Get ready for an exciting new season at IPC! This fall, we invite everyone in our congregation to explore the latest ways to connect with your Faith family. Keep reading to discover all the opportunities to find your spiritual home at IPC.
ADULT MINISTRIES
By: Neal Hutchinson, Adult Ministries Chair and Liz Saunders, Adult Education Sub-Committee Chair
After the long, hot summer, welcome back to a fall season lineup of fabulous faith formation offerings! Autumn is a time to open doors, reunite our family of faith, and nestle into our church home.
Adult Ministries, which includes Adult Education, the Library, and many small groups, including Grace Groups, oversees meaningful ways to engage. At IPC, members can learn in a Sunday School class, explore a passion through an interest group, study quietly in the library, or join large intergenerational gatherings like IPC Connect. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for our Focus on Faith Speaker
Mark Labberton's visit, November 1-3. See page 8 for details. All classes are open, welcoming, and require no prior Bible knowledge. Sunday morning classes begin September 14 and include: "Finding Resilience, Joy, and Identity in Jesus Christ" for Presbyterian Women. "The Gospel According to Bonhoeffer": A discussion-based class studying Christ’s call for each of us to lead a life of discipleship and faithfully build a Christ-centered life. "Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Need to Heal From" for parents, grandparents, or anybody who has children or loves children. "Walking with God" for young adults studying the New Testament. "Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home," an offering for our newest class, for parents of children mostly under age six. And back by popular demand, Rabbi Adam Wright of Temple Emanuel-El will lead us through the Hebrew prophets in their full historical and social context.
If you can’t make Sunday or just want more faith foundation opportunities, join us for Wednesday night dinner and classes beginning September 3. Adult offerings include the Pastor’s Bible Study, an experiential class on the IPC labyrinth, a theology class exploring the reformed tradition in light of today’s world, and a study on The Dangerous Act of Worship. See page 6 for details, times, and dates.
Bring a friend and we look forward to seeing you on campus. Click here to learn more.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
By: Ashley Lyerly and Gracie Evans, Past and Present Children's Ministries Sub-Committee Chairs
After another successful summer season of children’s programming, the IPC’s Children’s Ministry is welcoming young families back into the fall cadence of Sunday and Wednesday programming.
In May, nearly 100 of our youngest members, as well as children within the community, “Start(ed) the Party” at our preschool VBS. A 90s disco themed celebration bursting with balloons and glow sticks left a lasting impression with all of those in attendance that Jesus is always a reason to celebrate!
The Children’s Fresh Air Farm was filled with songs, laughter, swimming, games of gaga ball and learning about the “Story of David” in early June, 105 elementary kids and 45 youth joined this beloved IPC children’s ministry tradition of role playing as the twelve tribes of Israel to learn about the many talents of David while living life in the times of the Old Testament. Each tribe was shepherded by our Youth “Tribal Assistants" as well as church volunteers.
Building off the fun of summer, our IPC halls are ready to be filled with children during the Sunday School hour this fall as well as on Wednesdays, starting September 3, for Kids ROCK. Looking forward to January 4, 2026, the children’s ministry team will be launching a new Sunday program called “WOW” (Working on Worship) for kids in 1st-3rd grade. It’ll take place during the 11 am worship service.
Save the date for the Living River Elementary Retreat on November 7-9! We are excited for the year ahead and invite you to join us this fall in our vibrant Children’s Ministries! Please visit the Children's Ministries page to learn more.
YOUNG ADULTS & FAMILIES' MINISTRIES
By: Anna Hartzog, Bridges Leader
This summer marked 10 years of summer camp at Living River, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley’s retreat center and camp on the Cahaba River. 10 children from IPC attended the elementary camp week, and nine children and seven parents from IPC attended the weekend You-and-Me Camp for younger children in June.
When asked what their favorite activities at camp are, IPC kids respond with things like canoeing, looking for salamanders in the river, searching for fossils on fossil ridge, cooking marshmallows over the bonfire, fishing, completing the low-ropes course, practicing archery, playing messy kickball, hiking, singing camp songs, crafting, and swimming in the lake (which includes bouncing each other off the blob)! In addition to the activities, kids (and parents!) appreciate the comfort offered by the camp, which boasts clean and airconditioned cabins. For some, like You-and-Me camper Emmett Hartzog, even sleeping in bunk beds can be a highlight of the experience!
Throughout the camps, kids are divided into small groups for Bible studies, and guest chaplains lead large group talks that provide Biblical direction for the session.
Veteran camper Evie Cate Murphy says, “It’s a really fun camp! I always feel loved and safe there because the counselors are so nice!” Susan Murphy, Evie Cate’s mom, echoes her daughter’s feelings about camp. “As a parent, I love that it’s close by (just an hour away from Birmingham) and has a small feel with about 60 kids per session— everyone at the camp gets to know your child. And, our kids get to meet friends from other PCUSA churches that they’ll see for years to come at camp and youth retreats.”
The camp’s directors, staff, and counselors (trained college students who the campers are convinced hung the moon) are among the best things about the camp. Their dedication to creating a memorable summer experience for kids and adults is evident in everything they do, with safety always being the top priority.
I was fortunate enough to attend You-and-Me camp with my youngest this summer, and in the past I was able to attend the Fall Elementary Retreat with my oldest. I cannot overstate what a fabulous job Living River does in creating a home away from home for its campers. We are so fortunate to have a place where we can gather with our church, our family, and members of our presbytery. It has strengthened bonds between our children at IPC and helped them forge bonds with other kids across the state. And, the parents who attend these
camps as chaperones always leave feeling
inspired by what’s happening at Living River.
There are events for all ages throughout the year, like Fall River Fest (October 19),
Fall Elementary Retreat (November 7 - 9), Youth Retreat, Cahaba Lily Adult Retreat, You-and-Me Camps, and of course, summer camp! Visit livingriver.org to learn more about ways to reap the benefits of this incredible presbytery resource.
YOUTH MINISTRIES
By: Cammie Ashworth, Director of Youth and Grace Daniels, Assistant Youth Director
We’ve had a lively summer full of weekly programming, special events, and beloved Montreat conferences. We love summer at IPC because it gives us the gift of extra time together, and it serves as a beautiful reminder that faith grows in fellowship.
Montreat is a space where young people are invited to ask big questions, encounter God’s presence, and form lifelong friendships. This year, we were excited to take 15 youth to the Middle School conference, our biggest group yet! We had another wonderful week in Montreat with 20 high school youth. We returned home reminded that we are called to reflect the light of Christ to those around us and that light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
As we reflect on a wonderful summer, we’re also looking forward to what’s next. Sunday night Youth Group returned with a kickoff at Blackjack Farm. We are excited to gather back as a group this fall. We had so much fun with our first annual camping trip last year, and we look forward to doing that again this October. Our Juniors and Seniors on the Youth Grant Team will begin their discernment process as they review grants, carry out site visits, and prepare their recommendations to the Foundation. Join us for their presentation on Sunday, November 16 during the Sunday school hour.
Returning this Spring, for our 9th and 10th graders, Confirmation will kick off with a presbytery-wide retreat in January at Living River. We are excited for this opportunity to collaborate with other churches in this retreat.
As we move from a season of summer adventures into a fall full of opportunities, we celebrate the many ways God is moving in the lives of our youth. Visit the Youth Ministries page to learn more.
