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This past Sunday was a wonderful day in the life of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. Every Centennial Celebration has honored the Reverend James L. Belin’s birthday in creative and unique ways, combining history and fellowship to remind us of our past to help us live more faithfully into our future. This past Sunday’s “Through the Years” event did that at a very high level.
The celebration began with the unveiling of the historical marker that tells something of the Belin story. The marker is secured between two brick columns and above a small garden. The setting itself reflects Belin Memorial’s story. From the marker, you can see the inlet that Rev. Belin once enjoyed and is within a few steps from the location of the original sanctuary. The brick columns reflect a sturdy past. The garden represents the beauty and growth of God’s ongoing creation in and among us. As you pause to read the history, you’re reminded of a generous, faithful, and bold Methodist pastor who sowed the seeds for what would become a generous, faithful, and bold congregation.
I’m glad that passersby can read the story and its witness, and I’m thankful to Corrinne Hoch and Henrietta Huff for their work to learn, write, and share the history, as well as their application for the historical marker. I’m also thankful for the Centennial Team’s gift of the marker to the congregation in honor of Rev. Belin’s birthday.
The Centennial Team (led by Henrietta Huff for many years and now under the leadership of Mike Speranzella) did much to make the entire celebration a joyful event. From the delicious food and interesting history displays (and docents) in the warm tent to representative cars from across the decades to the wonderfully presented histories and music shared inside the sanctuary, things were well done, and wherever I turned, I saw smiles on the faces of people grateful to be part of such a significant history and bright future.
It’s a gift to be part of a congregation with so much to celebrate from our past and with so much to look forward to. Rev. Belin took up Jesus’ command to go and make disciples, and that legacy remains the objective of this church that honors his name and his calling, that honors our past and is living into our present and future, that has had a storied 99 years of ministry and has many more years of ministry ahead.
To learn more about some of the upcoming ministry opportunities we have ahead, click the NOW button below. Please remember that this Sunday at 4 PM (note the time), the Reverend Smoke Kanipe of Shandon UMC in Columbia, SC, will be in Belin Memorial's sanctuary to share why he has chosen to remain United Methodist. We hope to see you there.
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