Christmas is quickly approaching. All around us, you can see preparations in full swing. You can feel the excitement growing as we approach the celebration of the arrival of the Christ-child.

A Birmingham News reporter wrote back in 1949, “Around Christmas time, there’s no place- absolutely no place- like home. That’s when homes are all decked with holly, shining with Christmas glitter, wrapped in holiday cheer like a precious package.”

He was talking about our first Holiday House Tour. Now, 70 years later, hundreds of volunteers are baking cookies for the tour tea, hanging decorations at the church and in three homes, and preparing to run shuttles ahead of Saturday and Sunday’s tour. This is a special holiday tradition here at IPC for our volunteers, members and ministries. This year’s tour will help raise money for the growing ministry of the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, STAIR, and First Light. New this year- we will have shuttles running from IPC to the door of each home to allow you to sit back, relax and not worry about the weather or finding a place to park near the special homes.  We will also have live music in the Great Hall. That Birmingham News writer also said the tour was “as exciting as a trip to Santa Claus’ headquarters at the North Pole.” We hope you will join us! Tickets are $30 and available online and at the church.

But the holiday festivities are just getting started. Dolores Hydock is returning this Sunday. It would not be Christmas at IPC without Dolores, Birmingham’s best storyteller.  This year, she will perform the perennial favorite, “Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote in Highland Hall at 10:00 am. Also, go ahead and start warming up your vocal cords. The women from the Junior League of Birmingham Choral Group will sing at the Birmingham Men’s Club meeting Monday at 10:30 am. Ladies, you are also invited to that event. Beer & Carols will also be Monday at 7:30 pm in Iron City.

See you Sunday !

Bill