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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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from the desk of Mike Alexander 
Just weeks ago a number of us from Belin Memorial stood outside the gates of Jerusalem at the Garden Tomb, the possible site where Jesus was laid after the crucifixion. It is a most tranquil place, unlike the cluttered Church of the Holy Sepulchre where some biblical scholars believe is the actual site of Jesus' tomb.
British army officer and administrator Major-General Charles Gordon visited Jerusalem in 1882-1883. Although he had no formal training in history or archaeology, he had a dream one night and soon afterwards identified a particular cliff as the place where Jesus was crucified. For years the site has been known as "Gordon's Calvary." By the way, Calvary is Latin for Golgotha. Near that site is a garden and in that garden there is a tomb which has moved Protestant pilgrims who visit the Holy Land in unexplainable ways.
Is this the authentic site of where the resurrection happened, or is it the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? Let me just say this: both tombs, the one at Gordon's Calvary and the one at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, are empty! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
I hope you'll join me in the next few days as we gather for worship in order to remember and to celebrate. Tonight, we'll have a Maundy Thursday service, 7 PM, in The Sanctuary. You may know that "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum which is translated "commandment." In the context of Holy Week, this word refers to Jesus' commandment while washing the feet of the disciples for them to love one another.
Good Friday's service in The Sanctuary will be held at 7 PM. This service will commemorate the darkest day of the year, the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. This service will not be lengthy, but it will be a moving experience for those who attend. Remember that on Good Friday you can have lunch (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM) or dinner (5 PM - 6:30 PM) in the Family Life Center. The menu includes fish, fries, hushpuppies, and coleslaw. Proceeds benefit the Belin Memorial mission trip to Guatemala.
On Easter morning at sunrise, 6:30 AM, out at the Waterfront Cross Garden by the seawall, you will hear the good news: Christ is risen! You may know that the first Easter Sunrise Service to have been recorded was in 1732 by a Moravian congregation in Saxony, a German state. Although a limited number of chairs will be available, you may want to bring a folding chair. There will be coffee and doughnuts available. Donations will be received which will help fund the Grace Circle mission projects.
Then at 8:45 AM and 11 AM, we'll worship in The Harbor and The Sanctuary to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! I can assure you that in both settings, the music will be incredible. We'll hear the gospel and remind ourselves of God's glorious work in forgiving our sin, saving our souls, and giving us strength to face tomorrow.
I want to remind you that the Church Office, as well as the Belin Creative Learning Center, will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. However, we'll all be back on Tuesday, making our plans for a busy May.
On May 8, 6 PM, in The Sanctuary, we'll hold another Town Hall meeting to discuss our Transform Project and the imminent transition of senior pastors. This meeting will last around 45 minutes.
Here's a need we have around Belin Memorial: we need someone or a number of people who will volunteer to stay in the lobby of the Family Life Center on Sundays to sell items like fish fry tickets, pancake tickets, t-shirts, daddy-daughter dance tickets, etc. If you are interested, contact Brandy Streett.
As you and I prepare our hearts for Easter morning, I'm mindful of something that Frederick Buechner, author and ordained Presbyterian minister, once said: "It hardly matters how the body of Jesus came to be missing because in the last analysis what convinced the people that he had risen from the dead was not the absence of his corpse but his living presence. And so it has been ever since."
When someone says to you Sunday morning these words: "Christ is risen," I hope you will respond with these words: "Christ is risen indeed!" Indeed, Jesus lives!
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 Holy Week and Easter Sunday
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Holy Week Evening Services
Maundy Thursday with Holy Communion, April 18, 7 PM in The Sanctuary.
Good Friday, April 19, 7 PM in The Sanctuary.
Sunrise at the Seawall
Join us by the Waterfront Cross Garden at 6:30 AM on Easter Sunday, April 21, to watch the sun rise over the inlet. Mike Alexander will be preaching. Feel free to bring a chair and a blanket. Hot chocolate, coffee, and doughnuts provided by Krispy Kreme will be served beginning at 6 AM. Donations help fund mission projects of the Grace Circle.
Worship services will still take place in The Harbor and The Sanctuary at their usual times.
Please note, there will be no SHINE Time or Sunday school classes for children, youth or adults on Easter Sunday. However a nursery will be available beginning at 8:15 AM.
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Blessing of the Inlet
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 A DAY OF FAITH, FOOD, FAMILY, FUN, AND FELLOWSHIP!
Saturday, May 4, 9 AM - 3 PM
Free Admission. Rain or Shine!
Blessing Ceremony at 11:30 AM
The Blessing of the Inlet (BOI) was started 23 years ago to create a festival filled with worship, food, fun, family and fellowship highlighted by a 'Blessing' ceremony, celebrating our Lord's continued blessings in the Inlet Community. The Blessing of the Inlet was begun to generate funds for missions, charities, and nonprofit organizations. We hope you will attend this year and be blessed. Want to volunteer or help? Look for the blue cards in worship or visit
www.blessingoftheinlet.com.
TRANSPORT SATURDAY - April 27, 8:30 AM
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 27, beginning at 8:30 AM to pick up the booths and transport them to the church (meet at the old J.C. Penney loading dock at Inlet Square Mall). Bring a pair of gloves and wear closed-toe shoes. Large trailers (over 12ft length) to carry booth panels are needed. If you have a trailer you can bring or if you have one we can use, we need to hear from you. Trucks are also needed to haul trailers with 2 1/8 or 2 ΒΌ ball. For more information, please contact Bill Keesee, 843.458.9165.
SETUP SUNDAY - April 28, 12:15 PM
On April 28 at 12:15 PM volunteers are needed to set up the booths for the Blessing. Great News! Booth roofs have been rebuilt with lighter materials and they are much easier to maneuver. Volunteers should dress causally, bring gloves, wear closed toe shoes and bring, if you have, 9/16" battery powered ratchet tool (suited for construction type work), screws are Phillip's head.
 Book Nook
Book Nook committee (sponsored by the Belin Gardeners) is now collecting books (new and gently used) for the Book Nook at the Blessing of the Inlet. Please bring book donations to the collection bin in the Family Life Center lobby. There is also a need for small, plastic grocery bags. These can be dropped off with the books. For more information, please contact Jennie Holloway.
BOI T-Shirts
T-shirt sales locations include Lee's Inlet Apothecary, The Lazy Gator, Lee's Inlet Kitchen and MISC.
The cost is $12 for short sleeve or $22 for long sleeve t-shirts. Cash or checks are accepted (made payable to Belin UMC Youth Ministry). Sizes range from Youth Extra Small to Adult 4XL.
This makes a great gift to put in those Easter baskets and is a great way to support our Belin Youth Ministry. Please note youth and adults volunteering at the Blessing of the Inlet are asked to wear a BOI t-shirt.
BOI Honored Charity 
Belin Memorial United Methodist Church is proud to partner with The Low Country Veterans Group as our honored charity for the 2019 Blessing of the Inlet.
The Low Country Veterans Group's mission is to reach veterans who are affected by homelessness, physical and mental disabilities, unemployment and job retention. The group facilitates veterans accessing appropriate assistance from numerous governmental, local and charitable agencies. A key component and goal for their mission is to provide peer support and assistance to veterans. They also provide much needed assistance to veteran family members and survivors. More information is available through their website:
www.lowcountryvets.org.
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FishFry
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International Missions Team
Good Friday Fish Fry
Friday, April 19
1st Serving: 11 AM - 1:30 PM
2nd Serving: 5 PM - 6:30 PM
Join us in the Belin Family Life Center for a delicious meal of fish, french fries, hushpuppies and coleslaw. Tickets are available in the church office, Family Life Center, or from any member of the Guatemala team, they are $9 in advance or $10 at the door. Takeout is also available. All proceeds benefit Belin Memorial's mission trip to Guatemala!
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ZOE Night with Reegan
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ZOE Night with Reegan Kaberia,
Director of ZOE in Kenya
Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Family Life Center
Child Care Provided
Share a rare glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes during the life transforming project known as ZOE. The Zoe project offers the greatest amount of life transformation, in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of resources. Find out how these resources are being used and ways you can help. Feel free to invite your friends, family, and neighbors. Refreshments and dessert will be served after the presentation.
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Starting Point
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Starting Point
Sunday, April 28, 4 PM
If you have theological, ecumenical, or sectarian questions and would like to join our pastors for coffee and an informal conversation, we invite you to join us for "Starting Point," held quarterly in the Family Life Center. No need to sign up. Members and non-members are welcome to join us!
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Belin 101
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Belin 101
Begins Sunday April 28, 10 AM
This five-week course offered twice a year, is designed for new members and inquisitive minds who would like to learn more about Methodism and opportunities for involvement at Belin Memorial.
Class dates: April 28, May 5, 12, 19 and 26
Please call the church office if you plan to attend so that we may prepare class materials accordingly, 843.651.5099.
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Upcoming Bible Studies
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40 Days of Prayer
Would you like to learn more about PRAYER? Would you like to develop your prayer life? Join us for a 6-week study that will guide us through scripture and grow us in our faith journey. We will spend the hour together in group discussion, video teaching and prayer.
Plan to meet on Thursday, April 25 at 11:30 AM for a study overview and to distribute materials. This study will continue to meet on Thursdays and conclude on June 6.
The
40 Days of Prayer workbook
used with this study is $13 if ordered through the church. To register and to place workbook orders, please contact Jane Sparks, 843.357.5185.
Exploring the Stories of Jesus
Have you ever wanted to dig deeper into the stories
of Jesus?... to spend more time on each event?
Have you ever wondered what the culture was
like or how Jesus interacted with the people?
Well, wait no longer!
There are three new classes starting the last week in April that will do just that.
There will be an evening coed class starting on Mondays, beginning April 29, 6 PM. Tuesday classes start on April 30; there will be a morning class for women at 10 AM and an evening young adult class at 6:30 PM (nursery provided). To register please contact Kimmie Tomlinson or just show up for class.
Joshua - Winning the Worry Battle
By using the book of Joshua we will be given "tools" using the Word of God to deal with worry. We will follow "the Israelites as they face hostile enemies and ultimately claim God's promised victory. Winning the worry battle requires encouragement and practical tools that will enable us to overcome our daily worry struggles as well as the bigger battles of fear that we face."
This 6-week study for women by Barb Roose and led by Tyson Jones and Jane Sparks will begin on Thursday, May 2 at 6 PM.
The study guide used for this study is $13 and ordered through the church.
To register and to place study guide order, p
lease contact Jane Sparks, 843.357.5185.
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Growth Group Opportunities
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Want to become more connected to Belin Memorial?
Growth Groups help you to connect to one another, to grow your love for God and others and to serve others by caring for people in the community. This seven-week program begins on April 29. The Belin Growth Groups have been meeting regularly since September with great success! There are several opportunities for you to be a part of a group.
Most of these groups meet every other week. If you are interested in becoming a part of a group please contact Jane Sparks, 843.357.5185.
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Vacation Bible School
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ROAR! Life is wild. God is good.
Vacation Bible School 2019
3 year old (must be potty trained) through rising 5th Grade
Sunday, June 23 - Thursday, June 27, 2019
5:30 PM - 8 PM
Family Life Center
Register online by clicking HERE.
This epic African adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids explore God's goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. For any additional questions feel free to contact
Emeline Jordan, 843.997.8519.
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Summer Camp Registration
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 Summer Basketball Camp
Monday, June 10 - Friday, June 14, 2019
9 AM - 12 noon
Family Life Center
Register online by clicking
HERE.
Children, ages 5 - 12, are invited to register for summer basketball camp at Belin Memorial, directed by Coach Jeremy Heinold and the St. James High School Basketball Team. Register by May 31. $65 fee includes t-shirt, snack, instructional time, and Bible verse of the day. For any additional questions feel free to contact
Brandy Streett
, 843.385.1676.
Theater Camp 
Monday, July 8 - Friday, July 12, 2019
(Friday will be combined class with performance)
Ages 5 - 8, 9 AM - 12 noon
Ages 9 - 12, 1 PM - 4 PM
Register online by clicking
HERE.
Children, ages 5 - 12, are invited to register for summer theater camp at Belin Memorial, directed by Linelle Yates, dance instructor, musical theater and acting teacher at Litchfield Dance Arts Academy, Pawleys Island, SC. $80 fee is due when registering. For any additional questions feel free to contact
Brandy Streett
, 843.385.1676.
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Worship With Us
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Congregational News
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The
United Methodist Men
are meeting on Monday, April 29, at 6:30 PM. Join us for Christian fellowship and a good meal. Please RVSP by Friday, April 26, by clicking
HERE
or call the church office at 843.651.5099.
Tuesday evening
nursery help is needed. Two paid adult nursery workers are needed for Tuesday evenings from 6:15 PM to 8:15 PM starting Tuesday, April 30. If interested please contact
Jane Sparks, 843.357.5185. Our children need you!!!
Attention Graduates! Belin Memorial will honor our high school and college graduates on Sunday, May 19, 2019 with a special worship service at 11 AM in The Harbor. If you would like to participate or have your name listed in the bulletin, please click
HERE
.
The Belin Creative Learning Center is looking for
a pre-school teacher
. Hours are Monday - Friday, from 9 AM - 6 PM. We offer competitive pay, in-house training and benefits. If you are interested in this position, please contact Amanda Romance
, 843.651.2930.
Betsy and Mike Alexander have several opportunities for you to
travel to the Holy Land or to Greece/Turkey
this fall. Some of you have inquired about the possibility of traveling with them. If you are interested, please talk with them in the near future.
Men, if you have a tuxedo and can help serve at an upcoming event, your help will be greatly appreciated! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wendy Zulanch, 843.357.5178.
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The Week Ahead
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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.
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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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