05/25/2026
This Memorial Day, we remember the lives lost in war and honor the countless individuals and families forever shaped by sacrifice, service, grief, and survival.
At 5th Ave Uniting Church, history is not something far away from us. It lives in the hand-fired bricks beneath our windows, the worn wood floors that have carried generations, and the stories held within these walls.
This building has stood through war, hardship, healing, division, rebuilding, and community care. It once sheltered soldiers and horses during the Civil War, served as a Union hospital, and became part of the Underground Railroad for those seeking freedom and safety.
Yesterday, we reflected on Pentecost and the reminder that we were never meant to remain closed off from one another. Our kids and families walked through the congregation with red fans bringing in the holy “wind and flames”. Again and again throughout history, people have been called to move toward one another with courage, compassion, sacrifice, and hope.
Today, we remember all those whose lives became part of that story.
And as the voices and footsteps of a new generation now move through these same halls, may we honor that legacy not only in memory, but in the way we walk forward together — caring for one another, welcoming our neighbors, working toward peace, and teaching our children what it means to build a more compassionate world.
If there is someone you would like to honor and remember this Memorial Day, we invite you to share their name in the comments. We will hold their memory with gratitude and lift up a prayer for the loved ones and generations who carry their story forward ❤️
