The Good News: Lamb Re-Opens VPK with Refreshed Classrooms

July 31st, 2026 - On August 10th, the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program (VPK) at Lamb will resume after a short hiatus. VPK is a free state-funded program in Florida designed to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. VPK runs with the county’s school term. 

“We are excited to be offering a VPK program again, “ Pastor Rachel said. “Lamb has always been known for providing an exceptional education to our preschoolers. We often hear from kindergarten teachers that they can tell which students have attended Lamb.  Our program has always been special, and we are pleased to be offering it to the community once more.”

It also means that Lamb will be having a preschool graduation again next May. 

“Lamb’s VPK graduation is something that our whole church is invited to come celebrate,” Pastor Rachel said. “It’s so cute and we love to support our students.”

When students and families arrive for the new VPK term at Lamb, they’ll arrive to a bright and refreshed building. Recently, the Trustees at Memorial worked to have new windows installed in the 60-year-old building and add new paint to the walls in the classrooms and main hallway. 

“It looks great!” Pastor Rachel said.

“We are so thankful for the Trustees who helped make it happen and all of the Lamb staff and Memorial volunteers who moved all the furniture and toys in and out so the work could be done.”

Keep the Lamb staff, students, and families in your prayers as they begin another new school year!

#LoveShowsUp: It was All Smiles at The Arc Nassau's Bingo Extravaganza!

July 24th, 2026 - On Tuesday, July 21st, Love Showed Up at The Arc Nassau when nearly 30 members of Memorial made a visit to our friends, shared a cookout lunch with them, and then some very exciting games of Bingo!

Each year, one of Memorial's Hands-on Mission Opportunities is to share some fund with our friends at The Arc. Volunteers brought side dishes and desserts to serve alongside the burgers and dogs cooked on the grill by our Memorial grillers! All ages of volunteers shared a meal, some laughs, and then played around 10 rounds of bingo together!

Some of the volunteers supplied the prizes for the bingo winners (everyone was a winner more than once). The clients loved to be celebrated with each win and to take a visit to the prize table. (story continued below photos)

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Lamar Wildes was the bingo "caller" and you could hear a pin drop in the room before he said each new letter and number combination. And then the room would break out in cheers at the shout of "Bingo!"

The Arch Nassau is a funded mission parter of Memorial.  They provide programs & 

services for adults with developmental disabilities. They are located in Yulee, on highway 17 just north of State Road 200. The are currently in the process of working to acquire a new group home after state and federal funding cuts left some of the clients without housing. You can give a gift to help these efforts by selecting The Arc Nassau when you give online or by putting "The Arc Nassau" in the memo sections of your check written to Memorial.

Volunteers from Memorial have been visiting The Arc Nassau for several years and have made many friends among the clients! Thank you for your monetary donations, donations of food & prizes, donations of time, and your prayers for this event! It was a truly fun day full of smiles!

July 24th, 2026 | Rev. Angie Long

What a great week it has been in the life of Memorial! Many of you came to help move furniture, shelves, and more back into the Lamb Building after the updates were completed. It is true that many hands make light work, but it also reveals Christ among us.

As a mom, I know how important it is to have both a space and people you trust to care for your children. This was one more step in helping us continue to build bridges and share the love of Jesus with all.

I also had the opportunity to visit the ARC this week for lunch and the bingo extravaganza. Oh my, what a blessing! There were so many of you there, sharing love through your presence and your smiling faces. It truly is a privilege to serve a church and community that care so deeply for others. We are living into what it means to carry people to Jesus, just as the friends carried the paralyzed man on the mat to Christ.

Throughout July, we have been hearing stories of the ways Jesus changes us and changes the world when love shows up. This Sunday, we will conclude our series as Pastor Rachel shares the story of Zacchaeus and how “Love Shows Up and Transforms Lives!” I cannot wait, and I hope you will be able to join us in worship or watch online.

If you are able to worship with us in person, we hope you will wear your Love Shows Up shirt! If you do not have one, please do not be deterred—all are welcome here. We will have shirts and pins available for anyone who would like one.

No matter what we wear, please know that we are not complete without you. We hope to see you soon!

With love,

Pastor Angie