What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 7:30pm - 9pm Sunday 8:30am - 11am

http://simpsonumc-oldbridge.com/

Simpson UMC- Old Bridge, 2095 Route 516 East, Old Bridge, NJ (2026)

05/07/2026

Good morning Friends,
Happy Friday Eve!
Make the most of your day and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Be blessed, be persistent, be a blessing.

Daily Devotional for May 7, 2026

A Persistent Faith

By Vic H. (Alabama, USA)

Read Hebrews 12:1-2

Paul wrote, “The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14 (CEB)

Many years ago, I decided that I wanted to learn guitar, and I wanted to be able to play it well. I bought an inexpensive guitar at first. After learning some chords, I could play a few songs. I thought that if I bought a really nice guitar it would enhance my playing, so I asked a friend of mine, who is an excellent guitarist, to pick one out for me. He selected one that sounded the best to him. That was 35 years ago. I can still play, but I’m average at best. I failed to take into consideration the many hours of practice needed to become the guitarist I aspired to be.

Like learning the guitar, embarking on a spiritual journey is filled with both excitement and uncertainty. You start with basic chords and simple melodies as a beginner guitar player, and you start with the fundamentals of faith as a new believer. Musicians play more complex pieces as their skills develop. Likewise, as we grow in faith, we take on more challenging spiritual questions. And just like playing an instrument, growing in faith requires commitment, practice, and time.

In both endeavors, there will be times of frustration — when your fingers fumble or your faith is tested. Like with so many other things, the beauty lies not just in the end result but in the journey itself. And each step we take in faith moves us along a much greater path.

Today's Prayer
Gracious God, may we always put you first in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

CALM
Sight Psalm for May 7, 2026
"[Jesus] awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39 (ASV)
Photo by Dave J

05/06/2026

Good morning Friends,
Happy Hump Day!
Make it a great day and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Be blessed and be a blessing.

Daily Devotional for May 6, 2026

Strength Is Overrated

By Chiazo Obiudu (Ebonyi State, Nigeria)

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (NRSVUE)

It’s often flattering to be called strong, but I am learning that human strength is overrated. I wanted to be strong for my dad and our family as I helplessly watched my dad’s health deteriorate due to sepsis-induced multiple organ failure. So I tried to ignore the hurt I felt. Even after he died less than three weeks later, I kept trying to be strong. The effort nearly broke me. I was exhausted and drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I’m learning it’s okay to be tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed. And we can admit it to those close to us — especially to our heavenly Father. We don’t need to pretend with God, to act strong or seem like we’ve got it all together. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Christ cried to God before facing crucifixion, so why should we try to face challenges, heartbreak, or loss without crying to God for help? God is our ever-present help in trouble, and God invites us to draw near in times of need. We can be vulnerable with God, who is not embarrassed by our tears or put off by our weakness. Rather, God takes us in, comforts us, and gives us strength.

Today's Prayer
Ever-present God, may we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, always remember that even when we feel weak, you are with us in our times of need. Amen.

WELCOME
Sight Psalm for May 6, 2026
What signs and gestures tell newcomers that they are welcome in our midst?
Photo by Chris Woehl

05/05/2026

Good morning Friends,
Happy Cinco De Mayo AND Taco Tuesday!
What a perfect alignment!
Give thanks for the gift of the day.
Enjoy the warmth and sunshine today as you spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Be blessed and be a blessing.

Daily Devotional for May 5, 2026
Stop to Give Thanks
By Peter Caligiuri (Florida, USA)

Read Luke 17:11-19

He prostrated himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:16 (NRSVUE)

On a recent trip, I noticed that instead of being thankful, I was complaining. The bed was hard (but it was clean); the air conditioner was loud (but it worked well); the hotel breakfast was skimpy (but someone prepared it for me). I asked God to forgive my ungrateful attitude and recalled the many times Jesus gave thanks. He thanked God for the five loaves and two fish before they were multiplied. He thanked God for hearing his prayers before Lazarus was raised from the dead. Even on the night he was betrayed, Jesus gave thanks. As I asked for forgiveness, God showed me that gratitude was not what God was asking me to feel, rather giving thanks was what God wanted me to do.
The Samaritan man in today’s verse was one of ten people who came to Jesus to be healed of leprosy. All of them looked to God for help. All of them prayed. All of them obeyed Jesus’ instructions, and all were joyful when they were healed. But only the Samaritan stopped and returned to give thanks.
To learn gratitude, we don’t need to work up a grateful feeling. Rather, we simply need to stop complaining, return to Jesus, and give him thanks!

Today's Prayer
O Lord, when we complain, remind us to give thanks instead. Amen.

REST
Sight Psalm for May 5, 2026
God of Light, grant us peaceful rest as this day comes to a close.
Photo by Rev Ann Emerson

05/04/2026

Good morning Friends,
Happy Monday!
Make the most out of this beautiful day that God has given us! Spend some time outdoors with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day, if you can.
Remember.... "And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." Tarry with Jesus a little today. . .

Daily Devotional for May 4, 2026

Sewn Together

By Dina Klotz (Tennessee, USA)

Read Ephesians 4:29-32

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

When I begin a new sewing project, I choose fabric from my fairly large stash of remnants that vary in size and shape. I take into consideration the patterns, colors, and fabric thickness when deciding what to use.

Once I’ve chosen the fabric, I start measuring, cutting, ironing, and sewing the pieces together, ensuring that each piece meshes well with the next one so that the end result is strong and cohesive.

Much like a sewing project joins various fabrics, Christian community brings diverse people together. Just as fabrics have their own unique characteristics, every person is distinctive. Our life experiences also shape us and help us to connect with others. Times of grief, uncertainty, or even joy can help us to become more compassionate toward others.

When we support one another, our lives are woven together, forming a strong unit. The strength and confidence we find in community help us to care for each other and show the love of Christ.

Today's Prayer
Dear God, fill us with your love so that we may show compassion to others. Guide our words and actions as we seek to help those around us. Join us together in forgiveness, love, and support for one another. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

FOUNDATION
Sight Psalm for May 4, 2026
Christ is the solid foundation upon whom we build our faith and our life.
Photo by Wess Haubrich

05/03/2026

5th Sunday of Easter
THE WORD John 20:11-18 pg. 114
WORD TODAY “Meaning In Music”

04/30/2026

Good morning Easter People!
Happy Friday Eve!
Make it a great day and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Today is a good day to have a good day!
Be blessed and be a blessing.

Daily Devotional for April 30, 2026
In the Gap
By Helen Dening (New York, USA)

Read Ezekiel 22:23-30

The word of the Lord to Ezekiel, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)

Last summer while my husband and I were walking our dog, we noticed a hollyhock plant growing on the edge of the street. The plant stood tall, tucked in a space where two concrete curb sections came together. It was an unusual place to find a flower growing.

Over the summer, I marveled as the plant bloomed with pink flowers, attracting butterflies and affecting the whole neighborhood. Bike riders moved to the center of the street to avoid bumping the flowering plant. Neighbors congregated near it and watered the hollyhock. On trash pick-up day, I nervously watched the approaching garbage truck. My fluttering stomach calmed as I saw the truck swing wide around the plant.

This little plant brought to my mind the story in Ezekiel 22 of God searching for people in Jerusalem willing to stand in the gap in the wall. God was looking for people willing to make a difference and stand strong against sin when no one else would.

God still searches for people willing to stand up and make a difference. It may mean doing the unpopular or the uncomfortable. It may mean going to unexpected places or speaking to someone who seems unapproachable. It surely means trusting completely in the One who is always dependable.

Today's Prayer
Dear God, show us how to stand in the gap and make a difference with you and for you. Amen.

FOCUS
Sight Psalm for April 30, 2026
May the risen Christ always be at the center of our lives.
Photo by Laura Norris

04/29/2026

Good morning Easter People!
Happy Hump Day!
Make it a great day and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Be blessed today simply because you are a child of the Living God!

Daily Devotional for April 29, 2026
Faith in Uncertainty
By Preston Riffe (Kentucky, USA)

Read Matthew 6:9-13

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

A few years ago, I faced a period of profound uncertainty. My job situation was unstable, and I was unsure how I would support my family. Each day brought new challenges and questions without clear answers.

Sitting at the kitchen table one evening with bills scattered around us, my wife and I prayed together. As we prayed, I looked out the window and saw a small bird perched on a branch, singing joyfully. Here was a creature with no means to plan for the future, yet it seemed completely content and provided for. This reminded me of Jesus’ message about the birds of the air in Matthew 6.

The next morning I took a walk to clear my mind and reflect on God’s words. I noticed the beauty all around me: the flowers blooming by the roadside, the gentle rustling of leaves, and the warmth of the sun on my face. These small blessings reminded me that God cares deeply for all creation. Focusing on the present and trusting God with my future gave me a profound sense of peace.

I learned to pray daily for my needs and to leave my worries with God. This practice didn’t remove the uncertainties, but it transformed how I navigated them. I began to see each day as an opportunity to witness God’s faithfulness and provision, even in the smallest of things.

Today's Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your constant care and provision. Teach us to live in the present and to trust in your faithfulness each day. Amen.

SECURE
Sight Psalm for April 29, 2026
It is a gift to rest, secure and warm in the knowledge that you are loved.
Photo by John Robbins

04/28/2026

Good morning Easter People!
Happy Tuesday!
Give thanks for the gift of today and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Be blessed and be a blessing.

Daily Devotional for April 28, 2026

The Little We Offer

By Carol Peter (Gujarat, India)

Read John 6:1-14

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

One night, my 10-year-old son and I were returning from another city, and we stopped to buy him some food. The eatery was crowded, but we waited patiently and I got him a rice bowl with chicken. Because it was getting late, we returned to our car, planning for him to eat on the way. Suddenly a child ran up to us with her hand held out, begging for money. Without thinking twice, my son pressed the food parcel into her hands.

In that moment I was reminded of another generous boy who gave his meal of five small loaves of bread and two small fish to Jesus when there was a crowd of five thousand hungry people to feed. The boy didn’t keep it for himself, though he must have been tired and hungry too. Jesus thanked God for the food, and it was sufficient. There were even leftovers! My son didn’t solve all the problems of children living on the streets of India — or even for that one child. He just did what he could. If we all are generous in a small way, the Lord will take the little we offer and multiply it.

Today's Prayer
Dear God, help us to reach out to others with all that we have even when we have only a small contribution to make. Amen.

SKYWARD
Sight Psalm for April 28, 2026
“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” – Kahlil Gabran
Photo by Joaanne S. Utley

04/27/2026

Good morning Easter People!
Happy Monday!
Make the most of your day and spend some time with our Sight Psalm and Devotion for the day.
Live like People of the Resurrection today!

Daily Devotional for April 27, 2026
People of Resurrection
By Bob LaForge (New Jersey, USA)

Read Romans 6:1-10

If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:5 (NIV)

Every year I have a vegetable garden. I start by planting tomato and pepper seeds in pots inside the house months before the ground warms up. That way, when I transfer them out to the garden, they are already quite large. This year, I put the pots in the garage instead of the house. After several weeks, there were no sprouts. I planted more seeds and still no sprouts appeared. I gave up hope; but then when the weather warmed up, I saw sprouts in my pots. The garage had been too cold for the seeds to germinate.
How often do our dreams seem to go nowhere? When it looks like hope has been crushed and everything is bleak, we are tempted to admit defeat. But we are not a people of hopelessness and despair; we are people of resurrection.
On Easter morning, the stone was rolled away, and the risen Christ stepped out leaving the grave clothes behind. That is our hope and assurance. Our trials are not the final story. Rather, trials provide a chance for a new start. Because of Jesus we are not defeated; we are people of resurrection.

Today's Prayer
Lord Jesus, strengthen us as we weather our trials so that we may live into the promise of resurrection. Amen.

COMMUNITY
Sight Psalm for April 27, 2026
By making space for one another, we can all thrive. In God's kingdom there is more than enough.
Photo by J Keith Zimmerman

04/26/2026

Recorded on April 26, 2026

04/26/2026

Sunday

Simpson UMC- Old Bridge

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

05/05/2026

05/04/2026

05/03/2026

04/30/2026

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

04/27/2026

04/26/2026

04/26/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Place Of Worship

Shortcuts

Share

Category