Saturday, October 21, 2023

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

I've spent this past week in Virginia with my mother, and the leaves have been at their peak while I've been here. It has been amazing to me how a tree can appear brown and dull on a rainy day and brilliant red and orange on a sunny day. The tree that appeared bright and vibrant in the morning light doesn't look as spectacular by evening, while other trees are stunning as they catch the last light of the day. As I have been here, I have been working on this week's sermon from the book of Job. So much of the book is about perspective: one may see the suffering of this one man, Job, as punishment from God, another may see it as a blessing to teach Job something, and some may see it simply as a mystery. It is a book with more questions than answers, but it has moments when the light shines through the suffering, the sorrow, and the confusion, and the majesty of God is humblingly clear. 

See you Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Rebekah

GSPC News

New Officer Slate:

On Sunday, October 22, a Congregational Meeting will be called to allow a vote on the following nominations for Church Officers:

Elder

Sage Arnold

Julie Otts

Sally Pearsall

David Trent

Scott Weldon

Deacon

Jimmy Carroll

Sallye Irvine

Knox McMurphy

Sandy Thomason

Richard Tippy

Trustees

Henry Morrissette

Chandler Ogburn

Julie Otts

Beth Rouse

Scott Weldon

Trunk or Treat canceled: Because of unexpected complications, Trunk or Treat, originally scheduled for October 22, has been canceled.

Stewardship Season: Please remember to return your pledge cards. Pledges can be dropped in the offering plate, submitted to the church office, or emailed to Dawn Hearn, GSPC Bookkeeper.

Did you memorize last Sunday's Bible verse?

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm136)

Anyone who memorizes the weekly Bible verse will have a chance to place it on a bulletin board with their name on it. We will add to this board throughout the fall as our church memorizes scripture together. Remember to pick up a new memory verse on Sunday!

GSPC has hired a new Office Administrator: We welcome Meredith Johnston as our new Office Administrator! Meredith is available at meredith@gspcmobile.org.

Tuesday Lunch and Learn Series: Come to lunch! The GSPC community lunch series continues weekly through November 14. The price is $12 and includes coffee, tea and dessert. The congregation is encouraged to invite their friends to these lunches, which are open to the public. Free parking is available in the church lot for our guests during the lunch hour. Here is the schedule of upcoming speakers:

Oct. 24: William Strickland and Wes Wyatt of Mobile Baykeeper

Oct. 31: Bradley Byrne, President and CEO, Mobile Chamber of Commerce

Nov. 7: Paul Prine, Chief of the Mobile Police Department

Nov. 14: Tom McGehee, historian

Old Testament Study: The fall sermon series and Bible study, "How Firm A Foundation," may be supplemented with "A Guide to Bible Basics" by Tyler Mayfield, or videos for bibleproject.com. For details, pick up an outline of the series in the sanctuary or in the church office, or view it here. Complementary studies, led by the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar, include Wednesday noon Bible studies in the GSPC Library, which continue through November 15.

20s/30s Women's Bible Study: The next Bible study is set for Wednesday, October 25, at 6 p.m. in the Guesnard House. The group will have dinner after the Bible study.

Two Pastors and a Rabbi: GSPC will host our next Interfaith Bible Study on Thursday, October 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. All are welcome.

Congregational Meetings: The Session has called two congregational meetings in the coming weeks:

Sunday, October 22: Congregational Meeting to elect officers.

Sunday, November 5: Congregational Meeting to consider the following motion: Approve the sale of Baytreat and delegate to the GSPC Session the authority to take all necessary steps to effect the sale.

Additional News and Notes

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.

Children's Choir rehearsals: The GSPC Children's Choir rehearses on Sundays from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. in the office of Chris Nemec (2nd floor at the Jackson St. stairwell). The children will sing on December 24 (10:30 a.m.). To assure the children are well-prepared and effective leaders, each child must attend a minimum of three rehearsals in order to sing for Sunday worship. Questions? Contact Chris Nemec, chris@gspcmobile.org.   

Sanctuary Choir rehearsals: If you've ever wanted to learn to play handbells, or to lift a joyful voice in song, the Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs are eager to show you the ropes! Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights. The Handbell Choir rehearses from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., and the Sanctuary Choir rehearses from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If you'd like to know more, contact Chris Nemec, Director of Music and Organist.

This Sunday in Worship

Join us on Sunday, October 15, as the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues her sermon series “How Firm a Foundation.” Scriptures include John 14:1-14 and Ezra 1:1-7 and are the basis for the sermon entitled “Return.” October 15 is Commitment Sunday, when we ask members to return their pledge cards for 2024. In preparation for next week, worshipers may read pages 57-96 of “A Guide to Bible Basics” by Tyler Mayfield, or view the following videos at bibleproject.com: “I Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” and “Kings.” Choral music for October 15 includes Dale Wood’s “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation,” and the Children’s Choir will sing “Gentle Shepherd, Kind and True” by Hal Hopson.

Sunday Assistants on October 22:

Ashley Oswalt

William Peebles

Bulletin for October 22:

Sunday, October 29

The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues the sermon series “How Firm a Foundation.” Scriptures include Matthew 27:45-55 and Psalm 30 and are the basis for the sermon, entitled “Song.” In preparation for next week, worshipers may read pages 110-114 of “A Guide to Bible Basics” by Tyler Mayfield, or view the following videos at bibleproject.com: “Job” and “Lamentations.” Choral music includes Gordon Young’s exciting “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” and John Ness Beck’s setting of the text “Lord, Here Am I.”

Talking Heads

This Sunday School class is studying the "How Firm A Foundation" guide to the Old Testament.

Sunday Book Study

9:30 a.m. in the Church Library. The group is studying the Interpretation Bible Series "1st Corinthians."

Sunday School for Children and Youth

All ages are welcome at 9:30 a.m. Wee Worship has resumed for children aged 3 years through kindergarten following the children's sermon.

Spring Hill Women Bible Study

Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying the Book of Amos.

Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study

The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study meets at 10 a.m. at the church. The group is studying the "How Firm a Foundation" Old Testament study series. For details, contact Mary Elizabeth Perry.

Wednesday Bible Study

This group meets from noon to 1 p.m. in the library at GSPC and via Zoom and is led by the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar. The study follows the fall sermon series, "How Firm a Foundation." Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84007919454 .

Men's Bible Study

The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study meets at 6 p.m. in the library. Contact: Bo Perry.

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 three 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 by emailing it 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:

1. GSPC members park for free in the lot at all times.
2. If you have not registered, you may do so by emailing your license plate number to Barbara Williams in the church office.
3. If you receive a ticket, do not pay it. Please bring the ticket or send a picture of it to Barbara in the church office and she will take care of it. 

Baytreat: GSPC's bayfront property is available for rentals. Several of the rooms now have queen-size beds. For details, click here. For information, email Barbara Williams or call her at the church office (251-432-1749).