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FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series, "Great Prayers of the Bible." I don't know when would be a bad time to preach about prayer, but now feels like an especially good one. National and world events give us plenty to pray about: wars, elections, impending storms. Our own lives add to the list: health concerns, family relationships, job or housing uncertainty, financial stresses.
Over the next few weeks, I hope we can explore together the wisdom of prayer we find in scripture. On Sunday, I look forward to adding to the joys on your prayer list as we bless backpacks for our children and youth, pray over the gently used books you are bringing to donate to Ronald McDonald House, welcome new members, commission Sadie Weldon as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer, and celebrate communion together. It is going to be a good day at GSPC, and I hope to see you Sunday as we join our prayers together in glory to God.
Grace and Peace,
Rebekah
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GSPC News
Blessing of the Backpacks: Children are invited to bring their backpacks for a special Blessing of the Backpacks during the service on Sunday, August 4. Children may also bring gently used books to be donated for other children to enjoy.
Mark Your Calendars: The congregation is invited to a series of "Second Sunday Monthly Luncheons" after church this fall. The dates are September 8, October 13, and November 10. Stay tuned for details!
Congratulations to the O'Malley Family: The congregation rejoices with Sydney and Michael O'Malley on the occasion of the baptism of their daughter, Frances Elizabeth O'Malley, born March 4,2024. Frances is the granddaughter of Shawn and Duke Walker.
Calling All Greeters: As part of the Thriving Congregations initiative, the congregation is invited to volunteer as greeters on Sunday mornings. Greeters are asked to arrive by10:15 a.m. and to welcome visitors at both entrances to the sanctuary. The commitment would not be every week. If you are interested in joining this evangelism opportunity on Sunday mornings, please contact Mary Herndon Nordmann.
Sign Up for Dinner Clubs: It’s almost time to start a new Dinner Club season! Bring your favorite dish to the kickoff potluck luncheon in the Guesnard House on August 18 after worship. Beverages will be provided. Please call or text Linda Reynolds at 251-510-6913 if you want to be added to the 24-25 Dinner Club season list.
Choir Rehearsals Resume: The Sanctuary Choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, August 7, at 6 p.m. If you are interested in joining our music ministry, please contact Chris Nemec, Director of Music and Organist.
Parents' Night Out: GSPC Children’s Ministry will have a Parents’ Night Out Pajama Party on Friday, August 9, at the church from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Guesnard House will be open with refreshments for adults. Scroll down for details!
Baytreat Memories: The congregation is invited to share their favorite Baytreat memories. Please submit them using this link.
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.
Office Volunteers Needed: The church office would welcome volunteers during the week, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Volunteers assist with monitoring the Jackson Street entrance and answering the phone. They may also assist with special projects. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Meredith Johnston at the church office.
Children and Youth Sunday School and Wee Worship Update: Wee Worship will resume on Sunday, August 4. Sunday School programming for children and youth will begin on Rally Day, September 8.
Thriving Congregations: If you missed the presentation from the Thriving Congregations Team, click here to view the slides presented and contact the church office if you are interested in volunteering or want to know more.
Shelia Is Retiring: It is true; after 38 years as GSPC's Food Service Director, Shelia Smith will retire on September 30, 2024. Watch for more information about how we will celebrate Shelia.
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Christian Sympathy
The congregation expresses Christian sympathy to the family of the Rev. Dr. Al Reese Jr., who passed away on July 28, 2024, in Bainbridge, Ga., just a few days before his 93rd birthday.
Dr. Reese was greatly beloved at GSPC. He served as interim pastor from 1993 to 1994, and he returned to serve as parish associate from 2006 to 2008. His portrait hangs alongside the portraits of former GSPC pastors in the upstairs hall. The nature trail at Baytreat is named in his honor.
A memorial service for Dr. Reese will be held at 11 a.m. on September 6, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Bainbridge, Ga. Online condolences may be made at www.coxiveyfuneralhome.com. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
|  |  | Sale of Baytreat Property: The Session has approved an asking price and process for receiving offers for Baytreat. Click on the image above for details. The document may be downloaded and shared. Anyone interested in viewing the property should contact Beth Rouse (beth@mrbattorneys.com). | |
Sadie Weldon:
PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer
Government Street Presbyterian is proud of be commissioning Sadie Weldon as she begins a year of service through our denomination as a Young Adult Volunteer. Sadie leaves later this month to live in Agua Pietra, Mexico, just across the border from Douglas, AZ. She will be working with Frontera de Cristo, a border ministry that is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Borderlands Ministries. You can follow Sadie's journey through her blog. We look forward to commissioning Sadie on Sunday, August 4, and sending her with our prayers for this year of ministry.
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Sunday, August 4
This Sunday, the service will include the Blessing of the Backpacks. The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will begin a new sermon series, "Great Prayers of the Bible," with Scripture references from John 6 and Genesis 18. Music will be provided by Jacob Mohr, tenor, and guest organist Nancy Graham. In addition, we will welcome new members and commission Sadie Weldon for her year of service as a Young Adult Volunteer in Mission with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Bulletin for August 4:
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Sunday, August 11
Next Sunday, August 11, the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will continue her sermon series “Great Prayers of the Bible,” with a sermon titled “Hannah’s Prayer.” Voices Unlimited will be our guest musicians.
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Book Club Meetings
The GSPC Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month in the church library and via Zoom. For the August 27 meeting, the group will discuss Nancy Graham's book, "The Unfractured Faith of Erik Routley: From Brighton to Princeton." The Zoom link is posted prior to the meeting on the church calendar. For assistance in accessing the Zoom link or the reading material, please contact Meredith Johnston.
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August 9: Parents' Night Out
Mark your calendars! GSPC Children’s Ministry will have a Parents’ Night Out Pajama Party on Friday, August 9, at the church from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Children will have pizza, play games and have Bible storytime while their parents stroll downtown during ArtWalk! The Guesnard House will be open with refreshments for adults. Please RSVP using the QR code here.
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Talking Heads
This Sunday School class meets on the second floor of the church each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. The class is currently on a break for the summer.
Sunday Book Study
9:30 a.m. in the Church Library. The group is studying the Interpretation Bible Series "Hebrews."
Spring Hill Women Bible Study
This Bible study meets on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group, which has been on summer break, will resume meeting on August 6, when they will begin studying the Gospel of Matthew with George Sinclair as discussion leader. Everyone is welcome.
Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study
The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study will resume meetings in September. The contact is Mary Elizabeth Perry.
Men's Bible Study
The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study will resume meetings in September. The contact is 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.
Blanket Sunday
The Presbyterian Women are collecting baby blankets, and the first Sunday of the month is designated as "Blanket Sunday" to remind the congregation to donate to the Blanket Ministry. The baby blankets are delivered to the Mostellar Clinic. Inexpensive items of any baby-appropriate washable fabric or yarn are appreciated. The babies we serve usually average 8 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."
Needs 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
McKemie Place, a 501c3 non-profit, is the only emergency shelter for unaccompanied women in Southwest Alabama. McKemie Place was created in 2007 as a service of the United Methodist Inner City Mission, thanks to the efforts of the Homeless Coalition task force, and became its own nonprofit in 2010. The shelter serves 450 women each year.
GSPC has agreed to provide lunch for up to 45 residents at McKemie Place on the second Friday of each month. Volunteers are needed to provide, deliver, and serve lunch to the residents at McKemie Place on August 9. Please contact Lisa deShazo if you are interested in volunteering for this mission. 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 donations of gently used luggage (with wheels, please) to the church office.
If you would like to learn more about McKemie Place, or to receive their monthly newsletters, visit McKemiePlace.org.
Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies
How Can You Support Barton Academy?
- Bring the following items to stock a Hygiene Closet for the school: Clorox wipes, Tissue, Deodorant, Black socks, Paper Towels, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste.
Uniform Assistance Needed:
Several families at Barton Academy need help with uniforms as they begin the 2024-2025 school year. In addition, we are learning of uniform needs for other nearby schools. If you are willing to give to help provide uniforms, please mark your donation and place it in the offering plate or send to Dawn Hearn, bookkeeper.
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 personal hygiene products (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 2023-24.
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 lot, you will need to pay $5 for three hours of parking.
Premium Parking is handling our parking lot revenue. The company has added a service kiosk next to the Guesnard House patio entrance.
Church members whose vehicles are booted in the GSPC Parking Lot after the church office is closed should call or text Meredith Johnston at 251-323-5954.
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 a new vehicle tag to register, you may do so by emailing your license plate number to Meredith Johnston in the church office.
- If you receive a ticket, do not pay it. Please bring the ticket or send a picture of it to Barbara or Meredith in the church office and she will take care of it.
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