Pastor's e-Note
February 16, 2021
Dear Church Family and Friends,
 
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent, the season to deepen our relationship with God through penitence, repentance, and prayer. During Lent we get back to the basics of our faith and spiritual discipline. In a way, it is a good time to focus on “being fully present with God” more intentionally while “doing God’s work” each day. 
 
One of my favorite hymns “Take Time to Be Holy” has these words: “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in him always, and feed on his word. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus, like him you shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall be.”
 
During this Lenten season, in which we engage in forty-days of prayer and preparation for Easter, I am going to seek ways to walk closer with Jesus and learn to be more like him. And, I invite you to do the same and spend some quality time with Jesus each day.
 
Let us walk closer with Jesus during this holy Lenten season. God bless you now and always. 
 
Grace and peace,
 
Rev. Jennifer
This Weeks Scripture - Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Worship With Us
Ash Wednesday
February 17
Tomorrow we will offer drive thru ashes from 7-9 am and 4-6 pm. Please pull up to the front doors of the church, wait in your car and one of the pastors will come outside to safely offer you ashes. Join us at 7 pm for a Zoom worship service. Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes will be shared virtually. Please prepare dirt or potting soil to smudge on your head, if you want to impose your own ashes. 

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 51:1-17
New Testament Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

View bulletin
To join this service by phone, call 1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID: 826 9027 4253
Passcode: 634831
Sunday Online Worship Service
February 21 at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Jennifer Cho will preach her sermon, “Walking with Jesus in the storms” and the scripture reading is Matthew 14:22-33. Lori Dowles, Wesley Ringers, Foundation Singers, Karl Dietel, and Margin Alexander will present various music. 

You can view this worship service through our Facebook page or through a link on our website.
Prayer Requests
Please join us in praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need of prayers.

Let us share prayers of comfort and healing for Amelio Angelini, father of Diane Bitterle.
Missions
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 9E Easy St, Bound Brook, NJ 08805. Thank you very much.
Find Something for You and Your Family
In the Grant Dittman Memorial Library
Search the catalog online to find what wonderful books and media are in the library. Or come meet with a librarian and browse the collections together. Appointments are available on the following days:
Mornings – Tuesday and Thursday
Afternoons – Monday through Saturday

Featured Items for Lent
In Plain View of the Cross, by Kwasi Issa Kena
This Lenten study for adults will encourage you to gaze at the divine nature of God. The cross is the center of time, hope and faith. The cross is the focus of God’s passion, sacrifice and love. From the cross, Christ invites you to follow him. You dare not ignore the challenge.
Lent is for Remembering, by Donna R. Rathert
Activities of the Lenten season such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter are presented to young children. Waving palm branches, singing “Hosanna!” and “Alleluia”, and sharing communion, help children learn the mystery of Jesus’ death. A note to parents helps use of this book as a family at home.
(For Grades Pre K-K, Children’s Holiday Collection.)
Directions for Reserving and Picking-Up Items
Contactless curbside circulation service continues. Search the catalog to find what wonderful books and media are in the library. Send an email to the librarian listing the items that you wish to borrow. You will be notified when they are ready to be picked up at the doors to the church.
BRIDGEWATER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
651 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • 908.526.1414
BRIDGEWATERUMC.ORG