Religious Arts Festival | 2024

We Have Come This Way by Faith EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF IPC

53rd Annual Religious Arts Festival February 5-11, 2024 Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL

53RD ANNUAL

RELIGIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL We Have Come This Way by Faith Exploring the Roots of IPC

The Festival celebrates the journey of faith undertaken by Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) and Christian pilgrimages throughout the centuries. IPC began its history of faith while meeting at Temple EmanuEl and developed shared values between the two communities. Our faith development manifests itself through the many varied activities offered by the church, including our pilgrimages to Central America, Europe, and Africa. It is during our journeys that we often find a pathway to God.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE MONDAY, FEB. 5 • 7 p.m.

LECTURE: Walking the Path of Faith: Pilgrimage as a Source of Spiritual Renewal Lori Erickson Great Hall

TUESDAY, FEB. 6 • 11:30 a.m LUNCHEON & LECTURE: Near the Exit: Travels with the Not-So-Grim Reaper Lori Erickson Great Hall, $10 (lunch) reservation only.

Lecture at noon is free

TUESDAY, FEB. 6 • 7 p.m.

LECTURE: Every Step Is Home: A Spiritual Geography from Appalachia to Alaska Lori Erickson Great Hall

THURSDAY, FEB. 8 • 6 p.m.

BANQUET: Finding God in Moments of Darkness

Rabbi Adam Wright, Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham Great Hall, $25 reservation only

FRIDAY, FEB. 9 • 7 p.m.

ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Members of the Alabama Symphony, soloist Chris O’Rear, and the IPC Camerata vocal ensemble Sanctuary

SUNDAY, FEB. 11 • 4 p.m.

Service of Rosh Hashanah

Cantor Robby Wittner, Temple Emanu-El with the IPC Choir Sanctuary

MONDAY, FEB. 5 Lecture • Great Hall • 7:00 p.m.

Walking the Path of Faith: Pilgrimage as a Source of Spiritual Renewal Lori Erickson Pilgrimage, one of the oldest of all spiritual practices, is being rediscovered in the modern age.

Join us for a presentation by author Lori Erickson as she explores the history of pilgrimage and its diverse contemporary expressions. We’ll learn how these journeys can rejuvenate our souls, deepen our faith, and transform our lives. Whether we travel across the world or explore sites of personal meaning closer to home, pilgrimage offers us the chance for inner growth and spiritual renewal.

TUESDAY, FEB. 6 Luncheon & Lecture Great Hall • 11:30 a.m.

Near the Exit: Travels with the Not-So-Grim Reaper Lori Erickson After her brother died unexpectedly and her mother moved into a dementia-care facility, author Lori Erickson set out to explore places that could teach her about mortality, experiences that she writes about in her book Near the Exit. Join us as she reflects on her trips to places as far away as Egypt and New Zealand and as close-to-home as her mother’s care facility. Through her presentation, we’ll collectively ponder mortality—the ways we avoid it, the ways we cope with it, and the ways in which life is made more precious by accepting it.

$10 (lunch) reservations by Sunday, Feb. 4. Lecture at noon is free.

Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel

writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of Every Step Is Home, The Soul of the Family Tree, Near the Exit, and Holy Rover. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications that include the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens, Travel + Leisure, and USA Today. www.lorierickson.net

TUESDAY, FEB. 6 Lecture • Great Hall • 7:00 p.m.

Every Step Is Home: A Spiritual Geography from Appalachia to Alaska Lori Erickson After a career spent exploring holy sites around the globe, author Lori Erickson felt called to discover the spiritual riches of her own country. Her book Every Step Is Home is the result, a look at spiritual sites and experiences that include the sandhill crane migration in Nebraska, the redwoods of California, Pipestone National Monument in Nebraska, and Volcanoes National Monument in Hawaii. As she traveled, she also reflected on sacred elements such as water, air, fire, soil, and stone. Join us for an evening of photos and reflections that will deepen your understanding of both pilgrimage and the spiritual wonders of America.

Scan the QR code or visit this URL to pre-order books by Lori Erickson https://thankyoubookshop.com/lists/LJVq3pYAfSuI

THURSDAY, FEB. 8 Banquet • Great Hall • 6:00 p.m. • $25

Finding God in Moments of Darkness Rabbi Adam Wright, Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham What does Judaism say about finding God during moments of adversity?

How do we find faith after October 7th?

Reservations by Sunday, Feb. 4

Rabbi Adam M. Wright is the spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El. He is from West Bloomfield, MI – a suburb of Detroit. Adam earned his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Religion and Judaic Studies from Wheaton College (Norton, MA). After college, he pursued graduate studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School (Nashville, TN) where he earned a Master in Theological Studies focusing on the Ancient Near East and Early Judaism. After Adam’s tenure at Vanderbilt, he enrolled at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Los Angeles to begin his rabbinic training. Rabbi Wright has served Jewish communities in California and was the Associate Rabbi at Temple Solel in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, from 2014-2019.

FRIDAY, FEB. 9 Orchestra Concert • Sanctuary • 7:00 p.m.

Symphony Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams

Jeff McLelland will conduct an orchestra of 35 musicians from the Alabama Symphony playing incredible music that includes the beautiful Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Songs of Travel with guest soloist Chris O’Rear.

Choral motets sung by the IPC Camerata will introduce the orchestral pieces.

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was a composer of the utmost importance for English music and one of the great symphonists of the 20th century. Hardly a musical genre was untouched or failed to be enriched by his work, which included symphonies, concertos, operas, chamber music, ballets, film music, a large body of songs and choral works.

Dr. Chris O’Rear appears regularly as a soloist

and clinician around the Southeastern United States and abroad, performing in recitals, opera, and oratorio. He has previously been a featured soloist at the Bassi Brugnatelli International Symposium for Conductors and Singers in Robbiate, Italy, where he performed his debut in Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah and sang as the featured soloist in Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem.

Dr. Jeff McLelland began his career as a Professor of Music at William Carey College and Mississippi College. He has served as Director of Music and Fine Arts at IPC since 2000. Celebrating his 50th year as a church musician, Jeff enjoys the privilege of playing the beautiful Dobson organ, leading the IPC Choir, and developing the annual Religious Arts Festival and November Organ Recital Series.

SUNDAY, FEB. 11 Service of Rosh Hashanah • Sanctuary • 4:00pm

Cantor Robby Wittner

from Temple Emanu-El with the IPC Choir Rosh Hashanah is celebrated each year at the beginning of the High Holy Days as the Jewish liturgical New Year with readings, prayers, and anthems by composers of Jewish music led by Cantor and Choir.

Come experience this ancient tradition of liturgy and song.

Cantor Robby Wittner,

Engel Cantorial Chair, is from Washington Heights in New York City.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hamilton College. He attended the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR, earning a Master in Sacred Music. After his first year was spent in Israel, he moved back to New York, where he served his childhood congregation Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights for four years. It taught him some of the nuances of serving a congregation and instilled in him his great love for the German-Jewish musical tradition, which will always hold a special place in his heart after growing up in a community mostly comprised of Holocaust survivors and their children.

The Fine Arts Committee offers these programs as a gift to the community and encourages you to invite your friends. All events are free with the exception of the Monday lunch and the Thursday banquet which both require reservations.

For further information about the festival, or to make reservations, please contact the Music Office at (205) 933-3700 or visit ipcmusic.org.

If you are interested in helping to secure the future of the Religious Arts Festival at IPC, donations may be given to The Religious Arts Festival Endowment Fund. Please call the Music Office for further information.

Rosalynn Fairless, Administrative Assistant

Jeff McLelland, Director of Music and Fine Arts

Kevin Long, Pastor

3100 Highland Avenue Birmingham, AL 35205 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BIRMINGHAM, AL PERMIT NO. 2394