#  Fall 2025: A Time of Change at MemChurch 

 





August 25, 2025

 

 

- [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog)
 
 

 

 ![The Rev. Matthew Potts Banner](/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/2025-08/250212MatthewPotts2_Banner_0.jpg)

 

Dear Friends,

As I write this, the first of the new Harvard College students are arriving on the Yard for their orientation programs. There is all the usual excitement with these arrivals, as well as the proud and sad farewells among the families. We at the church are ready and eager to welcome these new students, as well as so many familiar friends, back into our community this fall. In these respects, 2025 is a year like every other. In many respects, though, this year is also utterly different, as you well know.

The Memorial Church is not unimpacted by the severe budget pressures Harvard has experienced from external forces. There will be changes at the church this year. We have had to make cuts, and we will have to make many more throughout the year. We will continue to do all we can to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of our community during this critical time, but we will face new limitations in what we can do.

We will still, of course, gather for worship every Sunday and for morning prayers Monday through Friday. Our monthly services of Compline and Evensong will begin on Sept. 4 and Sept. 25, respectively. My family and I will still host students at Sparks House for regular gatherings, though with less frequency than we have in the past. Our other student programming will be less frequent too, but we remain committed to supporting students in their spiritual growth. Our public lectures and events may be limited, and we’ll also have to reduce some of the volunteer programming we have sponsored in the past. But there will still be opportunities to engage in direct service, so please speak to me if you’d like to get involved, and stay tuned for other programming announcements.

In addition to gracing our worship, the music program will be offering some moving performances this fall. On Sunday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., the Ferris Choral Fellows will conclude a weekend-long Harvard University Choir reunion with a performance of Randall Thompson’s Frostiana. On Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m., the Harvard University Choir will perform Alfred V. Fedak’s For Us the Living: A Requiem along with other music of remembrance. Last, our beloved annual carols services will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m.

Your prayers and your support have never meant more to us. With those prayers and that support, we will continue in our work and weather this time of trial. There will be changes this year, some quite painful and perhaps more in years to come. But as the book of Lamentations reminds, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end. You are abiding signs of that love and mercy to all of us. We at the church pray that we will be enduring signs of God’s love and mercy to each of you.

With peace and blessings,

   ![The Rev. Matthew Potts signature](/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/thememorialchurch/files/matt_potts_signature.jpg?itok=QRPJ44JS) 

 

*The Rev. Matthew Ichihashi Potts, Ph.D ’13*  
*Plummer Professor of Christian Morals in the Faculty of Divinity*  
*Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church*



 

 

 

### Download Fall 2025 Calendar 

 

 [ Fall 2025 Calendar arrow\_circle\_right ](https://memorialchurch.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/2025-08/2025%20Fall%20Events%20Calendar%20Print.pdf) 

 



      ![Fall 2025 Calendar](/sites/g/files/omnuum7126/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-08/2025FallCalendar.jpg?itok=ob8XH3bV) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

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