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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

Meet our Staff!

Dr. Charles Brown Senior Pastor Dino Danzey Executive Pastor of Administration Brooks Alexander Associate Pastor/Education Pastor Michelle McCormick CDC Director/School Principal 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 John Baker Youth Interim

December 2016 Volume 134 No. 12

Dr. Charles E. Brown, Senior Pastor | 3401 Government Blvd. Mobile, AL 36693 | (251) 660 -7444 | www.governmentstreet.org

December Events

2 5:00 pm GSCS Homecoming Game-GSBC 6:00 pm Pam Loper Piano Rehearsal-GSBC 3 11:00 am Ad. V Ladies Party-Hosp.Rm. 11:00 am Pam Loper Piano Recital-GSBC 6:00 pm International Christmas Celebration 4 Week of Prayer for Intl. Missions (12/4 - 12/11) 12:00 pm Sr. Adult Christmas Banquet-Fell. Hall 12:00 pm Young Adult Dept. Party-Gavin & Gaye Butler’s 5 6:30 pm Ministers & Spouses Christmas Fellowship-GSBC 6 4:00 pm GSCS Basketball Game-GSBC 7 6:15 pm Mission Emphasis 8 9:00 am Sr. Adult Dominoes-Hosp. Rm. 5:00 pm GSCS Basketball Game-Gulf SC 9 6:00 pm PreTeen Christmas Party-Gavin & Gaye Butler’s 10 12:00 pm Friendship Class Party-Lakeview Catfish 1:00 pm Ad. IV Coed 55-65 Party-All American Buffett & Grill 6:00 pm Ad. III Coed 45-54 Party-Cliff & Saundra Baugus’ 6:00 pm Ad. IV Coed 60+ Party-Fellowship Hall 11 9:00 am Pajama Party-Gym 10:15 am Children's Christmas Story with the Pastor 11:30 am Ad. V Auditorium Class Party-Hosp. Rm. 12:00 pm Ad. II Coed 35-39 Party-Michael/Linda Hayes’ 12:00 pm Ad. III Coed 40-44 Party-Briquette’s 12 5:00 pm GSCS Basketball Game-GSBC 13 9:00 am Sr. Adult Prayer & Praise 10:00 am Adult Bible Study & Lunch 5:00 pm GSCS Basketball Game-GSBC 6:30 pm GSCS Christmas Program 14 11:30 am Men’s Lunch 6:30 pm CDC Christmas Program 15 6:30 pm School of Music Recital-GSBC 16 GSCS Ends 2nd Quarter 6:00 pm Youth Christmas Party-Youth Room 6:00 pm Median Singles Party-Hospitality Rm. 6:30 pm School of Music Recital-GSBC 17 5:00 pm Ad. IV Coed 55+ Party-Larry & Dianne Alston’s 18 Poinsettia Delivery 10:15 am Christmas Program 5:00 pm New Life Christmas Celebration-Gym 19 GSCS Christmas Holiday (12/19 - 1/1) 11:30 am Staff Christmas Party-Spot of Tea 6:30 pm CDC Staff Christmas Party-Fell. Hall 20 6:30 pm Deacon’s Christmas Dinner-Fell. Hall 21 6:15 pm Special Christmas Program 23 Church Office Closed 24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas Day 26 Church Office Closed 30 Church Office Closed 31 New Year’s Eve

The Courier

Weekly Activities Sunday 9:00 AM - Bible Study 10:15 AM - Morning Worship

Monday 5:30 PM - Ladies Bible Study

Tuesday 5:30 PM - GROW Outreach

Wednesday 4:45 PM - Fellowship Supper 5:45 PM - KidZ Open Gym 6:15 PM - Fastlane (PreK) 6:15 PM - Overpass (1st-5th) 6:15 PM - Exit One (6th-12th) 6:15 PM - Bible Study 7:15 PM - Choir Rehearsal

GSCS News _________________________________ We hope everyone will join us for our big CHRISTMAS MUSICAL on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Our CDC musical will be the very next night, December 14. Don’t miss them! You will see all of the growth in our school and the wonderful talent that we have here. Our National Honor Society will be putting together baskets for “Adopt a Grandparent for Christmas.” See the school office if you are interested in participating. We are entering into 2017 with great expectations! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! - God Bless You, Michelle McCormick

Education Ministry ______________________ The Lottie Moon Post office will open on Sunday, November 27. You can send Christmas cards to church members for 25 cents per card. All proceeds will go to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. The Lottie Moon Post Office will be open on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings continuing through Wednesday, December 14. The Week of Prayer for International Missions will take place on December 4 through December 11. You will be given a Lottie Moon brochure, and you are encouraged to pray each day from December 4 through December 11 for a missionary featured in the brochure. Our church goal for the Lottie Moon offering is $10,000.00. All of the money given to the Lottie Moon offering will go to sending and supporting our international missionaries. You are invited to come and hear Allen and Susan, Southern Baptist missionaries in Europe, who will speak about their mission work on Wednesday, December 7, at 6:15 pm in the auditorium. We will have an International Mission Study on Wednesday, December 14, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the Hospitality Room. You are invited to come and learn more about missions and missions work in Norway. The next Men’s Lunch will occur on Wednesday, December 14, at 11:30 am in the Youth Room. Bruce Earnest is our guest. Many of our Sunday School classes have scheduled Christmas parties. I want to encourage you to attend your Sunday School Christmas party and enjoy a fantastic time of fellowship. On Sunday, December 25, we will not have Sunday School. We will have our morning worship service at 10:15 am. - Brooks Alexander

Church Finance

10/30/16 $ 9,495.00 11/06/16 $ 16,058.59 11/13/16 $ 11,054.80 11/20/16 $ 11,720.93 YTD Budget Requirement: $ 265,296.00 YTD Budget Receipts: $ 249,804.00 Income vs Expenses $ 32,167.25

Thank You

Government Street Baptist Church, thank you all for your love,

prayers and support during the passing of my mother. We greatly

appreciate the visits, food, phone calls, and text messages! Thank you

for being a supportive church family!

With love & prayers, Tonya Arant & Family

Thank you, church family, for all your love and prayers during my brother’s

home going, especially the encouragement. I know God’s timing is perfect,

and I trust His judgment completely.

Theresa Jordan

Prayer power, there is nothing like it on this earth! With this emotion, I say

thank you, my church family. Your many prayer cards, prayers, and acts of

kindness to Johnny and me were overwhelming. There are so many to

thank. A special thanks to Scottie Pearson, Susan Cannon, Libby Simms,

and our beloved pastor, Dr. Charles Brown; truly people “above and

beyond the call of duty.”

Ever grateful, Sonny & Johnny Willisson

We are thankful for all you have done for us; the beautiful funeral, visits

from the staff, the lovely and delicious food, your prayers and concern.

We are so proud of everyone. May the Lord continue to bless us all.

Frances Robison

Sympathy to: Mr. Cory Crist, Mrs. Courtney Crist Cavin, and family in the loss of their father, Mr. Calvin Crist.

Mrs. Susan Dupree and family in the loss of her father, Mr. Lacey Powell.

Mrs. Frances Robison and family in the loss of her husband,

Mr. George Robison.

Welcome New Members

By Baptism: Mr. Bentley West

12/04/16 David Burcham & Steven Drews

12/11/16 Gary Raulerson & Jason Smith

12/18/16 Gavin Butler & Matt Graham

NURSERY & CHILDREN

12/04/16 Nursery: Dianne Alston Preschool: Tammy Cook Cassie cook 12/11/16 Nursery: Gloria Shine Preschool: Josh & Jenn Dickson Caitlyn Smith 12/18/16 Nursery: Mike & Linda Hayes Preschool: JoAnn Williamson *NEED VOLUNTEER

S u n d ay Afternoon Outreach by Deacons

Church Officers:

12/04/16 Dan Watson Greg Parker 12/11/16 Fred Drago, Jr. Scottie Pearson 12/18/16 Adam Behr James Little Buddy Nabors 12/25/16 Steven Drews Gavin Butler

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

{Rags To Blessings} “Rags to Blessings” will NOT be sewing for the month of

December 2016. WE WILL RESUME sewing in January 2017.

Exit One Ministries _______________________________ Hello, church family! I am excited about the opportunity to serve Christ alongside you as Interim Student Pastor. I have begun planning events for our youth program and am excited about what lies ahead for our students and this ministry. My goal is to live life with them and disciple them in Christ. The Lord has given me a heart for this church and especially for the students who attend. I ask that you join us in prayer as my fiancé, Ellisa, and I embark on this journey with you. We will most definitely be praying for you and cannot wait to get to know all of you. Our hope is to see our students come to know Christ as Lord and to disciple them into mature believers who go out and change the world for Jesus. Lastly, please don’t be a stranger! We would love to meet and talk with you, so please don’t hesitate to come to us as we come to you! - John Baker Future Student Ministry Events December 16 – Youth Christmas Party @ 6-9 pm in the Youth Room New Year’s Eve – Lock-In @ 7pm until Sunday Morning Service

LORD’S SUPPER No Sunday School