Sunday Bulletin | October 20, 2019

October 20, 2019 | 11AM WELCOME TO

GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GATHERING

Please silence all cellular devices for the duration of the service.  indicates an invitation to

CHIMING OF THE HOUR

WESTMINSTER

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR

stand as you are able.

MINUTE FOR MISSION | MEALS-ON-WHEELS

Please let us know you are

PRELUDE | FLUTE & ORGAN

the center of each pew.

When finished, please pass the book toward the center aisles so we may call each other by name.

The original French text, sometimes attributed to John Calvin, seems to be a Protestant reworking of a Roman Catholic hymn, not a typical practice for him.

Yet this text and tune (adapted from GENEVAN 124) clearly date from the early years of the Reformed tradition.

Sonata in C Major, BWV 1033 J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

here today by signing the Welcome Book located in

LISA DESHAZO

 CALL TO WORSHIP responsive

KELLEEN WALKER, LITURGIST

No matter how far we feel from God , we do not lose heart; For the days are surely coming, says the Lord.

No matter how difficult it is to trust the Spirit’s quiet work, we do not lose heart; For the days are surely coming, says the Lord.

No matter how hard it is to pray continually and work for justice, we do not lose heart; For the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will forgive and restore my people; when I will equip them for every good work and when I will grant justice, With hope and trust in the Lord, let us worship God.  HYMN 624

I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art TOULON

PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison God of grace, forgive us for our failure to love others as you have loved us, for wasting our gifts and hoarding our goods, for losing heart and abandoning hope.

We turn from you in many ways and thank you for you mercy and grace in our lives.

We pray in the name of Christ, who saves us from our failings, Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE | HYMN 175

Seek Ye First LAFFERTY

The author and composer wrote the first stanza and folk-style tune after attending a Bible study on Matthew 6:33. The later stanzas, based respectively on Matthew 7:7 and Matthew 4:4 emerged

anonymously. Such meditative singing of scripture is an important form of sung prayer.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:27-34 Old Testament p. 690

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL | PSALM 121:1-8 1. Choir 2. Congregation

Children ages three through six years are invited to Wee Worship

following the Children’s Choirs song.

Wee Worship is held in the children’s classrooms located in the hall behind the sanctuary, and children may be picked up there following worship.

CHERUBS’ & CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

Children’s Prayer German Folk Tune; arr. Robert Leaf

Father, in heaven, be with us we pray. Thy word shall our hearts and our voices obey. Through darkness and danger abide on our way.

Oh Father, in heaven, be with us we pray.

So softly, so gently, the dawn of the day, with beauty surrounds us while lighting our way. Oh Father, direct us in work and in play.

In all our endeavor be faithful, we pray.

We welcome thy Spirit within us to dwell, Thy glory and honor our voices will tell. We thank thee, we praise thee, thy word we obey.

O Father, in heaven, be with us we pray.

SECOND READING

Luke 18:1-8 New Testament p. 76

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. SERMON

Persistence

REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR

THANKSGIVING In both Hebrew and Greek,  HYMN 286 the words for “spirit” can equally well be translated

as “breath” or “wind,” so it is very appropriate to address the Holy Spirit as the “Breath of God.” This tune by an English organist has become the customary one in North American hymnals.

Breathe on Me, Breath of God TRENTHAM

 AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.

The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.

The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the church.

In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.

In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”  GLORIA | HYMN 581

Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

THE LORD’S PRAYER The Lord’s Prayer was prayed by Jesus to teach the disciples how to pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.  THE PEACE The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

OFFERING

The anthem text may be found on page 69 in Glory to God. The stanzas should

CHORAL ANTHEM

Here I Am, Lord Dan Schutte; arr. Craig Courtney

 DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH

be understand as representing the voice of God, while the refrain (based on Isaiah 6:8) is the

Praise

God, from whom all bless—ings flow;

praise God all crea-tures

faithful human response to

God’s call.

here

Praise

be—

low;

Praise

Fa—ther, Son, and

God a—bove ye

Ho— ly

Ghost.

Heav’n– ly

A—

host;

men

 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING unison

Eternal God, may these gifts be signs of your grace, and may our lives show forth the coming kingdom that when Christ comes again he will find faith on earth.

Amen.

This text was written in 1987 for the capital cornerstone campaign of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC.

SENDING

It is set here to a mid-20th-

 HYMN 309

century tune created in

Come, Great God of All the Ages ABBOT’S LEIGH

wartime England to

 BENEDICTION

replace a Haydn tune tainted by Nazi

POSTLUDE

associations.

Trumpet Tune Henry Purcell

Sending—we are sent out to live the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We further commit, as a

Expressions of gratitude are offered to Andra Bohnet, flutist, for celebrating in worship with us today.

congregation, to our mission: “We are called by the spirit to glorify God, so that all may become joyful

disciples of Jesus Christ.”

WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS Usher Captain: Sunday Assistants:

Ashford Kettler Elizabeth Boone Margaret Vidmer Hutchison

Nursery: Wee Worship:

Blanche Parsons Nicole Riis Lisa Goodloe Sadie Weldon

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR OCTOBER 27

Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 II Timothy 4:6-8 Luke 18:9-14

Welcome to Government Street!

Childcare is available in the nursery for infants to three-years-old.

New members are welcomed by profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, or transfer of membership.

Please speak with the minister for further information.

Join us for PYC tonight, 6-8pm at Guesnard House. We’ll start a new Bible study on “The Gospel According to the Simpsons,” by Mark Pinsky.

Pizza, fellowship, and fun for all. Please bring your friends!

Trunk or Treat will be held next Sunday following worship. Donations of individually wrapped candy are being received in the church office, and we need volunteers to decorate trunks. A luncheon will be held following worship in the fellowship hall allowing time for children to change into costume and volunteers time to prepare their vehicles. Come join us for this most fun time with GSPC’s children and youth!

GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2019/2020 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

NOVEMBER 17

GSPC’s 2019/2020 Stewardship Campaign is underway.

Please watch your mail for information from the committee.

Dedication Sunday will be on November 17.



THE SANCTUARY FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Joy & Reed Gardner in honor of Meg and Gary Heusser upon the occasion of their marriage.

300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org

 Staff REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Pastor & Head of Staff rebekah@gspcmobile.org TOMMY WATTS Director of Music & Organist Communications tommy@gspcmobile.org BARBARA WILLIAMS Office & Property Manager barbara@gspcmobile.org SALLY ERICSON Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator sally@gspcmobile.org DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper bookkeeper@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton  For the latest calendar and announcements, please visit us online at www.gspcmobile.org @gspcmobile

CALENDAR Meals on Wheels | Monday—Friday 11:00a SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 9:30a Sunday School (all ages) “Sticky Faith” SS Class | Fellowship Hall Cherubs’ & Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:00a Worship Wee Worship 6:00p PYC | Guesnard House MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 5:30p CE Committee | Starbucks (Gov’t & Catherine Sts.) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 7:00a Bible Study | Home of Rudy Nordmann 7:45a Bible Study | Home of Ann Adams 10:00a Ladies’ Bible Study | Frist Room WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23 6:00p Men’s Disciple Class | Library 6:00p Handbell Rehearsal | Sanctuary 7:00p Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal | Choir Suite THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 6:15p PW Fall Gathering | Guesnard House FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 | Reformation 9:30a Sunday School (all ages) “Sticky Faith” SS Class | Fellowship Hall Cherubs’ & Children’s Choir Rehearsal 10:30a Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 11:00a Worship Wee Worship