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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast

Friday, September 25, 2026

A Note from the Pastor

A Message from Rev. Richard Bensinger

 

 Gratitude in Every Circumstance

Scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

The past week presented some challenges for me as I received news of difficult health conditions for close family members and a mother trapped in homelessness and drug addiction finally committed to ask for help.  As I began to work through these challenges plus the normal ins and outs of pastoring, I came across my gratitude journal, left neglected for several weeks.  On the cover is the passage above from 1 Thessalonians saying to, “Give thanks in all circumstances…”.

 

Paul’s words are simple, but they aren’t easy. “Give thanks in all circumstances” doesn’t mean we pretend every circumstance is good. It doesn’t ask us to minimize grief, deny disappointment, or call pain a blessing. Instead, it invites us to notice God’s presence and provision even when life feels incomplete, uncertain, or difficult.

 

Gratitude has a way of adjusting our vision. When we focus only on what’s missing, our hearts can become restless, and our prayers can become lists of unmet needs and wants. But when we begin to name what God has already provided—daily bread, sustaining grace, forgiven sin, faithful friends, strength for today—our focus shifts. We are reminded that we are not abandoned. We are being held by the One who knows what we lack and who gives what we need.

This kind of thanksgiving is a practical way to walk with God daily. It teaches us to pause before complaining, to look before despairing, and to remember before rushing ahead. Gratitude becomes a discipline of faith: we don’t thank God because everything is finished, solved, or easy, but because God is faithful in the middle of it.

 

Some days thanksgiving may rise naturally. Other days it may come slowly, through tears, as an act of trust. Yet even a small prayer of thanks can open space in the soul. “Lord, thank You for staying near.” “Thank You for strength I didn’t know I had.” “Thank You for the people who help carry me.” “Thank You that today is not beyond Your care.”

 

To give thanks in all circumstances is to practice seeing life through God’s faithfulness rather than through our fear. It’s not denial; it’s devotion. It’s choosing, again and again, to walk with Him by remembering that His gifts are present even when our circumstances are not what we hoped.

I’m picking up my gratitude journal and beginning some new pages to give thanks.  I’m especially thankful for my new church family at Bridgewater UMC who come through every time.

 

Prayer: Gracious God, open my eyes to Your gifts today. Teach me to give thanks not only when life is easy, but also when I am waiting, grieving, or uncertain. Shift my focus from what is missing to what You have provided and help me walk with You in trust and gratitude. 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

Jody Tumer, Isaac Winfree, Pastor Rich, and Rebecca Musgrave joined BUMC
Leslie and Kayla Siegel and others are home from traveling

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

Jim & Judy Tongue (Traveling to family)

Beth Miller
Nancy Thomas
Suzanne Woroniak Kennedy
Greg Smith
Michele
Bettye Newman
Kim Miller
Alison Cichocki
Michele

 

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

For those affected by natural disasters around the world and those helping them
For those affected by disease outbreaks - especially Ebola and measles 

For protection for all Houses of Worship of all faiths

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, and for their abusers to change and learn
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

Dick Boyd

Grace Fishback

Betty Foley

Dorice Graham

Rodney Hildebrand

Deidra Hill

Judy Hulvey

Barbara Kiracofe

Dorothy Lion

Shirley Creekbaum

Bettye Newman

Mitzi Puffenbarger

Joanne Simpkins

Bonnie and Tom Snook

Sandra Stroud

Gary and Marcia Tyeryar
Donald & Ginger Usry
Doris Waters

Welcoming new members!

Worship Volunteers for this Sunday, September 27, 2026 (4th Sun)

 

Greeters                    Rebecca Musgrave & Judy Tongue

Ushers                      Kathi Hemmis & Mary Glover

Reader                       Gloria Hildebrand

Audio-Visual             Sam Briggs

Acolytes                    Sydney & Reese Leach

Sanctuary Servers    Don & Sue Gilkeson

Bus Driver                 Dwight Campbell

This Sunday we will be having a raffle to raise money to cover the shipping costs for our Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes. The raffle items will be set up during 4th Sunday cofffee. The church will also be open from 2 PM to 4 PM for the auction. This will be a "Chinese Auction" style event. The various items will have a jar or container with each for placing tickets. When you purchase tickets, put them in the container(s) with the item(s) in which you are interested. The drawing of the tickets will be at 3:45 PM. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets will be 1 for $5, 3 for $10, and 10 for $20. Rhonda Johnson or Johna McFarland can answer any questions.

Pizza & Painting of the Blessing Box after service on This Sunday, September 27. Youth and kids are invited to paint the Blessing Box to get it ready for use. RSVP to Mark Kipps (540.383.5498).

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
 

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, 16 post it notes pads, 58 rulers, 36 pencil sharpeners, and 33 sheets of stickers.

 

A collection area is set up in the breezeway.

 

Our fundraiser "Chinese Auction" is this Sunday! See details above.

 

We appreciate everyones support for this important service project.

Johna McFarland, OCC Coordinator

The Women's Bible Study.

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

Will meet on Wednesday mornings from 10-11 AM starting Next Wednesday, September 30

in the New Beginnings Classroom