FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar
It is hard to know how to feel on Palm Sunday. We love to see the children waving their palms, love the celebratory feel of the day after the reflection of Lent. But we know what is coming. The celebration doesn't last. The crowds' shouts change from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!" so quickly our heads are spinning ... even though we know the story by heart. Hosanna means "Save us!" or "Deliver us!" We will sing and say those words on Sunday, knowing that the salvation comes in the form of a cross and the deliverance means death before resurrection.
The events of Holy Week and Easter are the reason the church exists at all, the reason we worship Christ. I hope that you will be able to start your Holy Week with us on Sunday with some beautiful and moving music. If you can, I hope you will also join us for Maundy Thursday (6 p.m.) and Good Friday (noon). I guarantee your celebration of Easter Sunday will be deeper for having worshiped at the table and the cross. All services will be available on YouTube if you need to watch them later.
Holy Week blessings to you all.
Grace and peace,
Rebekah
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This Sunday in Worship
On Palm Sunday, April 2, join us in worship as we commemorate the triumphal arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem! The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar's sermon that day will be from Matthew 21: 1-11 and Matthew 26: 14-30, and is titled "Blessing and Betrayal. Music for Palm Sunday includes a children's anthem, "Hosannah to the Son," which tells the story of Jesus riding on a donkey's colt, as well as a festive setting of the Spiritual "Ride On, King Jesus," arranged by Howard Helvey.
Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday, April 6, 6 p.m. The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will preach from the text John 13:1-17, 31-35. Hymns and choral music this evening will reflect Holy Communion, Buryl Red's “In Remembrance of Me” and Wolfgang Mozart's “Ave Verum Corpus.” Also included is the stripping of the chancel.
Good Friday Service: April 7, noon. Our Holy Week journey has reached the darkest of days, and we stand at the foot of the cross. Seven scriptures from the Gospel of John will share the Passion of Christ. Music for this somber service will include Sir John Stainer's “God So Loved the World” from The Crucifixion, and “Behold the Lamb of God,” arranged by David Clydesdale.
Easter Sunday, April 9, 10:30 a.m. Celebrate the Risen Christ with your GSPC family and guests. Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will preach a Resurrection sermon from the texts Acts 10:34-43 and John 20:1-18. A string quartet and timpani will join the Sanctuary Choir in presenting “Festival Canticle: Worthy is Christ” (with congregation), and two selections from Messiah, “Since By Man Came Death” and “Hallelujah Chorus.” An extended instrumental prelude will include Mozart's Church Sonata No. 10, the Intermezzo from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana (the Easter scene), and Charpentier's “Te Deum” (We Praise Thee, O God).
Sunday Assistants for April 2
Carter Hale
LeAnne Tamblyn
Click below to view the bulletin for April 2:
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GSPC News
April 16 Congregational Luncheon: The GSPC “Thriving Congregations” team has recently returned from Montreat and wants to give a report and tell you how you can be involved. Please plan to stay for lunch after worship on April 16. You may RSVP in the church office. Lunch is $5 and $15 per family.
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!
Palm Sunday Procession: Children who are singing on Palm Sunday will be led immediately to the narthex to begin the Procession with Palms. Any children who are not singing can meet in the narthex just before the service. Children younger than 3 are welcome to participate with a parent or other adult.
Flowers for the Easter Cross: Please bring flowers on Easter Sunday to help us flower the cross in the courtyard. Children, youth, and adults are invited to place flowers on the cross as they enter at the Jackson Street door. Make sure to arrive by 10:15 if you have flowers to share!
Family Nature Walk: The next walk will be on Sunday, April 23, at Magnolia Cemetery. This will be a history tour led by Tom McGehee. Please RSVP to Sally Ericson if you plan to attend.
Reminder to Parents: The Children of the Church will sing on Palm Sunday, April 2, and all children ages 3 to 5th grade are invited. Rehearsals are held weekly during their Sunday School time, 9:30-9:45 a.m. Questions? Contact Chris Nemec at chris@gspcmobile.org.
Vacation Note: Office Manager Heather Hamilton will be out of the office from April 17 to April 30. If you need assistance during that time, please contact Barbara Williams.
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.)
The Bryant Career Tech Center will also have a sale of outdoor furniture on Saturday, April 1, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. These sturdy swings, tables and chairs are all made by high school students!
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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.
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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