First Baptist Newsletter | March 21, 2024

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

A Note from the Pastor:

Palm Sunday & Holy Week

First Baptist Family,

Our long Lenten journey is nearly complete as this Sunday we enter Holy Week.

There are many opportunities in these coming days for each of us to deepen our relationships with fellow believers and with God, and come to Easter morning more fully prepared to appropriately celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Let me invite you to make plans to be a part of these special activities.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we will celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As you enter worship this week be sure to pick up a palm branch to use during worship.

After this special time of worship, we will gather in the Multipurpose Room for a Church-wide Fellowship & Egg Hunt. We'll enjoy a grilled hotdog lunch, egg hunts for the kids (THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS OF EGGS & CANDY!), and some fun fellowship activities our Thriving Congregations Team has planned for all of us! This is a fellowship for everyone and I hope you'll plan to be a part of it!

After all the fun and celebration of Palm Sunday, we'll transition into our journey to the cross. We will begin by sharing a solemn Maundy Thursday Dinner & Communion (please RSVP here), then we'll have a meaningful Good Friday Stations of the Cross for all ages, and after that dark journey, we will join together for Easter Worship next Sunday. More details about each of those is below. Again, I trust each is going to be a meaningful event to enrich your faith journey.

Won't you join us as we are Walking the Way in these final days of Lent!

Blessings,

Ben

Palm Sunday Worship

March 24, 2024 | 10:30 a.m.

Songs of Worship

Hosanna

Forever

All Glory Laud And Honor

At The Name Of Jesus

God Of All Comfort

Holy, Holy, Holy

Sermon

"Hosanna!"

Mark 11:1-11

Ben Winder

Jesus comes to save us and to save the world!

Procession of Palms

Everyone is invited to pick up Palms on your way into worship this Sunday.

Children of all ages will begin worship in the sanctuary with their families this week. Kids can gather at the back doors before the service begins to line up for a palm procession during our first song (younger kids might need a parent to join them). The processional will end at the steps of the platform for our Children's Sermon. Following that, any kids wanting to go to Preschool & Kids Worship will be dismissed.

Preschool Worship

For Palm Sunday our Preschoolers will encounter Matthew 21:1-11, 15-16, which teaches us that we can celebrate Jesus.

Kids Worship

For Palm Sunday our Elementary school kids will encounter Matthew 21:1-11, learning Jesus came to be our Savior.

WATCH WORSHIP ON YOUTUBE

WATCH WORSHIP ON FACEBOOK

Palm Sunday Church Fellowship

March 24, After Worship | Multipurpose Room

Following worship this Sunday we invite you to join us in the Multipurpose Room for a church-wide fellowship event. We'll share a lunch of grilled hotdogs, have several special fun fellowship activities for everyone, and egg hunts on the back lawn for the kids.

Remember to bring your Easter baskets!

Maundy Thursday Dinner & Communion

March 28, 6 p.m. | Narthex

The Thursday night before Easter, known as Maundy Thursday, we will gather in the Narthex to remember Jesus' final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion where he washed their feet and established the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.

We'll share a meal and communion together around the tables, and a meaningful, intimate time of worship.

Please RSVP for Maundy Thursday to help us be prepared for you.

RSVP for Maundy Thursday

Good Friday Stations of the Cross

March 29, 6 p.m. | Begin in Prayer Garden

On this evening, we will remember the passion and crucifixion of Jesus through an experiential worship experience. We will walk together around our church campus from station to station, each sequentially telling the story of Good Friday and providing an hands-on activity to aid reflection on the story of Jesus betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. With its movement and activity, this is a great event for folks of all ages to prepare for Easter. We invite you to wear comfortable clothes/shoes for walking (walkers, wheelchairs and strollers welcome!), and join us in the Prayer Garden (behind the big window at the foot of the cross) at 6 p.m. to join us on this journey.

Easter Sunday Worship Service

Sunday March 31, 10:30 a.m. | Sanctuary

On this holiest day of the year, we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!

We hope you will join us and invite some of your friends and neighbors to join us, too.

Sunday Mornings Before Worship

9 a.m. Bible Studies & Choirs

If you're not here on Sundays at 9 a.m., you're missing out!

We have great offerings for all ages. Here's what's going on:

Preschool Choir (2-PreK) | Room 109

Music and fun for preschoolers.

Kids Choir (K-5th) | Room 206

Music and fun for elementary-aged students.

FirstYOUTH Bible Study | Multipurpose Room

A weekly gathering for Middle and High School students.

Digging Deeper Class | Room 204

A co-ed group of adults of all ages currently studying the Book of Romans.

Masters Class | Conference Room

A co-ed group of adults of all ages, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion.

Raising Adults Class | Room 205

A co-ed group for adults in the stage of life with kids in their home.

Sonshine Class | Heritage Hall

A co-ed group composed primarily of retired adults, utilizing the Formations curriculum to facilitate class discussion.

Special Needs Class | Heritage Hall Room 2

This co-ed group for adults with intellectual disabilities is part of our Special Needs Ministry.

10 a.m. Intergenerational 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 - Juanita Lolita Comedy Show

April 1 - 10:30 a.m. | Heritage Hall

April's Monday Fun Day is a Comedian show with Juanita Lolita - no joke! Join us and bring a friend for laugher, lunch, and fellowship. Please sign up at the link below!

April Senior Adult Day Trip

April 9 - 9 a.m.

Join us for April's Senior Adult Day Trip to Plant City. For those who love trains there will be a train scavenger hunt and museum to see. For those who love antiques and interesting shops you can enjoy that before we reunite for lunch at Fred's Market. The bus will leave the church at 9 a.m. Cost is $20 with lunch on your own. Sign up at the link below!

Parent Cue App

Parent Cue is an app which aligns with our Preschool, Children, and Youth Curriculum to give parents tools to help them through every stage to grow a lasting, vibrant faith in their kids. This is part of our effort as a church to come alongside your family as you raise your kids to be all God is Calling them to become.

You can download the free app at the link below.

DOWNLOAD PARENT CUE APP

St Pete Arts Academy Enrolling Now

The St. Pete Arts Academy is a new ministry of First Baptist! We are offering small group and individual music lessons for kids in our community and a Middle School and High School Show Choir directed by our own Michael McCarthy.

You can learn more and sign up for group/personal lessons in piano, violin, trumpet, flute, & drums as well as the Show Choirs at the link below.

Please help us spread the word about this exciting new ministry to folks in your circles!

MORE INFO & SIGN UP

Promiseland Book Fair - Church Day | March 24

Promiseland Preschool is hosting their annual Scholastic Book Fair next week!

You are invited to check it out and make purchases following worship this Sunday (alongside our Church-wide Fellowship & Kids Egg Hunt). Promiseland gets 20% of all proceeds to purchase additional books, toys, games, and items for the classrooms!

The book fair will also be open March 25-29, 7:30-9 a.m. & 3:30-5:30 p.m.