Issue #343
The Weekly AVENUE
April 21, 2022
GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE

Sunday, April 24, 2022 @ 11 am
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Scripture:Psalm 118:14-29 and John 20:19-31
Sermon: "Doubt Is Contagious"
Gary Helton, Guest Minister

both in-person and on Facebook or YouTube (click here)
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SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION
We welcome our two newest members, Emma and Megan Turner,
by Confirmation this past Easter Sunday shown with their mother,
Susan Summers Turner and grandmother, Phyllis Summers.
Congratulations and Welcome!!
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Thursday, April 21
4 pm Green Team meeting (via Zoom)

Friday, April 22 - EARTH DAY 2022

Sunday, April 24 - Second Sunday of Easter
11 am Morning Worship, Guest Pastor, Gary Helton (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)
2 - 4 pm Visitation for Dr. Jerry "Dusty" Sayers @ Tetrick Funeral Home, Johnson City
4 pm Memorial Service for Dr. Jerry "Dusty" Sayers @ Tetrick Funeral Home, Johnson City

Wednesday, April 27
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Friday, April 29 - ARBOR DAY 2022 - 150th Anniversary

Sunday, May 1 - Third Sunday of Easter
11 am Morning Worship / Communion, Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)

Wednesday, May 4
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, May 5
10 am PW Meeting

Sunday, May 8 - Fourth Sunday of Easter - Mother's Day
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Sharon Amstutz, Interim Pastor (in-person/ YouTube / Facebook)
FINANCIAL UPDATE
GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE:

2022 Annual Budget - $ 135,000
Budget through April 19th, 2022, Week #16 ($ 41,538)
Receipts $ 51,715.50
Disbursements - $ 39,157.78
Balance $ 12,557.72

Thanks to everyone for your continued support the church with your tithes and offerings during this extraordinary time. 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.

APRIL BIRTHDAYS
22 - Mike Miyamoto
23 - Theresa Lura
25 - Rev Maggie Lauterer

MAY BIRTHDAYS
1 - Stephen Shanks
6 - Sally Gerhardt
10 - Barbara Bishop Bowie

MAY ANNIVERSARIES
2 - Caitlin & Daniel Smith


The Chancel flowers were given
to the Glory of God
this Glorious Easter Sunday.

PLEASE NOTE: THE NEW 2022 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS
For Members / Regular Attendees
Don Loughry; Camilla & Hunter Lyle; Jack Hansel.

For Friends
Susan Turner's nephew, Derik Barton; The family of Olga Pastushenko from Odessa, Ukraine refugees in Romania; Joel Carillet, local photojournalist in Ukraine; Linda Solly; Sue Sheffield's nephew, Jeremiah Collins; Sue Shank's friend, Judy Klein; Sharon Amstutz's brother, Paul Hagood; Theresa Lura's cousin, Randy Carter; 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 subtype COVID cases are now on the rise in numerous European countries.

Prayers for Others
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 tornadoes across the southern U.S; massive flooding in South Africa; wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea; aftermath of torrential rain and flooding in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia; among numerous other ongoing crises and disasters. And especially prayers for our nation and for strength, endurance, faith and courage for all.
UPDATE ON CAMPUS MINISTRY - UKIRK
A total of 14 people were in attendance at this next-to-last meeting of the school year for the UKirkians. The meal was sponsored by WAPC and consisted of selections from Yum [Sushi Burrito Poke] restaurant, Hawaiian fruit drinks, and Klondike bars. Representing WAPC were Ginger Helm and Mike and Janis Miyamoto. Maggie Rust, the new pastor at Covenant PC, was also there to help with the service.
 
Although several students had to leave early because of end-of-year academic obligations, a fair number stayed for director John Golden’s sermon on the Road to Emmaus. After expressions of individual prayer concerns, the Rev. Rust performed Holy Communion for the group. UKirk provided individual to-go bags of treats, in part for post-Easter and in part for upcoming final exams.
 
After everyone left, we had a chance for a nice leisurely visit with Maggie and John. It has been six months since Maggie came on board, and she has gotten to know a lot about the people and community here. John will be getting his MDiv from Emmanuel this week and is planning on doing a chaplaincy this summer, possibly in Asheville or Knoxville. Thankfully, he plans to continue the Campus Ministry into the fall, and WAPC offered to sponsor the Kick-Off event sometime in August.  
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Remembering good times in the recent past. When was this?
GREEN SPACE
Honey bees are critical to U. S. food supplies. One third of the foods we eat are pollinated by honey bees, especially the foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. Bees are the tiny forces behind more than $20 billion worth of U. S. crops every year. Unfortunately, repeated exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides starts to change a bee's life and can impact an entire colony. Science shows there are a number of different outcomes after exposure: Neonics make it hard for bees to groom themselves, making them susceptible to disease and mites and weakening their systems. Neonics affect bees' ability to navigate back to the hive. Unable to find their way home, they die. Worker bees supply the colony's food. If they don't come back, the entire colony can starve. However, if bees are able to return to the hive, they return covered in contaminated pollen. As other bees store the pollen, they too become contaminated. 

Ordinary homeowners and gardeners can do little about agricultural use of neonics, but they can check labels before using any insecticide. More information can be found online at The Bee Conservancy.
VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
BUTCHART GARDENS, VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Gillan Travels (July 2020 | 20 min.)

Explore and enjoy the beauty of these gardens which were established over 100 years on the site of a former limestone quarry but the Butchart family back in 1904. Over the years the family transformed the land into glorious and colorful gardens that now cover 55 acres, to include over 900 varieties of flowers. The gardens are now listed as an Historic Site of Canada.

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.
Wisdom from Women in the Bible: Giants of the Faith Speak into Our Lives
By John C. Maxwell
(220.9/MAX)
 
If you could spend a few minutes with biblical heroines Ruth, Sarah, Mary, and others, what valuable lessons would they share with you? In the tradition of Running with the Giants and Learning from the Giants, John Maxwell shares wisdom on life and leadership inspired by the Bible-this time focusing solely on the stories of nine incredible women. 

Learn how God blesses the promises you keep to Him, why you should follow your heart to find your hope, and how not to miss your moment with God. Read on your own or study with a group using the provided faith-building questions. You'll enjoy the journey with Maxwell as he imagines what it would be like to visit heaven and meet giants of the faith who had their lives transformed by God. 

You'll gain insights from: Ruth...for when you must make a decision but don't know what to do. Sarah...for when you can't understand God and impatience threatens to overwhelm you. Mary...for when God asks you to do something outside of your comfort zone.

The women who influenced Maxwell inspired this book, and he includes the perspectives of those closest to him in this volume. They and the giants of the faith who continue to inspire them will encourage you to fulfill your destiny and leave a lasting, positive impression on your family and the world. 
REMINDERS
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 $30 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 May issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, April 15th. This includes team and committee meetings, news, planned events and other newsworthy items.

Facebook - Please remember to friend and follow our Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/Watauga-Avenue-Presbyterian-Church-94712920937/ ].  All news and events will be reported there.  

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.
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.)