December 5th, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Friends,

     I love this time of year. Usually, the tree is up in mid-November, but, surprising even myself, I waited until the week of Thanksgiving to pull the tree out of the box.

I have been taking it slowly to get the rest of the holiday decorations up in the house. I’m trying to keep the kids from breaking every ornament on the tree (thank you, Gorilla Glue!), and I am marveling at Aidan’s wonder over all things Christmas. And then I tell him to put the breakable figurine down and go back to playing with his Little People nativity set. I appreciate that nativity set because it allows my kids to interact with the nativity story through play, and I enjoy watching what other creatures also make it to the nativity. In past years, we’ve seen dinosaurs, penguins, Mickey Mouse, and even a rogue unicorn make their way to witness the birth of Christ. That sounds a lot like Christmas to me - a group of unlikely, unexpected people gathering together to bear witness to Emmanuel, God with us.

Each time we look at a nativity, with shepherds, wise people, animals, and whoever else may appear, we are reminded that God’s Good News is for the lowly, the outcast, and, ultimately, for all people.

I hope you will share that Good News with your friends, families, and acquaintances throughout this season, particularly by inviting them to No Room at the Inn this weekend where they will get to see nativities of all shapes and sizes from around the world. What an incredible way to experience God incarnate by seeing how the Christ child is depicted across cultures. Then, join us Saturday evening to walk in or watch the lighted Christmas parade hosted by our partner mission, America’s Youth. This is a wonderful event where we can share the light of Christ’s presence in our lives with our neighboring community and all who come to watch the parade.

No Room at the Inn runs Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6th from 10AM to 4PM pm in the Partin Center and the Sanctuary. Meet us at the Central Park ballfields at 5:30PM on December 6th to walk in the Lighted Christmas Parade. The parade starts at 6PM. It’s a fun, festive weekend here at Memorial, and I can’t wait to share this time with you all!

With hope and peace,

Pastor Rachel

Memorial Welcomes Ecumenical Church Parters to Community Thanksgiving Dinner & Worship

For many years, local churches have gathered in Fernandina Beach to give thanks together in an interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service. This year, Memorial decided to add a dinner on to this tradition. There is no better way to connect with others than by sharing a meal together (even Jesus knew that!) So, thanks to the help of an anonymous donor, a catered dinner was provided for free to anyone who RSVPed. We even invited some of our neighborhood unhoused to eat with us. Over 180 people joined in on the invitation and enjoyed the wonderful dinner made by Karen Kirkland, who caters many meals at Memorial.

The idea for this dinner before the worship service came from the sermon series the pastors were leading the congregation in just before Advent. The series, "Turn, Turn, Turn" encouraged Memorial to "Turn Down the Noise", "Turn off the Screens", and "Turn Toward Each Other." Having a meal together with members from other local congregations before worship was an opportunity to live out the challenge to "turn toward each other". And the congregation did just that! After dinner, everyone gathered in the Sanctuary for an Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Worship service, led by a team of pastors from our local church partners. The message was given by Rev. Mary Kendrick Moore of New Vision Congregational Church.

November 28th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Dear Grace-filled Family,

I hope that you and your loved ones enjoyed a truly blessed and restorative Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for, and I give thanks that I get to be part of this grace-filled family.

I also want to express a huge, heartfelt thank you to the many volunteers from Memorial who helped ensure that Christ’s love showed up at the "Open Table of Thankfulness & Love" at St. Peter's Episcopalian Church on Thanksgiving morning. What a wonderful way to serve our community and ensure that #loveshowsup. 

This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent—a special time of expectation and anticipation as we journey toward Christmas and celebrate Christ’s birth. Advent is a precious season designed to focus our hearts and minds on Christ’s coming.

During this special season, we will journey together in a couple of ways:

1. Sunday Worship: Each Sunday morning, we will explore the timeless Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, as we find them in the powerful Lectionary readings taken from the Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew.

2. Wednesday Online Study: We also invite you to join our church-wide online study! Beginning Wednesday, December 3rd, Pastor Rachel and I will host a discussion each week with a special guest, focusing on a chapter from our Advent Study Book, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" by Andy Langford & Ann Langford Duncan. (Find out more at mumconline.com/study)

Advent is a time to look around us for those signs of hope, peace, joy, and love that point to Christ's coming. I encourage you to be intentional as you lean into these opportunities to make space for the Spirit this season.

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie