Easter service at Brookville Community Church in Barnegat began at 11:30 a.m. At 11:20, Dave and Tammy were sitting in their car chatting with Bill, who was leaning into their window. My husband and I pulled up and said hi.

Tammy and Dave have been attending the one-room church for almost two years. They live in Beachwood, but park their motor home at Brookville Campground down the street, said Tammy. 

“We saw this little church. We’re very fond of it. We love it. It’s just beautiful, " she said. 

The little building reminds her of an old Victorian chapel, she said. She's equally fond of Brookville's pastor, Eileen Murphy.

"She’s a wonderful speaker," said Tammy.

At 11:25, I pushed open the church door and Bill turned on the light. He lives in the neighborhood and had the keys to the church. Dave began searching for a brochure that would tell me about Brookville's history. He gave up a few minutes later when three women arrived. 

One woman sat in a chair at the front of the sanctuary facing the congregation – eight of us altogether. She asked if anyone had joys to share. 

Wendy Jones, who comes to Brookville from Long Beach Island, shared news of her first grandchild, born a month ago. Jones used to live in Brookville and has been attending the church for 18 years, she said after the service. 

"We would come here as a church and we'd get all of the news of what was going on, because we lived on a dirt road. It was just one of those things that kept us together," said Jones of the church's role in the community. 

"All my kids were baptized here. I was the Sunday school teacher, then I turned into the treasurer," she said.  

As the service continued, I realized that the woman at the front was Murphy, the pastor. 

The previous pastor, Carole Wagg, had retired, Jones said, and Wagg's father had been pastor before her. Murphy was appointed to the United Methodist church in July 2010. She had retired from full time ministry and was filling in here and there, she said.

"I said that I wanted one little part-time church near home," Murphy said, but now she serves two small churches, Brookville and West Creek United Methodist Church, where the congregation averages 40 people.  

Brookville was moved eight or nine years ago to put a foundation under it, Jones said.

"We did that purposely so [the late] Frank Milano could put these stained glass windows in because we couldn't do it without a good foundation," she said.  

Milano's widow Linda usually plays the organ, but she was absent, so the congregation flipped pages in the hymnal and chose a few songs to sing a capella. 

"[Linda] tells me that she plays because nobody else will play. ... She's very gracious and plays, but this is Easter. The whole family is getting together and going to one of the larger churches where they've got a lot of things going on," said Murphy.

Murphy preached her sermon from her seat, talking about the empty tomb of Jesus and his confused disciples.

"It was resurrection day and soon they would know," said Murphy. "It is said of Jesus, in Him was life."

People come alive in his presence, but some chose the way of fear and nailed him to a cross, she said. He believed in the dignity of all and dealt patiently with his disciples when they just couldn’t get it together.

"What keeps you from abundant life? What discourages you? What hurts need healing?" Murphy asked.

We can overcome through the resurrection power of Jesus and carry Christ's message of new life to others, the pastor said. Too often, though, we're like seed in a package, full of promise, but with nothing to show for it, she said.

She challenged her little flock to eliminate hatred, resentment and jealousy, and admonished us to forgive ourselves and others, and to look for signs of God at work in the world. A seed silently yields itself to its indwelling pattern,  Murphy said, and challenged the congregation to yield to the indwelling pattern of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Bill passed the collection plate when Murphy finished her sermon. We sang the congregations two favorite hymns: the doxology and "God Be with You Till We Meet Again." Then we stood in a circle holding hands and Murphy prayed a benediction.

Before we left, Jones found the missing half page historical document, written by Mrs. Myra Bachman, who died in 1978. Bachman estimated that Brookville had been operating since 1825, but said the church was closed when she moved to Brookville in 1923. 

"There were enough women in the interested in re-opening the church. We worked like mad, but had a lot of good fellowship to keep us going," Bachman wrote. 

"After things began to 'look up' the men became interested and put up wainscoating and laid a new floor – Mr. Ira Couch built the belfry and entry to the church. We procured  the bell from Mr. John Lott of Freehold. ...After many dinners, bake sales and bazaars, we were able to purchase new pews, carpeting, and replace the pump organ with an electric one," she continued. 

Brookville Community Church meets the first Sunday of every month and sometimes at other times, but there is no phone number to call at this point to find out when, Murphy said.

"I've been trying to get them to meet more often. I think some of them are involved in other churches, but this has been in their heart for years," she said.

I asked her about the blessings and challenges of serving a small congregation.

"They're exciting and interesting. Having enough help can be really hard. If you're a part-time pastor, it's also hard because you're commuting. ...There's a lot of things that you don't have the volunteers to do that you have in a lot of places," said Murphy. 

Tracey Betrix has lived in Brookville for 25 years, but has been attending the church for close to 15 years, she said.

"[I] just love the little church ... just everything about it," she said. "I live on this dirt road here. Love it. Love it."

Brookville will meet again next Sunday, May 1.