Thursday, June 13, 2024

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

My mother was the organist at my church when I was growing up. It was a very part-time position. Practically volunteer, truth be told. After my brothers and I were born, my father decided he did not want her to have to go to the church to practice by herself after dark. So he bought an organ for our house. We already had a piano in the living room, but, as any organist can tell you, playing the piano is not the same as playing the organ. And that is how we ended up in a piano AND an organ in our living room for most of my growing up years.

I remember dusting all the keys and pedals of that organ. I remember enjoying trying to play it myself for a few minutes before my mother reminded me how much trouble I would be in if I broke anything. But mostly I remember waking up every Sunday morning to the sounds of my mother practicing the hymns for the day. It is a happy memory. I would lie in bed and just listen to the hymns. Sometimes I knew them, and sometimes I didn't. Sometimes she would stop and replay, trying to get it just right. But I never remember her sounding bad when she played. I remember it as familiar and beautiful.

Hymns shape us in big and small ways. We have our favorites, but all of them have something to teach us. They proclaim the good news in a different way than a sermon ever could. This summer on July 7 our service will be a Hymn Sing, and we we are taking requests from you. I hope that you will share what hymns are your favorite and even why they are important to you. I hope you will send us some requests. We won't be able to sing all of them, but I hope you will hear a favorite and be nurtured by it once again.

You may email your favorites to Meredith Johnston in the office or click here to fill out an online request form.

See you Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Rebekah

Christian Sympathy

Memorial Service for Jimmy Carroll: The congregation extends Christian Sympathy to the family of Jimmy Carroll, who died on Sunday, June 9. Please keep his wife, Kym, and his family in your prayers.

Government Street Presbyterian Church

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Visitation, 12 -2 p.m.

Service, 2 p.m.

Reception to follow.

GSPC News

VBS at GSPC: Vacation Bible School is planned for the week of June 17-24. Please pray for the children, you, and adults who will be a part of this exciting week!

A Baytreat Blessing: The congregation is invited to celebrate Baytreat’s ministries and memories on Thursday, June 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will include water slides, swimming, dinner and music. Donations will be accepted for Baytreat items. Please RSVP by calling the church office (251-432-1749) or by emailing Meredith Johnston.

Book Club Meetings: In June and July, the Book Club will read and discuss some short essays/articles, and then in August we will study Nancy Graham's book, "The Unfractured Faith of Erik Routley: From Brighton to Princeton." The next meeting is June 25 at 5:30 p.m. and the reading is from The Journal of Presbyterian History, Vol. 96, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2018, "Healing Body and Mind: The Life and Times of Madge Mateer in the Shandong Mission" (p. 4-17) by John R. Stanley.

For the July 30 meeting, the reading is from The Journal of Presbyterian History, Vol. 92, No. 2 (Fall/Winter 2014), "Westminster in Watts," 73-79 (7 pages). 

To read these articles, you may use Meredith Johnston's free JSTOR account, which will access the database where these may be retrieved. (The account does not allow the user to download and save the articles.) Click here to access the JSTOR site . You may log in with the username meredith@gspcmobile.org, and the password Edison100! If you need any assistance, or have questions, contact Meredith Johnston.

Sanctuary Flowers: If you would like to place flowers in the Sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one, there are several openings this month. 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 on Summer Break: There will be no more Sunday School programming for children and youth and no more Wee Worship during the worship service until September as we take a break for the summer. Thank you to our dedicated Sunday School teachers and Wee Worship volunteers. Wee Worship children are welcome in worship for the summer, or they are invited to the nursery after the children's sermon.

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.

GSPC T-Shirts: If you would like to order a T-shirt, the deadline is Sunday, June 16. Use the form below (download, fill out and email to Mary Herndon Nordmann), or fill one out in the church office.

Tell Us Your Favorite Hymns! We will enjoy a service filled with the congregation's favorite hymns on Sunday, July 7. You may email your favorites to Meredith Johnston in the office or click here to fill out an online request form.

Young Women's Dinner Gathering: The Young Women's Bible Study is taking a break for the summer, but they will gather for dinner at Moe's Original BBQ downtown on Tuesday, June 25 at 6 p.m. All young women are welcome to attend!

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).

Sunday, June 16

Join us in worship as the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues “The Story of Samuel” sermon series with “Will and Warning.” Scripture readings will be Psalm 121 and I Samuel 8. Choral music includes Douglas Wagner's "A Wonderful Noise" and Eugene Butler's "Therefore, Give Us Love," with text by Christopher Wadsworth. 

This is the Sanctuary Choir's last Sunday to sing until August 18, as they begin their

well-deserved summer break. 



Bulletin for June 16:

Sunday, June 23

Join us in worship next week, as the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar continues her sermon series, “The Story of Samuel,” with a sermon titled “Spirit and Surprise.” Scripture readings will be Psalm 30 and I Samuel 15:34-16:13. While the choir is on summer break, weekly music will be provided from ensembles and soloists both from within and outside GSPC. On June 23, Charlotte and Brian Naylor will provide vocals, guitar and recorder for our worship music. The full schedule is below.

Talking Heads

This Sunday School class meets on the second floor of the church each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

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

Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams.

Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study

The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study has recessed for the summer. Contact: Mary Elizabeth Perry.

Men's Bible Study

The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study has recessed for the summer. Contact: Bo Perry.

Recycling Event

Keep Mobile Beautiful invites everyone to a recyling and cleanup event on Saturday, June 29, from 9 a.m. to noon at Little Flower Catholic Church.

Volunteers are asked to register ahead of time, using the QR code in the graphic here.

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.