June 12th, 2026 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Well...this is it - my final Pastor's Note to the Grace-filled family of Memorial United Methodist Church. 

As I mentioned a couple of times recently, since announcement Sunday at the end of April, it has been a long goodbye for us all. As I sit here thinking about what to write to you all as I sign off, I am struggling to know what to say that has not been said already. 

The Scripture tells us that when we can't find words of prayer and/or devotion to bring to God, the Spirit cries out on our behalf (Rom 8:26) or will give us the words to communicate (Luke 12:11-12). With that in mind, I want to take the theme from my devotions this morning as I found them in the Bible readings app I use (The Bible with Nicky & Pippa Gumbel). Today’s readings were brought together under the title/theme You Can Change. They moved through a Psalm, an Old Testament Reading, and a New Testament reading all of which pointed to this central gospel theme of transformation - the idea that by the power of God’s Spirit we can be transformed. As United Methodists, we lay hold of this idea in our understanding that we are all “going on to perfection” (being sanctified by the Spirit).

My testimony of the last eight years together with you is one of transformation. I arrived here just shy of my 40^th birthday, probably thinking I knew more than I actually knew. Since then, I have grown and been transformed year on year (immensely so in the last year), learning much as we journeyed together through some of the most challenging and turbulent times in my living memory.  Each of you has taught me something along the way and I leave Fernandina Beach as a more caring pastor, a more equipped leader, and a more "human" human than I was when I got here. All of that is down to the work of God’s Spirit in and through our life together.

So, as I sign off with this note, I want to remind you of the life-long, gracious work of transformation that takes place in you and through you by the power and presence of God’s Spirit in your life. The daily practice of making space for God through reading Scripture (individually and with others), personal reflection, and prayer is the practice that enlivens and attunes us to the work of God in our lives. It is those daily habits and practices with God that advance the transformation. If you are doing that every day, keep it up! If you are struggling to make space for that, schedule a chat with Pastor Angie or Pastor Rachel and see if they can help you make a plan that will help you.

Beloved friends, Jesus said that he came to give life in abundance to us. My prayer for all of you is that you will experience this abundant life in the days ahead and throughout this season of change and transition, and that at the end of it all your testimony, both individually and collectively, will be one of God’s grace and power at work within you and in the world around you.

God bless you, Memorial. Thanks for eight great years.

And to God be the glory!

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie