1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

The
Briarwood
Vision
May 2015
Rev. Charles N. Bowdler, Senior Pastor
Volume 16 Issue 5
Dear Briarwood Family of Faith
At our April Session meeting, the Elders
voted to participate in a program to raise
awareness about the persecution of
Christians all around the world, especially in
the Middle East. We are all aware of the
brutal execution of Christians at the hands of
the Islamic State. The victims are videotaped
wearing orange jumpsuits as they are led
away to be beheaded. It is truly barbaric and
heart breaking. I take comfort from the words
of Revelation 20:4 which read in part, “I saw
the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their testimony to Jesus and for the Word
of God. They came to life and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years.” While we may
not understand all that these words mean, it
is clear that martyrs have a special status in
the Kingdom of God. None of us would want
to join their numbers, but God has not
forgotten or forsaken them. Instead, God
reserves a special reward for those who
remain faithful even unto death.
As Elie Wiesel, the Jewish holocaust
survivor wisely said, “We must take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the
victim. Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented.” In solidarity with our
suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, we
are asking the congregation to wear
something orange (symbolizing the
jumpsuits). We are working to provide
orange ribbons or orange bracelets for
members and friends of the congregation
who would like to participate. The orange
item will be a daily reminder to pray for those
who are facing martyrdom, their grieving
families, and their executioners.
We recognize that the actions of a few do
not represent the beliefs of the whole. Many
Muslims abhor what ISIS is doing. The
reality is that far more Shia Muslims are
dying at the hands of the Islamic State than
other religious groups. Still, we should pray
against these wicked and bloodthirsty actions
and for the deliverance of the innocent and
the helpless.
Perhaps this prayer might serve as a
model for your personal petitions: “Heavenly
Father, strengthen our brothers and sisters
who are facing martyrdom for their Christian
faith. Give them courage and hope now and
at the hour of their death. Grant that their
lives may be a powerful testimony to Jesus
and to the Word of God. Remind them that
death is the beginning of everlasting life.
Comfort all who know and love Christian
martyrs. Bind up their broken hearts and
heal their afflicted spirits. Look mercifully on
other religious group who are also dying for
their faith. Give them your free grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Finally, plan to join us on Thursday, May 7
at 12:00 p.m. for our National Day of Prayer
observance. We will meet under the Bell
tower to pray for our nation, for the world,
and for all who are persecuted for their faith,
especially our brothers and sisters in Christ
in the Middle East.
Newsletter 1
Yours with Christ,
PW Calendar
May 3 –PWCT
May 19 – Mary Martha Day
Mary Martha Day will be Tuesday May 19 at 10:00. We will be making cookies for
the Summer Adventure. Come for a time of fellowship, devotion, and a light lunch.
This will be our last meeting until September.
Marimae Coleman, Mission Coordinator
Circle
Lydia
Rachel
Elizabeth
Naomi
When
5/12 10:00am
5/5 6:00pm
5/8 9:30am
5/17 11:45am
Hostess
Potluck lunch
Jane Hogue (Salad Supper)
Patsy West
Salad Lunch
Presbyterian Women's Birthday Offering has reached $2519.00
to date. Thank you to all who participated in the Celebration on
Sunday, April 19 and who contributed so generously to the
Birthday Offering Projects. Special thanks to those who
organized, cooked, decorated, set-up, cleaned up and donated
time and energy to a great time of fun and fellowship.
Newsletter 2
Bible Moderator
Linda Hill
All Members
Betty Simmons
Linda Jabour
SERVING THIS MONTH
ELDERS OF THE WEEK
3
10
17
24
31
Warren Dorsey & Debra Kinser
David French & Doris Schneider
Sandy French & Jimmy Hulsman
Marcia Magee & Clint Lee
David Jensen & Susan Sumrall
USHERS
Carol Alexander (Capt.)
Paul Shelton
George Forkin (Capt.)
Hugh Hogue
Lynn Davis
Warren Dorsey (warrendorsey@comcast.net) is chair of the Usher
Committee. Call him or your usher captain, if you need to change a
day. Then inform the office.
If you have a birthday this
month and don’t see your
name, contact the office.
Budget Snapshot
March
Budget Offerings
$41,503.19
Budget items spent
(36,091.07)
Income over (under)
$ 5,412.12
FLOWER TEAMS
3
10
17
24
31
3 Hannah Dodson
5 Jenny Naylor
6 Jase Hulsman
8 Crea Shelton
12 Jessica Burrell
13 Steve Puryear
14 Howard Friday
Mitzi Bowdler
Erik Williamsen
15 Suzanne Stephens
Gy Odom
17 Barney McCann
John Barron
18 Jimmy Hulsman
Grace McElroy
19 Owen Hogue
20 Betty Cooksey
22 Baxter Hogue
24 Michael Cook
15 Leigh Curtis
28 Betty Jameson
30 June Waldrip
Cole, Walker, West
Carlisle, Naylor, Planch
Carlisle, Naylor, Planch
Stephens, Harber, Bessonette
Stephens, Harber, Bessonette
Year to Date
$113,953.51
113,060.73
$892.78
One Great Hour of Sharing – $2,110.00
April 2¢ A Meal - $167.24
SANCTUARY PREPARATION
3
10
17
24
31
Amy York
Doris Schneider
Emily Chandler
Joy Clemmer
Amy York
Come and Worship
4
Emily Chandler is chair of Sanctuary Preparation Committee. If unable to
serve, please contact her at 601-398-8481 or emilycox1@gmail.com
Pentecost Sunday is May 24
Come in Red Casual Dress
And stay for picnic
(see details on page 5)
SUMMER ADVENTURE
June 15-18th 8:45 AM-12:45 PM
“Faithfulness” is the theme this year with great
stories of Jonah, Jacob’s Dream, Walls of
Jericho, Noah, Moses’ dry feet, Deborah,
Ruth and Naomi.
Come be a part of this exciting ministry as we
partner with the children of Stewpot.
Contact Tena Becker for more details.
Donald Guild
1165 Quinn Street
Jackson, MS 39202
601.331.5358
Newsletter 3
Please Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Paper
Rev. M. Catherine Cook
WEDNESDAY
NIGHT
FELLOWSHIP
6 p.m.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
Catered supper followed by programs for all ages.
($6.00/adult; $3.00/child; $15 family max)
May 6th - “The 7 Cardinal Virtues” – Bowdler
May 13th – Committees Meet and Devotional
May 20th - “The 7 Cardinal Virtues” – Bowdler
May 27th – Not scheduled; after Memorial Day
EXPLORER’S BIBLE STUDY
Monday 5/4 – 9:30 AM & 6 PM
We will return in the Fall
YOUTH NEWS
Briarwood Youth will meet with Pastors Bowdler
& Cook at 11:45 on Sunday, May 3 & 31.
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL – May 24th
Join us for worship at 10:25 AM followed by a
church-wide picnic celebrating Memorial Day and
the start of summer!
THE LITTLE LIGHT HOUSE
May 6 Annual Tees for Tots Golf Tournament The
Reunion Golf Course.
Registration/Lunch 11 am
Tee Time 12:30 pm
Awards Celebration 5:30 pm
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
June 28-July 1 – 6 PM
Catered supper followed by exciting
programs for all ages.
Rev. Samford Turner, Presbytery Exec of
South Alabama Presbytery, is the adult
speaker.
Our children will be on an adventure to
Mount Everest led by Barbie Doty and
Heather Williamsen.
For more information, contact Susan
Sumrall.
For generations, in classrooms across the
land, teachers have been warning their students to
“Keep your eyes on your own paper!” Students
come up with some very creative explanations for
“wandering eye syndrome.” But even comparing
one’s own work with what is going on at the next
desk is discouraged. In classrooms, we associate
the warning to focus on our own work with the
danger of being tempted to cheat. In life,
comparing ourselves with others has another
danger.
When Paul wrote to the Christians in
Ephesus, he cautioned them to remember who
they had been before God’s grace changed their
lives. Notice, he said, the contrast in who you
were and who you are now, and remember who is
recreating you and why. If we are busy comparing
our lives and work, it is harder to concentrate on
the work God is doing in our own life. If we are
preoccupied with the difference in our churches or
lives and those of our neighbors, we may just miss
the work God has prepared for us to do.
While we were walking in the Cystic
Fibrosis 5K, Polly Duggan shared three lessons
she had learned from quilting. I think they could
help us in our Christian lives as well.
• Do not compare your work with that of
others. It is your work and unique;
• Do not point out the flaws in your own
work;
• Remember why you made the quilt in the
first place.
It struck me that in a culture that places so much
emphasis on competition and acceptance, it can be
hard to appreciate that our great God could be so
mindful of our particular makeup and gifts. The
quilter’s tips can help us with the temptation to
compare God’s work in our lives with what God is
doing next door. It is good to appreciate God’s
work in one another, but may God give us grace to
appreciate the particular workmanship of God in
our own lives. May we be able to trust God’s
work in us, and be able to see how that fits us for
the work he has in mind as he shapes our lives.
Newsletter 4
Dear Briarwood Family,
Thank you for your prayers, cards, meals and
comfort following the death of my mother. Audie
and I are very blessed to have such a wonderful
church family.
Gratefully yours,
Monty Dodson
+ Christian Symbol +
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your love, prayers and faithful
support in 2014. You are an important part of our
team, and we appreciate you.
We are doing well and seeing many refuges
from Syria and Afghanistan coming to us.
Blessings,
Lisa & Werner Schobesberger
A vine symbolizes Christ, the foundation of
life and nourishment of all people, who, in
turn, are like branches. When separate from
the vine, we branches can't survive — at
least not spiritually. "Apart from me," says
Jesus, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NIV).
But as God the gardener tends this
relationship, we branches grow stronger and
more mature in Jesus and alongside one
another.
Make plans to attend the
Annual Memorial Weekend Picnic,
Sunday, May 24.
Fried or Baked Chicken, Dessert
and drinks are furnished
Bring your favorite side dish to share.
$3.00/each
Vine
National Day of Prayer
Come and Pray
Thursday, May 7th at noon
Under the Bell Tower
“Hear the cry and the prayer that
your servant is praying in your presence this
day.”.”
-1 Kings 8:28
Prayer Walk
May 16, 10:a.m.
Sunday, May 3
Preparation Team
Amy York & Susan Bostwick
Please join us, old and young alike, in the
Fellowship Hall at 9:45 on Saturday, May 16,
where we will divide into groups and walk on the
streets in front of the church. Sign-up sheets are in
the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. Join us:
there's a place for everyone!
Newsletter 5
Sunday
3 Communion
Senior Breakfast
Sunday School
Fellowship Time
Morning Worship
PWCT
Youth
10
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
Congregational
Care Mtg
11
Wednesday Thursday
6
WNF -
12
13
7
12pm on the
Patio
14
Friday
Saturday
1
2
8
9
Elizabeth Circle
15
16
Prayer Walk
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Fellowship Time
Morning Worship
17
Sunday School
Fellowship Time
Morning Worship
Session
Congregational
Care Mtg
18
Lydia & Rachel
Circles
19
Congregational
Care Mtg
WNF – Committees
20
21
22
23
28
29
30
WNF
Naomi Circle
24
Pentecost Sunday
SS will not meet
25
Jxn Quilters
26
27
WNF begins
vacation
Office
Closed
31
Sunday School
Fellowship Time
Morning Worship
Youth
Vacation Schedule
Audie Dodson May 8-May 15, May 21-22
Summer Adventure – June 15 – 18
Family Vacation Bible School – June 28 – July 1
Newsletter 6
Recent Letter from one of our Missionaries
Newsletter 7
The Briarwood Vision
Non Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Jackson, MS 39205
Permit No. 452
Briarwood Presbyterian Church
620 Briarwood Drive
Jackson, MS 39211
601.956.4553
briarwoodchurch620@gmail.com
www.briarwoodpres.org
“If at first you don’t succeed, do it like your mother told you.”
—Author unknown
Newsletter 8