room 10

A group composed primarily of retired adults, this class utilizes the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion. November's study is called This We Believe

Special Needs Class | Room 2

This group of adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry. Their current study is looking at Stories About the Fall of Jerusalem.

10 a.m. Coffee & Pastries 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!

Monday Fun Day Christmas Luncheon

December 1 | 10:30 a.m.

THIS MONDAY is our Senior Adult Ministry's 5th Annual Christmas Luncheon! We will gather in the Narthex for Christmas caroling and a wonderful hot lunch. Remember to bring your favorite Christmas treat to share!

FAST Research Kick-Off

Monday, December 8 | 6:45 p.m.

At the Annual Assembly of our county-wide Justice Ministry, FAST, we selected "Youth & Child Concerns" as the issue on which we desire to focus our work in the coming year. This category bubbled up over and again in House Meetings, including folks who shared stories about limited access to and cost of childcare, bullying and behavioral issues in schools, and food insecurity, including defunding of school lunch programs.

The next step in our process is our research kickoff which is at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on Monday, December 8 at 6:45 p.m.

At this meeting we'll hear more about these stories and identify a particular problem to tackle that is meaningful and winnable.

If you're interested in helping set the course for our justice ministry work this year, and eventually joining in the research process to find concrete solutions, you are encouraged to be part of the Research Kickoff.

Senior Adult Trip - The Joy of Christmas

Sunday, December 14 | 5:45 p.m.

We are taking a bus to Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz to attend their Christmas program "The Joy of Christmas". Tickets for the program are $18 with our group discount. The church will provide free bus transportation. We will depart the church at 5:45 p.m. and return about 10 p.m. Please sign up at the link below.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Sunday, December 24 | 6 p.m.

On Christmas Even we will again have our traditional candlelight worship service in the Sanctuary at 6 p.m. Make plans to join us - and extend the invitation to your family, friends, and neighbors to join us as well - as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

The Week Ahead

Friday

All Day - Promiseland Preschool Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

7 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous

Sunday

9 a.m. - Kids Choirs | Youth & Adult Bible Studies

10 a.m. - Coffee & Pastries Fellowship

10:30 a.m. - Sanctuary Worship - Hanging of the Green | Nursery

Monday

9 a.m. - Prayer Gathering

10:30 a.m. - Monday Fun Day Christmas Luncheon

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

November

27 - Church Campus Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

28 - Promiseland Preschool Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

30 - First Sunday of Advent | Hanging of the Green

December

1 - Monday Fun Day Christmas Luncheon

7 - Second Sunday of Advent | Fellowship Lunch

8 - FAST Research Kick-off

14 - Third Sunday of Advent | CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley Preaching | Senior Adult Trip to "The Joy of Christmas"

21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

25-26 - Church Campus Closed for Christmas Holiday

Contact Us

First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

1900 Gandy Blvd N

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727.576.5508

fbc@fbcstpete.org