May 15th, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Friends,  

Did you know that the first time I ever preached was for a youth Sunday? I remember it

well. I was preaching on the "Armor of God", but I decided that I needed to add a present-day spin to it. Instead of armor, I put on the protective elements one would use for skateboarding (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, shoes, you get the theme). Had I ever skateboarded in my life? No. That would be disastrous. I was intent, though, on leaning hard into that youth Sunday.  

I find here at Memorial that our Youth Sundays are a lot more authentic. Each student brings thought and care to the words they pray, the children’s lesson they offer or the sermons they preach. I hope you will join us again this Sunday (Holly’s first Youth Sunday as well!) as we celebrate our graduates, worship with our youth, and hear from our graduating seniors about how Memorial has helped shape their faith.

Youth ministry is so vital to the developing faith of our young people. It’s a place for them to ask questions and find safety in their struggles. I am grateful that they find that kind of support here at Memorial, where our congregation values and uplifts the voices of young people. I know I am looking forward to this Sunday, and I hope to see you each in worship as well!  

With Love and Grace,  

Pastor Rachel 

Endowment: Three seniors receive scholarships from the Chris Bryan Memorial Endowment

Bill Bryan, husband of the late Chris Bryan, and Rev. Dr. Mark Charles award the first three scholarships from the Chris Bryan Memorial Endowment to Joey Roberts, Jackson Charles, and Abbie Moore on Sunday, May 11th, 2025.

In 2020, a team from Memorial worked to establish the first every endowment fund in the church's long history. As the fund recently came into fruition, it was offically named the "Chris Bryan Memorial Endowment Fund" in honor of longtime, beloved church member, Chris Bryan and her dedication to Memorial, which she loving called "my church."

The endowment will serve to fortify Memorial for years to come and also provide special opportunities to the ministries, missions, and programs of the church. On Sunday, May 11th, Pastor Charlie was pleased to announce that the endowment was awarding three $1000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors from the church family. Bill Bryan and his daughters were on hand to help present the scholarships to seniors Joey Roberts, Jackson Charles, and Abbie Moore, all of whom are active members of Memorial's youth group. Joey will be attending Centre College in Kentucky where he will play lacrosse. Jackson is attending the University of Central Florida to study business and finance. And Abbie is attending Florida State University in Tallahassee.

May 9th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

It’s been a crazy few weeks at Memorial! We have had an amazing Easter Cantata, a blessed ecumenical Palm Sunday Processional downtown, Holy Week, a HUGE Easter Sunday, and then Shrimp Festival just last weekend. It’s a lot, and it has taken us all to pull together to make it happen. I want to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE who has helped along the way.  Whether you are a staff member, a regular volunteer, or someone who heard me make the call for help at church services and decided to sign up on a whim…whoever you are and wherever you fit in on that spectrum of involvement…THANK YOU. We could not have done all that we have done without your commitment, service, time, energy, and great love for God and the world.

With so much going on these last few weeks, you would think this might be a good season to slow down and take a well-earned break.  While that sounds lovely, it’s really not what we do though – the work of God continues in our community and world, and we are still invited day and daily to get in on it.  Over the next few weeks we have important opportunities for you to be a part of.

On Sunday, May 19th, we will celebrate our youth and graduating seniors. Youth will help lead worship throughout the morning and we will have three really special testimonies from some of our graduating students. You will not want to miss that.

Sunday, May 26th, is our Homecoming/Anniversary service in which we celebrate our 203rd anniversary by worshiping as ONE church family at 10:00am in Maxwell Hall. This will be a special time together in worship, and then we will continue celebrations by doing what we do best – serving our world by creating 203 flood buckets, and then taking some time to eat and fellowship together as a church family.  Memorial Day at Memorial going to be a great time together. Don’t miss it.

After all that we move into June and will have fun celebrating Pastor Rachel’s ordination, and then welcoming children to come learn about God’s love for them during VBS.

It’s been a full on few weeks and the weeks ahead will continue that way. Please join me in praying for continued success in all we do as we seek to join in on God’s work in our community and world.

Blessings

Pastor Charlie