Memorial Helped Love Show Up in our Community this Advent

Throughout the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Memorial has been active in our area participating in and hosting events for our community. The first weekend of Advent, Memorial's Women's Circle hosted the No Room at the Inn Nativity display in the Sanctuary and Partin Center. This two-day event saw over 200 visitors, even during the raining weekend. The circles were able to raise nearly $615 dollars for our unhoused neighbors. That same weekend, members from our church of all ages participated in the annual Lighted Christmas Parade. Sponsored by our mission partner America's Youth, this parade has been a favorite of our congregation for many years. Our church passed out over 2000 candy canes with information about our Christmas Eve worship services. A special thanks for Katie Greenwell and Mary Negron for decorating the float!

The following Sunday, our Chancel Choir led our worship services by presenting the annual Christmas Cantata! Between the Cantatas, ours Missions Committee and Mission Partners hosted the annual Mission Gift Shop! Our congregation was able to learn more about our missions and how to get involved while also giving a donation to them in honor of loved ones as an alternative to traditional Christmas gifts. The congregation donated $9,610 to our mission partners!

On Christmas Day, Memorial hosted the Community Christmas Brunch with the Coalition for the Homeless. It was a packed house in Maxwell Hall as our guests were treated to a hot breakfast and clothes and necessities from Chandler's Closet!

Thank you, Memorial, for helping #LoveShowUp and sharing the grace and love of God in our community this Advent!

December 26th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Dear Grace-filled Family,

I hope your Christmas was filled with the light and peace of Christ!

I am still reflecting on the beauty of our Christmas Eve services. It was truly a joy to see our Sanctuary and Maxwell Hall filled with so many faces—both familiar and new—as we celebrated Christ’s birth.

I want to take a moment to say a massive, heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff and the army of volunteers who worked so hard behind the scenes. From the ushers and greeters who made everyone feel welcome, to the musicians and tech teams who ensured our worship was beautiful, and those who helped with the pageant and hospitality—you all ensured that love "showed up" at Memorial this week. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to coordinate five services (6 with the digital) in one day, and I want you to know that you are seen and deeply appreciated. 

As we move into this final weekend of 2025, please take note of a change to our usual schedule. On Sunday, December 28th, we will have only one worship service at 10:00AM in the Sanctuary. For those of you who join us online, please note that our digital service will also go out an hour earlier than usual, at 10:00AM on our YouTube channel.

Immediately following the on-campus service, we will begin the "Browning of the Church"—the process of taking down our beautiful Christmas decorations. If you are able to stay for a little while to help us pack things away, we would be so grateful for the extra hands! Many hands make light work, and it's always a wonderful time of fellowship as we transition toward the new year.

Please be aware that the Church Office will be closed for the holiday break, reopening on Monday, January 5th. Our staff will be taking this time for much-needed rest and renewal with their families.

Finally, I want to say thank you to our entire church family for another truly wonderful year of mission and ministry together. Your generosity, energy, passion, and faithfulness are a constant source of inspiration for me. It is an honor to be your pastor, and I am already excited for all the ways God will guide us and use us in 2026.

May the peace of the Christ-child remain with you as we enter this New Year.

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie

December 19th, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Beloved Friends,

          Each Sunday of Advent, my family and I sit down for dinner and light the next Advent candle on the wreath. The hope candle is turning into a nub. The peace candle has accumulated an impressive amount of wax, and the joy candle shines proudly with its height intact. The kids keep asking to light the fourth candle, the candle of love, but I remind them each night that we have to wait. It’s not time yet.

Waiting is hard, especially for a little kid. Actually, it seems that waiting is hard for us all. But here we are, six days from Christmas, still in the waiting. As we set our eyes to Bethlehem, may we prepare our hearts for the Christ child by extending love to those around us- our friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors.

May we also pay extra care to see those who might be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Invite someone to service on the 24^th (you have plenty to choose from!), or join the Homeless Coalition for Christmas Day Brunch in Maxwell Hall on Christmas morning. Carry with you the light of Christ as it grows ever brighter.

Though I’m a few days early, I want to wish each of you a peaceful, bright, love-filled Christmas.

With hope, peace, joy and love,

Pastor Rachel