October 17th, 2025 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Dear Memorial,

Can you believe we are already halfway through October? The speed with which this year is passing is unbelievable to me, but I also love this time of year - our annual season of stewardship focus.

Over the last few weeks in our sermon series, Wholehearted, we've been exploring what it means to be wholehearted followers of Jesus Christ who live lives of wholehearted discipleship - lives that hold nothing back from God. We've been looking at some saints of church history and several stories from the Book of Acts, seeing how Christ's love shows up when people give all they are and all they have to following him.

I look around our grace-filled family and see love showing up in so many incredible ways: the stories of transformation as people find hospitality and welcome here; the vibrancy of over 50 new members joining Memorial so far in 2025; and the impactful work happening through our Mission Partnerships, easing burdens that exist for the marginalized in our community and world. None of this happens without your commitment.

We are living in challenging times and the cost of living is rising for us all. Whether it's at the grocery store or the gas pump, all of us feel the pinch, and that makes faithful giving harder. I know it does.

But challenging times ought also to sharpen the focus of Christ’s followers. If it is harder for us to give, it is more crucial than ever that we stand together to support the excellent work of our church family, which serves as a powerful instrument of grace and relief for those in our community who are struggling most. When Christ's love shows up through our service, lives are changed.

This is why I want to extend again a deep, pastoral invitation to you:

Please take the next number of days to pray specifically about making your financial pledge for 2026.

This is an important discipline of the Christian life—one of those "healthy habits" we talked about a few weeks ago; one that Margaret and I will join you in as we think about our own giving in 2026. Take time to pray and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit's leading. Ask God, "What is my part in the wholehearted work you are calling Memorial to do next year?"

We have two more Sundays left in this series (10/19 and 10/26). I encourage you to attend both, and I invite you to bring your completed pledge card with you to worship on Sunday, October 26th, as we dedicate our gifts to the Lord.

I can’t wait to see what amazing work God does through our church family in the coming year, fueled by your faithful and wholehearted commitment.

Blessings,

Pastor Charlie