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The Inlet View E-News brings you announcements, news, and updates from Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. Visit us
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If you did not have a chance to attend last Sunday's Town Hall meeting, click HERE to see it on video. Important details of a major upcoming construction project are discussed including a digital representation of the campus transformation.
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from the desk of Walter Cantwell
My father has always dreamed of traveling to the hometown of his great grandfather, Lawrence Cantwell. Before moving to South Carolina during the potato famine, Lawrence grew up in Kilkenny, Ireland.
After nearly a decade of planning and preparing, my father's dream became a reality. We arrived in Kilkenny this past September, and immediately, we made our way to Lawrence's home parish, St. Canice's Cathedral. Upon entering the cathedral, I handed the church guide my credit card to pay for the tour. After reading my name, she informed all of us that our relatives were buried just a few feet away from where we stood. Within thirty minutes, we had a name and address of a family to visit in town. They lived where the Cantwells used to reside.
The next morning, we arrived unannounced at Cantwell Court with the hopes of seeing the old home place. Hearing our accent and noting the size of our group, the owner motioned to us: "You must be Cantwells in search of your ancestors." With a smile, he welcomed us, like he has done for countless other Cantwells throughout the years, into his home, where we learned the rest of the story about our history.
Our conversation turned from the past to the present because our hosts were interested in learning about their visitors. I shared that I am a United Methodist minister. At that moment, his wife blurted out loud, "You are actually a member of our family. We are Methodists!"
The United Methodist Church is unique in that it is a global denomination. Methodist churches are found in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. We are family, connected by similar beliefs and practices. Throughout the history of our denomination, which officially began in 1968, the United Methodist Church has been a diverse church. For many years, the emphasis on making disciples of Jesus Christ has kept the church united while local congregations have viewed social issues differently.
During the last 50 years, every mainline Protestant denomination in the United States, except the United Methodist Church, has split over the question of human sexuality, particularly the question of whether to ordain and marry individuals who identify as LGBTQ. In February, United Methodists from around the world will gather at a special session of General Conference to address the tension that has grown within our worldwide denomination.
The official stance of the United Methodist Church, as it is found in The Book of Discipline, is that all people are of sacred worth, but marriage is between a man and a woman. An individual, who is a practicing homosexual, is disqualified from being ordained within the UMC. There are constraints of who can be married and pastor a congregation, but all people are welcome to be a vital part of the life of the local church as lay members.
Tension and fears of a church schism have grown over the past decade. There are churches, predominately in the Pacific-Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast of the United States, that are no longer following The Book of Discipline. Leaders, both traditionalist and progressive, have demanded actions to be taken in order for this dispute to be resolved.
The Bishops of the United Methodist Church formed The Way Forward Council in 2016 to address these concerns. The Way Forward Council will be presenting three options to the General Conference in February that range from maintaining our current stance to changing the way churches are in relationship with one another. Countless hours of conversation, prayer, and discernment have gone into these three options.
Mike and I invite you to "The Way Forward" Town Hall on Sunday, February 17, in The Sanctuary at 4 PM. Our gathering will be a time where we present proposals from "The Way Forward," answer any questions, and intentionally pray for the upcoming General Conference, which begins on February 23 in St. Louis.
As a United Methodist minister, I have felt the weight of the General Conference. These discussions are important to so many because they involve our hearts and our minds.
At the end of our time with our impromptu hosts in Kilkenny, she mentioned, "I could tell you were Methodists because of your warmth and love."
We are family. And sometimes families have difficult conversations. May our warmth and love be with us as we follow God's way forward for our church and denomination.
With Love,
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Monday, January 28, 6:30 PM
Family Life Center
Men, join us for the United Methodist Men's Seafood Dinner and meeting on Monday, January 28. Please RSVP to the church office by Friday at noon if you plan to attend so we can plan for meal preparation, 843.651.5099 (cost $8). Our District Superintendent, Tim Rogers, will be our special guest and speaker.
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Movie and Dinner with the 55+ Singles
Saturday, January 26, 3 PM
The 55+ Singles are meeting for a movie at Market Common and dinner at California Pizza afterward. RSVP to Charlotte Downey for information or to RSVP: 843.655.2568.
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Next Food Drive . . .
Saturday, February 2, 11 AM - 3 PM
Lowes Foods, Murrells Inlet
In conjunction with the "Sack Hunger" initiative, Belin's Backpack Mission has teamed up with Lowes Foods in Murrells Inlet to collect food items for our local school children.
If you could volunteer 1-4 hours of your time to help with this or upcoming food drives, please contact Kara Dellinger, [email protected] or 843.855.4227.
Please continue to fill the green "Sack Hunger" bags found in the sanctuary and Family Life Center. Your generous donations are feeding our community.
SHOP | DONATE | VOLUNTEER
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The Book of Ruth
Join us as we walk the journey of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz in a new women's study,
"The Book of Ruth,"
led by Nancy Ward and Mary Mallick. Discover the devoted love of God and His transformative power in our lives.
The study begins Tuesday, January 29, at 6:30 PM in the Family Life Center (six weeks). Contact Jane Sparks for info or to register,
[email protected]
or 843.357.5185.
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New Study for Men and Women
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the ROCK, the ROAD, and the RABBI
This 6-week study for men and women begins on Wednesday, February 6, at 6 PM, in the Family Life Center. Please contact Jane Sparks to register, [email protected] or 843.357.5185.
Our group will "walk" through Israel to learn about the historic sites of the land using scripture and the book "The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi" to help us understand its significance to our Christian faith. We will view Israel from a different perspective and grow in our affection for the story of our faith as told in God's word, the Bible. Study members will engage in reading, discussions, informative videos, and weekly fellowship with other "travelers."
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Wednesday, February 6
11:30 AM
Family Life Center
Please join us for our next Adult Fellowship Luncheon. We are delighted to have Jack and Patsy Cundiff sharing about "the Winter Rose of the South" - camellias. They are enthusiasts and will share their tips on appreciating and growing these beautiful flowers.
Our luncheon is a time of fun and fellowship as we come together for a great meal and a chance to make new friends. We ask that you bring a covered dish to share and a friend. Looking forward to seeing you there!
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THE SANCTUARY
Traditional Worship
8:45 AM, 11 AM
Acts 16:11-15
Walter Cantwell
THE HARBOR
Modern Worship
8:45 AM, 11 AM
"An Open Heart
" (via video recording)
Acts 16:11-15
Walter Cantwell
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Feeding Coast Guard Families
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Local Effort to Feed Families
Affected by the Government Shut Down
If you wish to
donate food to Coast Guard families
in the Georgetown area who have been affected by the government shut down, you may bring non-perishable food items to the Family Life Center by Tuesday, January 29, and deposit in the specially marked totes "For Coast Guard Families." You may also take food directly to Collins Schools located at 622 Washington Street, Georgetown, SC. Thank you.
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Click HERE for Congregational News and Prayer Concerns.
Inlet Soul has a great new solo CD coming out, and they invite you to an Album Release Party on January 25, 7 PM, at Mission Control in Pawleys Island (14363 Ocean Hwy, Unit 13 - behind Applewoods House of Pancakes). Click HERE for flyer. Several members our our Harbor Praise Band took part in recording this new album.
Join us for
Rollie Hanna Breakfast
on Wednesday, January 30, 8:30 AM in the Family Life Center. Enjoy a warm meal and devotion by David DuRant
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Thank you from Derrick and Shelby Kennedy
Dear Belin Family,
I honestly don't know how to express appreciation to you for all you ahve done for Shelby and I while our house flooded. Please know that we are so thankful for you. Your concern, prayers and love helped us through that awful time. We are grateful to be members of such a loving church.
Sincerely,
Derrick and Shelby
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Thank you for your prayers for our
Annual Belin Youth Ski Trip last weekend. Now please join us in prayer as our youth go on a
Revolution Retreat this coming weekend in Columbia, SC.
For information regarding upcoming events for our Youth Ministry, please sign up for the weekly Youth E-News by contacting Austin Bond at
[email protected]
. Please also follow @BelinYouth on Instagram and Snapchat!
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Take a moment to look through the calendar for the upcoming week to see what's going on in the life of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church - a church with heart!
Click HERE for "The Week Ahead"
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Thanks for reading the Inlet View E-News! Visit our website for the most up-to-date information on everything happening at Belin Memorial!
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