The Religious Arts Festival (RAF) and my membership in this church began about the same time in 1971. That’s a long time ago. In all those years, the RAF has brought, as Joe Schreiber intended when he instituted it, a remarkable array of artistry and beauty here for us all to enjoy as a gift of the church to us and to the community, all at the astonishing price of just having to show up and enjoy it.
In its origins, art was always in and for the Church. Music, dance, architecture, painting, sculpture, drama—all of the artistic endeavors and performances were intended for sacred purposes. IPC has been very privileged to have some of the best of all these areas of artistry come here, and some have been engaged to create artifacts we can keep, for example, the statue of The Boy Jesus. We take such things for granted after so many years, but we need to be reminded that the Religious Arts Festival was their inspiration and provenance.
Over the years, and with the imaginative guidance of Dr. Jeff McLelland, Director of Music and Fine Arts, our offerings have expanded somewhat to include such things as food and wine, cultural studies, not originally “religious” (this year, a lecture on the Brothers Grimm), and other varieties of artistic expression from lands not of our Anglo-European traditions. This year we’re celebrating Germany, and its perhaps greatest ambassador of religious genius, Johann Sebastian Bach. Some years ago, scientist and essayist Lewis Thomas mused about the good sense of beaming Bach’s music out into the universe, on the possibility of its being heard and appreciated by some extraterrestrial listeners. “All of Bach,” he said, “They can find out about the bad stuff later.”
So this week begins another feast of artistry and devotion to the good and the beautiful things in the church and in life. How fortunate we are!
Watch Events Online
Events held in the sanctuary will be available via livestream.
Additional Information
Please help to continue this important tradition of the Religious Arts Festival and join us for all of the wonderful events that our church offers to the congregation and the people of the city of Birmingham. Please call the Music Office at 205-933-3700 for further information. Learn more about the event at ipcmusic.org.
