FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar
How do you make big decisions? Some people are fans of the "pros and cons" lists. Other talk to friends, family, or experts. Some folks are guided by intuition or gut instinct. Some of us play it safe, while others are more prone to take risks.
Reading through Sailboat Church this summer has me thinking more about how we make decisions--the big ones and the small ones. The idea that we should be guided by the Holy Spirit is appealing in theory, but harder in practice. How do we know what is the Spirit and what is our own desire or fear directing us? I do believe that the Holy Spirit directs us each in different ways---through pros and cons lists or intuition or people we trust. And I am grateful for that fact. Even if I wish I the Holy Spirit were a little less mysterious and a little more clear-cut.
While there is plenty I don't know about how the Spirit works, I do trust is that listening for and following the Holy Spirit is something we can practice. We may not always get it right, but the more we attempt to discern the Spirit's leading, the more likely we are to notice it, trust it, and attend to it.
Maybe what we need to be a "sailboat church" is a bunch of sailors practiced in following the winds of the Spirit.
See you Sunday.
Grace and Peace,
Rebekah
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GSPC News
Summer Series: This summer, our church is reading Joan S. Gray's “Sailboat Church.” The sermons will loosely follow the chapters of the book. Books are available in paperback and Kindle online. To order, click here. A few copies are available in the church office for $13 each.
Baytreat is available for rentals this summer. Several of the rooms now have queen-size beds! For information, email Shelley Springer or call her at 251-605-0695.
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: Beginning Sunday, June 18, we will ask all worshipers to find a seat on a main level. We will reopen the balcony for Rally Day on September 10.
Next Interfaith Bible Study will be Monday, July 10, 2023 from 5:30 --7 PM at GSPC.
Next 20s/30s Women's Bible Study will be Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 6 PM in Guesnard House.
Upcoming Youth Service Days:
Tuesday, June 27--- Central Food Pantry
Wednesday, July 12 -- Dumas Wesley
Wednesday, August 2 -- Meals on Wheels
Talk to Alexandra Hutson for times and details.
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will be away Sunday afternoon, June 25 through Saturday, July 8. She will spend a week of Continuing Education at Montreat's Worship and Music Conference and then a week of family vacation in Montreat the week of July 2.
This Sunday in Worship
The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues her sermon series, “Sailboat Church: Advocate,” with scripture from John 14: 15-27 and I John 2:1-17.
We will baptize Elsie Grace Hutson, daughter of Rev. Alexandra and Jacob Hutson.
While the Sanctuary Choir is on vacation, our guest musician will be harpist Rebekah Atkinson, who will play music of Debussy, Rameau, and an arrangement of “In the Garden.” Look for the bulletin in Sunday morning's email.
Sunday Assistants on Sunday, June 25:
Lynn McDaniel
William Peebles
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Sunday, July 2
Join us in worship next Sunday, July 2, as we sing MANY favorite hymns in worship that were selected by the congregation: “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven”, “I Love to Tell the Story”, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and many more. Assisting in worship will be Charlotte Naylor, recorder, and tenor Jacob Mohr who will sing Hall Johnson’s setting of the Spiritual “Steal Away.”
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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 "Exodus."
Sunday School for Children and Youth
Sunday School for Children and Youth has recessed for the summer and will resume in August.
Spring Hill Women Bible Study
Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying "Look Ahead" 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 Book of Proverbs 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 has recessed for the summer and will resume in the fall. 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 July 14 and August 11. If you can help with this mission on either 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. 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.”
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 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:
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GSPC members park for free in the lot at all times.
- If you have not registered, you may do so by emailing your license plate number to Heather Hamilton 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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