Doug & Becky Woodruff

Jim & Kathy Mann

Jim & Peggy Parrish

Noah & Rachel Despinasse

Phin HuberGracey Barker

Anna Caroline Skinner

Rachel Austin

Kathryn Morgan

Leighton Mann

Hope Migiwi

Callie Mann

Abbie Cheely

Sam Brunson

who joined in NovemberWelcome New members

Melissa James Irwin Lauren Grady

Returning Members: Ryan and Stephanie Corcoran; Pat Golden

Briarwood WeeklyTHE

2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243205.776.5200 • info@briarwood.org briarwood.org

• december 21, 2018 •

Christmas Eve Services December 24

Family Candlelight Service • 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service • 11:00 p.m.

Child is Born

F O R U N T O U S A

A D V E N T 2 0 1 8

Bring your friends and family

this Christmas Eve

as we celebrate our Savior’s birth.

Purchase or bring your copy of 3D Leadership to

have personalized. Pastor Reeder will be

signing at the Bookstore.

Book signing this Sunday!

December 23after the 8:00 and 10:55 a.m.

services

Last week, Rev. Youngblood thanked the Lord and expressed gratitude for 900 members sharing the gospel with 7,000 from the community via the Walk Through Nativity (WTN). One neighbor sent an email with the subject line “Ya’ll are amazing” complimenting the Briarwood community. The neighbor walks perimeter road regularly and observes the process of the WTN presentation. Shake out the scenes, set up scenes, accessorize, host 7,000 guests, take it down, and clean it up. Next event.

Working on the administrative side or behind the curtain of Briarwood, we facilitate the process and experience the little funny things. Unfortunately, we can get numb to events running smoothly, taking for granted the Lord’s blessings on our church.

The day before the WTN, I heard “has anyone seen the crib?” Seriously—the crib? For the manger? Isn’t that one of the key scenes in the presentation? If you were one of the 7,000, you know the crib was found, but the attention to the matter did make me stop the next night during the WTN presentation and reflect at the manger scene.

Why did God choose a crib? Before the world began, God had a plan of redemption through Christ. Why not a palace for the King? What a humble beginning for our Savior’s life which ends on a cross for payment of our sins. How could we ever get numb to presenting the gospel at the next event?

In December I’m supposed to write about finances. We know this is a big month financially. May we not be numb to the Lord’s blessing on our church by taking His blessings for granted. And may we be humbly amazed at what He continues to do through His church at Briarwood, carrying out our mission for His glory. Glory to the new born King!

Matt MooreChurch Administrator

Prayer FocusBriarwood International

Outreach

Bruce and Pam teach at colleges and a seminary to train African pastors, church leaders, missionaries, and Christian workers. Pray as they prepare their students for various roles in effective gospel ministry and for them to be effective mentors to elders and their wives in their church.

Ed & Teree Solomon Child Evangelism Fellowship • Alabama

Todd & Cindy Sproull MTW (Lummi Nation) • Washington

Norm & Sue Patterson CRU • Ireland

Marc & Carol Stephens Navigators • Tennessee

Stan & Jennifer Pawlowski Mission to the World • New Zealand

Harry Reeder Senior Pastor/Teacher • Leadership Team

Briarwood Prison Ministry

Dec 22

Dec 23

Dec 24

Dec 25

Dec 26

Dec 27

Lord’s Day Worship Services

Prayer FocusBruce & Pam SinclairMission to the World

Kampala, Uganda

Dec 21

Mark WoolnoughBriarwood Elder

John RollinsBriarwood Deacon

Mike Maddox Briarwood Deacon

Steve WindhamBriarwood Deacon

Bob & Debby Sjogren UnveilinGLORY • Virginia

Raul & Vivi Pacheco Campus Outreach Intl • US

Ben & Nikki Parmer Intl Exchange Organization • US

Sunday Morning - 8:00 and 10:55 a.m.IV. Advent in Biblical PerspectiveIsaiah and the Coming of Christ

“Stumps and Roots”Isaiah 11:1, 2; Matthew 1:1–17

Dr. Harry L. Reeder III

Sunday EveningNo evening worship

Please join us on Christmas Eve5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Family Candlelight Services

11:00 p.m. Communion Candlelight Service

Serving in the NurserySun., Dec. 23 - Encounter, REAL Life

Sun., Dec. 30 - Mountain View

The next issue of The Weekly will be published Jan. 11. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year holiday! Ask the Pastor Vlog • Watch Pastor Reeder’s explanation of and invitation to Advent activities here at Briarwood now at briarwood.org/askthepastor.The church and school offices will be closed Mon., Dec. 24 and Tues., Dec. 25 for Christmas; then again on Tues., Jan. 1 for the New Year holiday.The church gates will close at 2:00 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 23 and re-open at 3:00 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 24. They will close following the 11:00 p.m. communion service, and re-open on Wed., Dec. 26 at 5:30 a.m. On Mon., Dec. 31, gates will close at 9:00 p.m. and re-open on Wed., Jan. 2 at 5:30 a.m. As 2018 Comes to an End • The Accounting Office will close for the year on Dec. 31 at 5:00 p.m. Contributions received in the mail must be postmarked or cancelled by Dec. 31 to qualify as a gift in the year 2018. Contributions with Jan. 2019 postmarks will be considered 2019 contributions.Stocking Stuffers • Give the man in your life a ticket to the Sportsman’s Blast, coming Feb. 15. Popular speaker Dr. John Morgan will be our guest. Tickets now in the Bookstore and online at briarwood.org/blast. Give the woman in your life a ticket to the women’s retreat in Huntsville, coming Feb. 1–3. Tickets available now at briarwood.org/wocretreat.The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated on Mon., Dec. 24 in the 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service. An alms offering for the Mercy Ministry will be received. Elements are gluten-free.PCA Christmas Offering will be taken at Christmas Eve Services. Through the Ministerial Relief Fund, The Christmas Offering provides monthly supplemental income to our retired and disabled pastors, missionaries, church lay workers, their widows and dependent children who have low income and meet the Relief Fund guidelines. Special offering envelopes will be placed in the pews on Christmas Eve for your gift.December Nursery • SIGN-UP needed for any Sunday night event in December including the 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Services. Go online to make reservations at briarwood.org/nursery.Christmas Eve Nursery Volunteers Needed • If you are willing to help keep our little ones for the 5:00 p.m. service, contact Alison Craig at acraig@briarwood.org. Ambassador Holiday Soccer Camp • Dec. 27–28 from 9:00 a.m.–noon. All ages 6–12 register at 776-5114 or briarwoodsoccer.com. Cost $60. Open to the public.Embers to a Flame Conference • If you enjoy hosting, serving, and making others feel welcome, consider joining our volunteer team for this Jan. 17–20 event! Contact Kim Vice at kvice@briarwood.org or 776-5399.

MidWeek and Men’s and Women’s Studies • Now available online, see all the upcoming opportunities beginning in January! Go to briarwood.org/midweek, briarwood.org/men and briarwood.org/women or see the app.Seminary Jan Term • Eschatology on Jan. 3–5 (Thurs.–Sat. at Briarwood). Doctrine of Salvation on Jan. 10–12 (Thurs.–Sat. in Huntsville and via video conference). Church History in America on Jan. 10–12 (Thurs.–Sat. in Montgomery and via video conference). Go online to bts.education or call 776-5356.Register for CONNECT beginning Jan 9 • If you have a K4–3rd grader who plans to attend CONNECT this semester please register online at briarwood.org/connect. Counseling in the Local Church II • Begins Wed., Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in A209. The course, taught by Dr. Stephen Cloud, builds your knowledge base to conduct more effectively personal ministry whether over the fence, over coffee, or in the church. Call 776-5281 or email altadena@briarwood.org for more details.GriefShare • Begins Wed., Jan. 9 from 6:30–8:00 p.m. in W202. If you or someone you know is adjusting to the death of a loved one, come to this 13-session class. Call 776-5227 for more details.Birmingham Rally and March for Life • Sat., Jan. 12 at 10:45 a.m. at Brother Bryan Park (22nd St. S. at 10th Ave). Rain or shine; families welcome! Women’s Retreat • February 1–3, 2019 in Huntsville, Ala. For more information and to register online before Jan. 9, go to briarwood.org/wocretreat.Yucatan Spring Break Trip • Join Olan and Lynna Stubbs, Mar. 25–30, to serve on this short-term mission trip. Construction projects, visiting homes and hosting a VBS are some of the areas to be served. Families with children 6 and up are welcome. Go to reel-life.org/trips/yucatan for details.Trailblazers Spring Trip • Join us as we travel to Savannah and Amelia, St. Simons and Jekyll Islands this coming Apr. 8–13. Email Sharon at sjohnston@briarwood.org or see the brochure at briarwood.org/trailblazers for details.Job Openings (more at briarwood.org/employment):Young Business Leaders Office Manager. Full time position needed to manage banquets and fundraising events, coordinate outreach efforts, write specialized correspondence, and track donations and financial reporting. Ability to use Shelby and Microsoft Office essential. Email résumé to Phil Reddick at preddick@ybl.org.College Women’s Coordinator. Full-time ministry staff position requiring the ability to shepherd, disciple, and connect with college-aged women. Contact Rachel Laster at rlaster@briarwood.org to submit résumé. See details on other positions and how to apply by going online to briarwood.org/employment.

Briarwood Christian School Sneak Peek • Briarwood members are invited to tour the school’s kindergarten and elementary programs and see this blessed ministry of the Church. For information contact Kelly Mooney, Admissions Director at 776-5812 or kmooney@bcsk12.org.

Briarwood FamiliesOur love and sympathy to John Hunt and Ruth Ramos

on the death of their mother, Lois Hunt, on Dec. 12;

and to John Stein III, Jack and Nathan Stein and

family on the death of their father and grandfather,

John Stein, Jr., on Dec. 12.

Welcome New members

(continued)

Sam Philley Claudia Steiner Amelia Steiner

Sam Wiggins April Morris Lauren Kirkemier

Ernie Brown Peggy Vanek-Titus Taylor Barnes

• Pastor’s Inquirers’ Class begins Jan. 13 • For newcomers and prospective members

Class includes two Sun. morning classes (Jan. 13 and 20), one Wed. night class (Jan. 16) and a luncheon on Sun., Jan. 27, for those who are joining.

Attending does not obligate you to join. For information or to sign up,

call 776-5208 or email wlong@briarwood.org.