GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
Sunday, August 7, 2022 @ 11 am
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time / Communion
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23 and Galatians 5:1, 16-26
Sermon "The Fruits of the Spirit - Self-Control"
Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor
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Comments: We have set our YouTube channel to accept comments. If you are viewing, we ask that you say hello or to let us know you are there so we can count you as part of our attendance.
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SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION |
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God be with you ‘til we Meet Again
How time has flown! Could it have been nearly two years since we partnered with each other to worship, serve and grow together?? What a privilege it has been for me to serve as your Interim Pastor and to be a part of both your lives and the church’s life.
I hope you all are proud of the work that has taken place at Watauga Avenue the last few years, especially considering the dual ‘crises’ of pandemic and pastoral vacancy. You mastered Zoom. You figured out how to have a remote choir. You gathered together a worshipping community of family and friends from around the world to break bread and hear God’s Word in one space. You loved and shepherded your extended church family through tremendously difficult times, and made sure no one was forgotten or left behind. You stepped out in faith and committed precious funds to upgrade the internet access throughout the church. You learned to live stream, and that Facebook and You Tube are among the strange and mysterious ways God works. That, my friends, is a major, faith-filled accomplishment.
And now you are on the cusp of a new day at Watauga Avenue. Even as I take my leave, I feel the excitement and anticipation brewing among you, and I, too, am anxious to see what new thing God will be doing in your midst in the days and years to come. You will continue to be in my prayers as you move forward and, hopefully soon, welcome a new pastor into your church family. Continue to be willing to stretch yourselves, to be challenged, to be hopeful, and to extend hospitality. You have so much to give, so much good news to offer, and so much grace and love to share. I know that your next pastor will be as blessed and privileged as I have been to be a part of your lives.
Peace be with you all,
Sharon
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MESSAGE FROM KAREN RUSSELL
Transitional Executive Presbyter for Holston Presbytery
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REPORT ON THE NEEDS OF FLOODING VICTIMS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
I’ve gotten a couple of messages from folks who are interested in what we can do to help with the flood relief efforts in Eastern Kentucky. Our nearest presbytery to the north, Transylvania, is in the affected area. There are some things we know will be needed:
· Money, either through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, or we can get money directly to the presbytery there for direct help
· Folks willing to be on “stand by” when the need for helping hands is more clear
In the coming days and weeks, this will likely be a changing situation. There may be a need for collecting specific items, but as of today, this is the information I have. If you have ways to help, contacts in the area that have additional information on needs, or want to volunteer, let me know. I’m hoping we can coordinate a presbytery response that will combine our resources in the best way possible.
Some families have lost everything, including loved ones. Pray for them, pray for the folks on the ground now, pray for the churches that will be scrambling to help their communities, and pray that we will be energized to help well after the initial disaster, as we work together to be the body of Christ on earth.
The Rev. Kaye Florence, who with her family, lived in Hazard for many years and still has a daughter who lives there, has forwarded information on the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky (www.appalachianky.org) that has secured a matching fund for donations up to $1,000,000. Kaye’s daughter and family are helping assist with relief efforts in the Hazard area.
If you and your congregation want to funnel donations through Transylvania Presbytery for direct relief, the easy-to-use online giving portal on the Holston Presbytery website will make it easy. Just make sure the memo says “flood relief” and we will make sure it all goes to the right place.
In Christ’s service,
Karen Russell
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AFGHAN FAMILY RESETTLEMENT |
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Jean Darling has asked if anyone is interested in reviving the Keenagers group for gatherings or other events. The Keenagers involves anyone over 50, which is most of us now. If you would like the group to return, please give Jean a call. |
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Just a friendly reminder and plenty of notice that there will be at PW 5th Tuesday Work Day coming up on August 30th. It will be time to make more Hygiene bags. So bring your items to fill those bags, including: shampoo, combs, small tissues, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush (and cover), face cloth, deodorant, bar of soap. Also remember to bring in those magazines, notepads, greeting cards, and calendars.
Also remember that is the same week that PW Circle restarts for the fall on Thursday, September 1st. Please contact Linda Brashear, no later than August 15th, if you will be needing a study book. New members are always welcome so let Linda know if you want to join with them.
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The Lunch Bunch has reservations to have lunch at Cafe Lola on August 21st @ 12:30 pm. Michelle can only accommodate 10-12 so pre-reservation headcount is needed no later than Thursday, August 18th. We would still like suggestions for August 14th and 28th. If you have a restaurant we should put on the list for those dates, please contact the church office.
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Just a reminder that Loaves & Fishes at West Main Street Christians Church will be coming up at the end of August on Saturday, August 27th. Someone will be asking soon for volunteers to make cupcakes for this event. Stay tuned.
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK |
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Sunday, August 7- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Communion
11 am Morning Worship / Communion, Interim Pastor, Rev. Sharon Amstutz (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ TBD - suggestions please
Tuesday, August 9
7 pm Session meeting - Details forthcoming
Wednesday, August 10
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, August 14 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 am Morning Worship, Gary Helton, CRE, Guest Minister (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @TBD - suggestions please
5 - 7 pm Visitation for Lorena Lawrence Mast @ Hopwood Christian Church, Milligan College; Memorial service begins at 7 pm.
Wednesday, August 17
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, August 21 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Karen Russell, Guest Minister (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Cafe Lola (1805 N Roan, JC)
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GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE:
2022 Annual Budget - $ 135,000
Budget through August 2nd 2022, Week #31 ($ 80,481)
Receipts $ 76,614.50
Disbursements - $77,135.47
Balance ( - $ 520.97 )
Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church with your tithes and offerings during this extraordinary time. But please note that our surplus funds are dwindling. Make sure that your pledges are up-to-date. There is much work that still needs to be done and we are only half way through the year.
You are encouraged to mail your pledge to us or to drop it by the church office during regular business hours. Thanks.
We are still receiving the 5 Cents per Meal offering that is usually taken on Communion Sundays. If you would like to make a contribution to this offering please do so and designate it on your checks.
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JULY BIRTHDAYS
August 10 - Matthew Clark
August 20 - John Hancock
August 21 - Dick Lura
AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES
August 6 - David & Jennifer Wood
PLEASE NOTE: THE NEW 2022 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY
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For Members / Regular Attendees
Phyl Summers; Don Loughry; Camilla & Hunter Lyle; Jack Hansel.
For Friends
Karen Clark's aunt, Merietta Cahill; George & Jo Rolling; Miyamoto and Chin families in the loss of Janis' brother, Jerry Chin; Ken Solly and family; Sally Gerhardt's son, Fritz, is beginning his second round of chemo for multiple myeloma; Gene Barringer, friend of Matthew & Karen Clark; Eddie & Pauline Everhart, neighbors of the Danks; Nathan Songer; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Karen Frederick; the family of Olga Pastushenko from Odessa, Ukraine refugees in Romania; Joel Carillet, local photojournalist; Sue Sheffield's nephews, Jeremiah Collins and Tanner Frye; Sue Shank's friend, Judy Klein; Sharon Amstutz's brother, Paul Hagood; Sarah Suptin; church neighbor, Dorothy Harvey.
Special Prayers for Clinical and Medical Health Care Workers
The continued COVID pandemic concerns with cases still on the rise with the delta, lambda and mu variant strains, along with the new omicron virus with the highest number of overall cases in the United States, India and Brazil; a new strain BA2.12.1 subtype COVID cases are now on the rise in numerous European countries. And persons now affected by the rise in new active cases of the infectious disease, monkeypox.
Special prayers for the people of the Ukraine in light of the military invasion by Russia and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there; for our military members who serve our country here and abroad, as well continued prayers for our fragile planet during this time of extreme weather conditions, and for those who have suffered loss from recent ongoing disasters including a new humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan following the earthquake on the Afghan / Pakistan border, as well as the Horn of Africa hunger crisis. Prayers for the families in Buchanan County, Virginia with the lost of property due to flooding, but grateful that there were no lives reported lost or missing. And especially prayers for our nation and for strength, endurance, faith and courage for all.
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This photo was taken at one of our many memorable Father's Day picnics
at Lion's Park.
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In a major milestone, a judge in Hawai'i recently ruled that a lawsuit seeking damages from major oil and gas companies for their climate disinformation campaigns can move forward in state court. The ruling sets an important precedent that the fossil fuel industry has been fighting to prevent in similar cases across the country. In the lawsuit the city and county of Honolulu charge that Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Sunoco, and other major oil and gas producers have worked for decades to deceive the public and policymakers about the devastating impacts of climate change. As a result, it claims, communities in Hawai'i now face increased flooding, more extreme weather events, and rising seas. Under the current emissions trajectory, the state faces more than three feet of sea level rise within the century, putting more than $19.6 billion of land and infrastructure at risk. The lawsuit charges these impacts were exacerbated by the companies' deliberate decisions to hide findings and sow public mistrust in climate science.
The Hawai'i ruling is particularly notable because it marks the first time a climate disinformation case has moved to the legal "discovery" phase, in which the companies charged can be forced to disclose internal company documents and correspondence. Notably, during efforts to hold US tobacco companies liable for the damages caused by their products, scores of cases were defeated and dismissed before one brought by the state of Minnesota advanced to the legal discovery phase and subsequently to trial. (GSN #110)
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VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK |
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Michael Shainblum
(December 2016 | 4:09 min.)
RISE is Shainblum's first aerial short video which showcases the diverse landscape of Oregon from a new perspective. As a landscape photographer/filmmaker's delight, Oregon is a compositional wonderland from the rugged coast to the lush forests. It definitely has something to offer for anyone seeking a little bit of adventure.
Michael Shainblum
(October 2020 | 3.54 min.)
A second breathtaking film by Michael Shainblum of the Oregon coast. Magnificent scenery.
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IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY
NOTE: The library is open by appointment. Please remember that you are welcome to drop by the church library if you are looking for something new to read. We ask that you to sign out any books on the register sheet found on the file cabinet in the corner with the call #, book title, your name and date checked out.
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This Green and Growing Land: Environmental Activism in American History
By Kevin C. Armitage
(333/ARM)
From Benjamin Franklin’s campaign to combat pollution at the Philadelphia’s docks in the 1750s to the movement against climate change today, American environmentalists have sought to protect the natural world and promote a healthy human society. In This Green and Growing Land, historian Kevin Armitage shows how the story of American environmentalism—part philosophy, part social movement--is in no small way a story of America itself, of the way citizens have self-organized, have thought of their communities and their government, and have used their power to protect and enrich the land.
Armitage skillfully analyzes the economic and social forces begetting environmental change and emphasizes the responses of a variety of ordinary Americans—as well as a few well-known leaders—to these complex issues. This concise and engaging survey of more than 250 years of activism tells the story of a magnificent American achievement—and the ongoing problems that environmentalism faces.
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Congregational Concerns / Prayer Requests - Please contact the church office or Sherry Bailey with information.
Flower List - The 2022 Flower List has been posted on the bulletin board in the side entry. Please sign up to sponsor flowers for our weekly worship services in honor or in memory of loved ones.
Arrangements are $65 each.
Liturgists - We are always looking for new people to be liturgists. Please contact the church office, if you would like to volunteer.
e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office (office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) at any time and for the September issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, August 19th. This includes team and committee meetings, news, planned events and other newsworthy items.
Photos needed - We welcome contributions to our Facebook page via your comments and photos of church events and activities. Please also submit your photos to the church office for archiving. It will be wonderful to have a visual record of all of the positive things that Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church does for our community.
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Established 27 September 1892, Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ. Reformed in theology and Presbyterian by way of organization, it is related to Holston Presbytery, the Synod of Living Waters, and to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
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