&nbs= p;
You have shown me, O Lord, that humility and obedience are the genesis = of spiritual renewal and transformation. Your Word is true, call= ing me to repentance, to change, to a path that seeks perfection while recognizing the completion of perfection lies in Christ alone. Lord, I will die in human weakness, but let me rise in the power of your truth and the resurrection of Christ. In this life grant= me the desire and the courage to alter my attitudes, to change my habi= ts, to be more than a hearer of your Word through faith. May I be made complete as you will in Christ and in his name be a voice of truth, a witness to compassion and a doer of your Word. In Je= sus' name. Amen.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Conrad Sharps, Pastor <= /p>

&= nbsp;

Pastor's Blog: Living in the Spirit Today<= /span>

We invite you to The Pastor's Blog: <= /p>

"Living in the Spirit Toda= y."

You can find this blog at

http://www.LivingInTheSpiritToday.bl= ogspot.com

<= /o:p>

On the blog, = you can also subscribe via email to receive an email notification each = time a new blog is posted.

The Parish Record

Please call the Ministry of Congregational Care (933-3= 694) or email Jea= nnine Usher

(jusher@ipc-usa.org) to report concerns regar= ding our members, or fill out a congregational care card.

Click here for= the full weekly IPC Prayer List Note: the number in parentheses after the name is the IPC Parish Number or the designation of non-member (NM) or former member.

BIRTHS

Elizabeth Layton Meriwether
(Mr. & Mrs. John Meriwether, III) (39)
(Granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Meriwether, Jr.) (39)
January 9, 2012

BAPTISMS

None=

MARRIAGES

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Michael Lalo
(Lillian Elizabeth Askins) (99)
(Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. M. Ross Askins) (13)
February 11, 2012

OUR KNOWN SICK (as of Thursday, February 16, 2012) <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333= 333'>

SHELBY MEDICAL

Linda Creel (Mrs. Ralph) (1)

HANOVER HOUSE

Axel Bolvig, Jr. (16)

CONVALESCING
Anne Johnson (Mrs. Phillip) (42)
Elise Warren (18)



Margaret Ba= lliet   (17) (daughter of Michael & Peggy Balliet (17) (link to CaringBri= dge site)

   &nb= sp;



The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Susan Nading (Mrs. Alex) (25) on the deat= h of her father, Luther Hill Waller, Jr. (NM) on February 12, 2012; and to Tom Pan= key (16) on the death of his brother-in-law, Don Cox (NM) on February 16, 2012.



IPC Funeral Services and Deaths Recorded   = ;

Upcoming Sunday: February 19 <= span style=3D'font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Annual Congregational Mtg.=

3D"Independent

Sund= ay February 19 Annual Meeting of IPC

&= nbsp; THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Independent Presbyterian Churc= h is hereby called for Sunday, February 19, 2012, to celebrate the success= ful completion of the ministry and mission of the church during 2011. The meeting will be convened with the opening prayer at the 11:00 worship service in the sanctuary. The business meeting will be held in the sanctuary and will begin immediately following the 11:00 worship service. The purposes of the meeting are: to receive 2011 financial reports; to receive the report of the IPC Foundation; to review salar= ies of the ordained clergy; to elect a member of the Foundation Board of Directors; to conduct any other business which may properly come befo= re the congregation; to receive the 2011 report of the President of the Congregation. By order of the Session: David Dickson, Clerk; Dr. Conr= ad Sharps, Moderator.

Sunday Service, February 19, 2012 8:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Preparing for Sunday: <= /strong>

Worship Bullet= in for Sunday, February 19, 2012

Transfigu= ration Sunday

painting by Titian



Living in the Spirit:

A voice said: "This is my Son, the Beloved, wi= th whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Prayer of Preparation:  = Eternal God, you come to us shrouded in mystery. We seek to follow Christ up = the mountain where he was transfigured with Moses and Elijah. Even when we seek to see you clearly, our eyes are blinded by the brightness of yo= ur glory. We long to follow you to the end, but are afraid that we might= not be up to the journey. Give us such faith that we too may see the heav= ens open and hear your voice to follow your Son, with whom you are well pleased. Amen.

Morning Lessons:   2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9

Sermon: "From the Rim of Heaven"- Rev. Dr. Conrad C. Sharps

Hymns:  "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name!"; "Jesus on the Mountain Peak"; "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"  = ;

Anthems:

"The Lord our God Hath Shewn Us His Glory" - George Thalben= -Ball (1896-1987)
The Lord our God hath shewn us his glory. O come, let us adore him.

"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" - Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and stand with fear a= nd trembling, and lift itself above all earthly thought. For the King of kings and Lord of Lords, Christ our God, cometh forth to be our oblat= ion, and to be given for Food to the faithful. Before Him come the choirs = of angels, with every principality and power; the Cherubim with many eye= s, and winged Seraphim, who veil their faces as they shout exultingly the hymn, Alleluia. Liturgy of St. James

"Beautiful Saviour" - F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955)
Fair are the meadows, fairer the woodlands, robed in the flowers of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes= our sorrowing spirit sing. Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations! Son of = God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermo= re be Thine.



PLEASE NOTE:  = ;The daily lectionary is also available to read online at www.pcusa.= org/lectionary

The Daily Lectionary:  <= /span>

(Thursday 16) Ps. 36, 147:12-20; Gen. 32:3-21; 1 Jn. 2:18-29; Jn. 10:19-30;
(Friday 17) Ps. 130, 148; Gen.32:22-33:17 ; 1 Jn. 3:1-10; Jn. 10:31-4= 2;
(Saturday 18) Ps. 56, 149; Gen. 35:1-20; 1 Jn. 3:11-18; Jn. 11:1-16;<= br> (Sunday 19) 2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mk. 9:2-9

(Monday 20) Ps. 5, 145; Prov. 27:1-6, 10-12; Phil. 2:1= -13; Jn. 18:15-18, 25-27;
(Tuesday 21) Ps. 42, 146; Prov. 30:1-4, 24-33; Phil. 3:1-11; Jn. 18:28-38;
(Wednesday 22) Ps. 5, 147:1-11; Am. 5:6-15; Heb. 12:1-14; Lk. 18:9-14= ;
(Thursday 23) Ps. 27, 147:12-20; Hab. 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18; Phil. 3:12-21; Jn. 17:1-8;
(Friday 24) Ps. 22, 148; Ezek. 18:1-4, 25-32 ; Phil. 4:1-9; Jn. 17:9-= 19;
(Saturday 25) Ps. 43, 149; Ezek. 39:21-29; Phil. 4:10-20; Jn. 17:20-2= 6;
(Sunday 26) Gen. 9:8-17; Ps. 25:1-10; 1 Pet. 3:18-22; Mk. 1:9-15.

Thank you for your food donations to the IPC Food Pantry!

Please remember to bring items when you come to church.

Suggested Food Pantry Items:  Oatmeal/Grits

IPC Food P= antry   Please remember the IPC Food Pantry on Sunday!  Thank you f= or always being so responsive to this need in our community.<= /span>

Habitat for Humanity: Building a home during Lent

3D"IPC <= span style=3D'font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:maroon'>Habitat for Humanity Lenten House Build: Building on Faith<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333= 333'>

IPC will be participating again in this year's Lenten House Bui= ld. Please prayerfully consider this wonderful opportunity to help a fami= ly and a community.

For the past few year= s, IPC has participated in Habitat for Humanity's Lenten build- = Building on Faith. This year, we will participate but in a slightly different way. Becau= se Habitat's resources are stretched quite thin with storm recovery, the= re are fewer houses being built during the Lenten build, and more church= es are working on each home! So, we will be teaming up with a couple of other churches to work on our family's home in Center Point.

March 3 and Marc= h 17, 2012
We are scheduled to be solely responsible for providing workers and l= unch volunteers on two
Saturdays during the build: March 3rd and March 17th.

Click here for= information about the house build, the family, and directions to the home.

&nb= sp; Rev. Susan Clayton, Associ= ate Pastor, Community Ministries

A look Inside the IPC organ chambers

Voicing of the new pipe organ continues
Even though we cannot see it, th= ere is a lot of work going in the organ chambers as the installation of p= ipes and voicing continues. There are two organ chambers on either side of= the choir loft directly behind the new façades and organ pipes.

INSIDE THE IPC ORGAN CHAMBERS

3D"Organ

This view is from inside the east organ chamber (Parlor side) looking toward the c= hoir loft. Notice the area on the left where more pipes will be installed and the walkway which will enable people to maintain the or= gan. The ladder on the left side of the walkway leads to an upper level.

3D"Organ

This photo is al= so taken from inside the east organ chamber (Parlor side looking out tow= ard choir) and illustrates that the parts of the organ we will never= see are also quite beautiful. If you look closely, you can see part= of the Ascension window (west balcony) between the pipes.

Photos and captions by Paul Romjue, Director of Christian Education

Independent Presbyterian Church Day School

&= nbsp; 3D"IPC I= PC Day School = Did = you know? 3D"IPC

Students of all ages engage in technology at the Day School. Each classroom has acc= ess to a lap top computer, an iPad and an iPod for daily use. Teach= ers work together to find stimulating activities for all class levels.&nb= sp; Teachers also report attendance on a daily basis and are able to sear= ch the internet for new additions to our ever evolving curriculum. Older Toddlers in Margaret Knight's class are shown here enjoying learning activities geared to their age group.

Church Calendar Week Beginning February 19, 2012

FRIDAY (February 17)
      6:30 a.m. -      Bill Shanks Friday Morning Bible Study
     12:00 N      -      Finance Committee (IPC Foundation)
           &nb= sp;
SUNDAY (February 19)
   *   8:00 a.m.    -    IPC Choir
   *   8:45 a.m.    -    MORNING WORSHIP
   * 10:00 a.m.    -    CHURCH SCHOOL
   * 10:00 a.m.    -    IPC C= hoir
   * 11:00 a.m.    -    MORNI= NG WORSHIP
   * 12:15 p.m.    -    Annual Congregational Meeting in Sanctuary
       4:00 p.m.    -    Youth Subcommittee
       5:30 p.m.    -    Youth Group

MONDAY&nb= sp; (February 20)
   12:00 N        -     Lucy Turner Bible Study
     1:00 p.m.    -     4th Quarter Bridge
     5:15 p.m.    -     Church Governing Bodies Cmttee.
     6:30 p.m.    -     Boy Scout Troop # 28

TUESDAY (February 21)
    11:00 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Intercessory Prayer Group
    11:30 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Tapestries II
    12:00 N        -     Questers
       3:00 p.m.   -     STAIR Tutoring
       5:30 p.m.   -     Pancake Supper (Sponsored by the Boy Scouts= )
       5:30 p.m.   -     Session

WEDNESDAY (February 22) Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

    10:30 a.m.    -     Margaret Northen Bib= le Study
    10:30 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Women at the Well Brunch
    11:00 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Women at the Well
    11:30 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Coffee Hour
* 12:= 00 N        -    = Ash Wednesday Service in Sanctuary
      1:00 p.m.    -     4th Quarter Bridge
      7:30 p.m.    -     IPC Choir
      1:00 p.m.   -      4th Quarter Bridge I
       3:00 p.m.   -     STAIR Tutoring
    * 4:30 p.m.   -     Adult Education Subcommittee
    * 5:00 p.m.   -     Wednesday Night Dinner
      5:30 p.m.   -     Westminster Choir
      6:00 p.m.   -     Centering Prayer Group
    * 6:30 p.m.   -     Ash Wednesday Service= in Sanctuary
      6:30 p.m.   -     Youth Fellowship
      7:30 p.m.   -     IPC Choir

THURSDAY&nbs= p; (February 23)
    11:00 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Elementary Subcommittee
    11:00 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Knitting Ministry
    11:30 a.m.    -   &n= bsp; Susan Clayton Bible Study
      3:00 p.m.    -     STAIR Tutoring     = ;

FRIDAY (February 24)
      6:30 a.m.   -      Bill Shanks Friday Morning Bible Study
    12:00 N       -      Stewardship Elders
      4:30 p.m.   -      Jr. High Sexuality Course<= /span>

SATURDAY&nbs= p; (February 25)
9:00 a.m. - Representative Nominating Committee
9:00 a.m. - Presbytery Website Training Seminar at IPC

SUNDAY (February 26)
   *   8:00 a.m.    -    IPC Choir
   *   8:45 a.m.    -    MORNING WORSHIP
       9:00 a.m.    -    3rd Grade Annual Worship Retreat
       9:30 a.m.    -    Jr. High Sexuality Course
   * 10:00 a.m.    -    CHURCH SCHOOL
   * 10:00 a.m.    -    IPC C= hoir
   * 11:00 a.m.    -    MORNI= NG WORSHIP
   * 12:30 p.m.    -    3rd G= rade Retreat
       5:30 p.m.    -    Youth Small Groups
           &nb= sp;

* Nursery care provided

Upcoming Events 2012

February 12 - March 31 Lenten Grace Groups

February 19 Annual Congregational Meeting after 11 am service in Sanctua= ry

February 21 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper sponsored by Boy Scouts Great = Hall

February 22 Ash Wednesday&nbs= p; Services Noon and 6:30 p.m. with Holy Communion

February 26 3rd Graders Worsh= ip Retreat

February 26 Youth Small Groups begin again

February 27 Birmingham Men's = Club

February 28 4th Quarter Lunch Bunch at The Bri= ght Star

February 29 Noon Chapel Servi= ce "Service for Wholeness"

March - Habitat for Humanity Lenten House Build--Building on Faith

March No Parent's Night Out in March

March 11 Evening Prayer Servi= ce with Communion 4:00pm Sanctuary

March 14 Children's Musical <= em>"Oh, Jonah!" 6:30pm next door 3116 Highland Ave.

March 15 Presbyterian W= omen Spring Social at Susan Haskell's home

March 25 "Remembrances of Thin= gs Israel" Presentation of Israel Trip 10 am = ;

April 13 Parents Night = Out (NOTE: No Parents' Night Out in Marc= h)

News & Events at IPC =

3D"Sunday

= &nb= sp; = Photo by Paul Romjue

Given to the<= /span>

&= nbsp; glory of God

&nb= sp; Each week, except on the first Sunday of the month when we celebrate communion, our worship is enhanced with beautiful flower arrangements which are given to the glory of God and in memory of loved ones. It i= s a labor of love on the part of members of the IPC Guild who arrange the flowers for all our worship services = as well as for special occasions such as Holiday House. =

&nb= sp; The flowers in the chancel last Sunday were given to the g= lory of God and in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Porter.

The flowers on = the War Memorial were given to the Glory of God and in honor of all = past and present military personnel.

Thanks for service at First Light!=

We continually seek to live out our faith as we fully respond to the cal= l of Christ,  "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat." Matthew 25:35

Thanks to everyone who cooked, served, and/or spent the night at First Light Women's Shelter last week. The guests and staff were very appreciative of all you did for them.

Thank you for all the many ways y= ou serve as Christ's disciples.    <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333= 333'>





Shrove Tuesd= ay Pancake Supper February 21

<= /b>sponsored by= IPC Boy Scout Troop 28

   Come join us for a delicious Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday, February 21 in the Great Hall from 5:30-7:30. The $6 tickets wi= ll be on sale in the parlor before and after the next two worship servic= es as well as at the door the night of the event. Tickets will also be available at the receptionist's desk. Troop 28 is one of IPC's oldest ministries dating back almost 90 years. The Pancake Supper, held each year the night before Ash Wednesday, is a longstanding tradition betw= een the Troop and IPC.



SAVE THE DATE!

Bibletimes Marketplace

and Vacation Bible School

June 11-15, 2012



SERVICE FOR WHOLENESS: Healing was an integral part of the ministry of Jesus that the church has been calle= d to continue as one dimension of its concern for the wholeness of people. Through services for wholeness, the church enacts in worship its ministry as a healing community. Beginning the last Wednesday of February, a service for wholeness will be inclu= ded in the Wednesday noon chapel service on the last Wednesday of every month. This service includes prayer and t= he laying on of hands by an elder or minister. Healing is to be understood not as the result of the holiness, earnestness or skill of those praying, or of the faith of the ones seeking healing, but as the gift of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Wednesday chapel services also include a brief homily and the celebration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. If you have any questions about= the service for wholeness, please call Rev. Lucy Turner at 933-3706. = ;

THE SEASON OF LENT will begin on AshWednesday, February 22, with the service of Holy Commun= ion and the imposition of ashes at 12:00 noon and 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctu= ary.



alt=3D"Easter Lilies" name=3DACCOUNT.IMAGE.513 border=3D0 v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1035">

MEMORIAL EASTER LILIES:

Each year at Easter, lilies are place in the church in memory of loved one= s. Anyone interested in giving memorial lilies, please pick up a card in= the narthex or in the elevator lobby on the second floor. For more information call Nancy Skinner 933-1830. The list of memorial names f= or the Easter bulletin must be compiled, so please send in your order by= the deadline of March 19, 2012.



WELCOME VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS!<= /span>

We would love to welcome you as a new member of our family of faith at IPC. Please indicate your interest by checking the appropriate column on the Friendship pad or call Nancy Skinner at the church office, 933-1830. = AIM (Adventures in Membership classes will meet February 19, and 26 at 10= :00 a.m. in Dr. Sharps' office.



= It's a Whale of a Tale!

"Oh, Jonah"

= 6:30 p.m.

= Wednesday, Marc= h 14, 2012

NOT= in Great Hall:   The IPC Children's Musical will be our first big event in our new building next door: 3116 Highland Avenue=

   &nb= sp;    OH, JONAH!&n= bsp; An IPC K-6th grade musical will be presented on March 14, 2012, in our new building next to IPC.

        There will be a Box Dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the new building. For required dinner reservations, call Sally Speaker at 933-3724. Dinner details to be announced.

Interior of building next door: 3116 Highland Av= e

IPC Children's Musical "Oh, Jonah!"

will be performed here March 14, 2012

The musical will begin at = 6:30 p.m., and advance reservations are not needed for the musical.=

IPC K-6th graders have been busy working on the backdrops for the musical.

   Make plans to join us for the IPC Children's Musical "Oh, Jonah!" You don't want to miss this!

   alt=3D"Presbyterian Women Independent Presbyterian Church" name=3DACCOUNT.IMAGE.1114 border=3D0 title=3D0.6428571428571429 v:sha= pes=3D"_x0000_s1037">
Please= note:

The IPC Presbyterian Women Soc= ial Event has been changed to Thursday, March 15, 2012.

IPC Presbyterian Women Spring Social Event

NOTE: All women of IPC are automatically members of the IPC Presbyterian Women

All women of IPC are invited to the Presbyterian W= omen Spring Social Event.

Thursday, March 15, 2012 - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
at the = home of Susan Haskell
2964 Cheroke= e Road
Mountain Brook   35223

Enjoy catching up with friends, meet new ones, and hear an update abo= ut First Light Women's Shelter

Please register online or call the receptionist (933-1830) so we will know how many to expect.
Suggested donation at the door is $5.00 per person. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.
We look forward to seeing you on the 15th!

   &nb= sp;   www.ipc-usa.org/presbyterianwomen<= o:p>



   EUpdate

We hope you will forward these weekly E-Update messages to others to sha= re events and spiritual inspiration from IPC.

   Click here = to add new email addresses to receive the weekly IPC EUpdate.

You can also find this form on our web site under

Connect/Sign up for E-Mail Updates or  = ; www.ipc-usa.org/IPCemail

This information goes directly to Marsha Harbin. Co= ntact Marsha Harbin.



   Read the&nbs= p;February Window publication











      &nb= sp;

Pathways

         =             &nb= sp;            =

Discover the many paths you can take to grow spiritually and serve in the ministries of IPC.

Have you picked up a copy of Pathways? This booklet details the many opportunities for spiritual growth and service at IPC.

Click here =

or pick up a copy at the receptionist's desk, in the Church School classes or in the Narthex on Sunday.

   Living in the Spirit  --&n= bsp; Living in Community -- Living in Service to Others

Photos by Paul Romjue, IPC Director of Christian Education,
Virginia Jo= nes Photography    http://birminghamalabamadailyphoto.blo= gspot.com

Virginia Jones, IPC member and Mason Fisch= er Photographer, IPC member

Conrad's Pastor's Blog: Living in the Spirit T= oday

We invite you to The Pastor's Blog: "Living in the Spirit Today."

You can find this blog at    http://www.livinginthespirittoday.blog= spot.com
You can also subscribe via email to receive an email notification each time a new blog is posted.
"Thi= s is a wonderful way for us to connect: to live in the Spirit, in Community, and in Service to Others. I'm enjoying this adventure along our faith journey together." &nbs= p; Conrad



Ma= ry Ann Morrow, Editor

Independent Presbyterian Chur= ch

3100 Highland Avenue S

Birmingham, Alabama 352= 05

205.933.1830   = ; www.ipc-usa.org

<= /o:p>

Forward email

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Independent Presbyterian | 3= 100 Highland Avenue South | Birmingham, | AL | 35205