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May 14, 2026
This Sunday Belin Memorial United Methodist Church will celebrate our graduates (during the 11 AM Sanctuary service). Don’t tell those graduates, but it’s a celebration for more than just them. They deserve our attention and encouragement. They have done well, demonstrating faith and devotion before us. We are happy about who they are as people of faith, what they have accomplished, and the great promise for what is ahead. As we should, we will honor our graduates on Sunday. They deserve it.
So do you. Some of you helped some of them get a stronger faith foundation by helping with Sunday School or Vacation Bible School or camps or coaching basketball or mission trips. A few of you poured into them during the Confirmation process. One of you has been the Director for excellent youth ministries throughout their middle and high school years. Several of you have served as adult volunteers, mentors, and chaperones. Some of you have prayed for them, counseled them, comforted them. Many of you have been good examples for them of what it means to be loyal to Christ through the United Methodist Church and to participate in Belin Memorial with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
These graduates are better able to live the faith among us and beyond us because of what you’ve done before them. Thank you for living the faith. Thank you, also, for honoring the ways our graduates have lived the faith before us. Sunday will be a milestone to mark that. The days that follow will present the graduates and the rest of us many more chances to live out what we believe.
There are other graduates, too. For those looking to attend an adorable graduation and a milestone in really young lives, you are welcome to join us tomorrow at 10 AM for the Belin Creative Learning Center graduation. It will be in the Family Life Center and is guaranteed to bring many smiles. I’m grateful for how the BCLC gives those children an excellent environment filled with opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit.
I hope that thinking of the BCLC children building a foundation of faith and older graduates deepening in their discipleship will cause you to consider how you might participate in our children’s ministries. Whether helping with the many roles during this summer’s Vacation Bible School (which my family and I plan to do) or being an adult friend to our children during the Sunday School hour, this could be the year that you help young people learn and grow as followers of Jesus. If you do, they gain from that, as will you. If you’re interested in seeing how you might help, contact Director of Children’s Ministries Kim Oakley (kimo@belinumc.org; 843.357.5194).
And, while we’re talking Vacation Bible School (June 22-25), please register your children by Monday, June 1 and invite others to do the same.
Other notes:
United Methodist Men will meet this Monday, May 18 at 6 PM in the FLC. The guest speaker will be Nadia Black, Assistant Solicitor of the 15th Circuit District of Georgetown and Horry Counties. Email UMM President Gordon Myers (gordonmyers.belinummpresident@gmail.com) to let him know you’re coming so Gordon can prepare enough delicious BBQ.
Let’s play ball - Men’s Pickup Basketball games are back - Thursdays in the FLC from 6 PM – 8 PM.
Belin Gardeners is a great way to honor God’s gift of our beautiful location and enjoy time outside with friends. Volunteer gardeners serve on Wednesday mornings and help keep the gardens looking great and available to all. Contact Henrietta Huff (843.222.7721) for more information about how you can help.
Keep living the faith,
Will
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