Thursday, August 15, 2024

FROM THE PASTOR

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

I am thrilled to announce that the Session has approved the employment of Willie Mae King (pictured) as Director of Food Service after Shelia's retirement next month. Willie Mae has worked in food served for over 20 years. Most recently she was employed by Mary G. Montgomery High School. She has also worked as a the Operations Manager for a restaurant. She has experience cooking, planning menus, budgeting, and purchasing. She enjoys working with people and writes, "I look forward to contributing, working, and sharing with my new family." The interview team for the Staff Committee was impressed with her experience and knowledge and looks forward to welcoming her to GSPC in the coming weeks.

Willie Mae will begin work after Labor Day in order to spend time working with Shelia prior to Shelia's retirement on September 30. Watch for more information on GSPC's celebration of Shelia and welcome of Willie Mae!

Grace and Peace,

Rebekah

GSPC News

Parents' Night Out: We had a great turnout for the Pajama Party and Guesnard Open House! Thanks to Bradley Daugherty, our Director of Christian Education, for organizing this event.

Mark Your Calendars: The congregation is invited to a series of "Second Sunday Monthly Luncheons" after church this fall. The dates are September 8, October 13, and November 10. Stay tuned for details!

Calling All Greeters: As part of the Thriving Congregations initiative, the congregation is invited to volunteer as greeters on Sunday mornings. Greeters are asked to arrive by10:15 a.m. and to welcome visitors at both entrances to the sanctuary. The commitment would not be every week. If you are interested in joining this evangelism opportunity on Sunday mornings, please contact Mary Herndon Nordmann.

Dinner Club Kickoff Luncheon: The new Dinner Club season officially kicks off with a potluck luncheon this Sunday, August 18, in the Fellowship Hall after worship. Beverages will be provided. Please call or text Linda Reynolds at 251-510-6913 if you want to be added to the 24-25 Dinner Club season list. 

Congregational Meeting to Elect Nominating Committee will be held on Sunday, August 25 at the end of the worship service.

Invitation from Dauphin Way UMC: Dauphin Way’s Racial Justice and Reconciliation committee is pleased to host "John Lewis and the Power of Hope: A Conversation," on Sunday, August 25 at 4 p.m. Dauphin Way’s own Frye Gaillard, an award-winning author and chronicler of the 1960s, will offer summary and perspective before responding to questions from the audience. Please join us for this special, timely event.

Book Club Meeting with Nancy Graham: The GSPC Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, in the church library and via Zoom. The group will discuss GSPC member Nancy Graham's book, "The Unfractured Faith of Erik Routley: From Brighton to Princeton." Nancy, an accomplished musician and scholar, will be with us to sign copies of her book. The Zoom link is posted prior to the meeting on the church calendar. For assistance in accessing the Zoom link or the reading material, please contact Meredith Johnston. The Book Club's September 24th meeting will feature "The Archeology of Protestant Landscapes," by Kimberly Pyszka. The author will be joining us, via Zoom, for the discussion. More information about the book may be found here.

Rebekah Abel Lamar Continuing Education: Rebekah will leave after worship on Sunday, August 18 for several days of continuing education with her preaching group. She will be back for worship on Sunday, August 25.

Other News and Notes

Choir Rehearsals Resume: The Sanctuary Choir has resumed its regular rehearsal schedule and will be back in worship on August 18! The Handbell Choir will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, August 21. If you are interested in joining our music ministry, please contact Chris Nemec, Director of Music and Organist.

Baytreat Memories: The congregation is invited to share their favorite Baytreat memories. Please submit them using this link.

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.

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 Update: Sunday School programming for children and youth, along with Wee Worship, will begin on Rally Day, September 8.

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.

Shelia Is Retiring: It is true; after 38 years as GSPC's Food Service Director, Shelia Smith will retire on September 30, 2024. Watch for more information about how we will celebrate Shelia.

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).

Welcome, New Members!

Government Street Presbyterian rejoices to welcome new members to the congregation. They are:

Sadie Weldon will begin a year of service through our denomination as a Young Adult Volunteer. Sadie leaves later this month to live in Agua Pietra, Mexico, just across the border from Douglas, AZ. She will be working with Frontera de Cristo, a border ministry that is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Borderlands Ministries.

Walt and Lillian Laughlin come to us from Independent Presbyterian in Birmingham. Walt is self-employed in executive recruitment for the banking/mortgage banking industry and enjoys golfing. Lillian is a retired bookkeeper. She enjoys tutoring children, especially at-risk children.

Neal and Sherri Horner (pictured) come to us from Germantown Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tenn. Neal is retired. He enjoys playing guitar. Sherri is a retired dental hygienist. She is interested in local mission efforts and service.

Fred and Linda Price come to us from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairhope. Fred and Linda were long-time members at Independent Presbyterian in Birmingham before moving to Fairhope. We have been praying for Fred during his recent hospitalization, but we look forward to welcoming them back to worship soon. The Prices were received into membership at the Session's meeting on August 13.

Bradley Daugherty (pictured), our new Director of Christian Education, grew up at GSPC and is rejoining after her time as a member Christ United. Bradley was an Academic Support Teacher at UMS-Wright before joining GSPC's staff. She is married to Brent Daugherty who is Director of Technology at UMS-Wright. They are parents to Andric (14 mos.). Bradley's parents are Bobby and Gail Headrick.

Sunday, August 18

This Sunday, August 18, the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar will continue her sermon series “Great Prayers of the Bible” with a sermon about Solomon's Prayer, including Scripture references from 1 Kings 3: 3-14. The Sanctuary Choir will return to worship as they sing Martin Shaw’s “With a Voice of Singing” and Olive Dungan’s “Eternal Life” with text from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.



Bulletin for August 18:

Sunday, August 25

Next Sunday, August 25, the sermon is from Matthew 6:9-13 and is titled “Great Prayers from the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer.” The Sanctuary Choir will sing a setting of the text “Consider the Lilies” (Roger Hoffman) and the Beatitudes (“Blest Are They.”)

New Directory Print and Online Directories Available

New printed directories will be available on Sunday, August 18 following worship. On Sunday afternoon, members will receive an email with details about how to login to Realm, our church database, to access the directory electronically. Invitations for those who do not already have a login will go out on Monday morning. Contact Meredith Johnston with questions, or call the church office at 251-432-1749.

GSPC Children's Ministry Events

Parents, please mark your calendars for the events below. (Please note the change to the location for bowling on September 15.)

Talking Heads

This Sunday School class meets on the second floor of the church each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. The class is currently on a break for the summer.

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

This Bible study meets on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the home of Ann Adams. The group has begun studying the Gospel of Matthew with the Rev. George Sinclair as discussion leader. Everyone is welcome. 

Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study

The Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study will resume meetings in September. The contact is Mary Elizabeth Perry.

Men's Bible Study

The Wednesday Night Men’s Bible Study will resume meetings in September. The contact is 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.