United Methodist Bishops Call for Prayer and Peace in the new Middle East war

For Immediate Release 

Sunday, March 1, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. ­­— We know that our hearts are heavy as we witness the mounting loss of life from the ongoing military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, and from retaliatory strikes by Iran. Families are grieving the loss of loved ones, and entire communities are shaken by the weight of uncertainty, fear, and profound sorrow. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire of a widening conflict they did not choose.

Scripture reminds us that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). As bishops of The United Methodist Church, we hold fast to this promise as we pray for all who have been killed, all who are injured, and all who now carry trauma and fear in the wake of this violence. We stand resolute in remembering the uncompromising call of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). This calling is a summons to act with courage and with a steadfast commitment to honoring the dignity and life of every human being.

We urge leaders on every side to turn from the escalation of violence and seek paths toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace. We implore them to place the protection of innocent lives at the center of every decision. 

As followers of Christ, let us be steadfast in prayer for those whose lives were taken that they may rest in God’s eternal peace. Let us pray for the wounded that healing and comfort may surround them. Let us pray for families and communities in mourning that they may find strength for the days ahead. And let us pray for leaders and nations that they may choose the path of peace over the path of destruction.

May God’s Spirit move among us and within us, guiding our hearts toward justice, compassion, and the hard, holy work of peacemaking. May we be instruments of Christ’s peace in a world yearning for healing.

In Christ’s mercy,

Bishop Tracy S. Malone

President, Council of Bishops

The United Methodist Church

Easter Egg Hunt 

Sunday, March 29 | 11:15am

Join us for our annual Easter Egg hunt after the church service on Sunday, March 29th. We will have crafts and a picture opportunity with the Easter Bunny! Here's a few ways you can help or participate:

Attend!

Sign up HERE to reserve your spot! Donations will be made to The Maker's Place, a diaper bank and resource center for families in Trenton.

Donate!

Candy donations are needed and can be dropped off in a bin by the mission closet. if you would like to donate money to buy candy, please contact Veronica.

Volunteer!

Volunteers are needed before and during the event. If you can stuff eggs ahead of time, please contact Veronica to get eggs and candy.

Volunteers are needed to help put eggs out, help with crafts, and check people in. Please sign up HERE.

Lydia Circle Meeting

Thursday, March 5th at 1:00 pm

Lydia Circle will meet Thursday, March 5th at 1:00 pm at BUMC. We will fill eggs with candy for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. All are welcome. Please notify the church office if you want to attend.

Rise Against Hunger - Meal Packing Event

Sunday, April 12th, 9:30 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! More information will be updated soon.

Friendship Circle-Weekend Backpack Project

March 9th 10:00 a.m.



We will be packing bags of food for the Somerset County Food Bank for the Weekend Backpack program. You may help by buying food for the bags and/or helping us to pack the bags. Information about this activity and the food needed is on the bulletin board outside the church office. Please call Nancy Manger at 908-625-7230 if you have any questions.

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.

Used Clothing Drop-Off



BUMC will receive a small payment for each pound of clothing that is collected in the bin provided. Please support our church by donating your clean and lightly used clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, drapes, pillowcases, and stuffed animals.

(Not accepted: rags, fabric scraps, pillows, toys, books, or household goods.)

Thank you for your donations!

Chancel Guild



Would you like to honor a loved one’s birthday or anniversary with flowers on the credence shelf? Or you may like to remember the passing of a spouse, parents, or a loved one. The Chancel Guild ladies are happy to create a special fresh flower arrangement for you on a date on or near your special date. A sign up calendar is posted on the bulletin board leading to Fellowship Hall. A donation of $25 is requested to help defray the cost of the flowers, which are available to be picked up following the church service.  

Coffee Fellowship Hour Volunteers



Coffee Fellowship is resuming in Fellowship Hall. We are looking for volunteers to provide snacks for our coffee fellowship following the Sunday worship service. A new sign-up sheet will be on the bulletin board tomorrow.

Young Family Ministries Coordinator

Start Date: Summer 2026 

Bridgewater United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time Young Family Ministries Coordinator to nurture and connect young families in faith. Responsibilities include coordinating Sunday School, leading Vacation Bible School (VBS), planning young family events, supporting volunteers, and strengthening communication with parents. We are looking for a collaborative, organized, and faith-filled leader who is passionate about helping children and families grow in Christ. For more information or to apply, please contact the church office. 

Music Director 

Start Date: May 2026

Bridgewater United Methodist Church is seeking a passionate and collaborative Music Director to begin in May 2026. This part-time position will lead and nurture our worship music ministry by planning music for weekly and special services, directing choir and other ensembles, and working closely with the pastor and worship team to create meaningful, Christ-centered worship experiences. The ideal candidate will bring strong musical leadership, organizational skills, and a heart for congregational singing and spiritual formation through music. Please send your resume to the church office for consideration.

Media Ministry Coordinator

Start Date: June 2026



Bridgewater United Methodist Church is seeking a detail-oriented and creative Media Ministry Coordinator to begin in June 2026. This part-time role will oversee livestreaming, sound, projection, and digital media to ensure high-quality in-person and online worship experiences. The coordinator will also support website updates and digital communications. The ideal candidate will have technical proficiency, reliability, and a commitment to supporting the church’s mission through effective and engaging media ministry. Please send your resume to the church office for consideration.

Media ministry needs you!

We are looking for volunteers, especially for live streaming during worship services. I need a text volunteer to manage subtitles and someone to control the camera during the live stream. Helping once a month is more than enough. Youth are also welcome, so if you're interested in volunteering, please contact Dohee Woo(dwoo@bridgewaterumc.org).

Prayer Request

• Judy Kaminetzky
• Betty Brown
• Linden Joy and Lawrenz Family
• Sal Navatto (friends of Bob & Lynne Kinch)

We keep prayer requests for two weeks unless you ask us to keep them longer. Thank you.