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Connection E-News
February 27th, 2024
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SOMETIMES ALL WE NEED IS A HUG!
I came across this awesome photograph of a Brown Bear holding her cub, lost in complete adoration, and I thought of Bernadette Farrell ‘s lovely lines, “God of tender care, you have cradled us in goodness, you have mothered us in wholeness, you have loved us into birth.”
Sometimes, all we need is a hug… and even when there’s no one to hug us, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into the rhythm of the ocean, the quietness of the dawn and sunset, or just listening to the rain… and we can go home again… deep within to our beginnings, to where our mothers once held us... just as a Brown Bear holds her own cub!
Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth
Rev. Jim White
Former Senior Pastor of BUMC
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In-Person / Live stream
Lenten Season
March 3rd at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Cho will share her sermon, "Lament and Honesty" Our scripture reading will be taken from Psalm 30. The music will be provided by Hayoung Kim, "Precious Name" the Sanctuary Choir, "Just I am, come," and our Foundation Praise Team will lead us in song.
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Calendar of Events over the this week | |
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Monday, Feb 26th
● Priscilla Circle meeting at 7:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Tuesday, Feb 27th
● Tuesday Drop in Bible Study at 10 a.m. (Zoom and Room 25)
● Cherub and Lyric Choirs at 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall and Choir Room)
● Confirmation Class at 5:30 p.m. (Youth Lounge)
● Festive Ringers at 6 p.m. (Sanctuary)
● Jubilation Ringers at 6:30 p.m. (Sanctuary)
● Tuesday Lenten Study at 7 p.m. (Zoom)
Wednesday, Feb 28th
● BUMC Youth meeting at 6:30 p.m. (Youth Lounge)
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Thursday, Feb 29th
● Thursday 30-minute Prayer at 10 a.m. (Zoom)
● Wesley Bell Rehearsal at 6 p.m. (Sanctuary)
● Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal at 7 p.m. (Sanctuary)
● Foundation Rehearsal at 8 p.m. (Sanctuary)
Saturday, Mar 2nd
● Men’s Lenten Small group at 9 a.m. (Zoom)
Sunday, Mar 3rd
● Sunday School at 9 a.m. (for all grades PreK-12)
● Adult Lenten Sunday Class at 9 a.m. (Room 25)
● Sunday Worship Service at 10 a.m. (Live-Stream available)
● Adult Lenten Sunday Class at 7 p.m. (Zoom)
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Witness for Peace in Israel and Palestine
This Lent | |
Since the October attacks in Israel, the faith community has been a steadfast witness for peace, urging our elected officials to call for a ceasefire. | |
Young Families are collecting toiletries
for the veterans! | |
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Saturday, March 9th 1 - 3p.m.
The Young Families will be collecting travel size toiletries for the veterans at Veteran's Haven North in Glen Gardner New Jersey.
Veternan's Haven North ensures that homeless veterans are treated and cared for in a dignified, compassionate, and professional manner so as to reach an optimal level of independence and aid them in re-acquiring the life skills and ability to live in the community while maintaining their self-sufficiency, dignity and honor.
Over the next few weeks we will be collecting travel size toiletries (for men and women). A donation list is below.
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Donation List: (travel size- men and women)
shampoo/conditioner
bar soap
deodorant
tooth paste
tooth brushes
dental floss
combs/brushes
lotion
body wash
shaving cream
razors
cotton balls
q-tips
chapstick
Once we have collected the toiletries, the Young Families will meet to decorate bags and package them for the veterans. If you would like to help decorate and pack bags, please sign up using the link below. Light refreshments will be served.
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March 10th at 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
United Women of Faith invites you to attend a “Lunch and Learn” on Sunday, March 10, after the worship service. Our guest speaker, Rev. Susan Victor, will share the topic of “Caring for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults.” A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the church office. All are welcome!
Since early 2000, Victor has served as director of counseling and support services and chaplain at Womanspace Inc. The nonprofit agency provides emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, counseling, advocacy, education and training to people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. An ordained deacon in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, Victor also teaches confirmation classes and assists the pastor in serving Communion at Princeton (N.J.) United Methodist Church.
She is passionate about helping men and women who are victims of domestic abuse. "These crimes are committed in secret and make the victim feel shame," she says. "The most difficult cases (involve) people of faith." The church teaches people to forgive, love, trust and work things out in marriages and relationships.
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on March 10th to Merrill Creek Reservoir
Join us for what should be a memorable outing!
The swirling flocks of snow geese are a wondrous sight (and sound) to behold! Mid to late afternoon is typically the ideal time to see them as they make their way from nearby fields to the water, to rest for the night. The reservoir is a 40 minute drive from BUMC. Meet at BUMC at 1:00 p.m.
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Easter Baskets - United Women of Faith | |
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Until Sunday, March 24th
United Women in Faith will once again be preparing Easter Baskets to be distributed to families in need through FISH and other local mission organizations. Your donations of:
· individually wrapped candy and snacks
· small toys, games & books
· teen items and personal care products
would be greatly appreciated. Items may be left at the Mission Closet in the large Easter collection basket now through, Sunday March 24th.
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On Saturday, March 23rd 1-3 p.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, March 24th 1-3 p.m.)
We will have our Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday March 23rd from 1-3pm with a rain date of Sunday March 24th from 1-3pm. More details and how to sign up to attend coming soon!
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Meal Packing Event
Sunday, April 7th 9 a.m.
We are again going to pack meals for Rise Against Hunger (formerly Stop Hunger Now). Rise Against Hunger is a hands-on international hunger relief program that coordinates assembly-line packaging of highly nutritious meals for needy third world countries. The food is distributed through the schools, which helps keep the children in school. Of course, education is a means to break the cycle of poverty.
Our goal for this event is to pack 20,000 meals!
If you are unable to attend in person, please consider donating using the link below.
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We need your help! If you crochet or knit, you could help us in our mission to make prayer shawls. We are in need and our group is small! Contact us for information about the type of yarn and size and reimbursement for the yarn. Prayer shawls go to anybody who is in need of prayer and we also give them to babies when they are baptized.
Please contact Nancy Manger at 908-625-7230 or Honda Bielefeldt at 908 -510-5049.
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Coffee Fellowship Volunteers | |
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If you would like to sign up to be a host,
please sign-up on the bulletin board, or you can email Lisa Kautz at lmkautz@verizon.net.
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For Those In Need of Support | |
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If you have found yourself struggling, or going through a particularly stressful life change, we invite you to meet with one of our Stephen Ministers. In meeting with a Stephen Minister, you will receive one-to-one, confidential, Christ-centered care.
To be connected with a Stephen Minister, please contact Mary Beth Gruber.
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Prayers for Larry Ebert (husband of Rebecca Vares-Ebert)
- Prayers for Bryan Mitchell (brother of Garcia, Betty Brown’s helper)
- Prayers for Donna Staines (mother of a co-worker of Glenn Buono)
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Prayers for Tara Staines and her family (co-worker of Glenn Buono)
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Food Drive Donations
Thank you for donating food to our neighbors. Please bring your non-perishable/non-expired items to the church, and place them in our “Food Bank” containers.
If you would prefer, you can bring your items to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County located at 7E Easy St, Bound Brook, NJ 08805. Thank you very much.
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Sharing your gifts with Bridgewater United Methodist Church is extremely important. Without these gifts, BUMC would not be able to provide its programs and ministries for members and friends.
Thank you for your support of BUMC!
You can use this QR code or click here for sharing gifts.
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