Funerals at Avondale United Methodist Church
When the death of a loved one is imminent or has occurred, it is often a time of deep grief and pain as we wrestle with loss. It can also be a very stressful time for those charged with making final arrangements and coordinating with service providers and others. At Avondale UMC, our pastor and Congregational Care Ministry is honored to provide care and support during this difficult time.
Our goal at Avondale UMC is to help you navigate the many decisions you must make when a loved one dies and to find closure and peace in this process. Planning a funeral or memorial service can be a blessing to those in grief, not only a time for the joys and struggles of a person’s life to be named and entrusted to God but also a time for remembering and reaffirming Jesus’ promise of resurrection for the deceased and for ourselves.
The information on this site is provided as a beginning point for families and friends facing the death of a loved one. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our pastor if you have questions or would like to discuss your circumstances.
Many of your questions can be answered using the resources listed here, but for additional questions regarding Funeral or Memorial pre-planning or arranging a service, please contact our Pastor at 205-592-3739.
Planning in Advance
It is never too soon to consider end-of-life decisions. And, in the wake of death, families of the deceased are often comforted knowing what their loved one would have wanted. For any members or friends of Avondale UMC, our pastor will be happy to visit with you to discuss your wishes and create a file for you that will be available for future arrangements.
When Death is Imminent or Has Occurred
- When a death is imminent, our pastor or a member of our Congregational Care Team is honored to come and pray with you. If there is time, please call the church at 205-592-3739. If it is after hours, please call the church and go to the pastors’ voice mail to be given his/her cell phone number. We will make every effort to have someone come to you.
- When a death has occurred, please contact the pastor as soon as possible so that he/she may work with you in planning the next steps.
Rev. Malinda Jowers Weaver
Pastor
Team Members
Rev. Malinda Jowers Weaver
Pastormalinda@avonumc.net
Malinda was born and raised in Pelham, Alabama, and grew up at Helena United Methodist Church. You could say she was attending church before she was born since her mother was the church organist at Helena for 50 years. Malinda attended college at the University of Alabama where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication and Film; in layman’s terms that’s broadcasting. Malinda worked for a few years at a local news station here in Birmingham, finishing there as the 6:00am morning show producer before answering God’s call to ministry. She went on to attend Emory University in Atlanta where she received a Master of Divinity and also met her future husband while singing in the theology school’s choral ensemble The Candler Singers.
Malinda is married to Disney Weaver. He teaches Economics, Sociology, and World History at Ramsay High School, and he coaches the school’s tennis team. They have two young daughters, Rose and Margaret, who are both social butterflies. Malinda enjoys gardening with Disney, being amused by her girls, and traveling with all three of them.
Malinda’s biggest passions in ministry are mission work and helping people find their place in the mission of the church. She believes God calls each of us to somehow be in service. From swinging a hammer … to serving meals to hungry people … to writing notes of encouragement to those who need them … we all have a part to play in the kingdom of God. Malinda will challenge you to find your place of service if you haven’t already.
What to do When Someone Dies
A third-party web resources provided by the SevenPonds organization that provides step-by-step advice for managing the decisions and processes in the period after death. Resources include information on first steps, disposition of remains, settling estates, and more.
Note: this link is being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; it does not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Avondale UMC of any of the products, services, or opinions of SevenPonds or contributors to its website. Avondale UMC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Suggested Hymns for a Funeral or Memorial Service
A SoundCloud playlist with suggested hymns that may be suitable for your service. Lyrics for these hymns, which are included in the United Methodist Hymnal, are available at hymnsite.com.