IN THIS ISSUE: Living Nativity PAGE 3
Team Vital’s New Vision and Goals PAGE 5
Stop Hunger Now and Vendor Fair PAGE 7
Upcoming Events PAGE 9
A bimonthly publication of Bridgewater United Methodist Church NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2016 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
Letter from the Pastor The seasons have been changing…somehow summer has melted into fall and fall into harvest and now we begin to prepare for the Thanksgiving and Advent seasons. Time often seems elusive as it speeds by…each minute a precious gift from God to use or abuse. Seasons come and go. Change happens around us and within. But in the midst of change, in the midst of fleeting days or times that seem endless with waiting, God is there—unchanging yet ever-creating, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When we take the time out of busy days to connect and build our relationship with God, the foundation of our lives rests secure in the solidness of that steady bond. When we live by God’s commandments and let grace shine through our lives, we find a place where our souls can rest in the blessedness of God. The things that we do to honor and glorify God, the ways we choose to spend our time, our talents, and our money in God’s mission and ministry DO make a difference; in our relationship to God, in our relationship to others and our world; and in our own sense of self-understanding. Some of them are featured in these pages. As we enter into the season of thankfulness and celebration, I urge you to take a good look at your life with a sense of gratitude—even if you are going through a hard time right now. The blessings— faith, family, friends, work, church community, shelter, food, and clothing; the times God has walked with you through difficulties; the memories of loved ones gone before us who have helped to form who you are; and the hope that carries you toward a future that will somehow be life-giving and whole are all a fulfillment of God’s faithfulness and presence. Yes, seasons change and things change around us; but God is still God. Trust it. Believe it. Live it out loud. Blessings on the journey,
Rev. Vicki Brendler
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Pastoral & Church Staff Rev. Dr. Vicki M. Brendler, Senior Pastor Rev. Ben Lee, Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation Rev. June Tamburro, Associate Pastor of Discipleship Cathi Reckenbeil, Director of Ministries with Children, Younger Youth & Their
651 Country Club Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908-526-1414
Families
bridgewaterumc.org office@bridgewaterumc.org Vision Statement: We invite all people into an accepting and loving community of peace and refuge that makes disciples of Jesus Christ to impact lives through mission and service.
Mary Beth Gruber, Finance Manager/Treasurer Nick Jankucic, Property Manager Jannet Poole, Administrative Secretary Janet Ledbetter, Administrative Assistant Diana T. Berenter, Childcare Coordinator Jeanne Alusik, Director of Children’s Corner For questions or comments about this publication, please contact: veronica.sydlowski@gmail.com
Social Media Posts ofCORNER the Summer CHILDREN’S AT BUMC
Like and follow us on Facebook651 to view pictures/videos find out what’s on at church Country Club Road,and Bridgewater, NJ going 08807
908-526-9596 • www.theccorner.org childbumc@gmail.com Ages 2-6 • Full and Half Day Programs The Church Nursery has a new look! Over the summer the nursery was renovated and boasts a new floor, rug, furniture, and cabinets. Stop by to see the changes or take time to volunteer in the nursery and play with the little ones!
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The Living Nativity
By: Rishona Kumar, high school senior As the melodies of familiar Christmas hymns linger around Bridgewater United Methodist Church (BUMC) on the cold Christmas Eve night, so do the sounds of goats, sheep, and excessive benevolent honking from drivers passing by. The Living Nativity is one of Robin Bonner’s favorite traditions which she thoroughly enjoys with her family. Her kids have been part of this
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retelling since they were kids and now as young adults still love dressing up and working with the animals. Robin has recently become a leader of this ministry which has been going on for several decades. The Living Nativity was started “to honor Christ because of his birthday,” said Loretta Ark, who has been part of this event since 1975.
Loretta also explained that it is important to remind people why we celebrate the holiday. Loretta said that the idea started amongst a small group of members, including the Masters family, and started on another part of the church property. Over the years they moved to their current location on Country Club Road, added a manger (donated by the Schulz family), costumes, and animals.
volunteers. Loretta and Lynn traditionally hand out candy canes taped with the Candy Cane Legend for younger kids as a little reminder of Jesus’s love.
Members of the congregation volunteer to dress up as a biblical figure, such as one of the Three Kings or a shepherd. Loretta recalled one year Lynn Masters used her infant son to play the part of Jesus. To complete the manger scene, stuffed horses, cows and even chickens, are eloquently displayed around the baby, as the barn animals. Forty years later, the Living Nativity is still a significant tradition which allows the entire family to honor Jesus’ birth. Thanks to the generosity of Cathy Christy and her farm, the Living Nativity now features llamas, sheep, goats, and a donkey to help share the word of God.
With the help of Jack Russell, Fong Ark, and Nate Hart, who set up the display, Robin, Loretta, and Lynn, and volunteers from the congregation, the word of our Savior does not go overlooked.
Reflecting on the first Living Nativity, Bob Timmons shared, “They [my kids] were dressed as shepherds… and the one goat kept jumping the fence… that was a special night for all of us and the congregation!”
Look out for sign ups at church and consider volunteering for a 30 minute shift and experience praising Jesus through the joyous Living Nativity! No experience needed and open to all!
Along with the animals, the community also enjoys observing the joyous scene. As they drive by, many honk. This display of gratitude is one of Robin’s favorite parts. She loves seeing all the happy faces and hearing the appreciation through the beeping cars, even if it is only for a mere second. Loretta said that before the start of the Living Nativity each year, Rev. Vicki Brendler will bless all of the animals and November/December | | 4
Update on Team Vital Goals As outlined in the sermon during our Open House on September 11, Team Vital has been in the process of prayerfully discerning what God has in store for our congregation in the future. How do we grow as a congregation, in a world that is radically different from what it was 50, 25, or even 10 years ago? What do we do when the older ways of reaching people in our community are no longer effective? How do we reach out and let more people know that we welcome all to come and find the peace and love of Christ? How do we inspire people to live lives that become the gospel, or good news for all they meet?
WORSHIP Outcome: Weekly worship attendance regularly exceeds 200 people within 15 months and 250 within 2 years as people feel inspired and welcomed to participate in joyful, meaningful, worship experiences. Goal: Equip our congregation to welcome visitors naturally and effectively to worship services.
Goal: Research and consider design innovations and small changes to our blended contemporary worship service (at 10:30) to improve attendance. Goal: Offer a weekday alternative worship service for people who are unable or choose not to worship on Sundays.
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We know from research that churches that have inspiring worship, many small groups, are invitational, welcoming, share their faith, are engaged in
MAKING NEW DISCIPLES Outcome: We are known for making disciples who live the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, as demonstrated by a 10% increase in the number of professions in faith (excl. confirmation) within 18 months and a 15% increase within 2 years. Top Priority Goal: Implement a marketing strategy that ensures that all communication medium tells compelling stories about the BUMC faith community and invites people of all ages to learn about how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how together we can serve God and our neighbors. Goal: Equip members of the BUMC faith community to be fruitful disciples. Goal: A new prayer mailbox ministry is formed which serves the needs of our local community and equips people to be praying disciples. Goal: Provide opportunities for spiritual discussion and fellowship for college age group during their summer break with a goal of 6-8 faithful participants. Goal: Review and audit ministries to ensure they are fulfilling our mission to create new disciples, ensure we are a place of peace and refuge, and are fruitful in making new disciples. Ensure we are making the best use of our time, talents and budgets.
various mission and service opportunities, and who are faithful in their generosity of time and money are the most likely to be growing. So Team Vital focused on these markers of
MISSION Outcome: We are known for making disciples who live the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, as demonstrated by a 10% increase in new participants in mission and service ministries within 18 months and a 15% increase within 2 years. Goal: Educate and advertise about the importance of the needs served by our current mission ministry opportunities to the BUMC faith community and local community, in order to inspire people to join a mission or service project as a means for practicing discipleship.
GIVING Outcome: We are known for making disciples who live the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, as demonstrated by a demonstrated increase in the number of disciples who give generously of their time, spiritual gifts, and financial resources within 6 months along with a corresponding 10% increase in financial pledges and/or monetary gifts with a projected increase of 15% within 12 months. Goal: Educate the congregation on the call of a disciple to be generous with their time, spiritual gifts and financial resources as well as the cost of supporting existing and planned ministries.
vitality, and came up with the following desired outcomes and goals. Church Council reviewed and approved the plan. We know that we can’t do it all at once. But these are the things that we think, after much prayer, discernment, and discussion that we need to be working on to continue to remain vital (in the areas of mission and growing small groups) and grow in vitality in the areas of worship, making new disciples, and stewardship. We will continue communicate these goals in various ways, including listening / Q&A sessions after each service on November 6. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to help our church bring these outcomes and goals to fruition!
SMALL GROUPS Outcome: We are known for making disciples who live the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, as demonstrated by a 10% increase in the number of disciples enrolled in small groups for faith formation, spiritual development and support within 18 months and a 15% increase within 2 years. Goal: Train and support a diverse group of small group leaders willing to serve as leaders of small groups. Goal: Form at least 1 new support small group within 12 months and 2 more small groups (formed for Bible study, or Mission and Service) within 18 months offering diverse opportunities to connect.
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Vendor & Craft Fair Saturday, November 5 10am-2pm VENDORS INCLUDE:
Thirty-One LuLaRoe Creative Memories Beauty Counter DoTerra PartyLite Poetic Exchange Discovery Toys Tastefully Simple Keep Collective Origami Owl Usborne Books
Tupperware Pampered Chef Jamberry Legacy Republic Wildtree Buskin Leggings Isagenix Young Living Oils
Plus numerous crafters selling items such as jewelry and quilts
Proceeds from the event benefit: If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Diana Berenter at dberenter@bridgewaterumc.org 7 | | November/December
Feeding Hope By: Rishona Kumar, high school senior Inside Fellowship Hall at Bridgewater United Methodist Church (BUMC), vertical tables were set up in rows carrying ten or more large, cardboard boxes of assorted raw nutrients. My friend Parker and I ran around ripping bags of rice, lugging and pouring them into the big boxes. Every so often someone would call for more rice, or the small gong in the corner would reverberate around the room, which would then create a chorus of “woohoos’ and “yippies!” Within an hour, 10,000 bags of raw ingredients were packed and ready to be given to the hungry. Stop Hunger Now is an organization that uses these meal packing events and the subsequent distributions, to work towards a hunger free world. Ray Buchanan, the founder, established Stop Hunger Now in 1998 in Raleigh, North Carolina as a result of his lifetime goal to end hunger. Throughout the world, feeding organizations located in developing countries help distribute the bags of food. These organizations advocate for a handful of healthy enforcements such as education, nutrition, gender equality, and fighting child labor and global affairs.
Our planet is capable of feeding every single person, three times, yet two thirds of our world still remains starving, there is no way hunger cannot be defeated. Ray stated, “our meals provide more than food, they provide hope. That’s the key to ending hunger.” While we as a church challenge ourselves further this year, to fundraise for $3,000 on top of creating our 10,000 meal bags, keep in mind not only our devotion to make a difference, but God’s eagerness as well. Through the influence and spread of hope, hunger can be stopped.
Following the church service on November 20, everyone is invited to come into Fellowship Hall at 10am and help pack 10,000 meals.
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November Highlights To see more events and details, please visit our online calendar at bridgewaterumc.org. All events take place at church unless otherwise noted. NOVEMBER 2016 Su
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Vendor Fair 10am-2pm Fall Work Day on church grounds and parsonages 8am-12pm
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Stop Hunger Now Meal packing in Fellowship Hall
10am Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service Temple Sholom, 594 North Bridge Street, Bridgewater, NJ
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Advent Services 12/18
Festival Orchestra Service—9am & 10:30am Volunteer musicians play traditional Christmas hymns and music
Longest Night Service—7pm
A simple service for those who are struggling with the season
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December Highlights DECEMBER 2016 Su
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Parents Night Out
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Babysitting for 6 months old-4th grade; fee includes games, crafts, snacks
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United Methodist Women (UMW) Cookie Exchange
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Christmas Cookie and Card Decorating with Dinner Children & Family Ministries (infant-4th grade)
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4pm-6pm Alternative Gift Fair 9am-12pm
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Christmas EVE Services 12/24
Living Nativity—4-8pm
Volunteer for 30 minute shifts to be part of the nativity outside of the church complete with lights, manger, and live animals!
Christmas Eve Services—4:30pm, 7pm, 11pm 4:30pm—Service for families with young children 7:00pm—Lessons and Carols 11:00pm—Reflective Service with communion
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Small Group Advent Study is forming with groups starting in late November/early December. Contact Rev. June Tamburro at 908-526-1414 x8 or jtamburro@bridgewaterumc.org for more information on groups dates/time and locations. November/December | | 11