May 23rd, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

I received some sad news this morning - my Dad’s oldest brother, Billy,  passed away peacefully during the night. It was news that we knew would come through at some point in the weeks or months ahead, but even so it was and is still a shock. My Uncle was a good, kind man who consistently made time for and took interest in his extended family. As a young boy, I was always excited to hear that he was coming to visit, and as an adult man that feeling remained. He would always ask how we were doing and about what was going on in our lives. He was curious and inquisitive, and it was clear that he always took great joy in getting to be and catch up with his extended family.

Taking that kind of time to be and catch up with family is important, right?  And that applies to church family as well as our blood relatives or chosen family. Gathering to visit and eat together makes space for those connections with one another to flourish.  That’s why our annual Memorial Day @ Memorial celebration is a Sunday in the year I look forward to.

This coming Sunday, we will worship together as one church family in a 10:00am service at Maxwell Hall. Then we will serve together as one church family when we put together 203 flood buckets as part of the Florida Annual Conference-wide Buckets Of Hope campaign. When that work is done, we will gather right there on our church campus and take time to visit with each other and eat together (please bring your own chairs for outside/there will also be some seating inside). It is going to be a special morning of worship, service, and fellowship together. Please plan to be there.

One other special moment that will take place in worship this Sunday is the presentation to Pastor Rachel of a new set of robes, in celebration of her upcoming ordination. It would be fantastic to fill Maxwell Hall and celebrate this significant moment in Rachel’s ministry journey. Don’t miss it!

Family matters, Memorial. Gathering together for worship, service, and fellowship as one church family is an important annual marker in our life together. I can’t wait to see you all there.

Blessings

Pastor Charlie

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.