August 28th, 2026 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Beloved Friends,

               We closed out our sermon series on Jeremiah with the promise that God is faithful and has written an everlasting covenant on our hearts that is fulfilled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now, we will turn to a series on forgiveness. You know, the forgiveness like we seek and pray for in the Lord’s prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

When someone harms us, we might offer forgiveness. When we are harmed, someone else might seek forgiveness. But what exactly is forgiveness? And what does forgiveness look like with God? Join us over the next four weeks as we explore forgiveness through stories of the Old and New Testament.

               On another note completely, I just want to celebrate, once more, the community that gathered this past Saturday for our new member class. We had over thirty people sit in on the class! You might wonder why we require a membership class prior to joining the church, and there are many reasons. First, this gives you a deep understanding of what it means to be United Methodist and what it means to make a commitment to participate in the life of the church. It also allows us to grow your connections with Memorial. We try to ensure that you get to know each other in the class but also leave feeling empowered to participate at Memorial in areas that fit your desires and gifts. I was happy to sit down with someone this week who mentioned a desire for a strong prayer life. That person connected with one of our prayer initiatives. Others decided they wanted to know more about Methodism and will take my Wednesday night class on Methodist roots starting in September.

During this time, we’re walking with folks who desire membership to help give them as much information to become deeply rooted disciples here. Some will say this might not be the right time to join. Many will. I hope you will celebrate them with us in the coming weeks as they enter into membership here. And for those of you who are interested in future membership classes, please reach out to Justin Rimondi at membershim@mumconline.com.

Have a wonderful weekend!

With Grace and love,

Pastor Rachel

August 21st, 2026 | Rev. Angie Long

Over the month of August, we have journeyed alongside Jeremiah exploring the many ways God continues to shape us. Jeremiah ministered during one of the darkest seasons in Israel’s history. Even as he delivered warnings of judgment, his message continually pointed God’s people toward hope, restoration, and a renewed covenant relationship with God. My prayer is that throughout this series, we have heard God’s call to us, and have been reminded that God is still shaping, guiding, and restoring us, even in the most challenging seasons of life.

This Sunday, Pastor Rachel will conclude our series by sharing the Good News that we are invited into covenant with God. A covenant is built on the mutual promise of a relationship, where both parties are accountable to one another. Covenant is rooted in commitment and relationship. It binds God to us and us to God. As we have seen throughout Jeremiah, God’s people had already broken that covenant. And yet, God does something remarkable: God creates a new one. I am eager to hear what that promise meant for God’s people then and what it means for us today. I hope you are, too, and that you will make plans to join us this Sunday.

Speaking of covenant, I was reminded this week of the unique covenant we share as United Methodists. I had the opportunity to gather with other United Methodist clergy through the Pulpit Project, a grant-funded workshop focused on sermon series planning. The experience provided a wonderful space for collaboration, creativity, listening, and sharing. Together, we explored ideas and created resources that clergy can use in worship planning, strengthening one another through our shared ministry.

While I learned many things during our time together, one insight has continued to stay with me. I realized how often I neglect to make space for simple play and wonder in my life. It led me to reflect on how important it is to spend time with God in a childlike way: curious, open, trusting, and willing to be surprised.

Even as adults, we are invited to step into the unknown places of our lives, trusting God beyond our plans and expectations. Sometimes the most meaningful experiences are not the ones we carefully organize or produce, but the ones we simply receive.

So this week, friends, I want to offer you an invitation. Listen for God gently whispering, “My child, you do not have to have all the answers. You are free to create, to explore, to experience joy, and to share your life with others without measuring its productivity.” Give yourself permission to seek out moments of childlike wonder and delight in the ordinary rhythms of each day. You may just discover that God is waiting to meet you there.

Blessings,

Pastor Angie

August 14th, 2026 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Beloved Friends,

               In the book of Matthew, Jesus has some very clear instructions for his disciples: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the Great Commission, and one of the core imperatives for the disciples is that they make other disciples, by baptizing them and teaching them. Our discipleship journey, then, is vital not only for our individual faith development but also a means by which we grow collectively as a body of believers.

As Wesleyans and United Methodists, a core part of our identity is connection, particularly connection that is made when we gather together to pray, search the Scriptures, learn, and take the sacraments together. My encouragement for you in this new “school year” is to engage ever more deeply in your discipleship journey by taking one of our classes or joining one of our Sunday School classes.

               This Sunday, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to learn more about all of the Christian Education opportunities- from infancy to late adulthood- at our Faith Formation Expo in the Gathering Space of Maxwell Hall. Between the 8AM and 9:30AM services and following service at 11AM, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with teachers, learn about and sign up for classes, and consider ways in which you might be able to connect with others spiritually. I know many of us are incredibly busy with work, family, travel or any number of life’s good and hard complications, but I hope that there might be something that speaks to you, that gives you space to broaden and deepen your understanding of God’s infinite love. I hope to see you this Sunday!

With Grace and Peace,

Pastor Rachel