GSPC Newsletter | October 2019

GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THIS ISSUE

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“Sticky Faith”

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From the Pastor

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Christian Education

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Congregational Life

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Stewardship

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Session Highlights

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Worship Volunteers

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Presbyterian Women

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Thursday Forum

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November Newsletter deadline is Wednesday, October 23

Nearly half of all young people raised in Christian families walk away from their faith when they graduate from high school. But research also tells us that parents are one of the primary influences on building a lasting faith in their children. Sticky Faith is a book and curriculum designed to teach parents tools for cultivating faith in their children.

Parents and grandparents, church members, and church guests are invited to join Pastor Rebekah for this five-week series. Contact Rebekah with questions (rebekah@gspcmobile.org), and feel free to invite your friends!

A congregational meeting will be held following worship on Sunday, October 13 to elect Deacons and Elders to the Class of 2022.

From the Pastor I am still basking in the memories of the special installation service we shared on Sunday, September 29.

The music, the sermon, the hymns, the liturgy, the wonderful reception following. . .I felt God's presence in it all. While the service was an installation of me as pastor, it was really a service about us and the ministry that God has planned for us together. The service of installation was an opportunity for the Presbytery of South Alabama to bless and affirm that God has called us to live our faith together.

It was also a chance for us to be reminded of God's providence and guidance in the past and trust God with a future that is yet unknown.

Will you let me be your servant; Let me be as Christ to you?

Pray that I might have the grace; To let you be my servant too.

I chose a hymn that was new to many of you to be sung by the congregation during the service. I treasure the opportunity to be with you during times of joy and sorrow, to speak the truest words I know each Sunday, and to help us focus on Christ in all we do. But I see you doing these things as well in ways that minister to me. You are Christ to me in countless ways, and I am already thanking God for the ways our ministry will deepen over time.

We are pilgrims on the journey; We are travellers on the road We are here to help each other; Walk the mile and bear the load.

We made promises during the installation service to walk the next miles of this journey together, sharing one another's joys and sorrows, caring for one another as we seek to serve and love Christ in the city of Mobile. Who around us needs someone to walk alongside them and share the load?

Who needs someone to share the grace that we know in Jesus Christ? There are others called to join us on this pilgrimage of faith, people called to serve Christ in this congregation, people called to help us discern God's plan for our church and community.

In this month's newsletter, you will see some of the good things that are happening at GSPC. What you won't see is all the planning and dreaming and praying that is happening. We continue our search for staff, make plans for children and youth ministry, finalize plans for our stewardship season, and already planning for a meaningful Advent season. There is much to be excited about here, and as many of you have told me over the last couple months: the best is yet to come! Thanks be to God for calling us together.

Grace and peace, Rebekah rebekah@gspcmobile.org

ď Ą Christian Education A heartfelt thank-you to Sarah Haas Otts, who recently made a very special donation to the libraries in the Sunday School classrooms: Copies of her first children's book, To Be A Line. Otts is the cover story for the September issue of Mobile Bay magazine, and her beautiful art book is available at her new gallery at 4513 Old Shell Road.

Otts is shown reading To Be A Line to the children during Wee Worship on September 22. The central message of the story is to encourage everyone to embrace their own unique gifts and to use them for good: "... You are you by design. Trust in your heart, and grow like a line."

Congratulations to Emerson Hale, Carter Hale, Margaret Sue Browning, and Lelia Otts, who received their new Bibles and learned all about Communion during the Children at the Lord's Table workshop with Pastor Rebekah on September 22.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS!

Sunday, October 27

Following Worship Jackson Street Parking Lot Donations of pre-wrapped candy are being received in the Church Office.

Please contact Sally Ericson if you wish to participate in decorating a trunk or helping with the event.

PRESCHOOL Jane Hale Hunter Oswalt

KINDERGARTEN—SECOND GRADE Margaret Sue Browning Blair Schoenvogel THIRD-FIFTH GRADES Shawn Walker Missy Jones JUNIOR & SENIOR HIGHS Travis Goodloe Bobby Headrick Buzzy Riis Marcia Wyatt

Children’s Choir is blossoming into a wonderful program! So many children are involved and thriving in the atmosphere of community and acceptance we built as a church. As we approach our first opportunity to sing in worship on October 20th, now is the most important time to be in regular attendance of rehearsal Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. The more the singers are able to practice together, the more cohesive and confident they will be able to present their songs.

Joining choir allows children to serve the church in praise and worship while instilling a sense of community and musical joy. Each Sunday we learn new vocal exercises and hymns that encourage the children to familiarize themselves with the ways of Christianity and the Presbyterian Church. Your support is essential in promoting this growth of community and faith through music.

Sami Anselmo Director of Children’s Choirs

 Congregational Life OCTOBER

GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2019/2020 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

NOVEMBER 17

Laura Catrett Tamblyn Eleanor Clara Tanner Frank Trice Clint Jameson Alexandra Jane Cave William G. Parsons Michael Tippy Tom Mostellar Duke Walker Kay Donaho Marcia Wyatt Harper Brooks Linda Burke Madeline Dunne Andrew McFadden Meg Gardner John Browning Betsy Otts David Thomason Lisa Goodloe Jeanie Lindsey Marrs Zakary Brad Elliott Kimberly Elliott Thomas Fusko Dick Otts Elizabeth Smith Sue King Mickie Lorge Julia King Eddie Curran Jeepje Zandstra Janet Johnson Charles Jones Monnie Anderson Damon Boone Alice Leach Crotwell Robert Mostellar Jeff Newman Sophie Herrington Sally Ericson

GSPC’s 2019/2020 Stewardship Campaign is underway. Please watch your mail for information from the committee. Dedication Sunday will be on November 17.

 Session SEPTEMBER SESSION HIGHLIGHTS • • • •

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The Session has scheduled a Congregational Meeting for October 13 to elect new Officers; Charles Howell Oswalt's Baptism has been scheduled for November 24.

Officer Training will be scheduled for late October or November.

At the recommendation of the Staff Committee, the Session approved job descriptions for the part time positions of Director of Communications and the Church Hostess.

The Worship Committee reminded us that World-Wide Communion will be this Sunday, October 6. Cary Speaker will be leading our worship service.

We thank Bill Cutts and Jasper Reaves for repairing our damaged cast iron gate and fence in their shop.

Susan Miller | Clerk of Session | srm2059@aol.com

 Worship Volunteers OCTOBER 6

USHER CAPTAIN

SANCTUARY PREPARER

OCTOBER 13

OCTOBER 20

Ashford Kettler

Harriett Boster

Dot White

OCTOBER 27

Brent Ericson

Bligh Jones Trisha Hawkins

Harriett Boster

SUNDAY ASSISTANTS

Preston Reeder

Marcia Wyatt

Elizabeth Boone

Elizabeth Boone

Abbie Bowron

Dewey Parsons

NURSERY

Missy Jones

Georgia Schwarzhauer

Blanche Parsons

TBA

Katherine Ogburn

Ashley Trice

Nicole Riis

Linda Reynolds

Virginie Reeder

Sally Ericson

Lisa Goodloe

Beth Holbert

WEE WORSHIP

Charlotte Crockett

Dear Sisters in Christ,

As we begin the new church year, we are blessed to have the opportunity to be in service to our Lord through Presbyterian Women (PW). Our PW group at Government Street is active and involved in many ways.

Our members are involved at the Presbytery, Synod and Churchwide levels of Presbyterian Women. We encourage every woman in our congregation to attend a monthly PW Circle. In supporting our national organization, we support world missions as well as projects here in the U.S. Our pledges also support Presbyterian Seminaries, Family Promise and Mission Haven. We sent gift cards to our college students, present Baptismal gifts, Angel Tree gifts and supply Bible Study Books to our Circle members. We will be hosting a new project this year that will include all members of the church and the Chrismon Tree (details to come).

Please complete the commitment portion and return it to the church office by November 1, 2019.

Thank you for your gifts to Presbyterian Women and may our efforts and actions be to the glory of God. In Christ’s name,

Linda Dealy Presbyterian Women Moderator Government Street Presbyterian Church Commitment to Presbyterian Women

In response to the Good News of Christ and in recognition of my need to participate in the proclamation of the Gospel, I pledge $ ________ to the 2018– 2019 Budget of the Presbyterian Women. Please note: Contributions made to Sunshine Fund and Least Coin Offerings in Circles are not included in our Operating Budget.

Name: _________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________ Address: _____________________________________ City/State: ____________________ Zip: _________ Please return this commitment to:

Government Street Presbyterian Church Attention: Dawn Hearn, Bookkeeper 300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602

Government Street Presbyterian Church US POSTAGE PAID USPC 736150

300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 info@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

November 7, 2019 | 12pm “My Journey with Alzheimers: From Why me to What Next?”

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

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel, an honorably retired PCUSA pastor from Elmira, New York will be our guest speaker at the Lunch & Learn on November 7 at 12pm in the Fellowship Hall. Cynthia is an advocate, author and artist who is living with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and served on the National Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services representing the 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. Cynthia will talk about her Alzheimer's journey and her unexpected ministry.

WE

ARE CALLED BY THE SPIRIT TO GLORIFY GOD, SO THAT ALL MAY BECOME JOYFUL DISCIPLES OF JESUS

CHRIST.