January Events

1 GSCS Christmas Holidays Church Office Closed New Year’s Day 4 GSCS Teacher Work Day 11:30 AM Minister’s Conf. - GSBC 5:30 PM G’Street Basketball Practice Begins 5 GSCS 3rd Quarter Begins 7 4:00 PM GSCS Boy’s Basketball Game - Central Christian 9 Winter Retreat (1st-5th Gr.) 9th - 10th 10 AM Lord’s Supper 11 11:30 AM Minister’s Conf. - GSBC 5:30 PM G’Street Basketball Practice - Gym 6:00 PM Deacon’s Meeting 12 GSCS Archery Tournament - Gym 9:00 AM Sr. Adult Prayer & Praise 10:00 AM Adult Bible Study/Lunch 13 11:30 AM Men’s Lunch 14 GSCS Archery Tournament - Gym 14th - 16th 6:00 PM Foster Care Meeting - Hosp. Room 16 9:00 AM “Rags to Blessings” Sewing Day Rm. 211 17 4:30 PM Grace Circle Meeting 18 MLK Holiday - No School 11:30 AM Minister’s Conf. - GSBC 5:30 PM G’Street Basketball Practice - Gym 5:30 PM School Committee Meeting 19 4:00 PM GSCS Boy’s Basketball Game - Knollwood 21 GSCS Archery - Saraland Elementary 21st - 23rd 23 8:00 AM G’Street Basketball Games - Gym 24 11:30 AM S.S. Leadership Mtg./Lunch - Fell. Hall 25 11:30 AM Minister’s Conf. - GSBC 5:30 PM G’Street Basketball Practice - Gym 26 9:00 AM Sr. Adult Prayer & Praise 10:00 AM Adult Bible Study/Lunch 6:30 PM Assn. S.S. Banquet - Cottage Hill 28 GSCS Archery - Breitling Elementary 28th - 30th 30 8:00 AM Sr. Adults to Shakespeare Theater - Montgomery 8:00 AM G’Street Basketball Games - Gym 31 6:00 PM Awaken

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JANUARY 2016

VOLUME 134, NO. 1

The Courier (USPS 135-320) is published monthly by Government Street Baptist Church, 3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36693

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID MOBILE, AL POSTMASTER, please send address changes to 3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36693

Sunday 9:00 AM - Bible Study 10:15 AM - Morning Worship See Calendar for Evening Service Schedule Monday 6:00 PM - Ladies Bible Study Tuesday 5:30 PM - Grow Outreach Wednesday 5:15 PM - Fellowship Supper 6:30 PM - Fastlane (PreK) 6:30 PM - Illuminate (6th-12th) 6:30 PM - Overpass (1st-5th) 6:30 PM - Bible Study 8:15 PM - Anchored College Ministry

Weekly Activities

Dr. Charles E. Brown Senior Pastor

3401 Government Blvd. Mobile, AL 36693

www.governmentstreet.org 251.660.7444

Meet our Staff! Dr. Charles Brown Senior Pastor Charles Matthews Executive Pastor of Administration Brooks Alexander Associate Pastor/Education Pastor Michelle McCormick CDC Director Bruce Earnest Worship Pastor Bevin Plash Children’s Ministries Director Phi Vo Pastor, New Life Baptist Church Debbie Riel Camp Christian Director Daniel Driskell Church Pianist Nic Waddell Youth Intern

Thoughts from the Senior Pastor:

-Dr. Charles Brown, Senior Pastor

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,

all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

We live in a fast pace today - so much that time for study of the Word and time for meditation and prayer are greatly limited. As a result many have lost the

hunger and thirst for the fuller things of life. The mad rush for success or even mere existence has many pitfalls. The Book of Ecclesiastes says: “The race is not to the swift

nor the battle to the strong.” The author seemingly presents a contradiction to life, for we acknowledge speed and manpower as the basic elements to success and

victory. But the track of life has many conditions which may upset the race.

Just as speed is not the answer, neither is the place for slothfulness. There is a race to be run, but not apart from God’s tempo. From early childhood the “success story” is drummed into a child’s ears. Thus the average young person is thrown head

first into the race for knowledge. He knows more about scientific advances and business methods than he does of Christian faith.

Christian faith sets a definite pace for life, it is the need of today. One has

said: “Faith has a deliberate, quiet, measured quality that never gives into the hounding necessities of the moment - nor is it bothered by the feverish jig of modern

living. It remembers that a squash grows in a few weeks, but an oak takes much, much longer.”

If your life is to blossom forth into beauty and reflect the Creator, you must

learn to “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Don’t let the rush of life draw you away from the abundant life, for there alone will you find patience - a needed

ingredient for today. Without patience nerves are tense, tempers reach the breaking point, harsh words are spoken and friendships are broken. May God help us to learn

His tempo and be content therein.

Take time to live; it is one secret to success. Take time to think; it is the source of power. Take time to play; it is the secret of youth.

Take time to read; it is the foundation of knowledge. Take time for friendship; it is a source of happiness.

Take time to laugh; it helps lift life’s load. Take time to dream; it hitches the soul to the stars.

Take time to worship; it is the highway of reverence. Take time to pray; it helps bring Christ near, and washes the dust of

earth from our eyes.

Government Street Church family - Thank you so much for your notes, texts, calls, and for checking on me and my family during the sickness & passing of my father. We are blessed by having you!

- Much love, The Morley's

Thanks and love to each of you for your continued love and prayers you have shown Bob and me. This has been a long year, but God has been with us and made this time easier.

As I am nearing the end of my treatments, I am looking forward to being back in church! Missing church and friends have been the hardest part of our ordeal. Thanks and love to each one of you.

- Bob & Shirley Shearer

We want to thank all of our church family for their outpouring of help in assisting us into our new home, here in Mobile. You all have made us feel so welcome in our new community here. We are so appreciative and thankful that we are members of this church. Thank you.

- Fred & Paula James

Dear Church Family, Steve and I would like to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, and calls during my illness. We’re not completely out of the woods yet, so please keep us in your prayers.

- Hugs, Libby Simms

WELCOME NEW MEMBER’S By Letter:

Mr. Jim Lowry Mrs. Freida Lowry

By Baptism:

Ms. Mary Crane

Sunday Afternoon Outreach by Deacons

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE 1/03/2016 David Burcham & Steven Drews 1/10/2016 Gary Raulerson & Jason Smith 1/17/2016 Gavin Butler & Matt Graham 1/24/2016 Steve Vickery & Mercer Harwell 1/31/2016 Tallie Wilson & Adam Behr

NURSERY & CHILDREN

1/03/2016 Heather Curd - Nursery Tammie Cook - Preschool Cassie Cook - Preschool 1/10/2016 Renata Jones - Nursery Josh & Jenn Dickson - Preschool Caitlyn Smith - Preschool 1/17/2016 Matt & Lori Beth Graham - Nursery JoAnn Williamson - Preschool Taylor Caughhorn - Preschool 1/24/2016 Cam Johnson - Nursery Hunter & Stephanie Arritt - Preschool Abby Moe - Preschool 1/31/2016 Dana Pope - Nursery *NEED VOLUNTEER* - Preschool Kristy Singleton - Preschool

1/03/2016 Josh Dickson David Burcham 1/10/2016 Ed Walters Jon Anderson 1/17/2016 Gary Raulerson Steve Simms 1/24/2016 Matt Graham Jason Smith 1/31/2016 Dan Watson Greg Parker

Church Finance

11/29/2015 $ 8,116.20 12/06/2015 $ 13,433.60 12/13/2015 $ 14,620.15 12/20/2015 $ 12,079.15

YTD Budget Requirement: $ 333,917.00 YTD Budgets Receipts: $ 302,839.00 Income vs Expenses : $ -22,472.47

Mrs. Jeri Morley and Mrs. Brandi Murphy in the loss of their father, Mr. Jerry Walden. Mr. Zac Smith in the loss of his father, Mr. Larry Smith. Ms. Eunice Hill in the loss of her sister, Mrs. Beverly Bedford. Mrs. Barbara Smith in the loss of her husband, Mr. James Smith. The family of Mrs. Hazel Harris.

Where: GSBC Rm 211, Second Floor When: 3rd Saturday of each month

Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

“Rags to Blessings” is a “hands-on mission.” So come sew with us. Share God’s love with needy children around the

world!

Our discipleship groups will start up again on Wednesday, January 6. The Pound Group will meet in Room B102 at 6:15 p.m. The group led by Darla Earnest, From the Couch to 5K Challenge, will resume. Michael Hayes will be leading a study for men on Proverbs in the Hospitality Room at 6:30 p.m., and the cost of the book is $10. Brooks Alexander will be leading a study called Counter Culture by David Platt at 6:30 p.m. in Room 103, and the cost of the book is $14. Our next Men’s Lunch will take place on Wednesday, January 13, at 11:30 a.m. in the Youth Room. Our guest speaker is Parrish Lawler who is the Manager of Customer Service in the Trade & Development Department at the Alabama State Port Authority. Please attend and invite someone to come with you. We will have a Sunday School Leadership Meeting and Lunch on Sunday, January 24, at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All Sunday School teachers, department directors, secretaries, and general officers are invited to attend and enjoy a delicious lunch and a time of training. - Brooks

Education Ministry

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and is looking forward to the new year! 2015 has come and gone! I’m looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2016! Stay tuned for fundraisers concerning our trip to Camp Anderson! - Nic

Sunday School Starts at 9:00 AM

Are you going to be there?

Basketball & Cheerleading Practices begin January 4th; Games January 23rd

GSCS News

Happy New Year! I am so excited about the up and coming events and possibilities for the New Year. Our school will be running a “Coke Bottle Caps” and “Box Tops” campaign from January to mid-March. Our goal is 10,000 points (or more!). Please collect as many (of both) as possible to help raise money for our school. We are also looking forward to welcoming the new families that are joining our CDC and school this coming month! Continue to pray for our growth. God is blessing us, and He is in control! - In Him, Michelle McCormick