FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Alexandra Hutson
Since returning from my maternity leave, I have found myself diving back in at 75 miles per hour, or so it feels. When we are going pedal to the metal, it can be easy to forget to check in with ourselves. In this new season of my life, I admittedly have not had much time to do so.
A couple of days ago, out of nowhere, the lyrics to a song that I used to love popped into my head. From Francesca Battistelli's "This is the Stuff," they say:
"I lost my keys in the great unknown / And call me please 'cause I can't find my phone. / This is the stuff that drives me crazy. / This is the stuff that's getting to me lately / In the middle of my little mess / I forget how big I'm blessed."
It reminded me of how easy it can be to sweat the small things when we are not taking the time to tend to our souls.
If we go for 75 miles per hour, we have to know that at some point we must stop to refuel. We are not good to ourselves or to those around us if we are operating on an empty tank.
So I ask you, how are you filling your tank? In other words, what are the ways that you are tending for your soul? How are you caring for yourself?
Here are five ways to have a Mental Health Check-In:
How am I feeling today?
What am I noticing in my body?
What can I do to give myself what I need?
I'm excited to focus on?
What is important to me?
As for me, I will be giving myself what I need by taking some time for prayer in the sanctuary on a quiet Thursday afternoon at GSPC.
I pray that you find a way to tend to your soul, too.
Grace and Peace,
Alexandra
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GSPC News
Two Pastors and a Rabbi: Join us at the next Interfaith Bible Study on Monday, July 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at GSPC. All are welcome.
PW Summer Conference: Presbyterian Women are invited to sign up for the Alabama/
Mississippi Women's Conference, which will be held July 13-15 at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church. The keynote speaker is Dr. Olive Mahabir, writer of the Horizon's Bible Study for next year. The registration fee for all three days is $160, which includes lunch and supper on Thursday and Friday, and a "to-go" box lunch on Saturday. If you do not wish to attend all three days, you may sign up on a per-day basis at $55 per day (lunch only) or $75 per day (lunch and supper). There is an optional Glass Blowing Field Trip at South Alabama on Thursday, July 13, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The additional fee for this trip is $15. To register for the conference, email Martha Knichel, or stop by Spring Hill Presbyterian to fill out a form. If you have questions, call the SHP church office at 251-342-1550.
The next 20s/30s Women's Bible Study will be Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m. in the Guesnard House.
Upcoming Youth Service Days:
- Wednesday, July 12, at Dumas Wesley
- Wednesday, August 2, with Meals on Wheels
Talk to Alexandra Hutson for times and details.
The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar is away through Saturday, July 8. She is spending a week of Continuing Education at Montreat's Worship and Music Conference and also taking a week of family vacation in Montreat.
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: 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.
This Sunday in Worship
On Sunday, July 9, the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will continue her sermon series with “Sailboat Church: Unity,” with scriptural references of Psalm 100 and I Corinthians 12:4-13. While the Sanctuary Choir is on their summer break, our guest musicians will be Dr. Andra Bohnet, principal flute with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and guitarist Ben Harper, Operations and Education Coordinator of the MSO, who will lead worship with “Morning Has Broken,” “Be Thou My Vision” and other selections.
Sunday Assistants on Sunday, July 9:
Corinne Lorge
William Peebles
Bulletin for Sunday, July 9:
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Sunday, July 16
Next Sunday, July 16, the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues her sermon series with “Sailboat Church: Mission,” with corresponding scripture of Psalm 103: 1-5, 15-22, and Matthew 9:35-38, and mezzo soprano Meredith Wilson will sing the Spiritual “Deep River.” Hymn selections will include those recently requested from the congregation.
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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 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 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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