Dear Friends in Christ,

Healing was central to the ministry of Jesus. It was a sign of God's kingdom, bringing renewal and wholeness of life to those who turned to God in their need. Jesus sent out his disciples with the commission to “proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” (Luke 9:2).

We are going to have “A Service of Healing” this Sunday. This has been a tradition we have had during Lent for many years. The Book of Worship of UMC explains “A Service of Healing” as follows (p.613-614):

Scripture strongly affirms ministries of spiritual healing, which in recent years have received renewed emphasis throughout Christ’s holy Church. The root of the word healing in the New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness. Spiritual healing is God’s work of offering persons balance, harmony, and wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Through such healing, God works to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity, among individuals and communities, within each person, and between humanity and the rest of creation. The New Testament records that Jesus himself healed the estranged and sick and sent out his disciples on ministries of healing. James (5:15-16) calls us also to pray for and anoint the sick, that they may be healed.

All healing is of God. The Church’s healing ministry in no way detracts from the gifts God gives through medicine and psychotherapy. It is no substitute for either medicine or the proper care of one’s health. Rather, it adds to our total resources for wholeness. For Christians, the basic purpose of spiritual healing is to renew and strengthen one’s relationship with the living Christ.

Anointing the forehead with oil is a sign invoking the healing love of God. The oil points beyond itself and those doing the anointing to the action of the Holy Spirit and the presence of the healing Christ, who is God’s anointed one.”

Our Stephen Ministers will come and assist me in this service.  Please come and receive the anointment of oil as we hold one another in our prayers.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Jennifer

We share special prayers for Joan Reckenbeil, mother of Don Reckenbeil and Soon Duk Cho, mother of Rev. Brandon Cho who have been received into God's eternal rest. Let us offer prayers of comfort for the Reckenbeil and Cho families.

We share prayers of comfort and healing for Abbey Bielefeldt and Andrew Smith, friend of the Gruber family.

We invite you to purchase Easter flowers in honor or in memory of loved ones. Flowers will be available to purchase until March 27. You may pick-up your flowers after church on Easter morning (April 9).

Flowers may be purchased following our service on Sunday mornings, or by clicking the button below.

Join Our Team and Help Us to Spread God's Love

Bridgewater United Methodist Church is looking for qualified candidates to join our team in the following roles:

Digital Ministry Coordinator

Childcare Ministry Coordinator

Please see below for more details and submit resumes to office@bridgewaterumc.org.

Family Friendly Spring Outdoor Work Day

Prep Day - March 23 at 10 AM

March 25, 8 AM - 12 PM

The Trustees would like to invite you to come work alongside us and your friends at BUMC to make our grounds beautiful for Easter Sunday and beyond. On Thursday morning, we will prep the area for Saturdays work day. Then on Saturday, we will be moving and spreading mulch in the shrub and flower beds at our church, planting flowers, and also picking up sticks from the lawns (along with some leaf raking) at both the church and parsonage. This is a great activity for people of all ages and especially families. 

Please volunteer your time, for just an hour or two, or for the entire morning if you can. Bring leaf and garden rakes, leaf blowers and tarps, and wheelbarrows, if possible. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to Pat Hamilton.

In the case of inclement weather, please check the BUMC website for updated information.

Easter Egg Hunt

April 2, 2:30 PM

Join us for our annual BUMC Egg Hunt Sunday April 2nd at 2:30pm. We will start out in the sanctuary for story and song, then head outside for the egg hunt, snack, craft, service project, and visits with the Easter Bunny.  Please register each child individually. The event is free, if you would like to contribute to our book drive project please see details below. We also need volunteers and egg stuffer donations to make the event a success. Links containing details are below. 

Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event is Back!

April 16

This year, we will pack 20,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger, a hands-on international hunger relief program coordinating assembly-line packaging of nutritious meals for people living in needy third-world countries. The food is distributed through the schools, encouraging the children to remain in school. With education being a means of breaking the cycle of poverty, keeping children in school is extremely important.

Please click here for more information, and click the buttons below to register and donate to this year's Rise Against Hunger event.

Easter Basket Donations

Items Due April 2

The United Women in Faith will once again be preparing Easter Baskets to be distributed to families in need through FISH. These baskets are age specific from infant to teen. We are asking for donations of:

• Individually wrapped candy and snack items
• Small toys & games
• Teen items

Items may be left near the Mission Closet in the large Easter collection basket through Sunday, April 2nd. If you would prefer to provide a financial donation so that members of the United Women in Faith may shop for you, please click the link below and select "Easter Baskets."

We invite you to honor the special people in your life through a donation to our Chancel Guild and designating a date for commemorative flowers. This is a great way to celebrate events such as birthdays and anniversaries, and to honor the important people in your life who are no longer here with you. To participate, click here or visit the Chancel Guild calendar located near the BUMC office.

The suggested donation for sponsoring the Chancel Guild is $25. Please send your donation to the church, indicating "Chancel Guild" in the memo, or click the button below.

This Week's Featured Item

Chosen because March is Women's History Month