May 8th, 2026 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Dear Grace-filled Family,

I really don’t know where the time goes—it feels like only yesterday we were preparing for the busy-ness of Spring, and now we are already looking toward the summer!

First, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported our youth this past weekend at the Shrimp Festival. Even though the weather wasn't exactly "festival-perfect" (though I know many of us were grateful for the much-needed rain), our team showed incredible resilience. Once the clouds cleared, the response was fantastic, and our youth had a very successful weekend selling those famous shrimp quesadillas.

To the youth who worked so hard, to the adults who showed up to support them, and especially to Holly, our Youth Director, I am so grateful for you all. Holly, your leadership and organizational skills were on full display, and we are so blessed to have you heading up this vital ministry.

As we move into the summer months, our pace at Memorial tends to slow down just a little bit. It’s a natural rhythm to do so each year, but I want to encourage you to remember that while our programs might slow down, our discipleship never does.

The summer is actually a wonderful time to be more intentional about our personal journeys with Christ. I want to invite you to use this "quieter season" to take up a new spiritual practice or revisit a beloved one:

• Study something new: Perhaps there is a book you’ve been meaning to read that might deepen your understanding of faith in a new way.

• Return to a favorite: Pick up a beloved devotional that has nourished you in the past and journey through its pages once more.

• Intentional Fellowship: Use the extra daylight to gather for a meal. Sometimes the most sacred thing we can do is sit across a table from one another and share in genuine fellowship.

  
  

However you choose to do it, I encourage you to stay attentive to your devotional life. Let’s make sure that even in the heat of the summer, we are staying connected and energized in our faith.

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie