December 27th, 2024 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Hi Beloved Friends,  

I hope as you read this today you are sitting somewhere, preferably with a warm beverage of your choice, resting in the peace and joy that accompanies the birth of Christ. This was the first year where we truly got to experience the wonderment of Christmas through our kids’ eyes.

Last year, Austin had just turned three, and Christmas was still a bit of an abstract thing. But this year, Christmas is HUGE.  Austin’s excitement for Christmas had only been mounting since about December 19, when he proclaimed, “Tomorrow is Christmas!”, to which we had to explain that there were actually six more sleeps until Christmas. Every day since, he’d bound out with the energy of ten squirrels and offered us an update on how many sleeps we had left until Christmas. Until finally, we got there- Christmas Eve- just one more sleep until Christmas! He barely slept (now I understand why we tell our kids Santa won’t come unless they go to sleep) and was bright eyed and bushy tailed for the morning to come.  

Oh, how joyful it is to watch a child light up on Christmas morning! I think it might be the closest thing we get to witnessing the shepherd’s own amazement at their meeting of the Christ child. Might we do with bottling a little bit of that excitement for ourselves and then sharing it around for others to experience? If you didn’t know, we are now in the liturgical season of Christmas for the church. There are 12 days (just like the song!), and here is my challenge to you- rather than giving out barnyard animals or musical entertainment these days, why don’t you take each day of Christmas and share your story with that many people. You might be a wee bit exhausted by the twelfth day, but, hey, it’s better than 12 drummers drumming! Though I say this with a little bit of jest, I do encourage you to take time during this Christmas season to share the love of Christ with others. Like a little kid on Christmas morning, share the excitement for the ways Christ has worked and moved in your life. Be well these next few days, and merry Christmas!  

With love and peace,  

 Pastor Rachel  

December 20th, 2024 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Beloved Friends,  

Might I take the liberty to request a moment of pause here in the start of this Pastor’s note?

Okay?

Okay!  

Pause | Breathe | Rest | Repeat

Have you been bitten by the busy-ness bug in the past few weeks? Between business as usual and Advent services, children’s programs, parties and community celebrations, this has been a time of joyful preparation but not one where I have caught my breath. And in the midst of this time, my children have brought home other not-so-lovely bugs from school that they have lovingly shared with me, including one this past Monday that left me laid up on the couch thinking, “this cannot be happening the week leading up to Christmas Eve.”

With the care of my husband, a supportive staff that told me to rest, and some very quick-acting medicine I was back on my feet within a day, but the entire ordeal got me thinking once again about that very first Christmas night.

A baby king, born and placed in a manger, comes into the world with only the sounds of his earthly parents’ voices, the snuffling of animals, and the excited whispers of shepherds. There were no decorations but the stars in the sky.  I can guarantee the smells of Christmas wafting around that night were not of gingerbread and peppermint. And while no night with a newborn is exactly calm or quiet, there was a certain peace and joy that came with Christ’s entrance into this world. Imagine the hope bubbling to the surface from those who first encountered this tiny infant. What a beautiful, simple image of Christmas.  

Your plans for the next few days are already set. Your loved ones are coming into town, or you might be traveling on your way to them. Nevertheless, let the simplicity, the peace, and the beauty of God’s love in Christ’s birth guide your days. Share the love of Christ with your loved ones and those around you. Find some time, even the smallest amount of time, to rest in the quiet of God’s presence. Join us as we worship the birth of our Lord and Savior. I cannot wait to celebrate him with you!  

In hope, peace, joy & love,  

Pastor Rachel  

December 13th, 2024 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

How special a time we had last weekend – No Room at The Inn, the Alternative Christmas Missions Fair, and being led in worship by the Chancel Choir as they performed our annual Christmas Cantata. It was a real marker for the Advent season we are in. (If you missed the Cantata and have not been able to catch it online yet, you can do so here – you’ll be glad you did).

But we are only halfway through the Advent journey, and there are still so many things that you can be a part of as we anticipate Christ’s birth.  For example, you can still join in on our Wednesday night, Church-wide study on Rev. Rachel Billups’ book, An Unlikely Advent. Join us for the Facebook Live broadcast (on the Memorial Facebook Page) this Wednesday at 6:00pm. The conversations and interactions have been rich so far.

You can also plan to attend the Lamb Early Education Center Christmas Pageant on December 19th at 10:00am in Maxwell Hall. This is ALWAYS one of the cutest and most fun events of our Advent and Christmas season. It’s also a great way to show our love and support for the amazing work that our Lamb teachers and staff do every day.

On Tuesday, December 17 at 6:00pm, we will be gathering a group for the Memorial Christmas Jam…because who doesn’t LOVE a good Christmas sing-a-long?  Bring yourself, your instrument (if you play one), and your best singing voice as we gather for this moment of musical fellowship and connection with one another.

You can be part of the Christmas Day Brunch gathering being hosted at Memorial, in partnership with our friends from the Coalition for the Homeless. Everyone is welcome to come to enjoy the food and friendship between 9:00am and 11:00am. And if you’d like to sign up to volunteer, you can do so by following this link. You can find out more about all these events, and about our Christmas Eve worship service times by visiting our website.

This is a special time in the Church year. Let’s join together in turning our hearts and minds to the Christ-child, whose birth brings light to the darkness and hope to places of despair.

Advent blessings,

Pastor Charlie