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Friday, January 20, 2023

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

This Sunday the confirmation class continues meeting after church. They will focus on one of the questions that is historically asked when one makes a profession of faith:

"Will you turn from sin and reject evil?"

The concept of sin is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. It has also been used by the church in a variety of ways throughout history and with a variety of outcomes. In our gospel reading for Sunday, we read that Jesus began his ministry preaching "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!" The word repent means to "turn away from." When we say that we are turning away from sin, we are repositioning ourselves so that we can more clearly see and experience the kingdom of God.

At our Interfaith Bible Study on Thursday evening, the discussion turned to sin and forgiveness, and I thought about how our prayer of confession found early in the worship service each week. I appreciate this portion of the service each week. For me, it clears the way for me to lay down the burdens I brought into worship with me and give myself fully to the worship of God.

Turning from sin is not something we do once at baptism or confirmation, or something we do only weekly when we come to Sunday worship, but something that has to be a way of life. And while facing the ways we fall short, or get turned in the wrong direction can be difficult, doing so leads us into the merciful arms of Christ who offers the freedom of forgiveness.

Grace and peace,

Rebekah

Sunday Assistants for January 22

Ashley Oswalt

William Peebles

Click below to view the bulletin for January 22:

GSPC News

Mission Trip this Summer: The GSPC World Missions Committee is planning a trip for June 11-June 18, 2023, with the Alliance for International Reforestation-Guatemala. AIR Guatemala, founded by Dr. Anne Hallum in 1993, today is recognized globally for its work in education and agroforestry, improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the developing world and benefiting the environment. The Presbyterian Church USA supports AIR; in years past, our Christmas Mission Market was a supporter. The Rev. Ryan Jensen, the Former Associate Minister at GSPC from 2008-2012, now at Lawrenceville (Georgia) Pres., took a group on missions with AIR Guatemala in 2018, giving the experience a 5-star review. Up to 10 people can attend the trip. If you would like to join this mission trip, please contact Dr. Susan Ashbee as soon as possible at sashbee@aol.com or 251-680-3123.

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!

Two Pastors and a Rabbi: Rabbi Ed Boraz of Springhill Avenue Temple and Rev. Trey Doyle of First Baptist Church will join Rev. Lamar in delivering the sermon on Sunday, January 29. Monthly Bible studies are planned through April. Watch the newsletter and bulletin for upcoming dates.

Upcoming Memorial Service:

A Memorial Service

for Carolla Hider

will be held on January 21 at 2 p.m. at GSPC.

Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall.

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.

Sunday Night Bible Study

This class, led by the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar, meets at 5 p.m. in the Guesnard House.

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.

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 (no Jif, please, because of the recent recall) 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 February 10 and March 10, 2023. 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 (preferably on wheels) to the church office.

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 help the needy. There is a box designated for these donations in the Jackson Street Foyer.

Homeless Survey and Event

Housing First is seeking volunteers for the annual Point In Time Count, a survey of those experiencing homelessness in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. The date is Tuesday, January 24, in the afternoon and evening hours. Volunteers conduct brief interviews with willing participants and distribute supplies to those in need. To sign up, or to donate supplies, contact Kendall Young, Director of Community Outreach at Housing First, at 251-654-7424 or k.young@hfal.org.

The annual Project Homeless Connect event is Friday, January 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Grounds, 1035 N. Cody Road. This resource fair, hosted by Housing First, assists the homeless with finding resources and services. To learn more, visit the Housing First website.

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:

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.

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

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:

GSPC members park for free in the lot at all times.
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.
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.

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) approximately 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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