10/25/2022
Dear Friends,
Sunday, we kicked-off a four-week series entitled, Our Money Story looking at the theme of Remember.
We looked at the story of the Israelites, and how, only a month after being miraculously rescued from slavery by God, instead of remembering how God had provided before and leaning into that moving forward, trusting that God would continue to provide since God was the one who brought them to that place in the first place, they were ready to give up their newly-won freedom because they were only remembering the parts of the story where they were comfortable and well-fed.
Our memories can be remarkable things, but there is always a tendency to adapt our memories to create the narrative that we want to be true. Whether we want to admit it or not, we can be like the Israelites and spend our time looking back and yearning for the past because it seems better than taking risks in freedom and moving into a new and unknown future. But what if, in those moments, God is forming us in new ways for renewed ministry? What if, instead of focusing on the past, or even the present, we use the past as a catalyst for the future?
God has shown us such enduring love and faithfulness, and as we remember that with gratitude, we are given the ground on which to place our trust moving into the future. I closed by sharing a story where God showed me clearly that God is enough. When we remember and act in ways that confirm our belief of God’s enough-ness, we can move forward in faith.
For those unable to join us in-person, Sunday morning worship is livestreamed on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/GulfShoresFirstPresbyterianChurch. The service airs each Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and will be available to watch after that as well.
You will receive a letter and information in your mailbox this week. Please take a few moments to sit down with the enclosures and seek wisdom from God as we prepare for Pledge Sunday, which will be held on Sunday, November 13. If you do not receive a letter, please let me know.
As part of our series, we have the opportunity to consider our personal money stories through the use of a personal study journal that can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nualy1j5hx5fwtv/SA_ourmoneystory_studyjournal_chronospreads.pdf?dl=0. (Due to copyright, please do not distribute this document to anyone outside our church family.) If you would like a printed copy, just let me know and I can have one ready for you on Sunday morning.
We now have two of our classrooms-turned-office-space filled with full-time residents, and a third beginning in November! Craft Farms POA and Red Door Marketing Agency are our first two businesses to occupy our space and a local artist will join them soon, with others contacting us to set up visits about the possibility of sharing our space. If you know of someone looking for office space, have them reach out to me and we will see how we can meet their needs.
Don’t forget:
Thank you for your continued support of the Blessing Box! With the current inflation, we are struggling to keep it filled. Your donations are desperately needed. Keep bringing those non-perishable items to church on Sunday, or dropping them at the box during the week. With rising costs of everything from gas to food, the box is being used very regularly, and your donations are key to helping us bless those who are in need of what our box can offer.
Upcoming Events:
Weekly Events:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Rev. Chrisy Ennen
gsfpcpastor@outlook.com, (618) 980-9899
"Let all that you do be done in love.”
I Corinthians 16:14
Dear Friends,
Sunday, we kicked-off a four-week series entitled, Our Money Story looking at the theme of Remember.
We looked at the story of the Israelites, and how, only a month after being miraculously rescued from slavery by God, instead of remembering how God had provided before and leaning into that moving forward, trusting that God would continue to provide since God was the one who brought them to that place in the first place, they were ready to give up their newly-won freedom because they were only remembering the parts of the story where they were comfortable and well-fed.
Our memories can be remarkable things, but there is always a tendency to adapt our memories to create the narrative that we want to be true. Whether we want to admit it or not, we can be like the Israelites and spend our time looking back and yearning for the past because it seems better than taking risks in freedom and moving into a new and unknown future. But what if, in those moments, God is forming us in new ways for renewed ministry? What if, instead of focusing on the past, or even the present, we use the past as a catalyst for the future?
God has shown us such enduring love and faithfulness, and as we remember that with gratitude, we are given the ground on which to place our trust moving into the future. I closed by sharing a story where God showed me clearly that God is enough. When we remember and act in ways that confirm our belief of God’s enough-ness, we can move forward in faith.
For those unable to join us in-person, Sunday morning worship is livestreamed on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/GulfShoresFirstPresbyterianChurch. The service airs each Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and will be available to watch after that as well.
You will receive a letter and information in your mailbox this week. Please take a few moments to sit down with the enclosures and seek wisdom from God as we prepare for Pledge Sunday, which will be held on Sunday, November 13. If you do not receive a letter, please let me know.
As part of our series, we have the opportunity to consider our personal money stories through the use of a personal study journal that can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nualy1j5hx5fwtv/SA_ourmoneystory_studyjournal_chronospreads.pdf?dl=0. (Due to copyright, please do not distribute this document to anyone outside our church family.) If you would like a printed copy, just let me know and I can have one ready for you on Sunday morning.
We now have two of our classrooms-turned-office-space filled with full-time residents, and a third beginning in November! Craft Farms POA and Red Door Marketing Agency are our first two businesses to occupy our space and a local artist will join them soon, with others contacting us to set up visits about the possibility of sharing our space. If you know of someone looking for office space, have them reach out to me and we will see how we can meet their needs.
Don’t forget:
- If you know of those who need a place to park during their visit to Gulf Shores and they would like to use our parking lot, here is the link to share: https://www.premiumparking.com/P2658. You can also pick up postcards at the church to pass on to those who might be interested.
- Keep collecting that loose change and bring it every week to add to the collection! All of the loose change will go toward the ongoing ministry of the church, as we continue to spread the life-changing good news of God’s love.
- Want to help the church just by doing your normal Amazon shopping? Now you can! Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/63-0859397 and make all your purchases through this link! Each quarter the church will receive a donation equal to 0.5% of your total purchases. You can also set it up so the Amazon app on your phone automatically purchases through Amazon Smile. For help setting that up, see this link: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=15576745011.
- The church can now receive donations through Facebook, either by clicking on the “Donate” button on our Facebook Page, or through Fundraisers you can host on your own Facebook page.
- If you have more ideas about how we can creatively fund the ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores, reach out and let me know!
- For safety reasons, at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday, all the doors of the building will be locked EXCEPT the north door that leads into the narthex. If you find yourself running behind, just remember to park up front by that door and enter there.
Thank you for your continued support of the Blessing Box! With the current inflation, we are struggling to keep it filled. Your donations are desperately needed. Keep bringing those non-perishable items to church on Sunday, or dropping them at the box during the week. With rising costs of everything from gas to food, the box is being used very regularly, and your donations are key to helping us bless those who are in need of what our box can offer.
Upcoming Events:
- A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, October 27, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Make your appointment at redcrossblood.org.
- On Sunday, November 6, we will celebrate communion, observe All Saints Day, and gather after worship at Big Beach Brewing for Presbyterian Pints. Don’t forget to invite a friend or two to join us for worship and fellowship on that Sunday!
- Stewardship Sunday will be Sunday, November 13. Be watching for more information to come.
- After worship on Sunday, November 13, a congregational meeting will be held for the purpose of electing officers for the new year. Please plan now to attend.
Weekly Events:
- Bible Study – Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. both in-person and on Zoom.
- Join the in-person group in the church Fellowship Hall
- Join the Zoom meeting at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81951398375?pwd=S0FBSEFxRmhhUWt2QnN3WERUY1dOUT09, entering the meeting ID and password below, if prompted.
- Meeting ID: 819 5139 8375
- Passcode: 846358
- This week’s scriptures: Matthew 19:16-22; Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Rev. Chrisy Ennen
gsfpcpastor@outlook.com, (618) 980-9899
"Let all that you do be done in love.”
I Corinthians 16:14
Posted in Pastor\'s Pen
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