Pastor Malinda's musings ...
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Easter Worship & Reopen Update
Dear Church Family and Friends, Monday marked one year since COVID-19 forced us to suspend in-person worship in the sanctuary. I remember that weekend well as I agonized with church leaders over whether to suspend worship or not, and then ultimately realizing on Saturday evening that it was the only
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All Our Losses, All Our Griefs
Dear friends, This week has been a tough one in the life of our congregation. Complications from COVID-19 took the life of our second oldest member, Bill Copeland. Just last summer, his beloved wife of 72 years, Betty (our third oldest member), died as well. Compounding our grief is the
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What Love Looks Like
Dear friends, Christmas will be different this year, but it can still be meaningful. There were no holiday traditions on that first Christmas when Emanuel was born in a stable and cradled in a manger … no figgy pudding, no tinsel, no presents underneath a tree. And yet, it was
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You May Say I’m a Dreamer … But I’m Not the Only One
Dear friends, It’s hard to believe that it’s already the Second Sunday of Advent. Some days I struggle to believe that we’re in December. Since March, time feels like it has slowed down in many ways, but because most days feel like Groundhog’s Day (a repeat of the day before)
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Those Who Dream
Dear friends, Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. It’s the season that begins the Christian year as we wait with great hope for the celebration of Christ coming into our world. This year we wait in a different posture than we’ve done in previous Advent seasons. Pre-pandemic many of
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Giving Thanks
Dear friends, Worship is at the heart of who we are as followers of Christ. These past few months have definitely been a challenge as we’ve had to pivot to find new ways to worship outside our beautiful and beloved sanctuary in the midst of a global pandemic. I’m thankful
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Stronger Together
Dear friends, During this very strange and unprecedented year, I am extremely thankful that I serve a congregation that is both flexible and supportive as we navigate this uncharted wilderness together. While there have been many challenges along our path, there have been many more opportunities before us to serve
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Thin Spaces
Dear friends, It’s been a strange week in our nation … a presidential election unlike any other, anxiety and uncertainty as we await the outcome, concerns about unrest and violence from people who may not be happy with whatever the outcome may be. Add to all this the fact that
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Living with Hope
Dear friends, This year has felt like we’re living upside down. Our whole world has changed in a way that most of us never imagined possible. We have experienced turmoil, tension, and loss and, as a result, we have experienced the deep grief that comes with these. One scripture that
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Gather ’round the Table
The first Sunday of October has been observed since the 1940s as World Communion Sunday. This year, it promises to be more poignant than ever before. Because of the pandemic, most of us have not been able to receive communion together; and those of us who have been able to
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We interrupt your regularly scheduled life to bring you this message …
Dear friends, Some people view the pandemic as an interruption. Others view it as a disruption. I heard this thought recently during a professional development seminar, and it resonated deeply within me. The speaker put into words the dichotomy I’ve been experiencing among friends, congregants, colleagues, community members, etc. over
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It’s Beginning to Feel Like Fall
Dear friends, The meteorologists are predicting a wonderful weekend that feels like fall. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some cooler outdoor temps. While things feel quite different this year – can you say, “college football”?? “People decorating for Halloween in September”?? “Virtual school”?? – one thing
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Human Life Has Changed, but God Has Not
Dear church family and friends, The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us greatly. It has presented us with numerous challenges, entirely changed our way of living, and distanced all of us from being together in community. Because humans are adaptive and resilient, many of us have for the most
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God-sized Ministries
Dear friends, Not sure how many of you watched my #EastSideLIFELINE last Wednesday, but it was me reflecting on how much our church and ASP (our mission arm – Avondale Samaritan Place) is moving and shaking this summer. Y’all … God is doing amazing things that we never could’ve imagined
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The Church Has Left the Building
Dear Church Family and Friends, It’s now been 13 weeks since we last worshiped together in the sanctuary. I remember vividly that last Sunday, March 8, standing in the back of the sanctuary during the closing hymn and wondering if this might be the last time we worship together in
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Kyrie Eleison
The past few days I’ve struggled to find words as I’ve watched our country explode from the underlying racial tension that has been brewing for far too long. I’ve prayed for the families of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, of Ahmaud Arbery … that God will comfort them in the
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Sheltering in Love
Dear friends, In-person worship has long been at the heart of Christian community. However, recent times have changed that reality. You likely heard our governor yesterday say that churches are allowed to reopen as long as they can safely maintain social distancing guidelines. While I know many of us long
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Connecting in Worship
Dear friends, I am continuing to pray for all of you during this time. I pray for everyone’s health, both physical and mental … and I pray that all of you are able to experience God’s deep peace. If you are struggling mentally/emotionally and need someone to talk to, please
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The Resurrection Continues …
Happy Easter!!! Yes, I said it, and I’ll say it again for the people in the back … Happy Easter!!! You may be thinking, ‘How sad! Being cooped up all day every day at home because of social distancing is really taking a toll on Pastor Malinda. She’s lost all
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School Feeding Ministry – Making the News!
Our church is making the news! The school feeding ministry we started as a result of schools closing has raised more than $12,000 and provides groceries to 45 Avondale Elementary families each week. The Birmingham Times published a detailed story this week about it that you can read by clicking
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Holy Week Worship: Just as Jesus Loved Us, So We Should Love Each Other
I pray you’re having a meaningful Holy Week in the midst of this vastly strange and different time in which we’re living. We will have Good Friday worship tomorrow evening at 7:00pm via Zoom. Then we’ll celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday at 11:00am. For more details about both services,
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Calm in the Chaos
Dear friends, We’re here at the end of Week 3 of our efforts to “social distance” and “shelter in place” as we work together to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re like me, you’ve felt extreme anxiety, worry, and fear … you’ve felt confusion, frustration, and anger
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THIS Sunday: Worship with us from the Comfort of Your Own Home
Dear friends, My hope and my daily (sometimes hourly) prayer is that you and your loved ones are doing as well as you can in the midst of this strange and worrisome time in which we find ourselves. Please know how much I miss seeing you all in person on
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Worship Wherever You Are: Physically Separated, but Together in Our Hearts
It’s still hard to believe that we won’t be gathering today in the sanctuary for worship. But alas, that’s the reality in which we find ourselves. A place of uncertainty. A place of not knowing what the future holds. Our whole world has changed in the course of one week
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Suspension of Worship: Making a Difficult Decision for the Safety of All
March 14, 2020 – 3:00pm Dear Church Family and Friends, Out of an abundance of caution and a recommendation from our Bishop, church leaders and I have decided to suspend our worship services until further notice. This decision was very difficult and was made with great sadness. Being together in
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