Pastor Malinda's musings ...
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Where Heaven and Earth Meet
In the Celtic tradition, they talk about “thin places.” It’s those places or moments in time where it feels like heaven and earth almost meet … where the feeling of eternity is palpable … where you connect with God and the saints in glory in a way that’s hard to
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Using Your Powers for Good
Dear Friends, I awoke one morning this week to see a post on Facebook from one of my friends. It read: “Too many sad and hard and horrible things. Use all your powers for good.” It was a good reminder not to let the sad and hard and horrible things
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A Change of Seasons
Dear Friends, The words from Ecclesiastes 3 never fail to resonate deeply within me this time of year as summer fades to fall. This scripture grounds me in the knowledge that no matter what we face in life, God is with us through all of it, in every season. “To
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Exciting Updates for ASP
It’s hard to believe that our mission arm Avondale Samaritan Place (ASP) has been in existence for ten years! What began as a hopeful possibility and partnership between Avondale United Methodist Church and Canterbury United Methodist Church to create “a Christian hub for community service” has become this beautiful, thriving
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Creating a Vision Together
Avondale United Methodist Church has a lot to be proud of. We serve our neighbors through feeding ministries, after school programs, summer enrichment for elementary students, and social workers helping people in crisis. We have meaningful worship and Bible study on a weekly basis. And we just completed a renovation
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Capital Improvements Update
We’re excited to be headed back into the sanctuary this weekend for worship. The new HVAC is working beautifully to cool the space. Although cooling and heating don’t offer anything visually appealing to the space, you’ll definitely feel the difference. The visual change is that the old radiators have been
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The Work for Full Inclusion
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5b Dear Church Family and Friends, The scriptures above have been
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Construction Has Begun!
Dear friends, The moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrived this week!! Nope, not Easter … which was totally a BIG moment! (He is risen, indeed!) Yep, you guessed it … demolition began on our HVAC system for the sanctuary. The Capital Team has been working to get to
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Lent @ Avondale UMC
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. It’s a time for growing through repentance, confession, fellowship, prayer, and fasting. Join with your Avondale UMC family and friends in worship, prayer, and study as
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The Gift of a Star
Dear Church Family & Friends, We’re six days into the new year, and today is the day we mark Epiphany. It’s the day that we religious types say that the wise men/magi/three kings (however you want to identify them) finally made it to the manger. They’d had no visits from
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Celebrating the New Year
Dear friends, Maybe you’re one of those people, like me, who looks back at the previous year in remembrance and thanksgiving while also looking ahead with hopes and dreams for the year to come. In the early days of Methodism, our founder John Wesley (1703-1791) invited people to reflect on
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Waiting with Hope
Dear Friends, Waiting with patience and hope. It’s not something that I find easy to do, especially in a culture where it seems everything is available with just one click. But that’s what we’re called to do … to wait with patience and hope for the coming of Christ. Advent
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Remembering the Saints
Dear friends, Today is a Holy Day. It’s a day each year that we remember and give thanks for the lives of people who’ve left an indelible mark on our hearts. For some, this is a day that brings tears because the pain is still very raw after losing a
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Countdown to AvonFest
Dear Friends, Words cannot express the impact that the ministries of our mission arm Avondale Samaritan Place have on so many lives. From the people we serve to the people who volunteer to serve, I’m continually amazed at the ways in which so many people are changing lives and our
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A Change of Season
Dear Friends, After worship yesterday, my family drove around the neighborhood. My kids wanted to see the Halloween decorations on people’s lawns while my husband and I wanted to see all the beautiful trees in their fall glory. I’m always amazed at the warmth of the colors this time of
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Capital Improvement$ Update – Genero$ity Abound$
Dear Church Family and Friends, The pledges and contributions keep coming in as we work together to raise funds for the church’s current capital improvement projects. To date, $204,330 has been pledged or donated toward our goal of $500,000. Thank you to everyone who has committed to giving so generously!!!
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Capital Improvements Update – Clo$er to Our Goal
You’ll recall an email that I sent a couple of weeks ago about our capital needs and our financial goals for accomplishing them. Our most pressing needs include a new HVAC system for our sanctuary and life safety updates (including a wired fire alarm system and new exit hardware on
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Capital Improvements Update – We Need Your $upport
Dear Church Family and Friends, When our church was founded in 1887, our forebears had a vision for sharing Christ in Avondale. During its 135 years of existence, God has touched countless lives through worship, baptisms, weddings, funerals, Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School, and so much more. Many of
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New Life at the Church
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. ~John C. Maxwell Dear Church Family and Friends, There are exciting things afoot at the church … and I wanted to let you know about them. We have a new-to-us school moving into the church this week – Red Mountain Community School (RMCS). The
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World Games Impact
Dear Church Family and Friends, It’s exciting to have the World Games taking place in and around Birmingham this month. I’m looking forward to going to a few sporting events and enjoying having folks from around the world here in town. One of the venues is right next door to
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Music Ministry Update
Dear Church Family and Friends, One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 100 because it calls us to sing praises to God and to come into worship with thanksgiving in our hearts. Music feeds our souls and enhances our worship of God whether we come in praise or in sorrow
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The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Dear Church Family and Friends, I’m excited to welcome YouthServe back to our church campus for their first overnight camp since 2019. This is a great organization – led by our church member Jennifer Hatchett – that brings teenagers together from all walks of life to teach them about community
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Celebrating our Past + our Future
Dear Church Family and Friends, Happy birthday, church!!! When I say “church” I’m not talking about our local church here at Avondale UMC … I’m talking about the church universal. This Sunday we, the church, celebrate what’s known as Pentecost Sunday. It’s the Sunday we remember how the Holy Spirit
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Finding Connection
Dear Church Family and Friends, The District Superintendent recently tasked the pastors under his care to come up with one word and one picture to describe how their congregation has emerged from the pandemic. When I first read it, I was like, “What???? One word? One picture? That’s crazy talk!” (No
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Capital Needs & Improvements
Dear Church Family and Friends, Many of you were drawn to our church because of our wonderful hospitality and emphasis on loving everyone without exception. In addition, you truly appreciate and love our beautiful, historic building. You also understand that with an almost 100-year-old building come capital improvement and maintenance
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