Wednesday, December 13, 2023

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

A favorite carol this time of year is “Joy to the World!” I like that joy is front and center in both the lyrics and the tune. 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let Earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing

And Heaven and nature sing

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Some of you may know that “Joy to the World” was written by Isaac Watts, a prolific hymn writer. Isaac Watts was brilliant. He wrote essays on philosophy, astronomy, theology, and psychology. He knew multiple languages. He worked for a time as a private tutor. At the age of 28, Watts was pastor of a prominent church. But illness hindered his ability to do his work, and he was forced to resign. Instead of pastoring, Watts made it his goal to enliven the singing of congregations. He felt that the music he heard in congregations did not reflect a living faith in a living God. He wrote hymns like “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” “Jesus Shall Reign Where E’er the Sun,” and, of course, “Joy to the World!”

What you might not know is that he never intended this favorite carol to be a Christmas song. 

The lyrics first appeared in a book entitled “Psalms of David,” a book of poetry in which each poem was based on a psalm. “Joy to the World!” was based on the last verses of Psalm 98:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,

with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar and all that fills it,

the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands;

let the hills sing together for joy

at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and the peoples with equity.

Watts took the psalms and used them to connect to Jesus. His poem was not about Jesus’ birth, but about Jesus’ second coming when Christ would reign in his fullness. When we sing this hymn, we consider not only the joy of that first Christmas, but also the joy we know today because of Jesus Christ, and the joy we will know in fullness in the future that Christ is preparing.

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns

Let all their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy!



Advent blessings to you and yours. See you Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Rebekah

GSPC News

Advent Wednesday Services: The midweek Advent Services are held on Wednesdays at noon in the Sanctuary, followed by lunch in Fellowship Hall at 12:30 p.m. These weekly services will continue through December 20.

Supper Club Update: The Supper Club members had a fun Christmas luncheon after worship on December 10. The clubs will begin meeting again in January. Stay tuned for updates! If you would like to be added to the list to join a Supper Club, or to be a substitute, email Blanche Parsons or Linda Reynolds.

GSPC's own Mickie Lorge will dance in Ballet Pensacola's "The Nutcracker" at the Pensacola Saenger on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.; on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1:30 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1:30 p.m.

Special Offering: On Sunday, December 17, we will collect a special offering for the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega. The Session approved this special offering in order to support our longtime partners at PHC this holiday season.

Additional News and Notes

Stewardship Season: Please remember to return your pledge cards. Pledges can be dropped in the offering plate, submitted to the church office, or emailed to Dawn Hearn, GSPC Bookkeeper.

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.

Children's Choir rehearsals: Parents, please remember to bring your children to choir rehearsal on Sunday morning! The GSPC Children's Choir rehearses on Sundays from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. in the office of Chris Nemec (2nd floor at the Jackson St. stairwell). The children will sing on December 24 at 10:30 a.m. Questions? Contact Chris Nemec.   

RIP Medical Debt: Churches in the Presbytery of South Alabama (PSA) are invited to participate in the "Jubilee Campaign" to end medical debt in our area. As you know, medical debt is something that plagues families all across the United States through no fault of their own. PSA is partnering with RIP Medical Debt to purchase bundled medical debt portfolios and then forgive that debt at pennies on the dollar. On average, $1 is leveraged to abolish $100 in medical debt!

Every donation through this page will be spent directly on abolishing medical debt in Alabama (with an emphasis on the counties where there is a PSA church located). When debt relief recipients open the yellow envelope from RIP, they are told that their debt has been bought by PSA churches and erased with no strings attached. They owe nothing on the debt and face no tax penalty. 

Let’s join together to help abolish debt and bring Jubilee to thousands of families across Alabama! Click here to donate. You may also send a check to the church office or place in the offering plate with the subject "RIP Medical Debt."

Interfaith Bible Study: The next Interfaith Bible Study will be Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Spring Hill Avenue Temple at 5:30 p.m.

This Sunday in Worship

Join us on December 17 for the annual Service of Lessons and Carols. Included with the seven Lessons will be numerous congregational Christmas carols. Carter Hale Jr. will sing Max Reger’s “The Virgin’s Slumber Song,” and the Sanctuary Choir will sing settings of “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Still, Still, Still” and “Sans Day Carol.” Invite your friends and family to this beautiful service!

Sunday Assistants on December 17:

Lisa Goodloe

William Peebles

Bulletin for December 17:

Sunday, December 24

Join us on Sunday, December 24, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate Advent and light the Candle of Love. The sermon will reference Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20. The Children of GSPC will present their Christmas Pageant, and the Children’s Choir will sing two pieces: Natalie Sleeth’s “Light One Candle” and the Jamaican-influenced “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.” Also, there will be several beloved congregational Christmas carols sung.

Our 5 p.m. service will celebrate Christmas Eve, the Birth of Our Lord. The sermon, titled “The Angel’s Song” will be drawn from Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-20. Joining the Sanctuary Choir will be violinist Ashley Lamar and timpanist Laura Noah as they present music of Christmas: numerous favorite congregational Christmas carols, “Angels’ Carol,” “Infant Holy,” and “On Christmas Night.” Soprano Gabrielle Corlette will sing “O Holy Night," and the service will conclude in candlelight with “Silent Night.” Invite your friends to this celebration of Candles, Carols and Holy Communion.

It's time to order Christmas poinsettia dedications in memory of or in honor of a loved one. The deadline is December 17, and the cost is $15. Pick up a form in the office, or call Meredith Johnston, Office Manager, at 251-432-1749 to make arrangements. The poinsettias will be on display during the Christmas Eve services.

Talking Heads

This Sunday School class is studying the "How Firm A Foundation" guide to the Old Testament.

Sunday Book Study

9:30 a.m. in the Church Library. The group is studying the Interpretation Bible Series "2nd Corinthians."

Sunday School for Children and Youth

All ages are welcome at 9:30 a.m. Wee Worship has resumed for children aged 3 years through kindergarten following the children's sermon.

Spring Hill Women Bible Study

Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group is studying the Book of Amos.

Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study

The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study has recessed for the holidays and will meet again on January 9.

Men's Bible Study

The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study meets at 6 p.m. in the library. This group will meet on December 13 and then recess until January. Contact: Bo Perry.

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:

1. GSPC members park for free in the lot at all times.
2. 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.
3. 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. 

Baytreat: GSPC's bayfront property is available for rentals. Several of the rooms now have queen-size beds. For details, click here. For information, email Barbara Williams or call her at the church office (251-432-1749).