Every year, we hope the holidays will be a time of enjoying family, making wonderful lasting memories, and celebrating the gifts that God has given us. Unfortunately, the season does not always go as planned. A mom is struck with a terminal illness. A father loses his job. A grandmother on a fixed income has to start raising her grandchildren. The list goes on.
The Christmas Gift Shop at 1819 18th Street in Calera, Ala. has been serving Shelby County families in need for 25 years!
For 25 years, Christmas Gift Shop, a ministry of the Shelby Baptist Association, has been bringing hope to parents and guardians that cannot afford to provide Christmas gifts for their children. Families are referred or apply for assistance beginning in September. If approved, the parents or guardians are invited to the Christmas Gift Shop in Calera for an individual appointment after Thanksgiving to “shop” for their children with the help of two “shopping buddies.” If a new guest comes to the gift shop, he or she is usually surprised to see how an old doctor’s office has been transformed with decorations hung by volunteers. Former exam rooms are converted into shopping rooms – each uniquely decorated for the target age and gender.
Behind the scenes, volunteers like Charles Garrett wrap gifts, make stockings, clean the gift shop, prepare rooms in between appointments, and make homemade cookies.
Once guests have chosen gifts for each child in their family, they are led to a living room where they find personalized stockings, wrapped clothing gifts, and other goodies for their family. Chosen gifts are taken to a room to be wrapped by volunteers, and guests are led to a different room for a time of refreshments and prayer. The good news of the Gospel is shared, and guests are given an opportunity to respond. Through Christmas Gift Shop, over 800 adults have received the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ! Many more have been encouraged and connected with local churches and discipleship groups.
Christmas Gift Shop could not happen without the many generous volunteers, prayer warriors, and donors. Every year hundreds give toys, clothing, stocking stuffers, Bibles, and more. The Lord sees every gift and blesses all that are involved. God never ceases to amaze us in how He provides, and we give Him the glory for the 25 years of seeing Him at work through this ministry!
As the holidays grow nearer, I’m sure memories of family holiday traditions come to mind for many. The Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) choral experience has been a life-long, life-changing experience for me, as I’m certain it has for many – those who have participated in BSC’s choral groups and all those who have been fortunate enough to enjoy their performances. For over 50 years, I have attended as a listener or participated in the BSC Annual Service of Lessons and Carols. As a child, I remember the familiar carols sung by the choir directed by the renowned Dr. Hugh Thomas and the hymns majestically led by organist extraordinaire, Dr. James H. Cook. When the service lasted longer than my attention span as a small child, I recall lying on the pew with my head on my mother’s lap as Christmas music echoed through the lofty rafters of McCoy Methodist Church next to BSC’s campus.
Leon and Kathryn Waters BSC Class of 1958 with son Thomas Class of 1986 at the Annual Service of Lessons and Carols.
In 1978, my parents Leon and Kathryn Waters began a tradition in my family that still continues. They joined with other alumni of BSC to form the BSC Alumni Choir. Dr. Thomas directed the choir until he passed away, at which time his son, Tim Thomas assumed the role. Currently, the choir is led by Dr. Lester Seigel, the Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music at BSC. Under Dr. Seigel’s direction, three generations of my family have participated.
While my wife and I knew one another as students at BSC, we reconnected after the 1988 service. We were married in 1990, and we speak often of how the carol service brought us together. Our daughters, Mary Kate who graduated from BSC in 2015 and Martha Louise who started her freshman year this fall, also share this beautiful musical experience. My sister Valerie Waters also was a member of the BSC Concert Choir when she attended BSC!
The Birmingham-Southern educational and musical experience is a part of our family. The BSC Choirs Annual Service of Lessons and Carols is a family tradition that serves as the start of our holidays each year. The Waters’ family welcomes the opportunity to share the gift of musical hospitality to you this Christmas season. Please join Dr. Seigel and the Birmingham-Southern Choirs at this year’s concert at Canterbury United Methodist Church on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 8 at 4:30 p.m. for the 83rd Annual Service of Lessons and Carols. We hope you leave the service with the Joy of the season in your heart! Merry Christmas from the Waters Family and Birmingham-Southern College.
What is faith and how important is it? Faith is defined as confidence or trust in a person or thing. The Biblical definition is found in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance (substance) of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence) of things not seen.” Saving faith is to place your trust in God and to believe that He exists while having confidence that He can do what He says He will do. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. This personal relationship begins with salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Your faith is only as good as your faith object. Your faith constructs your belief system. Your belief system forms your values. Your values help determine your convictions. Your convictions assist with forming choices and making decisions. The choices we make help guide our future. Consequences are the result of decisions made, whether good or bad.
This is the reason why where we place our faith is so important. What is the object of our trust, confidence, and belief? Where do we go for help when we are overwhelmed and at the end of our rope? Where do we turn when we reach the point of despair and the place of being helpless and hopeless?
I encourage you to place your faith in Almighty God. He has proven Himself to be faithful, reliable and more than able!
Brought to you by: Community Partner White Plume Technologies, www.whiteplume.com
Sometimes, we may wonder what Christmas is all about. Can we find the answer in a cartoon? Christmas is about a lot of good things. But, too often, we bring baggage with us into the holiday season. The fears and insecurities we carry weigh heavier on us during what is supposed to be a festive time. Just as they do with Charlie Brown.
We Are All Charlie Brown. In the story A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schultz, things don’t go well for the young hero, leading him to the conclusion that, “Everything I do turns into a disaster!” He mutters as we do sometimes, “I think there must be something wrong with me.” We desperately search for the meaning of the season. So, we cry out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
What Christmas is All About. Linus provides the answer. Yes, Linus, the one with the security blanket that never leaves his hand. However, this time Linus drops his blanket while speaking. It happens as he stands boldly on stage and tells the story of what Christmas is all about: “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not …, [Linus lets go of his blanket] … for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you.”
A gentle story softly told. Yes, about a baby, but a baby the angels proclaimed. One who brings hope to all people. A Savior, who is Christ the Lord. At times, we are all Charlie Brown, living in fear of disasters, real or imagined. But we are also Linus. We may sometimes need a blanket to lessen our insecurities. But, if we listen, we can hear the holy command to, “Fear not!” And, at least for a while, we can let go of our blanket as well. Because we are designed for more than a life of worry. We have a God who is more powerful than that, one who cares so much for us that he sent his Son to earth to show us his love. As Linus concludes, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
STEPS Ministries provides speaking, training, and online content to help people improve their lives, grow closer to God, and prevent addiction. Visit www.LifeImprovementSteps.com or contact Steve Ward at [email protected].
It is the most wonderful time of the year – filled with gatherings, gifts, and endless activities. We so often love it because it is a break from the routine and an opportunity to remind ourselves of the things that truly matter. Yet before we know it, we will blink, and it will all be over. The family will have returned home, kids will be back at school, and life will return to normal. Through the power of with we can maximize the moments that we have for what matters most.
In Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, he introduces Jesus through the lens of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah predicts that Jesus’ name will be “Immanuel,” which Matthew defines as “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the with us God. One of the beauties of the message of Christmas is that Jesus comes to get into the messiness of our lives and the brokenness of our world. He doesn’t run from the mess yet comes to meet us in the middle of our mess to rescue us from it.
The message of Immanuel is that in the midst of your Christmas and everyday life – Jesus came to be with you. In the middle of your first Christmas with an empty seat due to losing a loved one, Jesus is with you. In the middle of the diagnosis that redefines Christmas, Jesus is with you. In the midst of the Christmas that isn’t as perfect as you imagined, Jesus is with you.
At the core of Christmas, there is an invitation to be with. The different pace of life, the kids out of school, and the family around the table all offer an invitation to be with. We have extra time and moments with those we love to grow deeper in our family relationships. Jesus also wants to be with us. To remind us that the invitation of communion is always open. To remind us that we are loved and pursued even in the middle of the brokenness in our lives.
This Christmas, ask yourself two questions:
How are you creating times to be with your kids and family?
How are you connecting with the One who the season was meant to celebrate?
A roof replacement on a residential building means disruption to its occupants. Usually, building owners and tenants understand that roofing jobs are part of the structure’s upkeep and may cause some distractions. Here are four ways to make your project less disruptive to your tenants.
1. Explain the Process. Your tenants don’t need to know the specifics of your project. However, you should let them know how the process will affect them and their daily routines. Notify them how long the project might take, including the estimated start and end date. Tell them about the kinds of noise, smells and debris they should expect. You also need to inform tenants about possible parking restrictions, inaccessible building areas and if the HVAC system will be off.
2. Building Access. Ask your roofing contractor to avoid using building stairwells and main elevators as much as possible. Use a hydraulic lift to bring materials to the rooftop if no service elevator is available. Try to end work before people start going home after 5 p.m. It’s important to wait until people are awake before starting to work.
3. Noise Reduction. Noise is unavoidable during roofing projects. Loud noises are disruptive for people who want to work or rest. You can reduce noise by installing materials that require less hammering or the use of loud equipment. Instead of yelling at each other, have roofers walk over to other coworkers or use their mobile devices when they need to talk.
4. Fumes, Odor and Dust. Roofing materials rarely create harmful and bothersome fumes or odors. Provide your tenants with information on the safety of the products you’ll use. Discuss special precautions taken to prevent exposure to fumes. The impact of odors and fumes can be reduced by placing roofing kettles downwind of the building. Keep the kettle temperature as low as possible to prevent excess fumes. Keep the lid sealed at all times and close air intakes of windows downwind from them. Turning off the HVAC system will also minimize the spread of fumes.
Turn to Hinkle Roofing for all your commercial and residential roofing needs. Our experienced team specializes in roof repair, replacement, and maintenance. Call us at 205-352-1940 for a free estimate.
As Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop enters its 6th year in business in Birmingham, it’s interesting to note their early beginnings and what has made them a foodie destination over the years. Inspired while on a working vacation in 2012, this mother-daughter team decided to embark on an adventure which would change their lives. After escaping Corporate America in 2014, owner Cheryl Harper set out to transform an Episcopal church into Birmingham’s first and only olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room. With her daughter, Loreleigh, running the first register transaction, Simply Infused was “Infused” and their journey to bring their community the freshest olive oils in the world was forged.
Wow your family and friends this holiday season by using Simply Infused Olive Oils in your party planning and gift giving.
Visiting the tasting room is a culinary adventure with repurposed church pews showcasing rows of fusti containers and cups to sample 50 oils and balsamics from around the world. Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop’s mission is simple, “to imbue our patrons with knowledge and a sense of well-being with our products and services.” Harper believes, “Our community is missing opportunities each day to create an epicurean experience, a good conversation, a lasting memory. These opportunities should be infused in everyday life.” Visit Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop on Highway 280 inside the Greystone Marketplace. The tasting room has 25 Ultra-Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils and 34 barrel-aged Balsamics from Modena, Italy. They are open daily and also provide free metro-area delivery, www.simply-infused.com, 205-408-4231.†
Visit beautiful homes while helping raise funds for need-based scholarships at Samford Legacy League’s Christmas Home Tour. Guests will enjoy touring five unique and beautifully appointed homes, tasting delicious seasonal fare and shopping at the holiday gift market on Thursday, December 12. Now in its ninth year, this community event raises funds to provide scholarships for students with significant financial need and challenging circumstances.
Pictured above is the 2019 Christmas Home Tour Committee. Front: Lisbeth Cease, Julie Cundiff, Terre Currey 2nd row: Jeanna Westmoreland, Dianne Booth, Mary Margaret Yeilding, Phyllis Crocker, Sheila Smith, Ginny Scott 3rd row: Angie Harris, Dena Barr, Christy McKiernan, Kathy Clay, Angelia Spraberry Not pictured: Inga Clum, Julie Duckworth, Sharon Smith, Allison Strickland
Presented by ARC Realty, the 2019 tour includes two homes in Mountain Brook and three in Vestavia Hills. Homes will be open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Holiday Gift Market, expanded from previous years, will be held in the fellowship hall of the First Church of the Nazarene, which is adjacent to the Samford President’s Home. Market hours are 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30 through December 10 at www.samford.edu/legacyleague and $35 at the door of featured homes during tour hours while supplies last. The Legacy League is a service organization with nearly 800 members, ranging in age from 22-100. In 2018, the league raised over $275,000 for need-based scholarships. More than 250 volunteers will be involved in the Christmas Home Tour, the Legacy League’s largest fundraiser.
2019 Featured Homes
Christine & Mike Denniston, 505 Pine Ridge Trail, Mountain Brook
On November 6, 2019 Jimmie Hale Mission Executive Director Tony Cooper announced his replacement and passed the torch to Michael Coleman.
After 29 years of service as Executive Director of the Jimmie Hale Mission, Tony Cooper passed the torch to Michael Coleman. “I have been blessed to be a part of the Mission for the past 29 years. It has been exciting to see how God has blessed this ministry and to be a small part of the success and growth. I am pleased that God has provided the Mission with a new executive director, Michael Coleman. I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do at the Mission,” Cooper reflects.
The new executive director, Michael Coleman, was previously founder and executive director of Hope Inspired Ministries in Montgomery, Ala. “I could not be more excited about the opportunity to become a part of such a renowned organization as the Jimmie Hale Mission. I am so thankful to be asked to lead the organization into the coming years and humbly request your prayers that God will continue to bless our organization as we move forward in His name and for His glory,” Coleman shares. Joe Daniel, chairman of the Mission’s board, states that “Michael Coleman’s energy and leadership, along with his passion for serving others, is what propelled him to be the obvious and unanimous choice as the next executive director of the Mission.” Cooper will continue to serve at executive director emeritus throughout January 2020.†
New Executive Director Michael Coleman is welcomed to the Jimmie Hale Mission. Left to Right- Joe Daniel/Board Chair; Michael Coleman/New Exec. Dir; Tony Cooper/Exec.Dir Emeritus and JeFreda Brown, Board Treasurer 2019/Board Chair 2020.
This story begins in 1980 in Miami, Fla. when a young, inexperienced pastor fresh from seminary arrived at his first pastorate to encounter some startling realities. Excited to pastor his first church, he soon learned of the desperate situation. Church attendance had diminished from over 1,000 to an average of 55. There were no children’s Sunday school classes because there were no children. The average age in the congregation exceeded 70 and the past had become glorified nostalgia. On his first Sunday, when the service ended, he and his wife made their way to the lobby; amazingly, the congregation had exited and rapidly emptied the parking lot. There were no sounds of fellowship from lingering crowds, only an empty sanctuary and parking lot. Within five minutes of giving the benediction, he went outside to try to speak to the quickly departing congregation and found himself embarrassingly locked out of the church building by the equally rapid exit of the part-time janitor. Realizing they had to break into the church get their car keys and Bible, the sudden realization of the enormity of this pastoral challenge brought them to their knees. However, the discouraging news continued as he learned that they were on “cash only” due to past payment delays with local businesses. The church had not met its budget in years. So, what was he to do?
While grateful for his seminary education, he realized he was unprepared for this moment. Thankfully seminary preparation had been framed by a relentless commitment to the inerrancy of God’s Word. So, to the Scriptures he went to find the answers. This story may seem hard to believe, but in reality, it happens far too often, and I know it is true because I lived it. So how did God’s sufficient Word instruct me to respond?
This was a church in decline with the end in sight. It could be said one flu season would close the doors, yet the neighborhood was full of unreached people. The church was daily vandalized which revealed two interesting things to me: one, the neighborhood viewed the church as an unused building; two, there were people to be reached. Could this church be revitalized? In short, the answer is yes. As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit has provided us with a roadmap in the Bible for pastors to lead churches back to spiritual vitality.
In the book of Acts there are thirteen words uttered in frustrated anger from an enemy of the Gospel. These words were proclaimed in Europe less than 25 years after the Ascension of Christ, “these people who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” We know in this instance who turned the “world upside down,” the people of God empowered by the Spirit of God. We know what turned the “world upside down,” the power of the Gospel. We even know how they turned the “world upside down,” evangelism and discipleship; church planting AND church revitalization; deeds of love and mercy; and leaders multiplied and mobilized. We are not in need of new strategies; we simply need to implement this apostolic strategy to “turn the world upside down.” Christ Himself reveals the three-step church revitalization roadmap.
God’s instructions to the church at Ephesus, found in Revelation, serve as a curriculum outline for church strengthening: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” (Rev. 2:5) The Scripture presents a paradigm of moving from spiritual decline and functional malaise to Spirit-filled vitality. There is found our three-fold paradigm for renewing our churches: Remember…Repent…Recover…
Church vitality is nothing more than following God’s prescription for church health, which naturally leads to conversions and improved personal discipleship, for our good and God’s glory. For the past three decades, “church growth” has been the focus of many churches. All this emphasis on size, numbers and programs has been to no avail as evidenced by thousands of churches closing their doors every year. Church health must precede church growth. Only healthy churches manifest well-balanced, long-term growth.
So how does a church follow the three-step roadmap?
The answer is found in the Epistles of Paul, who strengthened churches and mentored both revitalization pastors Timothy and Titus. It is there that the ten strategies to implement the three-step roadmap of Remember, Repent and Recover are found. To learn the ten strategies leading to church health, attend the Embers to a Flame Conference, January 16-19, 2020 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Ala. Embers to a Flame is an affordable conference for pastors and church leaders where timeless, proven, biblical strategies for church health are taught. Go to www.emberstoaflame.org and register today – don’t wait as seating is limited.
-Dr. Harry L. Reeder, III
Senior Pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Ala.
Dr. Reeder completed his doctoral dissertation on “The Biblical Paradigm of Church Revitalization” and received a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina where he serves as adjunct faculty member. He is the author of From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church.
The Birmingham-Southern educational and musical experience is a part of our family. The 
-Steve C. Ward 
