Call Us : 540-828-0890                Mail Us : adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com

Worship Notes

Please continue to share the good news that worship time is at 10 AM & invite friends and neighbors to Sunday School at 9 AM and joyful, meaningful worship at 10 AM! 

Worship in November has been amazing!  Our All Saint's Presentation and our Veteran's Day Presentation are both on our website (under sermons) and on our You Tube page.  Our website is www.bridgewaterumc.com and our You Tube page is www.youtube.com/@BridgewaterumcVirginia.  We honor and remember our Saints and our Veterans.  

Tomorrow is 

Thanksgiving & Consecration Sunday *And* Decorating for Advent

Nov 24th will be our Thanksgiving & Consecration Sunday! Our guest speaker will be Rev. Ed. Pruitt, former Harrisonburg District Superintendent.  Join us for a great message entitled, "It All Goes Back in the Box."  There will be a time in the worship service for us to dedicate our estimate of giving cards for 2025 (see below).

Estimate of Giving Cards for 2025 are available now and can be returned at any time.  Place them in the offering plate or return them to the Church Office.  If you would like to pledge electronically, please email adminasst@bridgewaterumc.org.  Please prayerfully consider and turn in your Estimate of Giving before the end of the year.  We will dedicate our pledges to God's work in the worship service this Sunday. Thank you!

Thanksgiving Potluck Tomorrow!  Join us for a potluck dinner in the Fellowship Hall immediately worship! (No RSVP needed, just plan to come!)  Please bring a side dish, salad, dessert (or two) to share & invite a friend!  Meat & drinks will be provided.

Advent & Christmas Decorating:  If you can stay for about 45 minutes to an hour after the meal tomorrow, we will begin decorating for Advent & Christmas!  Wed love the help!

Please note: Pastor Mary will be away the week of Thanksgiving (Mon, Nov 25 to Sat, Nov 30).  If you have a pastoral care need, please contact our Lay Leader, Karen Chamblee.  She can help you contact our pastor on call, Rev. Jenny Day, Pastor of Dayton UMC.

From your pastor and on behalf of the BUMC staff, we are thankful to God for each and every one of you!  We are praying for YOU and we wish you, your family and friends a very happy, safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanks be to GOD!  Pastor Mary

"Hanging of the Greens" Next Sunday at 9:00 AM!

During the Sunday School hour next Sunday, Dec 1, we will have an intergenerational event in the Fellowship Hall to pack Compassion Bags and make Christmas Tree ornaments to share with our neighbors.  Make plans now to join us as we prepare the way for the Lord! 

~ Educate & Equip

Advent Bible Study now forming!  We will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Library.  We will plan to meet Dec 3, 10, & 17 and maybe a couple more!  Sign up in the breezeway or join us on Dec 3.  See you there!

Led by Pastor Mary

Wonderful Worship Volunteers for this week (11/24) are:

Greeters                  The Leach Family

Ushers                     Dick & Janice Harper

Reader                     Dawn Kern

Audio-Visual             Scott Ridder

Acolyte                     Sydney Leach & Reese Leach

Sanctuary Servers   Don & Susan Gilkeson

SPRC Update

Due to an unexpected family emergency, our Admin Assist, Jodi, had to resign.

We are fortunate, though, that we were able to hire another very qualified individual to replace her. Beginning on Dec 2nd, Robin Siegel will be joining our BUMC staff as our

Administrative Assistant. Feel free to stop by the office & say Hi!

We also welcome Malachi Benjamin as a Children's Church & Nursery worker. Malachi is a sophomore theater major at BC. He has experience working with children from his job as a Christian camp counselor & leading VBS. He will join Gracen & Rae to ensure we have two workers at all times with our children. ~ Dawn Kern

New Office Hours 

We are changing our office hours to 10AM - 3 PM Monday thru Thursday. 

The office is closed on Fridays.

Support Kingsway Outreach this Advent

Please return gifts & donations to the Apple Tree by Dec 1st

Apple Tree Project

Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents.  Each child receives a toy, a game and a Christian storybook or Bible.

· The tree has sprouted a few more apples to help us minister to children in need.  Thank you so much for your support!

· Take an apple from the tree and provide the gift listed, returning it to BUMC unwrapped with the apple attached.

· Cash donations to help with shipping. (Put in the envelope or basket by the tree)

· Donations of wrapping paper and tape. Wrap & tape are sent to parents to wrap the gifts.

Christmas Gifts for Inmates

Kingsway sends 7,000 inmates in Virginia a Christmas gift of a pad of paper, lip balm (with bible verse on it) and toothpaste.  The pads and lip balm are purchased in bulk.

· Donations of 4 - 6 oz tubes of toothpaste individually boxed are also needed.

· Cash donations for inmate Christmas gifts (continue ministry & provide lip balm and pads of paper).

 About Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach

& Support This Christmas & Through the Year

Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach in Harrisonburg ministers to people who are incarcerated or recently released & their families. Their work includes:

· Reentry Services - referrals for food, clothing, counseling,    help finding a job or sober living housing. Providing basic necessities such as a cell phone, hygiene kits, gas cards, etc.

· Family Outreach Ministry helps families in dealing with the justice system & the jail or prison where their loved one is. Referrals for essentials, counseling, financial management, etc.

· Prison Ministry - Bible study & worship inside prisons & jails. Provide Bibles & study materials to prisoners.

· House of Restoration Program Center holds a weekly religious service for adult offenders, especially those that cannot be around children.

· MOPs - Support group for mothers of incarcerated family members.

· Inmate Encourager Pen Pal Program - Sharing faith by mail with the incarcerated.  Birthday & holiday cards to almost 4,000 prison inmates

· Apple Tree Project - Provides Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents.  You take an apple from the tree and provide the gift listed, returning it to BUMC unwrapped with the apple attached.  Cash donations to help with shipping are appreciated. (Put in the envelope or in the basket by the tree) Donations of wrapping paper and tape are also needed (Wrap & tape are sent to parents to wrap the gifts).  Each child receives a toy, game, and Christian storybook or Bible.

· Christmas gifts for Inmates - Kingsway also sends 7,000 inmates in Virginia a Christmas gift of a pad of paper, lip balm (with bible verse on it) and toothpaste.  The pads and lip balm are purchased in bulk.  Donations of 4 - 6 oz tubes of toothpaste individually boxed are also needed.

The tree has sprouted a few more apples to help us minister to children in need.  Thank you so much for your support of this ministry.

About Kingsway Prison & Family Outreach

Support at Christmas and Through the Year

Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach in Harrisonburg ministers to people who are incarcerated or recently released & their families. Their work includes:

· Reentry Services - referrals for food, clothing, counseling,    help finding a job or sober living housing. Providing basic necessities such as a cell phone, hygiene kits, gas cards, etc.

· Family Outreach Ministry helps families in dealing with the justice system & the jail or prison where their loved one is. Referrals for essentials, counseling, financial management, etc.

· Prison Ministry - Bible study & worship inside prisons & jails. Provide Bibles & study materials to prisoners.

· House of Restoration Program Center holds a weekly religious service for adult offenders, especially those that cannot be around children.

· MOPs - Support group for mothers of incarcerated family members.

· Inmate Encourager Pen Pal Program - Sharing faith by mail with the incarcerated.  Birthday & holiday cards to almost 4,000 prison inmates

· Apple Tree Project - Provides Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents.  You take an apple from the tree and provide the gift listed, returning it to BUMC unwrapped with the apple attached.  Cash donations to help with shipping are appreciated. (Put in the envelope or in the basket by the tree) Donations of wrapping paper and tape are also needed (Wrap & tape are sent to parents to wrap the gifts).  Each child receives a toy, game, and Christian storybook or Bible.  PLEASE RETURN GIFTS & DONATIONS BY DEC 1ST

· Christmas gifts for Inmates - Kingsway also sends 7,000 inmates in Virginia a Christmas gift of a pad of paper, lip balm (with bible verse on it) and toothpaste.  The pads and lip balm are purchased in bulk.  Donations of 4 - 6 oz tubes of toothpaste individually boxed are also needed.  PLEASE RETURN GIFTS & DONATIONS BY DEC 1ST 

Pajama Drive for the Children's Clothes Closet!!

The Circle of Hope is seeking donations of pajamas for children at the Clothes Closet. We are collecting them now through Christmas. The number of families visiting the Closet keeps increasing. Therefore, the need is great. We are collecting infant sleepers size 12, 18 or 24 months & any type of pj's or nightgowns size 2T to 14/16.  There will be a collection box in the hallway. Thank you for your support! Thank you also to the Cracked Pillar (owners Tim & Patti Landes) for working with us a 2nd year to collect items through their Giving Tree for the children at the Closet. We are blessed to have such a generous church and community.

~ Dawn Kern

Thank you from Weekday Religious Education

We received a thank you letter from our donation to the W.R.E. program. Donations are used to help teach Bible lessons, songs of praise, and prayers to the children in our community! They are asking for prayers of protection for the students and teachers as they travel from the public schools to their classrooms as well as prayers for wisdom and discernment for their Board of Directors.

Join your Bridgewater police officers for coffee and conversation! Ask questions and let them know what's on your mind. November 27th at Bridgewater Foods from 9am - 11am.

Generations Park Christmas Tree Lighting will be Sunday, December 1st at 6:30 pm. Gather around the tree for some holiday music, cookies, and hot cider! Ice skating and fire tables will also be available.

Mark your calendars for the annual Bridgewater Christmas Parade! This year the parade will be held on Saturday, December 7th at 4 pm.

                                              Whats Coming Up for YOUTH! 

Dec 5   5-7PM   "7 Things" Lesson  @Dayton UMC

Well resume the "7 Things" series at Dayton UMC, continuing our deep dive into key teachings relevant for teens. We will also decorate BUMCs church bus for the Bwater Christmas Parade, Dec 7.

Dec 12   5-7PM  @Dayton Neighborhood

Teen Carol Practice & Neighborhood Caroling

Well gather to practice Christmas carols, then head out to bring some holiday spirit to the Dayton neighborhood, including stops at nearby apartments and homes.  Please dress warmly and bring your holiday cheer!

Every Sunday at 7:00 PM!
Don't forget our Zoom check-in Sundays at 7:00 PM.  Contact Jomo if you need the link!

Blessings,  Jomo
DUMBUM Youth Group   (240) 328-5897          dumbumyouth@gmail.com

We're in Rehearsals for our Children's Program

And there's still room for you!

We're in Rehearsals for our Children's Program for Christmas!

Happy Birthday to:

1 - Kirk Rainey

3 - Caitlin Canada, Eva Jordan, Roger Joralemon

4 - Nate Miller II, Libby Bowman

5 - Harold Burkholder, Derek Hemmis

6 - Bob Puffenbarger

8 - Ashley Intemann, Jack Breeden, Logan Breeden, Kevin Kunosky

9 - Taylor Ann Joralemon, Susan Gilkeson, Robert Stickley

11 - Martha Canada

12 - Madison Huffer 

14 - Nancy Thomas

15 - Teagan Shifflett

16 - William Kane

17 - Christy Kipps, Andrea Capuano, Madelyn Hagan

18 - Patrick Snook, William Leeper

19 - Lynn Brubaker

20 - Yvonne Taylor, Jeff Cubbage

21 - Forest Taylor, Jim Harris

22 - Carolyn Van Dyck, Don Gilkeson

24 - Conrad Wyrick

25 - Max Harper

27 - Rodney Hildebrand

28 - Natalie Snook

29 - Christy Rainey, Dan Harris, Rhonda Johnson

Happy November Anniversary to:

18 - Wilton & Becky Fansler

SUNDAY      Thanksgiving & Consecration Sunday

                      9 AM Sunday School for All Ages

                      10 AM Worship

                      11 AM Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner (Fellowship Hall)

                          Decorate the Church for Advent & Christmas

                      1:30 PM Worship with White Birch

                      7 PM Youth Zoom Check-in

MON             Piano Tuning & Maintenance

                     6:30 PM Wing Fellowship (Fellowship Hall)

WED            11 AM - 1 PM Pop-up Pantry for BC Students (Fellowship Hall)

                     No Handbell or Choir Rehearsal

THUR           Happy Thanksgiving Day!

                     11 AM Reserved for Private Event (Fellowship Hall)

NEXT           First Sunday in Advent!

SUNDAY      9 AM Hanging of the Greens (Fellowship Hall)

                    10 AM Worship

                    7 PM Youth Zoom Check-in

Bridgewater UMC is making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!