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News and Notes

Belin Memorial United Methodist Church

February 2016

FROM YOUR PRESIDENT….. It's February already, and it's starting off dark and gloomy. Bring some sunshine into your life by participating in some of the activities going on at Belin. Lenten services are starting, and a light lunch will follow the services. Our Circles are serving three of them. Make sure you are in on these and are helping out. It's more fun than work. We're also working on a new fundraiser project that's sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. So, go looking for sunshine and fun doing the Lord's work. It really does work! Blessings, Sue

Our UMW circles will prepare and serve three Lenten luncheons following the Wednesday noon services.

Schedule: March 9 Miracle Seekers March 16 Frances Wilson March 23 Grace Circle

Thanks to all the cooks, servers, and cashiers.

New in this Edition… News and Notes will feature the minutes of the UMW Board meetings as well as the treasurer’s report. This information will help all members of our UMW see the financial status and plans for our entire Unit. The Board meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 1:30 PM in the FLC.

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Belin United Methodist Women Minutes, Board Meeting

January 21, 2016

The UMW Board met in the Family Life Center at 1:30 PM. Attending: President Sue Walters, Treasurer Dottie Burnham, Secretary Jo Bendick, Frances Wilson Chairmen Sue Carreiro and Nancy Heinz, Grace Circle Chairman Peg Otterberg, and Resource Chairman Diane Lewis. Sue called the meeting to order with cares and concerns. Secretary’s Report Minutes were approved from December meeting. Treasurer’s Report: (See page 3) Circle Reports Frances Wilson is finishing their Bible study of “12 Ordinary Men” and delivered clothes to Gordon AME.

Miracle Seekers delivered Christmas gifts to Mimi’s House of Hope and are continuing with their study of “Bad Girls of the Bible.”

Grace Circle is selling tickets for the Shrove pancake dinner and Peg reported they got book storage given to them in Murrells Inlet Square Mall free of charge for two months. Old Business Sue Carreiro will continue with plans for our new fundraiser of selling little wooden Belin churches.

Miracle Seekers will do a Lenten lunch on 3/9, Frances Wilson will do theirs on 3/16 and Grace will do theirs on 3/23 New Business A roster list was passed around for new phone numbers and e-mails

Diane Lewis gave an update for the 2016 UMW Reading. Twenty-one (21) new books were purchased and are ready to go. She will be coming to Miracle Seekers Circle and Frances Wilson Circle in March with the mobile book wagon.

New name badges have been ordered for the board members and circle leaders.

Consensus from the circles is to return to Austin’s at Ocean One for this year’s Christmas Party. The date will be Saturday, December 3.

Next meeting will be Wednesday, February 24 at 1:30 PM in Family Life Center. We decided to change the board meetings to the 4th Wednesday of each month.

President Sue Walters closed us with prayer and our benediction.

Closing: “May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from another.” Respectfully Submitted Jo Bendick, Secretary

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Treasurer’s Report Belin United Methodist Women

January 21, 2016 Opening Balance: $ 8,317.25

Deposits: 1/21/2016 World Thank Offering/Miracle Seekers $ 100.00 1/21/2016 Pledges/Frances Wilson 50.00 $ 150.00

Expenses: 1/9/2016 Sue Carriero (Books for reading program) CkK#2471 $ 276.93 1/9/2016 BJ’s Custom Creations (Church Cutout)CK#2471 290.00 $ 566.93

Ending Balance: $ 7,333.39 UMW $ 3,874.11 Grace Circle 1,103.04 Miracle Seekers 1,126.45 Frances Wilson 1,229.79 $ 7,333.39 Respectfully submitted,Dottie Burnham, Treasurer

Our UMW Pledges

Each year, our UMW unit makes a pledge to our Marion District. The District then establishes a budget for local, district and global missions. That amount is sent to the SC Conference of UMW. The Conference then sends it mission pledge, based on all District pledges, to the national organization of UMW to support over 100 institutions in the US and over 300 programs in more that 110 countries. Our unit pledges $2,000 every year to Marion District, with the expectation that our UMW members will contribute that amount through individual pledges. Every year we have fallen short, taking money from money from our fundraisers to meet our pledge. Our fundraisers support institutions selected by our SC UMW organization, programs serving women and children throughout the state. We also fund ministries within our church. It is important that every Circle member make a pledge of any amount. Pledges can be paid all at once or once monthly at your Circle meeting. Circle treasurers keep a record of your giving and submit all monies to the Unit treasurer. Our pledges meet one purpose of UMW: “to expand concept of mission through participating in the global ministries of the church.

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UMW FUNDRAISER On January 21, 2016, the Board approved a major fundraiser for the entire Belin UMW: the sale of small wooden plaques, shaped around a picture of Belin. On the back will be a brief history of our church. The size of the plaque is perfect for sitting on a bookshelf or over a doorway. More details will come after the final design is approved and order for wall plaques placed. Proceeds from the sale will go to Belin and to UMW for mission donations.

THE UMW BOOK CONVERSATIONS

The Belin UMW Reading Program’s The UMW Book Conversations begins Thursday, April 28 -10:00 AM in the Family Life Center- Belin UMC Library.

This informal discussion group provides an opportunity for Belin UMW members (as well as other interested church women) to gather and share their UMW book reading experiences. Please join me on April 28 for this first of four one-hour UMW book conversations during 2016. Together we will learn and exchange smiles! Diane Lewis, Belin UMW Resource Secretary (843-215-6724).

Congratulations to Grace Circle

for their very successful Pancake Dinner on

Shrove Tuesday!

Thanks to all the ladies (and men) who prepared the

food, served, decorated, and served on clean-up

detail!

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A COMMUNITY OF READERS BELIN UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Do you love to learn? Do you want to expand your knowledge so you can exercise your spiritual gifts during 2016? If your answer to both questions is YES, then join the Belin UMW Reading Program starting right now. Harriet Jane Olson, the National United Methodist Women Leader, challenges us to make new connections and to turn our personal faith and hopes into actions that benefit both our church community and many individuals way beyond our church campus. The Belin UMW Reading Program is one way to identify ideas for using your spiritual gifts and energy

and also for finding ways to connect your knowledge and talents to serve. I bet, after reading one or more books from the UMW Reading Cart, the facts and stories you read will make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Say YES and select a book this week! Topics you might want to read about: (Spiritual Growth): Laugh Your Way to Grace (Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor by Rev. Susan

Sparks

(Nurturing for Community): Dreamers: An Immigrant Generation’s Fight for their American Dream by Eileen Truax

Remember: The Belin Church UMW Reading Program 2016 Goal: Each UMW member reads at least one book from the UMW Book Cart by September 30, 2016.

To learn more about the reading plan options pick-up a reading program brochure from the book cart or contact Diane Lewis, Belin UMW Resource Secretary (843-215-6724 or DianeLewis@sccoast.net).

Diane Lewis

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH

Gary Locklear 667 Locklear Road

Pembroke, NC 28372 Birthday: February 19

Visit umcmission.org for information about all our missionaries.

Gary works in the Rockingham District of the NC Methodist Conference serving 13 Native American congregations and their communities. “I am doing more and more in the area of mission outreach, recruiting teams and individuals from my own Native American community to make life better for the poor. My teams have done many local projects in the community (especially roofs and drywall) and abroad.”

“I tell my friends that it is possible to find God on the roof!”

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2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 16 ....................... Legislative Day, Epworth, Columbia February 27 ....................... Georgetown Cluster Meeting, St. Paul's Waccamaw UMC April 28…………………………… UMW Book Conversations, 10:00 AM, FLC May 7 ................................ Blessing of the Inlet, Belin UMC Campus May 21 .............................. Come Together, Be Together, TBD August 1 - 5 ....................... Preparation for Belin UMW Yard Sale, FLC August 6 ............................ Belin UMW Yard Sale, FLC September 9 - 11 ............... Tri-District Retreat, Springmaid Resort, MB November 5 ...................... BBQ, Bazaar, and Bake Sale, FLC October 8 .......................... District Annual Meeting October 21 - 22 ................. Conference Annual Meeting, Bethany UMC, Summerville December 3 ...................... UMW Annual Christmas Luncheon, Austin’s Ocean One, Litchfield Inn, P.I.

CIRCLE NOTES

FRANCES WILSON CIRCLE will meet on March 14 at 10:00 AM in the Family Life Center. We can still use some extra tomato-based soup for the Lenten luncheon on March 16. Marcia Massey found a new Bible study book entitled 21 Most Effective Prayers of the Bible. Marcia and I are trying to obtain copies for everyone to have by the next meeting. UMW will begin a new fundraiser that will be a plaque with a picture of Belin Church and a brief history on the back. It can be displayed either on a bookshelf or possibly over the doorway. The plaque is designed to sit rather than be hung. We will be talking about this more as soon as they are received. The final proof has been approved, and I believe everyone will like it. A portion of the profits from this fundraiser will go to the church and a portion to the UMW for mission donations. The menu for the Lenten luncheon on the 16th will be: vegetable soup (hot at your table), small hoagies and condiments, and homemade desserts.

Circle co-leaders: Sue Carreiro (843-357-3533) and Nancy Heintz (843-947-0873)

GRACE CIRCLE - For Shrove Tuesday dinner, we cooked 80 lbs. of bacon, mixed 70 lbs. of pancake mix, sliced 40 lbs. of oranges, mixed four bags each of frozen blueberries and strawberries to make toppings for the pancakes, plus used numerous bottles of pancake syrup and whipped cream. The tables were decorated with beads, masks, and 50 balloons. We served approximately 350 people who enjoyed their meal and the Dixieland music. A big heartfelt thanks to our hard working members and husbands as well as the FLC staff. Our final total made was $963.41!!! We appreciate everyone who came out and supported our mission project. Our next meeting is on Monday, March 7 at 6:00 PM at the home of Rose Mary Hill. We will be starting to collect books again for the Blessing of the Inlet.

Circle leader: Peg Otterberg (843-651-2688)

MIRACLE SEEKERS CIRCLE met on February 2 in the Family Life Center with 21 ladies in attendance. An explanation of the UMW pledge cards and where the money goes was presented by Dottie Burnham. An interesting discussion of the study book, Bad Girls of the Bible (chapter 8) was led by Laura Burdick. Our Circle will host the March 9 Lenten luncheon, chaired by Liz Barber. All members who are able is asked to be at the FLC by 9:00 AM with their plate of cookies. Menu for Lenten luncheon: baked potato soup, chicken salad sandwich, fresh fruit, and cookies. We look forward to seeing you at this special luncheon. Please remember that all ladies are invited to join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, March 1.

Circle leader: Iva Coker (843-344-2003)

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UMW OFFICERS

President .............................................................. Sue Walters (843-357-4777)

Vice President ............................................ Susan Malachefski (843-215-5369)

Secretary ................................................................ Jo Bendick (843-215-7097)

Treasurer ........................................................ Dottie Burnham (803-261-7354)

Resources Secretary ............................................ Diane Lewis (843-215-6724)

Newsletter ...... Betty Mar Little (843-651-4422) / Fran Wesner (843-236-2982)

In the Christian religion, Lent (also called the "Lenten Season") is a 40-day period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter, the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although there are differences in practice and expression of recognizing Lent, all major Christian denominations observe the season. Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.

News and Notes is an informal UMW newsletter and is distributed the 15th of each month. Deadline to submit your Circle information/pictures is the 9th and should be emailed to Fran Wesner (franza6@aol.com) or Betty Mar Little (bmlittle2@aol.com).