FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar
As we find ourselves squarely in the middle of Lent, I have been thinking about prayer. In a season of repentance and reflection, prayer is vital for our growth. Oftentimes prayer feels like a job, something we should do, but don't do enough. We feel guilty or embarrassed or frustrated with ourselves. It helps me when I remember that prayer is a gift rather than a burden, that it is an invitation to communicate with God rather than one more thing to check off our to-do list. There are no one way to pray, no "right" way that makes God more likely to hear us.
C.S. Lewis once wrote:
“I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.”
If you are looking for a routine of prayer, I suggest simply finding a place to be still and quiet. After a few moments of silence, just think or say out loud whatever is on your mind. Think of the people and situations you want to pray about and imagine yourself holding them before God. You don't have to know what to say, just put yourself in a position to be close to God and notice that God is near, trusting that God will show you what is next and that prayer will change you.
See you Sunday.
Grace and peace,
Rebekah
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This Sunday in Worship
Join us in worship this Sunday, March 12, the third Sunday of Lent. The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will preach on "Thirst" from John 4:5-42, with additional scripture of Psalm 95. Music for Sunday will include the Handbell Choir playing "Aria" by Cynthia Dobrinski, and the Sanctuary Choir singing a lovely setting of "Behold the Lamb" by Dottie Rambo, and arranged by noted arranger David Clydesdale. Organ music will include one of the staples of the Lenten organ repertoire by J.S. Bach, "Have Mercy upon Me, O Lord" (Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, BWV 721), and Charles-Marie Widor's exciting and hefty "Allegro" from his Sixth Organ Symphony for the postlude.
Sunday Assistants for March 12
Meg Heusser
William Peebles
Click below to view the bulletin for March 12:
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GSPC News
Take them a Meal: Alexandra and Jacob Hutson are home with baby Elsie. If you would like to take them a meal, please sign up at the link below. Meals can be delivered by you, or by the restaurant, depending on your choices. To order a meal, click here.
Chili Cookoff: A team from GSPC is participating in the annual Chili Cookoff on Saturday, March 11. The cookoff is a benefit for the American Cancer Society, and all proceeds will go to transportation costs for the “Road to Recovery” program, which helps cancer patients get rides to doctor appointments and treatments. GSPC’s team will receive passes for members to use to attend the cookoff. If you’d like to join the team, or to make a contribution toward the entry fee, please contact John Browning at j.browning@rapiddeployment.com .
Children's Bowling Party: The Bowling Party for GSPC kids and families will be on Saturday, March 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Easter Shore Lanes. Please contact Hunter Oswalt to let her know if your family will attend.
Two Pastors and a Rabbi: The next installment of the Interfaith Bible Study is set for Monday, March 13, at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 806 Government Street. This continuing study is led by the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar, Rabbi Edward Boraz of Springhill Avenue Temple, and the Rev. Trey Doyle of First Baptist Church. Please RSVP to Heather Hamilton if you plan to attend.
Easter Lilies: It’s time to order Easter lilies in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Please use the form printed in the church bulletin, or call the church office during business hours. The deadline is Tuesday, April 4.
Easter Egg Hunt: Mark your calendars for the GSPC Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m. in Washington Square. It's going to be an eggs-cellent time of fun and fellowship!
Donation Day: The Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega recently opened its new, 20,000-square-foot Thrift Store, which will provide expanded job skills training for the residents of the Home as well as the local deaf and blind citizens through a partnership with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Spring Hill Presbyterian Church will host a Donation Day on Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, after which the donations will be transported to Talladega that same day. (There will be no drop offs or storage at SHPC before or after those designated times.) Please consider donating furniture, home decor, unique one-of-a-kind items, electronics, appliances (small or large in good working condition), and tools of all kinds. (Clothing items are not needed at this time). For details, please contact Ted Autterson at 251-510-5184 or ted.autterson@gmail.com.
Sunday Assistants Needed: The Diaconate is seeking volunteers to help fill the Sunday Assistant slots each week. If you are willing to be added to a list of possible substitutes, please email Diaconate Chair Lisa Goodloe at lgoodloe@comcast.net. This list of substitutes will be a resource for the Deacons to use in the event of a scheduling conflict. Thank you!
Community News
Ready for spring gardening? You can support horticulture programs at Mobile County Public Schools and find some great bargains at the same time! Spring plant sales have begun at Bryant Career Technical Center and Mary G. Montgomery High School. The plants are cultivated by students, and proceeds benefit the horticulture programs. Visit the MGM Academy of Agribusiness FB page and the Bryant Career Technical Center Horticulture Program FB page for hours and payment information. (Typical hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.)
LoDa ArtWalk: The next LoDa ArtWalk is Friday, March 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. This event will celebrate Sports and Photography, and everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite team jersey.
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Talking Heads
This Sunday School class meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Heltzel Room on the second floor. The class is studying the book “Wholehearted Faith,” written by Rachel Held Evans with Jeff Chu.
Sunday Book Study
9:30 a.m. in the Church Library. The group is studying the Interpretation Bible Series "Romans."
Sunday School for Children and Youth
Sunday School for Children and Youth begins at 9:30 a.m. each week.
Spring Hill Women Bible Study
Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying Genesis.
Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study
The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study meets at 10 a.m. at the church. The group will continue its study of the Psalms and the sermon text for the following week. For details, contact Mary Elizabeth Perry.
Men's Bible Study
The Wednesday night Men’s Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the church library and also via Zoom. Study of lectionary or sermon texts. Contact: 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.
Help for Ukraine
The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program is our denomination's means for helping in times of disaster and crisis. The PC(USA) is in touch with our partner churches in Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Hungary. While it is difficult to get funds into Ukraine, the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance workers are doing their best to meet needs. In addition, they are sending supplies to partners in Hungary and Poland to help with the mounting refugee crisis in those countries. If you would like to help, you may give online or by text. https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/ukraine/
PB&J 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
GSPC has agreed to provide lunch for up to 45 residents at McKemie Place on the second Friday of each month. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered for this mission over the last year. We are in need of volunteers to provide, prepare, and serve lunches on April 14 and May 12. If you can help with this mission on any of these dates, please contact Lisa deShazo at 251-591-1077.
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 your donations of gently used luggage to the church office.
Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
How Can You Support Barton Academy?
- Send monetary gifts to the church to provide assistance to families purchasing uniforms. Checks should have the memo "Uniform Assistance."
- Bring the following items to stock a Hygiene Closet for the school: Clorox wipes, Tissue, Deodorant, Black socks, Paper Towels, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste.
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 white underwear (see details in the listing below) and used glasses. Below is a list of needed items:
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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);
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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);
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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.
Blanket Ministry: All are invited to donate baby blankets to be delivered to the Mostellar Clinic. Inexpensive items of any baby-appropriate washable fabric or yarn are appreciated. No large items, please: The babies we serve usually average 3-5 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.”
Habitat for Humanity SW Alabama here in Mobile is looking for volunteers to help out – just yourself, or a group. Our volunteers come out on Wednesday through Saturday. Hours are 7:45 a.m. to noon. What a great way to focus on team-building with your co-workers and friends!
Please email and let me know when you would like to be added to the Habitat calendar for 2023.
In Partnership,
Sue C. King
Habitat for Humanity SW Alabama
Development Coordinator
3712 Airport Blvd.
251-476-7171, Ext. 229
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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, you will need to pay $5 for 3 hours of parking.
The State of Alabama has begun issuing new tag plates with current year tag renewals. Please make sure that you update your new tag number as you receive them. You may submit new information at this link, or to the church office.
Premium Parking is handling our parking lot revenue. The company has added a service kiosk next to the Guesnard House patio entrance.
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 not registered, you may do so at online at gspcmobile.org/parking
- If you have difficulty registering your vehicle online, please contact Heather or Barbara in the church office.
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If you receive a ticket, do not pay it. Please bring the ticket or send a picture of it to Heather or Barbara in the church office and they will take care of it.
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