TALK 94.5 Liz And Nick
TALK 94.5 Liz And Nick
CHARLIE GUDEMAN (THE BLESSING OF THE INLET) 5/1/26
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We love to go there and find east along the inlet there. Charlie is joining us right now to tell us about the blessing of the inlet that's happening tomorrow, and it's a fundraising event. Good morning, Charlie.
SPEAKER_00Yes, it's a fundraising event, but most of the money ends out going back out again. So everything is free, free parking, free uh uh the ceremony that we do at 10 o'clock uh that actually blesses the inlet. And uh we have lots of vendors, about 35 of them will be in inside because of the rain tomorrow. And also all the kids' stuff, all the inflatables and everything, they're under a tent. And the actual ceremony at 10 o'clock will be under a tent, also, but you'll be able to see the beautiful inlet uh right through the edge of that tent. So we're all set for people to enjoy themselves and stay dry tomorrow in spite of the rain. All right, but we definitely need that rain.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and we're happy that it's going to rain. Um, and maybe it'll be dry enough for the moment, you know, so people can get out there and and enjoy it. And you know what? The inlet is one of the most beautiful places here, and I just find so much peace there. I love looking at all of the creatures and the flo flowers and and all the birds. I mean, really tell people that have never been there uh what what they'll find at Blaine uh Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, that property.
SPEAKER_00Well, well, they the thing that is amazing to me is in the mid midst of tourist chaos uh in Merle's Inlet along Business 17, you've got this quiet spot where there's a cross and and the the beautiful inlet behind it. And and at some point you probably have seen a picture of that cross on Facebook or on Instagram uh with beautiful uh sky behind it. And uh if you've ever been here uh on Easter morning, yeah, we have a sunrise service out there and a thousand people show up with their lawn chairs, yeah, and we get to see the sun come right over to over there to the left. And uh it's beautiful. Uh and so I we have to I actually have a friend who uh refers to that space down there as the office. She gets up every day, goes and gets gets her coffee, uh, and then goes down there and and and uh works out the day, uh prays uh and and talks to people on the phone and things like that. The thing that was amazing was even during COVID, people were down there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And they they enjoyed the peace and quiet that you can only get in that spot.
SPEAKER_01I agree with that wholeheartedly. And we have Easter pictures from down there and uh early morning sunrises for sure. So, um, what kind of Avengers? I mean, maybe tell people a little bit more about what they can expect there. Will there be some kind of food truck or entertainment of like what else is going on for the blessing of the inlet?
SPEAKER_00There's going to be a uh several food trucks. Uh Lee's inlet kitchen truck is going to be, uh Stella's ice cream is going to be there. Uh there's going to be several things. Uh, there's two kind of two or three different categories of food sources, but definitely come hungry uh because we have people uh from other churches that are are participating, and and and uh uh they have Mexican food, they have uh um ribs and and all of those things, just a whole variety of things. Uh the Boy Scouts uh uh sell uh pizza, uh there is going to be funnel cakes, uh chicken bob, all of that. All of those things will be pretty much under tents or inside in the our gym. And uh and the most famous thing, I think, probably is the strawberry shortcake that that we sell. Uh, and that all of this uh collects money, but then every one of the vendors, whether it's food or the crafts and artisans that are there, uh give back to a charity of their sort, of that of their choice. And so it's a great way to the whole idea was started by a a Sunday school class that said we want to give back to the community. And that's what they've been doing for 30 years. This is the 30th uh version of this thing. And so uh it it obviously works and and uh people want to give back and and share. And uh sometimes people don't like crowds and things like that. I don't I don't know what it is, but when when you're there in that area, it just seems calmer, whether there's a lot of people around you or not. There's gonna be chairs underneath, uh one a big tent uh for the ceremony, which is at at 10 o'clock, and they'll actually uh be blessing the inlet, and uh there'll be music ahead of that, and um there'll be lots of things that people can enjoy. All of the crafts and artisans are are things that people have made themselves as opposed to buying something and selling it. Uh, and so you're getting special things that are are available from all of the artisans.
SPEAKER_01Now, Charlie, what is your role uh with Blaine Memorial? Uh are you directly involved with the church?
SPEAKER_00Well, I I go to the church, uh I'm a member, but I'm a volunteer.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00Um, and so um I just do this because I like to do it, and and quite honestly, I was a TV producer when I was working. I'm retired now. So I have some knowledge of doing it. So I I basically help out.
SPEAKER_01That's awesome. Okay. Uh well, it did you want to invite people to your church uh also as well? I mean, like what kind of community can they expect there?
SPEAKER_00Well, each Sunday uh we have four services, two of them simultaneously uh at 8 45, and another one at 11 o'clock. The traditional service is in the traditional setting of the church that you see right near the cross on the inlet, and across the street uh is what we call the harbor, and there we have a band and a wonderful leader, and uh uh it's just more contemporary. Okay, and uh so you can choose either one. There we have many people who go to one and then go to Sunday school between and go to the other one. Uh all of them are available online. Uh we stream live the 845, but it's available all week for you to enjoy, and you can find that on uh YouTube. And uh so if you want to check out, see what it's like before you come down, yeah. That's an easy way to do it. And uh then there's lots of other opportunities to get involved. We have a uh go ahead.
SPEAKER_01No, I was just going to say um we had uh for New Directions the Compassion Through Fashion event, and I know some of your youth group members participated in making a fashion from Blaine Memorial Church.
SPEAKER_00That's true, and and one of our Sunday school classes I think cooks on the first Monday of the month.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_00Um down there. So uh yeah, we're in we're involved in a whole bunch of things.
SPEAKER_01Very cool. All right. Well, Charlie, it was really nice talking with you, and thank you so much for your time. And we hope that the blessing of the inlet is uh absolutely wonderful because uh, you know, it is such a beautiful place. And I think the rain adds another dimension of beauty. So uh even if it is raining a little bit at 10 a.m., uh there are still plenty of activities to do indoors, and you'll be under the tent during the blessing. Uh and uh the doors open at 9 a.m. and there's plenty of parking, Charlie.
SPEAKER_00Yes, there's plenty of parking. We actually have golf carts that will ferry people back and forth from the parking to wherever they want to go. And they're they're covered uh golf carts, so another way to stay dry.
SPEAKER_01All right. And what um how do you tell people to get there? Is there a particular address for those who've never been there?
SPEAKER_00You know the actual address uh is is 4183 Highway 17 Business in Murrell's Inlet. So you can just put that in and uh you'll be guided right down there.
SPEAKER_01All right. Sounds great. Thank you so much, Charlie. Have a wonderful event.
SPEAKER_00All righty, we'll see you from 9 until 2 tomorrow.
SPEAKER_01All right, sounds good, thank you.