The Response - Shades Valley Presbyterian Church
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The Response
November 2020
Dear friends,
Pastor’s Note
For many, the prospect of election day brings both relief and anxiety -- relief that this
long election season will be over at last, and anxiety about the results and how our
already-strained nation will handle them. I am grateful that on the Sunday before the
election, we celebrate the feast of All Saints, when we honor all the faithful ones who
came before us and who still surround us as a great cloud of witnesses. We may be
encouraged as we remember how they lived faithfully through their own times of
turmoil. The divine love that sustained them also holds us fast -- no matter what the
election brings.
November is also a month for gratitude as we celebrate Thanksgiving. This month, consider trying some
spiritual practices of gratitude:
. Each day, name something you are grateful for, small or large.
. Pause in silence before each meal to give thanks for God’s creation and provision.
. Write a card or letter to a family member or friend to let them know how much they mean to you.
Finally, on November 29, we begin the season of Advent. Our Advent and Christmas worship series, “Those
Who Dream,” will invite us to learn from the dreamers who came before us and imagine how we can take part
in God’s dream for our world. We hope you’ll join us.
Grace and peace,
Leanne
Those Who Dream: Advent and Christmas
beginning November 29
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” - Psalm 126:1
Sometimes it’s difficult to navigate the space between dream and reality. This Advent, how can we harness
the power of dreaming? What can we learn from dreamers who came before us? How can we narrow the
space between reality and God’s dream - a dream made flesh in the Christ child?
COVID-19 Team Update & Reminders
Just as COVID-19 cases are increasing in many parts of the country, we are seeing concerning signs here in
Alabama: rising new case counts, rising rates of positive tests, and rising hospitalization rates. For now, we
continue in Phase 2 operations, with worship held online and only small groups allowed to gather indoors.
As cooler weather arrives at last and the holiday season begins, let’s continue to be vigilant!
Here are some ideas for staying safe through the holidays:
. Be sure to get your flu shot!
. Keep any gatherings small, and connect with others by phone or Zoom
. Hold family gatherings outdoors if at all possible
. If you attend a gathering indoors:
. Open doors and windows to increase ventilation
. Try to stay at least 6’ apart from those outside your household
. Wear a mask
Resurrection Hope
November Sermon Series
November 1, All Saints For All the Saints
“...and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-17
We like to turn to Scripture for comfort, and it’s hard to find Revelation comforting at first glance.
But Revelation does offer hope to those whose worlds have come apart. It gives us a vision of the
faithful gathered before God’s throne, when tears and suffering are no more. On this All Saints Day,
we will remember with gratitude those who came before us, and worship knowing death is not the
end.
November 8 Grieving with Hope
“...so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
In the Christian faith, we embrace both the reality of human loss and the hope of eternal life. We
grieve in the midst of this paradox. What is our source of hope, even in times of loss?
November 15 Life Is a Gift
“For all our days pass away…” Psalm 90:1-12
Sometimes we are keenly aware of the fragility of life. Yet it is this fragility that makes life so pre-
cious. How might we live life more fully when we remember it is a gift, graciously given?
November 22, Christ the King The Last Word
“And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23
Christ the King is the last Sunday in the Christian year. On this Sunday, we remember that no matter
what life and death bring, we trust in Christ has the final word.
DISCERNMENT PROCESS
Birthday
We are in the midst of a season of discernment here at Shades
Valley as we evaluate our congregation’s financial sustainability and Blessings
explore possible paths forward. Most of us want to continue in NOVEMBER
worship, service and fellowship together as long as possible and we
have realized that making decisions about our facilities now, rather November 3—Ben Helton, Ben Acton,
than putting off hard decisions until later, will give us more options to Whit Fletcher
accomplish this. November 4—Earl Whatley
Therefore, a series of communications and plans has been
November 6—Bennie Fair
presented. A letter summarizing the Session’s findings and proposed
next steps was mailed to the congregation and several Zoom November 7—Jean Buttler
gatherings scheduled to discuss our next steps and respond to
November 8—Joe Rives, Charlotte Crawford
questions.
Plans for moving our columbarium and relocating our activities to November 11—Nancy Coggin,
a new space must be made before any decisions about a possible Cliff Thompson
property sale can be made by the congregation. We hope to have these
November 12—Bobby Pickett
plans finalized by the end of the year. Sale of our property and the
need to relocate would probably be at least 12 – 18 months away. November 15—Nancy Littauer, JB Marshall
We will be asking donors to our Capital Campaign to make known
November 21—Claire Morgan
their preference for redirection of those gifts as well as asking our
members to carefully consider their 2021 pledge commitments. This November 22—Gail Parrish, Lynn Casey
will be essential to continuing our ministry and mission in the coming
November 23—Leslie Miles
year.
The Session is grateful for the prayers and support of our faithful November 24—Charles Ford
members. We are confident that all things will work together for good
November 26—Julie Archibald
as we move forward.
November 27—Sarah Thomas
BICYCLE PROJECT FOR GBM November 28—Rick Rogers
As you know, our annual campaign to collect money to buy November 30—Laura McDonald
bicycles for Christmas time at Greater Birmingham Ministries is
ongoing. This year is a different kind of year that has provided a PRESBYTERIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN
number of challenges. However, we are not planning on letting these DONATIONS are being taken again on the 1st
Saturday of the month. Bring your gently used
challenges stop us! We plan on collecting as much money as we can, items to the back parking lot, below the
buying, assembling, and donating as many bikes as we can. However, playground of SVPC. Volunteers will be available
if some issue gets in our way like unavailability of bikes, COVID closes to help and provide a receipt. To volunteer,
us down, or whatever, we plan on donating the money, either in cash contact Jonathan at 1-256-368-8109
or gift cards to GBM for them to distribute as they best see fit. It is
our goal to help these folks have as good a Christmas as possible SVPC WORKDAY—
with bikes or whatever we have to do. As of Oct 12th, we have
SATURDAY, NOV. 14 9AM-12NOON
collected $3,085 for the bicycles or enough for approximately 50
bicycles. But, we need more. We have until TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Let’s get together while social distancing
to collect money in order to get our order in early enough to ensure and wearing our masks to do some cleaning
timely delivery. So, please consider a generous donation if you have in the Sanctuary and shrub trimming around
not already made one. You can either mail a check to the church office the building. We will also be putting up the
with bikes in the memo line, or donate online using the GBM BIKES Chrismon tree as we look forward to having
Fund category. Thanks for your support!! some fellowship events in the Sanctuary
during the upcoming weeks. We hope you’ll
plan to stop by and help out for as much
time as possible on that morning.
The Response Shades Valley Presbyterian Birmingham, AL November 2020 3
HANDEL’S MESSIAH ON PUBLIC TELEVISION THIS YEAR GOOD NEWS! CONGRATULATIONS
TO JENNINGS MARSHALL
The Alabama Civic Chorale has announced a special livestreamed Samford University’s Brock School of
performance of Handel’s MESSIAH will be broadcast on Alabama Business has announced two newly established
Public Television stations statewide. The 100-voice chorus and endowments which will honor two beloved
orchestra presentation will be on Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m. faculty members who will be retiring within the
For the last 73 years, the Alabama Civic Chorale has presented coming year and one is Professor of Economics,
Handel’s MESSIAH free of charge to our state and the southeast. Jennings B. Marshall.
This is one of the longest running presentations in the United States. In acknowledgement of Jennings Marshall’s
Due to COVID restrictions of an in-person event, however, the distinguished career, Brock School of Business
performance will be broadcast on this local Alabama Public TV has renamed its Undergraduate Teaching Award
Station, WBIQ Channel 10 in B’ham., and others in our state. to the “Dr. Jennings B. Marshall Undergraduate
Teaching Award.” This award is given to a
full-time member of the Brock School of
PRISON MINISTRY UPDATE Business faculty who demonstrates excellence
in undergraduate teaching. An endowment has
also been established in his name and will
Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this another support an annual faculty stipend.
successful campaign with Hedges and Highways. We received a Marshall has served on the Brock School of
total of $1,715 and were able to purchase a total of 62 cases of Business faculty since 1985. During his time at
men’s antiperspirant/deodorant. Thank you to all who helped! Samford, he provided service in all facets of
campus life leading to the creation of the
University’s Jennings B. Marshall Service Award.
In Brock School of Business, Marshall served as
director of undergraduate studies and chair of
SVPC Final Summary of Income & Expenses YTD thru September, 2020 the Department of Economics, Finance and
Actual Budget Quantitative Analysis. In the classroom, “No
Amounts Amounts Actual Amounts
Partial Marshall” was a dedicated classroom
Income Thru Sept. Thru Sept. Thru Sept.
2020 2020 2019 instructor and past winner of Samford’s John H.
General Offerings Buchanan Award for Excellence in Classroom
General Offerings 245,814 250,530 278,984 Teaching. Marshall taught courses across the
Interest Revenue 23 1,125 299
Miscellaneous Revenue 36,446 43,083 41,739
curriculum but focused primarily on economics
and data analytics. He maintained connections
Total Income 282,283 294,738 321,022 to the professional community by providing
Expenses
consulting and expert witness services through
Personnel 187,820 202,840 202,463 his firm, Marshall Hendon Minter & Associates.
Operating Expenses 97,817 126,461 150,834 Marshall will retire at the end of the fall 2020
Build, Bond, Go Beyond 15,059 23,265 17,651 semester.
Session & Misc. 0 225 202
“It has been a blessing to teach at Samford
Total Expenses 300,696 352,791 371,149 for over 35 years,” Marshall said. “The students
are wonderfully eager to learn and a joy to
Net Total (18,412) (58,053) (50,126)
teach. The University and the Brock School
of Business faculty has gotten stronger every
year. I have outstanding colleagues who are
Finance Committee: Mary Wyatt Bowers, Henry McPherson, Ray McIntosh,
John Childers, Treasurer. A complete 2020 budget is available in the church office.
wonderful teachers, excellent researchers, and
who are all dedicated to their students. I will
miss being here more than words can express.”
We congratulate Marshall on this wonderful
achievement and wish him happiness as he
transitions into retirement!
The Response Shades Valley Presbyterian Birmingham, AL November 2020 4
COMMUNITY GRIEF SUPPORT
PRESENTS
HOPE
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
NOV. 2, NOV. 10 & NOV. 16
6:00 PM—7:30 PM
FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME
Each virtual gathering includes group discussion by video
conferencing and will include Holiday Survivor Tips, a Memorial
Service for your loved one, a Q&A session for participants
and volunteer testimonials.
Contact them at communitygriefsu@bellsouth.net
or call 205-870-8667 to reserve a spot.
An invitation to the virtual meeting will be sent prior
to your selected meeting.
For full details, look at their website to see a list of each gathering’s
host and guest speaker: www.communitygriefsupport.org
The Response Shades Valley Presbyterian Birmingham, AL November 2020 5RESPONSE FEATURE ARTICLE: MEMBER PROFILE—TOT BLAKE We have probably all experienced ordinary things giving unexpected shape to our lives. Here are a few that have shaped Tot’s life: A sermon coupled with a wedding vow—In 1964 Tot and her husband heard Rev. Tom Duncan preach a sermon encouraging people who were gifted with much, to do what they could to help others. About that time the Board of World Missions of the Presbyterian Church announced that it was committing $100,000 for building projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Before long, Tot and her architect husband Bill were headed for a 3 year tour of duty in Kinshasha, where Bill would draw plans, recruit and supervise workers, and build churches, chapels school, and hospital. Although the call and assignment were primarily his, Tot was committed to him as well as the church and was ready for adventure! Along with them went their two young children—Bari, 4, and Billy, 3. A medical diagnosis—After returning from Africa in 1967, Tot experienced debilitating fatigue that felt just like the malaria she had while in Congo. She was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), characterized by long-lasting exhaustion and fatigue unalleviated by sleep or rest, a condition shared by over a million people in the U. S. Tot said that though the severity waxes and wanes, attempting to push through the low times only makes it worse. The condition is socially isolating because of the inability to do normal activities (such as attending church, gardening, and shopping) but also because others often think one is just being lazy or “it is all in the head.” Tot has learned to live with the condition and has maintained her friendly, upbeat attitude toward life. A love of books—Tot has always loved books, and she learned to be a librarian by working in libraries—a total of 3 in the Birmingham Public system: 2 branches and the old downtown library. She said she used to leave work at Emmett O’Neal taking with her a cart load of books she had checked out. Work in these libraries prepared her to manage the SVPC library, which she did for years—organizing and cataloguing books as well as recruiting and training a core of volunteers. She still loves to read! Tot was born in Birmingham in the old South Highland Infirmary (where UAB Highlands is now), the oldest of three children, one of whom gave her the nickname “Tot.” She attended school at Glen Iris and Shades Cahaba Elementary Schools, Ramsey High School, Randolph Macon Women’s College, and then Auburn University, where she met Bill. His friends thought she was stuck-up because when they passed her on campus, she didn’t speak. The reality was she was very near-sighted but only wore glasses when sitting in class or reading a book. The couple married immediately after her graduation, and in less than a year’s time had settled in Birmingham. A Baptist growing up, she had visited the youth program at Shades Valley Presbyterian, and she and Bill visited there again soon after they moved here. Augusta Forbes’ parents immediately paid them a visit, which sealed the membership decision. Tot says her happiest times were in her garden at their home on Cherokee Road. In 1999 when their health was failing, she and Bill moved to Park Tower Condominiums on Highland Avenue, where Tot continues to live. After a marriage of 66 years, Bill, a SVPC ruling elder, died in February of this year. Tot continues to have a positive outlook and says she is never bored. She enjoys her balcony garden, reading, keeping up with friends, and watching television. Both children are attentive and helpful. Billy lives just a few blocks away; Bari lives in Snellville, GA, and visits often. The Response Shades Valley Presbyterian Birmingham, AL November 2020 6
NOVEMBER 2020
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10:15 a.m.—Adult Sunday 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 8:00 a.m.—Noon—
School on Zoom 5:00 p.m.—Congregational 12:00 p.m.—Pastor’s Bible Presby. Home for Children
11 a.m.—Worship Svc. on Care Team Meeting on Study on Zoom Donation Day IS BACK ON
Zoom & Facebook Live Zoom THE CALENDAR!
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
10:15 a.m.—Adult Sunday 9:15 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—12 noon—
School on Zoom 10:30 a.m.—P.W. Circle 1 1:30 p.m.—Covid-19 Team 12:00 p.m.—Pastor’s Bible SVPC Workday (Indoors and
11 a.m.—Worship Svc. on 6:00 p.m.—Embellishments Meeting Study on Zoom Outdoors projects.
Zoom & Facebook Live Also putting up the
Chrismon Tree)
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
10:15 a.m.—Adult Sunday 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE
School on Zoom 12:00 p.m.—P.W. Circle 5:00 p.m.—Congregational 12:00 p.m.—Pastor’s Bible
11 a.m.—Worship Svc. on meeting on Zoom Care Team Meeting on Study on Zoom
Zoom & Facebook Live 6:00 p.m.—Embellishments Zoom
22 23 24 25 26 Thanksgiving 27 28
10:15 a.m.—Adult Sunday 9:00 a.m.—WISE 9:00 a.m.—WISE 12:00 p.m.—Pastor’s Bible Staff Holiday—Church Staff Holiday—Church
School on Zoom 6:00 p.m.—Embellishments Study on Zoom Office Closed Office Closed
11 a.m.—Worship Svc. on
Zoom & Facebook Live
29 30
10:15 a.m.—Adult Sunday 9:00 a.m.—WISE
School on Zoom 6:00 p.m.—Embellishments
11 a.m.—Worship Svc. on
Zoom & Facebook LiveShades Valley Presbyterian Church
2305 Montevallo Road
Birmingham, AL 35223
Church Telephone: (205) 871-7309
Church Web Page: www.svpcusa.org
Notice: The deadline to submit articles for the December issue of the Response
is Thursday, November 19 at 10 a.m. Articles received after the deadline will be held
for the next newsletter or used in our weekly congregational emails.
THE SESSION
Moderator, Rev. Leanne Pearce Reed
Clerk of Session, Gail Lucas
Class of 2021: Phil Brown, Bruce Ludwig, Diane Newland, Jennifer Riggs • Trustee: John Glover
Class of 2022: Deb Baragona, Phil Bowers, John Liddle, Lydia Wilfong • Trustee: Jean Archibald
Class of 2023: Martha Ann Cooper, Bill Kimrey, Ed Parrish, Judy Wade • Trustee: Laura McDonald
The Session will meet on the 3rd Monday at 4 p.m. each month for regular stated meetings.You can also read
