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Wednesday, February 12, 2025 | |
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GSPC News
New Committees: The GSPC Session has approved a new committee structure for our church. The congregation is encouraged to sign up or request more information by filling out the "Serving GSPC" form. If you are already serving on a committee and would like to continue, please fill out the form so we are aware of your intent.
All committees and subcommittees will meet for the first time on Sunday, March 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. The committees and subcommittees will then each set a schedule that works for the group.
If you have questions about a particular committee, please contact the committee chair or vice-chair or contact Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar.
Tuesday Lunch and Learn Series: The Tuesday Lunch and Learn series continues weekly through March 25. The lunch is served at noon and the presentation begins at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $12.
Here is the schedule of upcoming speakers:
February 18: Lt. Bill Hudson of the downtown Mobile Police precinct.
February 25: Jon Sexton, new director of the History Museum of Mobile.
March 18: John Sledge, author and historian.
March 25: Johnny Morris, Mobile Fire Chief.
GSPC Book Club: The GSPC Book Club will meet on Tuesday, February 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the GSPC Library and via Zoom. Our reading selection will be "Fight Against Fear: Southern Jews and Black Civil Rights" by Dr. Clive Webb. Please RSVP to Meredith Johnston at meredith@gspcmobile.org or at 251-323-5954.
Church Office Closed Wednesday, February 19: The staff will be participating in an all day staff retreat on Wednesday, February 19. The office will be closed for the entire day and will open again for regular hours on Thursday, February 20.
Two Pastors and a Rabbi: The next Interfaith Bible Study will be on Thursday, February 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Springhill Avenue Temple. Join Rabbi Ed Boraz, the Rev. Trey Doyle of First Baptist and the Rev. Lamar for an evening of fellowship and Bible study.
Mardi Gras Dinner & Parade Viewing: Families, children, and Youth are invited to share a meal and watch the parades together on Sunday, February 23, with dinner beginning at 5 p.m. and the first parade at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Bradley.
Joe Cain Sunday: On Sunday, March 2, GSPC will worship at First Baptist Church at 9 a.m. Rabbi Ed Boraz (Spring Hill Avenue Temple), the Rev. Trey Doyle (FBC), and the Rev. Lamar will offer the sermon as part of the "Two Pastors and a Rabbi" collaboration. Passes to help those traveling downtown for worship will be available at GSPC on Feb. 16 and 23 and during the week.
Other News and Notes
Cold-Weather Clothing Donations: GSPC is collecting gently worn cold-weather clothing items for men, women and children, such as coats, sweaters, hats, gloves and scarves. Socks are a much-needed item for those in shelters. These items will be given to various agencies that distribute clothing to those in need. There is a box for these donations in the Jackson Street Foyer. (Scroll down to read additional news about GSPC's clothing drive to help students at Howard Elementary and Calloway-Smith Middle Schools.)
Baytreat Memories: The congregation is invited to share their favorite Baytreat memories. Please submit them using this link.
Sanctuary Flowers: If you would like to place flowers in the Sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please contact Ann Adams at Adams-marion@att.net or 251-591-8586.
Office Volunteers: The church office volunteers assist with monitoring the Jackson Street entrance and answering the phone. They may also assist with special projects. Meredith Johnston has created a newsletter about the volunteers and their work. Click here to read about what they've been up to! If you are able to volunteer, please contact Meredith Johnston at the church office.
Thriving Congregations: If you missed the presentation from the Thriving Congregations Team, click here to view the slides presented and contact the church office if you are interested in volunteering or want to know more.
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Sunday, February 16
Join us next Sunday, February 16, when the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues the sermon series “Know Who I AM,” inspired by Jesus’s “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. The sermon will be from John 14:1-7 and titled “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Music includes the Sanctuary Choir singing "Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place" with mezzo soprano Meredith Wilson, and Mark Patterson's arrangement of the Spiritual "Give Me Jesus" with soprano Kelly Connor singing the verse.
Bulletin for February 16:
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Sunday, February 23
Join us next Sunday, February 23, when the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues the sermon series “Know Who I AM,” from Jesus’s “I AM” statements in the Gospel of John. The sermon will be from John 15:1-17 and titled “I AM the Vine.” Music includes the Sanctuary Choir singing W.A. Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" with Gabrielle Corlette as soprano soloist, and the Children's Choir singing Hal Hopson's "Gentle Shepherd, Kind and True.”
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February Birthdays
February 4: Jada Pharr
February 6: Shelley Springer
February 7: John Moses
February 8: John Peebles
February 9: Sumner Adams, Hunter Ray, Zach Weaver
February 10: Sarah Catherine King
February 11: Edward Otts
February 12: Bill Cutts
February 13: Henry Morrissette
February 14: Gary Curran
February 16: Binky Oswalt, Sandy Thomason, Henley Thurber
February 17: Mary Ella Northrop
February 17: Ashley Trice
February 18: Louise Hutchison
February 19: Mitch Bohnenkamp, Coleman Oswalt, Harris Oswalt
February 20: Nicole Riis
February 21: Kate Gardner, Carolyn Gates, Brian Naylor
February 22: Kendall Dexter, Liz Helmsing, James Heusser
February 23: John Ashbee, Lee Otts
February 24: Ted Northrop
February 25: Guy Etherton
February 26: Wesley Wyatt
February 27: Ellen Jackson, Margaret Otts
February 28: Lavinia Harris
February 29: Ellen Trice
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GSPC Youth News
- The GSPC Youth have begun a weekly Bible study on Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. at Carpe Diem. All are welcome.
- Congratulations to Ellen Trice, who recently won her first-ever tennis medal in a regional tournament at the Mobile Tennis Center. Way to go!
- Ellen's older brother, Anders, is the No. 2 seed on the St. Paul's Varsity Tennis Team, and will compete this weekend in a national tournament in the 16-year-olds division at the Mobile Tennis Center.
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Outerwear Drive for Local Schools
GSPC has partnered with the Fuse Project to support two local schools: Florence Howard Elementary, 957 Dr. MLK, Jr. Ave., and Calloway-Smith Middle School, 350 N. Lawrence St.
GSPC is doing an outerwear drive for students at these schools who often need new school-appropriate sweatshirts or jackets by this point in the year. Any number we can supply is appreciated by the schools!
How can you help?
1. Purchase outerwear using the guidelines, sizes, and colors below. These can be found online at Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target, or Old Navy and dropped off at the church.
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2. Send a check to GSPC noting "Outerwear Drive" in the memo.
Check your email for a special notice with more details about the outerwear drive.
This endeavor is part of the Fuse Project's work to support children and families in the historic Avenue community in downtown Mobile. GSPC is excited to be a part of supporting these new initiatives to help children in our downtown community.
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New Directory Print and Online Directories Available
GSPC members are encouraged to download the Realm app and use it to connect with the congregation. Those who did not already have a Realm account should have received an email invitation to create one. If you did not receive an invitation, and feel you should have, please contact the church office at 251-432-1749 for assistance. We will be happy to assist you with that, as well as with any aspect of Realm and accessing the online church directory. We hope you will participate in this endeavor to help keep our congregation connected!
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Talking Heads
This Sunday School class meets on the second floor of the church each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Book Study
9:30 a.m. in the Church Library. The group is studying the Book of Luke in the Interpretation Bible Series.
Spring Hill Women Bible Study
This Bible study meets on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying the Gospel of Matthew with the Rev. George Sinclair as discussion leader. Everyone is welcome.
Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study
The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study meets at 10 a.m. at the church. The contact is Mary Elizabeth Perry.
Men's Bible Study
The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study meets at 6 p.m. at the church. Zoom participation is also available. The contact is Bo Perry.
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Opportunities for Service
Please remember the people our church is serving and those who work with them daily in your prayers.
Hurricane Helene Victims
How Can You Help? Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is collecting funds and is assisting in affected areas. The Montreat Conference Center would also appreciate donations, as their staff repairs extensive damage to the property while providing housing for volunteers who are working throughout the region. Mail checks to: Montreat Conference Center
Office of Development
P.O. Box 969
Montreat, NC 28757
Making Giving Easier
Did you know that you may make online donations through the GSPC website? The site has an “Online Giving” square button on the top right corner. To access it, click here. You will see a button that links to PayPal. Put in the name of the organization, the amount being donated, the card or account to be used, and note what it is for (uniforms, buckets, pledge, general or specific donation). An email receipt will be sent to you and the donation will appear on your Paypal statement if you need it before the GSPC statement arrives at the end of the year.
Blanket Sunday
The Presbyterian Women are collecting baby blankets, and the first Sunday of the month is designated as "Blanket Sunday" to remind the congregation to donate to the Blanket Ministry. The baby blankets are delivered to the Mostellar Clinic. Inexpensive items of any baby-appropriate washable fabric or yarn are appreciated. The babies we serve usually average 8 lbs. Store-bought or handmade items are welcomed. Donations may be left in the “Baby Box” at the Jackson Street Foyer, or you may order from Amazon and request delivery to the church, marked “Blanket Ministry."
Needs for Meals on Wheels
Our 45 Meals on Wheels recipients receive a sack lunch each day, along with a hot meal. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are often on the menu, and donations of creamy peanut butter and grape jelly are needed to help fill the pantry. Our clients also receive an individually wrapped snack, and snack donations are needed: peanut butter/cheese crackers, chips, cookies, cereal bars, Cheez-its, etc. Please leave your Meals on Wheels donations in the donation box at the Jackson Street entrance.
McKemie Place
McKemie Place, a 501c3 non-profit, is the only emergency shelter for unaccompanied women in Southwest Alabama. McKemie Place was created in 2007 as a service of the United Methodist Inner City Mission, thanks to the efforts of the Homeless Coalition task force, and became its own nonprofit in 2010. The shelter serves 450 women each year.
On the second Friday of each month, two or three GSPC members volunteer to bring lunch to the residents of McKemie Place, a safe, nurturing shelter for homeless women. The ladies at McKemie are grateful for the nourishing meals as well as the love and care that goes into the meals and the interaction in serving. This is a rewarding ministry for these recipients as well as those who prepare and share the meals.
If you would like to be part of the team to prepare food and deliver it to McKemie Place, or just want more information, please contact Mary DeWitt Dukes (504-920-1918) or Lisa deShazo (251-591-1077). You may also contact Lisa deShazo by email if you are interested in volunteering for this mission.
In addition, the residents of McKemie Place are in need of luggage to carry their belongings when they are able to leave the shelter. Please bring donations of gently used luggage (with wheels, please) to the church office.
If you would like to learn more about McKemie Place, or to receive their monthly newsletters, visit McKemiePlace.org.
Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
How Can You Support Barton Academy?
- Hygiene Closet items: Clorox wipes, Tissue, Deodorant, Black socks, Paper Towels, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste.
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Uniform Assistance: Several families at Barton Academy need help with uniforms. In addition, we are learning of uniform needs for other nearby schools. If you are willing to give to help provide uniforms, please mark your donation and place it in the offering plate or send to Dawn Hearn, bookkeeper.
Family Promise of Coastal Alabama
The mission of Family Promise of Coastal Alabama is to provide temporary shelter, related services and nurturing support to families as they work to achieve and sustain independence.
Toiletries and other essentials: Because Family Promise houses multiple families, toiletries, laundry supplies, paper products and cleaning products are always needed. We are doing everything we can to work with our clients to get them housed and stable, but we need your help to make their day-to-day life easier. Click here to view the Family Promise wish lists. You may purchase the items via Amazon or locally. The Family Promise website has much more information on their work, contact info, how you can help, and a link to sign up for their emailed newsletter.
The Mobile Area Interfaith Conference (MAIC) is a non-profit agency that provides services for inmates in Metro Jail and released inmates returning to the community. This agency was formerly known as the Council of Downtown Churches, of which GSPC was a major participant. MAIC currently has an urgent need for personal hygiene products (see details in the listing below) and used glasses. Below is a list of needed items:
- Personal hygiene products for men and women, including full size shampoo and conditioner (must be able to see through the containers), full size deodorant (no roller balls), full size soap, full size toothpaste, white cotton socks (no anklet style);
- Clothing, including men's white cotton briefs or boxers (no snaps), white cotton T-shirts with sleeves (men and women use these, so all sizes welcome), women's white cotton underpants (all sizes), women's white cotton bras (all sizes);
- Reading material, including Bibles (softbound only, large print editions especially needed), magazines with neutral content such as food, decorating, self-improvement, health, shopping, geography, history, etc., and books (soft bound only, with mild non-violent content, non-fiction also appreciated).
- Small containers of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and soap are also welcome.
If you have any questions about any of these missions, please contact Lisa deShazo, Chair of the Urban Ministries Committee.
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Parking lot
We suggest that all of our members park in the GSPC lot, double parking if necessary. If you wish to park in the lot next to GSPC's lot, you will need to pay $5 for three hours of parking.
Premium Parking is handling our parking lot revenue. The company has added a service kiosk next to the Guesnard House patio entrance.
Church members whose vehicles are booted in the GSPC Parking Lot after the church office is closed should call or text Meredith Johnston at 251-323-5954.
Please remember to update us if you have a new tag and or vehicle.
Please remember:
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GSPC members park for free in the lot at all times.
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If you have a new vehicle tag to register, you may do so by emailing your license plate number to Meredith Johnston in the church office.
- If you receive a ticket, do not pay it. Please bring the ticket or send a picture of it to Barbara or Meredith in the church office and she will take care of it.
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