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April 10, 2025
The anticipation and excitement continue to build as we prepare to enter the holiest of weeks in preparation for the celebration of The Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The children are also preparing for this celebratory day. If you happen to be strolling through the Belin Garden and find a little pile of purple rocks, don’t be alarmed – and please, don’t move them – the children would notice. Those stones are there for a very special purpose. On Ash Wednesday, each child personalized a coloring page “scroll” bearing the word that we don’t use during Lent, (shhhh – we’ll just write if here for communication purposes, “Alleluia”). They rolled up the scroll, placed it in a purple treasure box, and “buried the Alleluia” to be unearthed and celebrated on Easter Day, when we proclaim, “He is Risen!”
While the season of Lent will soon come to a close, we acknowledge through the whole of the Christian Year that at the center of our worship is the story of God’s whole history with humanity. As a part of our remembering and participating in the life, ministry, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ as Lord, there are special services planned through which we continually renew that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are delivered from sin and death and offered eternal life with the Triune God.
The Easter Triduum, The Great Three Days, is a climactic and powerful time that includes the last three days of Holy Week: Holy/Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the crucifixion), and Holy Saturday (the world silently awaits the Resurrection of Jesus).
On Maundy/Holy Thursday the focus is on two events. We remember the fellowship meal Jesus shared with his disciples he instituted as he shared the words, “This is my body”, and “This is my blood of the new covenant”; and issued the command to forever, “Do this in remembrance of me.” We remember while we simultaneously participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion in the present. The other event is to experience anew the act of humility and mutual servanthood in Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples. As the evening progressed, there would be betrayal in the garden, arrest, and the conviction of Jesus being sentenced to death on a cross.
Good Friday we recall the reality of the crucifixion and death of Jesus, while reminiscent of the beginning of Lent and the ashes of Ash Wednesday. Tetelestai! (τετέλεσται) “It is Finished!” According to the Gospel of John 19:30, these are among Jesus’ last words. “… he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” The time of burial and rest in the tomb has arrived while waiting, watching, praying, and proclaiming “Jesus is Lord”.
Holy Saturday – in stillness the earth awaits … the Resurrection of Jesus.
Holy Week and Easter proclaim the message of the good news of The Gospel. We continue our journey to Easter Day, the pinnacle of the Christian Year. While Lent is a reflective time during which we pause or “bury” the “Alleluias” and “Glorias”, Easter is exuberant and celebrational for what God has done!
Thank you for sharing in the Lenten Journey, “The Tears of Lent”. As we continue the journey, below are some opportunities for engaging in ministry here at Belin Memorial:
HOLY WEEK SERVICES:
Palm/Passion Sunday – Services in The Sanctuary and The Harbor 8:45 AM and 11 AM – with procession of the palms.
Maundy/Holy Thursday, April 17:
6 PM Foot Washing Service at the Sea Wall Cross – all are welcome to attend. Individual participation in the foot washing ceremony is optional.
7 PM Sanctuary Service with Holy Communion.
Good Friday, April 18:
7 PM Tenebrae (Service of Darkness) in the Sanctuary.
EASTER DAY SERVICES:
Sunrise at the Sea Wall Cross at 6:30 AM; Easter Services in The Harbor and
Sanctuary 8:45 AM and 11 AM.
GOOD FRIDAY FISH FRY sponsored by The United Methodist Men, April 18, two servings: 11 AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 6:45 PM – dine in or take out. Tickets are $18/each available in the Church Office, the Family Life Center Office or from any member the UMM. Proceeds benefit the UMM.
BLESSING OF THE INLET, Saturday, May 3, 9 AM – 2 PM. T-shirts are available for purchase in the Family Life Center Office for $20/short sleeved; $30/long sleeved.
Belin Gardeners and Henrietta Huff have installed the Oak Tree Name Plaques on the trees donated for the Centennial Celebration.
Upcoming Belin Bible Studies:
Christianity and World Religions starting Tuesday, April 22 – May 27, held on Tuesdays at 6 PM by Zoom, facilitated by Becky Forrest.
Methodist Heritage Class – Discovering Our Faith Roots, April 22 – May 27, 6 PM – 7:30 PM on Tuesday evenings, facilitated by Rev. Wayne Sayre and Charlie Turner.
Wednesday Morning Adult Bible Study is set to begin on Wednesdays, April 23-May 28, at 9:45 AM – 11 AM, exploring the “I AM” statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John, facilitated by Mary Mallick and Nancy Ward.
Women’s Bible Study – Angels – Standing Guard by Douglas Connelly, facilitated by Jenny Cundiff; April 28 – June 18 on Mondays at 6 PM in the Family Life Center.
For more information on Bible Studies, please contact Mary Mallick at marym@belinumc.org or 843-357-5185 or visit the NOW page at https://www.belinumc.org/now/.
Please check the Belin website and Facebook page for more information about events and what’s happening at Belin!
Shalom …
Sandra Stevens Poirel
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