We have many wonderful ministries here at Surfside UMC that will help you to use your spiritual gifts and talents to bless others.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Spirit Singers
Rehearsal Wednesday 6:45 – 8:30 pm in the Choir Room. The Spirit Singers lead the congregation in hymns, anthems, and special music at both the 8:30 and 11:00 am services each Sunday, as well as at special services and choral festivals. A cantata is presented with a chamber orchestra twice each year, during Advent and Easter Sunday services. The choir welcomes persons of all musical backgrounds, from non-music readers to professional musicians ages high school and older.
Jubilation Ringers Handbell Choir
Rehearsal Monday 7:00-8:30 pm in the Choir Room. The Jubilation Ringers prepare anthems and special music for Sunday worship services, special services, and community events. No experience or musical knowledge is required.
YOUTH MINISTRY
Surfside United Methodist Youth
Our students from 6th-12th grade meet twice on Sundays.
Sunday Morning Youth Live! – Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers meet separately and have lessons tailored to their needs. We follow a 6-year curriculum plan. This way we know kids are ready when graduation comes along.
Sunday Night Youth – Sunday nights are all about getting active in Faith, Fun, and Friendships. Throughout the year, we have planned our nights with those 3 “F’s” in mind:
– F.I.A. Nights: Faith In Action Days are designed to give youth opportunities to practice faith. These might be outreach events, or a theme that we discuss and immediately put in action.
– Fun Nights: Fun Nights are just simply that – Fun! We have an ongoing wish list of activities and outings that students keep adding to. Throughout the year we try to knock out items from our wish list. You’re invited to join us and add to the list too!
Youth Trips – We know that some of the best friends we make, and some of the biggest lessons we learn happen when we’re away from our normal routines. With this in mind, throughout the year we plan overnight events to give students a chance to bond, grow in their faith, and serve others. Here are some of the overnight events we have planned for this year:
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
The Children’s Ministry at Surfside United Methodist Church is focused on making disciples for Christ. Our teachings are based on Jesus’ greatest commandments, as He states in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our vision is to walk alongside parents and families to eternally enrich and equip children to make a difference for Jesus in this world.
Our Children’s Ministry offers the following:
Nursery (Infant—3 Years Old)
Sunday 8:30 am for 1st Service
Sunday 9:45 am for Sunday School Hour
Sunday 11:00 am for 2nd Service
Sunday School — K-3rd Grade from 9:45 – 10:45 in Room 107 in the Family Life Center.
Children’s Church for 4 Years – 3rd Grade is offered during the 11:00 Sunday Service.
In addition to the activities above, we also have an Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic, Vacation Bible School in June, Family Event nights, visits to the Nursing Home, Fall Festival, Trunk-or-Treat, & Christmas Pageant.
OLDER ADULT MINISTRY
FRIENDLY SENIORS “YOUNG AT HEART” GROUP
We meet every 3rd Tuesday in the church at noon in the fellowship hall for a time of fellowship, programs, speakers, and occasional day trips. We welcome everyone 50 and above to our fellowship. Members and non-members are asked to bring their favorite dish to share with everyone and join in fellowship together. For more information feel free to contact the church at:info@surfsideumc.org. We hope to see you each month, September – May, as we do not meet in the summer months.
FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY
Scouting Ministries
Surfside United Methodist Church sponsors Boy Scout Troop 853. This unit is part of the Pee Dee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scout program is basically for those who have completed the Webelos Badge in Cub Scouts or who have completed 5th grade up to age 18.
Salkehatchie
Our outreach to the Salkehatchie community is intended to help us demonstrate our love of God and improve the daily living of people in need. Each year our church sends a delegation to this community to provide housing improvements to those living in minimal conditions. Plumbing, carpentry, milllwork, roofing and similar support is given to needy persons/families to help better their living conditions. Our services also help us demonstrate our faith to others.
COLUMBARIUM MINISTRY
We believe that inurnment on church grounds is a statement of our faith in the resurrection, the life everlasting and the church triumphant. We believe that the inurnment within the church ground is an appropriate last resting place for the earthly remains of those who in life loved the church.
The Columbarium becomes a contemporary setting for the old-time church cemetery. It better allows for maintenance and for east of visitation. It is also a serene spot for meditation and prayer.
The Columbarium at Surfside is located at the west side of our Sanctuary. Phase I will be completed and dedicated in late 2010, containing 228 niches. Phases II and III will be built as needed with a proposed 360 niches. The Columbarium is enclosed by a low brick wall for privacy, but without a “closed-in” feeling. Each inurnment niche is covered by a beautiful granite faceplate on which the names and dates of birth and death of the deceased are engraved.
The Memorial Wall is made of matching brick with granite plaques inserted bearing the names of those memorialized. The center of the Columbarium has a water feature, a statue and a bench for quiet prayer and reflection.
At all times the Columbarium is a dignified place of peace and beauty, an asset to our church, and a fitting memorial to our departed loved ones.
What Is A Columbarium?
Urns containing the cremated ashes of loved ones are placed in a wall of niches to create a Columbarium. The purchase of niches, like the purchase of cemetery plots, makes the Columbarium self-perpetuating and permanently maintained.
What Is A Memorial Wall?
Plaques in memory of loved ones not inurned in our Columbarium are placed along the brick wall within the Columbarium.
How Is The Columbarium Financed?
The Columbarium is self-sustaining, financed by a “Columbarium Fund,” entirely separate and apart from our church’s other finances.
How Does This Work?
Niches in the Columbarium walls are purchased by members of the church in the same way that cemetery plots are purchased. With the purchase of a niche, the members receive a folder containing the following:
Contract for Purchase and Perpetual Care,
Policy and Operating Rules,
Certificate acknowledging the right of use indicating the specific niches and its location,
Receipt for purchase.
Plaques in the Memorial Wall are placed with donations to the Columbarium Fund in memory of a loved one.
The church is responsible for the permanent maintenance of the Columbarium and its Memorial Wall. A permanent Columbarium Committee will oversee these responsibilities.
How Many Niches Will There Be?
There are 228 Columbarium niches in Phase I. Phase II will add an additional 360 for a total of 588 niches. Forty-eight of the niches will hold up to three cremation urns. The remaining niches will hold one or two cremation urns.
How Much Does It Cost?
The price of each double niche is $2,300. The price of each triple niche is $2,500. The price includes the engraving of names and dates of birth and death for each inurned person. There is no additional charge for opening and closing niches.
Plaques on the Memorial Wall for persons interred elsewhere or whose remains are scattered may be obtained upon donation to the Columbarium Fund of $500 or more.
Purchase of Columbarium niches and arrangement for plaques may be made by application to the church office. With payment, the purchaser may select the desired niche location. Placement of the Memorial Wall plaques will be made by the Columbarium Committee in consultation with the family. Any further information you may need may also be obtained from the church office.
ANDREW “DREW” JOHN LATTIN SCHOLARSHIP
The Surfside United Methodist Church Andrew “Drew” John Lattin Scholarship is established by the Surfside United Methodist Men with contributions from members of the church to support post-secondary educational opportunities for active participants in the church.
The Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Andrew “Drew” John Lattin, a young friend of the church. The scholarship may be awarded to deserving graduating high school seniors or college students who are currently attending Surfside United Methodist Church in Surfside Beach, SC.
The scholarship may provide an award annually for $1000 each to a male and female full-time student attending a four-year college/university or attending a community college.
Please see the Guidelines and Application form for more information.