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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast

Thursday, October 1, 2026

A Note from the Pastor

A Message from Rev. Richard Bensinger

 

 

Devotion – One Family, Many Stories

 

World Communion Sunday this coming Sunday reminds us that God’s family is wonderfully large. Across continents and cultures, in sanctuaries and homes, believers gather today with different languages, customs, songs, and stories. We do not all look alike, think alike, or worship in exactly the same way. Yet through Jesus Christ, we belong to one another.

 

The oneness of God’s family does not require sameness. A healthy family makes room for many personalities, experiences, and gifts. In the same way, the church is strongest when each person is welcomed and valued. Our differences should not become walls. In God’s hands, they can become windows through which we see more of his grace.

 

This truth matters close to home here at Bridgewater UMC. The family of God includes the familiar friend and the newcomer, the lifelong neighbor and the student far from home, the person whose story resembles ours and the person whose life teaches us something new. Each is created in God’s image. Each is someone Christ calls us to love.

 

Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. That prayer invites us beyond polite words into a shared life marked by patience, humility, forgiveness, and care. We live as one family when we listen before judging, make room for those who feel unseen, bear one another’s burdens, and rejoice in one another’s gifts. Unity becomes visible whenever love is stronger than suspicion and grace is stronger than division.

 

On this World Communion Sunday, let us thank God for a family that reaches farther than we can see. May we recognize sisters and brothers wherever God places us. Together, our BUMC congregation will become a place where strangers find welcome, lonely people find companionship, and every person discovers that they are known and loved. We are many, but by God’s grace we are one family—called to reflect the wide, generous love of Christ to the world.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

 

Be Blessed - today and every day. Pastor Rich
 

If you would like to try Spiritual Direction, contact Pastor Rich via phone (703-402-0287) or email (seniorpastor@bridgewaterumc.com).

 

Written copies of the Sunday sermon are available. Just contact Pastor Rich via email (seniorpastor@bridgewaterumc.com) and he will email it to you.

 

Please use the email seniorpastor@bridgewaterumc.com to contact Pastor Rich about church matters.

Prayer List

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19a

Joys and answered prayers

Leslie and Kayla Siegel, the Harpers and others are home from traveling
Thank you, God, for all your creatures, great and small

Thank you, God, for the love of Jesus, for our church, our families, and our friends

We give thanks for God's grace and mercy

 

Prayers of Sympathy for the Family of

Bonney Mays of Stanley VA

 

Current Prayer Concerns

Beth Miller
Suzanne Woroniak Kennedy
Michele Evans
Annette and Sony Tongue
Edwards UMC
Jerry Long
Bevery Smith
Donna
Robert Mills
Lucia Gajda
Dwanna Oldson and her family
Bettye Newman
Alison Bensinger Chihocki
Crystal Curry
Dennis Huffer
Jeff Waggy
Pastor Rich Bensinger
BUMC Children and Youth
Sharon Griffeth 

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers...

For peace, justice and wisdom in our nation and in the world
For peace to come in Iran, the Mid-East, Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Cuba and around the world.
For our leaders to be filled with the Holy Spirit and for your will to be done
For the people of our nation to turn to God and pray for guidance
For those affected by natural disasters around the world and for those helping them
To bring forth ideas for your kingdom, like the Blessings Box
To bring forth hearts, minds and hands to implement them
For people who need love, compassion, hope and forgiveness to find God's love through our actions
For Bridgewater UMC to continue growing
For our new members and all of us to grow in faith
For foster parents and children in foster care
For healing for the sick and calm for the anxious
For peace and balance with work, family, and all of life
For comfort, peace, and strength for all who are grieving loved ones
For victims of abuse of all kinds, and for their abusers to change and learn
For comfort for those dealing with illness and loss, those awaiting surgery and test results, and those undergoing treatment
For those dealing with mental illness and addiction and those who care for them
For families crisis or struggling with estrangement
For safe travels for our families and friends, for health and safety during their trips
That this day be good and tomorrow better        (Galen Delinger)

 

Ongoing Prayer Needs of our Congregation

Dick Boyd
Shirley Creekbaum
Grace Fishback
Betty Foley
Dorice Graham
Rodney Hildebrand
Deidra Hill
Judy Hulvey
Barbara Kiracofe
Dorothy Lion
Kim Miller
Mitzi Puffenbarger
Joanne Simpkins
Bonnie and Tom Snook
Sandra Stroud
Nancy Thomas
Gary and Marcia Tyeryar
Donald and Ginger Usry
Doris Waters

Welcoming new members!

Worship Volunteers for this Sunday, October 4, 2026 (1st Sun)

 

Greeters                    Gloria Roller & Kathi Hemmis

Ushers                      Mark Kipps & Claude Martell

Reader                       Sam Oduro & Philipa Effah

Audio-Visual             Tony Mancari

Acolytes                    David Kipps

Sanctuary Servers    Laura & Tony Mancari

Bus Driver                 Dwight Campbell

Nancy Thomas went to camp with Bridgewater Retirement Community!
 

Its Operation Christmas Child Time Again!

BUMC is collecting items for Operation Christmas Child boxes.

 

We are now collecting hygiene items. We need toothbrushes, toothbrush holders, wash cloths, and boys and girls socks. We are no longer collecting bars of soap or soap boxes.

 

We also still need some school supplies:  35 boxes of colored pencils, 54 pairs of scissors, 58 rulers, 36 pencil sharpeners, and 33 sheets of stickers.

 

A collection area is set up in the breezeway.

 

We appreciate everyones support for this important service project.

Johna McFarland, OCC Coordinator

Our Kids did a nice job of painting the Blessing Box! (With adult supervision of course.)

Some even helped to build it!

BUMCs Backpack Ministry is gearing up for another year of service, and we need your help! We have begun weekly deliveries of food bags to local schools in support of our Backpack Ministry. Funding for this ministry is backed by our volunteers and donations from our congregation. This ministry has a direct impact on the lives of children in our local schools. Each week, our team shops, packs, and delivers nearly 50 bags of groceries to students whose access to food on weekends is otherwise scarce. We are requesting monetary and food donations, as well as new and eager volunteers to join our team! Please prayerfully consider a contribution to help sustain this outreach to our schools.

 

To donate, make checks payable to Bridgewater United Women in Faith with Backpack Program listed on the memo. Food items needed (must be individually packaged) include: chicken noodle soup cans, vegetable soup cans, applesauce cups, fruit cups, popular brand cereals, granola bars, Nutri-grain bars, Jello snack packs, pudding cups, Cheez-its, juice boxes, microwavable kraft mac & cheese cups, microwave popcorn). Please reach out to Jessi (jessi.higgs@gmail.com) and Stephanie (sthiggs@live.com) to coordinate donations or to join our amazing volunteer team! Thank you for your consideration.

 

Calling all Singers!

The Bridgewater UMC Choir will soon be starting work on this years Christmas Cantata, "All Is Well"! All are welcome! Never sang in a choir before? no problem! Dont read music? no problem! If you love to sing to the Lord, please join us!

The Cantata is scheduled for December 13th. Rehearsals are Wednesdays @ 7pm beginning October 7th. Questions? Contact James @ lyricbaritonejames@gmail.com

The Women's Bible Study.

"The Women of the Bible Speak: the Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today" by Shannon Bream.

Meets on Wednesday mornings from 10-11 AM

in the New Beginnings Classroom