2016 Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, January 24, 2016 2035 Highland Ave S Birmingham, Alabama 35205 205-933-0790 Website: www.southhighland.org Dearest South Highlanders, Dag Hammerskjold was a pioneer leader early Secretary General of the United Nations. He had a deep underlying Christian faith which became all the more evident upon his death when a private journal of meditations he had been keeping was discovered in his desk. Among his memorable sayings in Markings is this brief prayer, “For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.” Such is my prayer for us, South Highland Presbyterian Church. “For all that has been, Thanks.” What amazing things have been over 127 years of this congregation’s work and witness in Birmingham and out into all the world. Just this week, someone in Korea wrote asking if Charles Davis the South Highland architect who designed a university in Korea was still alive, having seen a story about his work building the HanNam University there. Neil Davis was able to affirm that yes his father had indeed spent a month in Korea designing this school, which continues to enable God’s work to be done in Korea. Thanks Charles! I think of South Highland like unto The Little Engine That Could. Do you remember that story of the long train that had to be pulled up over a high mountain? Numerous engines are asked to pull the train up over the mountain. For various reasons, they all refuse. The request is sent to a small engine who agrees to try. The engine succeeds in pulling the train up over the mountain while repeating its motto: “I-think-I-can, I-think-I-can.” That is South Highland! You are this little engine that could and can and does. You are this God-inspired, Christ- empowered body, thinking, dreaming, working to do God’s work in this world 2015 was an incredibly full and gratifying year. Restore, Renew, Respond, our Capital Improvement Program to strengthen the core of our ministry operations- our beloved Church home, dominated in so many ways, as you gave sacrificially and generously to bring back the immense beauty of our sanctuary, reception areas, library, conference room and other parts of these buildings. Remember it all started a few summers back, when the boiler blew and we knew that come winter there would be no heat. Amazing how such little crises have a crystalizing effect! You carefully assessed the needs, you made generous commitments, and you followed through. In 2015 most of the work was done. You were patient and loving as we moved into temporary worship space in Davis Family Hall. Then what a joy is was to be back in our majestic sanctuary for worship the First Sunday of Advent. Thanks SHPC! While building repairs and improvements were ongoing, life around SHPC did not stop. VBS, youth gatherings, outreach to needy folks, AA groups, Circles, Choirs, Bible Studies continued, with an even greater sense of purpose. The special tithe giving of 10% of our capital gifts to a local mission, the new Tuesday SHOP ministry to mentally challenged folks, and an international mission, the displaced boys of Lovemore Home in Zimbabwe who you are helping see through their college or equivalent educations, are testimony to the generous caring band of Christ followers that you are. Thanks SHPC! This annual report is filled with stories and statistics that reflect your thankful hearts and the ways you are empowering the work of Jesus Christ to develop. Another Habitat for Humanity house, the new Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Chapel, children and youth traveling to retreats at Montreat and the Great Escape, and our own magnificent Presbytery conference center Living River on the Cahaba, where this fall we held our first re-started Fall Family Retreat. So many of you have given of yourselves in so many ways. The Apostle Paul wrote the believers in Corinth reminding them, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.” (2 Cor. 3:2) Your letters are written all over the place! Thanks! Thanks and Yes! Looking ahead Yes to all God has in store for us and through us. In that same second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “Was I vacillating, do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no,’ at the same time? For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you was not ‘Yes and No’; but in him it is always ‘Yes. For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ ” (2 Cor. 1:17-20) Moving ahead in 2016 this little engine that could says Yes to the marvelous leaders, officers, teachers and staff who are gathered here, called, committed, seeking and doing God’s will. Yes to the seekers and believers and questioners who are searching to discover and live out life’s meaning and purpose here. We minister in a time of massive cultural upheaval, international fears, internal fragmentation, emptying of the center. The Church many of us have known and loved is changing rapidly. Some things are dying. Other things are being reborn. The waters are treacherous. But the journey is exhilarating. And, hear this, hear this, Jesus Christ is still among us and at work through us. Only because of Christ in us is that little ditty, “I-think-I-can, I-think-I-can relevant. As I was driving down Arrington Boulevard early Tuesday morning after an amazing National Football Championship game late into the night before, driving alongside our stone structure and about to stop at the red light, the beauty of our sanctuary hit me, the little details – scroll work, Victorian twists and twirls, chimneys still beautiful but no longer the means of heating the place, stained glass glittering in the sun, striking declarative cross atop the steeple, stones that has seen two World Wars, the Great Depression, schism, struggle, racial strife, unifying rebuilding, and continuing witness, it all spoke to me in some fresh ways. I felt Yes, Yes, Yes, deep gratitude to you, to those who have preceded us, and to those ahead of us for whom we bear responsibility to convey the light and love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. That image from 1 Peter came to mind. “Come to Him, a living stone chosen and precious… you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:4,9) “For all that has been, Thanks. To all that shall be, Yes.” Ed Hurley Senior Pastor South Highland Presbyterian Church SHPC Foundation Annual Report to the Congregation January 24, 2016 The Foundation completed its 27th year of operation at the end of its fiscal year September 30, 2015. On that date the market value of the Foundation’s assets was $6,147,269. This total includes a $181,900 cash bequest received on May 19, 2015 from the estate of a former member, Mrs. Virginia Jones. Her will specified that the earnings from the bequest be used for scholarships. At its May 7 meeting, in anticipation of the bequest, the Board established the Virginia Handley Jones Scholarship Fund and placed the bequest in the Fund. In late December information was received that $159,000 was to come into the Foundation near term. The funds are a residual amount flowing to the Foundation from bequests of Gordon and Christine Elsom. At the Board’s fall meeting the members were informed by the Foundation’s administrative manager, that for the period 2005-2015 cumulative distributions from the Foundation have totaled $1,664,565. Each member of South Highland here should join me in saying “Thank you” to our members who have gone before while continuing their practice of stewardship at South Highland through their bequests under their wills to the Foundation. The Board allocated 2015’s earnings to: Mission $ 83,482 Scholarships 32,777 SHPC’s general operating budget 54,016 Music 3,304 Other designated recipients 17,977 Total $191,556 One Board member resigned during the year. Jan Lansford was elected to fill the vacancy. Current Board members are: Suzanne Benton, Lee Cooper, Glenn Davis, Mark Ezell, John Goff, Mike Goodrich, Jan Lansford, Kathryn Michael, John Ponder, Mel Robinson, Bill Stribling and Amy Tucker. A previous comment states the Foundation provides SHPC members a way to give beyond their lifetimes. Members are reminded of the Barnabas Society, a group comprised of individuals who have named South Highland in their wills, or intend to do so, as a way of leaving a lasting legacy for the future of the church. If one desires to join the many SHPC members who are members of the Barnabas Society or would like more information about the Foundation, please contact Dr. Ed Hurley, senior pastor, Dr. Dana Waters, founding member of the Foundation, or any Board member. Respectfully submitted, John Goff, Board President Events of 2015 Annual Report to the Congregation January 4 Capital Campaign First Fruits Sunday January 11 Officer Ordination January 16 – 19 Youth Winter Retreat at Gulf Shores January 23-24 Officer Planning Meeting January 25 Annual Congregational Meeting Jan 30 – Feb 1 Winter Presbytery Youth Retreat February 8 Witness Season begins February 8 Heart-y Party February 18 Ash Wednesday Services – noon and 6:15pm February 22 Mercedes Marathon Feb 28 – Mar 1 Youth 30 Hour of Famine March 1 Chapel Organ Dedication March 6 – 8 Inspirational Series with Dr.