From the Pastor's Pen 6/27/24

6/27/2024

Dear Friends,

God at Work. We have been talking a lot about how God is at work in us and in our world over the last four weeks as we journey through the books of First and Second Samuel.

We learned that God Calls us like God called young Samuel. We learned that God Responds to us, even if it isn’t exactly what God had in mind. We learned that God Sees us from the inside, unlike how we see one another. This past Sunday, we learned that God Leads, and considered how God led David to stand up to and slay the giant Goliath.

For me, these are all truths that I know, yet somehow, hearing them again helps to open my eyes to watch for the ways in which God is always at work. Sometimes we see it in what is happening in the church, like someone coming to us to see if we might have space where they could open a day care – one of the two needs of our community that arose when we were talking about how we could use our space (the one we went with was affordable office space a.k.a. Hand-in-Hand Business Center). Other times it is a conversation with one person about an idea, that then comes up again in another conversation with someone else and points out a particular thing that God is doing in our midst.

Whatever it is, it is important for us to see God at work in and around us in order for us to partner with God in that work – whatever it may be. Where are you seeing God at work this week?

If you missed worship, you can always watch on Facebook and YouTube:

• https://www.facebook.com/GulfShoresFirstPresbyterianChurch
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyEBQcAb3quFG16z_vy-4lQ

Please take note of these happenings in the church:

• We will be celebrating Pam Winstead’s 37 years of service as Minister of Music in January when our snowbird family is here and can join in on the celebration.
• We are so excited to have Kayla Dowling stepping into additional responsibilities as Music Coordinator and Pianist.
• Beginning in July, Lil Elms Christian Care will be up and running in our nursery and parlor. It will be great to have little ones sharing our space!
• As the Session continues to talk about how we use our space – both indoors and out – we have decided to begin COMPOSTING! We hope that this will lead us into some future gardening endeavors. At this point, we will accept fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grounds, as well as egg shells that have been microwaved 20 seconds to kill salmonella. We are making compost suitable for either food or flower gardens. If you have questions, please reach out to Jean Adcock at (251) 504-4105 or jeanadcock@aol.com.
• Love on the Little Ones: We have a few little ones joining us for worship, and while they are always welcome to be in the service with us, sometimes it is helpful to the parents to have a little help. That being said, would you be willing to hang out with kiddos in the nursery on an occasional Sunday? Contact Jean Adcock to get on the Nursery Attendant schedule: (251) 504-4105.

Coming Events:

• Bible Study – Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
• Bring a Friend to Church – Every Sunday we want to invite people to join us, but especially on the first Sunday of the month
• Presbyterian Pints – Sunday, July 7, following worship at Big Beach Brewing

Address Change: Please note, especially if you have checks sent through your bank, that the church no longer has a post office box. Our mailing address is now the same as our physical address: 309 E 21st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.

You may have noticed some new signage around the Hand-in-Hand Business Center. We have done this in an effort to both make the Business Center visible for the businesses located there, and to help direct people to the proper entries for the Business Center and the church. If you are coming to the church during the week, please enter using the doors on 21st Ave, rather than the Business Center doors. This will help maintain a business-like atmosphere for those businesses. The business owners thank you for your cooperation!

Don’t forget:

• 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.
• 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!
• Bring your Blessing Box donations (non-perishable items) to church on Sundays or drop them off at the box during the week.

As always, you are welcome to reach out to me via email, text or phone with any needs or just to chat!

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