Welcome to the God’s House Community Church website. This site has been prepared to acquaint you with our church. Here you will find announcements of coming events, plus information on the beliefs and ministry of the church, church history, and a calendar of events for the entire year.

If you are living or visiting in the west Alabama area, we invite you to come and enjoy meaningful worship and fellowship. We are an independent Christian congregation that believes that classism, racism, sexism and other social discriminations do not belong in the church. God loves ALL people! All people are welcome to worship in God’s House.

News

Soulforce Alabama Retreats:

Theme: A Spirituality for Non-violent Activism

Dates: July 18-29 Lake Guntersville State Park – North Alabama

September 12-14 Gulf State Park – South Alabama

October 31-November 2 Oak Mountain State Park – Central Alabama

If you are interested in attending any of these retreats, please see Rev. Helene Loper for further information and registration.

Flowers for worship

Members have been contributing to the worship service by providing beautiful flowers for the altar and offerings table throughout the spring and summer. The floral contributions are enjoyed by everyone and much appreciated.

New, convenient

A new Third Sunday Bible Study has been organized and will be held following lunch at the church (about 12:45 or 1:00). This is convenient for those who cannot attend a Bible study during the week. All are welcome. Lunch provided.

Enjoy working with children?

Children attend the worship service regularly and we are looking for a few willing volunteers to rotate during Children’s Church during the sermon time. The Children’s Church begins after the Children’s Message when all children go to the Library for a story, snack and other activities. They return in time for Communion with their families. If you are interested in helping with our pre-school children during worship, please speak with Reverend Lowe. If you are interested in giving the Children’s Message, please talk with Reverend Lowe or Reverend Loper.

Visit with friends and make new ones

Our Monthly Game and Social Night is the First Friday Coffeehouse and is held on the first Friday night of each month. The fun is in the Library building from 6:00 to about 8:00 pm. Come and enjoy card or board games for all ages. Adults, families, children—everyone is welcome. Stop by and say hello! The joy of fellowship – priceless!

Do you have a green thumb?

You can help: If you can mow the church lawn or do trimming around the church once during the fall months, please tell Rev. Helene Loper. The help will be much appreciated.

Photos of the Church:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=deooxu7.1747wt4v&x=0&h=1&y=-bz9t3o

From Soulforce:

The Soulforce Equality Ride, Fall 2008 – Will launch on October 1, 2008. Get information here: http://www.soulforce.org/ .

Soulforce Couples Legally Married in California: http://www.soulforce.org/index.php .

A False Focus on My Family. Why every person of faith should be deeply troubled by Dr. James Dobson’s dangerous and misleading words about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. http://www.soulforce.org/pdf/false_focus.pdf

Note:

NGLTF Conference: Many Stories, One Voice conference, slated for Sept. 4–7 in New Orleans, canceled due to Hurricane Gustav. Reverend Helene Loper was scheduled to attend this conference.

From Covenant Community Church in Birmingham:

Covenant Times: A Newsletter of Covenant Community Church. http://covenantbirmingham.com/uploads/June08-Aug08.pdf

Library

Cataloging the church library was completed on June 30, 2008 with more than 3,500 items in the online catalog. See the online catalog here: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/godshouse

Recently, Library Thing (the host provider) has added a home page for our catalog that features a photo of our worship center and covers of recent items added to the catalog.

Our focus is now on adding additional shelving space and organizing the books on the shelves. If you are interested in working with others on this project, please see Don Bell.

Future plans call for creating a good CD and DVD collection. If you are interesting in donating appropriate books, CDs, or DVDs, please see Rev. Lowe, Rev. Loper, or Don Bell.

Archive of Past News Items

July 18-29, 2008: Reverend Loper is a speaker and facilitator at the Soulforce Alabama Retreat at Lake Guntersville State Park.

June 2008: An inspection of the purchased building was been done and a report of its condition and needed repairs was given to the church (as of June 22). The report was read and discussed by the Church Board. Due to the high cost of repairing and renovating the building, he Church Board decided to demolish the building.

June 2008: Reverend Loper attended a Soulforce Conference in Washington, DC.

May 5, 2008: Item 3000 was added to the online library catalog.

April 7, 2008: The purchase of an adjoining building was finalized and the papers signed. The building will be a classroom building with meeting space for community groups. Rev. Lowe is receiving training toward becoming a Certified Addictions Counselor, and the building will be used for this ministry. Too, some community groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, will meet there.

March 23, 2008: A Lenten Fundraiser was held from February 6 through March 23 to benefit two charities: the Summer Camp for HIV-Positive Children, and the Samaritan Clinic. $1,214.62 was raised, divided equally, and given to the two charities.

January 8, 2008: Item number 2000 was added to the church’s online library catalog.

October 23, 2007: Item number 1000 was added to the church’s online library catalog.

September 15, 2007: The Day of Equality, sponsored by Equality Alabama, was held on Saturday, September 15 throughout the day at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Downtown Birmingham. Free classes and workshops were held during the day, and a banquet was held that night featuring an address by internationally-known author, speaker, and Soul Force founder, Mel White. The church had an exhibit table and a banquet table for 8 persons.

September 2, 2007: Rev. Loper and Rev. Lowe attended an Addictions Counselors Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

July 29, 2007: The 5^th Anniversary of the church was observed on July 29 with a special 11:00 a.m. musical worship service featuring the guitar and original music of Dana Clark. A devotional was given by Susie Hodges. Dana and Susie sang an original duet to end the service. Dana and Susie are from Columbus, Mississippi. About 31 people attended. Following the service, everyone went to the ministers’ home for a pot-luck luncheon and an afternoon of swimming, games and fellowship.

June 2007: The NUCOR Steel Corporation has planted 150 six-foot crape myrtle trees along Holt Road leading to the church. The crape myrtles are on the steel plant side of the street. These trees will grow and add much beauty to the neighborhood in coming years.

June 2007: Building repair: The church building has a new slanted metal roof that we are all grateful for. Work was begun on the new roof about May 23 and was finished by June 29. New ceiling tiles were then installed in the sanctuary.

April 2007: The Lenten Fundraiser for two charities; Summer Camp at Camp McDowell for children with HIV and the Good Samaritan Clinic, netted $2,209.00 of which $1,104.50 was sent to each of these fine programs. Thanks for supporting the Bingo night and the Kettle Drive.

April 8, 2007: The Mary Beth Brown Memorial Rose Garden was dedicated during the Easter Sunday worship service. In spite of the severe drought, the bushes have been in constant bloom throughout the summer. Stop by the rose garden to enjoy the beauty as you come into the sanctuary for worship.

Updated Sep. 1, 2008.