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March 20, 2025
Greetings, Belin Family and Friends:
We are well into the Lenten Season and are about a week away from the half-way mark to EASTER Day! Thank you for the ways you are being intentional about observing and participating in this holy time through your ministry of presence and your actions and deeds (being and doing) to represent Christ in this community and beyond.
One of the ministries of The United Methodist Church that we hear about especially as we approach Mother’s Day and Labor Day each year is Epworth Children’s Home. Epworth was founded in 1896 by the South Carolina Annual Conference and named after the boyhood home of John Wesley. It was established in Columbia on 131.4 acres of farmland to provide care and education for children. That was the beginning of what is now 129 years of service. Over time, Epworth has grown significantly and adapted to the needs of children while continuing to provide quality care grounded in faith, including expanding with the addition of the Independent Living Center and Higher Education. Some of this information is based on The Epworth Story by Eva Grey Hutchins and Alan Keith-Lucas and information provided through updates distributed to Epworth’s Local Church Representatives (LCR).
The Reverend John Holler, former President and CEO, has said that Epworth moved “from an idea, to a committee, to an orphanage-farm, to a children’s home, to a multifaceted organization that continues to change lives every day. Epworth has been true to its mission … to serve children, youth, and families through caring, safe, Christian communities where hurts are healed; hope is nurtured; and faith in God, self, and others is cultivated.”
Epworth continues to meet families where they are in their need. While in the past, this was accomplished primarily through residential services, Epworth has established “hubs” throughout the state of South Carolina and launched comprehensive programs including: The Center for Family Engagement – Foster Care; Residential Care; Epworth’s Center for Counseling; The Center for Independent Living; Epworth’s Early Intervention Center; Homebuilders®; Family Care Center; Kinship Care; Epworth’s Family Resource Connection and Preservation (FRCP) Program; and Circle of Parents® along with additional services and resources being made available through local churches and other sources.
Thank you for the ways in which you continue to support, care for, and invest in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all ages and in all places, as you live out being and doing the ministry of serving as disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Some of the opportunities we have available to us through the ministries of Belin Memorial UMC are:
Wednesday Lenten Services: Continue the journey March 26, at 12 Noon in The Sanctuary. The Charleston District Superintendent, the Reverend Jeffrey Salley, will be our guest preacher for “The Tears of Jesus,” based on Luke 19:41-44. Lunch will be available immediately following the service in the Family Life Center ($6/person).
Easter Lilies: The deadline to reserve an Easter lily is March 31. Please complete the “methods of payment” section on the form for proper processing.
Creekfront Salkehatchie Registration is OPEN. Register now, as available openings fill quickly.
Sea Glass Art Class: Thursday, March 27, at 9:30 AM in the Family Life Center, led by Debi O’Dell.
Easter Egg Hunt: Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 5, at 10 AM. In preparation, through Sunday, March 30, we will be accepting donations of individually wrapped Easter candy to fill the eggs.
United Methodist Men (UMM): Monday, March 31, at 6 PM in the Family Life Center. The menu includes the Gordons’ famous spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and homemade apple dumplings. Please make your reservation for assistance with food preparation.
Shalom,
Sandra Stevens Poirel
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