Welcome Rev. Amanda Renee Morrow-Gilmore! Pastor Amanda and her husband Caleb Gilmore come to Calvary Memorial UMC and Grifton UMC from the Smyrna-Trinity (Marshallberg) Charge in Carteret County. She is a Wilmington native, a graduate of Appalachian State University and Duke Divinity School, and a candidate for commissioning and eventual ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church.
2026 Charge Conference
Calvary Memorial will participate in a cluster charge conference at Institute UMC on Sunday, October 11 at 1:00 p.m. Leadership Team members are encouraged to attend, and all church members are welcome at the meeting.
A letter from Pastor Amanda to the Calvary Memorial family
Hello, everyone!
I am absolutely thrilled to be joining you as your new pastor! If we haven’t met yet, my name is Amanda Morrow-Gilmore. Please feel free to call me Amanda! (If you call me Reverend Morrow, I will turn around and look for my dad!) I am relatively new to the pastoral role, as this is only my second year in full-time ministry; however, I have been a servant of Christ basically my whole life! I deeply look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. For now, here are some quick facts about me:
Where I’m from: I was born in Louisville, Kentucky. My family and I moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when I was 5, and I lived in Wilmington for the majority of my life. When asked where I am from, I usually say “Wilmington.”
My family: My wonderful husband, Caleb, will be joining me here in Snow Hill. He is very quiet, but once you get to know him, he is the sweetest person! His background is in automotive work. Most recently, he was working with a funeral home as their general handyman. We will also be bringing our two fur-children, Sadie and Juniper. Sadie is approximately 10-11 years old. We think she is a Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd, Boxer, and Mastiff mix. Really, all we know is that she is big and furry. Juniper is 8 months old. She was listed as a German Shepherd and American Staffordshire mix, but her breed is also a bit of a mystery. What we know about her is that she is a ball of energy! Sadie is a bit skittish around new people, so she may bark, but she is incredibly sweet once she gets to know you. Her barks do sound intimidating because of her size, but she does not have an aggressive bone in her body. Juniper loves making new friends (if she will sit still long enough to say hello!)
Education: I began college at Cape Fear Community College while I was in high school. There, I earned an Associate of Arts in General Studies and an Associate of Fine Arts in Theater. I then moved on to Appalachian State University, where I majored in Recreation Management with a concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education and minored in Commercial Photography. After graduation and a short break from school, I began my seminary training at Gordon Conwell
Theological Seminary: I began working on my Master of Divinity as well as a Master of Ancient Languages with a focus on Greek.Approximately a third of the way through my time there, I realized that God was calling me to change paths, and that path sent me to Duke Divinity School. At Duke, I earned my Master of Divinity degree.
Things about me as a pastor:
My day of Sabbath is Monday. I am very protective of my Sabbath, and I try hard not to schedule things on Mondays. I am still available on Mondays in case of emergencies.
For simple communication, I prefer texts over emails or phone calls. If it is something very serious or will require a lot of dialogue, I am fine with any form of communication. If you are not a texter, I will happily have a phone call with you! I just need to know that about you! My number is (910) 524-3345.
I try to bring my full, authentic self to this role, and I want you to feel comfortable doing the same.
You will probably hear me say this many times, but I really cannot overstate how excited I am for this new journey with you all. When I left my first visit with Calvary Memorial, all I could think was, “Wow. God is so good.” I truly believe God has great things in store for us, and I cannot wait to see where we will go together.
With love,
Pastor Amanda
New and Ongoing Ministries
Ongoing local missions include Backpack Blessings food ministry serving ten students weekly at the Pre-K Center; Interfaith food box delivery on first and third Thursdays; Days for Girls “Sewing Saturday” on first and third Saturdays; Greendale Forest nursing home ministry on second Tuesdays; and Greene Branches, a new Greene County pastors association. Interested volunteers may contact Gwen Skinner at (252) 560-7747 for information about how to help.
Volunteer Drivers are available for rides to church events and medical appointments. Please call or text Linda Dunn at (252) 560-1465 for the driver list to plan and set up your drive as needed.
United Women in Faith will meet on Monday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, please contact Mary Betty Kearney at (252) 714-2650.
Grief and Loss Support Group meets on second Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, this month on October 8. For additional information about Grief and Loss Group plans, contact Linda Dunn at (252) 560-1465.
Sunday 4F (Food, Fellowship, Fun, Formation) meets regularly on second and fourth Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m., this month on October 11 and 25.
Bring-your-own bag supper for the meeting; drinks will be provided. The group will continue viewing and discussing Season Three of The Chosen. For more information, contact Beth Ramsey at (252) 903-0651.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets in person weekly on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact Linda Dunn at (252) 560-1465.
Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study meets in person for lunch and fellowship at 12:30 p.m. and study at 1:30 p.m. on first and third Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall. In October, the group will meet October 7 and 28, a change from the regular schedule. For more information, contact George Mewborn at (252) 286-7616.
Sunday Evening Bible Study meets in person for a bring-your-own bag supper, fellowship, and study at 5:30 p.m. on first and third Sundays in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact George Mewborn at (252) 286-7616.
Lost and Found: Bonnie Coats has established a Lost and Found area in the church secretary’s office. Please check the area and help us return lost items to their owners.
Looking Ahead
November 1 All Saints Sunday and Homecoming Luncheon
November 13-15 Pilgrimage 2026
November 18 GreenvilleWesley Dinner at 6:00 p.m.
November 24 Thanksgiving Service at 7:00 p.m.
November 28 Hanging of the Greens at 10:00 a.m.
December 4 Live Nativity at Calvary Memorial at 6:00 p.m.
December 20 Grifton Community Cantata at 4:00 p.m.
December 24 Christmas Eve Communion at 4:00 p.m.
