E-Blast!
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Call Us : 540-828-0890 Mail Us : adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com |
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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast - Saturday, March 8, 2025 |
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Lent Devotion "I Hold My Own Hand!" Psalm 51:1-17 |
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The devotion this week comes from the Episcopal Relief and Development website at episcopal relieve dot org. This devotion made me think. I hope it will help you, too!
My life and my death are not purely and simply my own business. I live by and for others, and my death involves them.
Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action
When my youngest sister, Judea, was three years old, she refused to hold anyone’s hand when crossing the street or walking on a busy sidewalk. Instead, she would stubbornly declare in her tiny voice, “I hold my own hand!”
There is a temptation to begin the season of Lent as a solitary journey, to hear the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” as an individual invitation instead of a communal one. Yet, the prayer that proceeds the marking of ashes on our foreheads begins, “Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth.” It offers a poignant reminder of our common bonds of birth, breath and death.
Despite this era of great divisions and an epidemic of loneliness, the Holy Spirit is here among us. I wonder how the Spirit might move during this season of Lent if we approach the spiritual practices of self-examination and repentance as a common endeavor instead of a solitary one. What if we sought to make a right beginning, traveling the Lenten wilderness together for the express purpose of being re-bound to each other and all of creation through Christ? What if we spent this season together in prayer, fasting, self-denial and reading and meditating on God’s holy Word, boldly considering how we can right the wrongs and sins of the past and strive to repent of those sins and any we have continued to commit?
We never let Judea cross the busy street or wander the crowded sidewalk alone. We walked alongside her, behind her and with her, gently guiding her by the elbow when needed (she was holding her own hand, after all) and reminding her that her journey was also our journey and that we would all get where we were going—together.
For Reflection
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Please continue to share the good news that our worship time is at 10 AM. Keep inviting friends & neighbors to Sunday School at 9 AM & joyful, meaningful worship at 10 AM!
Tomorrow (March 9th) - YOUTH SUNDAY! & 1st Sunday in Lent Our youth will lead us in worship and share their testimonies of what God is doing in their lives. Join us for a meal in the Fellowship Hall right after the service! We will be having lasagna, salad, bread and desserts! Lunch is by donation, proceeds to support youth missions & ministry.
New Bible Study Opportunity! MARK: The Fastest Gospel - Jim Tongue will be leading a Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark starting next Sunday (March 16th). It will be held in the Fellowship Hall for one-half hour every Sunday 11:15 - 11:45 AM. One of Mark's favorite words is "Immediately," so the Bible Study will start "immediately after worship" and continue for 6 weeks through the season of Lent.
Let's grow together in 2025! Blessings, Pastor Mary
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We are planning another Men's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 29, at 8:30 AM. We will have a guest speaker. If you want to participate you can sign up online, in the office, or by calling or emailing the office at 540-828-0890 or adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com. |
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Big News! Our elevator has been repaired and is working! |
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Joys and answered prayers -Thank you God for Joey's authenticity and joy in his music and work with the children -Marsha Hildebrand found a new place to live. -Thank you God for the love of Jesus, our church, our family and our friends -We give thanks for God's grace and mercy
Prayers of sympathy for the family of: Mark Lotts Current Prayer Concerns
Donald Brownlee, Jr. Tracey Casteel Julian Fisher Janice Harper Gregg Kiracofe Debra Lucas Ray Michael Pope Francis Donald Usry For the people affected by natural disasters - the CA fires, hurricane floods in NC and other states, ice and snow storms
For our nation, the decisions of the new administration, the congress and the courts; and may God bless America For peace in Ukraine and the Middle East and for all of the people living there May there be peace on earth, and may it begin with us For Bridgewater UMC - for growth in spirit and faith For all of the active duty members of our armed forces, for veterans and for our first responders Our children and grandchildren and our families and friends For college, high school, middle school and elementary students - for their learning and grades For better health and more strength. For successful medical treatments For patience. For strength to spread the gospel even when it's hard Help us to put God first in everything we do Those who think that God has deserted them in the midst of today's world circumstances For people and families dealing with depression and anxiety, with mental illness and with addiction For less death in our family, for peace and grace in facing grief and loss Ongoing Prayer Needs of our Congregation Georgia Lee Byerly Don Capuano Grace Fishback Joanne Fisher Betty Foley Mary Glover Henry & Dorice Graham Rodney Hildebrand Deidra Hill Barbara Kiracofe Dorothy Lion Doris MacDaniel Shirley Michael Rev Luther Ramsey Cheryl Reiman Joanne Simpkins Bonnie Snook Sandra Stroud Vic Taylor Nancy Thomas Marcia and Gary Tyeryar |
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Worship Volunteers for this Sunday, February 23 (4th Sun)
Greeters Alex and Marissa Taylor Ushers Colin and Connor Palmer Reader Jomo Johnson Audio-Visual Marc Craun Acolytes Alex and Marissa Taylor Sanctuary Servers Sue Rexrode |
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Seasonal Choir Opportunities Easter Season Choir & Children's Choir |
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Easter Seasonal Choir Opportunity - Join us!
Children's Choir for Palm Sunday |
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Upcoming Youth Service Opportunities & Events! |
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Don't forget our check-in Sunday evenings at 7 PM. Contact Jomo if you need the link!
Blessings, Jomo (240) 328-5847 dumbumyouth@gmail.com |
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Hi, BUMC kiddos, friends, and families!
If you would like any additional information about things, contact Joey via email at joeycapuano@gmail.com, by phone at (540) 421-4169, or through our Group Me app. You can also ask to be included in our Group Me app if you aren't already!
March 16th Combined Sunday School - Johnna McFarland, Pastor Mary, and Joey will be planning a Holy Trinity - themed Saint Patrick's Day Inter - Generational Sunday School Class. It's gonna be great & green!
April - An AWESOME month!
1.) Sun, April 13 Palm Sunday Service The children will be participating in the palm Procession and singing with the adult choir with songs where we can proclaim Hosanna!
2.) Also Sun, April 13 - Easter Egg Hunt & BUMC Community Potluck Dinner at Oakdale Park - At 4:00 PM on Palm Sunday afternoon, all children are invited to Oakdale Park (shelter # TBD) for a fantastic Easter Egg Hunt! The DUMBUM Youth Group will be hiding these goodies, so we know there will be good hiding places! - At 5:00 PM, following the Easter Egg Hunt (shelter #3), all BUMC community members, friends, and family are invited to our Pre - Easter Potluck Dinner. This will be such a fun way to start out our spring break for Rockingham County Public School kiddos and families, and we just want a way to celebrate Easter together. this way, families can celebrate Easter as a Church and then be free to travel and / or celebrate the actual Easter weekend in their own ways. We will invite all community members to bring a dish / food / beverage item to share!
May: Sunday, May 11: Mother's Day Service
- Be on the lookout for plans for our Mother's Day Service, where children will get to play an important role, including in Music!
As Pastor Mary always says, GOD IS GOOD! Lets continue to share THIS MOST AWESOME TRUTH with all the world!
As always, your friend in Faith, Hope, and Love, Joey |
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Relay For Life of the American Cancer Society is coming up. Funds raised support cancer research and services for patients with cancer and their loved ones. This year's theme for our local Relay For Life is Carnival for a Cure. For more information about what Relay For Life is and how you can get involved contact Robin in the office. For data on how our Relay funds are used locally see below: |
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This Week's Birthdays! |
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10 Grace Fishback 11 Letitia Lam 12 Barbara Eanes, Judy Tongue, Lindsay Robinson 13 Christine Harper 14 Hilary Cubbage Perry |
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Our Calendar This Week |
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THIS Youth Sunday SUNDAY 9 AM Sunday School 10 AM Worship Service 11:15 AM Fellowship Meal 7 PM Youth Zoom Check-in
MON 6:30 PM Wing Fellowship Meeting (Fellowship Hall) 6:30 PM Joint Church Council and Finance Committee Meeting (New Beginnings)
TUES 11 AM The Disciple's Path Bible Study (Library) 5:30 PM Worship Committee (Library)
WED 10 AM Prayer Team (Library) 6 PM Handbell Practice 7 PM Choir Practice
THURS 3:30 PM Staff Meeting (Library)
NEXT 9 AM Sunday School SUNDAY 10 AM Worship service 11:15 AM Mark: The Fastest Gospel (Fellowship Hall) 7 PM Youth Zoom Check-in |
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Contact Us |
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219 N Main Street Bridgewater, VA 22812 |
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Call Us : 540-828-0890 |
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Email Us : adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com |
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Copyright 2025. Bridgewater United Methodist Church, All Rights Reserved. |
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