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GOOD NEWS AND WORSHIP UPDATE
MORNING WORSHIP
Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 11 am
"Now What?"
Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor
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both in-person and on Facebook or YouTube (click here)
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.
ELDER OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER - Wilsie Bishop
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SPECIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION | |
SERMON NOTES
We are almost at the end of this series that we started in October. And this week, we get to the section in our order of worship that we like to call the Affirmation of Faith. This is the response to the proclamation of the Word and is expressed in an affirmation of faith and commitment. This is an opportunity for us to connect with the saints that wrote these words in the past, connect with the people of faith that have recited these same words throughout the generations, and connect us to one another. Join us this week as we see what we are affirming when we rise in body or spirit with one another.
Yours in Christ
Brandon
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
The Adult Sunday School class has begin reading and discussing John Shelby Spong’s Born of a Woman which challenges the doctrine of the virgin birth, tracing its development in the early Christian church and revealing its legacy in our contemporary attitudes toward women and female sexuality. Please order a copy of the book soon; it is available online from various sources and bookstores.
The class meets in the Poteat Library at 10 am. If you wish to join the class there is always room for one more.
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NEW WALKS ANNOUNCED
Upcoming walks are planned for Wednesday, December 6th @ 11 am we will take a leisurely stroll through Founder's Park which will be decorated for the Christmas holidays. And then on Wednesday, January 17 @ 11 am the group will have another leisurely stroll through King's Commons. The group may share a lunch together afterward each walk.
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MISSION COLLECTION REQUESTS
We have begun collecting can food items and other staples for our two families from Good Sam. While we do not know the names of our families yet, we do want to be prepared and have food on hand to take to them for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We are also collecting warm clothing items for Jeff Douds of West Main Street Christian Church to have available for distributing them various homeless persons in need. Used jackets, coats, sweaters and other clothing items are appreciated.
Can goods and used winter clothing items can be placed in the Heritage Room. We will have bins or totes available for collected items.
We will once again be sponsoring our annual Mitten Tree for other winter items of gloves, mitten, scarves, hat and socks that can be distributed to West Main Street Christian Church or to Good Sam. Hopefully, we will have the tree in place soon.
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URI GRATITUDE DINNER THIS SATURDAY
First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton is hosting a Gratitude Dinner for the United Religions Initiative (URI) Northeast TN Cooperation Circle on Saturday evening, November 18th from 5:30 - 8:00 pm @ 119 West F Street, Elizabethton. This is a free event and all are welcome here. There will be program including prayers, stories, songs, meditations, mantras, and recitations about gratitude from friends of many faiths and belief traditions. A meal is provided that includes turkey and vegetarian options, rolls, drinks and cake. Everyone is requested to bring something to share ... including appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert (especially dishes with an ethnic flair / flavor. If you have questions, please email - shellieford@gmail.com
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2024 THEOLOGIAN-IN-RESIDENCE IS ANNOUNCED
Please mark your calendars for Tusculum University's 2024 Theologian-in-Residence lecture series. Note that it will take place in January this coming year on three successive Friday mornings beginning at 10 am. The series will take place in person and on ZOOM on Fridays: January 12, 19, and 26. The theme will be “Religion in Appalachia: Faith in the Mountains in the Past, Present, and Future.” The guest speaker will be Emily Morrell. A separate email will be sent to everyone with details for this annual event.
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FOOD, FOOD AND MORE FOOD
The Lunch Bunch / Meal Schedule for NOVEMBER
November 19 - Hachimi Japanese Cuisine (3101 West Market, JC)
November 26 - Fellowship Thanksgiving "Lite" Potluck Lunch
Please note: There is a sign up sheet posted on the bulletin board in the side entry; the meats category has been substituted by finger sandwiches. Please specify, if possible, what kind of pasta, salad, or sandwich you are planning to bring.
THERE IS A FALL SCHEDULE OF ALL LUNCH BUNCH LOCATIONS POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD.
IF ANYONE HAS SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER DINING VENUES, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO ADD THEM TO OUR LUNCH ROTATION. THANKS.
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE COMING WEEK | |
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Saturday, November 18, 2023
5:30 pm URI Gratitude Dinner @ 1st Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton. Everyone invited!!
Sunday, November 19, 2023
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Hachimi Japanese Cuisine (3101 W. Market, JC)
Monday, November 20, 2023
6 pm Bible Study in the Conference Room
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
NO Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
NO Chancel Choir rehearsal
Thursday, November 23, 2023 - THANKSGIVING DAY
Sunday, November 26, 2023
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:15 pm Fellowship Potluck Light Lunch (see note above)
Monday, November 27, 2023
6 pm Bible Study in the Conference Room
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
4 pm Meditation Circle (via Zoom)
6 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, December 3 - First Sunday in Advent
10 am Adult Sunday School reading "Born of a Woman," by John Shelby Spong
11 am Morning Worship, Rev. Brandon Davis, Pastor (in-person YouTube / Facebook)
12:30 pm Lunch Bunch @ Cootie Brown's Campus (1404 West State of Franklin Blvd, JC)
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GENERAL FUND: YEAR TO DATE: | |
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[2023 Annual Budget - $ 177,600
Budget through NOVEMBER 17 Week #46 ($ 157,108)
Receipts $ 143,759.89
Disbursements -$ 146,111.99
Balance $ - 2,352.10
Please note that our financial cushion is dwindling as we approach the end of the year.
Make sure that your tithes and pledges are up-to-date. Thanks.
Please remember the 5 Cents per Meal Offering every first Sunday of the Month. The next special PC(USA) offering will
be in December for the Christmas Joy offering
God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. This Offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need.
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
November 16 - Debi Hughes
November 24 - Marsha Brandt
November 25 - Camilla Lyle
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
November 28 - Lewis & Marcia Songer (66th)
The Chancel flowers were
in loving memory of Henry Houston & Christine Cashion Patrick
and in honor of their 77th wedding anniversary, 16 November 1946,
given by their son, Stephen Allan Patrick.
ALSO NOTE: THE 2023 FLOWER LIST IS AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE SIDE ENTRY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE IN REQUESTING CHANCEL FLOWERS.
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For Friends and Family
Lynn Broome; Alynda Worrell-Welch’s mother-in-law, Shelly Welch; ; the Hughes family for son-in-law Bryce Bennett, and Debi's foster mother, Janet Vencel in Ohio; George, Jo & Nikki Rolling; Camilla Lyle's brother, Jeff McFee; Jonathan Sharp; Don Loughry; Rev. Maggie Lauterer; Sarah Suptin; Kelly Hodges.; Heather Hughes; Edna Campbell.
Bryce Bennett - Caring Bridge
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brycebennett2?fbclid=IwAR0PnHlXHlkWZqwpE6j44LNwAGmT_8YZXEg9Rtj9JkGYVOzi7ucvLE6CfXg
Prayers for others
Continue to pray for the people in Ukraine as they continue their fight against the Russian Invasion. For the recent ongoing humanitarian emergency between Israel and the Palestinians of Gaza. New emergencies include Storm Debi is causing damage in Ireland and the UK with high winds, rain and flooding; the is an eminent volcanos eruption in Iceland with people being evacuated from the prominent projected site; and the is a complex humanitarian event occurring in the Sahel region of Western and North Central Africa. There is ongoing concern for the earthquake in western Nepal; flooding in the Horn of Africa (Kenya & Somalia); Prayers for U.S. troops and migrants seeking refuge along the southern U.S. border. And especially prayers for our nation and for strength, endurance, faith and courage for all.
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CENTER FOR DISASTER PHILANTHROPY - https://disasterphilanthropy.org/
UN OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) - https://reliefweb.int/
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE - https://rescue.org
US FEMA - DECLARED DISASTERS - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
GLOBAL DISASTER ALERT & COORDINATION SYSTEM (GDACS) - https://gdacs.org
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Who is this dynamic duo? | |
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In the first three months of 2022, more than 475 of Florida's West Indian manatees perished, most dying of starvation. This toll followed a grim record set in 2021 when more that 1,100 of the mammals died. Most of the deaths were in Florida's Indian River Lagoon, a 156-mile-long estuary that covers a third of the state's Atlantic coast. During the past decade, water quality in the lagoon has declined because of pollutants from agricultural runoff, lawn fertilizers, septic tanks, and other sources. Excess nutrients and climate warming have caused harmful algae blooms, which block sunlight from reaching seagrasses. Annual grass die-offs have depleted seagrass coverage by about 90%, transforming forage habitat into wasteland.
State and federal mitigation efforts already underway include attempting to regrow seagrass, upgrading septic systems and wastewater treatment plants, feeding sick manatees at rescue centers, and launching a small-scale, experimental program to feed the animals lettuce in the wild as supplemental food. (GSN #174)
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VIRTUAL CREATION ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK | |
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Amazing Places on our Planet (March 2014 | 12:14 min.)
Dallol is the hottest inhabited area on Earth, and also one of the most remote places on Earth. It is located in a depression, at more than 100 meters bellow sea level. Dallol has one of the most unearthly sceneries on the planet, due to its acidic hot springs, sulphur, salt, iron oxide, and other minerals, small gas geysers and pools of acid.
The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a geological depression that has resulted from the divergence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa. It has developed as a result of Africa and Asia moving apart, causing rifting and volcanic activity. Among the geological points of interest to tourists are the hydrothermal system of Dallol and the Yellow Lake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3crB69ZCeM&t=99s
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IN THE POTEAT LIBRARY
Please remember the library is open by appointment and 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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Holy Warriors: A Modern History of the Crusades
By Jonathan Phillips
(909.07/PHI)
From an internationally renowned expert, here is an accessible and utterly fascinating one-volume history of the Crusades, thrillingly told through the experiences of its many players—knights and sultans, kings and poets, Christians and Muslims. Jonathan Phillips traces the origins, expansion, decline, and conclusion of the Crusades and comments on their contemporary echoes—from the mysteries of the Templars to the grim reality of al-Qaeda. Holy Warriors puts the past in a new perspective and brilliantly sheds light on the origins of today’s wars.
Starting with Pope Urban II’s emotive, groundbreaking speech in November 1095, in which he called for the recovery of Jerusalem from Islam by the First Crusade, Phillips traces the centuries-long conflict between two of the world’s great faiths. Using songs, sermons, narratives, and letters of the period, he reveals how the success of the First Crusade inspired generations of kings to campaign for their own vainglory and set down a marker for the knights of Europe, men who increasingly blurred the boundaries between chivalry and crusading.
In the Muslim world, early attempts to call a jihad fell upon deaf ears until the charisma of the Sultan Saladin brought the struggle to a climax. Yet the story that emerges has other dimensions—as never before, Phillips incorporates the holy wars within the story of medieval Christendom and Islam and shines new light on many truces, alliances, and diplomatic efforts that have been forgotten over the centuries.
Holy Warriors also discusses how the term “crusade” survived into the modern era and how its redefinition through romantic literature and the drive for colonial empires during the nineteenth century gave it an energy and a resonance that persisted down to the alliance between Franco and the Church during the Spanish Civil War and right up to George W. Bush’s pious “war on terror.”
Elegantly written, compulsively readable, and full of stunning new portraits of unforgettable real-life figures—from Richard the Lionhearted to Melisende, the formidable crusader queen of Jerusalem—Holy Warriors is a must-read for anyone interested in medieval Europe, as well as for those seeking to understand the history of religious conflict.
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Congregational Concerns / Prayer Requests - Please contact the church office or Sherry Bailey with information.
Flower List - The 2023 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.
e-Avenue deadline - Please submit information to church office (office@wataugapc.org or 926-7942) at any time and for the December issue of the e-AVENUE, no later than Friday, November 17th. 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.
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WATAUGA AVENUE PC IS ON .. click and see for yourself. | | |
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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.) | | | | |
