Called to Serve
FEBRUARY | 2019
300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, ALABAMA 36602 | 251.432.1749 | GSPCMOBILE.ORG
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise! At the beginning of each choral season, it is my tradition to choose a pertinent reference from Holy Scripture to use as an inspiration and guide for the length of the season. The text shown in the header above is taken from Psalm 100, a familiar passage that most of us memorized in childhood, in the beautifully languid vernacular of the King James Version. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands!” The verse begins, and the lyricism of the text takes a natural rhythm which, for me, enables memorization, and allows for a confident recitation of the chapter. “Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing!” If there is one thing that GSPC does well, it is singing! I hear so often the overtures of gratitude for programming familiar hymns – and the results show how appreciated they are. When we approach worship with gladness, it is evident in how we worship. It’s contagious, even! The chapter goes on to say, “. . .be grateful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures forever.”
The author Maya Angelou wrote a book titled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In essence, the title itself is a message. You see, the bird has made a sanctuary of its space. No matter the circumstance, it continues to happily sing. When we enter into God’s house, I wonder if we make a conscious effort to put off worries, fears, adversities, and thoughts of the unknown. Those things form a cage in our minds where we sometimes get stuck. If we trust that the Lord is indeed good, and that his mercy and truth does last forever, then we can assert a thankful approach and offer our praise in his service. We are entering a new chapter of GSPC history. Since 1831, this church has held fast to its heritage and forged ahead while surviving many adversities. If we take what concerns us and apply the filters of goodness, mercy, and truth, we will indeed find much to be thankful for. And that alone is worthy of praise. This past Sunday, we said “goodbye for now” to our friend and our pastor who has brought to this body of Christ many reasons to be thankful. Pastor Paul and I worked closely to plan our worship services, leaving no stone unturned, and keeping our focus on the source of our worship. While Paul has moved on, please be assured that I stand committed to the charge and that our worship will continue to the glory of God. Our new Interim Pastor has also expressed his love of music to me, and I believe together we will continue to honor our heritage while embracing our future. Let us continue to “be grateful unto him”.
I know why the caged bird sings!
GSPC WELCOMES REV. DR. CARY G. SPEAKER AS INTERIM PASTOR Coming to GSPC from Birmingham, Alabama, Cary is retired from Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church, and has served as Interim Pastor for First Presbyterian Church, Huntsville; Shades Valley Lutheran Church, and Chapel in the Pines (PCUSA), Birmingham, Alabama. He has also served in ministry as a hospital chaplain and pastoral counselor. A student of Woodlawn High School, and Samford University, Cary received his Doctorate in Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1967. He and his wife Sally have two sons and an 18month old grandchild. He enjoys volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, reading, attending movies, and traveling with Sally’s choir at Independent Presbyterian Church. Cary will celebrate in worship with communion on Sunday, February 3.
Sunday, February 3—Acolyte Training at 10AM in the Sanctuary. Sunday, February 10—Lunch at Heroes and Scavenger Hunt following worship. Sunday, February 24—Eastern Shore Lanes, following worship. Details TBA.
Thursday Forum— February 14 at noon. Lunch will be served and a free-will offering received. Pictured: Mickie Lorge, Mac Boone, Michael Tippy and Coleman Callaway.
The Circle of Joy will meet Monday, February 11, at 6:15pm at Guesnard House.
345 Club enjoyed an outing at Urban Air Trampoline Park.
The Circle of Hope will meet Thursday, February 14 at 10:00am in the Tent Room. The Session will meet Tuesday, February 19 at 5:30pm. No dinner will be served.
The Christian Education Committee will meet on Monday, February 18, at 5:30 at Starbucks, corner of Government and Catherine Streets.
The Women’s Bible Study meets every Tuesday at 10:00am in the Frist Room, second floor, and is led by Mary Elizabeth Perry. Now studying the book of Luke from the Interpretation Bible Study Series.
Visit gspcmobile.org to view the full calendar.
On behalf of Family Promise (IHN) and the families we served in 2018, thank you to all of our volunteers. This vital ministry is one of several outreach ministries administered through the Urban Ministries Committee. Family Promise functions as a group of host and support congregations who work together to provide temporary housing to families experiencing homelessness. Many of these families are unable to find places in shelters due to age or gender restrictions. As part of this network, GSPC houses some of these families in our facility for one week, several times each year. Volunteers provide hospitality in many ways, including, but certainly not limited to: cooking meals, overnight hosting, and doing laundry after guests leave. In the early 2000s, Mobile's Homeless Coalition spearheaded the formation of an emergency housing resource for families. They brought the idea of a community-based approach to Government Street Presbyterian Church who, subsequently, gave a two-year grant to fuel the project. The Interfaith Hospitality Network (later renamed Family Promise of Coastal Alabama [FP]) became a reality in South Alabama in the summer of 2003. In response to the needs of our community, FP added affordable housing services in 2015. In 2018, FP added one more housing unit so three families can now be housed. As you can see from the above statement, GSPC was instrumental in starting this ministry in Mobile. To be able to continue this ministry, we are in need of a few additional volunteers to serve. Upcoming opportunities to serve are as follows: March 17-24, May 26 – June 2, September 1-8, and November 17-24. The sign-up list will be in the Jackson Street foyer about a month before each host week or you may sign-up at gspcmobile.org. Job descriptions are available, and I am available to answer any questions regarding this ministry. BRIAN NAYLOR Host Coordinator and Family Promise Board Member (251) 656-5653 | bnaylor88@att.net
gspcmobile.org @gspcmobile
DATES OF IMPORTANCE SUNDAY, MARCH 3 JOE CAIN DAY Worship will begin at 10AM. No Sunday School Travel passes will be available two weeks prior. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 ASH WEDNESDAY Communion with Imposition of Ashes at Noon. No rehearsals will be held in the evening. LENTEN COMMUNION Wednesdays at noon, March 13—April 17 Organ Recitals at 11:30AM HOLY WEEK PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 14 | 10:45AM Palm Procession and Service of Scripture & Anthems
COURTNEY ROUSE-HEINZ Executive Director Habitat for Humanity Southwest Alabama Visit gspcmobile.org/thursday-forum-series to register your attendance and view Courtney’s bio.
MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 18 | 6PM Communion & Stripping of the Church GOOD FRIDAY | 6PM Passion Narrative RESURRECTION OF THE LORD | 11AM Easter Sunday
GSPC NEWS (USPC 736150) is published monthly by GSPC, 300 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36602. Periodical: postage paid at Mobile, AL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GSPC NEWS, 300 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602
Called to Serve
300 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602
FEBRUARY 3
FEBRUARY 10
FEBRURARY 17
FEBRUARY 24
USHER CAPTAIN
Ashford Kettler
Ashford Kettler
Ashford Kettler
Brent Ericson
SANCTUARY PREPARER
Harriett Boster
Dot White
Susan Ashbee
Jarrett Callaway
Sally Ericson
NURSERY WEE WORSHIP
SUNDAY ASSISTANTS
Bligh Jones Trisha Hawkins
Harriett Boster Lisa deShazo
Blair Schoenvogel
Ed & Abbie Bowron
Preston Reeder
Jessica King
Linda Reynolds
Sally Ericson
Lisa Goodloe
Fran Thurber
Casi Callaway
Corinne Lorge
Ashley Trice
Called to Serve
WE ARE CALLED BY THE SPIRIT TO GLORIFY GOD, SO THAT ALL MAY BECOME JOYFUL DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.