Looking Back on 100 Years of IPC's Sanctuary, and the Vision, Faith, and Fellowship That Built It
BY CATHY ADAMS, IPC MEMBER
In April 1926, readers of The Birmingham News were invited to marvel at Independent Presbyterian Church’s newly dedicated sanctuary—an “auditorium” described as “a thing of beauty, both interior and exterior.” The doorway was “regarded by critics as one of the most beautiful architecturally in the country.”
A century later, that same building continues to stand as a testament to faith boldly expressed through architecture, generosity, and community. As Independent Presbyterian Church celebrates the 100th anniversary of its sanctuary, we look back at the remarkable story of a young congregation, a pastor’s evolving vision, and a sacred space built to reflect the love of God and the devotion of God’s people.
Late in 1915, shortly after the congregation’s founding, minister Dr. Henry M. Edmonds stated his opposition to the eventual erection of a “big” building. At the time, Independent Presbyterian Church worshiped weekly at Temple Emanu-El. During those early years, the congregation grew rapidly, expanding from 189 members
LENT
to more than 1,000 in just four years. Inspired by “his love of beauty and conviction that physical symbols were one principal means of expressing tangibly God’s love of man and man’s love of God,”
WOVEN & WONDER
Observe the Season with your church family PG 4 FEATURING
Join us for a churchwide series on growing faith together PG 6
Edmonds experienced a change of heart. By March 1920, he challenged the congregation to fund construction of a $200,000 building in the rapidly growing Chestnut Hills neighborhood. In a single evening,
from Children's Fresh Air Farm PG 10
Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday SEE BACK
UPCOMING
EVENTS
See complete calendar online including details and updates: ipc-usa.org > connect
FEBRUARY
18 Ash Wednesday Services, Noon & 6 pm, Sanctuary
20-22 Youth Presbytery Retreat, Living River
22 First Sunday of Lent; Annual Congregational Meeting, Noon, Sanctuary
22-28 Serve Dinner at First Light, 5:30 pm
24 Lunch Bunch, 11:30 am
25 Lenten Chapel & Lunch Begins, Noon, Chapel
MARCH
1 Barbara Noojin Walthall Bible Study Series (see page 4); Extended Atrium for Levels II & III; KultureCity Lunch & Learn, 12:15 pm, GH1; Furman University Singers and String Quartet concert, 4 pm, Sanctuary
4 Lenten Chapel & Lunch, Noon, Chapel
5 Woven & Wonder: A Churchwide Series on Growing Faith Together with Meredith Miller
5 Easter Sunday Services, 8, 9:30 & 11 am, and 5 pm See back
6 Easter Monday, Church Offices Closed
11 IPC Hiking Group
12 IPC Sanctuary Centennial Celebration
20 Beer & Hymns, 7 pm, The Grocery
25 Popsicles on the Playground
28 Lunch Bunch, 11:30 am; Patricia Byrne Memorial Concert for Organ & Orchestra, 7 pm
Following Jesus in Lent
Dear IPC Friends,
It always seems a bit strange when we go from the Christmas season quickly into the season of Lent. We just got Jesus born, and now he’s already marching toward his death. It can create a bit of theological whiplash. And yet, maybe it makes some sense for those events to be closely connected, for we cannot truly separate the incarnation from the crucifixion and resurrection or even the ascension and Pentecost. They are each but different acts played out by God in the great drama of salvation, a play that won’t be completed until the final act of Christ’s return and reign.
Because Lent takes place in the late winter and early spring, it leaves most of the rest of the year for us to consider what it means to follow this God who came to be with us, died for us, conquered the grave, and sent us his Spirit so that we might know him and experience eternal life. But it is during the season of Lent when we are called to slow down and think about how faithfully we have been following him. It is what we do during Lent that impacts how we live out our faith the rest of the year.
One of the things we do as a church during Lent is Grace Groups. It is a sixweek study that helps us grow in our faith and understanding of the Gospel as well as in our relationships with other members of our church family. I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity. This year we will be studying Adam Hamilton’s book, Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws.
As Lent begins, Rebecca and I will be heading to the Philippines to visit our daughter Jessica who is on a nine-month mission program called the World Race. She has already served in Colombia and Vietnam and will finish up in South Africa before returning in May. We have not seen her since the end of August and are excited to be with her and hear about all that God has been doing in her life. We are so proud of Jessica for stepping out in faith to follow Jesus literally all over the world. That’s exactly what Lent prepares us all to do: follow Jesus wherever he calls us to go. I’m still amazed that he called our family to Birmingham. Thank God we listened because we love our church family at IPC. I hope during this season of Lent, we can all begin to listen more closely to Jesus and be ready when he says, “Follow me!”
In Christ,
Rev. Kevin J. Long Pastor
LENT AT IPC Journey Together Toward the Cross
Scan our Lent QR Code with your smartphone to find opportunities to worship and take part in discipleship and fellowship.
congregants pledged half of the amount, equivalent to $3.24 million in today’s dollars. The educational building was completed in 1922, marking the first major step toward realizing this new architectural vision.
Designed by architects Warren & Knight, in collaboration with Miller and Martin, the cornerstone for the English Perpendicular Gothic Revival sanctuary was laid March 29, 1925. Within the cornerstone, a metal box was placed containing a Bible, a brief church history, membership and officer rosters, and copies of the city’s two daily newspapers. Dr. Edmonds was at the time seriously ill in Connecticut and unable to attend this milestone moment in the life of the church.
After just thirteen months of construction, the new sanctuary was formally dedicated on Good Friday, April 2, 1926, with additional services on Easter Sunday.
Constructed of Shades Mountain variegated sandstone, with a blending of halftimber and stucco, the cruciform floorplan is crowned with an intricately traced copper spire rising from the intersection of nave and transept. This small Gothic spire, known as a fleche, remains one of the building’s most distinctive features. Upon the completion of the entire complex, including furnishings, an organ gifted by the Women of the Church, the manse to the rear, and the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, the total physical investment represented more than $500,000.
On Thanksgiving Day of that same momentous year, Independent Presbyterian Church accepted a gift that symbolized its earliest years. The congregation of Temple Emanu-El presented a seven-branched old Sheffield silver plate candelabra in recognition of the seven years during which Independent Presbyterian Church worshiped in the temple before completing its own sanctuary. Saved from a disastrous fire in 1992, the candelabra continues to represent the historical connection between the two congregations more than a century later.
The congregation will mark this centennial during worship on April 12, with additional educational opportunities offered throughout Eastertide. As we give thanks for the past 100 years and look ahead to the next century of life and ministry in the Sanctuary, Independent Presbyterian Church will also launch a fundraising campaign in 2026 to make needed repairs, preserve this historic structure, and incorporate modern technology to support the church’s future. More information will be shared in the months ahead.
INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1926
SANCTUARY CENTENNIAL
Share Your Sanctuary Photos!
As we celebrate the centennial of our Sanctuary, we invite you to help tell its story through images. For 100 years, this sacred space has held moments of worship, joy, and prayer, and many of those moments live on in photographs.
If you enjoy photography, we welcome still shots of the Sanctuary that capture its beauty, light, and architectural details. We are also grateful to receive personal photographs taken in the Sanctuary for meaningful occasions such as weddings, baptisms, confirmations, or other special events. Submitted photos should relate specifically to the Sanctuary itself, rather than other areas of the church.
Photo Submission Guidelines
• Please submit high-resolution images whenever possible
• Recommended minimum file size: 1 MB
• If sending from an iPhone, choose Original or Largest File Size
• JPEG or PNG files are preferred
The Window is a publication of Independent Presbyterian Church, 3100 Highland Avenue South. The Window is published for church members and friends.
Email photos to photos@ipc-usa.org, and be sure to include your name with your submission. Thank you for helping us honor the life and legacy of this sacred space.
JOIN US DURING THE LENTEN SEASON
LENTEN CHAPEL & LUNCH
Join us every Wednesday from February 25 to April 1 for a noonday worship service in the Chapel. After the service, you can enjoy a light lunch for $5 in the Great Hall. Please note that you only need to make a reservation if you plan to stay for lunch. The menu for lunch will be soup and sandwiches. Please make sure to reserve your spot for lunch each week by Tuesday at noon.
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Lenten devotionals offer meaningful reflections and spiritual insight throughout the season, helping deepen faith during this time of reflection and renewal. Visit ipc-usa.org to explore several devotional options, including Ever Approaching Dawn from Christianity Today, a 15-session journey through the Lenten and Easter season that prepares us for the sorrow of Christ’s death while anticipating the joy of the resurrection. You'll also find a collection of free devotionals by Kate Bowler, each offering scripture, reflection, blessings, and thoughtful questions to accompany you along the way.
EASTER LILY MEMORIALS
Honor the memory of your loved ones by donating to the Easter Lily Memorial fund in their name(s). Your contribution provides fresh flowers to be displayed in the Sanctuary and Highland Hall for Easter services, and the names of your loved ones will be
printed in the Easter worship bulletin. Depending on IPC's ability to source the lilies, you may pick up your order after the 11 am Easter service in the Sanctuary, or you can make a direct donation without the pick-up of any flowers. To ensure the names of loved ones are included in the bulletin, please ensure your contribution is received by March 22.
PRAYERWELL
Starting on Ash Wednesday, we will display prayer requests in the church stairwell, which we call the "Prayerwell." This is a way for us to visually represent those who have touched our lives or who may need our prayers. To have someone's name displayed in the Prayerwell, please submit their first name only in the basket located at the front desk.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
IPC’s Kitchen will offer dinner in the Great Hall on Wednesday nights at 5:30 pm through April 29, with the exception of March 25 and April 1. On Ash Wednesday, February 18, dinner will be served at 5 pm to allow time for the Ash Wednesday Service at 6 pm in the Sanctuary. Most adult classes will conclude on April 29. The Children’s Musical will wrap up with its final rehearsal on Wednesday, March 11, followed by a celebration on March 18. Youth Midweek Meet-Up will also conclude on March 11.
BARBARA NOOJIN WALTHALL BIBLE STUDY SERIES
Sunday, March 1
BY LEE WALTHALL, IPC MEMBER
The Barbara Noojin Walthall Bible Study Fund was established by the Walthall family following Barbara’s untimely death from breast cancer at age 61 in 2002 with a gift to the IPC Foundation. Barbara was a leader at IPC, in the community, and in business.
This year’s scholar will be Rev. Dr. Anna M. V. Bowden, Associate Professor of New Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Anna holds a PhD in New Testament and Early Christian Literature and a ThM in Hebrew Bible from Brite Divinity School, a MDiv from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a BA in Religion from Baylor University.
Anna has taught classes in religious studies, biblical interpretation, and biblical languages at Albion College, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Nazareth College, Monroe Community College, and Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School.
She has also Zoomed in to several classes at IPC this past year and was extremely well received.
She will preach at the 8:45 and 11 am services, and a replay will be shown at the 5 pm Table worship service. She will also lead Sunday School at 10 am. Her topic will be Women in the New Testament.
IPC CHILDREN & YOUTH HAPPENINGS
YOUTH SUNDAY
IPC Youth (7th through 12th grade) will lead the congregation in all elements of worship during all three services on March 15. Senior Recognition will take place during the 11 am worship service, and the Senior Celebration Lunch will follow at 12 pm.
IPC SPRING KIDS ROCK MUSICAL: "IN THE IMAGE"
During our Spring Kids ROCK Musical, children (5K–6th grade) will explore what it truly means to be created in the image of God. The musical will take place during the Sunday School hour on March 15 in Highland Hall. A cast party will be held March 18.
6TH GRADE RECOGNITION
On May 3, we will recognize our 6th graders as they transition from Children's Ministry into Youth Ministry during the 11 am worship service. There will be a 6th grade family breakfast at 10 am during the Sunday School hour, followed by a trip to Top Golf after the 11 am worship service.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: IPC ISLAND
We are looking forward to another great summer at IPC! VBS is for rising 3K through 5K/Top Dogs and will take place May 18 - 21.
BIBLETIMES MARKETPLACE: THE STORY OF JESUS
Join us June 1 - 5 for a summer tradition at the Children's Fresh Air Farm as we explore the story of Jesus. Bibletimes Marketplace is for children who have completed Kindergarten - 5th grade, and Tribal Assistants are youth who have completed 6th through 12th grade.
MONTREAT YOUTH CONFERENCE
The 2026 Montreat Youth Conference will take place July 12 - 18 with the theme “Wonder & Wander.” All completed 8th through 12th graders are invited to join us for this beloved annual tradition.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER RETREAT
Completed 6th and 7th graders are invited to our 2026 Middle School Summer Retreat, which will take place July 23 - 26. Stay tuned for more details to come.
WHAT'S NEW AT THE IPC LIBRARY?
Find Books for the Lenten Season
BY GINNI ROBERTSON, IPC LIBRARIAN
The John N. Lukens library has many daily devotional books to help us during our time of Lenten reflection as we prepare our hearts for the crucifixion and then the joyous resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A few you will find on display are Journeying Through Lent with Matthew, by Andrew D. Rogness; Journeying Through Lent with Luke, by Nancy Koester; and Show Me the Way, by Henri J.M. Nouwen. Preparing for Easter has 50 devotional readings taken from the writings of C.S. Lewis. All Shall Be Well contains 54 selections written by Thomas Merton, Joan Chittister, Mary Oliver, Pope Francis, and many others. The Lenten Tree by Dean Meador Smith provides devotions for children and adults as a family activity.
In our new books display, you will find The Land of Sweet Forever, a selection of Harper Lee’s short stories and essays. Take a few minutes to visit your library and find something just right for you.
For more information or questions, please contact Ginni Robertson at ginni.robertson@gmail.com.
WOVEN & WONDER: MARCH 5
A day of conversation, reflection, and practical wisdom with Meredith Miller for the whole church
Faith grows over time through relationships, shared practices, and the everyday moments we experience together. IPC’s Woven & Wonder Series invites our church to slow down and reflect on how faith takes shape, both in the life of the church and in the rhythms of home.
Join us on Thursday, March 5, for a churchwide day with Meredith Miller, author and faith formation leader, as we explore how faith is nurtured across generations and communities. This day includes a morning and an evening session, each shaped with a different audience in mind.
ABOUT MEREDITH
Meredith Miller is a pastor, parent, and writer with more than twenty years of experience in children’s ministry and faith formation. She is the author of two books Woven and Wonder and has spent her career helping churches and families nurture faith that is relational, rooted, and responsive to how children
actually experience belief.
Meredith previously served as Curriculum Director for Children’s Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church and has long been involved with the work of the Fuller Youth Institute. She holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Seminary.
A NOTE ABOUT WONDER
Coming in March 2026, Wonder is Meredith Miller’s long-awaited guide for helping children fall in love with Scripture. Organized into 52 short stories, the book is designed to be used by parents and caregivers alongside children, whether as a family devotional or as a trusted reference.
As the second stop on Meredith’s Wonder book launch tour, this event weaves together themes from both Wonder and Woven, offering a shared framework for nurturing faith that is thoughtful, rooted, and hopeful. Copies of Woven and Wonder will be available at both sessions, and Meredith will host a signing during the evening reception.
MORNING SESSION
For Church Leaders, Educators & Ministry Volunteers
10 - 11:30 am | IPC Sanctuary
If you teach, lead, or care for children in the life of the church, this morning session is for you. Meredith will guide a conversation around how churches can thoughtfully nurture children’s faith within the local church. Drawing on theology, experience, and best practices, this gathering invites participants to reflect on how worship, teaching, and shared community life shape faith over time.
EVENING SESSION
For Parents, Grandparents & Community Members
Reception & Book Signing:
Drop in between 5 - 6 pm | IPC Parlor
Talk Begins:
6 pm | IPC Sanctuary
Cost: $10
If you are walking alongside children in everyday moments, the evening session is for you. It is a welcoming space for anyone who wants to reflect on their own experiences of faith and consider how faith is formed and examined over time.
Handheld snacks will be available during the reception. Childcare will be available for the evening session and is guaranteed for those who register by Sunday, March 1.
Visit ipc-usa.org/woven-and-wonder to register and learn more!
FOCUS ON FAITH
Join Us on Sunday,
May 3
BY ROBERT POSEY, CHAIR, FOCUS ON FAITH COMMITTEE
This year’s Focus on Faith speaker is Dr. Anne Emile Zaki, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, a school founded by early Presbyterian missionaries in 1863. Dr. Zaki grew up in Cairo in a pastor’s home where all of the children had responsibilities and were considered partners in the family’s ministry. At age 16, she was selected by the Egyptian government to represent Egypt at Pearson College, an international school in Canada dedicated to peace and international understanding worldwide. Two years later, she went to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, seeking a liberal arts Christian education to help integrate her faith and social justice convictions. Dr. Zaki worked at Calvin University for 13 years on the development of global and multi-cultural worship and coordinated international worship conferences in 15 countries.
In 2022, she earned a PhD in theology with a concentration on preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where she studied under the direction of Dr. Mark Labberton, our 2025 Focus on Faith speaker. Her PhD thesis was on “Crisis Preaching in the Protestant Church of Egypt During and Post the Arab Spring.” In her paper, she examines the nature and will of God in crisis and explores different ways of relating suffering to hope. The central question of her study is how to preach about hope and suffering in such a way as to anchor and advance the identity, mission, and future direction of the church.
She has been teaching courses on Preaching, Communication, Psychology, Worship, and Spiritual Formation at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo since 2013. Her areas of interest include travel, the cultural influences on the church worldwide, preaching renewal, creating new ministries, mentoring youth, administration, poetry, and music. She and her husband are parents of four sons.
Please join us on Sunday, May 3 as we hear from Dr. Zaki during the 8:45 and 11 am worship services, and during the 10 am combined Sunday School hour. A video replay will be shown at the Table worship service.
MUSIC & FINE ARTS
Upcoming Concert
BY DR. JEFF MCLELLAND, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & FINE ARTS
The Annual Patricia Byrne Memorial Concert Series will begin on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 pm.
World-renowned organist Vincent Dubois and 48 members of the Alabama Symphony will present a free concert that will fill the Sanctuary with incredible music by composers Marcel Dupré and Franz Liszt.
This free concert series has been established to present internationally acclaimed organ concert artists to perform music for organ and orchestra. The repertoire heard in these concerts is normally only heard in venues that are supported by Conventions of the American Guild of Organists and in concert halls that contain a pipe organ large enough to be accompanied by an orchestra (e.g., Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles) This series is unique to the city of Birmingham, and Independent Presbyterian Church is pleased to offer the beautiful sanctuary and the Joseph W. Schreiber Memorial Organ built by the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders.
The organ soloist, Vincent Dubois, is one of the titular organists at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, and is also Professor of organ, interpretation, and improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik, Saarbrücken, Germany. Conducted by Dr. Jeff McLelland, the concert will include the Symphony in G Minor of Marcel Dupré, an Improvisation by Vincent Dubois, and the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam” by Franz Liszt.
IPC NOW & FOREVER
Strengthening IPC’s Future through a Shared Legacy of Generosity
Through the IPC Now & Forever Endowment Campaign, our church is coming together to strengthen the long-term financial foundation of our church and extend the impact of our shared ministry for generations to come. This multi-year, ongoing campaign reflects a collective commitment to IPC’s future.
Since launching in April 2025, the campaign has secured $21.3 million in commitments toward our $50 million goal, a remarkable reflection of the generosity and faithfulness of this congregation. In January, we celebrated a significant milestone when the campaign reached 43 percent of its goal, a moment that fills us with gratitude and hope as the work continues.
This momentum has been shaped by meaningful conversations across the congregation. Campaign ambassadors have been reconnecting with current Henry M. Edmonds Society members,
and nearly all have reaffirmed their legacy commitments, an encouraging affirmation of shared vision and trust in IPC’s future.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Now & Forever Campaign.
Over the next two years, ambassadors will continue to reach out to and meet with interested members to share how endowment and legacy gifts provide lasting support for worship, education, mission, and care within and beyond IPC.
If you're ready to take the next steps or would like to talk more about how your gift can support IPC, please contact Denise W. Moore, Executive Director of Finance & IPC Foundation, at dmoore@ipcusa.org or Margaret Lane H. Wolff, Foundation & Stewardship Manager, at mhollingsworth@ipc-usa.org. You can also learn more about the campaign at ipcforever.org.
The IPC Foundation: Sustaining Ministry, Strengthening Mission
Many at IPC are familiar with the annual grants made possible through the IPC Foundation. What often goes unseen is how endowed gifts quietly sustain and expand our ministry year after year. These funds, which the IPC Now & Forever Endowment Campaign seeks to grow, ensure that the mission and ministry of the church continue.
Nearly every ministry area at IPC is touched by the IPC Foundation’s support.
Endowments help fund mission trips, social services, music and fine arts, Focus on Faith, the Barbara Noojin Walthall Lecture Series, counseling ministries, and 100% scholarships for children attending the Summer Learning Program at Children’s Fresh Air Farm. The Foundation also supports ministry for the Day School, Catechesis, and Children’s and Youth Ministries.
“Through the IPC Foundation, generosity today becomes lasting support for the life and mission of the church,” said Jim Shepherd, President of the IPC Foundation. "The Foundation ensures that gifts entrusted to IPC are cared for with intention and foresight, allowing the church to remain strong, responsive, and rooted in its mission across generations. In this way, the Foundation helps carry IPC’s work forward, sustaining the church and its ministries well beyond the present moment.”
HOUSE & PROPERTIES
IPC Updates Policies for Facilities Usage
BY TOMMY THOMSON, FACILITY USE TASK FORCE
As requests from outside groups to use our facilities on Highland Avenue as well as at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm have increased, a task force was formed to review and update the church’s existing policies for use of IPC’s facilities. A central goal of the task force was to establish policies that exhibited a welcoming spirit to all requests. It was also desired to have policies that make it clear that IPC always wants to be a good neighbor, both on the Southside of Birmingham and in the Bluff Park community in Hoover.
Representatives from the Community Ministries committee, the House and Properties committee, the Children’s Fresh Air Farm subcommittee, as well as ministerial and administrative staff comprised this task force. Policies were revised to make the guidelines more consistent between our campuses on Highland Avenue and in Bluff Park. Also, policies from other churches, including local churches, were reviewed to make sure that our rules and fee schedule are in line with those from other similar churches.
While priority will always be given to IPC or Children’s Fresh Air Farm programming and events, there are times when the facilities are not in use and can be rented for a nominal fee. Community groups or other organizations whose missions don’t conflict with the faith and values of the church are welcome to request the use of our facilities. Church members are also welcome to request the use of facilities for private events such as children’s and adult birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, or anniversary celebrations. These new policies do not pertain to the use of IPC facilities for weddings, which have their own set of policies.
The Session has approved the updated policies and has authorized their publication. The policies are available by contacting the IPC Director of Operations and Administration, Lea Anne Hardy, at lhardy@ipc-usa.org.
All requests to use IPC facilities must be submitted through a Facilities Use Application and approved by the Director of Operations and Administration.
FACILITIES UPDATE
Introducing IPC's New Sprinter Van
IPC is pleased to introduce the newest addition to our church fleet, a silver 15-passenger MercedesBenz Sprinter Van.
This vehicle will allow for the safe and convenient transportation of ministry groups and other IPC travel needs.
The first lucky passengers were our IPC Youth, who enjoyed the new van (and its luggage storage space) while traveling to and from Gatlinburg, Tennessee for their 2026 Youth Retreat.
AN UPDATE FROM CHILDREN'S FRESH AIR FARM
BY MARION DUKES, DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDRENS FRESH AIR FARM
We are thrilled to share some exciting news from Children’s Fresh Air Farm as we gear up for the 2026 summer season! This year, we are expecting our largest enrollment ever, with 140 students expected to join us for a summer full of learning, fun, and community. Each grade from 2nd through 8th is now full, a testament to the wonderful experiences our campers have had and the growing support from our families.
One of the highlights of our program continues to be our internship program. We have been thrilled to watch our campers who have aged out return to Children’s Fresh Air Farm as interns as they enter their sophomore year of high school. Their leadership, energy, and familiarity with camp make them invaluable members of our staff. This year, we are excited to expand the program and accept even more interns, giving additional students the opportunity to grow and serve as role models for our campers.
We also have several special events and new ambitions planned leading up to summer. On April 11, we will host a Spring Fun Day for our returning campers and welcome the new students who will be joining us this summer. On May 9, we will host our high school students, honoring the first class of interns and those who have been pioneers in our middle school programming with a Senior Send Off. Additionally, our Juniors and Seniors have several college tours booked this spring, and we are excited to start a monthly High School Bible Study on the second Tuesday of each month at Hayes, following our STAIR 3.0 programming.
2025 SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM STUDENTS ENJOYING THEIR TIME AT CHILDREN'S FRESH AIR FARM
Camp begins June 15 and runs through July 23, and we would love for you to volunteer and join us this summer or come to one of our events! Serving alongside our campers is an incredible way to experience the joy of giving back, and it is a meaningful opportunity for congregational fellowship as we come together to serve others in our community.
The impact of this work is felt not only by our campers, but also by the many volunteers who walk alongside them year after year.
I started as a volunteer with the youth group and immediately fell in love with the program. I returned the next summer to work in the office and came back the following summers while in college, working as a teacher’s assistant while earning my degree in Elementary Education. I fell in love with working with the middle school students, and now, 10 summers later from when I started as a volunteer, I have fallen in love with being the Director of Children’s Fresh Air Farm.
“Last November, our high school age Summer Learning Program alumni gathered at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm for a mini-reunion. It gave SLP volunteers an opportunity to reconnect with the young adults that we have known since they were secondgraders. I am confident that SLP has positively influenced these campers on their journey toward adulthood. I know that these campers have enriched the lives of SLP volunteers. Becoming an SLP volunteer is easy. You set your own level of time commitment and then spend that time at IPC’s beautiful Children’s Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park. At the Farm you assist an individual camper or a small group of campers with reading or math following a guide or lesson prepared by the teacher. No special talent is needed, only a willingness to be present and attentive and, in my case, not embarrassed to ask for the 5th-grade math answer key."
~ David Woodruff, CFAF Committee Chair
Welcome TO IPC
Mary Ponder
NEW STAFF
Gaige Tittle
We are pleased to welcome Gaige Tittle to IPC as our Seminary Intern through IPC’s Pastoral Student Internship Program. Gaige is a first-year seminary student at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, and he officially joined IPC in December after participating in our New Member Class.
JOINING IPC
If you are new to IPC or considering a new church home, we would be delighted for you to contact us.
Giuli Williams with Jonas, Bella & Leo New Members
Kathy Derzis New Member
Mary Stuart & Watson Hughston with Caroline & Harris New Members
Sierra Lawrence & John Fischer New Members
Gaige Tittle New Member & IPC Seminary Intern
Seminary Intern
3100 Highland Avenue Birmingham, AL 35205
Holy Week
MARCH 29 - APRIL 5, 2026
Sunday, March 29
PALM SUNDAY
Morning Worship at 8:45 and 11 am in the Sanctuary Children's Palm Processional during the 11 am worship service Children’s Egg Hunt at Noon Evening Worship at 5 pm in Highland Hall
Thursday, April 2
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Paraments at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Friday, April 3
GOOD FRIDAY
A Penitential Service at Noon in the Sanctuary
Sunday, April 5
EASTER SUNDAY
Celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ at 8, 9:30 & 11 am in the Sanctuary and 5 pm in Highland Hall. Sunday School classes for adults, youth, and children will not meet on Easter Day.
Services in the Sanctuary will be livestreamed on IPC's YouTube channel.
