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Writer's picture: Memorial FernandinaMemorial Fernandina


Dear Beloved Friends,  


Did you get a chance to catch Pastor Charlie’s sermon this past Sunday? If you didn’t, I can assure you there were some major surprises in there. SPOILER ALERT The prophet Elisha curses some young men for calling him bald, and then two she-bears come and maul 42 boys. It’s truly horrific, and there is an understandable reason why we do not normally preach on that specific passage. However, All the Feels is not a normal sermon series, and both Pastor Charlie and I have found that the Old Testament seems specifically inclined toward tales of the extremes of human emotions. And those emotions are relatable for us all. We have all been embarrassed. I hope it has not led you to curse your neighbor. I really hope she-bears have not been involved. In the final weeks, I hope you will tune in to hear about more stories, incidentally all from the Old Testament, in which we look at what it means to feel “bleh”, rage, and doom and gloom.  


Additionally, we have a lot of exciting options for connection in the coming weeks. Are you a male? Have a delicious breakfast with other Memorial men at the men’s ministry breakfast this Saturday. Do you like music? Join us at 3 PM on Sunday in the sanctuary to hear a fabulous concert by Claflin University Choir. Do you need to eat dinner? If you have not had the chance to attend a Wednesday Night Dinner or Wesley Dinner Club, next week is your week to do both! You’re not going to get a better meal or fellowship for the price. If you long to be connected in new ways at Memorial, I hope you take advantage of one or many of these events! I’ll be there right alongside you.  

 

With Grace and Peace,  

Rachel  

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Writer's picture: Memorial FernandinaMemorial Fernandina

“This week, we rejoice with Pastor Rachel as she has officially passed her final interview and received approval for ordination at this June's Annual Conference!  This is a significant moment in her journey, marking the culmination of a 12-year journey of dedication, study, and faithful discernment.

 

Rachel's path to this point has been one of deep commitment.  She has entered fully into the process, writing thousands of words reflecting on theology, leadership, personal growth, and proclamation.  Not only that, but she has also completed the “Residents in Ministry” process and has even completed psychological testing along the way too. This week, she traveled to Leesburg, FL. to face her final interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Florida Conference.  Whew!! It’s a lot! Through it all she has remained steadfast and true to her sense of God's call to this ministry.

 

As her church family, we have had the pleasure of witnessing Rachel's journey firsthand since August 2023. We have prayed with and for her, supported her, and we too have recognized the gifts and graces she brings to ministry.  We affirm her calling and celebrate her growth as she stands on the threshold of ordination. We are immensely proud and filled with joy.

 

Rachel: your faithfulness, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to God's call are a gift to the world. We are so proud of you and excited to see all that God will continue to accomplish through your ministry.  We will continue to pray for you, worship with you, and serve alongside you in our community and world.

 

Be sure to congratulate Rachel personally the next time you see her – and start planning your trip to support her at the Conference Ordination Service in June!


Blessings,

Pastor Charlie

 

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Writer's picture: Memorial FernandinaMemorial Fernandina

Dear Beloved Friends,  

 

As a pastor’s kid, or PK as we call ourselves, there are sometimes roles that we take on that are not necessarily things that we want nor expect. Our church choir director was intent on having a children’s Christmas musical every year, so guess who ended up in the children’s Christmas music every year. That’s right, me.


One year remains seared in my mind not for the performance itself but for the horror I experienced at the dress rehearsal. By this time, I’m ten years old and have graduated to one of the lead parts. That means I have lines. That means I have a solo. That means I have a microphone. On this dress rehearsal day I happened to be mic’d up but needed to use the restroom. No one warned me that the microphone was still on and unmuted, so the entire sanctuary not only heard me singing a sweet little song of my own creation but also heard the flush of the toilet. I came back to raucous laughter. I was mortified! Embarrassed beyond belief, I swore then and there never to be in another church musical. Out of my embarrassment I made a hasty decision.  


This week, we’ll continue in our six-week sermon series “All the Feels” with guest preacher and conference co-lay leader Derrick Scott, III preaching on shame and guilt. In the coming weeks, we’ll hear more about what we do with feelings like embarrassment, rage, apathy (what we call “blah”) and doom and gloom. Why are we talking about these? Because many of these emotions might be taking the lead in your life right now. You might be wondering how we are even to approach these emotions as we live out our Christian faith.


Even though all of these emotions are a part of our human experience, they can often lead us to make negative decisions, to lash out at others, and to disconnect from our surroundings. These are things that we need to talk about. But we know that the grace of God goes before us in all things, and that we are always responding to that grace. Therefore, we have opportunities to reflect and change how we let our emotions guide our actions. When we preach about our negative emotions inevitably the good news is in the fruit that can be borne from the alternate option, the positive emotions we turn toward. I hope you will join us during this series in thoughtful reflection of what you are feeling and how those feelings show up daily in your life.  

 

With Love and Peace,  

Pastor Rachel 


P.S. And yes, to this day, I still check to see that my microphone is muted before using the restroom.  

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Sunday Services:

 8:00AM  In the Sanctuary

Weekly Holy Communion & favorite hymns

 9:30AM In the Maxwell Hall

Sing praises with our band

11:00AM The Sanctuary 

Enjoy familiar liturgy & hear our choir

11:00AM Digital Worship on YouTube.

Chat with our digital community during the premiere

Questions? Call 904-261-5769 or EMAIL.

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Memorial United Methodist Church

601 Centre Street | Fernandina Beach, Florida | 32034

904-261-5769       info@mumconline.com

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