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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast

Saturday, September 5, 2026

A Note from Pastor Rich

A Message from Rev. Richard Bensinger

 

Pastor’s Reflection: Let Love Get Real-Part 2

 

This week’s sermon, “When Love Gets Real - Part 2,” will bring together Paul’s words in Romans 13 and Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Both passages remind us that love is not simply a feeling, a nice idea, or something Christians talk about in church. Love is the heart of Christian obedience, and it becomes real when it takes action.

 

Paul writes, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” Most debts are things we want to pay off and finish, but love is different. Every day we wake up with a holy responsibility to love the people God places in our path. Paul says all the commandments about how we treat one another are summed up in this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That means love has real shape. It refuses to harm, use, ignore, envy, or dismiss another person. Love protects the neighbor’s good.

 

Paul also tells us it is time to wake from sleep, lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. In other words, love can’t stay passive or sleepy. Love gets dressed for the day. Love puts on the character of Christ and steps into the world ready to notice, serve, forgive, welcome, and respond.

 

Jesus makes that kind of love visible in the story of the Good Samaritan. When a wounded man is left beside the road, two religious men see him and pass by. But the Samaritan, the unexpected outsider, stops. He comes near, has compassion, bandages the man’s wounds, takes him to safety, pays for his care, and promises to return. His love costs him time, comfort, money, and convenience. But that is what mercy looks like when love gets real.

 

For Bridgewater United Methodist Church, the question is not only, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus presses us toward a better question: “To whom will I become a neighbor?” Our neighbor may be the person next door, the newcomer in worship, the child who needs encouragement, the caregiver who needs relief, the lonely member who needs a visit, the student far from home, the hungry person, or even the person we find hard to understand.

 

Love is a verb. It calls, visits, feeds, forgives, serves, gives, listens, welcomes, and shows up. This week, each of us can choose one concrete act of mercy and do it before the week slips away. When we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” we are asking God to make us part of the answer.

 

By God’s grace, may we be a church where love wakes up, puts on Christ, and becomes real in our words, our welcome, our service, and our compassion.

         

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

Thanksgiving for the marriage of Paul Cook and Karen Chamblee
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

 

Prayers of Sympathy for the families of
Christopher Craun
Glen Turman
Gracen Kelley's grandmother

 

Current Prayer Concerns

Bettye Newman

Kim Miller

Alex Little

Alison Bensinger

 

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

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

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, September 6, 2026 (1st Sun)

 

Greeters                    B.J. Jenkins & Bettye Newman

Ushers                       Ed Craun & Marc Craun

Reader                       Christy/Mark Kipps

Audio-Visual             Tony Mancari

Acolytes                    David Kipps

Sanctuary Servers    Don Gilkeson & Sue Rexrode

Bus Driver                 Fontaine Canada

There will be a Worship Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 8

at 6 PM in the library

There has been interest expressed in a Women's Bible Study.

There is a sign up sheet in the breezeway

to express your interest and note your preference of day or evening.

The Bible study is planned to begin in October.

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

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

Please be aware that the deadline to register for the Spiritual Retreat is this Friday.

Harvest of Hope

Phoebe Needles Camp in Riner/Callaway, VA

November 6-8, 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 Phoebe Needles Camp in Riner/Callaway, VA on November 6-8, 2026. The cost is $175/person.

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.

Hi, BUMC kiddos, friends, and families!

The Back to School Brunch has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 13 after the sermon. Please plan on joining us!

 

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

This event is taking place at the Bridgewater Retirement Community

on September 12

September's Birthdays!

1  Jason Gilkeson, Owen Hardy

2  Ginger Usry, Daniel Bowman

3  Doris Waters, Judy Hulvey, Kathi Hemmis

4  Mary Glover

5  Gracie Saum, Seth Davis

6  Denise Snoddy

9  Kevin Early, Stephanie Higgs

10 Joey Capuano, Donald Bowman

14 Madelyn Gilkeson

15 Julian Fisher, Camryn Linn

16 Todd Slaubaugh

17 Tammy Campbell

18 Warren Gilkeson

19 Kevin Puffenbarger

20 Patti Landis

22 Debbie Robinson, Christopher Landes

23 Brockie Hall, Angela Carrier

24 Brian Kenney

25 Tony Mancari, Davis Higgs, Brook Hemmis

26 Cheryl Rieman, Athena Hess

28 Dakota Higgs

29 Bradley Ridder, Tammy Balser

Our Calendar This Week

THIS           9 AM Sunday School for all ages

SUNDAY    10 AM Worship Service

 

MON         Labor Day Holiday - Office Closed

                 7 PM Pastor Rich's Men's Bible Study (Library & Zoom)

 

TUE           10 AM Prayer Team (Library)

                  6 PM Worship Committee (Library)

                  7 PM Prayer and Message Time (Sanctuary)

 

WED         12 PM Lunch & Conversation (BRC Blue Ridge Room)

                  6 PM Handbell Practice (Mt. Solon Commons)

                  7 PM Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

 

NEXT         9 AM Sunday School for all ages

SUNDAY   10 AM Worship Service First Responder Sunday 

 

                

Please send Robin announcements for the Bulletin/Slides/E-Blast by Wednesday to adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com.  Thank you!  

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

Contact Us

219 N Main Street

Bridgewater, VA 22812

Call Us : 540-828-0890

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