GSPC NEWS Called to Serve
300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, ALABAMA 36602 251.432.1749 | GSPCMOBILE.ORG
October Edition | 2018 Art has man y opportun itie s in whic h to be expre ssed. Whe the r a pain ting of g re at or little value , orig in al or a copy; a mime e xpre ssing kin etic move me n t; the g race of a balle rin a; the te n sion of a bow on the string s of a violin . We fin d g re at ple asure in the man y ways of e xpre ssin g art — some time s you are the artist, othe r time s, you are the obse rve r. In the case of God, I sugg e st, He is both ! Take a momen t to thin k of a time that creative e xpre ssion has captivate d your full atte n tion . I thin k of the art of song : partic ularly that of sittin g in a g ran d ope ra when the she er power of voic e washe s ove r you; or sin g ing a favorite hymn in church whe n the text take s you to a time an d place that brin g s te ars to your e ye s. It is in the book of Jo b, the olde st rec orde d work of Holy Scripture , that we le arn God en joye d music from the be g innin g . In a situation where God is spe aking to Job, he asks “Whe re we re you whe n I laid the foun dation of the e arth?” and late r, just to re in force his position , God goe s in to de tail by asking “Whe re we re you. . .whe n the morn ing stars sang tog e the r an d all the heave n ly be in g s shoute d for joy?”. Mose s’ ac c ount of the cre ation te lls us that stars we re placed in dome of the sky on the fourth day, to whic h I submit, God authore d the son g! We sing about the se in stan c es in se ve ral familiar hymn s. In Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee , a phrase in the secon d verse says: All thy works with joy surround thee; earth and heaven reflect thy rays; stars and angels sing around thee (an d I have to won de r what the song was that the “he ave n ly be in g s” shoute d for with joy —I sug ge st B ee thoven was c e rtainly an option ) . In Great Is Thy Faithfulness, we sin g : sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness . Pe rhaps that witne ss is [man i]fe st in the rhythm that God cre ate d for the thin g s of nature to come toge the r as the y so marve lously do. Re cen tly, B lan che P arson s an d I spe nt the afte rn oon visiting a fe w church me mbe rs that live at the be autiful We stmin ste r Villag e on the E aste rn Shore . On e of the common the me s of discussion was of the long history of g ood music at GSPC an d the spe cial role it has playe d in some people s’ life time s, on e spann ing 95 ye ars! It was at the conclusion of our last visit that the dear gen tle man , with a g re at big smile an d a te ar in his e ye said to me : “Be care ful son , if you han g around Gove rn men t Stree t too lon g , it’ll make a Christian out of you! ”. I won de r how Job fe lt whe n God took the in itiative to an swe r him? In the pre vious chapter, Job is told to “stop an d c on side r the won drous works of God”. An d late r, we le arn that he did just that. In all of his mise ry and loss, Job fo un d humility an d satisfaction an d the Lord God re store d to him double that whic h he had lost. GSPC has a rich he ritag e still ve ry alive in ne arly a ce ntury’s worth of livin g , bre athin g me mory. Such thin g s as God’s han d in music from the ve ry be g in n ing of creation sustain the powerful sug g e stion s of me mory for days g one by, and obje ctivity for thing s to come . We are n e aring the se ason of Adven t —be g in n ing s are upon us and we have g re at poten tial to hon or God simply by stoppin g an d con siderin g His won drous works: in music, in e vang elism, in worship…
hey, han g around ... it’ll make a Chr istian out of you!
- Tommy
WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS Sunday, October 7 Sanctuary Preparation: Usher Captain: Nursery: Wee Worship Leader: Sunday Assistants:
Harriett Boster Ashford Kettler Nicole Riis Elizabeth Boone Charles Smith | Jeni Marley
For more information and to RSVP, visit gspcmobile.org/children.
Sunday, October 14 Sanctuary Preparation: Usher Captain: Nursery: Wee Worship Leader: Sunday Assistants:
Dot White Ashford Kettler Mary Herndon Nordmann Sarah Otts Margaret Vidmer Hutchison John Otts
Sunday, October 21 Sanctuary Preparation: Usher Captain: Nursery: Wee Worship Leader: Sunday Assistants:
Sunday, October 28 | 4-6 pm GSPC’s Jackson Street Parking Lot
Bligh Jones | Trisha Hawkins Ashford Kettler Jessica King Ashley Oswalt Preston Reeder | Ted Burke
The Children and Cherub’s Choirs will sing in worship on Sunday, October 21.
Sunday, October 28 Sanctuary Preparation: Usher Captain: Nursery: Wee Worship Leader: Sunday Assistant:
Harriett Boster Brent & Sally Ericson Bligh Jones Elizabeth Smith Blair Schoenvogel Jeni Marley
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE The Circle of Joy will meet Monday, October 8, at 6:15pm at the Guesnard House.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Christian Education Committee Meeting Monday, October 22 | 5:30pm Starbucks at Government & Catherine Streets
Urban Ministry Committee will meet Tuesday, October 9 at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. The Circle of Hope will meet Tuesday, October 11, at 10:00am in the Tent Room
Youth Sunday School | 9:30am on Sunday in the Ansley Moore Room, second floor.
The Session will meet Tuesday, October 16 at 5:30pm. No dinner will be served. The Diaconate will meet Tuesday, October 23 at 5:30 pm. No dinner will be served.
HAUNTED Saturday OCTOBER 20 Seward Farms Bring a friend! More details to come.
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Hymns from the Sanctuary An Organ Demonstration FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | 7PM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 | 6PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 | 4PM Have you ever wondered how the pipe organ in the GSPC Sanctuary operates? Where do those sounds come from, and how are they made? Join Tommy Watts for a close-up demonstration and hymn sing featuring the grand Rieger-Kloss pipe organ. Seating will be limited to the choir loft surrounding the organ console for an intimate time to experience the sound and acoustical presence of the instrument while learning about its many features, while hearing favorite organ works and hymns.
Make your RSVP to the church office.
THURSDAY FORUM SERIES October 25 | 12pm GSPC Fellowship Hall First-time author, Jan McDaniel Hunter will be discussing her new book Taming the Fire Within. A food truck will be onsite to purchase lunch and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP online at gspcmobile.org.
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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
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
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