Category: Avondale United Methodist Church

Pass the plate, pass the platelets

Yesterday Avondale United Methodist Church sponsored a blood drive. The goal was 16 units, and 25 units were collected. I mentioned the drive yesterday afternoon to the people at my Madrigalia Bar Nonne rehearsal, and someone talked about them passing the plate and then passing the  platelets. It was a good enough pun that I had … Continue reading Pass the plate, pass the platelets →

Faith, Hope, Charity … these three — in a garden

https://avondaleenterprises.wordpress.com/ Back in June I wrote several posts about my trip to Spokane, WA, to take a class at Gonzaga University as part of the Master's in Communication and Leadership degree that I am taking. I spent a lot of time talking about Spokane, and Gonzaga. What I didn't do was say anything about the … Continue reading Faith, Hope, Charity … these three — in a garden →

This is Your Day: Final Words

Today's post is the final in a series of posts on last Sunday's farewell celebration for the Rev Gary Ponder Williams at Avondale United Methodist Church. That day's celebration concluded with some final words. The first words were from Andrew, who shared something funny, something serious, and a charge: But the final of the final … Continue reading This is Your Day: Final Words →

Today is Your Day: Presentations

Sunday's service was followed by an appreciation luncheon (pizza) for Rev Gary Ponder Williams and his family. The after meal "program" was full of various presentations. First, the Threads of Love presented Gary and Jodi with a prayer shawl and afghan: Then there was the care package for their son, Andrew, for his 20-hour drive … Continue reading Today is Your Day: Presentations →

Today is Your Day: Final Sermon

In his final sermon at AUMC, Rev. Ponder Williams did an excellent, and poignant discussion of what it meant to be a pastor, with references from the 23rd Psalm. He discussed the Methodist method of assigning pastors, rather than calling them, and how after the service he would no longer be "Pastor Gary" but just … Continue reading Today is Your Day: Final Sermon →

Today is Your Day: Children’s Time

Children's Time has been a regular feature of sermons at Avondale with Rev. Ponder Williams.  The standard format was usually the reading of a book to the children. Ponder Williams didn't vary that motif on his final Sunday. What he did do was to use it as a means of transition, encouraging the children to … Continue reading Today is Your Day: Children’s Time →

Today is Your Day: Service Music

Today's post is sound  bites from the service music. Though it was the Rev Gary Ponder Williams' last sunday at Avondale United Methodist Church, that did not change the order of service.  If anything, it made that liturgical rhythm even more important. First, a Prelude from the church's pipe organ. Next, the Introit: O Come Let … Continue reading Today is Your Day: Service Music →