E Blast

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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast

Monday, August 30, 2026

A Note from Pastor Rich

A Message from Rev. Richard Bensinger

Pastor’s Reflection: Let Love Get Real

“Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil and hold on to what is good.” — Romans 12:9, CEB

One of the real challenges of following Jesus is learning how to let love become more than something we talk about. We all know love matters. We sing about it, preach about it, talk about it, and celebrate it. But in Romans 12, Paul pushes us a little further. He reminds us that love is not just a nice feeling or a kind word. Love is something we live. It is something others can see. It is love “without pretending.”

That kind of love is beautiful, but it is not always easy. It means honoring others instead of always looking out for ourselves first. It means welcoming people, sharing joy, sitting with others in their grief, serving when we are tired, and praying when we do not know what else to do. It means holding on to what is good and refusing to repay evil with evil. In other words, real love shows up even when it costs us something.

And if we’re honest, that does not always come naturally. It can be easier to pretend. We can smile while resentment builds inside. We can be polite while quietly keeping score. We can love the people who love us back, agree with us, and make life simple. But Paul is talking about something deeper than good manners. He’s talking about the kind of love that shows people God is changing us from the inside out.

That’s why we need the Holy Spirit. Romans 12 is not just a checklist of religious things we are supposed to force ourselves to do. It’s a picture of what Jesus’ life begins to look like in us. The Spirit helps us tell the truth without being cruel. The Spirit helps us forgive without pretending the hurt did not matter. The Spirit helps us welcome others, serve faithfully, and love in ways that are honest, humble, courageous, and real.

Maybe Paul’s last word in this passage is the one we need to carry with us today: “Don’t be defeated by evil but defeat evil with good.” Evil doesn’t only hurt us from the outside. It also tries to shape what happens inside us. It can pull us toward bitterness, cynicism, fear, and revenge. But by God’s grace, we don’t have to become what has wounded us. In Christ, and by the power of the Spirit, we can answer harm with goodness, hostility with blessing, and despair with hope.

Prayer: God, help us love in a way that is honest and real. When we are tempted to pretend, keep score, or answer hurt with hurt, remind us of your grace. Let your Spirit soften our hearts, give us courage, and shape us to look more like Jesus in what we say and do. 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.

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

Carolyn Van Dyck's procedure went well.
Pam Abbot, Judy Tongue's sister, is doing well

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

Current Prayer Concerns

Shay Suter
Jane Wright's mother

Alex Little

Jim & Judy Tongue

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

For those affected by the earthquakes in Columbia, Japan and Venezuela, and the fires around the world, and for those helping them

For those affected by disease outbreaks - Ebola, measles, and Cyclosporiasis

For protection for all Houses of Worship of all faiths

For pastors and congregations with new congregations and pastors

Peace in my life, my family, with our neighbors, and throughout the world
For peace in Iran and in the Mid-East, and in Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Cuba, and around the world
For our nation to step back from greed, injustice, fear, and hatred
For all of our government leaders to act with wisdom and love.
For protection for our government officials, President Trump and his family
For your will, not our will, to be done
For those who cannot read
For those who are struggling with financial problems
Help us to be servants to each other, our neighbors, and the world.
Help us to become better people and Christians and to grow in faith
That our families will become closer to God and for clarity in seeing God's will
For Bridgewater and other college students, and for students of all grades, - for a good start to the semester
For safe travels for our families
For strength and health and healing for our families, for those who are sick
For victims of abuse of all kinds
For comfort for those dealing with illness and loss, those awaiting surgery, and those having treatments
For those dealing with mental illness and addiction and those who care for them
For our families and families in our community in crisis or struggling with estrangement
That this day be good and tomorrow better

Ongoing Prayer Needs of our Congregation

Grace Fishback

Betty Foley

Dorice Graham

Rodney Hildebrand

Deidra Hill

Judy Hulvey

Barbara Kiracofe

Dorothy Lion

Shirley Creekbaum

Kim Miller

Mitzi Puffenbarger

Joanne Simpkins

Bonnie and Tom Snook

Sandra Stroud

Nancy Thomas

Gary and Marcia Tyeryar

Donald & Ginger Usry

Doris Waters

Worship Volunteers for this Sunday, August 30, 2026 (5th Sun)

Greeters Ruth Peters

Ushers Paul & Johna McFarland

Reader Joey Capuano

Audio-Visual Scott Ridder

Acolytes Nolan Gilkeson

Sanctuary Servers Laura & Tony Mancari

Bus Driver Dwight Campbell

From Shirley C. Michael

Many thanks to all for your prayers, cards and contributions made in Memory of Ray. Your kind expressions of sympathy and friendship will remain in our memories. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Blessings to all.

Its Operation Christmas Child Time Again!

BUMC will begin collecting items for Operation Christmas Child boxes this month. Since its back to school time, there are loads of good deals on school supplies right now, so well start again with collecting school supplies. While youre shopping for your students, please consider buying some extra of these supplies so we may include them in our Christmas boxes.

Were collecting: pencils, black ink pens, rulers, small note pads, markers, colored pencils, square erasers, glue sticks, stickers, small scissors, post it notes. A collection area will be set up in the breezeway.

We are planning activities to help us raise the money for shipping - more info is coming soon!

As always, we thank you for your help with this important mission project!

Johna McFarland, OCC Coordinator

Reminder:

Prayer Group has moved to Tuesday mornings at 10 AM.

Everyone is welcome to join us!

Pastor Rich's ongoing Men's Bible Study will be will be continuing every Monday at 7 PM in the Library and is also available by Zoom. Join in and meet men with whom Pastor Rich has been meeting from other locations and participate in stimulating discussions. Pastor Rich can provide the Zoom contact information and answer any questions.

United Methodist Men's Opportunity

Harvest of Hope

Massanetta Springs Camp and Retreat Center

September 25-27, 2026

Harvest of Hope is a faith-based, experiential, service & learning opportunity that provides you and your group the opportunity to take action, get involved in hands-on activities, and rescue and share good food with people in need.

There is an intergenerational Harvest of Hope experience occurring in Harrisonburg at Massanetta Springs Camp and Retreat Center on September 25-27, 2026. The cost is $175/person.

There are full scholarships available to anyone wanting to attend. Just see the church office.

Search for endhunger.org. Scroll down to Overnight camps and click on the picture for Harvest of Hope.

The page will show you all the overnight camps in Virginia. click on Sign Up for the event in which you wish to participate to register.

Bridgewater UMC Youth Announcements

Dear Bridgewater UMC Youth Families,

We are getting ready for an exciting year ahead in our Youth Ministry as we journey through our annual theme: Psalms Learning to Worship, Pray, Trust, and Serve!

To make this year as engaging and accessible as possible, we need your input to set our official calendar. We want to ensure our event dates work best for you and your students, so we've created a fill-in-the-blank draft schedule for parents to review and help finalize.

Please take a few moments to look over the proposed eventsincluding our monthly gatherings, prayer walks, service projects, and fellowship activitiesand let us know which dates fit your familys schedule best:

PLEASE FILL OUT BY 9/2/26

View & Fill Out the Youth Calendar - Scan QR Code:

Thank you for partnering with us to build a strong, supportive community for our youth. We can’t wait to grow, serve, and worship together this year!

Every Sunday:

6:45 p.m. Prayer for Teens — Parents’/Adults Zoom Gathering
Parents, we invite you to join us this Sunday at 6:45 p.m. on Zoom for prayer over our teens! Together, we’ll lift up their hearts, minds, and futures — asking God to bring them peace, strength, and rest as they grow in faith.

7:00 p.m. Youth Zoom Check-in!

Blessings, Jomo Johnson (240) 328-5847 dumbumyouth@gmail.com

Hi, BUMC kiddos, friends, and families!

Join us for Children's Church every Sunday! Children’s Church is worship & Christian education for kids during part of the worship service. It is led by our amazing leaders Gracen & Rea. Children may attend worship through the Children’s Message & then go to Children’s Church on the first floor with our leaders. ~OR~ Children are always welcome to stay in the sanctuary with their family.

Jesus loves you and so do we!!

~Gracen Kelley~ BUMC Kids Group Me,

email gracenkelley123@gmail.com or phone (call, text) 804-867-6143