March 21st, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Friends,

               We are two weeks into Lent, and I hope you have found a practice or two that helps you draw nearer to God. I wish I could say I have kept to a practice every day consistently, like reading Scripture first thing in the morning or spending some time in meditation. Alas, I know myself and the reality of my situation as a parent of two young children. Sometimes the best effort we can provide is just showing up where we are and looking for the divine in the everyday things that we do.

               If, however, you find yourself still looking for a practice and with a bit of time on your hands, I want to encourage you to participate in one of our many Lenten study opportunities. Each Wednesday until Holy Week, we will participate in the ecumenical noonday service (the service hosted at Memorial is coming up 4/2!). I cannot say enough good things about how good it is for us to gather together to talk about how we, collectively as the “big C” Church, look to follow Jesus and grow deeply in discipleship together. It is good to be with friends who we see throughout the week but may miss on Sunday mornings because we worship in different congregations. It is good to gather, to be reminded that our common call to love God and our neighbor is greater than any of our differences.

Additionally, it’s not too late to join us for our Lenten study of Amy-Jill Levine’s book The Difficult Words of Jesus. This has been an incredibly rich discussion of some of the Scripture attributed to Jesus that just makes us scratch our heads (or skip entirely). If you want to jump in, you have two options: Wednesday evenings at 6:00PM in Maxwell Hall or Thursday Lunch and Learn from 11:30 AM to 12:30PM in the Multipurpose Room. I hope you’ll join us for one of these wonderful Lenten experiences!

With Peace and Love,

Pastor Rachel

March 14th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Lent is a season of reflection and introspection, but it's also a time for community. As we journey toward Easter, we find strength and encouragement in walking alongside one another. At Memorial, we have a wealth of opportunities to connect and grow together during this sacred season.

This past Wednesday, we began our ecumenical Lenten services at First Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Tiffany Gulana of Prince Chapel AME Church delivered a powerful and hope-filled sermon. It was a beautiful example of our community coming together in faith. This week, we continue our ecumenical journey at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where I will have the privilege of sharing a message. I invite you to join us this Wednesday at noon for this meaningful time of worship.

Our Wednesday evenings are also enriched by our Pastors' Study, delving into Amy-Jill Levine's "Difficult Words of Jesus." This is a fantastic chance to delve deeper into scripture and engage in thoughtful discussion with fellow believers.

This Sunday, March 16th, we have another wonderful opportunity to connect – our Church-wide Potluck after worship. This is a perfect way to meet new people, share a meal, and build relationships across our whole church family.

And next Thursday, March 20th, our Wesley Dinner Club will gather for the next of our "Faith Seeking Understanding" series of panel conversations. This month, we'll hear from a panel of local women as they share some of their experiences and challenges. This is a valuable opportunity for us to learn and grow by listening to the stories of others.

Lent is not meant to be a solitary journey. It's a time to lean on one another, to share our faith, and to support each other as we grow closer to Christ. I extend a warm invitation to each of you to join us for any or all of these opportunities. Come and experience the joy of community as we journey through Lent together.

Let us find strength in fellowship, Memorial.

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie

March 7th, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Hi Friends,  

If you were unable to attend the Ash Wednesday service, I invited you to turn one morning this week to Isaiah 58:1-12, but I want you to pray, specifically, the following words from Isaiah 58:6:

Is not this the fast that I choose: 

to loose the bonds of injustice, 

to undo the thongs of the yoke, 

to let the oppressed go free, 

and to break every yoke? 

-Isaiah 58:6 

So often, fasting gets described as a practice that we do individually to grow closer to God. We fast from something that might be drawing our attention away from God. What the author of Isaiah is describing is a fast that focuses on the collective, that encourages us to lean into the work we are all called to do in breaking down the injustices of the world. These injustices are the real things that separate us from God, that keep us from seeing people in God’s image.  I wonder if you might approach your Lenten journey with this text in mind?  

Additionally, I hope you will join us in one (or all!) of our Lenten studies this year.  Each Wednesday at noon, we will participate in the ecumenical Lenten services with various churches and clergy on the island as we focus on the messages brought forth from The Big Church Read’s Wild Bright Hope. Each Wednesday at 6 pm in Maxwell Hall, Pastor Charlie and I will bring participants together for round-table discussions on Amy-Jill Levine’s book The Difficult Words of Jesus. This time of in-person gathering is meant to get into the heart of the hard questions posed when we consider what it is Jesus is calling us to do. It will also be a great way for us to come together in meaningful moments of community. 

If you are unable to make either Wednesday option, I want to encourage you to join Lunch and Learn on Thursdays at 11:30AM in the Multipurpose Room or go through a self-guided study. I have included a list of some wonderful Lenten resources below that might be of interest to anyone seeking a devotional or book study. Throughout these forty days, I pray you engage in the meaningful work of prayer, fasting and reflection that draws you nearer to God and others.  

With peace and love,  

Pastor Rachel  

Self-Led Lenten Devotion Options  

Embracing the Uncertain: A Lenten Study for Unsteady Times by Magrey DeVega 

Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie 

Remember: God’s Covenant and the Cross by Susan Robb 

A Time to Grow: Lenten Lessons from the Garden to the Table by Kara Eidson 

The Unvarnished Jesus: A Lenten Journey by Brian Zahnd 

The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus by Adam Hamilton 

Where we Meet: A Lenten Study of Systems, Stories and Hope by Rachel Gilmore, Candace Lewis and Matt Temple 

Books for Holy Week 

24 Hours that Changed the World by Adam Hamilton (more of a Holy Week option) 

Savior: What the Bible Says about the Cross by Magrey DeVega 

Seven Words: Listening to Christ from the Cross by Susan Robb 

Family Resources 

Faithful Families for Lent, Easter and Resurrection by Traci Smith 

Ecumenical noonday Lenten services 

Wild Bright Hope- The Big Church Read 

Pastor’s Study on Wednesdays at 6 pm in Maxwell Hall  

The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine  

Lunch & Learn on Thursdays at 11:30 in the Multipurpose Room 

The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine