THE
A DVENT 2022 | VO L 7 4 | I SSU E 2
A HUNDRED-YEAR CELEBRATION B Y M A R G A R E T C O BBS , CHILDR E N'S FR E S H AIR FAR M COMMIT T EE CHAIR
S
CE NTE N NIAL GARDEN RENOVAT IONS AT T HE CHIL DREN'S F RESH AIR FARM HAV E B E E N COMPL ET ED BY BL ACKJACK HORT ICULT URE. PHOT O BY: VIRGINIA JO N ES
a place of safety and refuge from some truly heartbreaking family and economic situations. IPC families also enjoy the week of Bibletimes Marketplace, where they live
in community as tribes of Israel under makeshift tents, bake bread, learn scripture, and splash in the pool. Many of us feel CO NTI N U ED ON PG 3
FEATURING
FEATURING
ADVENT
CHRISTMAS EVE
IPC's 2022 Holiday House Tea & Tour P G 4
Rev. Susan Clayton's 20-year ministry at IPC PG 8
Celebrate the Season with your church family PG 5 & 7
IPC's Services on Saturday, Dec. 24 SEE BAC K
3 1 0 0 H I G H L A N D AV E N U E | B I R M I N G H A M , A L 3 5 2 0 5 | 2 0 5 - 9 3 3 - 1 8 3 0 | I P C - U S A . O R G
1 | IPC | THE WINDOW
ince 1923, children in Birmingham have been able to retreat to the Children’s Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park to experience recreation time outdoors, nourishing food, and fellowship with caring teachers and friends. You may have read in Henry Edmonds’ A Parson’s Notebook about a train ride with Robert Meyer, an old friend and owner of a hotel chain. Edmonds asked Meyer if he would like to “spend some money in a way that will leave a good taste in your mouth as long as you live.” Meyer agreed to furnish money and land to start the Fresh Air Farm, if Edmonds would do the footwork of starting the camp. Edmonds asked the Women’s Committee of the church to do the important work of starting a summer camp for undernourished children, and they accepted the challenge. One hundred years later, IPC is still welcoming campers each summer who are able to make huge academic gains in their reading and math skills, thanks to the dedicated teachers and volunteer tutors that make the Summer Learning Program possible. Children ages second through eighth grade are also offered