FROM THE PASTOR
Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar
Do you remember your senior year of high school?
Three years ago, when the class of 2020 was graduating during the early days of the pandemic, people took to posting their own senior photos from high school as an act of solidarity with the class that was missing out on the rites of passage and celebrations that usually come with high school graduation. I was never sure if the practice was much of a comfort to those young people or just a practice in nostalgia during all our newfound free time. Regardless, it tells me that most of us can think back to the time when we are finishing high school and looking ahead to what young adulthood would be for us.
This Sunday we will celebrate six young men who are in exactly that stage of life: finishing their senior year of high school and looking ahead to college. These are young people whom GSPC has prayed for and loved over the years, and our prayers are just as important now as they have ever been. When we make vows to children at their baptisms, those vows do not have an expiration date. So I encourage you to bring a letter or note for each of these young men on Sunday, or to plan to drop one in the mail letting them know that they will never be far from your prayers and that they always, always have a home and a safe landing place at GSPC.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as these young men and our other youth lead us in worshiping God and help us better understand what it means to make disciples as Jesus taught us.
Grace and Peace,
Rebekah
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GSPC News
Youth Sunday, April 30: Join us as our Youth lead us in worship and we honor our graduating high school seniors: Stephens Ashbee, Jackson Boone, Guy Helmsing, Houston Jones, Rob Mostellar and Marrs Zakary. The congregation is invited to a luncheon after worship in Fellowship Hall. The congregation is also invited to write letters of congratulations to our graduating seniors. The letters will be presented to them at the luncheon.
On Sunday, April 16, the Thriving Congregations Team shared more information about their work through Montreat Conference Center to help our church discern how God is calling us to engage with our community. If you haven’t already, please sign up to be part of a Listening Session. There are seven sessions scheduled during the next several weeks. Please use the sign-up link to register online. You may also sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a member of the team. The congregation is also encouraged to participate in 40 Days of Prayer, which began on April 17 and continues through Pentecost weekend.
The GSPC Thriving Congregations Team members are John Browning, Casi Callaway, Mary Herndon Nordmann, William Peebles, Bo Perry, Buzzy Riis, Nicole Riis and the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar.
Family Nature Walk: The next walk has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 21, at Magnolia Cemetery. This will be a history tour led by Tom McGehee. Please RSVP to Sally Ericson if you plan to attend.
Vacation Note: Office Manager Heather Hamilton is out of the office through April 30. If you need assistance, please contact Barbara Williams.
Calling All Middlers (GSPC Members and Friends in the 45ish-65ish age range): Join us for libations and snacks on Sunday, April 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 164 S. Georgia Ave. in the Oakleigh Garden District. Dress is casual. If you would like to bring your favorite beverage or snack to share, please text Beth Morrissette at 251-709-6752.
Sign up for VBS: Vacation Bible School will be June 20-24. Please register your children as soon as possible so that we may order T-shirts to arrive in time! Click here to register.
Sunday Assistants on Sunday, April 30
Meg Heusser
Harris Oswalt
Coming up: Sunday, May 7
Next Sunday, our Confirmands, Mac Boone, Sam Lamar, Andrew McMillan, Conrad Otts, Margaret Otts, Alice Roberds and Mac Schoenvogel, will make their professions of faith in worship. The Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues the sermon series “Being the Church” as she preaches on “Breaking Bread” with supporting scriptures from Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16, and Acts 2:43-47. Music will include a choral setting of the beloved hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” by John Ness Beck, and Léon Boëllmann’s “Prière” from his Suite Gothique for Organ.
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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 June 9 and July 14. 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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