Wednesday, August 30, 2023

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

I am away this for some continuing education in North Carolina with a group of pastor colleagues. Our time together is specifically focused on preaching, and it has me excited about our sermon series this fall. Details about "How Firm a Foundation" are below, but I wanted to highlight a few ways you can participate in this exploration of the Old Testament outside of the worship hour.

1. A Guide to Bible Basics by Tyler Mayfield is an excellent resource for a biblical overview. It offers details about characters, key verses, and major themes for each book and even each chapter of the Bible. Each week I offer page numbers to fill the gap between Sundays. These are in the booklet you can find at church or linked below, and it will be referenced in each week's newsletter.
2. Videos from bibleproject.com are a wonderful resource for folks who don't want to open a book, but are curious about the overarching flow and themes of these books of the Bible. Specific videos are listed in the booklet and will be referenced in each week's newsletter.
3. A 12:00 PM Wednesday Bible study in the library or by zoom will begin on September 6. Zoom link for each week: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84007919454 We will spend half the time covering the material between last week's sermon text and the following week's sermon text. The other half we will spend on the text for the upcoming Sunday. We will finish by 1 PM.
4. Memory verses will be provided for each week. Cards can be picked up on Sunday and anyone who memorizes the verse can place it with their name on a bulletin board the following week. We will be encouraging our children to do this, but we would love for adults to set the example for them!

There are many other Bible studies and Sunday school opportunities that will be happening during the fall, we hope you will commit yourself to learning and growing with your church family this fall.

See you Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Rebekah

GSPC News

Two Pastors and a Rabbi: The next installment of the Interfaith Bible Study series will be held Monday, September 11, at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 806 Government St. All are welcome.

Supper Club Update: Letters have been emailed to Supper Club participants, and the groups will begin meeting in September. If you have questions, or if you didn't receive the email, please contact Blanche Parsons or Linda Reynolds.

Old Testament Study This Fall: The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will begin "How Firm A Foundation," a sermon series and Bible study, in September. The sermon series will begin on Sunday, September 10, with "Beginnings," a focus on Genesis. Complementary studies, led by Rev. Lamar, will include special Sunday School sessions, beginning with "Faithful Foundations for Families" for parents of children and youth on Sunday, September 10, and Wednesday noon Bible studies in the GSPC Library, which will begin on September 6 and continue through November 15.For those who want help filling in the scriptural gap between Sunday sermons, Rebekah recommends A Guide to Bible Basics by Tyler Mayfield or or videos for bibleproject.com. For details, click here or pick up an outline of the series in the sanctuary or in the church office.

Tuesday Lunch and Learn Series: The GSPC community lunch series is back! Formerly known as the Government Street Forum, this series has been changed to Tuesdays, but the general format is the same: Lunch and a guest speaker from noon to 1 p.m. The Tuesday Lunch and Learn Series will begin on Tuesday, September 12, and continue 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 community. Here is the schedule of speakers:

Sept. 12: Sandy Stimpson, Mayor of Mobile

Sept. 19: David Trent, Site Director, Airbus Americas Engineering

Sept. 26: Merceria Ludgood, Mobile County Commissioner, District One

Oct. 3: Meredith Wilson and John Sledge, Mobile Historic Development Commission

Oct. 10: Dr. Amanda Jones, Principal, Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies

Oct. 17: Stacey Driskell and Scott Wright of Mobile Opera

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

Children's Choir rehearsals: The GSPC Children's Choir will resume rehearsals on Sundays from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 10. For that first rehearsal, the children will meet in their regular Sunday School assembly room. Following, they will meet in the office of Chris Nemec (2nd floor at the Jackson St. stairwell). The dates for the children to sing are October 15 and 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.   

PW Fall Gathering: The GSPC Presbyterian Women will hold their Fall Gathering to begin the new Bible study year on Monday, September 18, at 5:30 p.m. in the Guesnard House. Join us for Bible study and fellowship! If you are able, please bring food or a beverage to share. The new study books have arrived in the church office and are $10 each. There will also be books available at the Gathering. Also, the PW USA Thank Offering will be collected at the Gathering.

20s and 30s Women's Bible Study: The next session of the 20s/30s Women's Bible Study will be on Tuesday, September 19, at 6 p.m. in the Guesnard House.

Additional News and Notes

Church Office closed: The church office will be closed on Monday, September 4, for the Labor Day holiday.

Baytreat available for rentals: Several of the rooms now have queen-size beds! For information, email Barbara Williams or call her at the church office (251-432-1749).

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.

Balcony closed for the summer: All worshipers are asked to find a seat in the main level of the sanctuary. We will reopen the balcony for Rally Day on September 10.

Choir rehearsals have resumed: The Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs have started their fall rehearsals. If you've ever wanted to learn to play handbells, or to lift a joyful voice in song, now is a great time to check us out! 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 in worship on Sunday, September 3. The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will preach on Romans 12:9-21 and Psalm 105:1-6. The Sanctuary Choir will sing J.S. Bach’s beloved “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Praetorius’ 16th century “Jubilate Deo.”

Sunday Assistants on Sunday, September 3:

Clint Akers

LeAnne Tamblyn

Bulletin for Sunday, September 3:

Sunday, September 10

Join us in worship next Sunday, September 10, as the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar begins her new sermon series, How Firm a Foundation, with "Beginnings," with scriptural references from Genesis 12: 1-9. Choral music includes two settings of the text “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant us peace), by 16th century composer Guilio Caccini, and the traditional canon setting, arranged by Hal Hopson.

Talking Heads

This Sunday School class has recessed for the summer and will resume in the fall.

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

Sunday School for Children and Youth has recessed for the summer and will resume in September on Rally Day.

Spring Hill Women Bible Study

Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying "Look Around" by George Sinclair. 

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.

Men's Bible Study

The Wednesday night Men’s Bible Study has recessed for the summer and will resume in the fall. 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 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 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 Heather Hamilton 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 Heather or Barbara in the church office and they will take care of it.