FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar.
What a week it has been! It started with a wonderful celebration in our parking lot after church on Sunday. Only days later we learned of the horrible tragedy in Uvalde, TX, and now here we sit on the threshold of summer.
Life does not slow down long enough for us to process it these days. We don't have time to sit with our grief from one tragedy before the next joy or sorrow comes at us and demands our attention.
I have been considering Psalm 18:1-2 this week:
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
We don't know what celebrations or heartbreaks are to come in these summer months, but we can set our feet firmly on the truth that the Lord is our rock and our stronghold, the source of our strength. One of the ways we remember this truth is by gathering together in worship. I encourage you to make worship a priority this summer: at GSPC when you are in town, or by livestream when you cannot be here in person, or with a congregation wherever you may travel. With the state of our world, gathering together to worship the one in whom we take refuge can bring us peace and strength and tie us together as a people of faith.
Grace and peace,
Rebekah
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Sunday Assistants
Harris Oswalt, Jr.
Leigh Schottgen
Click below to view the bulletin for Sunday, May 29:
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Talking Heads
This Sunday School class meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room
on the second floor.
Sunday Book Study
9:30 a.m. in the Church Library and on Zoom.
Spring Hill Women Bible Study
Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams.
Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Contact: Mary Elizabeth Perry.
Sunday School for Children and Youth
Wee Worship and Sunday School for Children and Youth will resume on Sunday, September 11, for Rally Day.
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GSPC News and Notes
- The Church office will be closed on Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day.
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Volunteers are needed for a Baytreat Workday on Wednesday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. For details, contact Missy Jones.
- GSPC Youth will assist with Meals on Wheels on Wednesday, June 1.
- The GSPC Young Adults will have a gathering next Sunday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at 6859 Bay Road. Join us for fun and fellowship!
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Our Baytreat Mission Campers will arrive in early June. Church Officers, Sunday School Classes, PW and Bible Study Groups are invited to serve a Sunday night meal to the campers at Baytreat. To sign up, please call or email Heather Hamilton.
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Save the Date!
GSPC members are invited to "Sweet Home Soiree," a fundraiser for the Presbyterian Home for Children and Ascension Leadership Academy, on June 23. Organizers are seeking sponsors and collecting donations for live and silent auctions for the event, which will be held in honor of the Rev. Samford Turner. For details, please click on the invitation below.
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Baytreat Mission Camps
Get ready to welcome our campers this summer!
Here is the schedule:
Week 1: June 11-18
First Presbyterian Church || Mantoon, IL
Week 2: June 25-July 1
First Presbyterian Church || Anderson, SC
Week 3: July 9-15
Decatur Presbyterian Church || Decatur, GA
Week 4: July 16–22
Germantown Pres. Ch. ||Germantown, TN
Baytreat Rentals
Ready to plan a stay-cation on the Bay? Baytreat is now listed online for rental. Click here to view available dates and to book the property.
All rental inquiries are now being handled by Shelley Springer, who can be reached at shelley@shelleyspringer.com. Please contact Shelley if you have questions that aren't addressed on the website.
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Coming up: Vacation Bible School
June 20-24, 2022
All are invited! Our theme is "Passport to Peace." Children will travel through the world learning how to be peacemakers. They will make friends, sing fun songs, meet peacemakers in the Bible, do art projects and science explorations and play active games. Your children will practice strategies for experiencing peace inside and learn how to live at peace with others.
Please sign up for VBS on the church website: gspcmobile.org/vbs.
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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 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 donatoin box at the Jackson Street entrance.
McKemie Place
GSPC has agreed to provide lunch for up to 40 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 June 10, July 8, and August 12. If you can help with this mission on any of these dates, please contact Lisa deShazo at 251-591-1077.
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.
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 2022.
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.
We began our agreement with Premium Parking in November and continue to anticipate a significant boost to the church income for 2022 as a result. As we have made the transition, we are aware that some members have experienced difficulties with getting their vehicles registered or with receiving tickets. 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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Blankets and more: A ministry of the GSPC Presbyterian Women
All are invited to donate items to be delivered to USA Children’s & Women’s Mother/Baby/At Risk department for full term babies of needy families (not the NICU) and to the Mostellar Clinic. Here are suggested items and sizes:
- Baby blankets (greatest need) approx. 28-36” square/rectangles 30-34”x40-46”
- A few hats and booties
- (USACW only): No-scratch mittens (must be fabric, not yarn)
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. (Please do not donate unmade fabric.)
Donations may be left in the “Baby Box” at the Jackson St. entrance, or you may order from Amazon, etc., and request delivery to the church, marked “Blanket Ministry.”
For details, email Charlotte Naylor.
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