“People grow better in circles than they do in rows.”
JOIN OUR SMALL GROUPS!
Memorial UMC does have a traditional service schedule, but Memorial is more than scheduled church services. We are a community of people living life together, helping one another, caring for each other, and serving our community along side one another. Every week or month, people come together to learn about God, pray, eat, laugh, and live…TOGETHER. We call these Small Groups—and they’re the heart of our church.
No matter where you are in life, it is within these small groups that we make new friends, grow deeper in our relationship with God, and practice applying the gospel to our lives, our community, and the world.
Small Groups
- WHO: All adult
- WHEN: Sundays at 9:30 am (Sept. through June)
- WHERE: Parlor & Zoom
- LEADER: Dr. Bob Kelly
- FOCUS: “First Corinthians: One in Christ” by Robert A. Bryant (published by The Kerygma Program)
Dr. Bob Kelly leads the Adult Class at 9:30am for an hour every Sunday morning between the two worship services. We use excellent guide books by the Kerygma Program which cover the books of the Bible, Biblical themes, and Christian topics. There is always much more material than can be covered in an hour, especially with lively attendees, so it usually takes two or three classes to cover a guide book chapter or topic. We take a moderate measured pace to best absorb each lesson.
In most every class we discover new insights, key historical material, and ways to make the ancient ways relevant to today. Mostly, however, it is revealing that people back then are basically the same as us, just in a different context. We have times of laughter, times of pensive thought, times of encouragement, and times of gratefulness for what we have received. Please come join us when you can for a refreshing involvement with folks who want to learn, share, and grow together spiritually.
For more info, contact Bob Kelly via the contact form.
A seasonal group study offers participants a chance to study more deeply a particular portion of Scripture, or a theme found within, through small group meetings. Each seasonal group study has a unique subject material and length.
Lenten Group Study (Feb 11 to March 26, 2026)
- Focus: “Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws” by Adam Hamilton
- When: Wednesdays (Feb 11 to March 25, 2026) at 7 pm & Thursdays (Feb 12 to March 26, 2026) at 10:30 am (No sessions on Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday) or Feb. 19.)
- Where: Parlor and Zoom
- Shared Leadership: Pastor Sungmu Lee, Diane Hornaday, Pat Kelly
From Birth to Resurrection in the Gospel of Luke
Jesus came to lift up the lowly. Throughout his ministry to his final days on the road to the cross, we find stories of his relationships with ordinary, flawed, and unexpected people. He met, dined, and traveled with people who were not perfect. Many of them were struggling, some were outsiders or even outlaws. Whoever they were, from those he healed to the outlaws with him at his crucifixion, Jesus brought the good news of God’s kingdom to those who most needed to hear it.
In Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws, pastor Adam Hamilton explores the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Luke. Through Luke’s stories we find Jesus’ care and compassion for all as he welcomes sinners and outcasts. As we study Luke and see Jesus’ concern for those who were considered unimportant, we hear a hopeful and inspiring word for our lives today.
Topics for each week:
1. Lifting Up the Lowly
2. Simon, Do You See This Woman?
3. Parables from the Underside
4. On the Journey to Jerusalem
5. The Final Week
6. Crucified with the Outlaws
The books are available at the church office.
Past Group Study Includes:
“When Christians Get It Wrong” by Adam Hamilton (September 17 to October 23, 2025)
Focus: Following Jesus can be more about serving others rather than judging them.
“The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus” by Adam Hamilton (Feb. 26 – April 10, 2025)
Focus: Lenten Group Study helping us grow deeper in our faith, learn more about the life of Christ, and spend time daily reading and reflecting upon the Scriptures.
“In Days to Come: From Advent to Epiphany” by George H. Donigian (Dec. 7, 2024 to Jan. 13, 2025)
Focus: Advent Bible Study encouraging us to move with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ into the new year and into mission and ministry.
“Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith” by Henry H. Knight III and F. Douglas Powe Jr. (September 13 to October 24, 2024)
Focus: Fall Group Study focusing on a true transformative act of evangelism is R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.A.L.: Renewal; Enter; Listening; Acceptance; Testimony; Inviting; On-Going; New Beings; Assurance; Live-It.
“Final Words from the Cross” by Adam Hamilton (Feb 7 to March 21, 2024)
Focus: Lenten Study examining Christ’s dying hours and his final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross.
“Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It” by Adam Hamilton (Sept. 20 to Oct. 26, 2023)
Focus: John Wesley’s message and his faith that continue to speak to 21st-century Christians—calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed.
“24 Hours that Changed the World” by Adam Hamilton (Feb. 15 to Apr. 13, 2023)
Focus: As we retrace the last 24 hours of Jesus in this world, we will experience his sacrificial love for us more fully.
“Questions & Answers About The United Methodist Church” by Thomas S. McAnally (Sept. 21 to Dec. 1, 2022)
Focus: Guide that answers the most frequently asked questions about the beliefs, practices, and history of The United Methodist Church
- WHO: All women at MUMC
- Chair: Chris Calandriello
- COORDINATORS: Chris Calandriello, Laura Gorden, Linda Johansen
BUILDING FAITH, SISTERHOOD, AND SERVICE
“Women of Faith & Fun (WOFF)” was formed in May 2024 to “revitalize” our women’s group at MUM.
WOFF is a dynamic and supportive community that brings women together to deepen their faith, strengthen their connections, and serve their community. Rooted in the shared values of camaraderie and spiritual growth, the group provides a space for women to navigate life’s challenges through the lens of faith.
Event-driven gatherings, including Bible studies, workshops, and fellowship & social events, provide opportunities for personal and spiritual development. These meetings foster open discussions, enabling women to share experiences and insights that contribute to mutual growth. WOFF encourages a sense of accountability and sisterhood, fostering a supportive network for navigating life’s complexities.
In addition to internal growth, WOFF is committed to community service. Through various outreach programs and initiatives, these women actively engage in making a positive impact beyond the church walls, embodying the principles of compassion and service.
Whether through long & short-term programs, social events, or collaborative projects, WOFF at Memorial UMC is dedicated to building a community where women can flourish in their faith while forging meaningful connections with one another. In essence, it’s a space where women can be inspired, supported, and equipped to lead lives reflective of their Christian values.
Women of Faith & Fun is open to all women attending Memorial.
- Chair – Chris Calandriello
- Women’s Bible Study Coordinator – Chris Calandriello
- Activity/Event Coordinator – Laura Gorden
- Missions-related Project Coordinator – Linda Johansen
- WHO: Women of all ages
- WHEN: Saturdays at 10:30 am (Sept. through June)
- WHERE: Parlor and Zoom
- LEADER: Chris Calandriello, a Certified Lay Servant
- FOCUS: “Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer & “Understanding the Psalms” by John H. Hayes
Women of all ages and stages of life are invited to join us as we seek to build a community of women to support one another while uncovering the power of prayer.
About “Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible”:
Jesus died with a psalm on his lips. For millennia, humans have been shaped by the Psalms. And before the Nazis banned him from publishing, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer published this book on the Psalms.
What comfort is found in the Psalter? What praise, and what challenge? What threat? In the pages of Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, discover the richness this book of Scripture held for Bonhoeffer, and learn to pray psalms along with Christ.
First published in 1940, this classic reveals how the Psalms are essential to the life of the believer and offers Bonhoeffer’s reflections on psalms of thanksgiving, suffering, guilt, praise, and lament. Now with an introduction by Walter Brueggemann and excerpts from the Psalms, Bonhoeffer’s timeless work offers contemporary readers ancient wisdom and resources for the living of these days. Includes a biographical sketch of Bonhoeffer written by his friend and biographer Eberhard Bethge.
About “Understanding the Psalms”:
Many of the Psalms use such vivid and timeless imagery that they express as clearly today as they did centuries ago the feelings of the person seeking God. But other psalms are more difficult to understand — either the terms no longer relate to life or the whole spirit seems alien to modern life. This book will help you to make sense of these psalms as you see how they were used in Hebrew worship. John H. Hayes relates the psalms to the rituals described in other parts of the Old Testament, so that both ritual and psalm take on meaning today. Several psalms are analyzed in detail as examples of the various kinds of Psalms in the Bible.
For more info, contact Chris Calandriello via the contact form.
Past Study Includes:
“Prayer: Beginning Conversations with God” by Richard J. Beckman
“All the Women of the Bible” by Edith Deen
“Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions” by Kenneth W. Osbeck
“Living a Chocolate Life” by Deb Burma
The prayer chain provides a means of quickly receiving notification of prayer requests for members of our church, their friends, family and others for whom they wish to receive the benefit of prayer. The prayer chain isn’t really a “chain” at all. You don’t have to do anything more than open the email and pray for those who have made the request.
If you would like to be included in the prayer chain distribution, please contact Donna Baily via the contatct form and put “Prayer Chain Opt In” in the subject line. By opting into the prayer chain in this way, you are agreeing that 1) Donna/others can email you prayer requests as we receive them, sometimes multiple times in a week; 2) other prayer chain members may also email prayer requests and updates to the group; 3) you can opt out at any time by emailing Donna with “Prayer Chain Opt Out” in the subject line.
The prayer chain email list may also include former members of MUMC who feel called to pray for us. If you know someone who might like to be included in this prayer chain, please have them get in touch with Donna.
- WHO: Open to All
- WHEN: The 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 pm
- WHERE: Parlor
- COORDINATOR: Kay Hunter
- FOCUS: Wrap Others in Prayer
The Prayer Shawl Ministry of our church is a loving nurture and outreach that reflects Christ’s compassion and the Wesleyan call to serve through acts of mercy. Through prayer and handcrafted shawls, we share God’s grace, comfort, and presence with those in need.
Our Mission
Each prayer shawl is knitted or crocheted in a spirit of prayer. As the shawls are created, ministry members lift up the recipients—praying for healing, peace, strength, and the assurance of God’s unfailing love. These shawls are shared with individuals experiencing illness, grief, difficult life transitions, or other challenges.
A Ministry of Care
Prayer shawls serve as a visible sign of God’s love and the support of the church community. They remind recipients that they are held in prayer and surrounded by the caring presence of the body of Christ. Before being given, each shawl is blessed, extending the ministry of prayer beyond the walls of the church.
Get Involved
The Prayer Shawl Ministry welcomes all who feel called to serve through prayer and creative hands. Knitting or crocheting experience is helpful but not required. Whether you create shawls, pray over them, or help with distribution, there is a place for everyone in this ministry. We provide the opportunity for members to knit independently, but we also meet monthly, on the second Monday of each month, in the parlor for fellowship and to provide time to knit (or crochet) together and provide assistance and advice. See the calendar for updates
Request a Prayer Shawl
If you or someone you know would benefit from a prayer shawl, please contact the church office. It is our joy to share this gift as an expression of God’s grace and our connection in Christ. The recipients are provided with a prayer that they may recite while wearing the shawl. Although we ask for a $20 donation to cover the cost of materials, it is not required or necessary.
- WHO: Open to All
- WHEN: The 3rd Sunday of the month at 7:00 pm (September through July)
- WHERE: Parlor & Zoom
- COORDINATOR: Heather Kelsey
- FOCUS: Book discussion
Love reading? Join the inclusive, grace-filled, engaging group of disciples dedicated to learning together through books! The group meets monthly. Selections are made by the group and all are welcome to participate.
Our book group provides a warm and inclusive space where members come together to explore a diverse selection of literature. From thought-provoking novels to inspiring non-fiction, we delve into captivating stories that spark insightful discussions.
Whether you’re a dedicated reader or simply looking to connect with fellow community members, our book group offers a unique blend of literary exploration and camaraderie. Join us as we turn the pages of knowledge and imagination, sharing our thoughts and insights along the way.
For more details contact Heather Kelsey via the contact form.
2026 LIST OF BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION:
January: “No Ordinary Time“ by Doris Kearns Goodwin
PAST BOOK DISCUSSION INCLUDES:
2025
January: “The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt” by Jeff Shaara
February: “Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History” by Tracy Borman
March: “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson
April: “No Two Persons” by Erica Bauermeister
May: “The First Ladies” by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
June: “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See
July: “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese
August: Annual “Reader’s Choice” discussion
September: “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War” by Erik Larson
October: “Sipsworth” by Simon Van Booy
November: “The Museum of Ordinary People” by Mike Gayle
2024
January: “The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles
February: “The Echo of Old Books” by Barbara Davis
March: “Evening Stars” by Susan Mallery
April: “The Paris Bookseller” by Kerri Maher
May: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
June: “Getting Out of Saigon” by Ralph White
July: “Good Night, Irene” by Luis Alberto Urrea
September: Annual “Reader’s Choice” discussion
October: “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
November: “Miss Benson’s Beetle” by Rachel Joyce
2023
January: “Monstrous Regiment” by Terry Pratchett
February: “Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger
March: “The Story of Arthur Truluv” by Elizabeth Berg
April: “Around the World in 80 Days” by Jules Verne
May: “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristin Harmel
June: “The Last Runaway” by Tracy Chevalier
July: “Song of the Lion” by Anne Hillerman
August: Annual “Reader’s Choice” discussion
September: “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict
October: “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate
November: “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles
- WHO: Men of all ages
- WHEN: The 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8:00 am
- WHERE: Friendly’s in Avon
- COORDINATOR: Walter Sargent
- FOCUS: Fellowship
The roots of the Men’s Breakfast Group go back to when Russ Kelly and Joe Booth, our church members, retired in the same year (1989) and realized the church always required a lot of maintenance and attention. The men who were retired (or not), took on little and big jobs and kept whittling away at jobs that were listed as needing to be worked on. It was decided early on that there was no need for an agenda except for good food and conversation or whatever came up in conversation at the breakfast meetings.
Today, the Men’s Breakfast Group continues as a very informal group. The agenda and purpose is fellowship. Discussions cover just about everything under the sun, mostly sports and deer hunting (thus the venison-egg stratas). This is a great opportunity to get to know the other men of the church, share experiences, and grow your faith to become the man God wants you to be. Contact Pastor Lee via the contact form for more info.
- WHO: All bereaved members of the community
- WHEN: The 3rd Wednesday of each month, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
- WHERE: Parlor & Zoom
- FACILITATOR: Allen Nixon
- FOCUS: Bereavement Support
The MUMC Bereavement Support Group is comprised of members whose spouse or partner has died. Everyone grieves differently and in their own way, and the Support Group provides a safe place for members to share each other’s experiences, concerns, and emotions that may be causing pain. It is a time set aside for the grieving person to process their own personal grief, away from the day-to-day frustrations and interruptions we all experience. The fundamental benefit of the Bereavement Support Group is knowing you are not alone, and Christ is always with you.
The Group meets once a month from 9:30am to 11:00am, on the third Wednesday of each month except for July and August. Pastor and Allen Nixon facilitate each meeting. There is no specific agenda, and at the meeting one may express what is troubling them, their emotions, cry, or remain silent, and do this without fear of judgement, as the members know what they are going through.
Also, around the first of each month, an article or two concerning the grieving process is sent to Group members; an example of this is “7 Strategies for Managing Grief During the Holidays.”
If you’d like to join or need more info, contact the pastor or Allen Nixon via church office.
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